Minutes 7th May 2009
BACKWELL PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 7TH MAY 2009
AT BACKWELL PARISH HALL
PRESENT: Cllrs C Pope (Chairman), G Boylan, B Bucknell, T Collinson, R Day,
M Gibbons-Price, B Huggins, R Mason, S Miller, S Ould, S Pope and R Taylor
IN ATTENDANCE: District Cllr K Barclay and Mrs J Stone - Clerk of the Council
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Mrs T Trendell and Mr P Hemmings
The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone present and pointed out the location of the emergency exits and toilets
1. Apologies
189 Cllrs D Sparks, R Drew and J Llewellyn
2. Minutes
190 The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 2nd April 2009
were unanimously confirmed as a correct record by those present at that meeting
3. To receive, consider and approve the Annual Return
The Chairman thanked the Clerk, Mrs J Stone, for her work in preparing the
Accounts for the Annual Return
191 Resolved: Unanimously to approve
4. Public Participation
Standing Orders were suspended
Mr P Hemmings addressed the meeting and enquired as to when the
Backwell Walks leaflets would be published. He advised that the walks
around Backwell would commence on Friday 8th May, and volunteered
his help to waymark the Backwell Round
Standing Orders were reinstated
5. 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:-
192 Personal interest
Cllr T Collinson - District Councillor for North Somerset Council - abstains
from voting on Planning Matters
Cllr S Pope - Agenda Item 10 Bristol Airport - Council representative
Cllr S Pope - Agenda Item 13d Bristol Airport - Council representative
Cllr R Mason - Agenda Item 13g Community Plan - Council Representative
Cllr R Mason - Agenda Item 13h Community Drug Misuse Forum - Council
Representative
Cllr S Miller - Agenda Item 13g Community Plan
193 Prejudicial interest
None
6. To receive such communications as the person presiding may wish to lay
before the Council
The Chairman congratulated Mrs Carolyn Leech, Backwell's Post Mistress,
for her hero reward.
194 Noted. A congratulatory letter to be sent to Mrs Leech
195 The Chairman reported to members that the Council had received many letters
of thanks from grant recipients
7. To answer questions from Councillors (Standing Order 26)
196 None
8. To receive and consider Reports and Minutes of Committees
To receive the draft minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting held on Thursday 16th April 2009 (circulated)
197 Noted
9. To receive and consider letter from CPRE dated April 2009 re Calor Village
of the Year Competition (Closing date for entries 31.5.09)
Members debated entering the competition
198 Resolved: Unanimously to enter the competition and the paperwork be
passed to the Village Enhancement Working Party to do the necessary
work to support the application
10. To receive and consider email from NSC dated 20.4.09 re proposed Bristol International Airport signage. Response due by 17.5.09
Members debated this issue
199 Resolved: Unanimously a letter to be sent to NSC in support of their
recommendations, but adding this should not be a highway solution to the
impending future increase in passengers using the Airport
11. To receive and consider letter from NSC dated 31.3.09 re the closure of the Public Conveniences in Backwell Playing Fields
The Chairman reported on the problems caused by the closure of the toilets in the
Playing Fields. Members debated this issue and passed the following resolutions:-
200 a. Resolved: Unanimously a Working Party be set up, consisting of 3 Councillors. Cllrs C Pope, R Taylor and M Gibbons-Price. It was agreed Cllr R Taylor to be Chairman. Terms of Reference: To Work with the Backwell Playing Fields Charity, with a view to costing out the re-opening of the toilets at West Town
201 b. Resolved: Unanimously the Clerk to write a letter to North Somerset Council to seek further clarification on the points raised in their letter
12. To receive, consider and approve amendments to:-
a. Statement of Risk Assessment and Management (adopted 16th January
2003 minute 629)
The Chairman read out a list of all the proposed changes
202 Resolved: Unanimously all proposed changes to the Statement of Risk Assessment and Management were accepted by the Council
b. Financial Regulations (adopted 20 5 04 minute 134)
The Chairman read out a list of all the proposed changes
203 Resolved: Unanimously all proposed changes to the Financial Regulations were accepted by the Council
c. Standing Orders (adopted 20 5 04 minute 135)
The Chairman read out a list of all the proposed changes
204 Resolved: Unanimously all proposed changes to the Standing Orders were
accepted by the Council
13. To receive and consider reports from Working Parties of the Council and
Councillors:
a. Cllr R Day updated members on the Village Enhancement Working Party. He
reported that the hanging baskets would be installed on Friday 8th May. The planting had taken place around the millennium stones. The planting up of the planters at the crossroads and the planter outside the Parish Office is scheduled to take place on the 19th May. Cllr Day said the plans for the Over 60's Tea Party on the 8th October were progressing well and asked for volunteers to assist on the day and for Councillors to note this date. Cllr S Pope mentioned the possibility of placing bulbs around the millennium stones in the Autumn from the £100 previously donated by the Rotary Club and Lions Club
205 Resolved: Unanimously the Clerk to write at a later date to all traders in
the Village requesting a donation of raffle prizes for the Over 60's Afternoon
Tea Party
b. Cllr R Drew - local bus service
206 Noted: Defer to June 4th Full Council meeting
c. Cllr S Pope reported that she had received very little response from residents regarding the recently introduced traffic calming measures at Hyatts Wood Road. It was suggested that a letter be sent to residents seeking their views
207 Resolved: Unanimously a letter be written to all residents of Hyatts Wood Road and the Oatfield Estate seeking their views on the possibility of speed humps being placed on Hyatts Wood Road as a traffic calming measure
d. Cllr S Pope's report on the Bristol International Airport Consultative Committee
208 was noted by members
e. Cllr R Taylor updated members on producing an updated version of the History of Backwell and asked that a Working Party be set up for this project
209 Resolved: Unanimously a Working Party be set up consisting of Cllrs R Taylor, S Miller and M Gibbons-Price. It was agreed Cllr R Taylor would act as Chairman. Terms of Reference: To obtain costings in respect of producing an updated version of the History of Backwell
f. Cllr R Taylor reported on the recent Core Spatial Strategy Workshop which he and Cllr R Mason had attended at North Somerset Council. He reported on the number of new homes planned for the whole of North Somerset, and how many were likely to be allocated to Backwell. Members debated this issue.
