A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
was held Thursday 16th November 2006
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. G Lloyd, Mr. G Luckett, Ms. D Powell (vice-chair), Miss B Roper,
Mr. C Sampson (chairman), Mr. J Westlake, Mrs. P Witter.
Members of the public: none
Ward Councillors: Mrs. A Harley
NSC Parish Liaison Officer: Mr. J Foster
Clerk: Mrs. L Rampton
Press Representatives: Mrs. N Jones – Freelance Reporter
Mr. O Hulme – Cheddar Valley Gazette
Apologies for absence: PC Church, Mr. J Bushnell.
102 CHAPLAIN – Miss B Roper
(Agenda item 1)
103. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - none declared
(Agenda item 3)
104. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 19TH OCTOBER 2006.
(Agenda item 4)
The minutes of the meeting were accepted and signed as a correct record.
Proposed: Mr. J Westlake Seconded: Mrs. A Brading
All in favour
105. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES & CLERKS REPORTS– Annex 1
(Agenda item 5)
Clerks Reports – Countryside Alliance, love your Post Office
Whilst the previous owner’s of the Winscombe Post Office had advised the future of our Post Office was safe, concern was shown for other villages. A letter supporting all Post Offices should be sent to the MP and Government Minister.
106. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
(Agenda item 6)
Ward Councillor Harley – a children’s centre for Banwell and Winscombe has been approved in principal, to be based in the current Community Centre in Banwell. This will be used as a drop in centre for mothers and children as well as youth. Specialist medical services for children will be brought in from Bristol to eliminate the need for parents to travel. The Clerk advised that the Parish Council have been omitted from the meeting agenda/minute circulation list until last week and that a representative from the group will be attending the February 2007 meeting of this Parish Council to fully outline the project. Concern was expressed by Councillors that the Winscombe village name was used to assist in successful funding requests. Ward Councillor Harley apologized for the lack of details provided to this Parish Council and advised that all would be welcome to attend a meeting 4pm 29th November at the new school hall in Banwell.
Councillors were reminded by Mrs. Harley of the Play Area Consultation to be held at Winscombe Community Centre 25th November 12.30 – 3.30pm.
107. CRIME REPORT 20TH SEPTEMBER – 19TH OCTOBER 2006 – Mr. S Bridges
PC Church direct office no 01934 638123
(Agenda item 7)
Due to Avon & Somerset Police being used as a trial scheme for a new computer system, no crime figures are available for this month. Three arrests have been made following the flooding of the Community Centre with one person due to appear in Court to face charges. Winscombe & Sandford was patrolled by Police Squad cars on Halloween evening and a quiet night was had by all although 36 eggs were confiscated during the evening. On a completely unrelated evening, reports have been made of youth throwing eggs from the railway bridge on Woodborough Road and along Yadley Way.
A new PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) has been appointed to the Parish and is due to commence duties over the next few weeks. If reports from a recent policing meeting held in WSM Winter Gardens are to be believed, the Parish should also soon see the arrival of a special constable and no members of our police support team should be seconded to other duties around Weston or Bristol.
108. TO AUTHORISE BILLS FOR PAYMENT – The Clerk Annex 2
(Agenda item 8)
Proposed: Mr. A Forbes Seconded: Mr. G Lloyd
All in favour.
109. WINSCOMBE WOODBOROUGH COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORT – Mrs. P Cram
(Agenda item 9)
The bonfire & firework event was considered a great success with 16 entries into the ‘build a guy’ competition – the first prize for this being to light the taper to the first firework of the evening.
The now closed local bookshop had been missed at the book fair.
BBC Children in need had been supported by the children with prizes for the best teddy in fancy dress and ‘no uniform’ at a cost! Anti-bullying week will be taking place next week with special assemblies to include parents. The nativity this year is entitled “The Very Hopeless Camel”.
110. SANDFORD COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORT
(Agenda item 10)
Sandford Primary School has now been twinned with a school in Gambia. The Christmas Fair is to be held on 1st December, late afternoon and then followed by the carol concert. Two students from the University of the West of England are now working in school with the children and this has strengthened the languages already taught.
111. PRIMARY CARE TRUST – Proposals to Pool Services into Nailsea Miss B Roper
(Agenda item 11)
PCT proposals to reorganize local nursing care from the surgery at Winscombe had been learnt of in the local press. Current proposals are to pool all district nurses into Nailsea with our Parishioners that require regular care possibly being seen by a different nurse each day of the week. The PCT claim to have consulted widely concerning the proposed changes, although evidence of this cannot be found locally. Miss Roper read a letter from the Practice Manager of the Winscombe Surgery advising that the surgery feel this move will have a detrimental effect to the working relationship of the GPs and district nurses, not to mention the longer working day and additional mileage that will be incurred.
Councillors who have attended PCT events over the last year advised that the PCT envisage nurses allotted to each district would remain the same but that the pooling of services was not even considered at the March event.
