A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
was held Thursday 15th February 2007
Winscombe Community Centre at 7.30 p.m.
Present: Mrs. M Ballard, Mrs. A Brading, Mr. S Bridges, Mrs. P Cram (vice-chair), Mr. A Forbes,
Mr. M Hagen, Mr. R Jones, Mr. G Lloyd, Mr. G Luckett, Ms. D Powell (vice-chair),
Miss B Roper, Mr. C Sampson (chairman), Mr. J Westlake.
Ward Councillors: Mrs. A Harley, Mr. A Lake
Members of the public: sixteen
NSC Parish Liaison Officer: Mr. J Foster
Police: P.C.Church, Beat Manager
Clerk: Mrs. L Rampton
Press Representatives: Mr G Jones – Freelance Reporter
Mr. M Mistry – Weston & Somerset Mercury
Apologies for absence: Mrs. P Witter
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised that Mr. R Jones had signed the declaration of acceptance of office before the Clerk on 22nd January 2007.
140 CHAPLAIN – Mrs. A Brading
(Agenda item 1)
141. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
(Agenda item 3)
Mrs. Ballard declared a personal & prejudicial interest in Agenda item 12, St Monica Trust Planning Application, Station Road, Sandford 07/P/0156/F & 07/P/0157/LB as a land owner living opposite the proposed site entrance.
142. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 18TH JANUARY 2007.
(Agenda item 4)
The minutes of the meeting were accepted and signed as a correct record subject to the following amendments: min 131 first paragraph, line 3 ‘suggested’ replacing ‘resolved’ and line 7 removal of ‘not’.
Proposed: Mrs. A Brading Seconded: Mrs. P Cram
All in favour
143. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES & CLERKS REPORTS– Annex 1
(Agenda item 5)
Clerks Report – Zero Waste Councillors attention was drawn to the new venue for plastics collection on 24th Feb at the Winscombe Community Centre Car Park partly due to current pavement widening works being carried out restricting the amount of available space.
144. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION -
(Agenda item 6)
St Monica Trust Planning Application, Sandford Stone Site
Maria Forbes, local historian spoke in opposition to the applications. The major objection being the incorporation of the former station building and ticket office into the proposed development. The Parish Council were advised that in her belief, this is the only remaining station building in North Somerset which still exists in the original position next to the platform along the line formerly belonging to the Bristol & Exeter Railway Company. As the building is on the edge of the proposed development, consideration could be given to removing this from the plan without compromising the security of the proposed residential area. This could be a unique opportunity for the listed building to be used in association with the Strawberry Line as a resource or visitor centre for all to enjoy. Whilst Mrs. Forbes has no objection to the type of planned development, she considered it to be too large in its present form and should not include the Greenfield sites.
Another local resident advised the Council of concerns regarding the flow of traffic onto Station Road and hazards this could cause at the Roman Road junction. A development of this nature would place increased pressure on the already congested Banwell roads due to the number of residents and increased services accessing the site.
145. CRIME REPORT 18TH JAN – 15TH FEB 2007 – PC CHURCH Annex 2
Direct office no 01934 638123
(Agenda item 7)
PC Church reported to the Parish Council, crime figures for this period and outlined local and new issues. In response to a question, it was confirmed that using a cross bow to shoot deer is illegal and an inspection of the reported hide has been carried out. The lawful use of the hide should be justified by the land owners or a request will be made for its removal by the police.
Upon request PC Church expanded on the ‘Loading Permit’ scheme – an A4 size permit is issued by PCSO Wright to all shopkeepers in Winscombe that is to be displayed in vehicles as proof that they are genuinely delivering goods to the specified shop. Normally a loading time of 15 mins is allowed before parking restrictions are enforced but this will be individually assessed for the different shops and businesses.
146. BANWELL & WINSCOMBE CHILDREN’S CENTRE PARTNERSHIP – Mr. P Tompkins, North Somerset Council Business Support & Project Manager
(Agenda item 8)
Mr. Tompkins introduced himself to the Parish Council and apologised that Winscombe & Sandford Parish Council had been omitted in error from the Agenda & Minute circulation list when meetings for the Partnership commenced. This omission was rectified in November 2006 and two W&S Parish Councillors had subsequently attended a meeting of the Partnership at Winscombe Community Centre.
The “Early Years Team” within NSC that deals with childcare issues from pre-school onwards have now been renamed the “childcare & play team”. A guide to childcare, learning & play in North Somerset was handed to the Clerk for reference and Councillors were advised that information was available electronically ‘on-line’.
