SHERSTON PARISH COUNCIL

SHERSTON PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SHERSTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 8 TH JANUARY 2009 AT 7.30PM, IN SHERSTON VILLAGE HALL. PRESENT Chairman Vice-Chairman Mr J Matthews (JM) Mr M Rea (MR) Councillors Mrs C Browett (CB) Mr T Weedon (TW) Mr G Martin (GCM) Mrs M Jolliffe (MJ) Mr D Hibbard (DH) Mr P Cutcher (PC) Mr J Hillier (JH) Mr L Price (LP) Mrs C Liddington (PL) District Councillor There were two members of the public present. 1139 Declaration of Conflict of Interest No declarations made. Item 1140 Apologies Councillors Mr G Morris, Mr L Price and Mr Trevor Moody. 1141 Public Questions No questions at this point. 1142 Approval of Minutes of last meeting. MR asked for the following amendments to be made: minute reference 1131.11 NWDC still had funds available not WCC. 1134.5 To include the footpath group are covered under the insurance policy. The Minutes were corrected and then approved for proposal by JH and seconded by CL. The November minutes which had been amended since the December meeting were also approved. 1143 Planning 1143.1 PC has compiled a document which lays down a framework for the planning sub committee titled Planning sub committee terms of reference. It is a draft document and PC asked the Council for their views. MJ wanted the wording of the first paragraph to be rephrased if possible as she does not like the sentence - The subcommittee has no specific powers. JM mentioned to the Council that it was not just the planning sub- committee who has little powers but the Parish Council also. PC to amend document and will circulate once done. The Parish Council all approve terms of reference and once amended it will be put on website and notice board. 1143.2 Knockdown Quarry. A planning application has come through for an extension for the quarry. The quarry is running out of tile and would like to extract new stone from 4 new sections of ground, which would take over ten years to extract. There is to be no additional buildings, no new entrance, no importation of any waste and only a couple more lorries per week. If the quarry extension goes ahead 9 more people will be employed. MR has asked Richard Skeffington who specialises in hydrology to read the application and report back to the Parish council. MR spoke to WCC and was told that there will be many conditions in place such as a restoration programme, monitoring dust levels and working hours. PC suggests a planning sub- committee meeting be held once the Parish Council has Mr Skeffingtons report on the application. The Parish Council have until the 28 th January to comment on 1

the application. All other plans were amended plans and schedules. There was a short planning meeting held after the council meeting to discuss these. 1143.3 JM brought up his concern with the short time scales given for the Parish Council to comment on applications and has asked SW to note when the applications arrive. ACTION PC to contact Mr Skeffington and organise other meeting. SW to note when planning applications are received. Correspondence 1144.1 NWDC Sex Establishments (The Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982) A consultation on the Statement of Sex Establishment Policy and Regulations for Wiltshire Council is now under way. Please see clerk if you would like to view consultation. 1144.2 Community First, Post Office Services. Information has been sent through from Community First regarding the closure of local post offices and the discussions around providing alternative post office solutions for towns and villages that have lost their post office. As Sherston Post Office is still operating successfully it does not really affect Sherston. 1144.3 Parish Steward WCC have sent the latest time table and programme for the Parish Steward. 1144.4 NWDC Training NWDC are to hold a planning training day, details given to PC. 1144.5 Information Leaflets Safety and information leaflets have been sent to the Parish Council. There are fire safety cards which are targeted at the vulnerable whose houses might be at risk from fire, and leaflets about healthy eating and winter well being. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue originally wanted the Parish Council to give one to each person that they believed was possibly vulnerable. MR was uncomfortable with this idea and will speak to surgery just in case they have concerns over certain residents. MR also to put details in newsletter and MJ to give to relevant clubs. LATE CORRESPONDENCE 1144.6 Sherston Primary school has sent an invitation to all Councillors for the opening of the new classroom. It is on Thursday the 22 nd January at 2pm. 1144.7 Malmesbury Police has compiled a local newsletter which includes a list of incidents that have occurred in the area during November and December. The incidents are relatively low level crime however good to be made aware of such occurrences. 1144.8 There is to be a Malmesbury Area (1) Committee and Area Board (pilot) meeting on the 21 st. MR stressed the importance of this meeting however both MR and JM unable to attend. As no other Councillors can make meeting SW will try and attend. 1144.9 A scheme to create a No Cold Callers zone has been suggested by PC Bowden (Malmesbury Rural Community Beat Manager). They have proved to be a great success in other areas and could serve to be a valuable tool in the fight against trading standards offences and distraction burglaries. PC Bowden is seeking initial feedback from the community. There was mixed reaction to this idea by Councillors and it was decided that the Neighbourhood Watch should discuss the scheme and ask residents their views. 1144.10 Tree Warden Scheme. There is to be a Tree Warden launch held at Lackham College on the 31 st January 2008. MR to e mail footpath group to ask if anyone would be interested in taking on 2

