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 OuldDistrict 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