Councillors expressed concern at the amount of time it would take for a nurse unfamiliar to the rural areas to find a remote household.
It was proposed that a letter be sent to the PCT objecting to the pooling of services into Nailsea and requesting an explanation of the reasons leading to this decision.
Proposed: Miss B Roper Seconded: Mr. S Bridges
All in favour
112. TO APPROVE MEETING SCHEDULE JANUARY – DECEMBER 2007 Annex 3
(Agenda item 12)
(i) To approve meeting schedule and venue
It was requested that the Play Area Committee meeting scheduled for 03/12/07 be amended to 12/11/07.
Only one Parish Council Meeting (Assembly) was scheduled for Sandford in 2007 due to regular bookings that take place during school term time. The Clerk advised of evenings available to book Sandford Village Hall for other meetings, although the Council thought it unnecessary to amend the meeting schedule.
The 2007 Parish Council and Committee Meeting Schedule was approved
Proposed: Mrs. A Brading Seconded: Mr. G Luckett
All in favour
(ii) To approve meeting schedule Jan – Mar 2007 for inclusion in local publications
The meeting schedule was approved for publication in local magazines
Proposed: Mr. A Forbes Seconded: Mr. S Bridges
All in favour
113. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER, STRONG AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES
(Agenda item 13) Mr. J Foster
Mr. Foster outlined the key items contained within the white paper (180 pages) and advised that this has the potential to impact on all levels of council.
Responsive services and empowered communities: councils are to be encouraged to focus on their citizens and communities with a duty to investigate points brought forward by local groups (Community Call for Action) and the power of well-being (investment of funds) being passed on to Quality Parish Councils. The process for creating parishes will be devolved to councils and districts may be split into smaller groups.
Effective, accountable and responsive local government: is a new leadership model to run local authorities, giving three options – a directly elected mayor, a directly elected executive of councillors or a leader elected by fellow councillors with a clear four year mandate. The making of byelaws will be devolved to local authorities and in future will be more effectively enforced by using fixed penalty notices.
Strong cities, strategic regions: strategic leadership is essential to the prosperity of local communities and a way forward for towns and cities across the country must be built upon. Whilst not directly affecting this Parish Council, cities must become competitive in employment and promote economic development.
Local government as a strategic leader and place-shaper: local authorities already produce a Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) and will be required, in consultation with local partners to prepare a delivery plan for the strategy to be known as a Local Area Agreement. Procedures are to be simplified to enable co-ordination of consultation on SCS, LAA and local Development Frameworks.
Performance Framework: the Comprehensive Performance Assessment is to be abolished along with many other current assessments. A new inspection regime will be introduced although full details of this are not yet available and the government is to reduce the amount of performance indicators from 1500 to around 200 (although it was thought these may be divided into sub-headings).
Efficiency - transforming local services: local councils are to continue to improve local services but to become more efficient in doing so, therefore no large increases in local taxes expected. A three year grant allocation programme will be helpful for budget planning.
Community cohesion: strong local leadership with greater resident participation in decisions can help promote community cohesion. Local forums are to address local authority needs.
What is not in the white paper?
· Re-organisation of unitary/district authorities (not effecting this area)
· Devolution of services – no great detail is given.
· Restructure of town and parish councils
· Single member wards
· Clarity on what is to be achieved
The paper implies the delegating of more functions, extends the power of well-being, speeds up the process to set up a new parish council and gives a wider range of names available to use such as ‘community council’, ‘village’ or ‘neighbourhood’. Parishes are to be involved in the Sustainable Community Strategy.
Mr. Foster kindly offered to update the Parish Council on further implications after government approval. Mr. Foster was thanked by Councillors for the informative presentation.
114. BENNETTS SOLICITORS CORRESPONDENCE
(Agenda item 14)
(i) Lease of 1m strip of land at Ilex Lane to North Somerset Council
The Council was advised that the lease is in the name of Winscombe Parish Council as the original title is recorded in this manner.
After consideration of the document it was proposed that the Solicitors be requested to make the following amendments: 1.12 ‘The Permitted Use’ public footpath is removed and replaced with permissive footpath and agreement that the term of the lease be amended to 25 years.
Proposed: Ms D Powell Seconded: Mr. G Lloyd
10 in favour, 1 abstention
This document will then be presented to a future meeting of the Parish Council for signature.
(ii) To approve signature (JW) on Statutory Declaration WMRG land registration
A fee of £15 will be incurred to swear this document before a local solicitor (who cannot be a member of Bennetts Solicitors). Details of the declaration were outlined to the council.
It was proposed that John Westlake sign the statutory Declaration in the required manner concerning ownership of part of the roadway leading to the War Memorial Recreation Ground.
