AVENING PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING OF AVENING PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON

THURSDAY, 17 JANUARY 2013 AT 7.30 PM

PRESENT: Cllr A Slater (Acting Chair), Cllr J Parsons and Cllr T Beardsell, Cllr D Conway, Cllr Mrs L Reid, Cllr AE Hicks (GCC), Mr D Bendall, PCSO P Hancock and Mrs C Braidwood (Locum Clerk)

In the absence of the Chairman, Cllr M Williamson, Cllr A Slater chaired the meeting.

1/13	Public Question Time Mr Bendall thanked Cllr Slater and the Council for quick action and support to solve the drainage issue on New Inn Lane. A spring had relocated to the middle of the road and there was a blocked culvert. A trench was dug to carry the spring water away and Cllr Hicks confirmed that Gloucestershire Highways now has a culvert clearing policy. Mr Bendall also advised that he is aware that Gloucestershire Highways has funding to repair potholes and Cllr Hicks confirmed that of the £1m available countywide, £200,000 has been allocated to Cotswold District.
2/13	Police (Attached)
2.1/13	Report About Crime And Anti Social Behaviour It was noted that no crimes were recorded in December 2012.
2.2/13	Community Speedwatch Scheme PCSO Hancock explained that 3 Cotswold parishes had trialled the scheme last year involving residents carrying out speed checks and feeding the data back to the Police. In doing so it was possible to see if there was a problem and when and where. The scheme also identifies individuals who are causing a problem. It requires 5 – 6 volunteers to work in 2 groups following training carried out by Traffic Police. The organisers have funding for 2 more sets of equipment and it was agreed to seek volunteers via the Villager.
3/13	Apologies And Reasons For Absence Cllr Mrs C Mitchell (Personal), Cllr M Williamson (Personal), Cllr Mrs G Parsons (Personal) and John Catterall (Personal)
4/13	Code of Conduct
4.1/13	Declarations Of Interest in Items on the Agenda None
4.2/13	Updates to Members Register Interested (if appropriate) None
5/13	Matters Arising From The Minutes None
6/13	Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Thursday, 22 November 2012. RESOLUTION 1/13 Proposed : Cllr J Parsons Seconded: Cllr A Slater The Minutes were then agreed as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chairman.
7/13	Action Points For Review
	Grit Bins Not yet progressed and deferred to the next meeting.
	Bench at Rectory Lane Cherington Forge has quoted £70 to re-install the repaired bench and has been instructed to proceed whilst it may not take place until after the end of March.
	Village Hall Lease Agreement It would appear that the copy in the file is the final version.
	Wood Cladding of Bus Shelter The Clerk confirmed having requested a quote from Cherington Forge.
	Sports England Grant funding for Sports Pitch Information was forwarded to Cllr Mrs Mitchell following the last meeting. However, it would appear that no suitable funding is currently available and the Clerk was requested to invite representatives of APFA to come to a future meeting to discuss the way forward.
	Replacement Notice Board for Nags Head In view of a quote having been obtained from Arien Signs amounting to £928 + VAT it was agreed to investigate refurbishment of the existing board.
8/13	Progress Reports For Information Telephone Kiosks as Book Depositories The Clerk advised that instruction from CDC’s Conservation Officer had been passed to Mrs Godfrey who had confirmed that shelving would not damage the structure. Advice re Declarations of Interest / Dispensations when considering the Precept GAPTC had advised that Members required dispensation to discuss the Precept but this had been overruled by the Department for Communities and Local Government. HMRC Real Time PAYE HMRC is phasing in real time payments for PAYE and NICs from 1 April 2013. This will require the Council to use internet banking.
9/13	Community Issues & Projects
9.1/13	Traffic And Highways Junction Scheme The first proposal has been turned down by GCC technicians and the new scheme is estimated to cost £25,000. There is currently only £9,000 available from various contributors and the work is low priority as there is no accident data. However, Members advised that Mrs J Jelliman had been knocked off her bicycle and Cllr Hicks agreed to negotiate with Officers to try to reinstate the original scheme. General Cllr Hicks advised that GCC funding will be cut back again next year (report to be circulated by the Clerk) and Highways only option will be to patch potholes. It was suggested that spraying could be more effective and Cllr Hicks agreed to make enquiries.
