BACKWELL PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 2ND APRIL 2015
IN BACKWELL PARISH HALL, BACKWELL
Present: Cllrs R Taylor (Chairman), M Gibbons-Price, M Bowerman, R Day, S Edwards, R MacLeavy, K Merryweather, S Mitchell, C Perry, H Power, J Sear and G Simmonite
In attendance: Mrs J Stone, Clerk of the Council. District Cllr K Barclay
Members of the public: 1 member of public present. 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
132 Cllrs J Llewellyn, D Seddon & S Ould. District Cllr G Coombs
2. Declarations of Interest
To receive Councillors’ declarations of interests and to consider any written
application for dispensations
133 Personal interest
None
134 Prejudicial interest
None
135 Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
None
3. Minutes (Circulated)
136 The Minutes of the Full Council meeting held on the 5th March 2015 were unanimously confirmed as a correct record by those present at that meeting
4. Public Participation
137 Mr G Wells, BRA, spoke of the large number of objections to the Farleigh
Fields planning application registered on NSC’s website
5. To receive such communications as the person presiding may wish to lay before the Council
138 The Chairman thanked District Cllr G Coombs for all his help over the past
4 years, and would be writing to him. He also thanked Cllrs K Merryweather
and C Perry for all their efforts, as neither would be standing again for election.
139 The Chairman mentioned the overgrown hedge at Backwell Junior School.
140 The Chairman informed members the safety surface surrounding the springy
elephant at the Moor Lane Play Area had undergone an emergency repair. In the
long term it will require replacement.
141 The Chairman’s comments were noted regarding the sound system in the
Parish Hall, which had now been serviced.
142 The Chairman’s comments were noted regarding the possible involvement of
the Parish Council in a Coles Quarry Liaison Committee.
143 The Chairman spoke of a meeting he would be attending at the Recycling
Centre next week.
144 The Chairman was pleased to report the chippings had now been laid at the
allotment site
6. To answer questions from Councillors
145 None
146 The Chairman changed the order of the agenda as follows:
15. To receive, consider and approve amended Standing Orders 2015
147 Resolved: By a majority decision to approve. 1 abstention
7. To receive and consider reports and minutes of Committees
To receive the draft minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on
19th March 2015
148 Noted
8. To receive and consider a report from the Clerk of the Council
a. To receive this report
149 Noted
b. Update on non agenda items
150 None
9. Update on Backwell Future
151 Cllr C Perry informed members the plan was ‘made’ last week by NSC,
and would be used in conjunction with the Core Strategy to help determine planning applications in Backwell. The Chairman thanked Cllr Perry on behalf of the Parish Council, and additionally listed the following names of all those involved in the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan:
Steering Group Members: Chris Perry, Karen Barclay, Mike Brayley, Bill
Charnock, Shirley Edwards, Geoffrey Irons, Michelle Gibbons-Price, Bill Lee,
Kath Merryweather, Doug Minter, David Punter, Mike Rose, Derek Seddon,
Bruce Stewart and Bob Taylor.
Observers who helped the Steering Group: Mike Burkinshaw, Shirley Edwards,
Robert Endsor, Sally Malik and Mike Timms.
Photography: Ann Belcher, Janet Briggs, Chris Perry and Keith Riches
10. Local Green Spaces update
152 Cllr C Perry reported the Parish Council were still waiting for NSC guidance
on this matter
11. Community Resilience update
153 Cllr H Power updated members on the progress of the Community Resilience
Plan, and advised the drainage is to be mapped. Additionally the Working Party were working in liaison with the chemist and doctors to produce a vulnerable persons register
12. Update on Core Strategy
The Chairman spoke of NSC’s request to the Secretary of State to intervene
in the decision of the planning inspector in his recent report on the Core
Strategy
154 Noted: A letter to be sent to NSC in support of Nigel Ashton’s request
13. Update on Farleigh Fields planning application
To approve expenditure of:
a £1,250 plus VAT – critique of planning application
155 Resolved: Unanimously to approve
b £2,000 plus VAT – to undertake traffic surveys
156 Resolved: Unanimously to approve. Funds to be vired from planning contingency fund (earmarked reserves)
14. To receive report from Cllr H Power and authorise contract with Bin-it Dog Waste Solutions to empty dog bins in the sum of £3.98 per bin from 5th May 2015
Members discussed the removal of several doggie bins, following the review
of all bins by the Working Party
157 Resolved: Unanimously to approve the removal of all unwanted bins, and
authorise the contract with Bin-it Dog Waste Solutions
158 Cllr R Day left the meeting
16. To receive and consider email from NSC dated 25.3.15 regarding
proposed changes to the mobile library location, Backwell
159 Resolved: Unanimously Backwell Parish Council are happy with
NSC’s proposed changes
17. To receive and consider reports from Working Parties of the Council/Cllrs
To receive report from Enhancement Working Party
160 Cllr M Bowerman informed members the date of the Senior Citizens Tea Party
may be subject to change. The date of both Carols around the Crib and the
Chairman’s drinks to remain the same
161 Cllr C Perry left the meeting
18. To receive and consider relevant correspondence
All correspondence is available in Parish Office for viewing, and is also available for inspection at the Parish Council meeting
162 Correspondence noted
19. Accounts
a. To receive and consider:
i Receipts and Payments schedule for March 2015
163 Noted
ii Grant Schedule 2015/16
164 Noted
(Both checked by Cllr M Gibbons-Price prior to the meeting)
b. To authorise expenditure for the month of March 2015
165 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure
c. To consider expenditure of £574.79 for BPC’s subscription to NALC and
ALCA for 2015-2016 (£570.15 last year)
166 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure
d. To authorise expenditure of £260 plus VAT for payroll service for the
year to 31st March 2016 with Macfarlane Hull Ltd
167 Resolved: Unanimously to authorise expenditure
20. Planning
To consider the following planning applications:
a. Planning application no. 15/P/0599/F 9 Long-Thorn, Backwell –
Erection of a two storey side extension following demolition of
detached double garage (retrospective) – Mr & Mrs D Sweet
168 Resolved: By a majority vote Backwell Parish Council objects as
they are of the opinion it is overdevelopment, and would request the Enforcement Officer look at it. 1 abstention
b. Planning application no. 15/P/0629/F 4 George Close, Backwell –
First floor extension over existing garage – Mr S Davies
169 Resolved: Unanimously no objection if it complies with North
Somerset Council’s Green Belt Policy
21. Confidential Items
170 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
22. Staff
Staff matters
171 The Clerk left the meeting whilst the following was discussed
172 Resolved: Unanimously the Chairman to take the minutes in the absence
of the Clerk
173 Resolved: Unanimously Backwell Parish Council authorises the Clerk
to be placed on SCP35 and the Office Assistant on SCP13 with effect from
1st April 2015
174 The Clerk rejoined the meeting and was advised of the resolution
175 There being no further items of business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 2028 hours