Minutes / Agenda – August 26th 2008

Agenda

Councillors will meet at the King George V Pavilion for an inspection of the facilities followed by an inspection of the cemetery

109. To accept apologies

110. To receive declarations of interest

111. To approve minutes of meetings 29 July

112. To raise matters arising from meetings 29 July

113. To make decisions about the future of the public convenience provision in Coleford and the Town Council involvement and to decide about the invoice demanding maintenance payments received from the FoDDC on 11 June 08.
Presentation Steven Kendall FoDDC

114. To make comment on the attached planning applications

115. To note reports from members (for information only)

116. To note reports from District and County Councillors (for information only)

117. To note correspondence (for information only, see attached list)

118. To agree to the months payments (see attached list)

114

Temporary Traffic Order Scowles Road route 3/23ColefordGL16 Closure of Scowles Road route 3/23 from its junction with Staunton Road route B4228 t its junction with Highmeadow Road route 40068 For information
P1072/08/FUL WoodleighParkend Walk Coalway GL16 7JR Erection of a first floor extension
P1070/08/LBC 87 Gloucester Road ColefordGL16 8BN Listed Building consent of an outbuilding to create a separate dwelling.

Minutes

At the Monthly Meeting of the Coleford Town Council held at the Town House, Lords Hill Walk, Coleford on Tuesday 26th August 2008, there were present:

Councillor Mrs S Merrikin (Mayor)
Mr C Howell (Deputy Mayor)
Mrs C Allaway-Martin
Mr D Atherley
Mr C Elsmore
Mrs H Lusty
Mr R Phelps

Also present:

District Councillor Mrs Grace Bensted
PCSO Mr Ben Jeffries

KGV PAVILION AND PLAYING FIELD

Councillors inspected the facilities at the King George V Recreation ground. All agreed that the playing field was in excellent condition and being well maintained. The Energy Efficiency Survey which had been conducted on the pavilion was impressive and it was agreed that the Council should undertake an improvement programme for the facilities.

The pavilion should be made useable for the community but acknowledge that the primary users were the football teams. The Clerk was asked to obtain quotes for the building of a new pavilion and also to identify possible funding streams.

COLEFORD CEMETERY

Councillors were pleased with the progress that had been made with the Cemetery improvements. They asked that the contractor to weed the Garden of Remembrance and lay a more decorative layer of forest chipping on the top of the base layer. It was agreed that the hedge adjoining Owen Farm should be cut as soon as possible. Everyone agree that the cemetery was in a much better condition.

109. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Cllrs, Collins, C Lusty, Thorne and Weston.

The Clerk read out a letter of resignation from Cllr Nicholson whose work commitments had now taken her away from the area. It was agreed that a letter of good wishes should be sent to Cllr Nicholson and also thanking her for her services. The Clerk will also place an advert for the vacancy on the Town Council in the local press.

110. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

111. TO APPROVE MINUTES

It was proposed that the minutes of the meeting held on 29th July 2008 be approved and signed by the Mayor.

Proposed: Cllr Atherley Seconded: Cllr Elsmore
112. MATTERS ARISING

Item 94: Cllr Howell said that he was concerned that the proper method of testing the safety of gravestones had not been carried out. The Clerk said she would check how this had been done.

113. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES

Mr Kendal (FoDDC) reported back following the last meeting of the Town Council. He said that the sign pointing to Newland St Toilets had now been removed and a sign placed on the closed toilets indicating the nearest conveniences in the town car park.

Mr Kendal reported that the invoice sent to the Town Council did include cleaning charges for Newland St. This had been clearly an error and arrangements would be made to readjust the amount invoiced.

Mr Kendal went on to say that the District Council Cabinet had now approved an Asset Management Strategy for Coleford which created a framework for future plans and discussions. Approval had been given for spending £60,000 on upgrading the toilets in Railway Drive car park. He said that the District Council proposed to introduce charges once the toilets had been refurbished. No decision had been taken on the level of charging yet. The District Council would also be seeking to pass responsibility for cleaning to the Town Council. Mr Kendall circulated a draft plan of the toilets.

The Mayor expressed the Council’s frustrations and concerns that despite considerable input from the Town Council, the plans were still inadequate on a number of issues. Several Councillors commented on how badly the subject had been handled by the District Council and expressed a loss of faith.

Mr Kendall said he was prepared to sit down with the Town Council and draw up plans which incorporated all views. It was agreed that a meeting would be held on Tuesday 9th September at 7.00 at the Town Council Offices.

114. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Temporary Traffic Order Scowles Road route 3/23ColefordGL16 Closure of Scowles Road route 3/23 from its junction with Staunton Road route B4228 t its junction with Highmeadow Road route 40068 For information
P1072/08/FUL WoodleighParkend Walk Coalway GL16 7JR Erection of a first floor extension No Objection
P1070/08/LBC 87 Gloucester Road ColefordGL16 8BN Listed Building consent of an outbuilding to create a separate dwelling. Objection Increased sewage into Newland Street sewer contrary to Town Council Planning policy Access to Gloucester Road.

115. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS

Cllr Howell said he had been invited to attend a Standards Committee meeting at the District Council on 8th September.

116. REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

Cllr Bensted asked if the Town Council had yet been given a date for consultation on car park charges. The Mayor confirmed that no date had yet been set by the District Council but Cllr Bensted would be informed and would be welcome at the meeting.

117. CORRESPONDENCE

The items of correspondence received during August were noted.

108. PAYMENTS

It was proposed that the list of payments for August be accepted.

Proposed: Cllr Atherley Seconded: Cllr Elsmore

109. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 23rd September at 7.00pm

The meeting closed at 8.45pm