Minutes 5th March 2009
BACKWELL PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 5TH MARCH 2009
AT BACKWELL PARISH HALL
PRESENT: Cllrs C Pope (Chairman), G Boylan, B Bucknell, T Collinson, R Day,
R Drew, M Gibbons Price, B Huggins, J Llewellyn, R Mason, S Ould, S Pope and
R Taylor
IN ATTENDANCE: J Stone - Clerk of the Council
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Mrs Trendell, Mr P Hemmings, Mrs P Lloyd,
Mr Guest, Mr G Wills, Mr M Pratt, Mr & Mrs Sutton and Vicky Angear, North Somerset
Times
The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone present and pointed out the location of the emergency exits and toilets
1. Apologies
098 Cllrs S Miller, D Sparks and District Cllr K Barclay
2. Minutes
099 The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 5th February 2009
were unanimously confirmed as a correct record by those present at that meeting
3. Public Participation
Standing Orders were suspended
Mr M Pratt addressed the meeting with regard to Agenda Item 11 - Backwell
Youth Club. Mrs Sutton addressed the meeting regarding Agenda Item 10 -
road safety at West Town Road. Mr P Hemmings also addressed the meeting
regarding road safety in the village and the excessive speed of vehicles travelling along the A370.
Standing Orders were reinstated
4. Declarations Of Interest
The Chairman referred to the Declaration of Interests Register and asked members of Council if there were any further items to be entered in the Register. The following entries were made by Members in the Declarations of Interest Register:-
100 Personal interest
Cllr T Collinson - District Cllr for North Somerset Council - abstains from
voting on planning matters
Cllr R Mason - Agenda Item 11 - Backwell Playing Fields Charity
Cllr R Mason - Agenda Item 14f - Backwell Youth Club - BPC Observer
Cllr R Drew - Agenda Item 14f - Backwell Youth Club - BPC Obsever
101 Prejudicial interest
Cllr R Taylor - Agenda Items 14a and 17c - Grass Cutting Tender - neighbouring
trader of shop
5. To receive such communications as the person presiding may wish to lay
before the Council
102 None
6. To answer questions from Councillors (Standing Order 26)
103 None
7. To receive and consider Reports and Minutes of Committees
To receive the draft minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting held on Thursday 19th February 2009 (circulated)
104 Noted
8. The Backwell Foundation - The Backwell Educational Foundation
To appoint Trustee
The Chairman explained to members that he was automatically a member of
behalf of the Council (4 year term). Following the death of Mr P Nelson,
the Foundation were seeking another Trustee from the Parish Council.
105 Resolved: Unanimously that Cllr R Taylor be adopted onto the Foundation
9. Post Offices - Securing Their Future - Consultation
(finishes 10.3.2009)
106 Noted
10. Road Safety at West Town Road, Backwell
Members discussed the problem of speeding vehicles at this location, and the
proposal put forward by NSC for relocating the VAS from its existing location
near the recreation ground to the western approach of the village (near the
Chelvey Road junction).
107 Resolved: Unanimously that Backwell Parish Council supports the removal
of the Vehicle Activated Sign from near the recreation ground to the West
Town end of the village to slow the traffic approaching from Weston-super-Mare
11. To receive and consider letter from Mr M Pratt, Backwell Playing Fields Charity dated 25.2.09 re Backwell Youth Club
Members discussed the letter received from BPFC regarding their request for
change of use of the Youth Club, to enable the Trustees to make full daytime use
of the building. BPFC were seeking consent from Backwell Parish Council to
allow the building to be used for a pre-school playgroup during the week. Members debated this issue.
108 Resolved: Unanimously that Backwell Parish Council gives permission to
Backwell Playing Fields Charity to allow the Youth Club building to be
used by a bona fide pre-school group Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, and
the Trustees to be held responsible for any damage to Backwell Parish
Council's property in the said building.
109 Agenda Item 18d was discussed at this point, and is minuted later in the
Planning Application section
110 8.30 pm Cllr R Drew joined the meeting
12. To receive and consider email from ALCA dated 19.2.09 requesting reinstatement of representation on North Somerset Strategic Partnership Board and volunteer required for review of Parish Charter
Members noted the email received from ALCA, and recommended a letter of support be sent to NSC for ALCA to be reinstated onto the NSSP Board
111 Resolved: Unanimously a letter be sent to NSC requesting that the ALCA
representation be re-instated onto the North Somerset Strategic Partnership
Board
13. To receive and consider letter from NSC dated 19.2.09 re 2-4 Dark Lane, Backwell
112 Letter noted
14. To receive and consider reports from Working Parties of the Council and
Councillors:
a. Cllr R Taylor briefed Councillors on the Village Enhancement Working Party Report and the following resolutions were passed:-
Doggie Bins - Moor Lane
113 Resolved: Unanimously the Clerk to order 4 new doggie bins for Moor Lane
from North Somerset Council at a total cost of £279. Price to include fitting.