	Update on Drainage Issues It was acknowledged that the potholes on Old Hill are a serious problem as is the bridge which is preventing the free flow of water. This is considered low priority as no housing is affected. It was noted that the sluices which control the overflow from Cherington Lake may need cleaning and that there should be planned maintenance. There is a further meeting with Highways Officers on 25 January.
9.2/13	Community Issues
	Flood Alleviation for Avening Primary School and School Lane Cllr Hicks (GCC) and Cllr Parsons had met with Highways Officers to discuss flooding at the school. It was agreed that whilst it is not an acute problem it does need to go on the priority list and the cost estimated. Cllr Hicks suggested that the Parish Council might like to contribute towards the cost and Cllr Parsons hoped that some funding will come from CDC.
10/13	Finance
10.1/13	Bank Reconciliation and Budget Status up to 31 December 2012 (Attached) Noted.
10.2/13	Bills For Payment RESOLUTION 2/13 It was unanimously RESOLVED to pay the following bills. · Braidwood - Locum Clerk 29 Dec 2012 – 25 Jan 2013 and Expenses · HMRC – Locum Clerk PAYE · Fred Venning – Blue Plaques · Fred Venning – Avening History expenses · Fenweb – Website Updates · Royal Mail – Redirection of post	£ 279.57 £ 53.80 £ 82.75 £ 149.75 £ 789.00 £ 19.00
10.3/13	Changes to Precept Calculations It was noted that properties claiming Council tax benefit have been removed from Precept calculations. A grant of £1,472 will be paid by CDC to the Parish Council in lieu of precept for these properties in 2013/14.
10.4/14	Contribution to PCC Wall Repairs RESOLUTION 3/13 Following a request from Avening PCC, it was unanimously RESOLVED to make a donation of £500 to the Parochial Church Council this year to allow clearance of trees in preparation for repairs to the wall.
10.5/13	Budget for 2013- 2014 and Precept Request RESOLUTION 4/13 It was unanimously RESOLVED to include a budget of £3,000 for Countryside Conservation and to approve the final 2013-2014 budget as attached. RESOLUTION 5/13 It was further RESOLVED to increase the precept by 4.5% per Band D property. This calculates at £23,545 plus the grant to compensate for properties claiming Council Tax benefit of £1,472 giving a final total of £25,107 for the coming year. This will represent an increase of £2.30 per annum per Band D property.
11/13	Planning
11.1/13	Response to the following New Planning Applications None
11.2/13	Applications Responded to Since Last Meeting
	12/04565/FUL Land Parcel Ruggers Green Wood And Oldfield Wood, West End, Avening, Gloucestershire, Retention of existing residential mobile home and touring caravan and associated four car parking spaces. Erection of five timber sheds for storage and animal housing Response by: 16 December 2012 Avening Parish Council strongly objected to this application.
	12/04942/LBC 25 Point Road , Avening , Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8NA  Installation of solar panels to south-east roof slope and associated internal works  Response 9 January 2013 No Objections
11.3/13	To Note Decision Notices Received
	12/04764/FUL Old Nags Head, Nags Head Lane, Avening, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8NZ Erection of single storey rear extension and porch Response by: 29 November 2012 Permitted 26 December 2012
	12/04765/LBC Old Nags Head, Nags Head Lane, Avening, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8NZ Erection of single storey rear extension and porch Response by: 29 November 2012 Permitted 26 December 2012
	12/05117/TCONR Carrigoona, New Inn Lane, Avening, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8NB 1) remove centre tree of 3 Beech. , 2) Right hand tree looking from house - remove smaller of two trunks. , 3) Left hand tree - crown raise by removing lower four limbs Response by: 27 November 2012 No objections
11.4/13	Development proposals in neighbouring local authority areas - Finding out about planning applications near your parish Noted
12/13	Correspondence Received
	GRCC’s Request to Update Avening’s Parish Plan Noted. Deferred to the next meeting.
	CDC’s Community Governance Review Update Noted.
	CDC’s notification re Ownership of land at Sunground Noted.
	List of Information Circulated in November and December Noted.
	Invitation to GAVCA’s Seminar – How to Improve Funding Applications Noted
	GRCC – Cotswold Parish Network Event – 12 February 2013 Noted.
13/13	The next Meeting of Avening Parish Council will be held on Thursday, 21 February 2013 In Avening Memorial Hall at 7.30 pm. All Are Welcome

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 9.40 pm