THE LEIGH PARISH COUNCIL
: leighpc@hotmail.co.uk : theleighpc.org.uk
MINUTES OF THE ADDITIONAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 8th January 2025 AT 7.30PM AT THE LEIGH PARISH CHURCH
Present: Cllr. J. Arkell (Chair), Cllr A. Bowness, Cllr L. Glazebrook, Cllr K. Morton, and Cllr R. Theyer
Attendance: K. Tilling (Parish Clerk) and 12 members of the public.
1. Apologies:
Apologies were received from Cllr P. Mclain.
2. Declarations of interest:
There were no declarations of interest.
3. To discuss the planning consultation requests and consider responses for the following:
24/0059/TWREG3: Coombe Hill Farm Shop, Tewkesbury Road, Coombe Hill, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL19 4BE. The removal of an existing access and a proposed new vehicular access from the A38 to the north of the A38/A4019 junction and the new Lapwing Meadows residential development.This application has been submitted by Gloucestershire County Council and proposes to move the access point for the Farm shop further away from the traffic light junction. There have been some complaints regarding the car parking at the farm shop. The new access will accommodate an entrance that is wide enough for cars to enter and exit at the same time. In theory the car parking spaces will remain the same as the land currently used for the entry way can become a new parking area. The change of location is still within the 40mph speed limit although people would love to see this limit dropped to 30 mph. There have been no objections from the closest neighbours, especially those almost opposite the existing entrance. GCC are pushing for this relocation, not the tenants of the farm shop.Naturally local people are suspicious of the need to move this entrance. Some thought is was to make use of the junction upgrade money, others a more straightforward access to the GCC land that lies behind the farm shop. Parish Councillors confirmed that there were no objections to the proposals although concern was noted that some of the work will require the road to be closed/restricted by traffic lights. This is a very busy road and as much advance notice is required to inform locals of potential lengthy travel delays.
24/01037/PDDEM: Brawn Farm, The Leigh, Gloucester. Demolition of Brawn Farmhouse. The site notice was brought to the attention of the Parish Council in December and an email was sent to the case officer asking for information. They duly replied and sent through a link to the relevant section of the National policy – General Permitted Development Orders. The applicants of Brawn Farm are seeking a prior approval application and as such this just requires the Council to assess the information under Schedule 2, part 11, Class B of the General Permitted Development Order. Buildings can be demolished provided that they meet the criteria. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 .
TBC have a short period of time to assess the demolition request and have to assess it using a number of laid down criteria such as ecological impact, highways etc. Unless the submitted documents are not sufficient, the TBC must make a decision by the deadline date or permission is granted by default. It appears that the PC were notified by accident but as a number of people had already discovered the site notice, the information was already circulating. The due date for the decision was today. Councillor Theyer managed to speak with the Planning Officer today who confirmed that the decision had not been made as some of the information supplied was not sufficient.Residents felt that this whole process was a very undemocratic decision and a bit slight of hand. The comments from the Conservation Officer were known to the Planning Officer but no further advice was being sought from them. As the decision was not made today because the full criteria to meet the method of demolition was not met, parishioners were reminded it is more a question of when and not if. The applicants are very aware of the local residents feelings towards retaining the building. Parishioners were encouraged to complain to the local Borough Councillor and write a letter objecting to the destruction of a heritage asset which should be restored rather than demolished.
.4. Adoption of the updated Leigh Parish Council Financial Policy.
The clerk has produced a new updated draft financial policy using the general model recommended by NALC. This policy covers all size Parish and Town Councils and it was felt that this new draft was just too onerous for a small Parish Council. The RFO has been speaking to the Auditors and it was agreed that perhaps this policy could be consolidated. There needs to be a section in there about handling CIL money and the need to encourage due diligence. The clerk and the RFO will meet and take time to go through the policy and see where it can be simplified. It was agreed to defer the new policy for a few months.
5. Authorisation to purchase/upgrade computer systems:
CIL money is going to be used to purchase new laptops for Council business but until this is done the old laptop needs the antivirus updated now. There is also a need to upgrade the office packages of word excel etc plus the current laptop only has the reader facility for PDF files. As more documents are coming through as PDFs the PC need to consider purchasing the annual/monthly subscriptions for all these systems. The clerk has provisionally booked an IT person to give the current laptop an MOT but this could be postponed if the new IT equipment was ordered in the very near future. The clerk asked for some stationery items as the current free stock has now run out. It was agreed that the clerk could purchase note books and ink cartridges without coming back to the Parish Council with a further price.
AOB:
Cllr Theyer confirmed that James Boon from GCC has finally come back to him with an update on the required work for the Wharf Lane. There is a plan coming together and it will be funded from the 2025/26 budget. Colin Withers is still working on the issue of the drainage at the Croft. There are blocked drains on the A38 at Coombe Hill again. These will be reported on the fix my street.
Noticeboards have arrived. The bus stops are still in progress and PC must liaise with GCC. The Allotment money has been paid. The parking lines at the church still need to be done.
Damage to the verges around the village are being monitored closely. National Grid are responsible for reinstating the verges they have damaged down Church Lane. It is probably the wrong time of year to be getting them back but they will be asked to come back in the Spring. Parish Council will write a letter if necessary.
Pond – Repairs to the stone roadway over the bund by the pond are proposed for the spring. An area of Green Lane has sunk and holds water. Work to address this will be done whilst working on the additional pipe across the lane. It will be leveled with road planings and tidied up a bit once weather conditions improved.
Jo will incorporate the information about the how the precept rate is produced in the next newsletter
Wharf swift boxes – boxes currently being stored at the clerks house. They need to be fixed in place during February. The question of how to pay the person willing to climb the ladder was sorted so this work will go ahead.
Meeting closed 20.45