Full Council Minutes 12th January 2012
BACKWELL PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 12TH JANUARY 2012
IN BACKWELL PARISH HALL, BACKWELL
Present: Cllrs R Taylor (Chairman), M Bowerman, B Bucknell, R Day, M Gibbons-Price, J Llewellyn, R Mason, S Ould, C Perry, D Sparks and J Theis
In attendance: Mrs J Stone, Clerk of the Council and District Cllrs K Barclay and
G Coombs
Members of the public: 4 members of public present
The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone present and pointed out the location of the emergency exits and toilets
1. Apologies
001 Cllr K Merryweather
2. To consider co-option of two new members onto Backwell Parish Council and, if co-opted, to receive their Declarations of Acceptance of Office
A paper ballot was requested. 2 candidates stood for co-option. 1 candidate failed to receive a majority vote from members voting and present
002 Resolved: Unanimously members voted for Mr S Mitchell to be co-opted
onto Backwell Parish Council. Mr Mitchell signed his Declaration of
Acceptance of Office, witnessed by the Clerk, and was invited to join the meeting
3. 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:-
003 Personal interest
Cllr M Bowerman - Planning Application no. 11/P/2208/F4 131 Farleigh Road,
Backwell
004 Prejudicial interest
Cllr M Bowerman - Planning Application no. 11/P/2171/F Station Cottage, 7
Station Close, Backwell
4. Minutes
005 The minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on Thursday 8th December 2011 were unanimously confirmed as a correct record by those present at that meeting
5. Public Participation
006 Mrs B Cook spoke regarding the imminent closure of Backwell Youth Club due to the withdrawal of funding by North Somerset Council, and requested that members give careful consideration to the request for funding which Mr M Pratt has submitted on behalf of Backwell Youth Club
6. To receive such communications as the person presiding may wish to lay before the Council
007 a. The Chairman spoke of the resignation of Brian Huggins, and wished him
well for the future
008 b. The Chairman was pleased to report that 7 members had attended a
recent Councillor training course
009 c. The Chairman spoke of presentations being given to various organisations in the village giving information regarding the Neighbourhood Plan, and said he would be showing a slide show of the
presentation immediately following the Parish Council meeting
010 d. The Chairman reminded members that the budget and precept would be
set at the 26th January 2012 Full Council meeting, and asked members to contact the Finance Working Party or the Clerk with any queries
7. To answer questions from Councillors
011 None
8. To receive and consider reports and minutes of Committees
012 None
9. To consider appointing a Vice Chairman
013 Resolved: Unanimously to defer to 26th January 2012 Full Council meeting
10. To consider nomination of member/s to:-
a. Enhancement Working Party (1)
014 Resolved: Unanimously Cllr R Day to join the Enhancement
Working Party
b. Office Working Party (2)
015 Resolved: Unanimously Cllrs M Bowerman and R Day to join
the Office Working Party
c. Finance Working Party (1)
016 Resolved: Unanimously Cllr S Mitchell to join the Finance
Working Party
d. Scribe for Parish Magazine (1)
017 Resolved: Unanimously Cllr S Ould nominated as Scribe
11. Neighbourhood Plan 'Backwell Future' update
Cllr C Perry updated members on the progress of the Neighbourhood Plan.
018 Resolved: Unanimously Mr Mike Brayley and Mr Derek Seddon be invited to join the Steering Group. The Steering Group to also advertise for volunteers from the Moor Lane, West Leigh and Downside areas of the village.
019 Resolved: Unanimously a questionnaire be distributed to the community
seeking their views on which areas of land are demonstrably special to the
community, and should be considered for designating as Local Green Space
12. To receive and consider email from Taylor Wimpey dated 1st December
2011 regarding land at Moor Lane and request for meeting
020 Noted
13. To consider erection of Honours Board in Parish Hall
Members debated this issue. The Chairman to attend the next Parish Hall
Management Committee meeting and report back to Council
021 Noted
14. To confirm change of date for Thursday 19th January 2012 Full Council
meeting to Thursday 26th January 2012
022 Resolved: Unanimously to change date to 26th January 2012
15. Backwell Youth Club
a. To receive and consider correspondence from Mr M Pratt dated 22nd December 2011 regarding Backwell Youth Club and request for funding of £3,000 to £4,000.
