Full Council Minutes 3rd September 2009
BACKWELL PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2009
IN BACKWELL PARISH HALL, BACKWELL
PRESENT: Cllrs C Pope (Chairman), G Boylan, B Bucknell, T Collinson, B Huggins,
J Llewellyn, R Mason, S Miller, S Ould, S Pope, D Sparks and R Taylor.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs J Stone - Clerk of the Council.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Ms T Trendell, Mr M Pratt, Ms V Blake, Ms J Churchill, Master J Churchill and Ms S Pope of the 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
367 Cllrs R Drew, M Gibbons-Price and District Cllr K Barclay
2. Minutes
368 The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 6th August 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 Council outlining details of the Backwell Playing Fields Charity grant application for CCTV equipment. Mr Pratt will be unavailable to give a presentation at the 1st October 2009 Full Council Meeting, but Mr A Gould, Vice Chairman, will do so.
Master J Churchill thanked the Council for the installation of the skateboard
equipment at the Oatfield Play Area, and said it was being frequently used.
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:-
369 Personal interest
Cllr R Mason - Agenda Item 18a Community Plan - Member of Community
Plan Working Group
Cllr S Miller - Agenda Item 18a Community Plan - Member of Community
Plan Working Group
Cllr R Taylor - Agenda Item 17 - Rodney Road parking
Cllr S Pope - Agenda Item 22b Bristol Airport - Member of Consultative
Committee
Cllr T Collinson - planning issues and parish boundary issues - as District Cllr will vote as Parish Cllr but may change his mind when voting as a District Cllr
370 Prejudicial interest
Cllr R Taylor - Agenda Item 22d -Change of use 40 Rodney Road
5. To receive such communications as the person presiding may wish to lay
before the Council
371 None
6. To answer questions from Councillors (Standing Order 26).
372 None
7. To receive and consider Reports and Minutes of Committees
To receive the draft minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting held on Thursday 20th August 2009 (circulated).
373 Noted
8. Cllr R Day - Resignation
The Chairman informed members of the resignation of Cllr R Day. It was agreed
that the Clerk should send a letter to Cllr Day, thanking him for all his efforts and to wish him well for the future.
374 Noted
9. To appoint Councillor to:
a) Planning Committee
375 Resolved: Unanimously Cllr D Sparks be appointed to the Planning
Committee
b) Representative to Nailsea and Backwell Children's Centre Partnership
376 Resolved: Unanimously Cllr G Boylan be appointed to the Nailsea
and Backwell Children's Centre Partnership
c) Representative to Backwell Community Safety Local Action Team
Members discussed the Local Action Team and the possibility that it
had been disbanded. It was agreed that the Clerk write to the Chairman
of the Local Action Team to enquire whether or not it had been disbanded,
and if so then they would need to return any funds donated from
Backwell Parish Council to them.
377 Noted
10. Community Governance Review of Boundaries - Review of boundaries between Backwell, Wrington and Winford (Consultation ends 24th September 2009)
Cllr R Taylor informed members regarding the meeting which took place between Winford, Wrington and Backwell Parish Councils. He reported that Winford Parish Council could not attend but had proposed that the A38 be their boundary and everything west of the A38 would be in Winford, and everything east would be in Backwell. Wrington Parish Council stated that the boundary should stay as it is because of the impending airport planning application. As a result of a survey carried out by residents of Downside Road (Lulsgate Bottom end) it was found that out of 36 houses canvassed 27 would like to come into Backwell, 3 were undecided and the remaining 6 properties are rented to transient residents. The remaining properties between Hyatts Wood Road travelling down Downside Road towards Brockley Combe, a great many of which are already in Backwell, but some are split between Wrington and Backwell and some are solely in Wrington. Cllr Taylor suggested from feedback from residents that the Airport should be the boundary line between Backwell and Wrington. Having had a conversation with the Electoral Officer at NSC, apparently it is up to the residents themselves to contact him with their wishes as to where they feel they would prefer to live. Then it would be up to the Electoral Officer to prepare a report and a decision to be made by the P & R Committee of NSC.
378 Resolved: By a majority decision the Clerk to send a letter to the Electoral
Officer at North Somerset Council advising that Winford Parish Council had indicated the west side of the A38 should be the boundary line, and the east side should be in Backwell. Backwell Parish Council feel that the airport perimeter should be the boundary because of the survey carried out by the residents of Downside Road from the A38 to Hyatts Wood Road wish to be in Backwell, which leaves the remaining properties on Downside Road going towards Brockley Combe who are undecided. It was felt that the Clerk should send a letter to those properties indicating that should they wish to express their preferences as to which parish they would like to be in to write to the Electoral Officer at NSC by the 24th September 2009. It is noted that Wrington Parish Council do not wish the boundaries to be changed at this present time.
Cllr T Collinson abstained from voting.
11. To receive and consider email from Wraxall and Failand Parish Council dated 10.8.09 regarding suggested proposed letters re RSS
379 Cllr T Collinson's comments were noted regarding the email received from
Wraxall and Failand Parish Council, and it was agreed to debate this matter further at Agenda Item 22a.
12. To receive, consider and approve Backwell Parish Council meeting timetable for January - December 2010
380 Members noted and approved the meeting timetable for 2010.
13. To receive and consider email from NSC dated 28.7.09 re introduction of Specialist Domestic Abuse Champions
381 Noted
14. To receive and consider consultation document from NSC dated 27.8.09 re Housing Strategy Consultation (Consultation ends 9th October 2009)
382 Resolved: Unanimously Cllr R Taylor to complete the document in
accordance with Council policy
15. Portable toilets in Playing Fields (Please see Clerk's Report)
383 Resolved: Unanimously Backwell Parish Council do not wish to pursue the installation of portable toilets in Backwell Playing Fields in view of the vandalism problems and high costs involved.
