MINUTES OF THE HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE MEETING
ON TUESDAY 26th JANUARY 2010

Present:  Cllr Frank Cllr Cusack Cllr M Jones
  Cllr S Jones Cllr Mumford

Apologies:  Cllr Winney
In attendance: Cllr Boulton, Penny Ibbotson

In the absence of Cllr Winney, it was RESOLVED that Cllr Frank act as Chair for the meeting.

H75 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Cusack declared a prejudicial interest in item H83 Residents Parking & a personal interest in item H85 Fairford Football Club

H76 To confirm the Minutes of Previous Meetings held on 24th November 2009
It was RESOLVED to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24th November 2009 as a true and accurate record of the proceedings.

H77 Review of Matters Arising from Previous minutes:
No 74 diversion to Horcott: Swindon Borough Council have no current plans to divert bus service 74 and would be unable to without a financial contribution from Glos County Council.
ACTION: The Clerk to write back and ask what level of contribution would be needed for such a small diversion and also contact GCC.
Renaming of Blackford Road: CDC has responded that all historic maps show the road in question as being called Welsh Way, and this is the officially registered name – it is not possible to rename a section of a road.
ACTION: The Clerk to pass this information on to the Fairford Preservation Trust and also put in a request to CDC, that if there is any new development in this area in the future, the name ‘Blackford Road’ is to be used.
Footpath link from Burdocks to Horcott Lake: The Clerk has only recently contacted Hanson about the possibility of a permitted footpath link so no response has been received to date. Item to be deferred to next meeting.
Grass Cutting: ACTION: The Clerk to check the wording of the contract ref re-appointment for a second year.

H78 To receive income and expenditure for Highways committee
The income and expenditure figures were accepted. There had been little change from the previous figures.

CHURCHYARD/BURIAL GROUND
H79 To review burial charges for New Burial Ground
It was agreed to keep the charges for burials as per 2009 figures, with the exception of the grave digging charge for cremations, which is to be raised from £10 to £20.

H80 To receive letter from Ernest Cook Trust ref future Burial Ground dated 22nd December 2009
ECT has agreed that negotiations need to start well in advance of the land being needed, and that the agricultural tenant will need at least 12 months notice.
The committee suggested that discussions should start in 5 years time i.e. 2015.
ACTION: The Clerk to write to ECT to advise that FTC will be in touch in 2015 regarding the sale of the land.

HIGHWAYS
H81 To discuss situation to date ref lighting of Horcott path
A sample bollard was meant to have been received by Vandalite in time for the meeting. This has not arrived.
ACTION: Cllr Frank to chase Vandalite. Cllr Mumford offered to look at possible alternative suppliers.

H82 To discuss request for new street light on Hatherop Lane following site visit by Cllrs
It was RESOLVED to go ahead with the request for a street light on Hatherop Lane, providing the local residents are in agreement, at a maximum cost to FTC of £750.
ACTION: The Clerk to contact the residents of 40,41 & 42 Aldsworth Close and submit an application to the Crime and Disorder Partnership for grant funding.
Recommendation to go to Full Council.

H83 To review GCC Residents Parking Policy
Cllr Cusack left the room.
Shared Use bays would be the most suitable scheme for the High Street/Market Place. Annual permits cost £62 for the first car and £77 for a second car. This goes up to £72 and £90 respectively in 2011. Having a permit does not guarantee a parking space but allows residents to park longer than 1 hour in restricted zones.
ACTION: The Clerk to write to all residents of the High Street and Market Place without any current parking facilities, to ask if they would be supportive of a Shared Use scheme and willing to pay for a permit. The response to be assessed at the next meeting.

Cllr Cusack returned to the meeting.

H84 To agree response to GCC Talking Transport consultation
Four responses have been received. Cllr Frank offered to help collate the responses. GCC need to receive questionnaires by 31st January 2010.
ACTION: Cllr Frank to help Clerk co-ordinate responses.

H85 To select reps to liaise with the Football Club ref plastic recycling bins
Cllrs Frank and S Jones offered to attend a meeting at the Community Centre, with Vanessa Lawrence present to take minutes. Cllr Boulton offered to estimate the cost of the fencing work.
ACTION: The Clerk to set up a meeting date for next week.

FOOTPATHS
H86 Review of meeting with Mike Barton PROW on 15th January 2010.
In the absence of Cllr Winney, this item is to be deferred to February Full Council under Meetings Attended. It was reported that PROW has agreed to give a grant to FTC to go towards payment for general footpath clearance work. Also the work to correct the alignment of the River Walk footpath, near Snake Lane, is to be carried out by the end of February.
ACTION: item to go on Full Council agenda

H87 To discuss preferred surface treatment of Keble alley
It was agreed that FTC should continue to press for the surface of Keble Alley to be tarmac as this is the most suitable surface for pushchairs/wheelchairs etc, particularly as there is no pavement alternative available.
 ACTION: The Clerk to discuss with PROW

MAINTENANCE
H88To agree appointment of footpath maintenance contractor for 2010/2011
Four quotes had been received: A - £15 per hour, B - £15 per hour, C - £16 per hour & D - £18 per hour.
It was RESOLVED to appoint contractor A, subject to satisfactory references of similar type work. If references are not suitable, contractor D is to be appointed as second choice.
ACTION: Recommendation to go to Full Council

H89 To agree whether to take ownership of Quarry Alley from CDC
It was RESOLVED (4 in favour, 1 against) to take on ownership of Quarry Alley after CDC has carried out the tidying up work and shrub planting. When ownership has been finalised, the land will need to go on the register of land owned by FTC.
ACTION: The Clerk to advise CDC of this decision.

H90To discuss shrub planting at St Mary’s Drive
The area along St Mary’s Drive that was recently cleared of unsuitable trees is now looking bare. As FTC has responsibility to maintain this area, it was RESOLVED to replant with 8 shrubs at a cost of £35. A nearby resident has offered to donate some money towards the replanting.

H91 To review entry for Council Worker of the Year
Information on recent training needs to be added but otherwise the entry was accepted as being suitable for submission to the competition.
ACTION: The Clerk to send submission to NALC.

H92  Items the Chair considers urgent:

H93 Date of next meeting – Tuesday 23rd March 2010