EASTON IN GORDANO PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Council meeting & Committee meetings on Monday 13 December 2004

Present:

Cllrs G. Hunt, K. Brooks, K. Burchell, D. Clegg, G. Duck, G. Jones, V. Pritchard, S. Ridley, V. Robinson, B. Stowers, D. Waters, R. Whiting

& Mr P. Strother Smith (Clerk).

Apologies:

Cllr B. Langton.

1.         Public Participation

Paul Punter, Youth Club and Adrian Murphy, North Somerset Council (NSC) were in attendance.  Mr Punter was concerned that the Disability Discrimination Act had come into effect from 1 October and nothing had yet been done to bring the Community Centre into compliance.  He referred to the report done by NSC in June 2003.

Cllr Hunt responded with some background information, the discussions with the Management Committee and the setting up of a working party.  He said that the Parish Council (PC) was committed to do work in relation to the Youth Club, in particular the building of a new entrance, which would cost in the region of £15,000.

Mr Murphy said that £7,000 left to be allocated from this year’s fund at NSC and there was a danger of “missing the boat”.

Cllr Waters proposed that an architect should be hired immediately to draw up plans for what needed to be done.

It was agreed that Messrs Punter and Murphy and the Youth Club committee should meet with the working party within a week and plan the way forward.

2.         Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 22 November 2004

The minutes were confirmed and signed.

3.         Crime & Disorder

4.1

An e-mail from PC Bartlett had been circulated.  This included praise of the mobile skate park initiative, that the ex-treasurer of Pill Rag has been charged with theft, fixed penalty notices are being issued to those parking on the zigzags by the Lodway crossing and ongoing investigations into the play area damage.   Agenda 10/1 re skate park.

Cllr Duck would find out what is happening with the planning application.   Action GD

4.         Clerk’s Report

Council vacancy:  The Clerk reported that no petitions had been received as a result of advertising the vacancy to replace Mrs Belcher.  It was therefore open to the PC to co-opt someone and applications would be sought through the January Pill Paper.

5.         Maintenance & Highway Issues

The following issues were reported:

5.1

Precinct:  The drain by the trough was still flooding inspite of two recent attempts to clear it.

5.2

Heywood Road/Pill centre:  Cllr Duck reported that the kerbs at the crossing point had been realigned and that NSC were now looking for funding to install a pedestrian  crossing.  Councillors thought that further plans were awaited from NSC before a decision could be made on a crossing.  The Clerk would follow this up.   Action PSS

6.         News from North Somerset Council

None.

7.         Committees

7.1       Playing Fields

Present:

Cllrs B. Stowers, S. Ridley, G. Hunt, G. Duck & Mr P. Strother Smith (Clerk).

Apologies:

Cllr B. Langton.

7.1.1

Moles:  It was thought that all moles had now been eliminated.

7.1.2

New pitches:  Attempts to play the trial match had been postponed to January.

7.2       Open Spaces & Amenities

Present:

Cllrs G. Jones, B. Stowers, G. Hunt, K. Burchell, D. Clegg, V. Pritchard,

S. Ridley, V. Robinson, D. Waters & Mr P. Strother Smith (Clerk).

Apologies:

Cllr B. Langton.

7.2.1

New Road site:  The Clerk reported that NSC planned to surface this area with bricks.  Cllr Jones would be willing to meet with NSC Housing to discuss future use of the site.

7.3       Finance & General Purposes Committee

Present:

Cllrs R. Whiting, V. Pritchard, G. Hunt, K. Brooks, K. Burchell, G. Jones,

V. Robinson, D. Waters & Mr P. Strother Smith (Clerk).

Apologies:

Cllr B. Langton.

7.3.1

Speed Management Initiative:  It was suggested that St George’s Hill, Lodway and Ham Green Hill might be appropriate sites for vehicle activated signs.   Agenda 10/1

7.4       Planning Committee

Present:

Cllrs V. Robinson, G. Hunt, K. Brooks, K. Burchell, D. Clegg, G. Duck,

R. Whiting & Mr P. Strother Smith (Clerk).

Apologies:

Cllr B. Langton.

7.4.1

West of England Partnership – Public Consultation:  Cllr Robinson would be meeting with Portbury PC and Colin Jones on 17 December to discuss a joint response to this.  Cllrs Hunt, Robinson and Duck would discuss inviting a representative of the partnership to come to committees on 10 January.   Action GH/VR/GD

8.         Reports of Meetings with Other Bodies

None.

Cllr Ridley left the meeting at this point.

9.         Correspondence requiring action not covered elsewhere

9.1

Dropped Crossing Point:  NSC is proposing to install this on Lodway near to the junction with Fernlea Gardens.

9.2

Traffic Improvement schemes:  Letter from DM & RG Baker re difficulty of the two junctions with the A369.   Agenda 10/1

9.3

Double Yellow Lines:  Informed by NSC that these will be installed on Gordano Way, Marsh Lane and Royal Portbury Dock Road.

10.       Watch House Hill

Cllr Hunt reported that the type of stock fencing for the orchard had been agreed.  The skateboard park and motor cycles using the cycle path would be on the next agenda.   Agenda 10/1

11.       Community Centre

One of the three quotes for a survey had been received.  Cllr Brooks would chase up the other two.  These would be discussed at the working party meeting with the Youth Club.  This meeting was fixed for Monday 20 December at 6.30pm.

Cllrs Brooks, Jones & Pritchard left the meeting at this point.

12.       Parish Plan

Proposed by Cllr Whiting and seconded by Cllr Waters that the PC should match the grant of £4389 given by the Countryside Agency.  This was agreed.

13.       Budget figures for 2005/06

The Clerk distributed a schedule of proposed figures.  Final figures must be agreed at the next committee meeting.   Agenda 10/1

14.       Accounts for Payment

            The following accounts were presented for payment and cheques drawn:

Payee

Details

               £

SITA UK Ltd

Dog bin emptying – October

          101.58

Mazars

External audit

          411.25

DW Searle

Reinstating waste bin

            67.00

SWEB Energy

Christmas lights

            36.61

J Hunt

Salary

          468.47

PC Strother Smith

Salary

          719.48

Post Office Ltd

Tax & NI

          399.78

SEC Ltd

New lantern at Pump Square

          504.76

*SEC Ltd

New lighting

        7453.39

*SEC Ltd cheque for £7453.39 currently withheld pending completion of connection of new lighting by Western Power Distribution.

15.       Items for Future Agendas

Design at Village Spout  (10 January committees)

Hardwick Road lease  (10 January committees)

16.       Expenditure by Committees to date

Expenditure to date

Budgeted

                £

       £

Finance & General Purposes (General Admin)

           17,843

  38,355

Finance & General Purposes (St Lighting)

           14,284

  26,645

Planning

                NIL

    8,000

Playing Fields

             1,659

    6,350

Open Spaces & Amenities

             4,521

  19,000

Public Footpaths & Rights of Way

                NIL

       650

Community Centre Redevelopment

                NIL

  10,000

Contingency Fund

                NIL

    1,000

                                                                                       …..………………………….Signed

                                                                                       …..…………………………..Dated