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WINFORD PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES-May Date: Monday 11 May 2009. Venue: Felton Village Hall, Felton Time: 7.00pm Councillors Present: Mrs B Smith (Chair) Mr A Parker Mrs G Patch Mr S Banks Miss K Bye Mr A Sage Mr P Longden Mrs M Murphy Mr P Hatherell Mr L Curry Mr P Etheridge Mr P Roberts (Clerk) Also present: Cllr Hugh Gregor and one member of the public The meeting was opened with a prayer. 1. Election of Chair, Vice Chairs and composition of working parties 1.1 The Clerk took the chair and invited nominations for Chair of the Council. BS was nominated by AP and seconded by SB. No other nominations were made; BS was elected unanimously and took the chair. AP and PH were elected unanimously as Vice Chairs. 2.2 The composition of working parties was considered and agreed as follows:- Councillors Co-optees Finance KB PH AP PR Compost/allotments SB AP BS HG A Morris S Carruthers Common SB KB LC BS D Johnson T Parsons Quarry SB KB LC PH MM J Webster Vee Lane rec area PE PH R Cox M Barratt S Thomas C Taylor, J Kiernan Winford Centre MM AP GP PR AS BIA PL GP PE HG P Webb West Lane path PE BS J Hares J Longden Footpaths AP BS J Webster Y Chapman P Mullett D Ryan The underlined are responsible for production and communication of minutes. 2.3 Councillors with specific link responsibilities were agreed as follows:- Schools PH Felton Community Shop Project PE Parish Plan MM AS Planning Felton LC PH Regil SB MM Winford AP AS Minor Highway matters Felton LC Regil SB Winford GP 2. Apologies WPC Jackie McDonald Graham Quick - North Somerset Council (NSC) 2. Minutes of the previous meeting 3.1 line 3 – “for” deleted and “for” inserted before”this offence”. 6.3 line 6 – “January Parish Council” inserted after “following the” 8.4 - amended to 8.3 The minutes were approved and signed as a true record. 2.2 Matters arising (references to April minutes):- 2.2 (5.2) It was noted that work had not begun on the Brookside footpath extension. AP reported that he understood there would be a delay of a few weeks. 2.2 (5.5) BS had been informed by NSC that the remaining tree cannot be planted in the proposed position and she therefore suggested the green at High Winford as an alternative. This was agreed unanimously. 2.2 (7.2) SB has provided information for the letters of thanks which will now be prepared and sent. 3.2 The Post Office has undertaken to repair the Winford Manor post box. 5.5 Stephanie Jones (NSC) has agreed to attend the next council meeting. 5.6 NSC had not replied to the council’s letter about the temporary closure of Pinchay Lane and it remains closed. A further letter will be sent. 6.3 A further letter had been received from the householder of Oak Tree Farm, Regil. It was agreed to respond making it clear that the council’s comments on his planning application did not imply opposition to any new build element, and that the withdrawal of remarks made at the January meeting had been recorded in the April minutes. 7.4 BS thanked those who had attended the Felton Common litter-pick evening. 4. Crime and Disorder 4.1 A written report from WPC Jackie McDonald had been received listing the following:- thefts of ironing board, mobile phone and garden lights; 3 attempted thefts, two from vans on an industrial site and one car; 3 garage break-ins including 1 attempt. 4.2 A parishioner has reported problems with aggressive dogs affecting users of the footpath at Birds Farm. The police have been notified but no response has yet been received. 4.3 SB and MM reported that there had been a burglary in Regil and theft from the Regil Lane livery stables at the weekend. 5. Open Forum Nothing was raised. 6. Highways and Footpaths 6.1 Market Place Steps. AP reported views from NSC confirming that they will not approve the serrated incline design and require one which conforms with the British Standard involving steps. The council expressed disappointment that NSC is unwilling to consider an innovative solution and agreed that it should ask David Neale for further advice before deciding what action to take. 6.2 West Lane cycle/footpath. It was felt that the off-road option prepared by consultants is preferable and PL proposed that this option be taken forward, seconded by PE and agreed unanimously. The working party will take this forward and as a next step will find out how much it will cost to employ a land agent to conduct preliminary work on agreements with landowners. 6.3 Regil Lane junction with Chew Road. Safety concerns had again been raised at the Annual Parish Meeting and it was agreed that the clearance of brambles would improve visibility. Work to achieve this will focus initially on land inside the fence: BS will contact the landowner in the first instance. NSC will be consulted about a longer term solution, initially through Steph Jones. 6.4 West Lane speed warning signs. NSC had obtained a revised quotation for the work at about £10,000 and it was agreed that the work should be commissioned on this basis. BIA has indicated a willingness to provide a financial contribution. 6.5 Local reports confirmed that some potholes have been filled but a large number remain. How best to work with NSC to improve the situation will be discussed at the next meeting. HG raised the problems with potholes encountered by the numerous cyclists who use local roads. 6.6 AP confirmed that since the last meeting authority had been given (in accordance with procedures in the financial regulations) to NSC to install conservation kerbing at the Brookside footpath extension in order that it will not require replacement when the next phase of the centre of Winford improvement is carried out. 7. Planning 7.1 Previous applications. Application refused –20 Hillview Gardens, Felton. Loft conversion. Applications approved:- Small Holme, Felton Common. Side extension. 12 Kingston Lane, Winford. Side extension. 