Minutes / Agenda – April 29th 2008
Agenda
Public Forum
1. To accept apologies
2. To receive declarations of interests
3. To approve the minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 25 March & 8 April 2008
4. To note matter arising from minutes of Tuesday 25 March & 8 April 2008
5. To hear a presentation from Two Rivers Housing about the refurbishment and redevelopment of Sunny Bank Estate
Dr David Garnet Chairman and Mr Garry King CEO
6. To hear the progress made towards the Coleford Enterprise Centre
Mrs Marilyn Cox.
7. To discuss the discrepancy in the charging for placing an headstone in Coleford Cemetery and to agree the cost.
8. To agree the action required to minimise the vandalism in Copley Drive
9. To agree an Environmental Policy
10. To discuss and agree the production of a Coleford Town Guide
11. To agree to the payment of £25,000.00 ring fenced reserves to the Coleford Partnership.
12. To agree the minutes of the Burial Committee
13. To note reports from members (for information only)
14. To note reports from District and County Councillors (for information only)
15. To note the decisions of the Planning Committee
16. To note correspondence (for information only, see attached list)
17. To agree payments (see attached list)
Minutes
At a Meeting of the Coleford Town Council held at the Town House, Lords Hill Walk, Coleford on Tuesday 29th April 2008, there were present:
Councillor Mr C Elsmore (Mayor)
Mr D Atherley (Deputy Mayor)
Mrs C Allaway-Martin
Mr D Collins
Mr C Howell
Mr P Kay
Mr C Lusty
Mrs H Lusty
Mrs S Merrikin
Mr R Phelps
Mrs J Thorne
Mr M Weston
Also present: District Councillor D Riley
County Councillor P Chamberlain
PCSO Neil Evans
Jean Birkett Two Rivers Housing
David Garnett Two Rivers Housing
Garry King Two Rivers Housing
Marilyn Cox
Roger Drury
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillor Mrs J Nicholson and District Councillor Grace Bensted.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
The Mayor, Cllr Elsmore, declared a personal interest in item 165.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2008 were approved by those present.
Proposed: Cllr Allaway-Martin Seconded: Cllr C Lusty
4. MATTERS ARISING
Item 147, The Mayor reported that the Planning Inquiry for the Angel Farm planning application was taking place this week.
Item 149, The Mayor reported that the County Council were no longer able to take on the role of payroll provider. An alternative provider was being sought.
5. TWO RIVERS HOUSING, SUNNYBANK ESTATE
The Mayor invited Mr Garry King, Chief Executive of Two Rivers Housing to address the Council on current proposals for the Sunnybank Estate.
Mr King said that when Two Rivers took over the stock of Cornish Houses in 2003, this included a commitment to review their condition by 2010. The Cornish Houses had never been intended to be a long-term housing solution and after 60 years they were beginning to show their age. There had been a large backlog of maintenance issues, additionally they were not well insulated, nor did their construction allow easy modification.
Two Rivers Housing have been carrying out a process of consultation through group meetings and on a one-to-one basis to explain options to residents and to gain opinions. Broadly speaking there were three main options:
1) Provide external cladding.
Advantages: Provide some additional insulation.
Affordable.
Disadvantages: Concrete structure remains.
Difficult to raise mortgage finance.
2) Replace concrete with brick
Advantages: Removes problem of concrete.
Easier to raise mortgage finance.
Houses will last longer.
Disadvantages: Major work, very disruptive.
Structural work to foundations.
High cost, questionable value for money.
3) Redevelopment
Advantages: More flexible housing stock.
Update other facilities, e.g. car parking
Disadvantages: Smaller gardens.
Mr King said that Two Rivers recognised that there was no one simple solution that would suit everyone, but it was important to get residents views and these would be included in any recommendations made to the Board.
Dr David Garnett, Chairman of the Board of Two Rivers, said that any solution had to be responsive to the needs of the residents and consultation had to be full. The Board recognised that it had a social responsibility to do deliver the correct solution. He said that he regretted some of the recent alarmist newspaper headlines and had received an apology from the editor of the Citizen for the publication of some information that had been misleading.
Answering a question from the Council, Mr King said that it was difficult to predict what the lifetime of the Cornish Houses would be if Option 1 was implemented. It depended on the rate of decay of the concrete and this was variable. However he judged that the houses would have a further lifetime of between 10 and 30 years.
Asked if Two Rivers had sold any Cornish Houses since taking over the stock, Mr King said that one or two had been sold but Two Rivers had no control over this as tenants had a legal right to buy. Currently Two Rivers held a stock of 170 Cornish Houses in the Forest of Dean and believe approximately 70 were in private hands.
