MINUTES OF THE BISLEY-WITH-LYPIATT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday 15^th February 2001 at BISLEY W I HALL

Mrs P Carrick		Chairman
Mr M G Flint	}
Mrs J M Martin	}	Bisley Ward
Mr J P L Perkins	}
Mr N S Rogers	}
Mr R K Brooks	}
Mrs J W Russell	}	Eastcombe Ward
Mrs O M Turner	}
Mr A C Newman	}
Mr R N Budgeon	}	Oakridge Ward
Mr R S Bryant	}
Mrs E F Jordan		Clerk

In attendance: County Cllr Mr C Fellows

1.		Apologies for Absence
		Apologies were received from Mr T G Carter (previous appointment) and District Councillor L C Green.
2.		Public Participation
		Nothing was raised under this heading
3.		Minutes of Previous Meeting
		The minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January having been circulated to all members were approved and the Chairman signed the Minute Book.
4.		Matters Arising
		a)	Next Year’s Road Repairs
			Requests for road repairs in the Parish next year have been received from both Bisley and Eastcombe for forwarding to the Highways Authority but the Clerk is still awaiting a list from Oakridge.
		b)	Message in a Bottle
			This is going well in all Wards
		c)	Rural Access Study
			The Chairman stated that she was willing to participate in the Steering Group.
		d)	County Highways Letters
			Some white lining has now been done in the Parish. The Clerk was asked to write to the Highways Authority to let them know that there is still a considerable amount of work outstanding. The Clerk was asked to reply to the Divisional Surveyor’s letter of 16 January accepting his offer to meet with the snow wardens next September to discuss procedures.
5.		District Council Matters
		Nothing was raised under this heading.
6.		County Council Matters
		Cllr Fellows told the meeting of a proposed meeting at Thomas Keble School on Monday, 9^th April at 10.00 in order that he may introduce the new Chief Executive of Gloucestershire County Council. He hoped that both the Chairmen and Parish Clerks of all Parish Councils could attend to discuss local issues. Cllr Fellows also stated that at a meeting on 14^th February, a tax increase had been set. Cllr Fellow told the meeting that following changes, the County Council would adopt a cabinet style administration similar to Stroud DC.. There should be £100K available for the Stroud area for a Rural Grant initiative. Receipt of these monies would be conditional upon either financial contribution from the Parish Councils or assistance in kind for projects.
7.		Finance
	Receipts: Lloyds Bank Interest Oakridge Village Hall (Share of water bill) Midlands Electricity – Wayleaves Cash balances as at 31 January 2001			£5309.00	8.00 20.31 43.32 £71.63

	Payments:
			Service	VAT	Total
	John Davis – repair of Stonecote Ridge Notice Board Oakridge Village Hall Trust (Hire of Hall Oct and Dec) Local Council Review (Annual Subscription) E F Jordan (Clerk’s Petty Cash) Salary Cheque – Clerk January Inland Revenue/NI		6.50 23.70 9.99 50.00 405.85 21.53		6.50 23.70 9.99 50.00 405.85 21.53
	Total Payments				£517.57
	THE LOCK UP ACCOUNT Balance as at 5 February 2001 - £1843.58 The application was signed in order that this account can be transferred into a Premier Interest Account thus attracting a better rate of interest.
8.	Matters for Discussion
	a)	20 mph – Bisley
		A letter has been received from The Traffic Manager confirming that the speed limit will be in place as soon as possible in the new financial year. It was not considered possible to extend the speed limit beyond the Windy House junction but Cllr Fellows offered to write to the Highways Authority and draw their attention to this anomaly.
	b)	Stancombe Village Signs
		A site meeting is to be held with Mr Jenkins on Friday, 23^rd February to discuss the siting of the proposed new signs.
	c)	Windyridge
		The Chairman of the Bisley Ward told the meeting of the Public Meeting that had been held on Wednesday, 7^th February, which was well attended and answered many questions from the public. Matters should now progress in the normal way and it is possible that work on the first ten units could start in June.
	d)	Modernising Local Government
		The Programme of Best Value Reviews 2001/02 was discussed and the Clerk was requested to write and ask for clarification of the terms ‘Services to Travellers’ and ‘Cross-cutting’. The Parish Councillors also wished to put on record the apparent lack of communication with the Highways Authority when projects were going to take place.
	e)	Standards Committee
		After considerable discussion, it was put by Mr Brooks that the Parish Councillors had noted the paper but RESOLVED not to reply to any questions.
	f)	Contact with Authorities
		After various misunderstandings and duplications of requests last month it was agreed that Parish Councillors would always go through the Chairman or the Clerk when contact was to be made with the different Authorities. However, Snow Wardens would still make their requests for information and assistance with their usual contacts.
	g)	Approval of Grass Cutting Contracts
		A Quotation had been received from Wiltshire Direct. In view of the increase in cost over last year, the Clerk was asked to contact them and ascertain the reason. The Ward Chairmen requested maps and conditions for grass cutting of the grass verges for their wards.
	h)	Possible change in format of Parish Council Meetings
		This item was postponed until the next meeting.
	i)	Middle Hill Footpath
		A letter has been received from the Network Improvement Unit regarding this project and the Parish Council’s request for details of the criteria for deciding on footways, i.e. the decision to provide a footway in Middle Hill and not provide one in Bisley. The letter stated that the number of accidents, link to schools and potential volume of users all came into the equation. Under this assessment system, Middle Hill Footway scores 625 whilst the path in Bisley Village scores 160.
	j)	Proposed Modification to Environmental Weight Restrictions
		There were no comments to make in respect of the letter received from the Traffic Manager regarding this item.

