Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

February 2021 minutes

Minutes of the meeting of Somerford Keynes Parish Council (SKPC) 1st February 2021

Present: Cllr J. Whitwell (JW, Chair), Cllr R. Elsey (RE, Vice Chair), Cllr M. Rigby (MR), Cllr M. Keegan (MK), Cllr R. Sleeman (RS), Cllr G. Valentine (GV), Cllr A. Stradling (AS) Cllr T. Berry (TB CDC), Cllr S Parsons (SP Gloucester County Council GCC), W. Cartwright (WC, Clerk)

Parishioners:  2 attendees

Held by Zoom conference due to ongoing Coronavirus crisis.

  1. Apologies:  None
  2. Declaration of interest: GV and LME
  3. Minutes of meeting held 4 January were approved subject to minor amendments suggested by Mike Wilding on the Village Lake. Proposed RS, seconded MK
  4. Clerk’s report
    1. Village Website: Mike McKeown (MM) and Jon Lunn (JL) had given a demonstration of the latest version of the new look website to SKPC on Monday 11th January. All had been highly impressed with its design. It was agreed that the outdated emergency plan should removed and updated for the new site. MK had supplied MM/JL with a list of corrections and it was agreed that MR check the content once corrected, and that training for maintaining the site be organised before the site is made live. Action: MR to contact MM/JL
    2. Keynes Country Park: (KCP) The meeting to be scheduled between Victoria Hadnett (VH, General Manager, Cotswold Country Park and Beach) and RE/ MR was now cancelled as VH had indicated she was leaving the role, but that she request that the new manager contact us when in post.
    3. Village Lake: Mike Wilding (MW, Village Lake Management Committee) gave an update of Village lake projects: The LME 106 grant to be sought for planting of wildflower meadow had been submitted until a response given, the final spend of the Calor grant would be on hold. The oiling of the boardwalk had given good results other than the last 10 metres in the shady area which was still slippery. It was requested that anti-slip strips be purchased (cost £260) which would mean an additional £150 was needed above the original maintenance budget.  Proposed GV, Seconded AS – all voted in favour.
    4. LME footpath: Oberon Rogers had been in contact with MR and indicated that a walking route for access to villagers had been proposed, and that this would be discussed at the next Residents Association meeting on the 6th February. GV thought that the meeting was scheduled for the 13th February but would attend on either date, and it was greed that GV would take the lead to move this forward. Action:  GV to update SKPC.
    5. LME cycleway: No update.
    6. GCC Highways/ footpaths:
      • Village gateway signs: AS had met with Gill Portlock (GCC Highways) and shown the
        3 sites and installation was now considered to be imminent.
      • Elm View overflowing drain: WC to report to GCC Highways for investigation/jetting.
      • Water Lane potholes: WC to request update from GCC Highways on resurfacing.
      • Water Lane gritting:  WC to request to GCC Highways to be included in the route.
      • Footpath post: Footpath post and sign at end of Church Lane adjacent to Old School House needs replacing. Action: WC to report to GCC Footpaths (Frank Dorrington-Ward) and request update on style replacement with kissing gates.
    7. Parish Field: A parishioner had indicated that poor state of repair of the fence at the southern end of the field. MR/RE indicated that this is a recurring problem that Jo Pendleberry (JP, Waterland) faces with members of the public breaking the fence down to enter the woodland, and that she does mend the fence regularly. It was suggested the ditch to the southern end and parallel to the Spine Road also needs clearing. Action: MR/RE contact JP and discuss the issue and whether any more permanent solution could be sought.
    8. Neighbridge: Ben Wellbourn had provided information about the level of income from the Neighbridge car park, although SKPC did not understand the basis of the figures and would like further clarification. JW had attended the virtual Multiagency Waterpark meeting the previous week and would circulate the minutes when received. Action: WC to contact BW and seek further clarification on the figures.
    9. Flooding: Concerns were raised about the high water table and flooding in the vicinity of Water Lane. Clearing and jetting the County ditch and drains were discussed as a solution to the problem. Action:  WC to contact Laurence King (CDC, Flood manager) and GCC Highways to investigate and seek solutions.

4.10 Hedges: The overhanging hedge on The Street had been pruned which was welcomed.

4.11 Other matters

4.11.1 Social and Safe Roads Survey: GV had completed the survey but not been sent off.

4.11.2 PC Newsletter: Action: JW to seek contributions for a spring newsletter.

Planning applications

  • 20/04183/FUL; 20/03916/FUL; 11/03126/FUL; 20/03885/FUL; 20/04183/FUL (LME) – No comments.
  • 20/04499/FUL – Full Application for Construction of a temporary 19.94MW Solar Farm at Land at Grid Reference 403536 198745 Ashton Road Siddington – No objection
  • 21/00353/TCONR; 21/00313/TCONR (Grange End, Loughrigg tree work) – No objections
  • 20/04079/FUL – Development of Land to South East of Ashland House – Extended final date for comments by consultees due on 12/02/21.
  • White barns update: TB had asked for a follow up with planning enforcement, but it would not be a fast response. Action: TB to keep aware of any update.

JW had contacted Fern Lynch regarding the lack of knowledge of LME and some helpful correspondence had been sent, and she suggested that the SKPC request site visits if deemed necessary.  A visit/ tour will be requested once COVID restrictions are lifted.

Correspondence

  • SSSI designation: JW had been given two detailed hardcopies of the proposals. Action: To circulate to MW (Village Lake Management Committee) on its implications for the Village Lake, and MR/RE to assess implications for the Parish Field and its lease.
  • 20 mph speed limit: A letter had been received requesting whether SKPC would like to consider the idea of collaborating with four neighbouring villages to share costs to introduce a 20 mph speed limit, but the SKPC considered this would not be viable and no further action required.
  • Community Rail partnership: Survey has been circulated to parishioners to complete as desired.
  • Covid list of volunteers:  Action: JW to update list given that some volunteers had indicated their wish to now be removed.
  • Aggressive Dog: A report had been received regarding an aggressive dog, which had been reported in the past. Action: WC to recontact the owners and the police who had previously been involved.
  • Model code of conduct: Action: To consider at next meeting.

Financial Matters

Zoom subscription (£14.39) approved; Village Lake boardwalk anti-slip strips (£150) Proposed RS seconded RE. Agreed en bloc.

Questions and comments

The red barriers on the Spine Road cycleway were continually falling down and considered unsightly and of no use for health and safety.  Action: WC to contact GCC Highways to request their removal.            

The meeting was closed at 8.55 pm.    Date of next meeting:  Monday March 1st 2021, 7.30 pm