HAM AND STONE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at Stone Village Hall On Monday 17 th September 2018

1. Attendance: Councillor G Langdon Councillor D Clark Councillor E Stokes Councillor S Dunbabin Councillor C Miller Clerk: Mrs E V Lewis County Councillor J Cordwell

Apologies: Received from Cllr & District Cllr P Wride and Cllr P Case

2. Public Forum No members of the public present .

3. Members Register of Interests – None reported

4. Minutes of the Meetings held on July 16th 2018 - confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Vice Chairman.

5. To note County Councillors Report – John Cordwell: County Council meeting 12 th September The motions considered and the outcomes were: Accessibility through the Shire Hall complex (Lab/Lib): To carry out an audit and implement the findings to make it easier for people with disabilities get around the buildings. (This was tabled for the previous meeting, but the time allowed for motions had run out.) Unanimous support. Call for a People’s Vote on Brexit (Lib Dem): Seeking County Council support for this to take place. Conservatives all voted against, so it fell. The rest voted for the motion apart from two Labour abstentions. Diabetes (Lib Dem): The motion refers specifically to Type 1 diabetes and calls on the County Council to coordinate an awareness campaign on its symptoms and dangers with Clinical Commissioning Group and Gloucestershire’s schools, including academies. Unanimous support with a minor amendment that it should also go to the Health and Care Overview Scrutiny Committee. Ethical Care Charter (Labour): Asking the Council to sign up to this charter to support the “committed but poorly paid and treated” homecare workforce. So far 30 councils and a number of social care companies have signed up to this. In fact, the County Council already achieves much of what is in the charter. Conservatives argued that they had no control over the way care companies worked. The counter-argument was that the council could decide which companies it employed. The motion was lost. Extraordinary meeting of the County Council on the rise of the previous meeting The Green Party members of the council with Liberal Democrat and Labour support had called for this meeting. It asked for the appointment of a cabinet member with specific responsibility for mitigation and adaptation in response to climate change. The day before the meeting the Conservatives sent a press release to the media ( not via the council’s press office, so other council members had to pick it up in the media) saying they had appointed an extra cabinet member, making a total of ten, and rejigged two cabinet portfolios. They also amended the wording of the motion, which the Green Party proposers accepted. It was then carried unanimously. Under repeated subsequent questioning from Liberal Democrats, the newly appointed Conservative Cabinet Member for Climate Change refused to confirm or deny his belief in manmade climate change… Gloucester City Council move There is an intention for the City Council to give up its offices in the docks and to move into spare accommodation in Shire Hall next February. This could also lead to some shared services. There are concerns over the scrutiny and accountability of officers under such an arrangement. Chief Fire Officer As reported to you at your previous meeting, the Chief Fire Officer has resigned. There is an ongoing audit investigation. The police have also become involved. County Council members and officers have been strongly advised not to comment on this at present as it could prejudice the process. The Police and Crime Commissioner appears to have seen this as an opportunity to relaunch his bid to take over the fire & rescue service. Cllr Cordwell also discussed that the Highways contract is up for renewal, and three companies have bid for the contract.

6. To note District Councillors Report – Penny Wride: The new draft of the revisions for the local plan are being brought to the September Council Environment Committee for discussion. There is a slight revision to the development envelope to include Mr Taylor's land, copy of the map has been sent to Clerk. The Vale Orchard green space looks as though it could be included for building. There are going to be improvements to the cycle footpath from Berkeley Heath to Berkeley. There is a suggestion /recommendation that the hierarchy for development in Stone is down to 5 due to lack of infrastructure, Newport will remain a 4. Council have circulated a 64 page document by email on the data profiles on the make-up of the electoral wards. Berkeley Vale includes Berkeley, & Hinton. Some of the details will be good for applying for grants for the play area etc. Some of the detail that I have picked out include: Pensioners per household 25% national average 20% Married per household 42% national average 33% Lone Parent 3.2% national average 7.1% Job seekers allowance over 1 year 0% national average 0.4% Vulnerable Children out of work hh.5.7% 65 children national average 14%. Owner occupied houses 72.9% national average 64.1%. I can give more details at future meetings. There are some changes to the working hours of the neighbourhood wardens, but this shouldn't affect us too much. I suggest we will invite Simon Moulding to our Parish Council meeting so he can introduce himself and discuss the changes. The new refuse service is costing more than was anticipated, I will circulate more details when I receive them.