16. ‘Calor Village of the Year' Competition
Cllr S Pope informed members that the date of the Judges visit would be on
Wednesday 7th October 2009 between 2 pm and 4 pm. Exhibitors were being
contacted. Cllr S Pope read out the Judges comments and it was agreed that
the comments be forwarded onto organizations mentioned in the report. Members
also discussed places of interest that they felt the Judges should visit.
384 Resolved: Unanimously that a vote of thanks be recorded to Cllr S Pope for
all her hard work in connection with the Village of the Year competition
385 The Awards Ceremony on Saturday 14th November 2009 at Tyntesfield was
discussed, and members to notify the Clerk if they wished to attend.
17. Car parking in Rodney Road
The Chairman informed members that Somax had made alternative arrangements
for car parking as from 1st September 2009. However a meeting may take
place regarding this matter mid-October and asked for a volunteer to attend.
386 Resolved: Unanimously that Cllr B Bucknell attend if a meeting is held
18. To receive and consider reports from working parties of the Council/Cllrs
387 a. Cllr R Mason updated members on the progress of the Community Plan.
Enhancement Working Party
388 b. Cllr S Pope requested that Councillors fill in the form regarding helping at the Over 60's tea party which is attached to the Enhancement Working Party report.
389 Cllr C Pope asked that Councillors note Thursday 17th December 2009 for Carols
around the Christmas tree.
Members debated the issue of erecting 2 new cast iron planters in the village, one to be located in Rodney Road opposite the Spar and the other to be placed by the crossroads, outside Parkers Estate Agents.
390 Resolved: Unanimously that Backwell Parish Council purchase 2 planters in
the sum of £2,402 (supply of 2 planters, delivery and planting charges)
391 c. Cllr R Mason comments were noted re the Play Area Working Party. Members noted that the Clerk was still awaiting a cheque from Tarmac, and once this had been received publicity would be organized for the new skateboard equipment at Oatfield Play Area.
19. To receive and consider a report from the Clerk of the Council
392 (a) Report noted
393 (b) None
20. To receive and consider: - Relevant correspondence (all available at office
for viewing)
394 Correspondence noted
21. Accounts
a. To receive and consider the receipts and payments schedule for August 2009
(Checked by Cllr G Boylan prior to meeting)
395 Members noted the schedule previously circulated
b. To authorise expenditure for the month of August 2009
396 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure with the additional entry of cheque no. 101190 to Mazars in the sum of £632.50 for external audit services
c. To receive and consider quotation from WRS Alarms for erection, support and removal of Festive Decorations within the village in the sum of £4,050 excluding VAT.
Members were informed that the cost of the erection, support and removal of
Festive Decorations in the village had only increased by £30 in the past 2 years
397 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure
22. Planning Matters
a. South West Regional Spatial Strategy - update
398 Resolved: Unanimously that Backwell Parish Council support Wraxall and
Failand Parish Council's draft letter to Cllrs Ashton and Ap Rees. In
addition Backwell Parish Council resolved to include a proposal that
North Somerset Council should seek independent legal advice on the
applicability of the RSS, both in current draft format and on formal release,
with a view to legal challenges of its applicability at each stage. Backwell
Parish Council further resolved that North Somerset Council should seek
Independent Specialist Consultant Audits of Developer's documentation on the key issues of Environment Assessment and Infrastructure. A letter
expanding these resolutions to be sent to Wraxall and Failand Parish Council.
b. Update on Bristol International Airport Planning Application
399 This issue is covered above (see 398)
To consider the following planning applications:-
c Planning Application No. 09/P/1304/F - 34 Church Lane, Backwell -
Mrs D Williams - Erection of a single storey rear extension, front porch and
dormer window
400 Resolved: Unanimous no objection
401 Cllr R Taylor left the meeting as he had declared a prejudicial interest in the
following planning application
d Planning Application No. 09/P/1307/F - Ground Floor, 40 Rodney
Road, Backwell - St Peters Hospice - Change of use of ground floor from
offices to shop
402 Resolved: Unanimous no objection
403 Cllr R Taylor rejoined the meeting and was advised of the above resolution
e Planning Application No. 09/P/1370/F - 22 Farleigh Road, Backwell -
Mr & Mrs M Lyon - Erection of a two storey side extension and a single storey rear extension following demolition of existing conservatory
404 Resolved: Unanimous no objection
23. Invitations
a. Invitation from North Somerset Standards Committee to attend the North Somerset Local Standards Conference ‘Improving Standards' on either Friday 27th November or Friday 4th December 2009 at Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare (3 representatives, £10 per delegate)
405 Noted: Cllrs C Pope, S Pope and the Clerk to attend on Friday 27th
November 2009.
b. Invitation from NHS North Somerset to the 2009 Annual Public meeting at the Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare on Wednesday 16th September 2009 from 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm
406 Invitation noted.
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.
24. STAFF
Update on staff matters
407 Noted
DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:
Full Council Meeting Thursday 1st October 2009 at 1930 hours in Backwell Parish Hall
Planning Committee Meeting Thursday 15th October 2009 at 1900 hours in Backwell Parish Hall
There being no further items of business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 2105 hours