Members debated the correspondence received from Mr M Pratt.
023 Resolved: Unanimously Backwell Parish Council welcomed Mr
Pratt's input, and were keen to find a way forward. Further
investigation would be required, and the matter to be discussed
again at the February Full Council meeting
b. To nominate a member to attend NSC meeting at Yatton Youth Club
on Thursday 19th January 2012 at 2 pm
024 Resolved: Unanimously Cllr R Day to attend the meeting with the
Clerk, and to report back at the February Full Council meeting
16. To consider extension of Landscape Services (South West) Ltd contract
for grass cutting at no increased cost for a period of 1 year (April 2012 to March 2013)
025 Resolved: Unanimously to extend the grass cutting contract with Landscape
Services (South West) Ltd for a further year at no increased cost
17. Update on proposed path at Backwell Lake
Cllr R Taylor updated members on the progress of the proposed path at
Backwell Lake. It was noted that Mr Ian Morrell, Clerk to Nailsea Town
Council, would be taking over as lead person on behalf of Backwell Access
Group
026 Noted
18. Update on A370 crossing
The Chairman invited District Cllr K Barclay to give an update on the A370
crossing. District Cllr K Barclay informed members that the grant application, which the Parish Council would shortly be submitting to Bristol Airport, would be decided at a meeting on the 24th February 2012
027 Noted
19. To consider advertising in telephone kiosk on West Town Road
028 Resolved: Unanimously Paul Alan to have sole use of the telephone kiosk for advertising purposes for a period of one year subject to them paying £100, and the Parish Council to receive and approve advertising prior to it being placed in kiosk
20. Vandalism of HSBC cash point/telephone kiosk in Rodney Road
029 Resolved: Unanimously a letter be sent to HSBC listing the Parish
Council's concerns
21. To receive and consider reports from Working Parties of the Council/Cllrs
a. Enhancement Working Party update
(a) Members noted Cllr Bowerman's comments regarding the success of the recent Carol Concert, when more than 140 people joined together
to sing carols around the Christmas tree, accompanied by the Congresbury
Brass Band. A good number of people attended after in the Parish Hall for mince pies and refreshments.
(b) The EWP will be meeting shortly to discuss the Queens Diamond Jubilee.
030 Noted
22. To receive and consider a report from the Clerk of the Council
a. To receive this report
031 Noted
b. Update on non agenda items
032 None
23. To receive and consider relevant correspondence (all available at office
for viewing)
033 Correspondence noted
24. Accounts
a. To receive and consider Receipts and Payments schedule for December 2011. Checked by Cllr R Day prior to meeting
034 Noted
b. To authorise expenditure for the month of December 2011
035 Resolved: Unanimously expenditure authorised
c. To receive and consider Internal Audit Report (Interim) 2011-12.
Members congratulated the Clerk on her work in connection with the
recent Internal Audit
036 Noted
d. To authorise expenditure of £30 for Cllrs R Taylor & K Merryweather to
attend Action for Market Towns event in Clevedon on 7th February 2012
037 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure at a subsidised cost of £30.00
25. Planning Matters
To consider the following planning applications:-
a. Planning Application no. 11/P/2162/MMA Backwell Lake Balancing
Pond, Station Road, Backwell - Minor Material Amendment to 11/P/
1316/F - (Construction of disabled path around Backwell Lake to be
of a permeable surface with passing places. Also proposed are 2
viewing platforms on the circuit, one close to the lakeside and one
slightly elevated on the eastern edge of the lake) to change the
construction of path on the southern side of lake to asphalt-concrete
to facilitate maintenance - Wessex Water.
