570 WEST DEAN PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF A MEETING OF WEST DEAN PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT PILLOWELL VILLAGE HALL ON WEDNESDAY 29th August 2018 PRESENT: WDPC COUNCILLORS P Hiett (Chairman) M Costley S Crick P Dunford B Evans B Freshwater B Gayler T Gwilliam F McGuinness J Pemberthy D Kent (Clerk) and P Jones (Deputy Clerk) were in attendance COUNTY COUNCILLOR: None present DISTRICT COUNCILLORS: A Grant and C McFarling MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Two members of the public PUBLIC OPEN FORUM B Otto of the Allotments Association provided information about the Association’s application for grant funding for the provision of water harvesters. District Councillor C McFarling advised that a meeting of emergency services, Environmental Health and the site operator had been convened to address the issue of toxic fumes emanating from a site at New Dunn, Sling. He also invited a member representing the Council to attend a presentation by the North Devon Biosphere Reserve at the District Council Offices on 2nd October 2018. COUNCIL MEETING 1. Procedural Business 1.1 APOLOGIES WDPC Councillors: S Freeman, C Smith, A Moore, D Oliver and J Richmond District Councillor: M Smart County Councillor R Leppington 1.2 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS B Evans and B Freshwater in respect of connections with the Citizens Advice Bureau (a grant funding applicant), respectively as a volunteer and member of the management committee of the CAB’s Resource Centre T Gwilliam and P Hiett as District Council Cabinet members which was in negotiations to take over land at the Five Acres site (agenda item 2.3) B Freshwater and B Evans, in respect of associations with the Forest CAB, a member of which was making an application to be co-opted to the Parish Council. 1.3 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING on 25th July 2018 The minutes were approved. 2. Items for discussion and decision 2.1 YORKLEY COURT FARM It was resolved that the District Council Planning Enforcement officer, R van der Hoven, should be requested to requested to provide a report on enforcement action at Yorkley Court Farm for the next meeting. The Clerk would request a progress report from the County Council in respect of footpath issues at the site. It was noted that recent loud motor cycle noise in the area emanated from the Pillowell Recreation Ground. 571 2.2 FINANCE & STAFFING i) The August 2018 schedule of payments was approved. ii) B Gayler and P Hiett would provide electronic authorisation for June 2018 payments. It was resolved that J Richmond would be registered as a signatory at Council’s Unity bank. iii) J Richmond and M Costley would conduct the September 2018 Financial Inspection. iv) It was advised that the July 2018 Financial inspection had been satisfactorily conducted by B Gayler and J Pemberthy. v) It was confirmed that a meeting would be convened to provide recommendations on the grant award process for the 2019 awards. vi) It was resolved that a grant award of £1,000 from the community budget head should be awarded to the Forest of Dean Allotments Association. vii) It was agreed that the contract to provide handy person and bus shelter cleaning services should be awarded to Complete Landscape Gardeners in accordance with the tender provided. The bus shelter contract would be on a two-weekly basis. It was agreed that in the issuing of this and all future contracts, the contractor would be required to make a declaration that all employees working to fulfil the contract were paid at least the national living wage. Council’s Financial Regulations would be amended accordingly. viii) It was agreed that the contract to supply web and social media services would be awarded to 99WEB under the terms of the company’s proposal. ix) It was agreed that a new salary standing order for staff salaries should be submitted to Council’s bankers to reflect the recent national salary award. 2.3 FIVE ACRES SITE The item on inclusive play equipment was deferred to a future meeting. It was reported that the solicitor acting for the Council on its purchase of the playing fields area of the site was working on the conveyance. The Clerk would ensure that the boundary line between the area offered to the Council and the area offered to the District Council was properly defined. T Gwilliam reported on the progress of the District Council’s negotiations with Homes England for the purchase of the other part of the site. These were progressing well, and it was hoped that details, including a business plan for the site, would be in place by the end of October. 2.4 COUNCIL COMMITTEES P Hiett reported on a meeting of the Youth Provision Committee for Parish and Town Councils, organised and supported by the Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils, which would be held at Cinderford Town Council offices on 13th September 2018. The Council will be represented by S Crick, C Smith and the Clerk. There is an invitation to all members. Please advise the Clerk if you mean to attend. The amendments to the Terms of Reference for the Amenities Committee were accepted. 2.5 ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AT BREAM AND YORKLEY i) Bream The meeting of the Bream Partnership Action Group had been successful and had engaged young people in the process. It was agreed that CCTV at the Bream Crossroads be upgraded at a cost of £985 plus VAT. It was also agreed that the bench at the hard-up tree would not be removed. Consideration would be given to the provision of a youth shelter in the village. ii) Yorkley It was agreed that costings for Items for information: 3.1 Forest Edge (South) Neighbourhood Development Plan P Dunford reported on the meeting held on Tuesday 10th July 2018 at St Swithins Social Club, Viney Hill. He reported that Kate Baugh of the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council had 569 provided useful information, and that the character assessments were progressing well. The next meeting would be held on a date to be arranged, in Parkend. 3.2 Sheep Liaison Group The minutes of the Sheep Liaison Group, held on 9th July 2018 and clerked by the Parish Council Clerk, were presented. It was noted that the proceedings seemed to be more conciliatory. 3.3 Bream Anti-Social Behaviour This matter had been largely covered in the Public Forum that preceded the meeting. It was confirmed that a senior representative of the police would be invited to address a forthcoming meeting of the Parish Council. It was noted that some examples of anti-social behaviour reported seemed trivial, and that young people should not be discouraged from enjoying themselves in a lawful way. 3.4 Planning Committee Minutes of the two meetings held in July were presented. It was noted that following Council’s observation that work was taking place at the Ellwood Chapel conversion before planning approval had been granted, this work appeared to have been stopped. T Gwilliam noted with approval that the Neighbourhood Development Plan was now quoted in all Council planning observations on Planning Applications in the Berry Hill & Christchurch NDP area. It was agreed that officers from the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, the District Council and Two Rivers Housing should be invited to the following Planning Committee to present information on Rural Exception sites and the public consultations on a prosed development at Berry Hill. 3.5 Multi Use Track, Parkend to Lydney It was noted that there had been no progress on this project. It appeared that the only feasible route would be along the side of the Dean Forest Railway track from Whitecroft to Lydney. The track would form an integral part of the area NDP, and would be considered when S Freeman was available. 3.6 Five Acres Report The Clerk reported that the Sports Fields had been offered to the Parish Council for a nominal payment of £1, and this transaction was in progress. There was some confidence at the District Council that suitable terms could be agreed with Homes England for the purchase of the rest of the site. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to FANS thanking the organisation for its work in securing the site for the community. 3.7 The Clerk’s Report was received. 3.8 The Deputy Clerk’s report was received. It was agreed that the Council’s grass cutting contractor should be invited The death of Don Pugh, former District Councillor, friend of West Dean Parish Council and husband of former West Dean Parish Councillor June Pugh, was noted with great sadness. It was agreed that P Hiett would represent the Parish Council at the funeral, and that the Clerk would send some flowers to June on behalf of the Parish Council. The meeting finished at 9.21pm .