A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
was held Thursday 20th September 2007
Winscombe Community Centre at 7.30 p.m.
Present: Mrs. A Brading, Mr. S Bridges, Mrs P Bushnell, Mrs. P Cram (Vice-Chair), Mr. A Forbes,
Mr. G Lloyd, Mr. G Luckett, Ms. D Powell (Vice-Chair), Mrs A Richmond, Miss B Roper, Mr. C Sampson (Chairman), Mr. J Westlake, Mr M Williamson.
Ward Councillors: Mrs A Harley
Members of the public: Mrs S Gibbs
Police: PCSO Wright
Clerk: Mrs. L Rampton
Press Representatives: Mr G Jones – freelance reporter
Ms S Pope – North Somerset Mercury
Apologies for absence: Mr. R Jones, Mrs V McGann, Ward Cllr Marter, PC Church
63. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - (Agenda item 3) None declared.
64. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 19TH JULY 2007.
(Agenda item 4)
Proposed: Mr G Luckett Seconded: Mr J Westlake All in favour
65. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES & CLERKS REPORTS– Annex 1(Agenda item 5)
Min 49 Strawberry Line- in response to a question regarding a section of the line still being fenced off (from Station Rd), Mrs Brading explained that this section of the route known as The Sandford Gap is in private ownership and negotiations are currently in progress with land owners to obtain the necessary consents. A discussion ensued regarding the merits of spending money before permission is granted and alternative options should this permission be refused.
Min 54 Parish Council Michaelmas Fair Stall – A rota for Parish Councillors to ‘man’ stalls at future events should be arranged to ensure arrangements do not rest solely with one individual.
Min 58 Skate Park – obscene graffiti & graphics have now been removed by Mr Forbes.
66. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (Agenda item 6) - none
67. CRIME REPORT 20TH JULY – 20TH SEPTEMBER 2007 – PCSO WRIGHT Annex 2
(Agenda item 7) Direct office no 01934 638123
PCSO Wright gave a report of crime figures for the last two month period to the Parish Council along with details of crime prevention initiatives.
PC Church & PCSO Wright. were thanked on behalf of the Parish Council for their concerted efforts to talk to known youth at the start of the school summer holiday period and therefore no major problems arose between July and September.
68. WARD COUNCILLOR UPDATE (Agenda item 8)
A meeting of the Banwell & Winscombe Children’s Centre is scheduled for next week. Attempts to secure a vice-chairman for this committee from Winscombe have so far been unsuccessful and so Ann Harley has agreed to be nominated for this position on a temporary basis. In response to a question, it was confirmed that Banwell Youth Club are to have the same usage rights to the new building as at present.
The Play Strategy for NSC was discussed and although the Parish Council were disappointed to miss out on funding from the last strategy it was recommended the Parish Council invite NSC representatives to a future meeting where a case for this parish could be presented.
At a meeting of the NSC South Area Committee held 19th September, three applications for this Parish were considered. The retrospective application for Avon Ski Centre was refused, although the 28 day ruling still applies for some activities. The wind turbine for Winscombe Primary School was approved – both decisions follow the recommendation of this Parish Council. The discussion on the application for a manege off Banwell Road was deferred to allow a site visit of the SA Committee to take place.
The matter of the prioritised road repair survey submitted to Ward Councillors was again raised and an urgent response to this requested.
69. TO AUTHORISE BILLS FOR PAYMENT – The Clerk Annex 3 (Agenda item 9)
The second instalment precept payment from NSC has now been paid directly in to the PC bank a/c.
The external audit certificate from Mazzars has now been received with the opinion that the information contained in the annual return is in accordance with the Audit Commission’s requirements and no matters have come to the attention of the auditor giving cause for concern that relevant legislation and regulatory requirements have not been met. Other matters not affecting the opinion drawn to the attention of the Parish Council is a transcription error Box 10, section 1 (2006/2007) should read £94,800 not £98,400.
Cheque 102201 should be withheld until confirmation has been received from Winscombe Community Association that the alarm system to be installed to part of the building has been ordered. All other cheques were authorised for immediate release.
Proposed: Mr M Williamson Seconded: Mr A Forbes
10 in favour, 0 against, 3 abstentions.
70. TO ADOPT THE STANDARDS BOARD MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PARISH COUNCILS INCLUDING PARAGRAPH 12(2) (Agenda item 10)
A number of training opportunities had been offered to all Councillors and the Clerk by North Somerset Council Standards Committee, Avon Local Councils Association and the National Association for Local Councils over the previous five month period. Councillors that had attended training events for the code of conduct had been very impressed with these.
The Standards Board Code of Conduct Guide for Members, Code of Conduct Pocket Guide and Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 No. 1159 The Model Code of Conduct for Parish & Town Councils had been issued to all Councillors at the Parish Council meeting held 21st June 2007.
The requirements for the register of member’s interests are slightly different under the old and new codes. Members were issued with new forms to be completed and returned to the Clerk.
NSC will be placing a composite advertisement in the local press for Town & Parish Councils adopting the new code with effect 1st October 2007.
