Local Emergency Plan
We can’t assume that the floods in July 2007 and the snow falls this winter were a “one off” event, so we have put what we learned to practical use before it happens again.
If you have read the Parish Plan you will be aware there is plenty of practical work to be done within the Parish. Their is a detailed Action Plan which shows what has been suggested, what has been achieved so far and where we are looking for people to take on particular tasks. Many of these are relatively short term activities, and most can only be achieved through the efforts of residents in the parish.
Please contact a member of the Parish Council if you would like to help.
Down load the Parish Plan here
Information available from Longney and Epney Parish Council under the model publication scheme
Members
There were no new nominations in the resent election and the Parish Councillors will therefore remain the same.
John Chamberlayne > Details
Paul Dempster > Details
Susannah Finzi > Details
Roger Godwin > Details
(Chairman) Tel:07774220066
Janice Williams > Details
LONGNEY AND EPNEY PARISH COUNCIL
A MEETING OF LONGNEY AND EPNEY PARISH COUNCIL
WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2011 AT 8pm. AT LONGNEY SCHOOL
AGENDA
Apologies
Declaration of interest in any item on the agenda
Police Report
Minutes of the July and special August Meetings
Matters arising
Planning
County Councillor’s Report
District Councillor’s Report
Correspondence
Environment Agency Flood Policy
Code of conduct/standing orders/responsibilities/liabilities
Village Plan:
- a) Garden group
- b) Highway maintenance
- c) Emergency warning system
- d) Village design statement
- e) Website/Newsletter updates
Any other matters for discussion
Date of next meeting
Archive of Parish Minutes
2011 Minutes
May 2011
March 2011
February 2011
2010 minutes as PDF's
October 2010
September 2010
July 2010
May 2010
April 2010
February 2010
January 2010
2009 minutes as PDF's
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
Older minutes are available from the Parish Clerk >
LONGNEY AND EPNEY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
MONDAY 16 MAY 2011
THE ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF LONGNEY AND EPNEY PARISH COUNCIL was held on Monday 16 May 2011, following the Annual Parish Meeting at Longney School
PRESENT: Cllrs. Chamberlayne, Finzi, Godwin, and Williams; District Cllr. Littleton, and two residents
APOLOGIES: Councillor Dempster
ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Chairman: Cllr. Godwin, proposed by Cllr. Chamberlayne, seconded by Cllr. Finzi; Vice Chairman: Cllr. Finzi, proposed by Cllr. Williams, seconded by Cllr. Chamberlayne; Responsible Financial Officer: Cllr. Finzi, proposed by Cllr. Godwin, seconded by Cllr. Chamberlayne; Internal Auditor: Mrs. M. Bullock, proposed by Cllr. Williams, seconded by Cllr. Chamberlayne; Footpaths Officers: Cllrs. Dempster and Finzi, proposed by Cllr. Godwin, seconded by Cllr. Williams; Snow Warden and Emergency Warden: Cllr. Godwin, proposed by Cllr. Chamberlayne, seconded by Cllr. Finzi; Clerk: Colin Squire. Cllr. Godwin thanked Councillors and the Clerk for their work over the past year
DECLARATION OF INTEREST IN ANY MATTER ON THE AGENDA: None
POLICE REPORT: None given at this meeting
THE MINUTES of the Meeting of Monday 14 March 2011 were agreed and signed as a true record of the meeting.