this role. MR asked if the Parish Council would pay for travelling expenses as the event is out of the village. The council agreed that this would be possible. 1144.11 NWDC Licensing. Information has been sent regarding the consultation on the Licensing Act. Comments have to be made by the 4 th March this item will be put on next months agenda. 1144.12 Credit Crunch Survey. Community First are seeking views of organisations or community groups on the effects of the credit crunch on their own group/organisation and the people and communities they work with. MR to send questionnaires to relevant groups in the village. SW to send questionnaire to MR. 1144.13 Xmas lights. MJ asked if it would be possible to purchase more Christmas lights for the High Street for next year. MJ thought that the High Street could do with more lights and be spread out a bit more. CL informed the Council that no other home owners in the High Street wanted to display the PC Christmas lights on their houses. Maybe next year with new home owners in the High Street there might be more interest. MR to speak to surgery regarding Fire Safety cards. SW to send MR credit crunch survey. 1145 Finance 1145.1 The receipts, balances and accounts for payment were circulated. The Accounts were proposed for approval by TW and seconded by MJ. 1145.2 Thank you letters. Bobby Trust Van has written to thank the Parish Council for their donation in December. Noel Banks and Paul Moody have e mailed to thank the Parish Council for their gifts at Christmas. 1145.3 2009 Precept GCM has produced and circulated the draft Budget for 2009/10. JM would like to thank GCM for his time and effort on the accounts. At the December meeting the 2009 Precept was discussed but with the uncertainty of next years budget. Since that meeting GCM received the figures from WCC regarding the increase in Band D properties. GCM suggested to the Council that the precept should be put up only by inflation and the increase in the number of Band D properties. The increase in Band D dwelling equivalents for Sherston for 2009/10 is 705 (2008/9 695) or an increase of 1.44%. The increase in RPI to November 2008 is 3.0%. The compound increase in 4.5% i.e. (705/695) 3.0%. An increase of 4.5% gives precept of 22,363, rounded to 22,400. This figure would be keeping up with inflation and the increase in band D properties. MR gave GCM an updated account of the costs of the newsletter as costs have reduced precept expectations. The Bank balance at the end of the 2009/2010 period would be 988, much less than usually left in reserve but a reasonable amount. The budget has to recognise the risk of the Old School project not progressing and the possible loss of 13500. Hopefully this will not happen and that amount of money can be spent on other priorities but the risk needs to be recognised. TW proposes that the precepts for 2009/10 is 22,400 an increase of 4.5% (less than 2 a year per property) Mr Mather a member of the public suggested that the Parish Council should freeze the precept figure for year as it would be well received by the village. JM takes on Mr Mathers view but believes that the Parish Council are unfortunately not in the position to do this. The figure of 22,400 for 2009/10 precept and the budget proposed is approved by all Council who are all in agreement. 3

