|
WINFORD PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES-July 2010 |
|
Date: Monday 7 June 2010 Venue: Felton Village Hall, Felton Time: 7.00pm Councillors Present: Bridget Smith (Chair) Peter Etheridge Alan Parker Paul Hatherell Margaret Murphy Alan Sage Karen Bye Peter Longden Gill Patch Simon Banks Paul Roberts (Clerk) Also present Cllr Hugh Gregor (NSC) Rob Warren (NSC) 4 members of the public. 1. Apologies Cllr Len Curry; WPC Jackie McDonald; Graham Quick (NSC) 2. Minutes of the previous meeting 2.1 Cllr Murphy was added to the list of apologies and the draft minutes were approved and signed as a true record. 2.2 Matters Arising (references to May 2010 minutes):- 3.2 BS reported that the fly tipping on Old Hill has been removed; 3.2 (7.4) PH reported that the Felton Notice Boards have been removed from the wall of the former shop and await relocation on the green when Len Budd is available to carry out the work; 6.1 Cllr Gregor has written to Cllr Ap Rees about the council’s concerns regarding Whitling Street but has yet to receive a response; 9.1 BS has spoken to Tony Pearle about the proposal to use the school field for allotments, but the process for deciding what will happen to the field is likely to take some time. The council had received a copy of a letter from Wrington Parish Council to North Somerset about the replacement of playing fields lost as a result of the school’s closure, possibly in Winford. The council decided to just note the letter at this stage. ITEM 7a) of the agenda – Vee Lane Play Area - was taken next 7.1 Rob Warren of North Somerset Council outlined the Playbuilder scheme, a central government funded initiative aimed at improving the quality of play space for children and young people. NSC has a two-year programme of which year 1 is now complete and Vee Lane has been identified as one of eleven projects for year 2. The timetable is very tight and projects must be complete by the end of December. 7.2 NSC have completed initial consultation with children at Chew Valley and Winford schools and have identified issues to be taken into account in designing improvements to the area. The next stage is for these to be converted into possible designs for new equipment and other improvements. Children will be consulted again at that stage. 7.3 BS said that the council had planned to implement improvements suitable for younger children as recent projects (eg the skate park) had been aimed at older ones. There was some discussion about this and how it fits with the overall aim of Playbuilder to widen the appeal and use of play areas to the broader community. This will be taken into account in final designs, but Playbuilder will not be able to provide a fenced-off, separate area for the youngest children. There would be nothing to prevent the council from doing this at a later stage if it wished, but councillors were generally supportive of the concept that the equipment installed should appeal to a wide range of ages. 7.4 The council expressed very strong support for the initiative and its Vee Lane working group will aim to meet NSC as soon as possible to consider draft plans. 3. Crime and Disorder 3.1 A written report from the police contained the following:- · theft of a bike;· theft at a construction site of scrap metal, one suspect is currently being sought.4. Open Forum 4.1 A resident of Church View, Felton Common, asked why the lower gates to the area in front of Felton Hall had been installed. BS explained the background and problems that had been encountered when access was unrestricted. He also asked about signs concerning bye-laws, and the potential effects of placing boulders on the areas next to the highway either side of the entrance to the common from West Lane and whether this would increase parking on the common past church trees. BS said that these actions had been taken as a response to problems, particularly concerning the erosion of the common by parking by the entrance, and after consultation with NSC’s rangers and others. 4.2 A resident of High Winford spoke concerning an accident at his property on 20 May where a car driver had lost control of his vehicle and collided with a tree. He said there were some general concerns about speeding traffic and driver behaviour in High Winford, in particular vehicles entering from Vee Lane at inappropriately high speed. He had assembled a petition from local residents that would be presented to the highway authority. There was discussion about possible measures such as signs, traffic calming, speed limits and road closures, but little consensus about the most appropriate means of dealing with the issue. BS proposed, seconded by KB, that the council should write to the police and NSC’s highways department, to ask for advice on what might be done to tackle the problem. 