2nd April 2009 Minutes

BACKWELL PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON THURSDAY 2^ND APRIL 2009

AT BACKWELL PARISH HALL

PRESENT: Cllrs C Pope (Chairman), G Boylan, B Bucknell, R Day, R Drew,

B Huggins, J Llewellyn, R Mason, S Miller, S Ould, S Pope and R Taylor

IN ATTENDANCE: District Cllr K Barclay and J Stone - Clerk of the Council

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Mrs P Lloyd and Mrs T Trendell

The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone present and pointed out the location of the emergency exits and toilets

1. Apologies

141 Cllrs T Collinson, M Gibbons-Price and D Sparks

2. Minutes

142 The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 5^th March 2009

were unanimously confirmed as a correct record by those present at that meeting

3. Public Participation

Standing Orders were suspended

None

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:-

143 Personal interest

Cllr S Pope - Agenda Item 12 Bristol Airport - Council representative

Cllr R Mason - Agenda Item 17b Community Plan

Cllr S Miller - Agenda Item 17b Community Plan

144 Prejudicial interest

Cllr R Drew - Agenda Item 17f antisocial behaviour, Rodney Road

Cllr R Taylor - Agenda Item 17f antisocial behaviour, Rodney Road

5. To receive such communications as the person presiding may wish to lay

before the Council

145 The Chairman asked for volunteers to help at the Annual Parishioners Meeting

on Friday 24^th April 2009

6. To answer questions from Councillors (Standing Order 26)

146 None

7. To receive and consider Reports and Minutes of Committees

To receive the draft minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting held on Thursday 19^th March 2009 (circulated)

147 Noted

8. Variation of resolution no. 108/5.3.2009 Backwell Youth Club - re opening hours

The Chairman explained the reason for the variation in resolution no. 108/5.3.2009 was to extend the opening hours from Monday to Friday 0900 to 1700 to 0730 to 1830.

148 Resolved: Unanimously Resolution No. 108 of 5.3.2008 be varied to read "Resolved: Unanimously that Backwell Parish Council gives permission to Backwell Playing Fields Charity to allow the Youth Club building to be used as a bona fide pre-school group Monday to Friday at the following times: 0730 preparation time, 0800 - 1800 open time and 1800 - 1830 shut down time and the Trustees to be held responsible for any damage to Backwell Parish

Council's property in the said building"

9. To receive and consider letter from North Somerset Partnership dated 11.3.2009 re membership of the North Somerset Partnership (NSP) Board

149 Letter noted

10. To receive and consider letter from NSC dated 11.2.2009 re Town and Parish Council Community Emergency Plans (further information available in parish office)

150 Resolved: Unanimously Cllrs C & S Pope to complete the template for the

Town and Parish Council Community Emergency Plans

11. To receive and consider letter from NSC dated 16.3.2009 re responding to the challenge of proposed housing growth in North Somerset

Members debated this letter and concerns were raised at the possibility of proposed housing growth in the village

151 Noted

12. To receive and consider report from Cllr S Pope dated March 2009 regarding expansion plans at Bristol International Airport

Members debated the proposed expansion plans at BIA, and Cllr S Pope once

again urged members to visit the Parish Office to inspect the expansion

proposals. Cllr R Day raised concerns regarding the fall in passengers at BIA; the high proportion of cars travelling through local villages to gain access to the airport and reported that the rapid transit bus link will not be in place before 2015. Cllr R Taylor commented on the problem of traffic exiting onto the A38.

152 Resolved: Unanimously the Council respond to the Pre-Application Consultation to expansion proposals in accordance with Cllr S Pope's

recommendations in her report

13. To receive and consider email from Mr M Pratt dated 18.3.2009 regarding anti-social behaviour at Backwell Playing Fields

Members debated this issue

Resolved: Unanimously that:

153 1. A letter be sent to the Police Chief Superintendent at Weston-super-

Mare to request more Police activity on a Friday and Saturday night, and

to ask that Backwell's Police Community Support Officer be replaced as

soon as possible and

154 2. A letter be sent to the Spar and Off-Licence seeking their co-operation

regarding underage drinking

14. To consider purchase of diaries for 2010 (£2.29 each if order 50)

155 Resolved: Unanimously the Council purchase 50 diaries at a cost of £2.29

each for 2010

15. To receive and consider letter from NSC dated 23.3.2009 regarding changes to the planning application appeal process for householder development

156 Letter noted

16. Uncombe Close, Backwell - to execute Creation Agreement

157 Resolved: Unanimously Backwell Parish Council agree to execute the

Creation document

17. To receive and consider reports from Working Parties of the Council and

Councillors:

Village Enhancement Working Party Report

Cllr R Taylor praised all members of the Village Enhancement Working Party on their work re planters in the village. It was noted that Backwell Parish Council came 3^rd in the Village of the Year Competition last year, which was due to the lack of floral displays within in the village. An increased number of hanging baskets are to be placed in the village this year. The VEWP would like to enhance the area at the crossroads, by placing planters on each corner on the railings. They would also like to place a planter outside of the parish office. The planting of flowers around the Backwell stones at West End/Farleigh and approach from Nailsea were also discussed.

