STAUNTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 12th May 2020
Venue: Zoom (Due to Covid-19 pandemic)
Time: 7:30pm
Present: Councillors; J. Millar, D. Williams, B. Allen, M. Fuller, D. Peach, B. Lewis (District Councillor), P. Burford (District Councillor and Corse Parish Council Representative), G. Millar (Clerk).
1. Chairman’s Welcome
Cllr Millar welcomed all present and explained the evening’s proceedings.
2. Receive Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr Fardon.
3. Declarations of Interest
None declared.
4. To confirm the minutes of the previous bi-monthly meeting held on Tuesday 10th March 2020
The minutes of the previous bi-monthly meeting held on Tuesday 10th March 2020 were proposed by Cllr Allen and seconded by Cllr Williams to be accepted as a true record.
5. County Councillor Report
In County Councillor, Will Windsor-Clive’s absence, a pre-sent report was read by Cllr Millar:
The County Council was on track to deliver its plan up until the beginning of March this year. The emergency of Corona virus 19 has changed everything for everyone and Council officers reacted very quickly, the County immediately gave 50K to each District Council with the intention of helping community groups. They set up a Help Hub through which anyone in need could apply to – anyone knowing anyone in need could report to and anyone wanting to help could register too.
Primary Care – Public Health – Social Services all worked together to help and were very effective.
All meetings have been cancelled and virtual meetings are being organised, more than two thousand staff are now working from home.
An enormous amount of work has gone into protecting the vulnerable and we have 3500 vulnerable children in the County and Government have identified 12000 vulnerable adults (under what they call shield) most of whom we have contacted offering help and we will continue to try and contact all. Adult social care workers have gone to a 7 day rota with cover from 8am to 8pm.
Children on free school meals who are not at school have been having meals delivered.
The Council has been given just over 27 million by Government to help us and it is too early to know how the costs and loss of income will pan out – up to the end of the financial year (beginning of April) there was little effect to our budgets but our first estimate is that this may have an extra cost of 38 million this year with the extra cost of Social Care loss of parking income council tax reduction where there is hardship and Government waiving business rates etc.
With the roads budget we have cut back to emergency repairs with the exception of resurfacing which we are increasing as much as we can as there is less traffic.
Waste is being collected and the District has done well to keep the service going in a very effective way – Household Recycling Centres (HRC’s) have been closed which has been very inconvenient to many people and we have been looking at ways to reopen then safely and will, hopefully, reopen some in the next week or so but probably with a booking system.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been very much in the news but Gloucestershire has not had a shortage and I have been told by the Director of Public Health (Gloucestershire) today that there is no problem and any facility that has a need that they cannot deal with can get it delivered within 24hrs.
6. District Councillor Report
District Councillor Philip Burford reported that the District Council are committed to helping local communities during the Covid-19 pandemic with the Forest of Dean District Council publishing daily update emails.
The next meeting of the planning committee will be on 27th May, with the hope that a meeting will be held every two weeks, although it is unknown when full council will next meet due Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
7. District Councillor Report
District Councillor Brian Lewis reported that parish residents are being checked on and called in on during the lockdown due to Covid-19.
8. Covid-19
Cllr Millar reported that the Forest of Dean District Council had made contact regarding individuals in the community who may be struggling and helped to provide them with the required support and contacts. Thanks, was also given to those within the community who are offering their time and support to those in need during this time.
9. Quiz
Cllr Fuller stated that two virtual quizzes and raffles have been held since lockdown, with another to take place on Saturday 23rd May. Funds raised are being shared with Cllr Fuller who is taking part in a charity bike ride for Nordoff Robbins, Teenage Cancer Trust and ChildLine will still be going ahead, only virtually.
10.Mobile Library
In light of the current outbreak of Covid-19 this newly launched service has had to pause temporarily. It shall resume upon the reopening of Corse and Staunton Village Hall, potentially September 2020.
11.Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
Cllr Fuller said that there is little to report due to Covid-19, however suggested this become a rolling agenda item at all meetings of Staunton Parish Council.
12.Finance
Financial Report: Payments & Receipts 12/02/20 – 17/04/20
Opening Balance Brought Forward from Last Reconciliation: £1,011.54
Payments in Period:
06/03/20 000879 Half Costs of Website £20.94
06/03/20 000880 Half Costs of Grass Cutting £100.00
06/03/20 000881 Clerk’s March Salary £176.10
06/03/20 000882 Clerk’s March Expenses £31.67
06/04/20 000883 Clerk’s April Salary £176.10
06/04/20 000884 Clerk’s April Expenses £21.67
TOTAL: £526.48
Receipts in Period:
17/04/20 2020/2021 Precept £4,868.00
TOTAL: £4,868.00
Balance After All Payments & Receipts Are Accounted For: £5,353.06
Cheques/Receipts Not Presented in Period:
06/03/20 000881 Clerk’s March Salary £176.10
06/03/20 000882 Clerk’s March Expenses £31.67
06/04/20 000883 Clerk’s April Salary £176.10
06/04/20 000884 Clerk’s April Expenses £21.67
TOTAL: £405.54
Balance After Accounting for Unpresented Entries: £5,758.60
Statement of Account
Balance in Lloyds TSB Account @ 17/04/20: £5,758.60
Unpresented Cheques Drawn Post Bank Statement:
06/05/20 000885 Clerk’s May Salary £187.03 (incl annual increase)
06/05/20 000886 Clerk’s May Expenses £21.67
06/05/20 000887 Purchase of Flag for VE Day £41.70
06/05/20 000888 Zurich Insurance Premium £257.60
10/05/20 000889 2020/2021 GAPTC Subscription £187.27
TOTAL: £695.27
Balance After ALL Payments Clear: £4,657.79
13. Planning
P0278/20/FUL
Erection of a single storey extension to form annexe accommodation to be used ancillary to the main dwelling. Demolition of existing single storey lean-to store – Jasmine Cottage, Orchard End, Staunton, Gloucestershire, GL19 3QX
Staunton Parish Council Comment - NO OBJECTION
FoDDC Decision - PENDING DECISION
P0308/20/FUL
Erection of two dwellings with associated works. (Redevelopment of a frontage plot on previously developed land) – Garden Centre, Ledbury Road, Staunton, Gloucestershire, GL19 3QA
Staunton Parish Council - NO OBJECTION
FoDDC Decision - PENDING DECISION
P0375/20/AG
Application for determination as to whether prior approval is required for further details. Prior notification for the erection of a general-purpose agricultural building – Pitts Mill, Oridge Street, Corse, GL19 3DA
Staunton Parish Council Comment - NO OBJECTION
FoDDC Decision - REFUSED
P0458/20/FUL
Erection of a single storey extension with associated work. Demolition of existing conservatory – 1 Lovett Close, Staunton, Gloucestershire, GL19 3RZ
Staunton Parish Council Comment - TO BE CIRCULATED
FoDDC Decision - PENDING CONSIDERATION
14. Any other business
The footpath audit is proving successful, with the path at Brierly Grange being cleared and a bridge installed. The paths along Mill Lane and by Staunton Church have also now been reinstated.
15. Public Participation
No items were raised.
The meeting finished at 8:13pm
Signed: Date: