July 2004 Council Minutes

EASTON IN GORDANO PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Council meeting on Monday 26 July 2004

Present:

Cllrs G. Hunt (Chairman), B. Langton, K. Brooks, K. Burchell, D. Clegg,

G. Duck, G. Jones, S. Ridley, V. Robinson, B. Stowers, R. Whiting &

Mr P. Strother Smith (Clerk).

Apologies:

Cllr V. Pritchard.

1. Public Participation
1.1	Macrae Road Traffic: Mr Alan Breeze and Mr Ian McNeil, on behalf of Macrae Road residents, spoke of the traffic problems in the road. They said that, with the volume of parked cars, the road was effectively single track and the 30mph limit was not sufficient. Also trees were being damaged by the heavy traffic.
1.2	Water Lane Footpath: Cllr Duck reported that tarmac work relating to the new housing development would be completed this week and it was hoped that outstanding tree work would be undertaken next week. In which case, the path would be reopened in a fortnight.

2. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 28 June 2004
	The minutes were confirmed and signed, after the following amendment was noted: In paragraph 6.1.1, the charges for 2004/05 were raised from £28 not £29.

3. Crime & Disorder
	Cllr Hunt reported that he had visited the Avon & Somerset Police website and found it most useful and informative. PC Bartlett would be invited to come and give more explanation of crime statistics. Action PSS

4. Clerk’s Report
4.1.	New Street Lighting: A resident had complained about the siting of a new light in The Moorings. SEC Ltd were writing to the Clerk on this and the matter would be referred to the next Committee meeting. Agenda 16/8
4.2	Wyndham Crescent: An overhanging fence and vegetation had been reported to North Somerset Council (NSC).
4.3	Resolved Issues: The “Priory Road” sign had been replaced and the steps in the bank opposite the library had been repaired by the Environment Agency.

5. Maintenance & Highway Issues
The following issues were reported:
5.1	The white line on the road outside the Kings Head Pub needs repainting.
5.2	Macrae Road: This issue was discussed further. Councillors were generally in support of residents’ wishes for measures to be taken and it was agreed to invite a representative of NSC Highways to attend a meeting. Action PSS

5.3

Heywood Road: There is a petition with 470 names for a pedestrian crossing here. Cllr Duck said that he was bringing the issue before NSC. The Clerk had received a letter from NSC setting out their policy on new crossings and commenting on the bus bays and bus stop issues. Mention would be made in the Pill Paper reminding residents that a new crossing would diminish the available parking. It was agreed that this matter should also be discussed at a meeting with NSC Highways.

5.4

Lafarge: Cllrs Hunt and Duck have been dealing with a problem of lorries parking overnight on Marsh Lane. The police, Lafarge and the highway authorities have been spoken to.

6. News from North Somerset Council
	Bus Shelters: Cllr Duck had had a meeting with NSC’s highways officer when they discussed shelters at 3 sites: outside Wyndham House, Gordano Gardens/Priory Road and Newsome Avenue/Lodway. There appeared to be no problem if we wanted to progress these and details of approved contractors are being sent.

7. Recommendations and Decisions from Committees
7.1 Playing Fields
7.1.1	The new charges for the senior football club were confirmed at £32 per match.
7.1.2	A report from a tree surgeon would be discussed at the next committee meeting. Agenda 16/8

7.2 Open Spaces & Amenities
7.2.1	Public Footpaths & Rights of Way: The minutes of the meeting on 15 July had been distributed. The next meeting had been arranged for 30 September.

7.3 Finance & General Purposes Committee
7.3.1	St George’s Churchyard: A grant of £2000 to the Parish Church Council for upkeep of the churchyard was approved.
7.3.2	Avon Wildlife Trust: It was agreed to revive the pledge of £250 towards the purchase of Priors Wood as a nature reserve.

7.4 Planning Committee
7.4.1	Green Belt land: Cllr Robinson reported that letters had been written to NSC expressing concern about developments relating to green belt land at The Groves and Maggies Cottages.

8. Reports of Meetings with Other Bodies

8.1

Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study: Cllr Robinson had attended a presentation by this group and would prepare a report for distribution. Action VR

Further details can be found on the website: www.gbsts.com

8.2

A369 Speed Limit review: Cllr Robinson reported on the NSC consultation meeting of 6 July. The Clerk was asked to write expressing the strong view that the 50mph limit should extend from Leigh Court to the M5 junction. Action PSS

9. Ham Green/Watch House Hill
	Cllr Hunt read out an e-mail update from Tony Moore of NSC. There were also letters from Lesley Davey and Sarah Lomas expressing concern about ragwort, the overgrown state of the field and the broken fence by the railway bridge. The Clerk had already written to NSC asking them to deal with these issues.

10. Community Centre
	There had been e-mail correspondence between Cllr Hunt and Alan Smith. Cllr Whiting said that we had sought further details on costings before we could consider setting up a long term lease: the e-mail did not reflect this requirement. Alan Smith should be contacted to arrange a joint meeting in September. Action GH/PSS

11. Draft Waste Strategy Consultation

Cllr Clegg had attended a meeting and would produce a note for distribution. Action DC/PSS. Agenda 16/8

There will be a public meeting at the Folk Hall, Portishead on 3 August at 7.30pm.