7. Matters arising from the Minutes: 7.1 Standing Orders – To be discussed at the next meeting. 8. Councillors’ reports and items for future agenda: 8.1 Ham, Stone and Lower Stone Issues – Ham Village Green – Cllr Dunbabin has chased up the issue of the cutting of the grass on the village green. The grass has still not been cut, Parish Council to write a letter to Berkeley Estates to ask for regular cuts of the village green. A resident has reported a burglary to property where firearms were stolen. Interim work has been done at the Mill, Hamfield Lane to keep to the planning application condition. The telephone box has now got books and DVD’s in it. Residents have complained of traffic speeding through the village, even with 30mph limit. Stone The map changes to the boundaries, and possible development issues that might arise from this change was discussed. New lighting issues was discussed, Clerk to report issues on light poles 10,13 and 15. Still awaiting new post of the village green. Lower Stone A resident has sewage problems that will have an impact on neighbours. Environmental Services might be called in at some stage. The issue of the stones on the grass verge was discussed, this issue has been raised before. Clerk to email District Councillor for update. 8.2 Allocation of tasks To be discussed at the next meeting. 8.3 Play Area update A project plan on development of the play area has been submitted to the Regeneration Officer at Stroud District Council development. Waiting for a response. 8.4 Snow Warden/Snow Plough operators for the Winter Plan Contact details for Snow Warden and Snow Plough operators was discussed. Details required to finish the Winter plan and once completed Stroud District Council Highways department require a copy. The issue of a hand spreader and salt bin in the village was discussed, Clerk to contact Highways and request item. 8.5 Emergency Planning A meeting was held in August with the Senior Community Services Officer for Stroud District Council. District Councillor and representatives from Alkington, Hinton and Ham & Stone Parish Council were in attendance. The Officer discussed and showed examples of how to produce/update an Emergency Plan. Ham & Stone Parish Council have an Emergency Plan that was adopted in 2010. The following steps are now been taken to update the Parish Plan. Step 1: Distribute parish questionnaire in the community via the next issue of the Stalkingham news. Step 2: Collate information from the questionnaire and populate the Emergency Plan. Step 3: Approval of updated plan at Parish Council meeting. Further updates will be available at the next meeting. 8.6 Community Governance Review Stroud District Council are currently holding a consultation on Community Governance Review. The review is a way for District Councils to make sure that, at Parish level, governance arrangements are working as efficiently and effectively as they should be. This is achieved by asking the Public, Parish Councils and any interested parties whether they feel their communities are suitably represented and whether parish council would like to see any changes made to their current governance arrangements. Parish Council discussed the review, parish and warding to remain the same, therefore have no comment to make on this review.

9. Finance and Correspondence: Budget Statement : Circulated to Councillors before the meeting, confirmed as accurate record and approved. Incomings: VAT return £659.27 Outgoings: Clerk’s wages and expenses £768.28 HMRC (October 2018) £ 42.00 Information Commission Office (July) £ 40.00 T W Hawkins (Grass Cutting - August) £138.96 Correspondence Letter: Prostate Cancer Fundraising Event Letter of Complaint via website portal Donations requests: None received this period Emails: Berkeley Site Stakeholder Group meeting agenda, papers and minutes August 1st 2018 Stroud District Council Corporate Delivery Plan 2018 – 2022 GAPTC Annual General Meeting July 21 st 2018 GAPTC Major Project & Loan Seminar on September 20 th 2018 Neighbourhood Development Plan Event Stroud to Berkeley Weight Limit Snow Plough Operatives & Snow Wardens Draft Minutes of the GAPTC AGM held on 21 st July 2018 GAPTC Training Courses for Autumn 2018 Stroud District Council E News – August 2018 Lengthsman Scheme Chartered Parish & Town Council Meeting cancellation Community Governance Review

10. Planning Applications: Since the last meeting the following applications have been received: S.18/1497/HHOLD – 37 Court Meadow, Stone, Berkeley, Gloucestershire GL13 9LR Garden summerhouse located in corner of garden (368332, 195325). S.18/1537/HHOLD – Budstone House, Stone, Berkeley, Gloucestershire. GL13 9JY Store extension to existing garage (revised application) (368551 – 195474) S.18/1604/DISCON – Land at Appleridge Farm, Stone, Berkeley, Gloucestershire Discharge condition 3 (materials) from planning permission S.17/2763/REM S18/1760/FUL – Stone with Woodford Church of Primary School, Stone, Berkeley, Gloucestershire. GL13 9JX Parking issues at the school was raised. Parking spaces going down from 12 to 6 spaces, which will bring further problems to the area at school start and finish times. The lighting at the car park area is too bright, sensitive lighting sensors was suggested. S.18/1790/FUL – Land Adjacent Matford View, Stone, Berkeley, Gloucestershire. Site Proposal: 2018/0519/EIAS – Site for Proposed Wind Turbine, Hamfield Lane, Berkeley, Gloucestershire.

11. Date of Next Council Meeting: Monday November 19th 2018 in Stone Village Hall at 7.30pm preceded with the Finance Meeting at 7pm.

The Meeting ended at 8.40pm.