The Centre will improve communication between professionals and therefore ensure the safety of our children. Recent articles in the press have advised of the development of children’s centres locally and nationally and, although the proposed centre for Banwell & Winscombe is to be sited in Banwell, Winscombe would be an outreach centre. Plans were shown to refurbish the existing Youth & Community Centre in Banwell with the Banwell Youth Club being involved in the design of the building. Works to this are anticipated to commence summer 2007 subject to current users vacating the premises.
The focus for the centre is on families with children aged from 0 – 4 years of age and aims to provide appropriate support and outreach services to parents/carers and children. Information and advice on a range of services will be available including local childcare, looking after babies and young children, diet & healthcare and education services for pre-school children. The Play Team will work with children up to 14/16 years of age with special needs. Organised sessions with professionals will be arranged to include antenatal care and toddler groups will be held at the centre.
The Centre will seek to address the needs for special care as early as possible and visits will be made within the first two months of a baby’s life to advise of services available. The project will bring together existing services to one location and Winscombe Community Centre is currently being looked at as an outreach centre.
Additional traffic will not be generated for Banwell as the services are already provided elsewhere. A local community of around 18,000 people is required for a centre and therefore communities have been combined to reach these figures. The Banwell doctors’ surgery has been involved from the outset and closure of local groups in not anticipated – just relocation to the new centre.
Councillors expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that the project had carried on a long time before the Parish Council were invited to become involved and so Winscombe is associated by name only. Little input has been received from this Parish and our Parishioners may struggle to reach the Banwell Centre due to lack of transport. Although no mention has been made through communication received, it was confirmed that the entire Winscombe & Sandford Parish is included within this project, not just Winscombe. Mr. Tompkins agreed that work is being carried out by the Group towards possible solutions and that the rural hamlets were currently providing a challenge.
147. TO AUTHORISE BILLS FOR PAYMENT – The Clerk Annex 3
(Agenda item 9)
Proposed: Mr. G Lloyd Seconded: Mr. S Bridges
All in favour.
148. WINSCOMBE WOODBOROUGH COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORT – Mrs. P Cram
(Agenda item 10)
Year 6 pupils had sat mock SAT exams this week whilst Year 5 pupils performed at the Playhouse WSM as part of the Churchill Cluster Dance Festival.
149. SANDFORD COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORT – Mrs. P Witter
(Agenda item 11)
Due to the absence of Mrs. Witter, no report was available.
150. ST MONICA TRUST PLANNING APPLICATION, STATION ROAD, SANDFORD Annex 4
(Agenda item 12)
Mrs. Ballard had previously declared a personal & prejudicial interest in this item and left the room.
Mr Foster had previously offered his apologies and left the meeting.
The Parish Council Chairman read a letter dated 13th Feb 2007 to the Parish Council from Mr. Lee, Director, St Monica Trust regarding an annex to their recent planning application. The application inferred that the Trust has the support of the Parish Council and acknowledges that at this point, this is not the case. This was a misunderstanding on the part of a project manager who wrote the report and the Trust apologise if they appeared presumptuous in any way.
Mr. Sampson invited the Chairman of the Parish Council Planning Committee to comment further on this application:
Mr. Luckett outlined policy facts supplied to the planning committee 12.02.07 (minutes and policy documents issued prior to this meeting to all Parish Councillors).
The site for these applications is outside the settlement boundary and not in the AONB; it is partly in open countryside. The NSC Planning Case Officer has advised that he will be displaying site notices on 20th Feb 2007 and members of the public then have a 21 day period in which to make their comments.
The Chairman continued, “North Somerset Council, in their press advertisement of the applications state that the development does not accord with the provisions of the Development Plan – Major Applications and this refers to the following policies:
GDP/1 Preferred locations for development
ECH/4 Listed Buildings
H/1 Residential Development”
The Parish Council were reminded of Parish Council Standing Orders, terms of reference for this committee (p29 & 30) and advised that these standing orders may be suspended by the full Parish Council.
Resolved: that Parish Council Standing Orders be suspended for the duration of this agenda item only to enable the planning applications to be considered.
Proposed: Miss B Roper Seconded: Mr. S Bridges
All in favour
A general discussion ensued which included a debate on the results of the Parish Council Consultation held on 9th February 2007(appended to these minutes). Some Councillors questioned the representative value of the Parish from such a small response rate, whilst others thought that the results reflected the general feeling of the open event where 60+ parishioners passed through. Whilst some Parishioners had offered their support for the project, they also expressed areas of concern that could be addressed as conditions of any planning approval. A number of Councillors at this meeting thought that members of the Parish that had responded to the very well advertised consultation should receive the support of their Parish Council whilst others thought that their opinions should be noted. Councillors had also received comments from other organisations within the Parish who are in favour of the project and Parish Councillors were advised that their personal opinions should be set aside.
Of those attending the public consultation, returning completed questionnaires or attending another Sandford meeting, the majority of Parishioners were in favour of the proposed development with reservations.”
