CHEW MAGNA PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes of the Meeting held in the Upper Hall of the Old School Room on Tuesday 1 June 2010 at 7.30pm
Present: Jon Wheatley(Chairman) Rodney Andrews Nick Hasell Doris Davis Nick Scholefield Ian Cox Meryl Leach Paul Cornelius Ward Cllr. Malcolm Hanney
Item 1 Apologies Apologies were received from Cllrs Slade and Timson.
Item 2 Code of Conduct - Register of Councillors’ Interests Cllr. Davis Item 9 f) as she resides near Littleton Falls. Cllr. Hasell Item 11 a) because he is Luke Hasell’s uncle.
Item 3Minutes of Previous Meetings The minutes of the May Parish Council Meeting were agreed and signed by the Chairman.
Item 4 Matters Arising a) Council’s priorities for action – The Council agreed its priorities, resulting from amalgamation of individual Councillor’s views, as follows: Affordable Housing; Car Parking; Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Management; Preserving a Sustainable Parish; Mitigation of Surgery Relocation, Flooding; Enhancement of the Parish Environment; and Improving Facilities for Youngsters. Preservation of Green Belt status is an over-arching and over-riding priority b) Hand Held Speed Camera – P.C. Glanfield will be meeting Mr. Poole (The Chalks) to discuss the practicalities of setting up a Community Speed Watch. c) Japanese Knotweed – The weed was thought to be growing in the garden of “The Rosary” (High Street). Action: Clerk to contact the owner’s agent requesting eradication. d) Road name changes – Discussion was deferred to the next Council meeting. Actions: Cllr. Andrews to discuss the issues with B&NES. Clerk to copy B&NES’s letter to Ward Cllr. Hanney. e) The wall at Nutgrove Lane – B&NES had postponed the planned meeting with the Council and another date was being arranged. Action: Clerk to liaise with B&NES. f) May Cluster Meeting - Cllr. Davis reported that B&NES appeared to take on board Councils’ concerns regarding increasing traffic volumes, especially in the light of North Somerset Council’s approval of BIA’s plans for expansion, and the adverse impact on parishes of the HGV ban on the A368. B&NES intends to invite interested Parish Councils to a separate meeting to discuss the latter issue. B&NES reiterated that Planning Enforcement activity will have to be strictly prioritised via a triage system, due to the lack of resources. Regarding refuse collection, B&NES announced that the introduction of food waste boxes would commence on 4 October and it intended to make blue bags for cardboard waste available at the Mill for those householders who had not received a bag. Action: Clerk to press B&NES to take Enforcement action regarding the straw house at Limeburn Hill. g) Affordable Housing – The Chairman said that the focus was now on the Chew Lane site as the owners of the two front running sites had indicated they were unwilling to sell their land. English Rural Housing is now preparing drawings for the Chew Lane site. The Chairman stated that rumours of a large scale housing development north of Old North Chew Farm were unfounded, but the possibility of up to 8 affordable houses being built could not be ruled out if all the sites on the short list identified by the Council proved untenable. Ward Councillor Hanney added that current planning policy would permit only affordable housing to be built outside the village boundary. In response to questions from Mrs. Vicki Hamilton-Davies (Norton Lane), who was concerned that the openness of the Green Belt countryside should be preserved and that affordable housing should benefit the local community, the Chairman confirmed there was substantial local demand for affordable housing, as well as for smaller homes for people who wanted to downsize, and that English Rural Housing had given assurances that applicants for affordable housing with local connections would be given first priority. Actions: The Chairman to gain final confirmation from the owner of the Tennis Court land on the Manor House Estate, that he is not prepared to have affordable housing built on the site. h) Co–option of Councillor – The Council unanimously agreed to co-opt Mr. Bob Luton to fill the existing vacancy (proposed by Cllr. Cornelius, seconded by Cllr. Hasell).
Item 5 Transportation, Highways and Footpaths a) B&NES “Winter Maintenance Review” – B&NES has asked Parish Councils for comments on how the services, principally gritting, could be improved within existing funding levels. The Council thought that generally the services had been satisfactory. Clearance of ice from the main footways through the village and access to isolated hamlets were the main problems, and grit bins and self-help were the answer. Actions: Clerk to ascertain from B&NES the responsibilities and liabilities of the Council and individuals regarding clearance of snow and ice. Councillors to provide to the Clerk any further thoughts, so that the Clerk can respond to B&NES. b) New 52 bus service – This new service, provided by Citistar, had started, affording a single daily return journey, Monday to Friday, between Stanton Wick/Moorledge and Bristol city centre. The timetable is on the Parish Council noticeboard. c) Re-painting of single/double yellow lines Action: Clerk to ask B&NES Highways to ensure that yellow lines are re-instated after road re-surfacing to avoid traffic snarling due to improper parking. d) Reduction of Street Lighting – The Council agreed to support a request made by residents at Streamleaze to B&NES to reduce the time the B&NES street lights operate during the night. Action: Clerk to convey to B&NES the Council’s support.
