MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL

ON WEDNESDAY 10^th MAY 2006

PRIOR TO THE MEETING PARISHIONERS WERE INVITED TO RAISE MATTERS OF CONCERN WITH CLLRS: 

§          Landfill Site in the Perryway

Mr Peter Morris commented that the problem with smell from the landfill site seems to have been resolved and thanked Parish Council for dealing with this. 

oooOOOooo 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING 

PRESENT

Cllrs Alexander, Clifford, Greenfield, Howe (Chairman), Lewis, Price, Speed and Wagstaff were present, plus 4 members of the public.   

APOLOGIES

County Cllr Booth and District Cllr Smith. 

51/06      DECLARATIONS OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE

Cllrs Lewis, Price and Wagstaff signed Declaration of Acceptance of Office forms, which were witnessed by the Clerk.  All Cllrs completed and signed Declaration of Interest Forms.   

Cllrs Lewis, Price and Wagstaff were welcomed as the newly elected Cllrs to the Parish Council. 

52/06      ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Nominations were requested for the position of Chairman of the Parish Council.

Cllr Howe was proposed by Cllr Alexander

Cllr Speed was proposed by Cllr Wagstaff

Cllrs were requested to complete a sealed ballot which the Clerk checked and advised a majority in favour of Cllr Howe.  Cllr Howe was therefore elected Chairman of the Parish Council and agreed to accept the position. 

53/06      APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIRMAN

The Chairman proposed Cllr Speed as Vice Chairman of the Parish Council.  The vote was unanimous and Cllr Speed agreed to accept the position. 

54/06      OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS

§          Appointment of Responsible Financial Officer

The Chairman proposed Cllr Lewis as Responsible Financial Officer.  The vote was unanimous and Cllr Lewis agreed to accept the appointment. 

§          Appointment of Cllrs to Wards

Parish Wards were allocated but would be reviewed following the co-option. 

§          Appointment of Responsible Duties

Responsible Duties were allocated but would be reviewed following the co-option. 

§          Training Course for New Cllrs

GAPTC are holding a Nuts & Bolts course for new Cllrs on 17^th May at Churchdown Parish Offices. 

§                Chairman’s Authority

Cllrs agreed to renew the Chairman’s authority to spend amounts up to £100 on small items without reference back to full Council. 

§                Review of Council’s Risk Assessment

Papers will be circulated to enable a full discussion at the June meeting. 

§                Review of Council’s Asset Register

Papers will be circulated to enable a full discussion at the June meeting. 

55/06      CO-OPTION OF NINTH COUNCILLOR

The Chairman had consulted on procedure with David Hagg the Returning Officer at Stroud District Council who agreed the vacancy should be widely publicised. The Chairman proposed a notice of vacancy be printed in the next Newsletter.  This will enable Cllrs to consider the nominations and decide at the July meeting. 

Cllr Alexander was concerned at the delay in getting a full Council and considered Cllrs could vote now on the three nominations already received.   

Proposal 1            Cllr Alexander proposed that a vote be taken at this meeting on the three nominations

                                already received for co-option to the Council

Seconded             Cllr Clifford 

Cllr Speed suggested that notices could be displayed advertising the vacancy and requesting responses within 14 days.  A special meeting of the Parish Council could then be called to vote on the nominations received.  This would enable the co-opted Cllr to attend the June meeting and avoid any delay. 

Amendment

to Proposal 1       Cllr Speed proposed advertising the vacancy and convening an Extraordinary Meeting to

allow Cllrs to vote on the nominations received

Seconded             Cllr Greenfield 

Proposal 1 was withdrawn.  The Chairman requested a vote on the substantive motion and the vote was unanimous. 

The Chairman would inform David Hagg of the procedure Council has agreed.   

56/06      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations received. 

57/06      PREVIOUS MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5^th April 2006 were amended as follows: 

Ø              Page 560, Item 50/06, final paragraph to read…

“………….which included some time as the ……….” 

Ø              It was agreed that in future the paragraph heading for the first item under Planning would read “Decision of the District Council” 

The Minutes were then approved as a true record of proceedings and signed by the Chairman.   

58/06      PLANNING

(a)    decisions of the district council

(b)    to consider applications for planning

(c)        other planning matters

§             Stroud District Local Plan

The District Council had provided a CD version of the Adopted Stroud District Local Plan and the Clerk provided each Cllr with a copy CD. 

59/06      ACCOUNTS

§          Invoices

The following invoices were authorised for payment: 

The Chairman advised that the planning application for St Mary’s Frampton was for change of use to allow the Extension of the Burial Ground.  Parish Council were given a 50% reduction in the planning fee. 