Other items discussed by Parish Council regarding these applications included:
§ Inability of the applications to fit current planning policy.
§ The applications could set a precedent in the planning use of green field sites although St Monica Trust had compensated within the design by returning Brownfield site for the use of Greenfield land.
§ Road safety issues regarding two entrances onto the already very fast A368. It was noted no evidence of accident in this area has been recorded.
§ Potential to increase population of Sandford by 43%.
§ The opportunity for local residents meeting the age criteria to use local facilities has been offered by the St Monica Trust.
§ The proposed care home and sheltered housing accommodation would bring a large number of jobs to the area.
§ It was confirmed that the allocation of car parking spaces exceeds current planning policy.
§ St Monica Trust is in consultation with the Winscombe Doctors Surgery.
The Railway Walk Society do not wish the grade II listed railway buildings to be offered or donated to them but would like to see ownership passed to the NSC Strawberry Line Heritage Trail to enable this to be maintained and open to the public as has been done successfully by other local authorities. This was considered a one-off opportunity for ownership of the building to be passed into the public domain and the site of the care village secured without this.
Councillors were advised that should the planning applications not receive the support of the Parish Council, the St Monica Trust may withdraw their current proposal and move this to a site where support will be given – this could leave the former Sandford Stone Site open once again to potential developers or the possibility that it be used for industrial purposes.
Resolved: that planning applications 07/P/0156/F & 07/P/0157/LB be refused in their current form for the following reasons:
1.) The use of the Greenfield land is considered unacceptable and a redesign of the care village to incorporate Brownfield land only would be sympathetically considered by the Parish Council.
2.) Further consideration should be given to a safer exit from the care village onto the A368. Should the development be permitted, traffic management measures would be needed at this point to ensure safe access for both traffic & pedestrians in and out of the site with strong consideration being given to one exit only from the development onto Station Road and some form of roundabout.
An amendment to this resolution was proposed by Mr. Forbes, seconded by Mr. G Lloyd that St Monica Trust should enter into negotiation with the NSC Strawberry Line Heritage Trail regarding the future use of the railway building. 4 votes were received in favour, 7 against, 1 abstention. Amendment not carried.
Mr. Luckett requested that a condition be included within the Parish Council comments that should the application be approved by NSC, a provision is made within a 106 agreement for a monetary contribution towards the future extension of the Parish Cemetery – Councillors did not consider this necessary at present.
Resolved: that planning applications 07/P/0156/F & 07/P/0157/LB be refused in their current form for the following reasons:
1.) The use of the Greenfield land is considered unacceptable and a redesign of the care village to incorporate Brownfield land only would be sympathetically considered by the Parish Council.
2.) Further consideration should be given to a safer exit from the care village onto the A368. Should the development be permitted, traffic management measures would be needed at this point to ensure safe access for both traffic & pedestrians in and out of the site with strong consideration being given to one exit only from the development onto Station Road and some form of roundabout.
Proposed: Mr. M Hagen Seconded: Mrs. A Brading
7 in favour, 4 against, 1 abstention
Ms Powell had previously offered her apologies and left the meeting
Mrs. Ballard returned to the meeting.
151. PRIMARY CARE TRUST REPORT – Miss B Roper
(Agenda item 13)
Miss Roper reported on a recent meeting of the PCT and advised that relocation of Community Nurses away from the doctors’ surgeries had caused uproar and a rethink taken place for the rural villages. Interested parties at that meeting were invited to become part of a working party and a meeting called to discuss the set-up and outline future plans. Miss Roper felt sceptical about a working party of 22 members!
152. PARISH PLAN REPORT – Mr. G Luckett & Mr. Westlake
(Agenda item 14)
The two Councillors, having attended further information events held by Community Action on Parish Plans described the process from commencement of open meetings to the formation of a steering group. Councillors had been advised that a separate meeting for Winscombe & Sandford should be held and that members of Community Action, North Somerset Council and the Children’s Society would be available to attend as speakers. It was re-iterated that once grant funding has been obtained and a steering group set up, Parish Council involvement is minimal.
Two further information events are to be held for Councillors by Community Action and a flyer for this Parish is currently being designed.
153. PLAY AREA & SKATE PARK COMMITTEE REPORT – Mrs. A Brading Annex 5
(Agenda item 15)
The minutes for the Play Area & Skate Park Committee from the meeting dated 29th January 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Committee Chairman.