Resolved unanimously:

158 (1) that £5,000 be set aside for village floral displays and the RFO to vire this sum from the General Contingency Fund

159 (2) The Clerk to place an order for 4 x planters and 1 x free standing

container

160 (3) The contract be awarded to Ms Jo Swift and Ms Sarah Summers

for the planting and after planting maintenance

Cllr R Day reported that one of the 5-a-side football nets at Oatfield required

replacing

161 Resolved: The Clerk to purchase 2 x football nets to replace the broken net

and keep the spare in the Council office

Cllr Taylor reported that the Clerk had contacted the Dog Warden Department

at North Somerset Council and the VEWP recommended the Clerk to contact

NSC regarding signs

Resolved: Unanimously

162 (1) The Clerk request NSC to supply and fix 8" by 6" signs which state "clean it up or risk a fine or prosecution" at the Oatfield Play Area and

163 (2) The Clerk to ascertain from NSC whether it is possible for them to

put these signs up throughout the village next to the doggie bins

164 Cllr R Day commented on the number of green spaces in the village, and suggested bulbs be planted at these locations. It was noted that there was £50

available from the Rotary Club towards enhancing the village.

Noted: The VEWP will look at areas where the bulbs can be planted within

the village

165 Cllr S Miller's report on the Community Plan was noted by members

166 The Backwell Playing Fields Charity's Minutes of the 17^th February 2009

were noted by members

Cllr R Drew reported that there was at present nothing to report on the local bus service

167 Noted: Defer to May meeting

168 Cllr R Drew report on LAT - Speedwatch was noted by members

Cllrs R Taylor and R Drew addressed the meeting regarding Cllr R Drew's report on Antisocial Behaviour

169 Cllrs R Taylor and R Drew left the meeting whilst members debated this issue.

Cllr S Pope mentioned that there used to be a Police Liaison Working Party

which had worked well. The Council to look at in May at the AGM.

170 Cllrs R Taylor and R Drew rejoined the meeting

The Council were still awaiting a response re the recent implementation of traffic calming measures at Hyatts Wood

171 Noted: Defer to May meeting

Cllr B Bucknell reported on a Neighbourhood Watch meeting which he had

172 attended on Thursday 26^th March, and his comments were noted by members

18. To receive and consider a report from the Clerk of the Council

173 (a) Report noted

174 (b) None

19. To receive and consider:- Relevant correspondence (all available at office

for viewing)

175 Correspondence noted

20. Accounts

a. To receive and consider the income and expenditure schedule for

March 2009 (Checked by Cllr S Ould prior to meeting)

176 Members noted the schedule previously circulated

b. To authorise expenditure for the month of March 2009

177 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure with the additional entries and deletion:-

Entries -Office rent to landlord 23.3.2009 for £1,500 and cheque no. 101075 for £125 to landlord for additional rent due.

Deletion - cheque no. 101073 for £4.59 stationery to Rapide Systems Ltd

c. To authorise reinvestment of £18,893 Moor Lane monies into a High Interest Bond for a period of 1 year - interest to be paid annually

178 Resolved: Unanimously that £18,893 be invested into a High Interest Bond

with HSBC for a period of 1 year with interest to be paid annually

21 Planning Matters

To consider the following planning applications:-

a. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0405/F - HSBC BANK,

RODNEY ROAD, BACKWELL - HBSC BANK PLC CORPORATE

REAL ESTATE - Construction of external ramp, steps and handrail to

facilitate disabled access

179 Resolved: Unanimously no objection

b. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0456/WT - COMBE

HOUSE, 62 CHURCH LANE, BACKWELL - MR J LEWTHWAITE -

Leylandii x 2 - crown reduce by 30%, Yew x 1 - Reshape reducing lateral

growth, no reduction, Group of trees along roadside - reduce all to approx.

4m from ground

180 Resolved: Unanimously no objection presuming that all wildlife be

protected

22. INVITATIONS

a. Invitation to attend Society of Local Council Clerks Regional Conference

at Holiday Inn in Plymouth on Wednesday 13^th May 2009 10.00 am to 3.45 pm

181 Resolved: Unanimously that Cllrs C Pope, S Pope and R Day attend the

SLCC Regional Conference on 13.5.2009

b. Invitation to attend informal presentation at Bristol International

Airport re results of the pre-application consultation etc. on Monday 6^th

April 2009 at 1830

182 Noted: 9 Councillors indicated that they would attend

c. Invitation to attend North Somerset Core Strategy Workshop at

North Somerset Council on Friday 24^th April 2009 at 1000 (2

representatives of Backwell Parish Council only)

183 Invitation noted: Cllrs R Taylor and R Mason to attend

d. Invitation to all Councillors to attend opening ceremony of new equipment at Backwell Recreation Ground on Saturday 18^th April 2009 at 1400 - 1430

184 The Chairman asked members to attend this event

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

Resolved: That pursuant to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting for the following items due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

23. STAFF

Update on staff matters

187 RESOLVED: Unanimous. At this stage the Council feels it inappropriate to award the Clerk an increase in her salary grading this year. The Council however is very pleased with her progress and wish to encourage her to further her training, gain more experience in the practical field and obtain the CILCA qualification.

There being no further items of business, the Chairman closed the meeting at

2150 hours

DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:

AGM plus outstanding Planning Applications only Thursday 21^st May 2009 at

1930 hours in Backwell Parish Hall

Full Council Meeting Thursday 7^th May 2009 at 1930 in Backwell Parish Hall

Full Council Meeting Thursday 4^th June 2009 at 1930 in Red Cross Hall, Backwell

Backwell Parish Council

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2nd April 2009 Minutes