WINFORD PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES-October

 

Date:   Monday 5 October 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 Simon Banks

                  Mr P Longden                   Mr Paul Hatherell  

                  Mr P Etheridge                

Mr P Roberts (Clerk)          

Also present     

                   Cllr Hugh Gregor (NSC)

                   Mr Adrian O’Keefe (NSC)

                   PCSO Michelle Barrett

1. Apologies

Cllr Mrs M Murphy

Cllr Mr A Sage

WPC Jackie McDonald

Graham Quick (NSC)

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 September minutes):-

4.2  NSC had responded to the council’s query about the naming of Parsonage Court, saying that they believed it had consulted in 2005.  No-one present had any recollection of this and it was agreed that the minutes would be checked.    

4.7  West Lane “slow down” signs. NSC had apparently been waiting for the council’s confirmation that it wishes to proceed with the scheme before commissioning the work.  Confirmation has now been provided. 

5.3  NSC have investigated the use of land at the bottom of Featherbed Lane and are satisfied that there is no breach of planning regulations.  They are continuing investigations about the residential use of cabins on Redding Pit Lane which may result in prosecutions.

12.2  SB noted that BT’s communications about telephone boxes claims that Regil is covered by mobile phones.  The council will write pointing out that there are weaknesses in some networks’ coverage. 

3.  Crime and Disorder

3.1  Michelle Barrett presented a report covering August and September containing the following:-

  • 7 house burglaries in the Felton area. 3 people have been arrested and some of the property recovered. There are many active lines of enquiry;
  • 9 reported cases of criminal damage.  1 person has been arrested and charged to court following a damage incident in a house.  In 3 cases cars have been damaged whilst parked on the side of the road and the owners have gone on holiday.  Other cases relate to a tree and cars in car parks.
  • 5 assaults, 3 arising from the same incident. Having been reported and despite knowing the offender the victims have now refused to co-operate with the Police.  The other 2 incidents occurred in a licensed premise and one person has been charged to court.
  • 2 cars have been reported as stolen, in both cases owners have left them in holiday car parks and returned to find a high number of additional miles on the clock.
  • 1 case of harassment where again the offender is known but the victim does not want the police to pursue any action.
  • 1 garage break-in.

3.2  The police accept that cars parked legally (ie not causing an obstruction) in residential areas for lengthy periods by people using the airport can cause annoyance but damaging them is a criminal offence which will be investigated.  If vehicles do cause an obstruction (ie hampering the use of a highway or access to a property) the police are willing to attend and take action.

4.  Open Forum:  Nothing raised.

5.  Highways and Footpaths

5.1  Mr O’Keefe from NSC explained that the proposed new 20mph speed limit signs will replace the existing ones alongside the orange flashing lights on High Street and Barrow Lane, Winford.  This is part of a rolling programme aimed at improving road safety near schools and Winford will be one of the first.  The 20mph limit is advisory (the statutory limit remains 30mph) and is not enforceable.   Councillors were happy with what is proposed.

5.2  Regil Lane/Chew Road junction.  Mr Painter from NSC had attended a meeting on site attended by BS, AP and SB.  He felt that a roundabout is not warranted and held out little prospect of any improvements being given priority by NSC.  Two local residents spoken to during the visit did not support the extension of the footway on the Chapel Lane side of the road.  BS said that the landowner has agreed to complete the clearance of vegetation on the corner.  SB noted that NSC appears to accept that the white lines at the bottom of Regil Lane should be moved slightly.  NSC have also agreed to replace the missing chevron.  PE noted that the 30mph sign on Chew Road heading into Winford is overgrown.  The council will write to NSC about this.  

5.3  BS reported that an unauthorised sign had appeared on the common but been promptly removed following her complaint.  The posts to which it was attached will be removed.   Advertising signs on Chew Road (apparently on private land) have been reported and the council will write to NSC asking whether these are legal. 

5.4  BS suggested that, following the completion of the footway extension from Brookside to the Prince of Waterloo, the Winford Centre Working Party should meet to consider the final phase of the project.  In view of the current situation regarding the school and airport expansion this is an opportune time and it was agreed that the group (comprising AP, GP, MM, AS and PR) should meet.

5.5  Local reports.  SB reported that NSC had identified a number of potholes on Whitling Street needing repair but had only filled one.  HG had toured the parish with Martin Eyre the previous weekend and he will be contacted in an endeavour to ensure all the holes are filled.  GP had reported holes in Parsonage Lane and Kingdown but they have not been seen to.  HG said that NSC have just appointed Fay Powell as the new area officer covering the parish and it was agreed that an early tour of the parish with her will be arranged.

5.6.  BS had been contacted by Adrian Woolacott of NSC about an unfortunate incident in which a bull in a field crossed by a footpath had been killed by another bull that had been put in the field.  He proposed that the councils and the landowner jointly fund (in accordance with the recent agreement) the installation of a “Bristol” gate which will prevent this happening again.  This will cost the council £46-25 and was agreed unanimously.

5.7  PE noted that the Felton name stone on Dial Lane is obscured by vegetation.  AP confirmed that he has discussed with the council’s contractor the need to keep these and other stones trimmed.

6.  Planning

6.1  Previous applications granted:-

09/P/0987/F  6 Church Road – erection of single storey rear extension

09/P/0907/F  Land adjacent to 8 Felton Street – erection of 2 story side extension (retrospective)

09/P/1335/PDA  Field off track off Whitling Street – erection of agricultural building. NSC have decided that prior approval is not required.