MATTERS ARISING: None
PLANNING: There had been no new planning applications and no permissions granted
COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT: None given at this meeting
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT: Cllr. Littleton reported that the recent SDC elections had resulted in a Conservative majority of one, and that he would be continuing as Chairman of the Planning Committee. There had been no increase in the District Council council tax but there is no restriction on the parish precept. There is concern over possible traffic problems resulting from the proposed development at Sellars Road, Hardwicke
CORRESPONDENCE:
GAPTC - LOCALISM REPORT FROM CPRE: This report confirms that a Village Design Statement does matter
GAPTC - PATA PAYROLL SET UP: The Clerk had spoken to HM Customs and Excise and taken advice that it will not be necessary to register for PAYE until early in 2012, since he is paid on an annual basis at the end of the tax year, otherwise he would have to make a nil-return every month if the Parish Council registered as an employer now
NALC - THE CODE OF RECOMMENDED PRACTICE ON LOCAL AUTHORITY PUBLICITY: The policy suggests that a Parish Council should not publish newsletters/information too frequently
WEIGHT LIMIT RESTRICTED ROADS: Information could be included on the website
NEIL CARMICHAEL MP - FLOOD RISK: It is considered that under the Localism Bill, there is potential for a Parish Council to take Environment Agency money and take responsibility for such things as flood protection itself
SEVERN VOICE - INVOICE AND NOTICE OF NEXT MEETING: Councillors agreed to a cheque value £65.00 being written for administration of the meeting held in Longney in February
COMMUNITY FIRST - INSURANCE: Councillors agreed to a cheque value £393.50 being written for renewal of the insurance premium since it is too late to make alternative arrangements for this year, but suggested that further quotes should be obtained next year due to the considerable increase in premium this year
FINANCIAL STATEMENT/ANNUAL RETURN: Councillors approved the accounts for the year 2010/11, and the Annual Governance Statement on the Annual Return was completed
VILLAGE PLAN:
a) GARDEN GROUP: £35 had been received and paid into the bank for recent use of the garden equipment
b) HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE: A few potholes had been filled recently, but the general condition of the lane is still very poor. It was previously understood that it was to have been resurfaced, but this has not happened. County Cllr. Blackburn will be asked to take this up with the Highways Department on behalf of the Parish Council
c) EMERGENCY WARNING SYSTEM: No further information
d) VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT: Now almost completed
e) WEBSITE/NEWSLETTER UPDATES: Cricket fixtures and the Hardwicke vehicle weight restriction to be shown on the website
CLERK’S FEE AND EXPENSES: This had been included on the agenda as it was expected that the Clerk might have to received payment at each meeting, but as explained under ‘Payroll set-up’ in correspondence, this is not necessary at present
OTHER MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION:
PRINTING OF VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT: Councillors agreed to a cheque value £16.00 being written for printing of the village design statement
INVOICE FOR REPLACEMENT POWER LEAD TO COMPUTER ROUTER: Councillors agreed to a cheque value £12.57 being written for this replacement part for use with the Parish Council computer
PROPOSED NEW CRICKET GROUND: Richard Watts had given a report on the proposal to move the cricket ground to a new location on land at Paterill’s Farm. Not more than 28 games of Sunday cricket will be played in any one season. The aim of the club is to encourage young players, of whom nine live in the Parish. Matches usually draw between 5 and 10 spectators, and take place between 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Sundays. Mid-week evening matches occasionally take place. Currently stock boxes (trailers) are used as changing rooms, which are brought in on the day. Any fundraising events will only take place elsewhere not at the ground. Access will be kept locked to prevent the ground from becoming a ’public space’. A request was made that the Parish Council is informed if any additional events are planned. A fixture list will be shown on the website, together with contact e-mail/telephone number(s). The first game is planned to take place on 29 May
PAST PLANNING APPLICATIONS: It was agreed that planning applications over four years old may be disposed of, except those over which there has been concern
VILLAGE TEA PARTY: The village tea party which took place on the day of the Royal wedding was a very successful event, with around 200 in attendance. Consideration need to be given as to whether the Parish Council should organise an event to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in 2012
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: The next meeting of Longney and Epney Parish Council will take place at 8pm on Monday 4 July 2011 at Longney School.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING CLOSED AT 10.02p.m.
Road repairs
In February 2010 Gloucestershire Highways issued information on “Operation Road Rescue” outlining their three steps to tackling the weather damage our roads have suffered this winter.
