Minutes / Agenda – March 25th 2008
Agenda Annual Assembly.
1. Present
2. Apologies
3. Mayors Report
4. Matters Arising From Previous Annual Assembly
March 2007
5. Matters Relating to Parish
Agenda (Full)
Full Council
25 March 2008
Agenda
143. To accept apologies
144. To receive declarations of interests
145. To approve the minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 26 February 2008
146. To note matter arising from minutes of Tuesday 26 February 2008
147. To agree the Councils participation in the Planning Inquiry for the Angel Farm application.
148. To agree the Town Council’s response to Two Rivers Housing proposals for the Sunnybank estate.
149. To agree the recommendations of the Office & Finance Committee
150. To agree the recommendations of the Highways Committee
151. To note reports from members (for information only)
152. To note reports from District and County Councillors (for information only)
153. To note the decisions of the Planning Committee
154. To note correspondence (for information only, see attached list)
155. 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 25th March 2008, there were present:
Councillor Mr C Elsmore (Mayor)
Mr D Atherley
Mrs C Allaway-Martin
Mr C Howell
Mr P Kay
Mr C Lusty
Mrs H Lusty
Mrs S Merrikin
Also present: District Councillor D Riley
District Councillor G Bensted
County Councillor P Chamberlain,
143. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillors Collins, Phelps and Weston.
144. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr C Lusty declared a prejudicial interest in Item 149. Cllrs Atherley, Howell and H Lusty declared a personal interest in Item 149.
145. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2008 were approved by those present.
Proposed: Cllr Howell Seconded: Cllr Merrikin
146. MATTERS ARISING
Item 134, County Council Mineral Core Strategy: Cllr Allaway-Martin said that her report would be ready by Friday 28th March.
Item 135, Clock Tower  safety ladder: The Clerk reported that a quote was being obtained for the manufacture of a replacement ladder.
147. PLANNING APPLICATION FOR ANGEL FARM
The Mayor said that the Public Inquiry into the Angel Farm application had been scheduled for 4 days commencing on Tuesday 29th April. He will represent the Council at the Inquiry.
It was agreed that the Council’s representations should include information relating to the increased pressure on scarce healthcare services that the proposed development would bring.
Care should be taken to stress the separate problems that increased surface water drainage and sewerage would cause on an already overloaded system.
Cllr Merrikin said that it would be important not to duplicate or conflict with any submissions made by the Action Group. The Clerk advised Cllr Merrikin that it would not be a conflict of interest if Cllr Merrikin attended the next meeting of the Action Group to be held on Wednesday 26th March.
148. TWO RIVERS HOUSING – SUNNYBANK ESTATE
The Mayor reported that Two Rivers Housing had to address the problems relating to Cornish Houses on the Sunnybank Estate by 2010. A meeting was being held on 25th March to explain the options to residents.
The Council was concerned at the way in which information had been allowed to slowly leak into the public domain. His had caused alarm and uncertainty amongst residents. It was agreed that the Mayor should write to the Housing Association asking for clarification.
District Cllr Riley informed the Council that the District Council Scrutiny Committee were due to look at the way the estate was being managed by the Housing Association.
The Mayor said that he had been approached on behalf of residents concerning the provision of additional disabled parking in the centre of Coleford. Members agreed that the best option would be to try to provide extra provision on the site of the old Community Centre when it was redeveloped. It was agreed that this proposal should be put to the District Council.
149. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Members noted the following recommendations:
· To change the Council’s payroll provider to Gloucestershire County Council.
· To change the office blinds
· To replace the office carpet.
It was proposed and agreed to accept these recommendations.
Proposed: Cllr Kay Seconded: Cllr Atherley
Cllr C Lusty left the room prior to the discussion of the next item.
Members noted the grant application payments recommended by the Office and Finance Committee.
Cllr H Lusty informed members that the construction of the greenhouse at the Forest Centre was to make provision for adults with severe disabilities and would be available for use by residents of Coleford. In the circumstances, she proposed an amendment that the Town Council defer this decision and request that the Finance & Office Committee re-look at their decision. .
Proposed: Cllr H Lusty Seconded: Cllr Howell
On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried with 4 votes in favour and 3 against.
It was then proposed and accepted that the remaining grants should be paid as recommended.
Proposed: Cllr Kay Seconded: Cllr Merrikin
Cllr C Lusty rejoined the meeting.
150. RECOMMENDATIONS OF HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
The Clerk reported that a meeting had been held earlier in the day with the Highways Department. The minutes of the meeting would be available shortly and would contain details of proposals to resurface a number of highways.
151. MEMBERS REPORTS
Cllr Merrikin reported that Lakers School had recently received a favourable OFSTEAD report. It was agreed that the Council should send a letter of congratulation to the school.
Cllr Howell reported that he had attended the meeting at which the District Council’s Core Strategy for the Forest of Dean had been discussed. He had compiled a file of information for member and said that the District Council was looking for comments by 14th April. The Core Strategy was an important aspect and he recommended that members read the file and make comments. It was agreed that the next planning meeting on 8 April would be a full council meeting so that a Town Council response could be determined.
Cllr Allaway-Martin reported that a Community Centre meeting was being held today. Plans were on schedule to sign over the land for the site on 31st March which would then allow for a planning application to go forward.
152. REPORTS BY DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS
Cllr Bensted advised that no further information had been made available about proposals for car park charging. She would be attending a District Council meeting on 26th March. Cllr Allaway-Martin advised that there would be a reduction in car parking available in the old station car par during the construction of the new community centre.
153. PLANNING COMMITTEE
Members noted the recommendations made by the Planning Committee.
154. CORRESPONDENCE
Members noted the items of correspondence received during the month of March.
155. PAYMENTS
The list of payment due for the month of January were noted and agreed by the Council.
The Clerk advised that although the new contract for grass cutting did not come into effect until 1st May 2008, the contractor had agreed to start work a month earlier due to the retirement of the present contractor.
The meeting closed at 8.00 pm