GCM wanted to make an observation. Over the five year period 2003-2008 total houses in Sherston have risen by 10.7% (705/637). Over the same period band D houses for rating have risen by 8% (705/648). Band D properties for rating have fallen short of total properties by 1.9%. The implication is that the provision of lower cost housing has outweighed the provision of executive housing over this period. The Council formally approved the budget as drafted. SW and GCM to fill out precept form and SW to send to NWDC. Environment, Parish Lands and General Services Committee. 1146.1 Old School JM updates public about the meeting held with WCC, members of the Old School Committee and the agent for the Diocese. The outcome of this meeting was discussed at the Parish Councils December meeting. The figure which was offered to the Diocese was 398,000 which includes the land at the rear of the village hall. The amount is being considered by the Diocese and Mr Dawson the agent for the Diocese will be in contact with the final decision. The Old School Committee have been sent the original overage clause document but was sent back due to it s over complicated terms. Clarification of this clause is needed before any more progress can be made. Mr Mather asked how the purchase of the land at rear of the village hall was being financed. It was explained that part of the purchase would be financed by partly by the village hall and partly by the trust. Mr Mather also asked about what the intrest rate of the loan will be. GCM explained that the exact figure will only be given when the loan is drawn and it will be fixed. The Public Loans body publish their latest rates every couple of months. GCM will obtain the latest intrest rates. GCM is very positive about the purchase of the old school but is aware that the Old School Committee and Parish Council have to be very careful how it happens. PC will keep Mr Mather informed about any progress. 1146.2 Sportsfield there has been slight progress with the wall but it is not obvious. MR to speak to Mr Neal, the waller. 1146.3 Recreation Ground there are problems with the wall near the entrance. Noel Banks will be asked to take a look. Playdale have agreed to carry out some repairs on equipment however a 2004 English Landscapes Invoice is needed to give an idea of the cost of landscaping. SW to find. MR still waiting to hear regarding the disabled swing. 1146.4 Funding MR applied for funding from the Parish Improvement Grant and was asked to prioritise items needed due to the high number of applications. MR put in the order of priority as follows 1. New bus shelter for Easton Town 2. Notice Board 3. Litter bins for sportsfield Unfortunately the Parish Council were too late for the Grove Road light and will re-apply again. MR is looking into the possible funding opportunity for a Walks booklet. 1146.5 Footpaths There is to be a footpath group meeting held in the village hall on the 21 st January. 7.30pm village hall. 1146.5 Community Plan MR compiled and circulated a draft proposed response for Sheston s Community Plan and asked the Council for their views on the document. GCM was not happy with point 6 - The provision, in response to identifiable need within the parish, of extra care and social housing preferably on brown field sites but with there being no further significant private housing development. GCM believes that point 6 should read The provision, response to identifiable need within the parish, of extra care housing on brown field sites. There should be no further significant private housing development. 4

GCM is concerned that the village could inevitably end up with more houses and does not want this to happen; only extra care housing for the elderly should be built which would free up existing houses for other people in the village. MJ also shares GCM s concern. MR disagreed and believed that there was a need for affordable housing and reminded councillors of the recent housing survey which indicated 19 houses were needed in the village. MR went on to say that the surgery was short of patients and need to attract new patients in order to justify 3 doctors. A discussion then took place and it was decided that a vote was needed to decide whether to use MR s statement or GM s. Seven councillors were in favour of using GCM s point 6 over 2 in favour in using MR s. MR to contact Mr Neale regarding sportsfield wall. Noel Banks to be asked to repair Penny mead wall. 1147 Matters Arising at the discretion of the Chairman 1147.1 CB was approached by Mr and Mrs Outlaw of Knockdown Road regarding the need for a lamppost at the top of Knockdown Road. MR informed CB that the cost of a new lamppost was 2000 and WCC will not pay for any new lighting. 1147.2 CLARENCE has been informed of pot holes on Gaston s Lane. 1147.3 MJ informed the Council that there had been a lot of activity at the Luckington Road, small holding site but the campervan was currently not there. 1148 Items for Press and Newsletter. All previously discussed in meeting. 1149 Time and Date of next meeting The next Parish Council meeting will be on the 12 th February in the Village Hall at 7.30pm. 1150 Public Question Time Mr Mather would like to thank SW for the information she obtained from WCC regarding traffic numbers on the B4040. This information has helped Mr Mather to carry out compensation claim against Bristol water. The meeting closed at 9.00 pm. Sarah Wood Clerk to Sherston Parish Council 5