Hanging Baskets
114 Resolved: Unanimously Backwell Parish Council purchases 20 hanging
baskets at a total cost of £380, and that the Traders contribute £10 per
basket as they did last year
Grass Cutting Tenders
115 It was decided that this subject would be discussed under Agenda item 17a in the Accounts Section
Oatfield Play Area
116 Resolved: Unanimously a letter be sent by the Clerk to the Dog Wardens
at North Somerset Council seeking their advice on how the problem can
be combated, whether the Council can make both fields a ‘No Dogs
Allowed' area and see if they can provide large signs that can be erected
in the fields
b. Members discussed the literature received offering 2 free cycle stands, and
members proposed ordering 2 cycle stands for Moor Lane
117 Resolved: Unanimously the Clerk to order 2 free cycle stands
c. Cllr R Day spoke of the possibility of installing Planters in centre of village
118 Noted: Defer to April meeting
d. Cllr R Drew spoke regarding the local bus service
119 Noted: Defer to April meeting
e. Cllr R Drew's comments on the ALCA - North Somerset Group Meeting which
120 he attended on the 11th February 2009 were noted by members
f. The minutes of the Backwell Youth Club Management Committee Meeting held
121 on Thursday 11th December 2008 were noted by members
g. Cllr G Boylan - Planting of bulbs near roundabout at Dark Lane/Church
Lane
122 Resolved: Unanimously the Clerk to write to the Rotary Club and the Lions
Club informing them both that due to circumstances beyond their control,
Backwell Parish Council are unable to plant bulbs at this location.
Furthermore to seek their agreement on spending the money elsewhere on
enhancing the village, or if they would prefer their donations of £50 each be returned to them.
h. Cllr R Taylor's report on the ALCA meeting which he had attended on the 30th
123 January 2009 was noted by members
i. Cllr R Taylor informed members on the publications available on the History of Backwell, and members discussed the possibility of reprinting or updating it.
The Clerk to liaise with Mr John Brain regarding the possibility of updating the book.
124 Noted: Defer to May meeting
j. Cllr R Day reported on the increase of dog fouling in Backwell
125 Noted: The Clerk to find out from Dog Wardens if there is any signage available to deter dog owners from allowing their dogs to foul on the streets
and pavements
15. To receive and consider a report from the Clerk of the Council
126 (a) Report noted
127 (b) None
16. To receive and consider:- Relevant correspondence (all available at office
for viewing)
128 Correspondence noted
17. Accounts
a. To receive and consider the income and expenditure schedule for
February 2009 (Checked by Cllr C Pope prior to meeting)
129 Members noted the schedule previously circulated
b. To authorise expenditure for the month of February 2009
130 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure with the additional entries:-
VAT Refund £2,613.48, cheque 101032 £18.40 to Connaught for emptying
bins at Oatfield, cheque 100020 £18.40 to Connaught for emptying of bins
at Moor Lane and cheque no. 101033 to Wyevale for grass cutting
c. To discuss and approve recommendations of the Village Enhancement Working
Party re grass cutting tender
131 Cllr R Taylor addressed the Council and briefly outlined the process recently
undertaken in going out to Tender. The Council had received 9 Tenders in
total and 4 different contractors had viewed the sites.
132 Cllr R Taylor left the meeting
Members discussed this issue and passed the following resolution
133 Resolved: The contract be awarded to Landscape Services (South West)
Ltd., of 40 Rodney Road, Backwell, initially for 1 year, and if successful
after this time, increase the contract to 3 years at the price quoted.
134 Cllr R Taylor rejoined the meeting, and was advised of the above resolution
d. To authorise registration fee of £250 to SLCC to enable Clerk to commence
CILCA training and ‘Working With Your Council'
135 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure
e. To authorise expenditure of £130 for Clerk's attendance on CILCA Course
23.3.2009
136 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure
18. Planning Matters
To consider the following planning applications:-
a. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0257/F - THE SPINNEY,
THE BATCH, DOWNSIDE ROAD, BACKWELL - MS R DREW -
Change of use from single dwelling to bed and breakfast with erection of
detached single storey building to south-east of site to provide bed and
breakfast accommodation in association with the house with associated
car parking
137 Resolved: By a majority decision Backwell Parish Council object as this is
inappropriate in Green Belt, and does not comply with Green Belt
Policy. 1 abstention.
b. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0270/F - LAND
ADJACENT TO FREEMANS QUARRY, POTTERS HILL, BARROW
GURNEY, SOMERSET - CEMEX UK MATERIALS - Erection of
a temporary overburden storage bund
138 Resolved: By a majority decision Backwell Parish Council object as it
will seriously affect the flora and fauna in the surrounding area, and
we would ask that the Wildlife Officer investigates. It is also in the
Green Belt. 1abstention.
c. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0272/F - BACKWELL HILL
HOUSE, BACKWELL HILL, BACKWELL - MR A FOLLET - Change
of use of ground floor from Health Club to ancillary communal residential
use (facilities for residents of flats 1-8)
139 Resolved: By a majority decision no objection. 1 abstention.
d. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0291/F - LAND AT
BROCKLEY WOOD, BROCKLEY COMBE, WRINGTON - NEW
EARTH SOLUTIONS - Change of use of area to north of Warren Lodge
from commercial forestry plantation to a fully enclosed composting facility
with erection of maturation and composting sheds, reception building, site
office and maintenance workshop with associated water tanks, scrubber,
biofilter, pond, landscaping, fencing, parking and access track (with passing
places) off Brockley Coombe Road all following the felling of trees, excavation
and levelling of site with hardsurfacing. Change of use of area to south of
Warren Lodge from agriculture to mixed use of grazing/deciduous woodland
alongside 2no. grassland rides and wildlife area
140 Resolved: By a majority decision Backwell Parish Council objects. A letter
to be sent to North Somerset Council outlining objections. 1 abstention -
District Cllr T Collinson.
There being no further items of business, the Chairman closed the meeting at
2130 hours
DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:
Full Council Meeting - Thursday 2nd April 2009 1930 hours at Backwell Parish Hall
Planning - Thursday 16th April 2009 1900 hours at Backwell Parish Hall
Annual Parishioners Meeting - Friday 24th April 2009 1930 hours at
Backwell Parish Hall