§          Accounts – Other

The following amount had been received and banked: 

§          FoS Twinning Association

Cllrs Howe and Greenfield declared a non prejudicial interest

The Chairman asked Cllrs to consider a contribution to the Twinning Association of £250 to cover the various activities provided for the delegation from Bourgbarré over the Easter Weekend.  The Chairman also proposed that a donation of £60 be made to the Congregational Church to cover expenses incurred in providing tea for the groups. This will be added as an Agenda item for the next meeting to allow discussion and decision. 

60/06      GLOUCESTERSHIRE HIGHWAYS AREA MEETING

Cllr Alexander reported that the new county contract has been given to Atkins.  All existing staff remain, and key people retain their roles.  Mr Philip Hall is overall Manager, and Parish Council dealings will still be with Mark Dauncey as Network Manager and Andrew Turner as Area Manager - Central.  John Lindsay has announced he will be retiring in September and the Chairman confirmed Parish Council will contact him to pass on best wishes.  Jason Humm will be taking over the post of County Highways Manager. 

Atkins have a larger budget for maintenance this year and a new 24-hr hotline has been set up to report potholes … 08000 514514.  Cllr Alexander will pass on any highway problems reported to him. 

In pursuit of a long standing Council policy, Cllr Alexander has continued to press for traffic lights at the junction of the A38 and B4071 to be included in the budget for the forthcoming year and will be having a site meeting with Mark Dauncey to take this forward. 

61/06      PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY

A complaint has been received from the South Cotswold Ramblers Association that footpath EFS23 has been overgrown with crops by the landowner.  They are asking for Parish Council support in requesting the footpath to be reinstated. 

Cllr Alexander has responded on behalf of Parish Council to advise them to contact the County Council Footpath Officer Jackie Harris.  Parish Council have tried in the past to get this footpath diverted but without success, as the landowner claims it has already been diverted.   Shire Hall have no evidence of this.  Although this is not really a Parish Council matter, Cllr Alexander has again spoken to the landowner. 

62/06      COTSWOLD CANAL RESTORATION

Cllrs Howe and Alexander attended a meeting when proposals for the restoration of the Canal were presented.   The meeting included a tour of the area covering Stage 1A of the regeneration project, from Stonehouse to Brimscombe Port.  Works are due to start in the summer and the local community will be included in consultation as work progresses. 

63/06      TIDAL SEVERN FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

A site meeting is to be held with Mr Fitzsimmons the EA Regional Flood Risk Manager, Roger Bagley and Cllrs Alexander, Clifford and Howe on 31^st May at Splatt Bridge.  The meeting is to discuss and confirm the status of the Canal as a flood defence, and to consider other issues concerning flood risk to the village. 

64/06      COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

No report. 

65/06      DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

District Cllr Smith had asked the Chairman to advise Cllrs that there was currently very little activity following the recent District and Parish Elections.   

66/06      CORRESPONDENCE

§                Waste Minimisation in Gloucestershire

The County Council have asked for comments on the Supplementary Planning Document on Minimising Waste in Development Projects.  A Draft version is available on the County Council website and at the offices of Stroud District Council. 

§                GAPTC

Request for resolutions for the AGM.   This Parish Council have no resolutions to put forward. 

New Cllrs Training Programme.  It was noted that the session planned for 7^th June is to be held in Frampton Village Hall. 

§          Miscellaneous

Various papers and reports were made available for Cllrs’ perusal. 

67/06      CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS

§                Youth Forum

The Chairman suggested that Frampton-on-Severn set up a Youth Forum on similar lines to the District Council Youth Forum.    Representatives from all youth groups in the Parish would be invited to set up a forum which would enable them to discuss matters of interest and how they would like to see the community develop.  Cllrs agreed the Chairman should start negotiations and take the project forward. 

§                Cotswold Life Competition

Frampton-on-Severn has been awarded first place in the Cotswold Life Village of the Year Competition 2006.  The prize is their support in putting on a village fete and the Chairman and Cllr Greenfield will meet with organisers to begin planning.  A venue is being sought and Frampton Court Estate will be approached about use of the Court or The Green.  The provisional date set for the Village Fete is Saturday 26^th August.  The Chairman is to set up a working group consisting of representatives from the various village organisations and an initial meeting will be held at 7.30pm on 31^st May at the CA. 

68/06      ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Cllr Alexander gave his apologies for the June meeting. 

Cllr Greenfield asked if any progress had been made in getting a waste bin for Church End.  The Clerk is taking this forward. 

Cllr Speed asked if he could have a copy of the Archaeological Report for St Mary’s Churchyard.  Cllr Howe has requested a copy from the PCC. 

Cllr Clifford reported that the gate in Watery Lane previously discussed by Council had now been installed by Frampton Court Estate in an attempt to prevent the use of the eastern part of the lane for anti-social activities.    

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.55pm.