A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN’S COMMITTEE was held

on 27th September 2010, Parish Office,  Winscombe Community Centre at 2pm.

 

Present:           Mrs. A Brading, Mr. S Bridges, Mr. A Forbes (chairman), Mr. G Lloyd, Mr. C Sampson (vice-chairman), Mr. M Williamson

Clerk:               Mrs. L Rampton.                                    Members of the public:            none

 

Apologies for absence:            Ms D Powell (vice-chairman), Mr. J Westlake

 

1.    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - none declared

2.    MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES – no matters arising

3.    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - none

 

4.         Additional Drainage Works required at the War Memorial Recreation Ground

A meeting of the Chairman’s Committee had been convened to consider the immediate installation of additional drainage connecting into the existing drainage system at the Recreation Ground and if approved, to agree finance for this.

The War memorial Recreation Ground Committee has for some time been investigating a solution to flooding in both summer and winter periods to part of the south west quarter of the grounds and has now agreed that a 4” porous pipe is laid that would be covered in gravel, connect into the existing drainage scheme and could be installed at a cost of £3,500 using volunteer labour. Both the football and cricket clubs have agreed to contribute £500 each to these works and it was initially planned that £2,500 could be added to the WMRG committee budget request for the 2011/2012 financial year although Sports Club representatives were keen that the works be carried out over the coming winter period and in advance of the next cricket season.

A grant application has been made by the cricket and football clubs for financial assistance towards the scheme as ground conditions for the installation of drainage are now considered ideal with it being advised that installation works carried out at this time would cause less damage to the surrounding ground than if carried out during a wet period next spring. Should the summer of 2011 be wet, conditions would not be ideal to install additional drainage at that time.

In discussion the following points were made:

·         It was confirmed that works will not impinge on the Strawberry Line.

·         Works have been agreed by the WMRG committee with these recommendations being approved for action by the full Parish Council so the decision is whether to commit finance to this project in this financial year or to consider this in the next financial year subject to precept calculations.

·         Should funds be allocated in the 2010/2011 financial year for drainage, this factor should be incorporated into funds allocated to the WMRG Committee when agreeing committee budgets for the next financial year.

·         This area of land was omitted from the original drainage scheme installed several years ago but additional lateral drainage pipes can be added into the existing scheme now, and in the future.

·         Funding for this project is not available in the current WMRG Committee budget.

·         A grant application is not appropriate in this instance as the land is vested in the Parish Council for use by all Parishioners. Whilst sports clubs using the grounds would benefit from the addition of more drainage, water collecting in large puddles during wet periods is considered to be the responsibility of the Parish Council.

·         It was considered that works carried out to improve drainage in an area frequently used by Parishioners was for the good of the community and sufficient justification to proceed with the scheme.

It was proposed that works to install additional drainage at the War Memorial Recreation Ground, south west quarter, connecting into the existing drainage scheme commence immediately in the 2010/2011 financial year. Required funding for the scheme from the Parish Council of £2,500 should be deducted from the Parish Council contingency fund.

Proposed: Mr. C Sampson                        Seconded: Mr. M Williamson                           All in favour

 

5.    PROPOSAL FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF AVON LOCAL COUNCILS ASSOCIATION (ALCA). Notification has been received that an item appears on the agenda to the forthcoming ALCA AGM to be held on 14th October 2010 “To direct the ALCA Executive Committee to convene forthwith a Special General Meeting, the purposes of which would be to agree to proceed to the Dissolution of ALCA and to agree the way forward for the provision of services to the Local Councils in the West of England area”.  This agenda item appears after an agenda item to receive a report from the ALCA Way Forward Working Party, which was established at the ALCA Executive Committee meeting on 26th August 2010. The motion that may be put before the meeting is to dissolve ALCA as from 31st March 2011 and recommend that North Somerset and B&NES members join the Somerset Association of Local Councils (SALC). As a member council of ALCA we are entitled to send two voting members to the meeting that maybe the Clerk and/or Councillors. Other Councillors/Clerk may attend but have no voting rights.

 

Notification has been given to ALCA that Councillor Sampson and the Clerk will attend the meeting and vote on behalf of this Parish Council.

Whilst the content of the report from the ALCA Way Forward Working Party is not known at this time, it is known that there is an anticipated increase in subscriptions for the 2011-2012 financial year, details of which have been circulated with agenda papers to the meeting. It was confirmed that the ALCA subscription includes the subscription from this council to the National Association of Local Councils (NALC). In discussion it was agreed that whilst this Parish Council is usually represented at the majority of ALCA meetings we are entitled to attend, there is poor attendance to local group meetings of ALCA. However it was considered that Parish Councillors and office staff have benefitted enormously from training events run by ALCA. The County Secretary is easily available for advice and guidance and this has been a great source of support to both the Parish Council and Clerk especially over the past eighteen months. It is accepted that more complex matters that have been referred to NALC Solicitors on behalf of the Parish Council may have taken a little more time to respond to.

The County Secretary for SALC currently works part-time and should Councils from North Somerset and B&NES join this association, there would possibly be a delay in response times to matter raised by councils and subsequently an increase in subscription charges due to increased workloads?

A resolution to dissolve ALCA passed at the AGM would need to be ratified by a postal vote of member councils.

From information available at this time, it was proposed that Councillor Sampson and the Clerk be instructed to vote at the ALCA AGM in favour of retaining ALCA and opposing proposals to dissolve this organisation.

Proposed:             Mr G Lloyd                   Seconded:       Mr A Forbes                 All in favour    

      

 

6.         ANY OTHER BUSINESS - none

 

 

 

The meeting concluded at 2.25pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed   ...................................................................(Parish Council Chairman)                         

 

 

Date      ...........................