A MEETING

A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

was held Thursday 19^th January 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. G Lloyd, Mr. G Luckett, Miss B Roper, Mr. K Symons, Mr. J Westlake, Mrs. P Witter.

Members of the public: four

Parish Liaison Officer: Mr. J Foster

Police Beat Manager: PC Church

Clerk: Mrs. L Rampton.

Guest Speakers: Eleanor Lowman & Simon Wade, Knightstone Housing Association

Press Representatives: Mr. G Jones – Freelance Reporter

Mr. P Burton – Weston & Somerset Mercury

Apologies for absence: Mr. C Sampson (chairman), Ms. D Powell (vice-chair), Miss S Tucker, District Councillor A Harley

135. CHAPLAIN – Mrs. M Ballard

(Agenda item 1)

136. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

(Agenda item 3)

Mrs. Ballard declared a personal interest in Agenda item 8, Bills for Payment as her son is included as a payee for works completed to the play areas at the WMRG.

The Clerk declared a personal interest in Agenda item 10. Winscombe Football Club It was requested by the Council that the Clerk remain within the room whilst this item was considered to minute the discussion only and would not be asked to participate in any discussion.

137. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 17^TH NOVEMBER 2005.

(Agenda item 4)

The minutes of the meeting were approved as a correct record.

Proposed: Mr. J Westlake Seconded: Mr. G Lloyd

All in favour

138. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES & CLERKS REPORTS– Annex 1

(Agenda item 5)

Min 121. Winscombe Football Club proposed screening of pitch

Mr. Westlake had requested to join the working party to investigate all aspects of promotion to a higher league.

Min 129. Play Areas Committee Update

Mr. Bridges met with local youths and encouraged them to invite all youth organisations within the Parish to a meeting. Despite encouragement, and the arranging of two meetings, the youths have failed to respond. Mr. Bridges will persevere with this project.

Dec 2005 Clerks Report - North Somerset Primary Care Trust – Stakeholder Consultation Event

Tues 10^th Jan 06, Winter Gardens, 11.00am – 3.00pm

Mrs. Witter had attended this event on behalf of the Parish Council. Three new resource centres are planned in North Somerset to be manned by local GPs. These would be located in Portishead, Clevedon & Worle. Concern was expressed that local GPs would not be available at village surgeries in rural areas. It was considered that this consultation may not be relevant after April 2006 as proposals have been made to include the NS Primary Care Trust within Bristol. North Somerset Council has requested that existing boundaries be maintained for fear of coming second best to other major settlements. The Shaping our Future in North Somerset Consultation Document is available at the Parish Office for Councillors or public wishing to read this.

139. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

(Agenda item 6) - none

140. CRIME REPORT 17th November 2005 – 19^th January 2006 – PC Church Annex 2

PC Church direct office no 01934 638123

(Agenda item 7)

The car that carried out a ram raid attack on a local shop has been found and CID are now pursuing lines of investigation.

PC Church confirmed that it was an offence to sell cars on the highway. All incidents should be reported to the Beat Manager for investigation, although these were not considered a police priority.

141. TO AUTHORISE BILLS FOR PAYMENT – The Clerk Annex 3

(Agenda item 8)

Mrs. Ballard had declared an interest in this item and took no part in the discussion or voting that followed.

Proposed: Mr. G Lloyd Seconded: Mrs. A Brading

10 in favour, 1 abstention as an interest had previously been declared.

142. DIYSO/HOMEBUY SCHEME – Ms E Lowman & Mr. S Wade, Knightstone Housing Association

(Agenda item 9) Annex 4

It was thought that although North Somerset Council/Developers has so far allocated funds from ‘106 agreements’ within the Parish, there is a possibility that other funds may be available for future years. It is hoped that at least two applications for funding can be supported initially. As the Observatory Field ‘106 agreement’ specified that monies should be requested before 14.09.2006 (value at 17.11.05 = £133,162), Knightstone will apply to North Somerset Council for these monies to be ring-fenced for applications within the Parish by August 2006 should the completion of a purchase have not taken place before this date.

The following responses were given to questions asked by the Council:

o An eligibility criteria is to be agreed with the Parish Council and applicants would have to comply with this.

o Knightstone Housing Association (KHA) will decide on applicants meeting the eligibility criteria. This will not be a Parish Council decision.

o It was requested that the word ‘only’ be added to Eligibility Criteria, sections 1 & 2 of the KHA proposal. Should the unlikely event happen, that after extensive advertising, residents do not come forward to apply for assistance, KHA would then approach the Parish Council to ask for an amendment to the criteria be made.