Proposed: Winscombe & Sandford Parish Council adopt the Standards Board for England’s Model Code of Conduct for Parish & Town Councils including paragraph 12(2) with effect from 1st October 2007.
Proposed: Mrs A Brading Seconded: Miss B Roper All in favour
71. PARISH MAPPING ON CD ROM Annex 4 (Agenda item 11)
Information from the Land Management Information Service (LaMIS) had been circulated with the Agenda papers to this meeting. A CD ROM is available to purchase containing aerial photography and Ordnance Survey mapping of this parish, together with map-based data held by public bodies – quarterly updates of data and software tools are issued to this software package.
Some Councillors had visited the LaMIS web-site and viewed demonstrations of the product. A discussion ensued regarding this package with a number of issues being considered. NSC offer free GIS map production service to Parish Councils although this involves a trip into Weston – Super-Mare for collection and information isn’t instantly available. The mapping tool on the NSC website is considered useful although access to the internet is not available during meetings held in the Community Centre or Sandford Village Hall. It was thought the software package maybe useful to Committee Chairman and the Clerk. A 20% discount is currently being offered on orders placed and payment made before 30th September 2007.
It was proposed that a one year subscription is made to LaMIS for Parish Mapping on CD ROM including 1:10,000 OS Mapping provided that photographs to this have been updated within the previous 18 months. Order to be placed and payment made before 30th Sept 2007.
Proposed: Mrs A Brading Seconded: Mr A Forbes All in favour
72. PARISH PLAN – UPDATE ON LEAFLET FOR DISTRIBUTION – Mr S Bridges (Agenda item 12)
The ‘date for collection’ is to be removed from the leaflet and replaced with a sentence indicating that ‘the leaflet will be collected within 7 days of delivery, alternatively it may be returned to the Parish Office’. A grant application to finance the printing of the leaflet has been made although the outcome of this is currently unknown.
73. TRANSFER OF PARKING SERVICES IN NORTH SOMERSET – Miss B Roper (Agenda item 13)
Currently Avon & Somerset Police are responsible for on-street parking enforcement but the government is planning to pass this task and the associated costs on to the local authorities in due course, although no date has yet been set for this. A disappointing response was received to the Transfer of Parking Services (TOPS) in North Somerset Public Consultation with fewer than 400 responses returned and 25% of these being from blue badge holders. Mr Foster advised the Parish Council that the Executive Members are reviewing the consultation and the scheme is currently in abeyance.
Because Blue Badge holders will not be permitted to park on double yellow lines, they will be entitled to park in a space marked for disabled persons for up to three hours free of charge and 8% of the total number of bays in the controlled parking zone will be designated for blue badge holders. Miss Roper reported to the Parish Council that this would effectively halve the number of designated parking bays for disabled persons in Weston Super Mare.
The Blue Badge parking restrictions proposed in the TOPS consultation could be detrimental to disabled persons and a letter to this effect should be sent to NSC.
Proposed: Mr S Bridges Seconded: Mr G Lloyd All in favour
It was requested that Miss Roper liaise with the Clerk regarding this matter.
74. PRIMARY CARE TRUST REPORT –Miss B Roper Annex 5 (Agenda item 14)
Miss Roper spoke on the meeting 22nd August 2007 and advised that the Patient/Partnership Group for Wavering Down (WD) has now been established. A survey of premises has been completed and consultants may offer appointments from WD due to space/room availability.
8,500 patients in this area are registered with the Wavering Down Practice and a regular newsletter is to be produced that will be available in local shops. It was requested that dependant on size, this could be displayed on Parish Council notice-boards and the newsletter available for collection from the Parish Office.
75. REDUCTION IN POSTAL COLLECTION SERVICE W.E.F. 28TH OCTOBER 2007 – Mr G Luckett
(Agenda item 15)
Mr Luckett advised the Parish Council on plans to stop Sunday postal box collections from Winscombe, as advised by notices displayed on postal boxes and in the Post Office.
The Clerk reported on further information regarding the reduction in collection services, available from the Royal Mail website: Royal Mail collects from 115,000 post boxes Monday to Saturday and from just 18,000 post boxes on Sundays. Customer demand for a Sunday service is limited and accounts for less than one per cent of all mail posted each week. These small volumes mean that it costs four times as much to handle this mail than items collected on other days.
It was proposed that a letter of complaint be sent to Royal Mail regarding proposals to cease the Sunday postal box collection service.
Proposed: Mr G Luckett Seconded: Mrs P Cram 2 in favour, 11 against
Motion not carried.
76. WAR MEMORIAL RECREATION GROUND COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr M Williamson Annex 6 (Agenda item 16)
Mr Williamson gave a brief of the meetings held 16th August 2007 and 18th September 2007 (minutes for 16.08.07 only attached as annex 6). The exchange of letters between the Parish Office and Tincknells regarding the siromer tractor was reported and the decision of the Rugby Club not to exchange their mower for a smaller machine with a further capital injection of £100 plus vat. The Rugby Club now contract out all groundworks and will therefore store the mower until such time as they wish to purchase a tractor capable of using it. The siromer tractor is now considered capable of all other groundworks at the WMRG and Tincknells will be requested to carry out a service.