Item 6 Finances a) Expenditure: Cheque No. T. Hillard (Road sweeper’s salary) £405.83 1405M-L Hales (Clerk’s salary) £585.26 1406 M-L Hales (Clerk’s expenses Postage) £6.86 1407 Dando & Sons (photocopying Jan – March £21.50, wheelbarrow £35.02) £56.52 1408 Quartet Community Foundation (part repayment of grant) * £1,132.00 1409 Mike Reed (Footpath Agency Scheme – footpath clearance) £16.00 1410 The above expenditure was approved (Proposed by Cllr. Cornelius, seconded by Cllr. Cox). * Note: The Council is not allowed to transfer funds allocated for training of a Duke of Edinburgh scheme expedition leader to Chew Valley School, therefore it will repay that part of the grant of £2,500.00 that has not been spent. b) Japanese Knotweed – It was agreed that Mike Reed should eradicated the knotweed at Hanny’s Lane at a cost of about £36.00 (Proposed by Cllr. Hasell, seconded by Cllr. Cox.) c) CPRE Membership - Council decided to become a member. The subscription is currently £29 per annum (Proposed by Cllr. Scholefield, seconded by Cllr. Cox). d) NALC Localism in Action Conference – It was agreed that Cllr. Slade would undertake a day’s training on 2 July, focussing on the local economy and youth activities, at a cost of £105.75. e) Receipts: B& NES Road Sweepers Scheme (May) £356.53 B&NES Footpath Agency Scheme payment £1157.88 f) Audit of FY2009/10 Accounts - The Internal Auditor had completed the audit. No issues had been raised. The Council approved the accounts for submission to the external auditor before the end of June.
Item 7 Planning a) Applications in circulation: 10/14 Greylands, Upton Lane – Erection of an agricultural building The Council supported the erection of this building provided it can be justified as necessary to the agricultural business. It is located close to the existing complex of agricultural buildings which reduces its impact on the openness of the Green Belt. 10/15 Old North Chew Farm, Norton Lane – Demolition of steel framed, metal clad, lean-to sheds and lean-to shed adjacent to road, and 10/16 Old North Chew Farm, Norton Lane – Conversion of derelict outbuildings to business units and holiday lets. Because of the significance of the proposed development and the potential implications, discussion of these two applications was deferred to a special Council meeting to be held on 8 June, to allow Councillors time to view the plans and consider what the Council’s position should be. (Proposed by Cllr. Andrews, seconded by Cllr. Hasell). Action: Clerk to advertise the meeting on the Parish noticeboard. 10/17 5 Broadcroft – Erection of two storey rear extension following demolition of existing single storey rear extension (Resubmission). The Council supported the application and would express its unease regarding how B&NES officials were calculating percentage increases in the size of buildings, and urge them to consider each application on its own merit. b) Results: 10/04 Dakini, Post Office, 1 South Parade – Change of use of part of ground – floor and construction of two storey rear extension to provide residential accommodation. Permit 10/08 Eggleton, Pony & Trap, Knowle Hill – Erection of detached single storey storage unit following demolition of existing outbuildings/sheds and timber storage units. Permit. 10/09 Bevir, Dumpers House, Dumpers Lane – Internal alterations for the provision of flagstone floor to kitchen and dining room following the removal of quarry tiles from kitchen floor and wood -strip floor form dining room. Consent 10/10 Hunt, Parcel 4676 Butham Lane – Extension to steel barn and erection of polytunnel (following 10/00817/AGRN). Permit. c) BIA planning application – The Council noted the agreement of the plans for expansion by North Somerset Council’s South Area Committee at its meeting held on 24 May and Cllr. Timson’s briefing note.
Item 8 Sustainability including Green Communities a) E-mail from B&NES Sustainability Officer – The e-mail outlined potential projects, which were very similar to those which were run by Go Zero. Action: Cllr. Scholefield to advise the Council as to which projects it should become involved in and how. b) Chew Magna Primary School Green Flag Award – The school had recently gained the highest award of the Eco School scheme. Action: Clerk to convey the Council’s congratulations.
