The Painswick Beacon Sine praeiudicio Volume 37 Number 9 December 2014 Christmas Greetings to all our readers and Best Wishes for 2015 1 PARISH COUNCIL NEWS 19th November by Mike Kerton Reports upon meetings of the Parish Council cannot help but be selective, if only because of space constraints. We try to highlight points of widest public interest, based upon what we see and hear. The full minutes of Council and committee meetings are available for scrutiny at the Council's office. PLANNING COMMITTEE the recent speed checks carried out in points. County residents aged between As there were no questions from the public, October, 221 vehicles had been detected 40 and 74 are urged to take advantage Chairman Rob Lewis opened the meeting. exceeding the speed limit. Based on this of a free NHS Health Check to ensure Apologies had been received from Cllrs information the police were being pressed that their heart is in good condition. For Roey Parker and Ben Nicholls. After the to take enforcement action. more information on the free NHS Health minutes from the previous meeting had Checks visit: been agreed the meeting moved on to: Chairman Martin Slinger then read www.nhs.uk/Conditions/nhs-health- out a letter that had been received from check/Pages/NHS-Health-Check.aspx Matters requiring a decision David Allott. The letter made specific The County is now using the latest Although there were six matters requiring reference to the poor acoustics in the Town technology to treat food waste and turn a decision one had been withdrawn on the Hall and the difficulty members of the it into green energy. A new anaerobic day of the meeting. The Council agreed to public had in following the discussions digestion waste facility is being built at support all the applications: between Councillors at Council Meetings. Wingmore Farm near Bishop's Cleeve. - Holcombe Folly. The erection of an The letter requested that a “good loop This is part of a larger plan to prevent food agricultural storage barn system” be installed and alluded to the waste ending up in land fill. - The Coach House, Sevenleaze Lane. 2010 Equality Act which expects that Retrospective application for single “reasonable adjustments” be made for a District Councillors Report storage timber building. meeting that was open to all – the public. District Cllr Nigel Cooper advised the - Communication Station at Painswick Mr Allott went on to again request that the Councillors that in future either he or Golf Club for T Mobile. Council should reconsider the layout of District Cllr Julie Job would attend the - Home Cottage, Plough Cottage and the tables for the meeting – a semicircular Parish Council Meeting. He thanked Pippins Cottage, Well Farm, Wick St. layout would greatly assist members of County Cllr Jason Bullingham for his Variation to conditions to allow lettings the public in hearing the discussions. A assistance during discussions with for a longer period than 28 days. copy of this letter is published in The Stagecoach. - The Bungalow Barn at Hill Farm. Beacon. Conversion and extension of existing barn Cllr Steve Morris responded to the The new version of the District Plan was to to dwelling. This was a Listed Building question and advised the meeting that a be discussed and agreed at the December Application submitted prior to a full quotation had been obtained to install a Meeting of the District Council. It would planning application. loop system the lower hall. However, the then be available for public discussion and Council were considering the different the District Council hoped to have the plan PARISH COUNCIL needs of the organisations who met in the “in place “ by the end of 2015. Before the meeting there was a presentation Town Hall. Cllr Morris stated that it could to the Council by the Rev Mike Holloway be between 1.5 and 2 years before a loop Recommendations of the Traffic and David Bishop on the St Mary's system was installed. Committee Church project. Rev Holloway advised the Cllr Abigail Smith, Chair of the Traffic meeting that this was a“New Vision” with The Chairman then formally opened the Committee, advised the Council that the intention of making the church a better meeting. Apologies had been received the Traffic Committee were seeking a place for the Community. David Bishop from Cllrs Roey Parker and Ben Nicholls contribution from the Council towards outlined the proposals which would permanent VAS signs. The contribution not involve a new organ being installed in its Matters of urgency to exceed £3000. After some discussion it historic position on a west end gallery, Chairman Martin Slinger advised was proposed by Cllr Ian James that moving the stone reredos to the tower the meeting that he had received the Council contribute £3000. This was vestry for public display, developing the correspondence from the local MP, Neil unanimously agreed by the Council. Cllr current organ space to provide toilets and Carmichael with an update on the new Caroline White queried why the VAS a meeting room and clearing the south “wide mouthed” post box. The MP had system was to be in fixed positions. If aisle pews to create a flexible meeting written to the Chief Executive of Royal portable they could be used throughout the and display space. The project would take Mail on the 13th October seeking an Parish area. Cllr Abigal Smith responded years rather than months to implement and update. The Chief Executive had replied by stating that an old portable VAS had would involve a projected expenditure of on the 3rd November stating that “he was been found. It was currently being tested £475k. looking into the situation”. The MP will and once it was fully operational it would be following up this issue. be used in the other Wards. There were several members of the public present and in the time allocated to public Co-option of Councillors The Love Painswick Business Group questions one member praised the hard The Clerk, Roy Balgobin, advised the Cllr David Oxendale advised the meeting work of Cllr Abigail Smith, Chair of the Council that two applications had been that the number of visitors to Painswick Traffic Committee. However, concern was received for the Council to consider for the had increased during the Summer A expressed that the proposed sites of the outstanding vacancy on the Council. One “Branding Meeting” had been held for three VAS cameras would be outside the 20 applicant had withdrawn that day. It was the Business Community and a feed mph speed limit zone. Particular concern proposed by Cllr Rob Lewis and seconded back meeting was being held on the 27th was expressed that both New Street and by Cllr Ian James that Mike Fletcher be November. Social Media now played Gloucester Street would not be covered co-opted onto the Council. The proposal an important role with 300 followers on by the VAS cameras. Cllr Abigail Smith was unanimously agreed by the Council. Facebook and 200 on Twitter. Other Wards explained that all proposed sites had to Mike Fletcher was duly co-opted onto the were being encouraged to be involved in meet four laid down criteria before VAS Council. developing Social Media sites. cameras could be installed. Unfortunately only the proposed sites met all the criteria. County Councillors Report Fireworks The Council were however looking at Although County Councillor Jason Chairman Martin Slinger read out a other methods to reduce the speed of Bullingham presented a written report to statement following discussions that had traffic in the centre of the village. During the Council he highlighted the important been held between several Councillors, 2 the Clerk and the local Environmental camera. As members of the public and the Health Officer who is responsible Noise press were asked to leave they were left Following the discussion at Nuisance. This was following several in the dark room being unable to either the Parish Council Meeting complaints made about fireworks by see or hear the discussions on this very and subsequent discussions members of the public. It is not an important item. with the Post Office the offence to discharge fireworks before Parish Council has issued 11pm, however, it would be considered as ! the following notice ! unreasonable if they were discharged from David Allott's letter of the same location on a regular basis. If 19th November to the members of the public are concerned then they should contact Mr Stephen Bartlett at Parish Council Stroud DC during normal working hours. Exclusive If concerned out of working hours the As one who occasionally attends Parish An “Outreach” Post Office Service matter should be referred to the Police by Council meetings and often fails to hear is to commence in Painswick in ringing 101. Fireworks are categorised what is being said to whom, can I ask for February 2015. The facility will be into four groups, 1-4. All fireworks that more help? located in the Parish Council’s outer fall into category 4 can only be sold to and I have expensive hearing aids but the office at the Town Hall and managed used by professional firework companies. Town Hall acoustics are poor and Members, quite naturally, use conversational tones by Mr Shreyas Patel who is the Postmaster at Upton St Leonards. It Responsible Financial Officers report when speaking to each other. I don't favour the complication of microphones, but can will be open initially on Wednesday and Friday mornings between 9.30 The Clerk confirmed that a request had we have a good "loop" system installed and 11.30am.