A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

was held Thursday 16th October 2008, Winscombe Community Centre at 7.30 p.m.

 

Present:           Mrs. A Brading, Mr. S Bridges, Mrs P Bushnell, Mrs. P Cram, Mr. A Forbes, Mr. R Jones (Vice-Chair), Mr. G Luckett, Mrs V McGann, Ms. D Powell (Vice-Chair), Mrs A Richmond, Mr. C Sampson (Chairman), Mr J Westlake, Mr M Williamson.

 

NSC Liaison Officer:                            Mr J Foster

Clerk:                                                            Mrs. L Rampton

Press Representatives:                     Mr G Jones – freelance reporter

Members of the public:                     three

 

Apologies for absence: Mr. G Lloyd, Miss B Roper, Ward Cllr Harley, PC Church & PCSO Wright. Apologies for late arrival had been given in advance of the meeting by Mrs A Brading & Ward Cllr Marter.                        .

 

94.        DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (Agenda item 3) None were declared.

 

95.        APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 18TH SEPT 2008 (Agenda item 4)

The minutes to the meeting were approved & signed as a correct record.

Proposed:        Mrs P Cram      Seconded:       Mr A Forbes                

10 in favour, 2 abstained as not present at the meeting         

 

96.        MINUTE UPDATE FROM THE SEPT MINUTES & OCT CLERKS REPORTS– Annex 1  (Agenda item 5)

Min 93 – The War Memorial at Sandford is now back in situ following cleaning & refurbishing initiated by the garage owners. A letter of thanks should be sent on behalf of the Parish Council.

Former Sandford Station Site Visit. Many Councillors had enjoyed the tour of the site currently under construction and a letter of thanks should be sent to Andrew Wilson for arranging this.

Mapping of the Award Land. The grant application made by NSC is to be resubmitted in a revised form in a further effort to obtain necessary funds to purchase GPS equipment.

Clerks Report. It was noted that acceptable plastic types has been extended although incorrect signage is still currently displaced on the recycle bin.

 

97.               CRIME REPORT 18TH SEPTEMBER – 16TH OCTOBER 2008– PCSO Wright Annex 2 (Agenda item 6)

Direct office no 01934 638123.  Weekly Beat Surgery Tuesday 10 am – 1 pm

Details of the report were read to the meeting by the Clerk with 10 crimes being reported in this period. Crime figures are down on the same period last year from 15 to 10 with the number of calls remaining constant. Good security is advised for all outbuildings.

 

98.       PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (Agenda item 7)

            Winscombe Community Centre Vice-Chair voiced concern that the NS Agricultural Society Ploughing Match scheduled for 12th September 2009 is on the same day as the Community Centre Michaelmas Fair 30th Anniversary Event. Members were advised that a large number of attractions planned for both events are duplicated.  A Sandford resident gave praise for the recent refurbishment of the Sandford War Memorial.

 

99.        WARD COUNCILLOR UPDATE & NSC PARISH LIAISON OFFICER UPDATE (Agenda item 8)

Mr Foster advised the meeting that the Local Access Forum Annual Report 2007/08 has now been published and a copy given to the Clerk so that this may be viewed in the Parish Office. It was confirmed that NSC invested  £3million in Iceland’s Landsbanki in May 2008 on 6 month terms that are due to expire at the end of November 2008. NSC adopts a ‘risk adverse’ policy and will only deposit monies in ‘A’ rated investments with a maximum amount of £7million deposited in any one institution. Due to global current financial concerns, Landsbanki was downgraded to a ‘B’ category investment end September, with NSC unable to withdraw funds due to terms of the bond. Steps are being taken between local authorities and Government to reclaim funds that appear encouraging, but obviously without guarantee. Mr Foster answered a number of questions from Councillors regarding source of invested funds, NSC annual turnover and Council policy regarding investments.

Ward Cllr Marter arrived at the meeting. Mr Marter spoke on the subject of Environmental Waste Strategy and NSC plans to increase recycling through the ‘bring banks’ such as Winscombe Woodborough Drive centre

 

100.      TO AUTHORISE BILLS FOR PAYMENT – The Clerk Annex 3  (Agenda item 9)

Cheques 102538 - 102568 and direct debits payments detailed were authorised for payment

Proposed:        Mr S Bridges                Seconded:       Mr M Williamson                    All in favour.

 

101.      REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICES 9TH NOVEMBER 2008 & REPRESENTATIVES TO LAY POPPY WREATHS  (Agenda item 10)

The annual contribution to the Royal British Legion to include purchase of two poppy wreaths, under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 was agreed by the Council. Mr Sampson will lay the wreath in Winscombe & Mr Westlake will attend & lay the wreath in Sandford.

 

102.      MICHAELMAS FAIR & NS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY PLOUGHING MATCH SEPT 2009 (Agenda item 11)

            The Chairman reminded members that consideration of this item should be entered into with an unbiased opinion. A discussion took place regarding communication between the two organisations concerned and the possibility of one group changing the date of their planned event. A Councillor advised that crops could be planted that may be harvested earlier in 2009 that may allow the date of the ploughing match to be amended and empathy was expressed towards the WCA for their ‘30th event’. Whilst the Winscombe Community Association has been present in the Parish for the last 29 years, other organisations have the right to, and are encouraged to stage events within the Parish.

            Resolved: Winscombe Community Centre should make initial contact with NS Agricultural Society and forward a copy of this communication along with the response to the Parish Office. Should the response not be satisfactory, a letter will be sent to NS Agricultural Society on behalf of the Parish Council supporting the WCA in their request for NS Agricultural Society to amend the date of their match in light of the WCA special event for 2009 and in the hope that the Agricultural Society would be accommodating.