Item 9 Correspondence a) The Chairman informed the Council that he had received and accepted the Clerk’s letter of resignation, and that her last day in the job will be 31 August 2010. It was agreed that a sub-group of the Council, comprising the Chairman and Cllrs. Andrews, Slade and Leach would recruit the new Clerk. b) Blagdon Parish Council’s concerns regarding the Parish Councils Airport Association (PCAA) – Cllr. Timson, on behalf of the Council had replied supporting the PCAA’s work. c) Community Action – The Council noted the winding up of the organisation. The staff and their work are being absorbed into the South West ACRE Network and will remain based at The Mill. d) Environment Agency – The Agency had provided a notice of its intention to inspect the local rivers for impeding structures within 8 metres of the water courses. Action: Clerk to alert parishioners via the Parish noticeboard, Parish Magazine and the Gazette. e) St. John Ambulance project to set up a cadet unit in Chew Magna. Action: Clerk to advertise the need for volunteers in the Parish Magazine and noticeboard. f) Lane at Winford Brook, adjacent to Littleton Falls Action: Chairman to speak to Jane Brewer B&NES arboricultural officer and update Cllr. Davis.
Item 10 AOB
a) Overhanging vegetation – Cllr. Leach said that pruning was required at the top of the High Street and along Chew Lane. The bus stop area was particularly overgrown. Action: Cllr. Hasell to speak to Mr. Luke Hasell the owner of the land adjacent to the bus stop. b) Re-instatement of “School” sign on Chew Lane. Action: Clerk to write to B&NES. c) Accumulation of litter at the Trading Post (High Street) Action: Chairman to speak to the shop owner. d) Forthcoming Meetings – It was agreed that Cllr. Andrews and the Clerk would attend the Parish Liaison meeting. Cllr. Slade will attend the Homesearch Policy Review Consultation on June 10th. Action: Clerk to submit to B&NES the Council’s position regarding allocation of affordable housing, in particular to ensure that the procedures give priority to people with local connections.
The meeting ended at 9.40 pm. Parish Clerk 4 June 2010
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DRAFT
CHEW MAGNA PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes of the Meeting held in the Millennium Hall on Tuesday 6 July 2010 at 7.30pm
Present: Rodney Andrews (Vice Chairman) Nick Hasell Doris Davis Meryl Leach Anne Slade Colin Timson Bob Luton Ward Cllr. Malcolm Hanney
Item 1 Apologies Apologies were received from Cllrs Wheatley, Cox, Scholefield and Cornelius. Cllr. Andrews chaired the meeting. Ward Cllr. Hanney joined the meeting at 7.50pm.
Item 2 Code of Conduct - Register of Councillors’ Interests Cllr. Leach Item 10 a) 40 the High Street as she is a neighbouring householder. Cllrs. Andrews, Davis, Slade and Leach Item 10 a) Old School Room, because they are involved in the management and upkeep of the Old School Room. Cllr. Hasell Item 10 a) MJH & Sons Parcel 5061 because he is an adjacent landowner and also related to the land owner.
Item 3 Appointment of new Councillor The Chairman welcomed Bob Luton back to the Council. Bob Luton signed a declaration of acceptance of office and submitted a completed Registration of Interest form for entry into the Register.
Item 4Minutes of Previous Meeting The minutes were amended, agreed and signed by the acting Chairman.
Item 5 B&NES Library service Julia Burton (B&NES Libraries Development Manager) gave an overview of the service and answered Councillors’ questions regarding the way ahead. Thirty five Parish Councils responded to the recent survey, which evidenced that the mobile libraries were important for the older, younger and disabled users. However a B&NES Voice Box survey showed that only 10% of the 1200 people that responded used the mobile service and of these, nearly half had not used the vans in the last 12 months. Councillors will be invited to a workshop to discuss options for developing the library service. B&NES are examining ways of adapting the mobile library service to best meet local needs.The forthcoming budgetary constraints will require the focus to be on cost saving solutions, such as more use of volunteers. Ms. Burton noted the need for better publicity of the current facility to return books to any of the libraries in the Library West consortium and stated her intention to try to protect B&NES’s already small book fund.
Item 6 Public Participation No issues were raised.
