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MINCHINHAMPTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, March 30th 2015 at 7pm at The Trap House.
51. Present: Cllrs N. Hurst (presiding), S. Waddington, R. Nicholas, M. Beard, P. Schwartz, G. Ford, J.
Williams, K. Plank, S. Morgan, P. Callaghan-Wright, C. Morriss, G. Lloyd, A. Mylechreest, S. Draper,
Stroud District Cllr R. Wigzell, one member of the public, the clerk.
52. Apologies: Cllr S. Hemmings.
53. Public questions: A member of the public said he understood a Neighbourhood Development Plan
Working Party was to be set up by the council and queried what exactly was envisaged. Cllr Hurst replied
that since the council had agreed that any potential plan should cover the whole of the parish the Working
Party would comprise representatives of all five wards of the council. The questioner said the
Minchinhampton Planning Group would be happy to assist.
54. Declarations of interest: There were none.
55. Minutes: The minutes of the full council held on February 23rd, 2015 were approved and signed as
correct record. Cllr Morriss queried who had provided information about a 20mph zone to the council
planning meeting held on March 9th, 2015. After an assurance from Cllr Plank that it had been Rodborough
Parish Council those minutes were also approved and signed.
56. Planning application: An application S.15/0421/COU to change the use of agricultural land to
caravan/camping use at Burnt Ash Farm, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, was considered. Following
discussion, during which some members stressed the importance of tourism to the parish, the application
was supported with a request for conditions that the associated fencing and landscaping should be
appropriate for the area and not too urban in nature.
57. County and district councillors’ reports: Cllr Wigzell said the review of SDC ward boundaries was
progressing, and that April 14th, 2015, was the date for a decision on various proposals for new Stroud
supermarkets.
Stroud District Cllr Hurst commented on future refuse/recycling arrangements arising from a new contract
for such works, This led to discussion around the recently permitted Javelin Park incinerator. Cllr Morriss
expressed disquiet about the cost of a Judicial Review of the incinerator consent although Gloucestershire
County Cllr Waddington drew attention to the extremely high and currently on-going cost of the alternative
of landfill. A proposal by Cllr Morriss that Minchinhampton Parish Council should express concern to the
district about the expense and delays caused by the JR was not supported.
Cllr Waddington reported new county staff appointments, one of which was exploring joint working with
Gloucester City Council.
58. Updates on: a) Seats – Cllr Ford said the new Cambridge Way seat donated by developers Lovells had
been launched with a small ceremony. Further progress on the Chew seat awaited communication from a
family member. A meeting between Cllr Ford and the National Trust about the Pam Brown seat had not
progressed. After discussions with the Gregory family about a further seat Cllr Ford proposed instead a cup
in PC Gregory’s memory be awarded for community service at the Annual Parish Meeting. His idea was
supported; b) Bus shelters – Cllr Hurst and the clerk understood Gloucestershire County Council officer(s)
were investigating modifications to the Horsfall House bus shelter that would improve visibility for
motorists. A third party had paid for repairs caused to the Cirencester Road bus shelter and an estimate for
works to the Hampton Fields bus shelter was considered later in the meeting.
59. Reports on: a) Member’s training – Cllr Hemmings had circulated a report of his attendance at a
“Being a Better Councillor” training run by the Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils.
He had found the sessions authoritative, with useful topic printouts provided, and considered the training
should be taken by all councillors ideally during their first term of office; b) Play area inspections – Cllr
Williams reported that Cllr Lloyd and he had taken responsibility for routine monthly inspections of play
areas, following advice and training from the Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association. The inspection
services of Veolia would therefore be dispensed with. The change saved the council in the region of £1,400
per annum. Annual ROSPA inspections would continue and a suitable qualified firm would be engaged to
carry out twice yearly inspections to include repairs then identified. Cllr Morris drew attention to a gap in
the Orchard Lane play area fence which needed attention since it led to a five foot drop.
60. Future use of Vosper Field and Legacy: Cllr Mylechreest expressed his view that it was time the
council drew up a strategy for the future use of both. It was not prudent, acceptable or in the spirit of the
generous donations that nothing was done, he said. Cllr Williams supported Cllr Mylechreest and suggested
something tangible should be planned. It was agreed to place the matter on the next agenda to give members
time for thought about fitting uses of both the land and the legacy.
61. Neighbourhood Development Plan Working Group: A letter had been drafted applying for
Neighbourhood Area designation in preparation for a potential Neighbourhood Development Plan. It was
agreed and application should be forwarded to the Stroud District Council. Working Party members from
each council ward were appointed as follows: Cllr Nicholas representing Amberley ward, Cllr Hemmings
for Box, Cllr Morgan, North, Cllr Callaghan-Wright, South, and Cllr Mylechreest, Brimscombe. The first
meeting would be at 7.30p-m on Monday, April 20th, at The Trap House. Working party membership would
be reviewed at the annual meeting of the parish council.
62. Adoption of new Standing Orders and Financial Regulations: Cllr Hurst thanked an informal
Policies Review Working Party which had proposed adapted models of both these for the needs of
Minchinhampton Parish Council. Cllr Williams proposed and Cllr Morriss seconded the adoption of the
Standing Orders, which were agreed. After an amendment to the proposed Financial Regulations from Cllr
Ford was agreed those too were adopted, following a proposal by Cllr Morriss, seconded by Cllr Williams.
63. Financial report: The cancellation of the March Finance Committee, due to lack of business, had left
some matters in need of notification/decision.
Receipt of third party funding to replace a damaged bus shelter in Cirencester Road was therefore noted.