Proposed: Mr. A Forbes Seconded: Mr. G Luckett
All in favour
115. PARISH PLASTIC WASTE RECYCLING - FUNDING
(Agenda item 15)
A community project to recycle most household plastic waste took place at the Brown’s Corner Sandford Road car park on the second Saturday of October that was very well received by Parishioners. Mrs. Gillian Hill would now like to set up a scheme, under the banner of the Winscombe Community Centre to recycle plastics the second Saturday of alternate months with the next collection taking place on 8th December 2006. North Somerset Council have agreed to cover the insurance required for this activity on receipt of completed risk-assessment forms and Towens will provide the required number of skips at cost price. The only income currently in place for this project is through collection buckets on the day of the plastic collection with a considerable amount of expenditure already being incurred by Mrs. Hill for which recompense is not requested.
A discussion ensued amongst Councillors regarding the provision of plastic recycling within North Somerset and measures to introduce this facility.
Resolved: The Parish Council should fund three skips at a cost of £85 each for two collections to establish/pump-prime the system for collection of plastics within the Parish. Invoices for these skips should be issued to the Parish Office for payment and funds used from the recently returned CSLAT monies.
Proposed: Mrs. A Brading Seconded: Mr. G Lloyd
All in favour
116. TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Annex 4
(Agenda item 16)
The minutes for the Finance Committee from the meeting dated 6th November 2006 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chairman
Proposed: Mr. G Lloyd Seconded: Mr. S Bridges
All Committee members present in favour
Concern was expressed at the condition of the children’s play area at the War Memorial Recreation Ground following the removal of the infant swing set, due once again to rotting timbers on the supporting legs making this unsafe to use. We are now left with only one piece of equipment within the enclosed area! Consideration should be given to remove the one remaining piece of equipment in this sad play area in the interim period before a new play area costing in the region of £70,000 is installed.
Grant funding was again discussed & the implications of ordering any equipment before applications had been successfully approved. The option of a loan with the PWLB was also considered.
After making his apologies, Mr. Foster left the meeting at 9.30pm
Resolved: No further applications for grant funding should be made. A loan application should be submitted initially to ALCA, after full Parish Council approval for the shortfall in funds is ascertained to install a new play area prior to Easter 2007.
Proposed: Mr. G Lloyd Seconded: Mrs. P Cram
All in favour
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council.
Proposed: Mr. G Lloyd Seconded: Mrs. P Cram
All in favour
117. TO APPROVE CHAIRMANS’ COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr. C Sampson
(Agenda item 17)
The minutes of the Chairman’s Committee from the meeting dated 26th September 2006 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chairman
Proposed: Miss B Roper Seconded: Mr. G Luckett
All in favour
118. AWARD LAND COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – Mr. J Westlake Annex 5
(Agenda item 18)
The minutes of the Award Land Committee for the meeting dated 23rd October 2006 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Committee Chairman with it being noted that Mr. Luckett did not participate in public participation.
Proposed: Mr. A Forbes Seconded: Mr. J Westlake
All Committee members present in favour
A quotation for a scalping surface to the turning bay £600 has been received along with a quotation to remove the posts (min 11) £500.
The Mendip Wardens will add the additional information concerning R.I.G.S to the information panel request. Mr. Bill Ayres will visit the Award Land in conjunction with visits to High Action Ltd for a minor charge.
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council to include the accepting of the quotations to install a scalping surface and to remove wooden fence
Proposed: Mr. A Forbes Seconded: Mrs. A Brading.
All in favour
119. ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr. G Lloyd Annex 6
(Agenda item 19)
a.) Absorption of Road Safety Committee into Environment Committee
As per min 12, road safety items should be considered within the environment committee remit. Should a project arise within the Parish that requires a considerable amount of attention, a sub-committee should be formed.
b.) Committee Meeting Minutes
The minutes for the Environment Committee from the meeting dated 7th November 2006. were approved and signed as a correct record by the Committee Chairman with three minor amendments.
Proposed: Mr. G Lloyd Seconded: Mrs. A Brading
All Committee members present in favour
Min 11. – a quotation to remove the tree thought to be causing root damage has been received.
Min 2 b. – the grit bins located in the incorrect positions are to be re-sited.
Sandford Rd, Browns Corner car park footway widening scheme – an amount of £12,000 has been allocated to this project by NSC South Area Committee.
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council.
Proposed: Mrs. A Brading Seconded: Mr. S Bridges
All in favour
120. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(Agenda item 20)
Lynchmead – repairs are being carried out to footways by NS Housing.
WMRG car park extension – plans for 3 alternative options have been accepted by the Rugby Club. Plans will now be considered by the WMRG Committee and then submitted to Sidcot School as owner of the land.
Strawberry Line Route – the route at Sandford has encountered difficulties and negotiations will continue before works re-commence.
Cemetery & Allotment Committee Meeting 8th Dec – this scheduled site meeting will be held at the Community Centre due to road closures. New venue details to be supplied on the Agenda.
Bristol Water plc – works within the parish – Road Closure dates:
Shipham Lane – 24 Nov – 20 Jan (opened during Christmas period)
Ilex Lane – 27 Nov – 18 Dec
Strawberry Line beneath Ilex Lane Bridge – 1 Dec – 21 Dec
The meeting concluded at 10.10 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.