Proposed: Mr. A Forbes Seconded: Mr. G Luckett
All Committee members present were in favour
The installation of the new children’s play area at the War Memorial Recreation Ground has now started ahead of schedule with a planned completion date within one month. Invoice for payment of this is still to be sent in the 2007/2008 financial year as originally agreed. As well as grant donations being made by YANSEC and the Police Community Trust, and third party funding being supplied by the NSC Strawberry Line Heritage Trail, Sidcot School has made a donation of £250 towards the project. The Play Area Committee Chairman thanked the school for their support and the Clerk for work undertaken to ensure the speedy implementation of the play area.
Quotations for a replacement youth shelter for the Community Centre field are now being sought and these will be submitted to our Insurers to enable a settlement figure to be obtained.
War Memorial Recreation Ground Committee members were asked to ensure that the Parish Council Health & Safety Officer is consulted regarding the positioning on new cricket nets at the recreation ground. It was advised that the wire mesh to the swings at the Winnowing End Play Area has now been repaired.
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council.
Proposed: Mr. G Luckett Seconded: Mr. G Lloyd
All in favour
154. ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr. G Lloyd Annex 6
(Agenda item 16)
The minutes for the Environment Committee from the meeting dated 6th February 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Committee Chairman.
Proposed: Mr. S Bridges Seconded: Mrs. A Brading
All Committee members present were in favour
Min 12 it was advised that the NSC General Purpose Gang are unable to comply with the request to cut back the growth at the Winnowing End steps leading to the Parish Council play area as this is privately owned by the Parish Council and forms part of our annual grass cutting contract. It was requested that the steps be power-washed by ‘Connaught’ to remove build-up of silt/debris.
Min 15 a) this project to install vehicle speed activated cameras at the Church Rd/Woodborough Rd junction has not been supported by the relevant authorities and markings on the road will be made instead.
Min 15 c.) it has been requested that the Police Officer not supporting the Parish Council request to make Dinghurst/Sandmead Rd into a 30mph limit either send a copy of his report to the Parish Council or contact us directly to discuss the matter.
At a recent Local Action Team meeting in Weston-Super-Mare, comments made by our local community speedwatch co-coordinator were considered by NSC and steps will be taken to re-activate plans to install a digital speed monitor outside GAB in Sandford.
(i) Application for Advisory Disabled Persons Parking Bay, Woodborough Crescent
The application for the bay to ease the transportation of a severely disabled child has been completed on behalf of the Parish Council and returned to NSC.
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council.
Proposed: Mrs. A Brading Seconded: Mr. R Jones
All in favour
155. AWARD LAND COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr. J Westlake Annex 7
(Agenda item 17)
The minutes for the Award Land Committee from the meeting dated 12th February 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Committee Chairman.
Proposed: Mr. C Sampson Seconded: Mr. A Forbes
All Committee members present were in favour
It was advised that Vince Russett is not able to obtain funding for the digital mapping equipment through NSC and is now investigating an alternative source.
The attention of the Environment Committee was drawn to min 11, the existence of an unofficial footpath. The Environment Committee Chairman offered to pass forms to the Award Land Committee Chairman to instigate the process of rerouting a footpath.
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council.
Proposed: Mr. J Westlake Seconded: Mr. S Bridges
All in favour
156. CHAIRMENS COMMITTEE MINUTES FOR APPROVAL – Mr. C Sampson Annex 8
(Agenda item 18)
The Chairman spoke on items outlined in the minutes
The minutes for the Chairmen’s Committee from the meeting dated 30th January 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Committee Chairman.
Proposed: Mr. G Luckett Seconded: Mrs. A Brading
157. WAR MEMORIAL RECREATION GROUND COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr. C Sampson Annex 9
(Agenda item 19)
It was reported that the refurbishment of the toilets at the Cricket are currently being carried out.
Signs at the recreation ground should be replaced when NSC adopts the Cleaner Environment & Neighbourhood Act 2005 regarding dog control measures at the ground and on sports pitches.
158. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(Agenda item 20)
Mr. Bridges advised the Parish Council that he had attended an information event held by NSC concerning the decriminalization of parking enforcement. Parking offences will become a civil rather than criminal offence in early 2008 and that parking attendants will be provided by NSC.
Mr. Luckett had attended the NSC meeting of the South Area Committee where planning application 06/P/1054/LUE had been recommended for refusal. The Enforcement Officer is now considering other matters such as coach parking and the removal of trees as a matter of urgency.
Mr. Bridges has received an email letter of complaint from a Parishioner regarding the poor state of Jones’s Night & Day Store shop front and litter and rubbish in general around Winscombe. Previously problem areas had been dealt with by way of a working party and the provision of additional litter bins. This matter will be discussed by the Environment Committee at a future meeting
With no further business, the meeting concluded at 10.00 pm
Signed................................................................... (Chairman)
Date.......................................................................
Winscombe and Sandford Parish Council acknowledges the general duty placed upon it by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The Council will continue within its functions and policies to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and promote racial equality of different racial groups.