Mar 2004 Council Minutes

EASTON IN GORDANO PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Council meeting on Monday 22 March 2004

Present:

Cllrs G. Duck (Chairman), G. Hunt, S. Baker, K. Brooks, K. Burchell, D. Clegg,

B. Langton, V. Pritchard, S. Ridley, V. Robinson, B. Stowers, R. Whiting,

& Mr P. Strother Smith (Clerk).

Apologies:

Cllrs G. Jones & D. Waters.

1. Public Participation
	Mr Roger Collins enquired about the Water Lane footpath project. Cllr Duck confirmed that the path would have to be closed during laying of tarmac and installation of lights. It was likely that this would now take place during the school summer holidays.

2. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 23 February 2004
	The minutes were confirmed and signed.

3. Crime & Disorder
3.1	PC ‘Jaz’ Bartlett was present and reported:
	· two spates of burglaries, one in Ham Green and the other in Easton-in-Gordano;
	· that Community Support Officers collating names of young troublemakers and speaking to their parents was proving effective;
	· that, from 16 April, police response was being devolved from Nailsea to Portishead;
	· one double crewed car would patrol all day covering the Easton-in-Gordano area and the Gordano Valley villages.
3.2	Bus Bays: PC Bartlett suggested that perhaps the bays at the precinct could be shortened by the introduction of some disabled bays. This would be followed up with North Somerset Council (NSC). Action PSS

4. Committee Reports
4.1 Playing Fields
4.1.1	Chestnut Trees: Cllr Duck had nothing further to report on his discussions with NSC.

4.2 Open Spaces & Amenities
4.2.1	Play Area: Councillors agreed the recommendation to proceed with the quote from Safety Green for £540 for laying tarmac to the entrance. Action PSS/GJ
4.2.2	Spring Clean Campaign: Apart from the Youth Club and St Katherine’s School, it was agreed that the Scouts should also be asked if they could provide helpers. Depending on responses, a decision on the campaign would need to be made at Committees on 5 April. Action PSS & 5/4 agenda

4.3 Finance & General Purposes Committee
4.3.1	Allotment Association: Proposed by Cllr Hunt, seconded by Cllr Stowers and agreed to donate £85 for scalpings for the main path but to reject the £56 for play bark. Action PSS
4.3.2	ALCA Subscription: Proposed by Cllr Hunt, seconded by Cllr Pritchard and agreed to pay the renewal subscription of £926.24. Action PSS

4.4 Planning Committee
4.4.1	Joint meeting with Portbury PC and Colin Jones: This will take place on 24 March.
4.4.2	New Planning System: Cllr Robinson reported that ALCA were not intending to respond to the consultation draft. The Clerk would write to ALCA and to the National Association encouraging them to do so. Action PSS
4.2.3	Planning Workshop with NSC: Organised by ALCA, Cllr Robinson, and possibly Cllr Burchell, would attend this on 30 April.

5. Reports of Meetings with Other Bodies
5.1	Gordano Councils Transport Group: Cllr Robinson said he had written to NSC, copied to Portishead Town Council, saying that safeguarding of crossings for reintroduction of the railway had become very lax. He had also written to MPs Liam Fox and Valerie Davey, but neither had been able to offer assistance.
5.2	North Somerset River Avon Trail: Cllr Ridley said that two information boards would be erected, one near the pumping station and the other near the Portishead Cruising Club. There will be an illustrated talk at the Community Centre on 8 April at 7.30 about the development of the trail and possible improvements.

6. Correspondence
A summary of correspondence had been circulated prior to the meeting
6.1	Watch House Fields: A letter from NSC Chief Executive was noted. In reply to the invitation for him to attend a meeting, he will send “a council officer involved in the project” to the meeting on 5 April (Open Spaces & Amenities).
6.2	Pavement in Lodway: A letter from Jeremy Iles, of the Breaches, was read out. It argued against a pavement between the Memorial Club and Costcutters and in favour of one between Hardwick Road and the Surgery.
6.3	Standards Board: A letter from NSC advised that Registers of Interest must include any membership of Freemasons and political party councillor associations.

7. Accounts for Payment

The following accounts were presented for payment and cheques drawn:

Payee	Details	£
SEC Ltd	Repair of 2 street lights	1,062.28
Abbots Leigh C’try Gardening	Removal of fallen chestnut tree	763.75
Bristol Port Company	Lease of Long Shore	1.17
Community Action	Subscription	20.00
Clerks & Councils Direct	Magazine subscription	37.50
ALCA	Subscription	926.24
P. Strother Smith	Office allowance & mileage, June ’03 – March ‘04	431.14
BWBSL	Water/sewerage – pavilion	75.45
Portbury Parish Council	Half share of consultant’s fees	125.00
Konica Minolta	Photocopier rental, April – June	101.38
D. Symes	Mole clearance	110.50
G.W. Duck	Civic Service expenses	64.00
J. Lee	Civic Service catering	266.00
J. Hunt	Salary	414.00
P. Strother Smith	Salary	700.07
Post Office Ltd	Tax & NI	370.63

8. Any Other Urgent Business
	None.

9. Pill Paper
The following item will be submitted:
	· Welcome PC ‘Jaz’ Bartlett to the Parish

10. Expenditure by Committees to date

	Expenditure to date	Budgeted
	£	£
Playing Fields	4,385	5,975
Open Spaces & Amenities	29,382	17,850
Finance & General Purposes (St Lighting)	19,867	18,900
Finance & General Purposes (General Admin)	37,479	42,212
Planning	9,780	10,000
Footpaths	NIL	200
Community Centre Redevelopment	4,135	10,000
Contingency Fund	NIL	1,038

…..………………………….Signed

…..…………………………..Dated

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Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting on Monday 22 March 2004

Present:

Cllrs Duck, Hunt, Brooks, Burchell, Clegg, Langton, Pritchard & Robinson

& Whiting, Mr P. Strother Smith (Clerk)

Apologies:

None

1.	The following applications have been approved:
	04/P/0118/F	40 Fitzharding Road, Ham Green	Conservatory.
	04/P/0135/F	Unit 3, Eden Park, Ham Green	Two storey office building & parking.
	04/P/0151/F	Lafarge Plaster board Ltd	Variation of condition re site boundary noise levels.

2.	New Application – there was no objection to the following:
	04/P/0511/F	Rudgleigh Inn, EIG	Demolition of toilets & erection of rear extensions & porch.

Minutes of the Council meeting on Monday 22 March 2004

1. Public Participation

2. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 23 February 2004

4. Committee Reports

4.1 Playing Fields

4.2 Open Spaces & Amenities

5. Reports of Meetings with Other Bodies

Pavement in Lodway: A letter from Jeremy Iles, of the Breaches, was read out. It argued against a pavement between the Memorial Club and Costcutters and in favour of one between Hardwick Road and the Surgery.

Standards Board: A letter from NSC advised that Registers of Interest must include any membership of Freemasons and political party councillor associations.

Clerks & Councils Direct

Magazine subscription

37.50

BWBSL

Water/sewerage – pavilion

75.45

8. Any Other Urgent Business

10. Expenditure by Committees to date

Playing Fields

4,385

5,975

Finance & General Purposes (General Admin)

37,479

42,212

Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting on Monday 22 March 2004