210 Resolved: Unanimously a letter be sent to North Somerset Council stating that Backwell Parish Council would support an increase of between 100 and 150 new homes in the village, and would support affordable housing and retirement homes. Backwell Parish Council are strongly opposed to gated communities and have now wish to becoming a Town
g. Cllr R Mason's report on the 11th March 2009 Community Plan meeting which
211 she had attended was noted by members
h. Cllr R Mason's report on the 20th March 2009 Community Drug Misuse Forum
212 which she had attended was noted by members
14. To receive and consider a report from the Clerk of the Council
213 (a) Report noted
214 (b) None
15. To receive and consider:- Relevant correspondence (all available at office
for viewing)
215 Correspondence noted
16. Accounts
a. To receive and consider the income and expenditure schedule for
April 2009 (Checked by Cllr R Mason prior to meeting)
216 Members noted the schedule previously circulated
b. To authorise expenditure for the month of April 2009
217 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure with the additional entry:-
Cheque no. 101098 to Mrs Jo Swift re Millennium Stones planting for £652.05
c. To authorise expenditure of £143.75 for Cllrs C Pope/S Pope and R Day to
attend SLCC Regional Conference in Plymouth on 13th May 2009
218 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure
d. To receive Internal Audit Report (Final) dated 20.4.2009
219 Resolved: Unanimously the Clerk to fully implement the Action Plan
17. Planning Matters
To consider the following planning applications:-
a. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0575/F - CHERRYWOOD
STABLES, BACKWELL HILL ROAD, BACKWELL - MR R WALKER -
Equestrian use to include the siting of mobile accommodation to be used in
association with the stables for a temporary period of time. Works to include
excavation, enlargement of fenced enclosure with wall to south side, gravel
and concrete surfaced areas and landscaping (Retrospective)
220 Resolved: By a majority vote Backwell Parish Council reiterates their
previous refusal as it does not comply with Green Belt Policy, and it
certainly does not qualify for any special reason. Backwell Parish
Council believes that this temporary accommodation has been
inhabited for over 2 years, and feel that this continued flouting of
building regulations should not be allowed to continue. 1 abstention
b. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0591/F - 12 ST JOHN'S
ROAD, BACKWELL - MS K WESTERN - Erection of a single storey rear
extension and replace flat roof with pitched
221 Resolved: By a majority decision no objection. 1 abstention
c. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0607/RG - BACKWELL C OF E JUNIOR SCHOOL, CHURCH LANE, BACKWELL -NORTH
SOMERSET COUNCIL - Erection of a single storey double classroom building
with toilet facility and entrance ramp
222 Resolved: By a majority decision no objection. 2 abstentions
d. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0609/F - LITTLECOTE,
DOWNSIDE ROAD, BACKWELL - MRS M NOLAN - Change of use from
residential to residential and cattery with the erection of 17 boarding cattery units and a reception/food preparation room
223 Resolved: By a majority decision Backwell Parish Council objects as it does
not comply with Green Belt Policy and note that The Batch is a single track
servicing some 14 residential properties and would cause serious highway
problems. 1 abstention
e. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0626/LD - OAK COTTAGE,
18 STATION ROAD, BACKWELL - MR A MATTHEWS - Certificate of
Lawfulness for proposed development for the erection of an attached garage
224 Resolved: By a majority decision no comment but noted. 1 abstention
f. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0632/WT - LAND
BETWEEN 6 BACKWELL HILL ROAD AND 8/12 BACKWELL HILL
ROAD AT THE REAR OF BACKWELL VILLAGE CLUB, BACKWELL -
MR R O'CALLAGHAN (TRUSTEE) - Sycamore x 1 - Fell
225 Resolved: By a majority decision Backwell Parish Council objects as we
feel that it just requires trimming, and we have concerns over wildlife. 1
abstention
g. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. 09/P/0666/F - THE GLADE,
CHURCH TOWN, BACKWELL - MR S PITCHERS - Erection of an
extension to the existing garage to include a passenger lift from road level
(Church Town) to garden level. Erection of an external staircase with canopy
to provide more inclusive access to the building
226 Resolved: By a majority decision no objection. 1 abstention
18. INVITATIONS
a. Invitation to attend CPRE North Somerset's AGM on Saturday 16th
May 2009 at Flax Bourton Village Hall at 11.30 am.
227 Noted: Cllrs T Collinson and R Mason to attend
19. STAFF
Update on staff matters
228 Nothing to report
There being no further items of business, the Chairman closed the meeting at
2110 hours
DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:
Full Council Meeting Thursday 4th June 2009 at 1930 hours in The Red Cross Hall, Backwell
Planning Committee meeting Thursday 18th June 2009 at 1900 hours in Backwell Parish Hall
Full Council Meeting Thursday 2nd July 2009 at 1930 hours in Backwell Parish Hall