A quotation for £850 ex VAT for turning around the bus shelter at Hampton Fields was then considered.
This work had been requested by nearby Beeches Park residents to shield them from water splashed by
passing traffic. Cllrs were however concerned that the work should comply with the Disability
Discrimination Act and instructed the clerk to ascertain, possibly from shelter suppliers Queensbury,
whether this would be the case. The Beeches Park owners would also be approached again for a contribution
towards this work for the benefit of their residents. Copies of both correspondence would be sent to the
residents’ association.
Cllr Plank left the meeting at 8.30pm
It was proposed by Cllr Hurst, seconded in many places, that payment of 10 days holiday be made to the
clerk for the financial year 2014-15 due to the exceptional circumstances of the six months’ assistant to the
clerk vacancy.
An application for a grant towards its £2,437 summer programme was received from Minchinhampton
Youth Club. A proposal from Cllr Williams that £1,200 be granted was agreed.
It was noted that the Vosper money of £13,815.32, including interest and the Casual Vacancy donation, had
been re-invested with Bank of Scotland at one per cent for a year.
The bank reconciliation was received and showed that at March 23rd, 2015, there was £46,151 on deposit
and £11,664 in the current account. Outstanding cheques totalled £1,883 making a balance in hand of
£55,932.
64. Traffic matters: Attention was drawn to a GCC bus survey, with an extended deadline for comments of
April 24th, 2015. The survey, which had already been completed by Cllr Williams, could be found at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bus survey GCC or a version in Word was available on request from the
clerk.
A resident had written complaining about parking on the common by Beaudesert School. This prompted a
discussion which concluded that remedial measures involving the landowners the National Trust were now
imminent.
The Box Village Society chairman has written expressing concern about the long line of cars parked on the
road outside the Half Way Café.
A resident had written requesting that the bar at the end of The Park car park be opened to allow parking
further along the church wall on the common. This followed congestion caused when a funeral and a Probus
meeting coincided.
A GCC consultation http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ltp3 was received and circulated about its Local
Transport Plan with a deadline of March 27th, 2015.
A resident who e-mailed expressing concerns about perceived speeding and the 40mph roundels not being
repainted on commons’ roads had been assured that this council continued to repeatedly raise these issues.
The writer had also been advised to complain directly to the local GCC member, highways’ contractor
Amey and the police.
Assurances were received that the 40mph speed limit roundels and the cow warning signs would be
repainted on roads across the common before Marking Day.
Cllr Williams raised complaints, which he would pass to highways’ contractors Amey, about a pavement
obstruction in Market Square and house sale advertising signs attached to road signs including to Tom
Long’s Post.
65. Clerk’s report/correspondence: The GAPTC had called for resolutions by a deadline of June 5th,
2015, for its AGM on July 18th, 2015.
Cllr Ford expressed concern about a change to collection times at post boxes in central Minchinhampton.
The volunteer Cotswold Wardens had taken on the job of re-painting the kissing gate entrance to the
footpath that runs from Cuckoo Row down to King Street. The council agreed to pay for materials they
would use.
SDC had asked for comments by April 9th, 2015, about a pizza van’s application for a street trading licence
at Minchinhampton Youth Club, 5-8.30pm on Wednesdays. Members supported the application.
Minchinhampton Parish Church had written seeking access to the Bell Lane defibrillator but would be
advised all emergencies had to be routed via the emergency 999 system.
Minchinhampton Surgery had notified the council of support it had received from NHS England for its new
surgery project.
Correspondence: An invitation to a parish and town councils get-together on April 21st, 2015, from the
Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire has been postponed until July.
Neighbourhood Warden Pete Wilson had returned to work, initially part-time.
A thank-you letter was received for their grant from Minchinhampton School PTA.
An invitation was received to the CPRE AGM with speaker Sir Simon Jenkins at Elmore Court on March
27th, 2015. (Cllrs Schwartz and Hemmings were due to attend).
Information from BT about its Adopt a Kiosk campaign would be passed to Cllr Plank as it was possibly
relevant to the Amberley kiosk.
An invitation was received to the Gloucestershire Market Towns Forum on March 26th, 2015.
The “Cotswold Lion”, the Cotswolds Conservation Board newspaper was received.
Five Valley Sounds had noted the increased in their rent from August.
E-mail correspondence: Had been forwarded as follows: The GPFA “Playing Field” newsletter, GRCC
Stroud District newsletter, SDC E-News for March, two GAVCA bulletins, the National Allotments Society
spring newsletter, Stroud District Council seeking mystery shoppers to regularly give evidence of the service
received by tenants.
66. Payments of the parish council:
The following payments were approved –
Stroud Living Landscapes
`
PATA
Stroud Cleaning and Maintenance
SDC (Vestry Room rates)
GAPTC (trainings, membership)
MDL Kelex
John Freshwater
Veolia (play insps Feb and March, green sacks)
Yateman and Sons
Wages/HMRC
GCC (allotments rent)
Softlink Computer Systems Ltd.
Direct debits:
BT (phone)
BT (broadband)
Utility Warehouse
£50.00
£90.00
£88.00
£172.80
£1,553.06
£220.00
£96.82
£468.00
£270.00
£1,914.98
£225.00
£66.00
£113,71
£138.60
£176.55
67. Councillors’ items for future discussion: Reports on allotments, the Nkokoto Link and Cows on the
Commons would all be placed on the April agenda.
The meeting closed at 9.09pm.
Signed: …………………………………………………………………. Date: ………………………..