THE LEIGH PARISH COUNCIL
: leighpc@hotmail.co.uk : theleighpc.org.uk
MINUTES OF THE ADDITIONAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11th December 2024 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 2 members of the public.
1. Apologies:
Apologies were received from Cllr Mclain.
2. Declarations of interest:
There were no declarations of interest.
3. To discuss planning consultation requests and consider responses for the following:
24/00914/FUL – Windyridge, Tewkesbury Road, Coombe Hill, Gloucester. This application seeks to amend two of the drawings stated in the planning permission granted under reference 21/00655FUL on 18th October 2022. Namely C – Ground and upper floor plans and 200 04 C – Elevations. Drawing references 200 01 D – Location and Block Plan, 200 03 – 200 05 D – Proposed site plan, 200 09 A – Proposed landscaping plan and 200 10 – Typical fencing plan remain unaltered and have not been included in this Planning Application and were not discussed.
Current permission is for the external walls to be an exposed steel frame with Dark Grey RAL 7016 metal roof cladding with standing seams and inset areas of timber slatted shading screens of Grade 1 Larch cladding. The new proposal is for the external ground floor to be rendered with the first floor cladded in vertical larch timber. People at the meeting felt that this change was more acceptable aesthetically. The change in materials would help to break up the solid shape of the building. The closest house to this dwelling is currently rendered.
The internal reconfiguration of stairs and rooms upstairs will not be seen from the outside and therefore has no impact on any nearby dwellings. Parish Councillors had no issues with any of the proposals and here was no feed back from any neighbours.
3a. A brief update on planning applications yet to be decided:
Elms Park – work still on going
Leigh End – no news
Paddock Cottage – no news
1-5 houses PIP on A38 – no news
2 houses Church Lane – partly constructed. Condition 14 waiting for an update. Ridge height hasn’t changed. Not been handed well. Information has been confusing. Parishioners still concerned that the drainage issue has not been resolved. Latest information on drainage is November 24 nothing since then.
Brawn Farm – site notice. 27th January 2025. Contact Planning Officer and Conservation Officer, Enforcement if needed.
Staplins – no news
Coombe Bank – no news
Tudor Cottage – no news even though applicants were told it would be handled quickly.
4.To receive a Financial update and approve the following:
A copy of the current financial situation was emailed to all Parish Councillors
Netwise invoice – approved for payment
2024/2025 Pay Award – the Pay Award has been agreed. Parish Council agree to adopt the pay award, proposed by Cllr Morton and seconded by Cllr Glazebrook. All agreed. RFO will work out and pay outstanding back pay. Clerk expenses approved.
Confirm Precept amount – The Precept amount needs to reflect the changing size of the parish. The agreed amount was £6415 for 2025/2026. This decision is based on the following information. The request is based on an 8% increase on last years Precept figure. The influx of new housing at Coombe Hill has generated more work for the Parish Council. Using the TBC’s Council Tax base data for a Band D house together with the increase in housing numbers, means an actual increase of 34p for a Band D property. Proposed by Cllr Morton and seconded by Cllr Glazebrook. All agreed. Clerk will draft the customary letter requesting the annual Precept amount.
Upgrade a pipe connected to the Village Pond. The Parish Council have received a request to help finance the work to upgrade a drainage pipe. It was difficult to know if this could be covered under CIL money as it doesn’t not benefit the whole parish. It was suggested that both flood bund management committees could be given a small fixed amount of money to help with maintenance as a one off. The decision was deferred. Money for the pipe was approved but 8is to provide for materials only
5. Changes to the Parish Council Finance Policy
The clerk has been working on a revised Finance Policy. A draft is now ready
6. To consider and approve any new CIL spending.
Spending on noticeboards and bus shelters approved.
Check on approval for the pipe.
7. Update on Highways Issues:
Nothing to report. Contact with GCC is poor. There is no money for improvements in their budget. Broken drains by Croft are still on-going. The problem outside the farm has not been sorted and wont be until the new financial year. There are no rodding points.
Dog bins – once the fences are in the correct places at Coombe Hill the Parish Council can buy and install bins. Pointless putting them in place and then they are removed for the junction upgrades.
Wharf Lane – state of the road is terrible. James Boon not responding.
Norton Parish Council have finally succeeded in getting the speed limit reduced through their parish.
8.To consider and respond to the request from GAPTC for the Consultation on Remote Attendance and Proxy Voting.
Parish Council think that although this is a good idea in theory, it would be difficult for this parish and other small parishes where the Wi-Fi is poor or non existent. As the Parish Council hold the meetings in the Church, they have been working with the PCC and the Digital and Technology Navigator to find funded for Wi-Fi improvements. Sadly the Church is classed as a business and costs are high.
9. To consider and respond to the request for a Civil Society Covenant
The Parish Council decided not to send a response.
10. Any other business.
Allotments – a question was raised about the rents and whether a review of the rates was due. Any increase has to agreed and put in writing 12 months in advance of the new contract year commencing. It was agreed that the boundaries of the plots should be made clearer. Technically one plot is being used as a garden. Rents have been paid on time and there is no one else asking to rent a plot.
Meeting closed 21.45pm