Item 7 Matters Arising a) Replacement Clerk – There had been several expressions of interest. The Council agreed a handover period of one month (August) – see Item 9 c) below. The current Clerk will prepare the September agenda and assist the new Clerk at the September Council meeting. Action: Councillors to provided Cllr. Andrews within 4-5 days any specific requirements they thought important regarding the new Clerk’s duties and role. b) Report back on meetings and projects: i) Cllr. Timson reported that BIA’s planning application for expansion of the airport had been referred to the Secretary of State who will consider the impact on the Green Belt and climate change issues. Cllr Timson will be meeting the local MP at the end of the month to discuss the implications of BIA’s expansion plans. Progress on the DEFRA Property Level Flood Resilience Grant scheme had been very good. Surveys of the initial tranche of 34 buildings had been completed. A couple of the buildings would need more detailed cost estimates as they are likely to exceed the £6,500 limit, beyond which the building owner would have to contribute to the cost of the work. ii) Parishes Liaison Meeting – Cllr. Andrews summarised the various agenda items. Discussion of how the Council could exploit the Parish On Line facilities was deferred to the September meeting. Actions: Clerk to find out the start time of B&NES’s Parish On Line meeting on 14 th July at Bath Spa University. Cllrs. Slade and Scholefield to attend. Clerk to circulate to Councillors the Parish Charter presentation. iii) Cllr. Slade reported the following: Meeting with Alex Morris re Young Offenders Scheme – The limitations of the scheme rendered it impracticable for achievement of any Council project. NALC “Localism in Action” – The emphasis had been on transferring power to local people. Interesting ideas were formation of partnerships between the Parish Council and local tradesmen and other organisations to improve the quality of life and attract people to the area to boost its economy; co-opting young people as student advisors to the Parish Council to gain their views; a local environment website to be established in September; and the availability of free planning advice via “Planning Aid”, a not for profit Government funded service. B&NES Homesearch policy review consultation – Consultation will take place at the end of this year. The Government has issued new guidance on allocation of social housing to dispel myths. The Council’s views were represented at the meeting and followed up in writing by the Clerk. c) Road name changes – Cllr. Andrews had discussed the issues with B&NES. He had been successful in reverting Double House Lane back to Hollowbrook Lane and re-assigned 3 houses back to their previous addresses. A large scale map will be provided to the Council by B&NES to facilitate further discussion with B&NES. Whilst B&NES and the Post Office have different street name data bases, use of the correct post code should ensure mail is delivered to the right building. d) Street Lighting - B&NES was actioning the request from a parishioner to change the 2 lights owned by B&NES at Streamleaze to operate only part-time through the night and is seeking the Council’s support to extend this to cover the B&NES lights in Pine Court, Stoneleigh, and Streamside. Action: The Council will meet with B&NES to discuss this and its own lighting system. e) Correspondence received. i) Proposal to plant trees alongside the swing area at the playground. Action: Clerk to respond to Mrs. Blythe’s letter stating the Council would not be acceding to her request as it had concerns regarding maintenance and leaf fall. ii) Request by ABC Drugstores Ltd for consent to open a pharmacy at the new health centre at the former Radford site, Chew Stoke – The Council has been notified that Avon Primary Care Support Agency has approved ABC Drugstores’ application.
Item 8 Transportation, Highways and Footpaths a) B&NES report/ analysis on provision of footway between Dark Lane and Chew Lane – The report concludes that installation of a pavement adjacent to the road is too problematic. The Council decided to defer further consideration until the September meeting when John Bresnahan is due to talk to the Council about his plans for developing the Sacred Heart land. b) Removal of litter bins from lay byes. Action: Clerk to write to B&NES Highways, copy to Ward Cllr. Hanney, asking for clarification of the policy for provision of bins in lay byes. c) Footpaths clearance. The cut vegetation at Crickback Lane posed a hazard and needed to be removed. CL3/50 from Battle Lane to Port Bridge required clearing. Action: Clerk to task Mike Reed to remove vegetation/grass cuttings at Crickback Lane and trim back overgrown plants, bushes and weeds where needed on CL3/50. d) Footpath opposite Archways Action: Clerk to ask the landowner to cut back the overhanging bushes. The Clerk will include a request for parishioners to cut back vegetation overhanging the highway in its summary for the Chew Valley Gazette and Parish Magazine. e) Denny Lane Action: Clerk to ask B&NES to repair the deteriorating road edge towards Chew Valley reservoir.