7.2 New applications:- Oakacre, Lower Strode. Garage extension to provide carport etc. MM declared an interest. The council resolved to raise no objection. 58 Long Cross, Felton. Formation of cross-over and parking space. The council resolved to raise no objection. 3 Hillview Gardens, Felton. Loft conversion. The council resolved to raise no objection. Court Farm, Winford. Temporary erection of 24 metre anemometer mast for 6 months. AP reported that a number of local residents had expressed concern that this application is a prelude to one for a wind turbine. BS proposed that the council should support the application, seconded by SB. 8 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention. 7.3 GP reminded the council that the period granted by NSC for compliance with conditions at Ash Lodge and Hazel Lodge on Redding Pit Lane has now expired and that any further evidence of breaches should be reported. 8. Parish Council Property 8.1 As instructed by the previous meeting AP and the clerk had approached the Cricket Club about the request from Mr Fenn. The club has given a very clear indication that it does not wish to change the terms of its lease on the piece of land concerned. The council therefore has no option other than to reply to Mr Fenn to this effect and advise him that his wish cannot be taken further. It was suggested that he might wish to discuss an informal arrangement with the club to maintain the land in question. The requirements in the lease regarding maintenance will be examined. 8.2 There is widespread concern about the performance of the contractor employed to maintain grass areas in the parish. Alternatives will therefore be looked into and reported to the next meeting. 8.3 Felton Green – replacement of seat. It was agreed to proceed with the procurement of the chosen seat despite higher than expected transport costs. 8.4. AP reported that NSC have made some progress in discussions with the developer about the transfer of public open space at High Winford to the parish council. Small revisions to the area have increased the commuted sum to £34,000. A final inspection involving NSC’s tree officer and BS is to be arranged. 9. Bristol International Airport 9.1 PL reported that the planning application has not yet been submitted and is now expected to be a single application covering the various elements about which BIA have been consulting. 9.2 The Airport Working Group had considered the need for junction improvements on the A38 at West lane and Downside Road. A proposal has been drawn up and the council gave its approval for this to be explored with the local highway authority and the airport. 9.3 Installation of the monitoring equipment at High Littleton is now complete but commissioning is still taking place. 9.4 NSC had written confirming the process for drawing up a Section 106 agreement in connection with the planning application. 10. Finance 10.1 Money received:- NSC (precept) £10,000 Compost sales £70 Allotment rent £106-00 10.2 Invoices received:- Michael Woods Associates (West Lane study) £402-50 JDL Consultants (West Lane study) £4,600 Parish Councils Airports Association (annual Subs) £50-00 RE Hill (skip for compost site) £172-50 Branching Out (cutting back rose on Felton Green) £180-00 Streets Ahead (transport to surgery) £129-38 Winford Community Transport (annual grant) £100-00 JB Pearce (mowing Felton Common) £2415-00 Diocese of Bath and Wells (rent for allotments) £30-00 Winford Parish Community Cars (Felton shop transport grant) £25-00 B Smith (reimbursement of cash payment to C Patch for cutting hedge at allotments) £5-00 It was resolved unanimously that these invoices should be paid. The amount that users of the surgery transport are being charged has apparently risen to £1-00 – this will be checked with Streets Ahead as invoices still indicate 50p. 10.3 Request for financial assistance from Winford Pre-School. Councillors had read the letter from the pre-school. The clerk explained that the only powers under which a parish council may provide financial support to such a body is the “catch-all” Section 137 which sets limits based on the number of electors in the parish. The Finance Working Group had considered it and formed the view that a loan to enable them to meet their obligations to make a repayment in September might be appropriate. 10.4 The council took the view that it should seek further information from the pre-school about what they currently expect their shortfall to be based on fund-raising and commitments from other potential donors. 11. Primary Schools 11.1 PH provided information about the current state of play on the consultation process. He said that the final decision will be made by the NSC Executive Member for Education, informed by the Scrutiny Panel’s report and recommendation. 12. Sustainable Communities Act 12.1 HG informed councillors about the principles of the Sustainable Communities Act and said that NSC is taking it very seriously. The council thanked him for this. 13. Meetings 13.1 Annual Parish Meeting. Only one item (dealt with under highways) requiring action by the council had been raised. It was felt generally that inviting a speaker on issues of local concern should continue at future annual meetings 13.2 Felton Shop. PE reported that there appeared to be a little waning of enthusiasm, but that potential options for the shop to remain operating were still possible. The Post Office is open daily and being operated by the proprietors of Backwell Post Office. Until the situation regarding the property is resolved the way forward will remain unclear. 14. Other Correspondence and items for next agenda 14.1 AP asked for Risk Management to be considered at the June meeting. 14.2 The annual accounts will need approval at the June meeting if the prescribed timetable for submission is to be met The meeting concluded at 10.00 PM. The date of the next meeting is Monday 8 June 2009 at 7.00pm at Felton Village Hall. |