“Worst First: fixing dangerous potholes first
Patch: Using more machinery and material for bigger damage
Resurface: Re-prioritising our resurfacing programme.
Please be patient and drive with care.”
The Parish Council have been in direct contact with the Highways manager responsible for the maintenance of our roads and he is aware of the worst areas of new and existing damage within the parish.
The “report a pothole or blocked gully” system remains in place.
Start here http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/pothole
or phone 08000 514 514 and report it.
Fly tipping
Clearing away fly tipping from ditches, verges and gateways is the responsibility of Stroud District Council. However they don’t have the capacity to patrol the area regularly so it is up to residents to report fly tipping or other major dumping issues such as burnt out or abandoned cars.
Report flytipping www.stroud.gov.uk/reportit 01453 754 424
Litter
Collecting our black plastic sacks and green boxes at the gate once a week is the responsibility of Stroud District Council, but cleaning up the litter in our grass verges and gateways is not.
Plastic bottles, cans, confectionery wrappers continue to litter the parish despite a grand “Don’t drop litter in our parish” poster campaign by the children at Longney School in the summer of 2009.
This is a case of prevention being much better than cure. Please don’t drop litter in the first place, because some other resident of the Parish is going to have to pick it up.
A few residents take the matter into their own hands and collect rubbish from the verges and putting it in plastic sacks outside their own homes where the weekly Council truck will pick it up. If you are prepared to help, please contact George Barnes on 01452 723912 or barne154@btinternet.com.
Taking into account some issues raised within the Civil Contingencies Act we have decided not to rely only on rapid and effective help from outside, but to put in place some capability to take action locally as well. The Parish has developed its own Emergency Plan which amongst other things designates parish-based coordinators to take particular actions in the event of an emergency which affects the parish.
This Parish Emergency Plan is not a substitute for actions taken in these situations by District, County or National emergency services, but experience has shown that locally focussed preparation and action can be immensely valuable.
By “emergency” we mean an event such as -
Flood, regardless of source;
Major power failure (not scheduled) likely to last more than 6 hours;
Water cuts (not scheduled) like to last more 6 hours;
Major interruption to road access (snow, flood, accident, bridge breakdown);
A major hazard (e.g. burning vehicle with a dangerous load within the Parish or an adjoining Parish);
Getting information out to residents which may be urgent and managing the situation from a single central local point is a vital part of this plan. All residents who have already given permission for their phone or email to be used for this purpose can now be sent a text, voicemail or email message in the event of an emergency. The system has already been used to good effect in the snowy conditions in January 2010.
For a copy of the local emergency plan download the pdf below.
Current plans for Flood Defences - help with insurance problems continued...
The EA has an agreement with the Association of British Insurers (ABI), that if requested by the property owner, the EA will supply the ABI with a detailed (property specific) flood map, a flood risk rating (high/medium/low) and information about current flood defences in the area. They maintain that insurers vary in how far they respond positively to this information. You may still need to shop around, but many insurers will use it as a basis for a positive review of premiums based on detailed flood risk information for the property in question.
To apply, residents should email midswest@environment-agency.gov.uk or phone the EA customer relations department on 01743 283412 and their request will be passed to the flood risk and mapping department. There is a charge of £25 by the EA for supplying the information to the insurers.
Longney and Epney Parish Council, May 2011.
Flooding and Snow - Local Action
Prompt commonsense actions (getting sandbags where they are needed, marking flooded or closed roads clearly) can prevent damage to property and some of the more immediate inconvenience of flooding.
We can’t assume that the floods in July 2007 were a “one off” event, so we have put what we learned to practical use before it happens again. Roger Godwin (Chairman of the Parish Council) is our Parish Flood Warden, and has a stock of sand and sandbags at Yew Tree Farm in Longney. He is also responsible for the use of the snow plough within the parish which was used to excellent effect in January 2010.
If you believe you are in danger of flooding and may need sandbags contact Roger Godwin on 01452 720938 or 07774 220 066