The Knightstone Housing Association proposal for Flexible Homebuy Funding should be accepted.

Proposed: Mr. S Bridges Seconded: Mrs. A Brading

All in favour

143. WINSCOMBE FOOTBALL CLUB PROPOSED SCREENING OF FOOTBALL PITCH Annex 5

(Agenda item 10)

The working party approved by the Parish Council at the November meeting had met on 13^th December 2005 to discuss alternative screening proposals. Other current conditions to be met before Winscombe Football club may gain promotion to a higher league were outlined to the Council, these included the provision of a covered viewing area that could seat 50 people and provide standing room for 50 more, internal re-organisation of the football club changing rooms and an admission charge being made for entrance into a screened area for spectators. The club may be semi-professional at this stage and some players paid a fee. The conditions, other than the screening proposal would be considered by the Football Club and Parish Council at a later date and were not discussed at this meeting.

The football club would like to erect fencing around the pitch to the north side of the Cricket Club House to contain balls within this area regardless of the league that the teams play in. Some members of the working party and Mr. Luckett had visited and met with representatives from Portishead football club. The fencing to the Portishead ground was inspected and photos taken that were issued to the Parish Council members. It was considered that at the WMRG, the line of sight from the car park would not be interrupted and therefore the safety of children and play areas would not be compromised. Planning Permission would not be required as the fencing was under 2.2m high. No amendment to the constitution of the War Memorial Recreation Ground Committee was considered necessary as any entrance gates to the pitch would be locked open allowing free access to the ground.

It was proposed that the see-through fence type, as seen at Portishead Football Club in January 2006 be accepted by the Parish Council and to allow this type of fence to be erected around the First Team pitch by Winscombe Football Club.

Proposed: Mr. A Forbes Seconded: Mr. S Bridges

All in favour

144. WINSCOMBE COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORT – Mrs. P Cram

(Agenda item 11)

The school Christmas concert had been held at St James Church and the infant nativity play was considered one of the best ever. ‘Spotlight’ on the school had appeared in a recent edition of the Somerset Mercury and a ‘School Days’ DVD had been created as a fundraising initiative that featured at least one shot of each child whose parents had given permission. Children from the school would be taking part in a cluster netball competition.

Ofsted had visited the school after giving three days notice and spent two days actually in the primary school under the new “lighter touch” inspection method. Most areas were considered satisfactory with concern shown, as nationally, with boys’ creative writing.

145. SANDFORD COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORT – Mrs. P Witter

(Agenda item 12)

The children had taken part in a North Somerset Council initiative on re-cycling. An audit had been carried out on waste produced by the school and the children considered what they could do about this. Spanish is now taught across the school with effect January 2006 but little response was received from parents regarding the introduction of after school clubs.

The school is still considering the wording for the plaque to be placed on the building as the school has moved site three times and possibly the date that education started in Sandford should be commemorated.

146. PARISH COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

(Agenda item 13)

The matter of how the Parish Council communicates with Parishioners was raised at a recent village meeting in Winscombe to discuss the Community Survey. Various methods were discussed by the Parish Council that included a monthly/bimonthly article in the two Church Parish magazines, the issuing of a free newsletter that may be collected from the library and the improvements currently being made to the Parish Council web-site.

A decision on this matter was deferred to the February meeting of the Parish Council when Mr. Sampson would be present as he had offered to co-ordinate reports for publication.

147. BUDGET/ PRECEPT PREPARATION 2006/07 & FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

(Agenda item 14) Annex 6

It was requested that ‘Winscombe’ be added to Finance Committee minute 22 before PCC.

Thanks were offered to the Clerk & Finance Assistant for the well presented papers submitted.

The Precept figure for the 2006/2007 financial year will be increased by £2,000 (2.25%) to £91,000. This would mean a Local Council Element of Headline Council Tax per D Band property increase from £47.38 to £48.35.

Proposed: Mrs. A Brading Seconded: Mr. G Lloyd

All in favour.

The recommendations of the Finance Committee meeting dated 5^th January 2006 were ratified by the Parish Council.

Proposed: Mr. G Lloyd Seconded: Mr. S Bridges

All in favour.

