MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL Dec 2008

MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2008 PRESENT: Cllr C Hancock (Chairman and Mayor), Cllr Mrs J Lawrence (Vice Chairman and Deputy Mayor), Cllr N Blades (arrived at 7.50 pm), Cllr Mrs S Burgess, Cllr D Cotton, Cllr M Gaut, Cllr Mrs J Moss, Cllr Mrs J Pullin, Cllr R Sanders, Cllr A Wellman and also Mrs Caroline Braidwood (Clerk), and 1 member of the Press.
277/08	Public Question Time (1) - Standing Order 22 refers None.

278/08	Apologies and Reasons for Absence Cllr Mavis Lady Dunrossill (County), Cllr Mark Tufnell (District)

279/08	Acceptance and signing of Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 21 October 2008 Proposed: Cllr Mrs J Lawrence Seconded: Cllr Mrs J Pullin and unanimously RESOLVED to confirm the Minutes as a true and accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.

280/08	Declaration of Interests None

281/08 *Action:* *Action:*	To Discuss any Matters Arising from the above Minutes not included on the Agenda Mill End Road Markings The Clerk confirmed that she had chased Gloucestershire Highways. Dog Faeces Members advised that further complaints have been received and the Clerk was asked to investigate ways of addressing the problem.

282/08	To Co-Opt to Fill the Two Vacancies for Councillor It was unanimously RESOLVED to co-opt Mrs Jenny Moss to fill one of the vacancies.

283/08	Police Report
	Sgt Martin Jones reported that: · Crime in the area is down by 26% although on a national level it would be expected to rise in the current economic climate. · A Drugs warrant had been issued to a resident of the Town and resulted in an arrest. · Drugs dog has been put through licensed premises in Town on 2 occasions and nothing has been found. Sgt Jones commented that this is a good sign as the dog would pick up on any sign of drugs being present within a period of time. · Sgt Jones encouraged resident to notify incidents to the Police so that they can take action. · It transpired that criminal damage that had been blamed on youths was proved to be caused by a 31 year old. · Youth Partnership meeting is taking place next Wednesday to determine the future of the Youth Club. · During the forthcoming Christmas period the Police will be targeting county pubs and lanes for drink driving. · Cllr Wellman thanked Sgt Jones for supporting the Town’s previous PCSO Mark Williams. · Sgt Jones hoped that PCSO Brian Stagg would be able to attend the next meeting.

284/08	Finance
284.1/08	Report from the Chairman of the Finance Committee Cllr Mrs Lawrence advised that the Committee had been considering options and preparing the budget for next year.
284.2/08	Budget Planning and Precept Request 2009 – 2010 Proposed: Cllr C Hancock Seconded: Cllr A Wellman and unanimously RESOLVED to request a Precept of £49,062 representing an increase of 2.5% on the current year.
284.3/08	Budget Status up to 30 November 2008 Noted
284.4/08	Bills for Payment for November 2008 Proposed: Cllr C Hancock Seconded: Cllr D Cotton and unanimously RESOLVED to pay.
284.5/08	Donation Request from North Cotswolds Voluntary Help Centre Proposed: Cllr A Wellman Seconded: Cllr Mrs J Pullin and unanimously RESOLVED to pay £75.

285/08	Planning and Tree Works
285.1/08	Schedule of New Planning Applications, Applications Responded to and Decision Notices Received Noted
285.2/08	To Receive Report from the Chairman of the Planning Committee Nothing further to report.

286/08	Property and Premises Maintenance Committee
286.1/08	Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 24 November 2008 Noted
286.2/08	To Receive Report from the Chairman of the PPM Committee Cllr Wellman advised that the Committee recommended maintaining the current budget into the next financial year and recommended that Cemetery fees be increased from 1 April 2009. It was unanimously RESOLVED to increase Cemetery fees by approx. 18% as attached.

287/08	Westwoods Committee
287.1/08	Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 17 October 2008 Noted.
287.2/08 *Action:*	Report from the Chairman of the Westwoods Committee Cllr Blades advised that the new curtains are now hung in the Fortey Hall and he thanked Cllr Mrs Pullin for her work in making them. He advised that the Committee wish to continue with decorating next year and possibly replace carpets. He also advised that the Hall floor had been damaged during a recent event due to the seal having worn away and water getting into the blocks. The cost of carrying out the work is being investigated as the one quotation received amounts to £5,000. The Bar area also needs to be refurbished. Cllr Blades advised that the LAN gamers have booked 3 weekends next year and that these should provide a good income.