Item 9 Finances a) Expenditure for approval: Cheque No. T. Hillard (Road sweeper’s salary) £391.39 1411M-L Hales (Clerk’s salary) £568.30 1412 M-L Hales (Clerk’s expenses: postage £5.03, quarterly telephone £101.98, Norton Internet Security £28.99) £136.00 1413 HMRC (Quarterly PAYE & NICS payments) £243.04 1414 Mike Reed (Footpath Clearance Scheme – Knotweed treatment) £27.31 1415 NALC (1 place at “Localism in Action” conference) £105.75 1416 Western News & Media Ltd (Recruitment ad for new Clerk in CV Gazette) £48.18 1417 Council for Protection of Rural England (annual membership fee) £29.00 1418 SEC (Street lighting maintenance) £191.38 1419 EDF (Street lighting electricity) £458.46 1420 b) Receipts: B& NES Road Sweepers Scheme (June) £356.53 c) The Council approved payment of salaries to both the current and new replacement Clerk for month of August to allow for a handover of duties. d) The Council also approved payment of invoices and the Road Sweeper’s salary in August, up to a limit of £1000.
Item 10 Planning a) Applications in circulation: 10/03A Unit Assets Ltd, 40 High Street – Erection of new dwellinghouse following demolition of existing building. The Council opposed the application and would reiterate its view that it is important to the local rural economy that the building/site remains as employment generating floor space. Therefore it could not support a change of use of the site from business to a domestic dwelling. The Council will asks that, should officers be minded to approve the change of use, the proposed building should be set further back from the road in line with the adjacent property at 38 High Street. 10/18 In – Residence GB Ltd, Manor House, Battle Lane – Erection of a car barn. The Council supported this application. It believed the proposal was not detrimental to the openness of the Green Belt or the setting of the listed Manor House and the surrounding area. 10/19 Under The Sky Limited, The Mill, Tunbridge Road – Renewal of application 07/02583/FUL (Conversion, redevelopment and refurbishment of former Mill site to provide B1(a),B1(b),B1(c) and D1 floorspace) The Council supported the application for renewal of planning consent as it is keen to promote sustainable economic development within the village and the proposal represented the best opportunity to reuse and develop an existing but derelict site. However the Council would stress it still had some concerns over highway, parking and transportation issues. 10/20 The Old School Room, & South Parade – Internal alterations for provision of new floorboards to Upper Hall. The Council supported this application. 10/21 MJH&Sons, Parcel 5061, Denny Lane – Provision of track. The Council supported the application, noting that B&NES had advised that the only planning permission required was the access to the road. Action: Clerk to prepare the Council’s responses to B&NES. b) Results: 10/17 5 Broadcroft – Erection of two storey rear extension following demolition of existing single storey rear extension (Resubmission). Permit. 10/15 Old North Chew Farm, Norton Lane – Demolition of steel framed, metal clad, lean-to sheds and lean-to shed adjacent to road, and 10/16 Old North Chew Farm, Norton Lane – Conversion of derelict outbuildings to business units and holiday lets. Withdrawn. Action: Clerk to respond to Mrs. Blythe’s letter, copy to B&NES, stating that her request for action relating to the provision of a pavement to the playground at Norton Lane, should Old North Chew Farm be developed, will be considered as and when further planning applications for the Old North Chew Farm site are received. c) Enforcement – B&NES consultation with Parish Councils i)B&NES workshop with selected Parish Councils on 13 July to review procedures/working arrangements on enforcement cases – The Council has been invited to give its views at it had not been asked to attend the workshop. Councillors and Ward Cllr. Hanney thought the following needed resolution: the loop hole caused by CLEUs and the need to ensure timing and enforcement procedures were properly managed so that this was not exploited; the timescale for prioritising requests for Enforcement action and criteria for prioritisation; and the need for B&NES to respond to Councils and keep them informed of progress on the cases that are actioned. Action: Clerk to write to Peter-Duppa Miller setting out the Council’s views and concerns regarding Planning Enforcement. ii) Parcel 4471, Butham Lane – Installation of caravan. Action lay with B&NES Planning Enforcement. d) Core Strategy – B&NES has arranged a meeting on 28 th July at Keynsham to discuss Parish Councils’ objections to Category C status. Action: Cllrs. Wheatley, Slade, and Andrews to attend. e) B&NES revised Street Licensing and Trading policies. Action: Cllr. Andrews to alert the Chew Magna Society vis-à-vis any implications for future Christmas street parties.
Item 11 AOB a) The Council congratulated Ward Cllr. Hanney on being awarded an OBE. b) Nominations for B&NES Chairman’s “Community Awards”” for 2010/11 – The Council will discuss nominations at the September meeting. c) B&NES Out of Hours service – A pilot night service will be established at the Royal United Hospital. d) Time and venue for Parish Council Meetings – The Council agreed that henceforth its meetings would be held in the Millennium Hall and start at 7.45pm.
The meeting ended at 10pm.
Marie - Louise Hales, Parish Clerk 7 July 2010
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