6.2  New applications:-

09/P/1618/F  1 Chapel Close, Winford.  Erection of rear conservatory.  It was decided to raise no objection.

09/P/1445/F  Lulsgate Quarry, West Lane, Felton.  Application by Churgold to extend the period for importation of materials by 2 years until 2012.  It was decided to raise no objection.

09/P/1549/EIA  land north-east of Court Farm, Winford.  The council has been notified of an application for an opinion on whether an application for the erection of a wind turbine requires an Environmental Impact Assessment.

6.3  NSC has placed a Tree Preservation Order on a group of trees (3x Copper Beech, 1x Common Ash and 1x Oak) at The Rectory, Parsonage Lane, Winford.

7.  Parish Council Property

7.1   Access to land below Felton Hall car park.  PH will ensure that the proposals for a barrier are discussed at the next meeting of the Felton Hall committee.  

7.2  High Winford open spaces.  AP reported on a meeting with local residents that had been held at the Sports Pavilion on 1 October attended by him, BS, PR and 25 local residents.  A note of the meeting will be placed on the file but the main points to arise were:-

  • residents are clearly looking to the council for improvements to the quality and frequency of grass cutting and the performance of whoever wins the contract will be scrutinised closely;
  • there was little enthusiasm for a seat or new notice board on the green;
  • the play area is well used and valued highly;
  • some residents are concerned about the impact of trees on their properties.

It was agreed that a small group (GP, KB and a local resident who had volunteered at the meeting) would meet to consider improvements to the play area.  The need to ensure the equipment is insured was also noted. Tree issues will be dealt with under the plans to commission a survey of all trees the council is responsible for.    

7.3  Risk assessments have been prepared for the allotments and compost site.  The remaining ones (Vee Lane, footpaths and High Winford play area) will be available by the December meeting.

7.4  BS has identified all the land with trees for which the council is responsible.  This will form the basis of letter commissioning a survey containing recommendations for any work required and suggestions for additional planting.  A High Winford resident had written asking for a copper beech to be pruned and an assessment of this and one other similar request received previously will be included in the survey. 

8.  Bristol International Airport

8.1  PL informed the council of various activities involving the planning application including questions that have arisen about whether traffic forecasts take account of the impact of the urban extension of Bristol in Ashton Vale, and Wessex Water’s apparent concerns about the adequacy of proposals for the disposal of sewage from the site.  NSC have commissioned various reports to inform the decision-making process.  BANES have considered the application and decided to lodge an objection.

8.2  BIA has prepared a draft Noise Action Plan which the working group will consider.

9.  Finance

9.1  Money received:-

Precept (half year)  £10000-00

VAT refund 2008/09  £8859-06

9.2  Invoices received:-

Streets Ahead (surgery transport)  £125-35

Green Mantle (Japanese knotweed control) £82-25

P Coates (repair to compost screen) £15-00

H Gregor (compost site keys)  £5-00

P Roberts (stamps and stationery) £52-87

RJ Maggs (grass cutting etc) £285-00

It was agreed that these invoices should be paid.

9.3  A quotation for repairing the Felton green seat for £269-00 had been received from Mr Budd.  It was agreed to proceed with the work.

9.4  PL had investigated the cost of maintaining the defibrillators (replacing batteries, pads etc) and had obtained information from an alternative source.  His conclusion is that £300 per year for the 3 defibrillators is about right.  He will ensure the Felton defibrillator is removed before the shop is auctioned.

9.5  BS said that Chew Valley School had agreed to purchase about 3 tonnes of compost for £40-00 but a substantial quantity remains at the site.  Before making greater efforts to market the compost the position with regard to the council trading in this way will be investigated.  

9.6  An invitation to bid for funds from the Local Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund had been received.  It was agreed to seek support for the survey and planting of trees.

10.  Felton Shop

10.1  PE reported that the shop will be auctioned in Bristol on 20 October.  Two members of the Felton committee will attend and make it known to purchasers or prospective purchasers that it would like to rent the premises for it to continue as a shop.  The Post Office is keen to re-open, probably as an outreach from Backwell PO.

 11.  Meetings

11.1  Past meetings:-

PR had attended the ALCA AGM in place of BS.  The only substantial outcome is that ALCA subs will be reduced slightly next year following the agreement of a new formula which benefits small councils.

12.  Re-cycling

12.1  HG briefed the council on options that NSC is looking at to improve re-cycling and reduce its reliance on landfill.  The council expressed a preference for option 1a.  BS will seek volunteers to attend a briefing meeting for Parish Councillors at Weston-super-Mare on October 20th.

13.  Other Correspondence and items for next agenda

13.1  English Rural Housing Association have written to explain national changes to the process for allocating affordable housing.  The local connections policies will be maintained under the new system.

13.2   GP had spoken to the owner of land adjacent to The Ricklands.  She is willing to sell land to the housing association for drainage but not for an extension to the affordable housing (unless she can obtain planning permission for private housing which is extremely unlikely.)

13.3  A suggestion had been received regarding the use of NSC’s Youth Opportunity Fund to support the provision of facilities for young people to grow vegetables etc at the former bus garage in Winford.  It was agreed that the council would support the idea and HG will speak to Mr Teggin.

13.4  BS said that she had written to the Post Office on behalf of the council following the death of Winford’s post lady, Tammy.

The meeting concluded at 10.01 PM.

The next council meeting is on Monday 2 November 2009 at 7.00pm at Felton Village Hall.