288/08 *Action:*	Report from the Multi Use Games Area Working Group The Final report had been circulated with a recommendation that the Project is taken forward at Westwoods site. It was unanimously RESOLVED to make the Report available on the Town website with hard copy at various outlets in the Town and request written comments from the general public by 28 January 2009.

289/08	Updates from Other Working Groups and Projects
289.1/08	Town Plan Working Group Mr P Moore’s synopsis of the questionnaire results was circulated. He explained the makeup of the WG and went through his report highlighting some of results. He advised that the results would be made available to all residents at an Open meeting to be held at the Cotswold Hall where the issues would be prioritised and that the Steering Group would now become the Implementation Group. Mr Moore announced the winners of the prize draw: Mr J Fothergill - £100, Briony Smith £25 and Cait Bleakley £25 Members acknowledged that a good response had been received.
289.2/08 *Action:*	Drainage – Email from Gloucestershire Highways re Proposed Drainage Scheme at All Alone, Northleach Noted. This proposal was generally considered to be very welcome and the Clerk was requested to make enquiries of the Historical Society into the origins of the ditch.
289.3/08 *Action:*	Clerk’s Report on Other Current Projects Noted. Members were asked for assistance with outstanding projects and it was suggested that the Historical Society might take on the cataloguing of the Starwort memorabilia, PPMC could take on the Rose Miles Memorial and Cllr Mrs Moss would consider looking at development of the Website and Newsletter.

290/08	Correspondence
290.1/08	Communities and Local Government : Codes of Conduct for local authority members and employees – A consultation http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/codesconductconsultation It was agreed that Members would respond individually.
290.2/08 *Action:*	Cotswold District Council – Settlement Hierarchy Topic Paper – http://consult.cotswold.gov.uk/portal/shtp It was agreed that this would be discussed with development of the Vision for Northleach and circulated to Members for 8 December.
290.3/08 *Action:*	Adopt Model Publication Scheme for Freedom of Information Act It was RESOLVED to adopt the Model Scheme and that the Clerk together with the Chairman and Vice Chairman would develop the Publication notice.
290.4/08 *Action:*	Plus any other urgent items received since publication of the agenda CDC Clean Neighbourhoods In the light of CDC’s new policy and the many complaints of dog fouling, it was agreed to arrange a high profile campaign with CDC’s Officers.

291/08	Chairman’s Report Listed Table Top Tombs Cllr Hancock confirmed that a meeting has been arranged with Cllr Sanders and a representative of the PCC. Cllr Mrs Moss agreed to investigate funding sources. Christmas Tree Lights The lights on the Christmas Tree had this year been switched on by Primary School children with great excitement. War Memorial The Chairman requested that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr A Didcote for his work. MUGA GRCC may be able to arrange 3^rd Sector match assistance if this project is to be progressed. GPFA AGM in Tewkesbury Cllr Hancock confirmed that he had attending their meeting earlier today and advised that KGV Playing Field had come slightly above half way up overall in the competition for the best Gloucestershire Playing Field. The grass needed cutting when judges inspected the Northleach field and the Poulton was judged the best maintained. It was noted that the annual budget for GPFA is £11,000.

292/08	Representatives on Other Bodies
292.1/08	Youth Club Cllr Mrs Pullin advised that a meeting of the Northleach Youth Partnership is to take place next Wednesday at Westwoods when it is hoped to develop the future provision for youth in the Town. It was noted that there have been no incidents involving youths in the Market Place since the Youth Club has been closed. Youth leaders are still working on the streets and it was acknowledged that the youth of the Town should be supported.
292.2/08	Parochial Church Council and Church Restoration Fund – Cllr D Cotton and Cllr C Hancock confirmed that the Restoration fund is now closed after raising a large amount of money in short period of time. The Church heating system has been upgraded. Members were also advised that a new curate will be ordained on 6 December by the Bishop of Tewkesbury.
292.3/08	Safer Cotswold and Community Crime Panel Cllr Mrs J Pullin was Unable to attend the last meeting.
292.4/08	Northleach Primary School Nothing new to report.
292.5/08	Neighbourhood Watch Nothing new to report.

293/08	Any Other Business It was requested that when the agenda is emailed to Members that 5 hard copies of full agenda should be available for meetings. Parking by the War Memorial PPMC was asked to look at parking solutions around the War Memorial and complaints were made about cars being parked in the Market Place all day thereby reducing short stay parking provision for people using local shops.

294/08	Public Question Time (2) - Standing Order 22 refers None.