MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF COMPTON DANDO PARISH COUNCIL
HELD IN COMPTON DANDO PARISH HALL ON 20th September 2011
PRESENT: Cllr T Mitchell (Chairman)
Cllr P Paget
Cllr J Denness
Cllr H Dottridge
District Cllr S Davis,
In attendance Parish Clerk – D Drury
APOLOGIES: Cllr C Willows, Cllr T Vest and Cllr A Dawes
INATTENDANCE: 3 members of the public
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: Cllr Mitchell asked that it be noted that a member of her family works at Bristol International Airport.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Minutes proposed: Cllr Dottridge Seconded: Cllr Paget
FINANCE - PARISH COUNCIL
Cheques / Description / VAT / Gross001016 / Dawn Drury – Expenses / 12.00
001017 / Dawn Drury – Clerk’s salary / 211.19
001018 / Mazars – External audit fee / 28.00 / 168.00
001019 / SLCC – Clerk Membership Fee / 77.00
001020 / D Higgins – reimbursement Burnett Kiosk refurbishment materials / 18.97
001021 / H M Revenue & Customs (Tax salary August -September) / 55.60
Total / 542.76
The Parish Council’s finances were approved. The cheques were signed by Cllr Mitchell and Cllr Dottridge.
PARISH COUNCIL FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Lloyds TSB Current Account to 01.08.11 / 6172.90Less payments & unpresented cheques / 542.76
Receipts - Precept
Receipts - VAT refund
Plus uncleared receipts
Total / 5630.14
PARISH HALL
Cheques / Description / VAT / GrossTotal
MILLENNIUM GREEN ACCOUNT
Cheques / Description / VAT / GrossTotal
PARISH HALL FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Nat West current account (28.07.11) / 250.00Nat West reserve account (28.07.11) / 1 13603.50
Millennium Green account (03.06.11) / 767.82
The Hall finances were approved. The cheques were signed by Cllr Mitchell and Cllr Dottridge
MATTERS ARISING:
UPDATE ON APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW PARISH CLERK
Cllr Mitchell reported that the position had been advertised on the notice boards and on the BANES jobsite. There had been 18 requests for application forms and 14 applications were submitted. Of the 14 received 6 were short listed and invited for an interview.
Cllr Mitchell, Cllr Denness, Cllr Vest, and Cllr Paget formed the interview panel. A preliminary decision has been made and these Councillors believe that they have selected the best candidate for the position. References are currently being sought. On receipt of satisfactory references this applicant will be offered the position and asked when they can start. It is hoped that the offer will be made by the end of this week.
PARISH HALL AND MILLENNIUM GREEN REPORT
Finances
The finances at the end of June 2011 were:
Balance in the account £14725.00
Expenditure to date £9109.00 (floor, car park wall, oil, crockery).
Income from letting so far this year £2124.00.
Donation received from the Art Group £100.
There is also income from the 49 Club.
Caretaker
A new invoice has been presented by the Caretaker, to the Committee for the year starting on 1st September. This includes an increase in line with RPI as per usual
Hall bookings
The Parish Hall is booked for events each weekend until the end of October and the regular weekday bookings are still the same.
UPDATE ON PROCEDURES FOR THE PARISH HALL COMMITTEE DISCRETIONARY SPEND.
Cllr Mitchell has met with Pam Cole, Treasurer of the Parish Hall Committee and draft procedures in respect of discretionary spending, and approval and payment were presented (see process and notes attached)
It was unanimously agreed by the Parish Council that procedures presented are appropriate and acceptable and these procedures will now be referred to the Hall Committee for their agreement.
BURNETT VILLAGE GREEN BALLOT
In view of members of the public attending to hear the result of this item it was agreed to bring this agenda item forward.
