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WINFORD PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES-November Date: Monday 2 November 2009. Venue: Felton Village Hall, Felton Time: 7.00pm Councillors Present: Mrs B Smith (Chair) Mr A Parker Mrs G Patch Mr L Curry Miss K Bye Mr S Banks Mr P Longden Mr P Hatherell Mrs M Murphy Mr A Sage Mr P Roberts (Clerk) Also present Cllr Hugh Gregor (NSC) Fay Powell (NSC) Graham Quick (NSC) 1. Apologies Cllr P Etheridge WPC Jackie McDonald 2. Minutes of the previous meeting 2.1 The draft minutes were approved and signed as a true record. 2.2 Matters Arising (references to October minutes):- 5.3 PH has removed the posts. 5.6 Prices for the council’s 50% contribution to footpath furniture for a new gate at Old Hill (£92.46) and Lower Down Farm (£105) had been received from NSC and were approved. 9.4 PL reported that the Felton defibrillator has been moved to the George and Dragon. The electrician employed had done a good job at a very reasonable price. The council recorded its thanks to PL for arranging this. 10.1 Felton Shop had been sold at auction. BS will contact the purchaser to find out what the prospects are for its resumption as a shop/Post Office. 3. Crime and Disorder 3.1 A written report from Jackie McDonald was read out:- 2 x burglaries to Commercial premises 4 x remote store/shed burglaries, in 3 of the cases nothing was stolen 1 x garage burglary 1 x theft from a car Officers had found a cannabis factory in a rural location containing over 150 cannabis plants. A woman (not from the parish) has been arrested and admits growing the plants. 3.2 There were no matters arising from the report. 4. Open Forum: Nothing raised. 5. Highways and Footpaths 5.1 BS introduced Fay Powell, NSC’s new Area Officer for Streets and Open Spaces covering the parish. Fay had toured the parish with John Carson, Cllr Gregor and BS and is already aware of some of the long-standing issues. HG said he had contacted the Chief Executive following the tour and Fay Powell is meeting with contractors at Whitling Street on 3 November. 5.2 BS said that the drain in West Lane, Felton remains a problem, Winford Brook requires clearing, and that an unsuitably large vehicle (apparently under the guidance of sat-nav) had travelled down Frog Lane, Winford causing considerable damage. The Clerk will provide Fay with a list of issues raised at recent meetings. 6. Planning 6.1 Previous applications. Granted:- 09/P/1445/F Lulsgate Quarry – extension of time Refused:- 09/P/1363/F William’s Yard – changes to Plot H from a 3-bedroom house to 2 single bedroom houses. Appeals:- Holly Lodge (Landor.) Change of use from residential to commercial. accommodation etc. The Orchard, The Street, Regil. Erection of detached dwelling. Withdrawn: 09/P/1405/F Engine House, Crown Hill. Conversion to dwelling. Screening opinion. Court Farm – wind turbine. Environmental Impact Assessment not required. 6.2 New applications. 09/P/1655/RM Sparfield, 19 Regil Lane. Reserved matters pursuant to outline approval. Outline permission had been granted for a replacement dwelling in 2006 and the design for which approval is now sought appears satisfactory. However, there were concerns about possible discrepancies in this application and the Clerk was instructed to write to NSC about this. 09/P/1686/F The Elms, Barrow Lane. Erection of porch. It was resolved to raise no objection to the application 09/P/1669/F Prince of Waterloo. Smoking shelter (retrospective.) AS read a letter from Mr and Mrs Pearce regarding the need for the shelter in order to maintain a viable pub which serves the community. Councillors supported the need for a shelter in circumstances that have been created by Government policy on smoking but some felt the structure that has been erected detracts from the appearance of an attractive building. One councillor favoured a proposal to support the application but it was decided by 9 votes to 1 that the council should raise no objection. 09/P/1685/LDP Iron Ore Farm, Redding Pit Lane. Application for Certificate of Lawful Use for side conservatory (for information only.) 09/P/1639/RG3 Winford School expansion. It was agreed that the following points should be made in response to the application:- · 10 parking spaces is insufficient; · the design of the elevations is insufficiently sensitive to the existing building; · the staircase design looks out of place; · existing trees require a higher level of protection; · concerns about the adequacy of storm and foul drains to cope with the additional demands. AP will attend the SAC meeting at which the application will be considered. 