Proposed: Mr S Bridges           Seconded: Mrs A Richmond                8 in favour, 1 against, 3 abstentions   

 

103.      TO APPROVE MEETING SCHEDULE JAN – DEC 2009 Annex 4 (Agenda item 12)

The WMRG Chairman advised that consideration should be given to amending future dates of the WMRG AGM so that does not follow the Parish Assembly with effect 2010 to enable constitutional changes may be made.

The Parish Council & Committee meeting schedule for 2009 was accepted by the Council.

Proposed:        Mr A Forbes                 Seconded:       Mrs P Bushnell             All in favour

 

104.      AVON LOCAL COUNCILS ASSOCIATION REPORT AGM & NS GROUP MEETING  (Agenda item 13)

Mr Jones advised that of the 190 possible representatives from Councils, only 29 were present at the recent AGM. As the required quorum of 30 was not reached, the AGM is to be rescheduled.

Mrs Cram reported that there were 16 persons present at the NS Group meeting held in Long Ashton and the Chairman of that Parish Council expressed concern over the number of new homes proposed for the Long Ashton area. A presentation on Local Involvement Networks (LINks) was delivered to the ALCA meeting with the group being described as a self-elected, experimental way of involving the public in community health care issues.  Reports were given on the Bristol Airport & RSS and ALCA are to formulate a business plan. Discussions took place regarding the required quorum for the ALCA AGM and it concluded that a new quorum of six members representing at least three Parish/Town Councils be set.

 

105.      REVISED MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT DVD – THE CODE UNCOVERED (Agenda item 14)

'The Code Uncovered' DVD has been produced by The Standards Board for England to help monitoring officers, councillors and standards committees understand their obligations under the Code. It uses a dramatised scenario to illustrate the lead-up to a potentially explosive planning committee meeting, and highlights the key changes to the revised Code. The DVD was viewed by those present at the meeting.

Mrs. Brading arrived during the screening of the DVD.

It was proposed that a ‘declaration of interest’ form be introduced at meetings that Councillors should complete with details of any interest declared.

Proposed:        Mr. G Luckett               Seconded:       Mr. R Jones                              All in favour

 

106.      RISK ASSESSMENT REPORTS (Agenda item 15)

The risk assessment reports, reviewed in detail by individual committees were accepted en-block.

Proposed:         Mr R Jones                   Seconded:        Mr A Forbes                             All in favour

 

107.      REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY (RSS) – Mr R Jones Annex 5 (Agenda item 16)

Should plans which will see 26,750 new homes in the North Somerset area proceed before 2026, development of infrastructure should be given first priority. Councillors considered a letter drafted by Mr Jones to be sent to the Regional Planning Team that highlighted concerns regarding improvement to the current infrastructure & employment opportunities to ensure the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the development and highlighted the loss of Green Belt to accommodate extra housing.

It was proposed by Mr A Forbes, seconded by Mr G Luckett, all members in favour that the letter is sent on behalf of the Parish Council.

 

108.      ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr R Jones  Annex 6  (Agenda item 17)

With one addition, the minutes for the Environment Committee from the meeting dated 14th October 2008 were approved and signed as a correct record.        

Proposed:         Mr A Forbes    Seconded:        Mrs A Richmond        

All Committee members present were in favour

It is anticipated that works to the Woodborough Green remnant by the Community Service team will start at the end of October.

Min 2 (5) (iii) telephone confirmation has been received that the Local Aggregate Levy Sustainability Grant application has been successful and funds been granted to enable some stiles in the Parish to be replaced with kissing gates. Work will now commence to identify and obtain consent of landowners concerned.

Min 5h – Contractors have confirmed that the grass triangle will have top soil and grass seed applied on completion of the gas works to Sidcot Lane.

The decisions of the Committee were recommended for action by the Parish Council.

 Proposed:        Mrs A Richmond          Seconded:        Mr S Bridges                All in favour

 

109.      EMPLOYMENT & POLICIES COMMITTEE REPORT - Mr R Jones  Annex 7  (Agenda item 18)

With the exception of minute(s) 8, the decisions of the Committee were recommended for action by the Parish Council.

Proposed:         Mr S Bridges                Seconded:        Mr M Williamson         All in favour

 

Minutes(s) 8 are to be taken back to the next meeting of the committee for additional works.

Proposed:         Mr R Jones                   Seconded         Ms D Powell                 All in favour

 

The minutes for the Employment & Policies Committee from the 22nd September 2008 meeting were approved and signed as a correct record.            Proposed:         Mr M Williamson    Seconded:  Mr S Bridges All Committee members present were in favour

 

110.      AWARD LAND CHAIRMAN’S REPORT -  Annex 8 (Agenda item 19)

Works to clear footpaths have been instructed but not yet carried out. It was noted that the workers do not belong to Mr Williamson but are in fact the Winscombe & Sandford Working Partnership Team.

A Parishioner has reported hearing the sound of Poachers from an area thought to be close to the Award Land. A gate has been badly buckled and the committee should consider if this is to be repaired or replaced and efforts made to identify who is leaving the gate unlocked.

 

111.             MATTERS FOR INFORMATION  (Agenda item 20)

·            Councillor Office Cover – cover is required on 4th Nov & 4th Dec to enable the Clerk & Finance Assistant to attend training courses.

·            Olympic Bronze Medallist Visit – Steve Rowbotham is to visit the Parish week-end 25th/26th Oct to meet with Parishioners and show his medal. Saturday evening at the Woodborough Inn and Sunday morning at the War Memorial Recreation Ground.

·            Co-op Planning Appeal – the Inspector will visit the site at 11am on 28th Oct to hear representations from opposing parties. Mr Marter was thanked for his support in this application.

 

 

With no further business, the meeting concluded at 9.20 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.