Cllr Mitchell presented the results of the ballot and summarised comments taken from the ballot papers to the Parish Council, Cllr Mitchell reported that there had been 29 responses and the result was 11 in favour of option 1 (The village green should be a conservation area allowing wild flowers to grow and providing a habitat for wildlife. In which case the grass will be strimmed at the end of the flowering season and a metre strip will be ,mowed regularly along the edge to allow visibility for drivers coming round the bend) and 18 in favour of option 2 (The village green should be mowed regularly and kept short throughout the year). It was felt that the ballot was not phrased to be biased towards one or other of the options, in spite of comments from supporters of both options to the contrary.
After discussion the following actions were agreed.
i. The Parish Clerk will check with Martin Laker (of BANES) regarding any ownership records for the piece of land.
ii. The result of the ballot together with summarised notes from the comments received will be delivered to all residents of Burnett.
iii. The green will be mown and kept short from now on as per the results of the ballot.
iv. The chairman will obtain quotes for re-seeding with a slow short growing grass seed mixed with wild flower seed, which can be regularly mown to a height of 2 inches. This is consistent with option 2, but addresses some of the comments made on the ballot papers.
v. A meeting will be arranged on site for Burnett residents in early summer to discuss the plans for the green and seek volunteers from the village to help look after it
PENSFORD 10K – REPORT FROM MEETING ON 14TH SEPTEMBER 2011
The meeting was attended by Cllr Mitchell, Cllr Dottridge, Nick Jeanes (BANES), Clive Howarth (Compton Dando Church representative) and Peter Clouting (member of the organising committee of the Pensford 10K run). Nick Jeanes at the meeting stated that as BANES had had 5 complaints in respect of the last race that they were minded to make a road closure order conditional upon the race starting earlier (though if this is the last year that the race is to be run, they may let it go ahead at the later time this one time). Peter Clouting responded by explaining why it was difficult to start the race earlier, for example difficulty in getting volunteer marshalls in place for an earlier start, and implications on the timing of the Fun Run in the afternoon to raise funds for the school who do the lunchtime catering.
Clive Howarth said the race time need not necessarily affect churchgoers as it could be arranged for the service on 29th April 2012 (the proposed date for next year’s race) to be held at Chelwood Church.
The service could start at 10, and last 40 minutes.
It was confirmed that under no circumstances would any emergency services vehicle be stopped from entering the road closure area should the need arise. Peter Clouting confirmed that the marshalls would be fully briefed in respect of this. It was suggested that the Parish Council could perhaps assist parishioners by looking into a method of transport (e.g. dial-a-ride) out of the village for those that had found it difficult in the past.
Peter Clouting said that he would report back from this meeting to other members of the Pensford 10K committee at their forthcoming AGM, and to ascertain whether this is likely to be the last running of the race. Depending on the outcome of the AGM, he will then email all marshalls and the PTA for feedback on changing the time of the race. Once this feedback has been received and reported to BANES and to Compton Dando PC, Peter Clouting, Cllr Mitchell and Cllr Dottridge will meet with local objectors individually in advance of next year’s race. Communication to the villagers of Compton Dando of the date and time of the race will occur as soon as they are confirmed to us by the organising committee, without waiting for BANES to issue the formal road closure notification.
SPEED LIMIT SIGNAGE IN THE PARISH
A suggestion was made that the Parish Council should look at the 20 m.p.h. speed signs that Newton St. Loe have erected in their village which are non-intrusive and mounted on wooden posts. Cllr Mitchell said that she would contact them to enquire where they obtained their signs from. It was suggested that a complaint should be sent to BANES in respect of the cycle route having to cross the main B3116 Burnett at a point where visibility is poor and the speed limit is 40 m.p.h. The Parish Clerk reported that the Burnett school bus was no longer a mini bus but a longer yellow small bus which at the beginning of term was picking up the pupils from the bus stop on the main road but has now reverted to the original stop within the village. The larger Bugler bus no longer travels through Burnett to Compton Dando.
NEW NOTICE BOARDS FOR BURNETT, QUEEN CHARLTON AND WOOLLARD
The Parish Clerk reported that she had not had a chance to speak to Sara Dixon of BANES regarding obtaining a grant, but will do so.