	k)		Housing Needs Survey
			The letter from Stroud District Council’s Development Officer regarding the survey 1999-2000 was noted.
	l)		Planning – Possible changes to Planning Reporting
		This item was postponed until the next meeting.
9.	Planning
	The following applications had been received and considered in January.
	a)	Bisley
		Limekiln Farm, Middle Lypiatt – Retrospective application for retention of outbuilding. Change of use from agriculture to mixed use and keeping of horses for non-commercial use. This application was objected to on the grounds that the plan showed insufficient detail in respect of materials, construction, dimensions and number of stable units. The impact of the increase in traffic movement should be addressed. Graduate Gardeners – Calfway Lane – Erection of detached machinery shed and poly tunnel. Supported.
	b)	Eastcombe
		The Bungalow – Erection of extensions – No observations.
	c)	Oakridge
		Lynch Cottage – Erection of extension – Supported. Bywell Cottage, Tunley – To allow use of parts of Cart Shed as ancillary accommodation to main dwelling – Object. It was a critical element of both the original recommendation and the subsequent consent
10.	Correspondence – January
	During the month, the following correspondence was received which was made available on the table at the meeting.
	Gloucestershire CC			Gloucestershire Medal for Courage 2000
	Gloucestershire Voluntary Car Services			Leaflet – how the service works
	Gloucestershire Environment SDC Crime & Disorder Partnership Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association Gloucestershire Rural Transport Partnership SDC (Chief Executive) Community Watch SDC Housing & Environmental Services			Road Safety in Gloucestershire Minutes of bi-annual meeting & Report Annual Report and request for funding Invitation to meeting on 22 February and Agenda Invitation to attend meeting to discuss new SDC Constitution 6 March Rural Policing Strategy Stroud District’s Spring Clean 2001 – request for volunteers
11.	Ward Matters
	a)		Bisley
			The Clerk was asked to write to Severn Trent to request a list of work, which will be undertaken in the Parish in the next financial year. The path from Windyridge to Bearsfield is presently obstructed by an overhanging hedge from property owned by Bisley Charities. Mrs Russell is to deal with this matter.
	b)		Eastcombe
			A wall on the perimeter of the playing field is crumbling. The clerk was requested to obtain a quote for its repair before it deteriorated.
			Mrs Russell enquired as to when the width restriction sign in Eastcombe promised early in January would be in place. The clerk will chase.
	c)		Oakridge
			Enquiries are to be made by the clerk as to whether the road between Little Avenis and Avenis Green is to be adopted by the Highways Authority.
			The DETR paper, Our Countryside, The Future, A Fair Deal for Rural England had been discussed at the Ward Meeting and it was requested that this now be discussed at the next Parish Council Meeting.
12.	Date and Place of Next Meeting The next meeting is to be held at the Bisley Women’s Institute Hall at 7.30 on Wednesday, 7^th March 2001
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.10.p.m.