(i) EDF Agreement and Direct Debit Payment
On investigating the high electricity charges made to the WMRG Committee and reclaimed from the Sports Clubs, Mr Williamson has negotiated a new contract over a two year period that will reduce bills by 32.5%. An additional saving of £42 per annum can be made if payment is made by direct debit from a bank account rather than by cheque.
It was proposed that a two year contract to reduce monthly fixed charges and single unit charges be entered into with EDF and that payment for this account be met by direct debit from the Parish Council bank account.
Proposed: Mr M Williamson Seconded: Mr S Bridges All in favour
A vote of thanks was extended to Cllr Williamson
77. PLAY AREA AND SKATE PARK COMMITTEE UPDATE – Mrs A Brading Annex 7 (Agenda item 17)
The minutes for the Play Area & Skate Park Committee from the meeting dated 10th September 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record subject to Mrs Bushnell being removed from those listed as present at the meeting.
Proposed: Mr A Forbes Seconded: Mrs A Richmond
All Committee members present were in favour
Final payment to Record RSS for the play area at the WMRG is still being held as we are awaiting confirmation of compliance with EN1176.
Min 10 AOB – it was confirmed that the apron area to the front of the changing rooms at the WMRG was flooding and not the actual changing rooms.
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council.
Proposed: Mr M Williamson Seconded: Mr G Lloyd All in favour
78. ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr. G Lloyd Annex 8 (Agenda item 18)
The minutes for the Environment Committee from the meeting dated 4th September 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record.
Proposed: Mr G Lloyd Seconded: Mrs A Brading
All Committee members present were in favour
Min 5f Local Bus Review – it was proposed by Ms Powell, seconded by Mr Lloyd that a request be made for the reinstatement of the weekly Weston Super Mare to Bath (via Winscombe) service.
All in favour.
Disabled Parking Bay – Mr Bridges reported that he had visited and signed paperwork requesting NSC to install disabled parking space markings to the road surface in Homefield Close to assist a young man in a wheelchair.
Re-usable, jute shopping bags from the Zero Waste Project are now available for sale in outlets around Winscombe at £2.50 each.
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council.
Proposed: Mrs A Brading Seconded: Miss B Roper All in favour
79. AWARD LAND COMMITTEE REPORT – Mr. J Westlake Annex 9 (Agenda item 19)
The minutes for the Award Land Committee from the meeting dated 23rd July 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record.
Proposed: Mrs A Brading Seconded: Mr A Forbes
All Committee members in favour
Mr Russett has confirmed to John Westlake that the GPS mapping equipment has now been ordered.
Mr Luckett thought that a topological survey of the cemetery & allotments, Belmont Road triangle and the Award Land could be carried out at the same time.
Mr Westlake will be attending a Biodiversity Event at the Winter Gardens WSM on 28th September with Mrs Bushnell where information from the Award Land will be displayed.
Sadly, Stan Ellis died suddenly but it is hoped that his yard will continue
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council.
Proposed: Mrs A Brading Seconded: Mrs P Bushnell All in favour
80. CEMETERY & ALLOTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT – Ms D Powell Annex 10 (Agenda item 20)
The minutes for the Cemetery & Allotment Committee from the meeting dated 7th September 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record.
Proposed: Mr G Luckett Seconded: Mr J Westlake
All committee members in favour
Instruction will be given to level a grave at the expense of the Parish Council. Attempts to contact relatives to advise of the action to be taken had proved unsuccessful.
Progress on the recently submitted planning application to remove condition 4 of the original consent can be tracked on the internet.
Quotations for a Tier 1 Risk Assessment have been received, although the Environment Agency has verbally confirmed that a full report is not required. Advice would be sought from a qualified consultant as to the suitability of different areas of the field for burial purposes. Mr Luckett has obtained a verbal quotation of £500 for the services of a consultant engineer for one day to include a written report. A digger and operator will cost £200 in addition to this. The County Archaeologist should be invited to attend site when trial pits are being dug.
The Clerk will arrange an appointment with Mr Barratini to consider requirements for landscape plans for the field.
The Committee recommend that due to the disruption that will be encountered with the digging of trial pits and possible tree plantings, Mr Vowles be allowed to continue to use the cemetery field free of charge with an obligation to cut the hedges.
The decisions of the Committee were considered and recommended for action by the Parish Council.
Proposed: Mr M Williamson Seconded: Mr S Bridges All in favour
The revised estimate to replace current fascia with black clad & fascia with black guttering and down pipe and notice board with black cladding of £624 was accepted by the Parish Council and works are to be instructed immediately.
Proposed: Mr M Williamson Seconded: Mrs A Brading All in favour
81. ANY OTHER BUSINESS (Agenda item 21)
The Chairman advised members that a meeting of the Chairman’s Committee had taken place prior to the Parish Council meeting. All sports clubs using the ground are to be reminded that maintenance of the WMRG must comply with current regulations and necessary reports submitted to the Parish Office for approval.
With no further business, the meeting concluded at 9.10 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.