A MEETING

A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMANS COMMITTEE

was held Tuesday 30^th January 2007

Parish Office, Winscombe Community Centre at 9.30 am.

Present: Mrs. M Brading, Mr. G Luckett, Ms. D Powell, Mr. C Sampson (chairman) Mr. J Westlake,

Members of the public: one

Clerk: Mrs. L Rampton.

Apologies for absence: Mrs. P Cram, Mr. G Lloyd.

A meeting of the Chairman’s Committee was convened with the statutory notice to deal with an urgent matter requiring immediate action.

1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - none declared

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

3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

A Parishioner spoke in favour of reopening the former railway line at a future date and asked that the Parish Council be mindful of this when considering the St Monica Trust planning applications for the former Sandford Stone site. The Transport & Works Act 1992 has simplified the process and it was thought possible to reopen the line between Weston Super Mare and Shepton Mallet running through Winscombe & Sandford with little or no cash input from North Somerset Council. With current road congestion and looking towards regeneration of the area, this opportunity should not be blocked for the future.

4. FORMER SANDFORD STONE SITE, STATION ROAD, SANDFORD – to consider a meeting schedule.

Planning applications 07/P/0156/F & 07/P/0157/LB have now been registered with North Somerset Council and submitted to the Parish Council for their consideration. Details of the application are available to view on the NSC website, in Winscombe Library and at the Parish Office during usual opening hours. The requested response date for this application by NSC is 13^th February 2007.

A discussion took place regarding the method of consultation for the Parish.

It was proposed that the following method be adopted:

v Sandford Village Hall should be booked so that Parishioners may view the plans on Friday 9^th February 2007 between 2pm and 8pm.

v Two Parish Councillors should be present at all times but would not offer an opinion to those attending the session.

v The facility for making written comments to the Parish Council should be made available and Parishioners encouraged to duplicate these to the Planning Case Officer at North Somerset Council.

v Posters advising of this event should be displayed and the local press advised.

Proposed: Mr. G Luckett Seconded: Mrs. M Brading

All in favour

From a limited inspection of the planning application, the Planning Committee Chairman considered the application to be the same as the plans shown at the Sandford Station Open Day on 28^th Nov 2006 by St Monica Trust. The results of the St Monica Trust consultation/questionnaire are not known. Ward Councillors have advised that the applications will be called before the South Area Committee for consideration in March.

At the 12^th Feb 2007 meeting of the Planning Committee, the applications could be referred to the full Parish Council for consideration on 15^th February 2007 and the Planning Officer advised of this possibility.

5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

National Salary Agreement for Local Council Clerks – The Chairman advised that he had made contact with the appointed Internal Auditor regarding this matter and it would appear that no incremental increase has been applied to the 2005/06 or 2006/07 scales. This matter will be further considered by the Finance Committee at their April 2007 meeting.

Borrowing Approval – confirmation has now been received from the Department for Communities and Local Government, directed by the Secretary of State that, in pursuance of her powers under paragraph 2(2) of schedule 1 to the Local Government Act 2003, the replacement of an existing children’s play area at the War Memorial Recreation Ground is approved as a purpose for which Winscombe & Sandford Parish Council may borrow an amount not exceeding £30,000.

The meeting concluded at 9.55 am

Signed...................................................................(Chairman) Date...........................