Full Council Minutes 6th May 2010
BACKWELL PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 6TH MAY 2010
IN THE RED CROSS HALL, BACKWELL
Present: Cllrs C Pope (Chairman), M Bowerman, B Bucknell, B Huggins, J Llewellyn, R Mason, K Merryweather, S Ould, C Perry, S Pope, D Sparks and R Taylor
In attendance: Mrs J Stone, Clerk of the Council
Members of the public: Mr M Pratt, Mr D Minter and Ms V 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
163 Cllrs M Gibbons-Price, G Wills and District Cllr K Barclay
2. Minutes
164 The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 1st April 2010 were unanimously confirmed as a correct record by those present at that meeting
3. To receive, consider and approve the Annual Return
165 Resolved: Unanimously to approve
4. Public Participation
Standing Orders were suspended
Mr M Pratt thanked the Council for the grant received by the Backwell Playing Fields Charity. He updated members on the problems being experienced with the renewal of the lease for Backwell Youth Club.
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:-
166 Personal interest
Cllr R Mason - Agenda Item 20a - Planning Application No. 10/P/0412/F
Prejudicial interest
167 None
6. To receive such communications as the person presiding may wish to lay before the Council
The Chairman informed members of the resignation of Mrs D Brooks
168 Noted: The Clerk to send a letter on behalf of the Council to thank her
for her efforts and to wish her well
169 The Chairman gave details of a presentation being made by National Grid at various venues regarding an update on the Hinkley Point C Connection Project
7. To answer questions from Councillors (see standing order 26)
170 None
8. To receive and consider reports and minutes of Committees
To receive the draft minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 15.4.10
171 Noted
9. To receive and consider letter from Mr Ratcliffe dated April 2010 requesting a congratulatory advert be placed in Backwell Village Show Programme at a cost of £12.50
172 Resolved: Unanimously to approve expenditure of £12.50 for an advert to be
placed in the Backwell Village Show Programme
10. To consider Community Plan
Members discussed options for dealing with the recommendations of the Community Plan.
173 Resolved: Unanimously a Working Party be set up at the Annual Meeting
of the Council on the 20th May 2010 to deal with the Community Plan
11. To receive, consider and approve response to draft 2010 Town and Parish Charter Consultation document
174 Resolved: Unanimously the Town and Parish Charter could provide an
improved working relationship between Backwell Parish Council and North Somerset Council, and this Council supports this initiative by agreeing 'in principle' to sign up when invited to do so
12. To receive email from NSC dated 31.3.10 re current position in relation
to Part Two of the Community Governance Review
The Chairman advised members that the Council were waiting to receive notification of the outcome of the meeting held by NSC on the 13th April 2010
175 Noted: Defer to June 3rd 2010 Full Council Meeting
13. To receive, consider and approve:-
a. Grievance Procedure Policy
176 Resolved: Unanimously to approve
b. Disciplinary Procedure Policy
177 Resolved: Unanimously to approve
c. Information Technology Policy
(Please refer to Clerk's report re above policies)
178 Resolved: Unanimously to approve
14. To receive and consider letter from NSC dated 22.4.10 re review on
delivery of new affordable housing in rural areas
179 Noted
15. To receive and consider email from Ms M Heeley dated 23.4.10 requesting
provision of dog bin at Chapel Hill, Backwell. Cost of dog bin is £59.00 +
VAT and post (if required) £85.00 + VAT - total cost £144 + VAT. Price
includes fixing.