Asked how many more homes would be provided under Option 3, Mr King said that it was too early to say and would depend on the views and needs expressed by the residents. There was no fixed plan and any development would take place over a number of years. He said he was aware of the need to plan to deal with additional surface water and sewerage.
Dr Garnett assured the Council that while the situation was a complicated one, Two Rivers was a charity and had no interest other than to improve the quality of the residents accommodation.
The Mayor thanked Mr King and Dr Garnett for their presentation.
6. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The Council listened to a presentation made by members of the public in support of the Council’s wish to reduce the amount of plastic in the environment. Examples were quoted of villages such as Tisbury in Wiltshire and Modbury in Devon where traders had stopped issuing plastic bags. It was suggested that a public open meeting be held and traders including the major supermarkets should be invited. It was agreed to hold a meeting at the Community Centre in June 2008.
7. COLEFORD ENTERPRISE CENTRE
Mrs Marilyn Cox updated the Council with the latest position regarding plans for the new Enterprise Centre. Papers had been signed which would enable completion of the land deal for the site. A public consultation event will be held in May and, subject to planning consent, it was hoped to commence work in November 2008 with completion in August 2009.
Mrs Cox said that the new Centre would have a library, youth facilities, adult day care, community rooms, space for small businesses and the opportunity to deliver skills from the Centre. It would also act as a focus and a hub for surrounding parishes.
Discussions on drawing up a management agreement were still continuing.
Mrs Cox confirmed that the building would contain a number of energy saving features in its construction. The issue of surface water would also be catered for.
8. CHARGING FOR HEADSTONES IN COLFORD CEMETERY
The Council noted that there was a discrepancy in the charges for headstones in the cemetery and agreed to rectify this.
Proposed: Cllr Phelps Seconded: Cllr Collins
9. VANDALISM IN COPLEY DRIVE
The Council noted the complaint about vandalism in Copley Drive but some members were concerned that the area should not restrict the opportunity for reasonable youth activities.
Members asked PCSO Evans if he had received any complaints from residents in Copley Drive, he stated that to his knowledge no one had complained recently. It was suggested that the Council contact the Street Wardens to see if they had attended any incidents.
It was agreed that the issue should be passed to the next meeting of the Amenities Committee for consideration.
10. COLEFORD TOWN GUIDE
The Council noted the proposal by a publisher to produce a town guide. Members felt that this was generally a good idea but had some concerns about the content being local enough in terms of traders and also looked for an assurance that there would be adequate distribution of the guide.
It was agreed to invite the publisher to give a presentation at the next meeting.
11. BURIAL COMMITTEE
Members noted the report made by the Burial Committee and the recommendation of the expenditure of an additional £500 on a yew hedge. This recommendation was proposed and accepted.
Proposed: Cllr Howells Seconded: Cllr Atherley
12. MEMBERS REPORTS
Cllr Allaway-Martin distributed copies of proposals issues by the County Council for dealing with street parking regulations.
Cllr Kay congratulated Cinderford RFC for gaining promotion to Division 2 of the National League.
Proposed: Cllr Phelps Seconded: Cllr Kay
Cllr Weston expressed disappointment with the lack of progress made on the town centre flower beds. The Mayor said that the matter would be considered at the next meeting of the Amenities Committee.
13. COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Cllr Chamberlain reported that a public meeting was to be held on 8th May 2008 at 7.30 to discuss ways of raising funds to purchase the Alms Houses in Newland. The deadline for raising £750,000 was January 2009. He urged members to attend to show their support.
14. PLANNING COMMITTEE
Members noted the decisions taken by the Planning Committee at its meetings held on 8th April and 29th April 2008.
15. EARMARKED RESERVES FOR COLEFORD COMMUNITY CENTRE
The Council noted the request from the Coleford Partnership for payment of the sums set aside by the Council for the new Community Centre as a result of a decision taken at a previous meeting. Some members were concerned that the decision should be looked at again in the light of the current position before a final decision was taken.
It was agreed that the matter would be discussed at the Full Council meeting called to take place on Tuesday 13 May 2008 at 7.00pm
16. CORRESPONDENCE
The Council noted the items of correspondence received during the month of April.
17. PAYMENTS
The Council noted the payments due for the month of April and it was proposed and agreed that they should be paid.
Proposed: Cllr Kay Seconded: Cllr Phelps
The meeting closed at 8.50pm