UPDATE REPORT ON QUEEN CHARLTON TRAVELLERS SITE.
Cllr Willows was not present, so this matter will be added to the October agenda for an update. It was reported that BANES had identified one specific site for travellers in their proposed changes of the Draft Core Strategy.
TELEPHONE KIOSK - QUEEN CHARLTON
Information regarding the progress of refurbishment of the Queen Charlton kiosk will be obtained from Cllr Willows at the October meeting. This matter will be put on the agenda.
PCAA HANDOVER
Cllr Mitchell informed the Parish Council that the PCAA had received an award for their work.
FLYPOSTING IN THE PARISH
District Cllr S Davis said that she had received a complaint that posters put up in Queen Charlton had been removed by BANES. Cllr Mitchell added that boards advertising Chewton Church’s cream teas were also removed by BANES. The Parish Clerk also reported that BANES were getting very strict in respect of fly posting and advertising without consent. Organisations wishing to advertise their events are advised to site their boards, flyers etc on private land with permission of the landowner.
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
Sign-up to new forum – save money and the planet – Email received from BANES (previously circulated to Councillors).
Update on Rural Broadband – Email from Helen Morrison Development and Regeneration BANES dated 19th August 2011 (forwarded by District Councillor S Davis) – The contents of this email was read out to the Parish Council by Cllr Mitchell. It was reported that ALCA are working with BANES on a match funding bid under the performance reward grant main fund to support initiatives to solve rural broadband issues. It was also reported that Elizabeth Brealey had sent out an email ‘write and support the rural broadband survey’.
PCAA draft response to the Department of Transport in respect of “Developing a sustainable framework for UK aviation: Scoping Document” (previously circulated to Councillors).
Local Libraries – have your say today – Email from BANES dated 1st September (previously circulated to Councillors).
Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Submission Core Strategy – Email from BANES dated 2nd September giving notice of dates of the consultation period (previously circulated to Councillors). This matter was discussed and District Councillor S Davis pointed out the main issues relating to the proposed changes e.g. identification of a specific traveller’s site and a contingency brownfield site for housing. Cllr Mitchell offered to draft a response on behalf of the council.
New housing allocations – relevant paper dealing with the Core Strategy – Link to paper http://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=7617 – Email from Alison Potter dated 9th September 2011 (previously circulated to Councillors).
Notice of General Meeting of CPRE Avonside Branch – Thursday 13th October 2011 in Yate
Community Empowerment Fund – Email from Susan Bowen (Community Empowerment Fund Team) dated 22nd August 2011. This was noted.
BANES Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Performance Reward Programme – Small Grants Fund – Email from Mandy Bell Standards & Support Officer. This was noted.
BANES (Public Footpaths BA8/18 (Part) and BA8/19 (Part), Charnwood House, Compton Dando) Public Path Diversion Order 2010. This was noted by the Parish Council.
BANES – Free Electric blanket testing – Email dated 9th August 2011. This was noted.
Local Transport Plan Capital Programme Consultation – Email from Adrian Clarke Transportation Policy Manager (email forward by District Councillor S Davis). This was noted.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
11/03606/REN Parcel 6558 Tuckingmill Lane Compton Dando – Renewal of application 08/01220/FUL allowed on appeal 10th November 2008 (Erection of 3 no. timber loose boxes (Resubmission). Cllr Mitchell reported that some of the Councillors had attended a site visit in respect of this application. One objection had been received from a neighbour. After discussion, it was agreed to draw BANES’ attention to the Parish Council’s response to the original application in respect of this proposed development, and to highlight that:-
· the proposed development is not attached to the existing buildings, and will increase the existing 3 buildings to 4
· the Parish Council is concerned that this development is in the Green Belt,
· the application documentation states that the proposed development cannot be seen from the highway or public footpaths whereas in fact the development will be visible from nearby public footpaths.