4.3 A resident of Felton Common presented a statement concerning the damaged tree stump and the recent poisoning of a tree at Felton Common, saying that she and her husband are not responsible in anyway for either and would like rumours and allegations about this to stop or they may consider taking legal advice. She also said that the boulder at the entrance now prevents one of their vehicles from using it. BS said that this would be discussed later in the meeting at item 8. 5. Highways and Footpaths 5.1 BS reported the ongoing discussions between David Neale and NSC about designs for improvements to the steps but a resolution looks no nearer. Cllr Gregor also said that Richard Priest of Willmott Dixon will be offering to help seek a resolution. 5.2 Local reports. It was noted that NSC have placed cones in several places where repairs are required, including a drain cover on West Lane which is forcing traffic dangerously wide where visibility is restricted. Cllr Gregor and the council will take this up with NSC. ACTION CLLR GREGOR/CLERK 5.3 The finger post at the Long Lane/Kingdown crossroads is in a poor state and requires replacement. This will be reported to NSC, and they will be reminded that the finger post at Winford Manor has yet to be repaired despite reports of the damage being made a long time ago. 5.4 BS said that the resurfacing in Winford last year had removed the white line in front of Winford shop and it was agreed that NSC should be asked to re-instate it. 5.5 The council had received notification from NSC of a review of speed limits on A and B roads which also said that other roads would be considered after 2011. The council agreed to write to NSC about long-standing concerns about traffic speed on West Lane/Felton Lane and asking for this to be included in the review. 6. Planning 6.1 Previous applications:- 10/P/0398/F – 17 Upper Town Lane: change of use from post office/stores to 2 dwellings. Planning consent granted. Hillview Mobile Home Park – retention of building for ancillary use. Appeal lodged against refusal of consent (APP/D0121/A/10/2129075) 10/P/0545/TPO. Consent refused for removal of limb of sycamore overhanging house. Consent granted for reduction of branch by 50%. 6.2 New applications:- 10/P/0863/F – 2 Walton Crescent, Winford. Erection of rear conservatory and loft conversion. The council resolved to raise no objection to consent being granted. 10/P/0743/F - 26 Felton Lane, Winford. Erection of 2-storey side extension. The council resolved to make no objection to the grant of consent but to seek assurances that neighbouring properties have been informed. 10/P/0741/F – 20 Currell’s Lane, Felton. Erection of single storey front and rear extensions. The council resolved to support the application. 6.2 Former coach garage, High Street, Winford. Revised outline plans for the site had been received for comment. The number of dwellings had been reduced from 14 to 12, and 4 work units had been added. Two parking spaces per property would be provided. It is felt that the detailed designs of the dwellings, in particular those fronting High Street, is crucial and that this must be sympathetic to the local context. Cllr Gregor felt that this outline provided a satisfactory compromise that is unlikely to be bettered and the council agreed to offer cautious support to the latest proposals. 6.3 AP reported that he had contacted NSC about 30 High Street, Winford. They have asked for drawings showing the revised entrance to the property from the highway. 7. Parish Council Property (continued) 7.5 Cllr Gregor had written to the council in his capacity as President of the Cricket Club concerning a letter the club had received from Taylor Wimpey who are seeking to use a small area of the field as storage in connection with work on a neighbouring property. The Cricket Club are content with the proposal but it requires the consent of the council as landlords. 7.6 The council had no objections to what is proposed but resolved to write asking whether plant etc will require access to the area through the main gates. 8. Felton Common 8.1 It had been reported at the May meeting that NSC had asked the council to withhold any action regarding the boulder at the entrance from West Lane until they had considered the relevance of the bye-laws to the situation. NSC had subsequently informed the council that the bye-laws have no bearing on the council’s proposed action. 8.2 BS had spoken to Avon Fire and Rescue and they had confirmed that they are content as long as the entrance is not made narrower than it had been when the tree stump was in place. 