038 Resolved: Unanimously no objection
b. Planning Application no. 11/P/2171/F Station Cottage, 7 Station Close, Backwell - Erection of two storey and single storey extensions to side and rear with balcony to rear and associated roof alterations following demolition of existing single storey extensions - Mr & Mrs Cox.
039 8.45 pm Cllr M Bowerman, having declared a prejudicial interest, left the meeting whilst the planning application was discussed
040 Resolved: Unanimously no objection
041 8.47 pm Cllr M Bowerman returned to the meeting and was advised of the above resolution
c. Planning Application no. 11/P/2172/ADV Land at Junction of Station
Close and Station Road, Backwell - Retrospective application for the
display of 2 no. temporary signs - Nailsea Patio Supplies.
042 Resolved: Unanimously no objection
d. Planning Application no. 11/P/2208/F4 131 Farleigh Road, Backwell -
Application to extend the time limit for implementation for planning
permission 08/P/2254/F (erection of two storey and single storey rear
extension with juliette balcony. Creation of raised deck area to rear) -
Mr S Hughes
043 Resolved: Unanimously no objection
e. Planning Application no. 11/P/2258/LUP 81 Hyatts Wood Road,
Backwell - Certificate of Lawful development for the proposed
erection of a single storey detached double garage and gym building -
Mr P Allen
044 Resolved: Unanimously no comment
f. Planning Application no. 11/P/2282/F The Courtyard, Backwell Hill,
Chelvey Batch, Backwell - Change of use of agricultural land to
domestic curtilage and the erection of a two storey extension with a
balcony at first floor level on rear elevation - Mr A Follett
045 Resolved: Unanimously no objection
g. Planning Application no. 11/P/2330/TPO 44 Hilldale Road, Backwell -
T1 and T2 - Raise Crown of Sycamore x 2 to 6m - Swift Tree Surgery
046 Resolved: Unanimously no objection
h. 11/P/2333/EIA2 Stancombe Quarry, Stancombe Lane, Flax Bourton - Request for scoping opinion for an Environmental Impact Assessment to accompany a planning application to extend Stancombe Quarry to the south into the Spinney - Tarmac Ltd (THIS IS NOT A PLANNING APPLICATION)
047 Resolved: Unanimously Backwell Parish Council recommends
the Planning Officer to consider for inclusion in the Environmental
Impact Assessment the following:-
1. Noise and vibration impacts at Backwell Hill Road
2. Impact of traffic movements on Backwell Hill Road and A370
26. Invitations
a. To receive and consider nomination for Chairman and guest to attend Buckingham Palace Garden Party on 22nd May 2012 (deadline for submission to ALCA Friday 20th January 2012)
048 Resolved: Unanimously to nominate Chairman and guest
to attend
b. To receive and consider invitation to attend Health & Well Being
Forum being held on Thursday 19th January 2012 at 2pm - 4pm at the Weston Room, The Badger Centre, Weston-super-Mare
049 Invitation noted, Cllr R Mason to attend
c. To receive and consider invitation to attend Avon Pension Fund
Employers Conference on Wednesday 8th February 2012 9.15am -
3.30pm at Novotel, Bristol
050 Invitation noted
d. To receive and consider invitation from NSC dated 5th January 2012
for a tour of their Castlewood offices in Clevedon. Tour to last
approximately 45-60 minutes and to take place in February (date to
be confirmed)
051 Invitation noted, 8 Councillors and the Clerk to attend
052 Cllr C Perry left the meeting
27. Confidential Items
053 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
28. Staff
Staff matters
054 Resolved: Unanimously the Office Assistant has successfully completed her
probationary period
055 Resolved: Unanimously to increase Office Assistant's salary by one spinal point from Grade 11 to Grade 12
056 There being no further items of business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 2100 hours.