Item

1125 Declaration of Conflict of Interest
No declarations made.

1126 Apologies
Councillors Mr G Morris and Mr Tony Weedon.

1127 Public Questions
No questions at this point.

1128 Approval of Minutes of last meeting.
MR asked for the following amendments to be made, minute reference 1117.2 ‘Playdale to inspect repairs’ not to carry out repairs. Minute reference1119.1 to be changed to plan of ‘measurement of completed wall’. Minute reference 1121. Regarding ‘MJ informing the Council that there is a camper van on the site’ not a caravan. The amended minutes will be approved in January.

1129 Planning
PC has e mailed Mr Brown regarding the Luckington Road site and is waiting to hear a progress report. PC has also produced a draft set of planning procedures that the council can follow when dealing with planning applications. PC will send it to all councillors for their views and if all approve, it will go on the website.  There will be a short planning meeting held after the council meeting to discuss applications and amended plans.

Correspondence
1130 – Cotswold Conservation Board
Information regarding available Hedge laying courses has been sent from the Cotswold Conservation Board, details of which will be put into newsletter.

1131.1- The Boundary Committee.
Final recommendations on the future electoral arrangements for Wiltshire Council have been sent to the Parish Council. A questionnaire has also been sent which SW will answer and submit. There are no changes to the Sherston Ward since the last draft document.

1131.2 Wiltshire Wayfarer
The Rights of Way newsletter for WCC has been given to MR for the footpath group.

1131.3 Bristol Water
Bristol Water wrote to inform the Council that an inspection will take place of the trough on Court Street, this is the water supply used by the allotments.  The inspection will take place some time in December.

1131.4 – WCC
Details have been sent from WCC regarding the distribution of temporary traffic order details and how as a council we wish to receive them. After previous experiences of not being sent traffic orders Sherston Parish Council will ask to receive all details by e mail in future.

1131.5 WCC
Information on how to become a member of the Standards Committee of Wiltshire Council has been sent. SW has all details.

1131.5 WCC
Details on how Goods and Services provided and supplied by the District Council and the County Council  will be affected when Unitary Council comes into effect. Sherston at present have no contracts with either council.

1131.6 ICO
The new model publication for the Freedom of Information Act comes into force at the beginning of 2009. The ICO leaflet outlines what is expected of parish Councils and parish meetings. The new act provides individuals or organisations with the right to request information held by a public authority. The intention of the publication scheme is to require authorities to make certain kinds of information routinely available to the public. SW has looked into the new scheme and will compile a guide that explains to the public which information the Parish Council have and how to access it. This guide will be put on to the website. JM explained to the Council that Sherston Parish Council is virtually doing all that is required already and the remaining items that need to be addressed will be.

LATE CORRESPONDENCE
1131.7 2009 Meeting Dates. The meeting on April the 9th needs to be changed to April the 16th JM asked if the council were happy with this change, all agreed.

1131.8 Information on the (PIG) Parish improvement Grant has been sent from NWDC and given to MR.

1131.9 Wiltshire Fire and Rescue have written to the Council regarding a ‘Fire Stop Project’. The project wants to target vulnerable members of the community from the risk of fire. They are asking for a list of people that the Council believe would benefit from information which could help make their homes safe from fire.  MR to contact Miranda Gilmour.

1131.10 On the 27th January there is to be an Inaugural meeting regarding the proposed Sherston allotments and gardens association. MR asked if the Parish Council will pay for hall hire for the first meeting after which the association should be self funding. Council all agreed.

1131.11 JT informed the Council that the PIG scheme mentioned earlier still has funds available and might be a perfect way to obtain a new lamp for Grove Road. MR also has put in for new bins at the sports field and a notice board. The Application needs to be in by Monday. SW will contact P Hutchings Chief Lighting Engineer at WCC for a quote for a new lamp on Grove Road.

ACTIONS
SW to work on the relevant documentation for the new (FOIA) model publication Scheme.
MR to contact Miranda Gilmour regarding Wiltshire Fire and Rescue ‘Fire Stop Project’
SW to speak to Phil Hutchings regarding Grove Road light quote
MR to apply for PIG grant

1132 Adoption of the new (FOIA) model publication scheme.
JM asked the Parish Council if they agree to formally adopt the new (FOIA) scheme that comes into force on the 1st January 2009. The Council unanimously agreed.

1133 Finance

1133.1 The receipts, balances and accounts for payment were circulated.

The Accounts were proposed for approval by PC and seconded by DH.

1133.2 Christmas Gifts.
SW suggested buying a few Christmas gifts to those who have helped the Parish Council over the year. People such as Mr Cooper, Noel Banks and Paul who helped Noel with the Christmas lights and the Parish Steward. Council all agreed.

1133.3 Donations
Macmillan Cancer Support has written to the Council asking for a donation. The charity has helped many residents of Sherston and Council agreed to donate £50.