8.3 BS reported that Mr Parsons had placed the boulders, including the large one on the tree stump on the day of the meeting. It was felt that this one may need to be moved slightly to meet the objective of retaining the size of access that had pertained before the tree stump’s removal. BS will speak to Mr Parsons and involve AS and SB in the event of a decision on precise positioning being required. 8.3 A Felton Common resident commented that the stones either side of the entrance improve visibility for vehicles as vehicles can no longer park there. 8.4 BS reported that the tree opposite the former tree stump displays clear signs of having been deliberately poisoned, and that the matter had been reported to the police. However, in the absence of any clear evidence of who had done it the police were unable to take any action. Councillors were unanimously outraged that such an act could have been perpetrated deliberately on one of this magnificent group of trees. The tree will need to be felled on safety grounds, but there was some discussion about whether its trunk could be retained and be used for carving into a sculpture. It was agreed that this would be considered again at a future meeting. 9 Bristol Airport 9.1 PL reported on the meeting of NSC’s P&R Committee that had resolved to grant consent to BA’s planning application. It will now be referred to GOSW in order that the Secretary of State can consider whether to call the application in to decide himself, or allow NSC to grant consent. PL felt that the consultants who had represented the council at the P&R meeting had performed very well. It was agreed that a copy of their representations on the council’s behalf should be sent to GOSW. 9.2 A traffic count on the B3130 on the Chew Magna side of Winford had revealed a 14% decrease on a day when the airport had been closed. It is estimated that, if airport employees are added, the airport as a whole accounts for about 25% of the traffic using the road. 9.3 PL mentioned the letter that Blagdon PC had written to the PCAA raising various concerns about its activities which had been raised at the previous meeting. PL is looking at whether there is any substance in the suggestions that financial aspects of the PCAA’s affairs need to be reconsidered. 10. Finance 10.1 Money received: Compost sales £88–50 Compost sales £44–00 10.2 Invoices received:- CG Tovey – work on trees, Regil and Felton £470-00 Streets Ahead – surgery transport £103-99 RJ Maggs – grass cutting etc £525-00 Oak Accountancy Services – internal audit £293-75 B Smith – expenses £20-70 S Banks – transport of compost £25-00 It was agreed that these invoices should be paid. 10.3 The Clerk presented the final accounts for 2009/10. These had been the subject of scrutiny by the internal auditor who had made two recommendations regarding monitoring of reserves, and the construction and monitoring of the council’s budget. These are felt to be fair and not unexpected and will be the subject of an action plan that the Finance working group will consider. 10.4 The council unanimously approved the accounting statements and annual governance statement contained in the annual return. 11. Mobile Library Service 11.1 NSC had informed the council and users of the service that they plan to reduce the level of service and in the parish this will result in the van visiting each village in just one location. They are seeking views on whether the proposed locations are the most suitable and it was felt that they are. Copies of the document circulated by NSC will be placed on notice boards. 12. Meetings 12.1 BS reported her attendance at the opening of Bristol Airport’s Western Walkway. She will be attending the CPRE North Somerset AGM on 19 June. 13. Other Correspondence 13.1 The following had been received and will be circulated to councillors:- Avon and Somerset Strategic Policing Plan 2010 – 2013 West of England Joint Waste Core Strategy consultation on landfill policy Chew Valley School – proposal to become a Foundation School. 13.2 BS had received a request to organise an event to celebrate 10 years of the community wood but had declined to do so on the grounds that other events, in particular the one for Felton Common, were taking precedence. 14. Information and items for next agenda 14.1 PL noted that the former livestock market site has been acquired and its redevelopment may therefore re-commence. 14.2 PL raised the revised waste collection arrangements which were still not operating properly in parts of Felton. Cllr Gregor was aware of some issues and will pass them on to those responsible in NSC. The meeting concluded at 21.55 PM. The next council meeting is on Monday 5 July 2010 at 7.00pm at Felton Village Hall. |