09/P/1737/O The Old Coach Station, High Street Winford. Outline application for 10 dwellings with live/work units. The council resolved to object to the application on the following grounds:- · the proposed density is too great; · the 3-storey design of some units is out of character; · there is no proposal to include a lay-by previously requested by the council; · there are concerns about the adequacy of drains to cope with further development in the village; · the proposed parking layout and lack of garages is not practical. The council acknowledges NSC’s policy on the provision of work units but believes that in this case the proposal to provide one for each dwelling is not justified. 6.3 NSC have investigated the use of the field east of Featherbed Farm, Featherbed Lane, Regil and concluded that there is no-one living there at present. No further action is possible but if the situation changes NSC are happy to investigate again 6.4 PH raised the recent reports of proposals to move the doctor’s surgery from Chew Magna to Chew Stoke and opposition to the move from the former’s Parish Council. He wondered whether the council might want to write to the planners (in BANES) giving the council’s viewpoint. It was agreed that the council should write saying that the surgery serves a wide community containing a number of villages and that, although the impact on Chew Magna is acknowledged, the move may prove beneficial to many who would gain from improved access and from the much wider range of services that a new centre could provide. 7. Parish Council Property 7.1 High Winford Play Area. A note of a meeting with 11 residents of High Winford held at the play area on 17 October was read out. Overall, GP felt that the area looks a little shabby and needs some work. Actions to deal with re-painting the equipment, grass cutting and weeding, removal of brambles, repairs to gate and surfaces were agreed. 8. Bristol International Airport 8.1 PL briefed the council on work that is continuing in the lead-up to NSC’s South Area Committee considering BIA’s planning application on 9 December. The application could be approved at that meeting or referred to the council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee. This item will be moved up the agenda for the next Parish Council meeting in view of the short time between it and the SAC meeting. 8.2 PL also briefed on BIA’s Noise Action Plan and the development of a response to it. Clarity on the basis for calculating noise disturbance is being sought. 9. Finance 9.1 Money received:- Compost sales £20-00 NSC (village orderly) £392-60 9.2 Invoices received:- Streets Ahead (surgery transport) £110-40 HTL Ltd (grass cutting) 415-00 Foremost Signs Ltd (signs for Felton Common) £184-00 P Ball (use of wall for notice board – including arrears) £20-00 Tuckers Electrical Services (relocation of Felton defibrillator) £115-00 S Banks (fuel) £16-98 P Roberts (printing and travel) £24-42 It was agreed that these invoices should be paid 9.3 The Finance Working Group had considered several items at a recent meeting:- Financial Regulations. The current limit of £500 for single tenders and recommended an increase to £1000. This was agreed unanimously. Investments. With the recent addition of the High Winford commuted sum the group felt that £100K should be invested in 2 accounts paying better rates of interest than the NSI account currently held. This was agreed unanimously. The Snooker Club had written to the effect that it is unable to pay £300 rent in the current year due to its financial circumstances. The group felt it would be reasonable to ask them to pay just the costs of insuring the building and council tax. It was agreed that this should be put to the club. 9.4 ALCA’s advice on the sale of compost had been received and there appears no reason to cease seeking contributions. On VAT, anything under £1000 is not collected, but the council may not reclaim VAT on any compost-related expenditure. 9.5 BS had obtained a quote of £172-21 + VAT for supplying and planting 7 trees at various locations. It was agreed unanimously to accept this. 9.6 PH had obtained a quote of £120 + VAT from Foremost Signs Ltd for the supply of a “use at own risk” sign for the skateboard park. It was agreed unanimously to accept this. 10. Meetings Past meetings. AS and MM had attended a useful meeting at NSC about changes to waste collection/re-cycling. Future meetings:- A meeting of the Winford Centre group will be convened in November; A meeting with NSC officers will be held at Market Place steps on 3 November; PL will attend an Airport Transport Forum meeting which looks at ways of improving access to BIA by public transport. 11. Other Correspondence Nothing reported. 12. Information and items for next agenda Next agenda: grass cutting contract. PH reported that the early stage of a grant application for play equipment at Vee Lane has been commenced. The meeting concluded at 21.59 PM. The next council meeting is on Monday 7 December 2009 at 7.00pm at Felton Village Hall. |