12. Approval of Annual Return to External Auditors
	Proposed by Cllr Ridley and seconded by Cllr Stowers, this was approved.

13. Declarations of Interest
	The Clerk distributed copies declarations completed by Councillors last year and new simplified forms, which everyone was asked to complete and return to the Clerk. Action All

14. Sea Britain 2005
	It was decided that individuals would be encouraged to participate in this event and details would be submitted to the Pill Paper. Action PSS

15. Date of August meeting
	It was agreed to combine the August meetings into one meeting on Monday 16 August starting at 7pm. Any non-urgent committee business would be held over until September.

16. Correspondence requiring action not covered elsewhere
A summary of correspondence had been circulated prior to the meeting
16.1	Joint Strategic Planning & Transportation Unit: A paper re land use implications of managing future waste in the four local unitary authorities was passed to Cllr Clegg for comment. Action DC
16.2	NSC Draft Housing Strategy: Cllr Robinson would respond on this paper as required by the deadline of 30 July. Action VR
16.3	Port Company Liaison: It was noted that the next meeting will be on 12 October.

17. Accounts for Payment
The following accounts were presented for payment and cheques drawn:
	Payee	Details	£
	Playground Management Ltd	Play Area annual inspection	78.14
	SITA UK Ltd	Dog bin emptying – May	101.58
	Konica Minolta	Photocopying	17.38
	Pill Community Centre	Room hire	115.00
	Serviceteam Ltd	Grass cutting	58.75
	Matthew Bryant	Tree survey at Playing Field	176.25
	J Hunt	Salary	416.09
	PC Strother Smith	Salary	701.50
	Post Office Ltd	Tax & NI	364.30
	Cash	Petty cash	20.00
	Pauline Bigwood	Internal audit	75.00
	Easton-in-Gordano PCC	Grant re upkeep of burial ground	2,000.00
	SWEB Energy	Street light account	1,002.18
	SEC Ltd	Street light maintenance	819.47

18. Items for Future Agendas
	Tree Survey (Playing Fields committee)
	Draft Local Plan (September Planning committee)
	Port Company Liaison (Main Council agenda)

16. Expenditure by Committees to date
		Expenditure to date	Budgeted
		£	£
	Finance & General Purposes (General Admin)	8,110	38,355
	Finance & General Purposes (St Lighting)	3,897	26,645
	Planning	NIL	8,000
	Playing Fields	746	6,350
	Open Spaces & Amenities	3,527	19,000
	Public Footpaths & Rights of Way	NIL	650
	Community Centre Redevelopment	NIL	10,000
	Contingency Fund	NIL	1,000

…..………………………….Signed

…..…………………………..Dated

EASTON IN GORDANO PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Committee meetings on Monday 26 July 2004

Planning Committee

Present:

Cllrs Hunt, Langton, Brooks, Burchell, Clegg, Robinson, Whiting &

Mr P. Strother Smith (Clerk)

Apologies:

Cllr Whiting.

1.	The following applications have been approved:
	03/P/1098/F	Land adjacent to Eden Office Park	Construction of car park with boundary walls & landscaping.
	04/P/1286/F	13 Oak Grove, EIG	Single storey rear extension. Existing garage to be converted to living accommodation.
	04/P/1326/F	5 The Lovells, EIG	Single storey extension to side & rear of property.

The following application has been refused:

04/P/1403/F

The Kings Head, Pill

Construction of additional skittle

alley.

New Application – there was no objection to the following:

04/P/1783/F

12 New Road, Pill

Erection of first floor bedroom

Extension.

4.	New Applications:
	04/P/1781/F	Amcar Ambulance Service, Gordano Service Area	Installation of 2 portakabins with ramped access.
	Councillors considered that this arrangement should have a limit of, say, 3 years but, anyway, wished to be given further details to enable them to give a better opinion.

	04/P/1848/F	14 Priory Gardens, EIG	Change of use of land to domestic Garden.
	Councillors opposed this application because it extends into the green belt.

Minutes of the Council meeting on Monday 26 July 2004

1. Public Participation

2. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 28 June 2004

4. Clerk’s Report

5. Maintenance & Highway Issues

7. Recommendations and Decisions from Committees

7.1 Playing Fields

7.2 Open Spaces & Amenities

8. Reports of Meetings with Other Bodies

NSC Draft Housing Strategy: Cllr Robinson would respond on this paper as required by the deadline of 30 July. Action VR

Port Company Liaison: It was noted that the next meeting will be on 12 October.

Serviceteam Ltd

Grass cutting

58.75

J Hunt

Salary

416.09

PC Strother Smith

Salary

701.50

Post Office Ltd

Tax & NI

364.30

Cash

Petty cash

20.00

Pauline Bigwood

Internal audit

75.00

Easton-in-Gordano PCC

Grant re upkeep of burial ground

2,000.00

18. Items for Future Agendas

16. Expenditure by Committees to date

Finance & General Purposes (General Admin)

8,110

38,355

Playing Fields

746

6,350

Minutes of the Committee meetings on Monday 26 July 2004

Planning Committee