1133.4 The 2009 Precept.
GCM compiled and circulated a draft copy of the Budget 2009/10 Income and Expenditure Accounts.
In the draft budget GCM has allowed a 5% increase in line with inflation as without an increase there will not be enough money to cover the basic outgoings. GCM believes that the 2009 precept should not rise any more than inflation due to the uncertainty regarding the Old School project. GCM recommended that projects such as the recreation ground railings which were planned for 2009  be put on hold or alternative funding sought.

The 2009 precept figure also greatly depends on the information regarding the increase in Band D properties which once known will be sent to the Parish Council from WCC. The precept figure for 2009 does not have to been submitted until after the January meeting. GCM asked the Council to view the budget over that time and the final decision can be made at the next meeting. JT to phone though figures regarding band D properties as soon as they have been received. Final decision on the precept will be made at the January meeting.

Environment, Parish Lands and General Services Committee.
1134.1 Old School
A meeting organised by JT and WCC was attended by members of the Old School Committee. Sue Harvey (Church Warden) and Chris Dawson, the Agent working for the Diocese. It was agreed before the meeting that the total figure which would be offered to the Diocese for the Old School is £398,000 which includes the land at the rear of the village hall. The figure is being considered by the Diocese and the agent will be in contact with a decision. JM believes that real consideration is plausible due to the overidge clause which is agreed for 20years. The overidge clause allows the diocese to receive all profit if the building is sold at any time within 20 years. Only profit would come under the overidge clause, profit being anything above debts, costings. The Old School committee are waiting to hear from the agent.

1134.2 The Sportsfield
Mr Neale is working between Christmas and New Year to attempt to finish the wall as agreed with MR.

1134.3 Recreation Ground
MR met with Playdale to discuss repairs needed for the play equipment. Agreements were made regarding which equipment they would repair and they will also repair wetpour.  The grant that Sherston Parish Council applied for which was for a new cradle swing for children and carers, was successful and a cheque has been received. Unfortunately the company who originally quoted for the swing is now unable to supply it. The sales person exceeded their authority and could not offer the agreed deal. MR has been in touch with other suppliers who might be able to supply a similar swing although it won’t be exactly the same as the original spec. JT asked for more details regarding the situation and offered to help if he could.

1134.4 Grants
The Grant application for a new bus shelter has now been received by NWDC. MR is waiting for a quote from local carpenters regarding a new notice board.

1134.5 Footpath Group
The footpath wants to move forward and take on more duties maintaining footpaths etc. If the Parish Council receives complaints regarding problem footpaths, the Footpath group would contact the landowner in question to offer help or advice. If this is not successful the complaint will be passed on to the Rights of Way department. The footpath Group will not police situations as the enforcement department will do that. The footpath group only wish to assist and advise when needed. SW was told by Allianz Cornhill (Parish Council’s insurance company) that providing the ‘Footpath Group’ come under the Parish Councils domain, they use Parish Council tools and do not use any electrical tools.

1134.6 Highways
There are large pot holes on the Church Street End of Gastons Lane, SW will report to CLARENCE. JT suggested contacting Sally Barnett at Highways as a matter of urgency.

1134.7  The new Community Plan
Survey leaflets have been distributed in the village asking for people to put down 3 priorities that they believe is important to them regarding the village. JT suggested the following items for the list - the Old School, Traffic, Health Services, Post Office and retaining services in village such as the Surgery. The list did not have to be limited to three. JT went on to stress the importance of a community plan. If there was to be an increase in housing, what infrastructure would the village need to support this increase? What could the village benefit from if there were to be more developments? A list of factors important to the village might help it get what it wants in the future. There followed a discussion where CB and GCM aired concerns over this idea and that ‘no more developments’ should be on the list. JT explained that you do not need to tie the list in with planning developments; it was just a level of needs that at some time in the future may come into play.

PC also stressed his concern over the increase of extensions fearing the disappearance of the smaller homes. The village needs a mix of housing and there is also a gap in the housing for the elderly. JT told the Council that the units needed are called extra care housing and are not only suitable for the elderly but also for the disabled. This type of housing allows the elderly and disabled to stay in their community, JT is currently working on a scheme to increase the number of these homes. MR suggested to the council that the list should state that the village do not wish to see more private housing but need extra care housing.

1134.8 Grove Wood
CB asked when the School would be able to plant some trees in Grove Wood, MR suggested CB and School to liaise with Noel Banks.

1135 Matters Arising at the discretion of the Chairman
JM asked JH details regarding last weeks Area 1 Meeting at Malmesbury, JH informed  the Council that he had attended the meeting and the future of the Burnham House site was discussed. The vast majority of people in attendance wanted the site to be kept as a home for the elderly or a site in which extra care units could be built on. There were also many complaints from Malmesbury residents regarding the amount of lorries going through the town. JT informed the Council that the B4040 is not a freight route unless delivering and if anyone should see a suspect lorry they should let Highways know. MR to put this information in the newsletter.

1136 Items for Press and Newsletter.
All previously discussed in meeting.

1137 Time and Date of next meeting
The next Parish Council meeting will be on the 8th January in the Village Hall at 7.30pm.

1138 Public Question Time
No questions

The meeting closed at 8.45 pm.

Sarah Wood
Clerk to Sherston Parish Council