148. PLAY AREAS COMMITTEE REPORT – Mrs. A Brading Annex 7

(Agenda item 15)

The attention of the Council was drawn to the letter received from Harness-it Health & Safety advisors concerning the structural integrity of the play area at the War Memorial Recreation Ground. The rope climber situated outside the fenced area has now been removed but the entire area is considered very tatty. The annual report on the Parish Play Areas has now been received from Zurich. High risk items are being actioned and the report will be considered by the Committee at their next meeting.

As per the safety reports from GB Sport & Leisure and Zurich, the bark pit beneath the tyre swing at the Sandford Play Area should be removed and replaced with a safety grass matt. Cost £2,232.50

Further plans and costings for the replacement play area at the WMRG are being sought and the Committee then intends to consult members of the public, schools and nurseries within the Parish for their views on this.

The minutes of this Committee were accepted by the Council.

149. AWARD LAND COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – Mr. J Westlake Annex 8

(Agenda item 16)

The photographs of motorbike riders on the Award Land will be passed onto PC Church. It is proposed that two additional steel drop down posts be concreted in where stones have been removed to gain vehicular access onto the Award Land.

A stone that may be suitable to set the information board onto is currently next to the green gate, the final location of the notice board has yet to be decided.

The report of the Chairman was accepted by the Council.

150. ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr. G Lloyd Annex 9

(Agenda item 17)

Min 5 – The attention of the Council was drawn to this minute. The number of conversion of footpaths to Byways Open to All Traffic (BOAT) applications within North Somerset is currently 65. A huge amount of tax payers’ money is being spent on this – it was thought the recent public enquiry for Yadley, Eastwell & Fullers (FEY) Lanes cost in the region of £80,000.

Min 7 – The Inspector has now reached a decision on the FEY BOAT application. The lanes will be classified as bridleways not BOATS. This application has taken 10 years to reach this stage. Should an appeal be made against this decision, the process could start all over again at no cost to the appellant.

Min 10 – A discussion followed concerning the decision made regarding the lights at Hillyfields. It was not considered false economy to refuse the SEC quotation as with over 100 ageing Parish Council owned street lights, monies should be reserved to replace lights that have actually been condemned. Mrs. A Brading proposed that the Parish Council reconsider this decision and accept option 2 – improved street lighting on both Hillyfields and Hillyfields Way. No second to this proposal was made. Option 1, to upgrade the street lighting to Hillyfields Way only was therefore accepted by the Council.

Min 11 – Works will commence on 1^st February to construct a new footway to the Banwell side of the old railway bridge. This project has taken 7 years to reach a satisfactory solution.

Min 13 – The logo for use on the new Parish Guide and on headed notepaper was agreed by the Council. Chocolate and cream were suggested colours, this being the colour scheme used by the railway company that connected Winscombe to Sandford.

30^th January 2006 will see works commence to improve drainage on Eastwell Lane and Winscombe Hill. Works are expected to last for a period of 8 weeks and will initially start in Eastwell Lane and move onto the hill. It was envisaged that Winscombe Hill will be closed to through traffic with effect 13^th February until completion of the works. The Clerk was asked to contact the engineer in charge of this project and request that the section of road from Eastwell Lane to the junction with Church Lane be closed for a short a time as possible to allow access to the Church to be maintained.

Mr. Westlake asked for assistance in determining if a concrete bridge on his land, on a definitive footpath in Sandford was safe. Mr. Foster will ask a member of the North Somerset Council Public Rights of Way Team to contact Mr. Westlake.

The Council were advised that the Parish Council web-site is currently being updated and improved. Permission to display e-mail address and photos of Councillors on the site was requested. A data protection authority sheet would be circulated.

The minutes for this Committee were accepted by the Council.

151. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

(Agenda item 18)

Transfer of Housing Stock to North Somerset Housing – Mr. J Foster

On 17^th January 2006, North Somerset Council agreed to the transfer of housing stock to North Somerset Housing. North Somerset Council no longer own any housing as they are unable to access government funds available to housing associations. All properties will be maintained to a specific standard by the Housing Association. The £20million capital receipt from this transfer is to be re-invested in affordable housing.

Concern was raised by some that as North Somerset Council is no longer responsible for this stock, issues including flooding at Lynchmead will be more difficult to resolve.

The meeting concluded at 9.05 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.