180 Resolved: Unanimously £144 plus VAT be authorised for replacement dog
bin and post (if required) at Chapel Hill, Backwell
16. To receive and consider reports from working parties of the Council/Cllrs
a. Cllr R Taylor updated members regarding obtaining planings for the allotment tracks
181 Noted: Defer to June 3rd 2010 Full Council Meeting
b. Cllr R Taylor informed members of the progress of the History of Backwell project
182 Noted: To be discussed at the Annual Meeting of the Council on the 20th May
2010
c. Cllr R Taylor - Public conveniences in Backwell
It was decided that this matter be discussed when a Working Party is set up to
discuss the Community Plan
183 Noted
d. Enhancement Working Party Report
184 Nothing to report
e. Cllr B Bucknell - Backwell Lake Access Path
The Chairman reminded members of the previous resolution which was passed
at Full Council in February 2010 in which Backwell Parish Council resolved not to allocate any money towards the cost of maintaining the path, but recommended that the Backwell Access Group apply to the Parish Council for a grant if required
185 Noted
17. To receive and consider a report from the Clerk of the Council
186 a. Clerk's report noted
187 b. None
18. To receive and consider: - Relevant correspondence (all available at office
for viewing)
188 Correspondence noted.
19. Accounts
a. To receive and consider the receipts and payments schedule for April 2010
(Checked by Cllr M Bowerman prior to meeting)
189 Members noted the schedule previously circulated
b. To authorise expenditure for the month of April 2010
190 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure
c. To authorise expenditure re attendance at SLCC Regional Conference
in Plymouth on Tuesday 18th May 2010 10 am to 3.45 pm - £55 plus
VAT per delegate
191 Resolved: Unanimously Cllrs C Pope, S Pope and the Clerk to attend the SLCC Conference on the 18th May 2010 at a cost of £165 plus VAT
d. To receive Internal Audit Report (Final) dated 20.4.2010
The Chairman thanked the Clerk for receiving an excellent Audit
report
192 Noted
e. To receive and consider revised quotation from GB Sports and
Leisure dated 12.4.10 re removal/replacement of benches at Oatfield:-
Bench outside of play area
(i) Option 1 - remove existing bench by cutting of legs at ground level in sum of £75.00 plus VAT or
(ii) Option 2 - remove existing bench and concrete plinth and making
good with topsoil and seed £190.00 plus VAT
Bench adjacent to skateboard area
(iii) Remove existing bench and disposal thereof, and to supply and
install new Cambridge bench behind the existing slabs to utilise the
slabs as a wear pad at a cost of £543 plus VAT
193 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise:
Bench outside of play area
(a) Option 2 -the removal of the existing bench and concrete plinth and making good with topsoil and seed at a cost of £190.00 plus VAT and
Bench adjacent to skateboard area
(b) the removal of existing bench and disposal thereof, and to supply
and install new Cambridge bench behind existing slabs to utilise
the slabs as a wear pad at a cost of £543 plus VAT
20. Planning Matters
To consider the following planning applications:-
a. Planning Application No. 10/P/0412/F - Land off Downside Road, Backwell - Mr G Wedlake - Retrospective change of use from agricultural land to car parking with construction of car park and siting of mobile office
194 Resolved: Unanimously Backwell Parish Council objects on the grounds that
it does not comply with Green Belt Policy, and wishes to convey dismay that the applicant continues to flaunt planning regulations
b. Planning Application No. 10/P/0651/F - Old Farm, Backwell Common, Backwell - Mr & Mrs M R Nock - Conversion and extensions to barn and outbuildings to create a dwelling with live/work unit. (Amendments to planning permission 08/P/1062/F).
195 Resolved: Unanimously no objection
c. Planning Application No. 10/P/0651/LB- Old Farm, Backwell Common, Backwell - Mr & Mrs M R Nock - Conversion and extensions to barn and outbuildings to create a dwelling with live/work unit. (Amendments to planning permission 08/P/1062/F).
196 Resolved: Unanimously no objection
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.
21. Staff
Update on staff matters
197 Nothing to report
There being no further items of business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 2050 hours
Dates of Next Meetings
1. Full Council Meeting - Thursday 3rd June 2010 1930 hours in Backwell Parish
Hall, Backwell
2. Planning Committee Meeting - Thursday 17th June 2010 1900 hours in Backwell Parish Hall, Backwell