PRESENT :- Councillor J Head (Chairman), Councillor J Cutland, Councillor B Davis, Councillor P Taylor, Councillor M Webb, Councillors A Wilkins, Councillors J Painter, South Gloucestershire Council Councillor Jeanette Ward, Mr L Forrest, PC Roger Hopes of the Avon and Somerset Police. Representatives of the group activities in Alveston (see attached sheet).

Mr R Fergyson (Clerk to Alveston Parish Council)

1. Apologies for absence

None.

2. Welcome and Introductions

Councillor J Head (Chairman of Alveston Parish Council) who chaired the meeting welcomed all the public of the parish who attended. Councillor Head explained that the Annual Parish Meeting was not the Parish Councils AGM, but an opportunity for the public to meet and discuss issues of importance to them concerning parish matters. The format of the evenings meeting would be different from usual is so far as after the formal parish councillor’s reports and questions there would be refreshments served by the W.I. During this time the public will be able to discuss with the organisations representatives matters of interest to them. The Chairman thanked the representatives of organisations in the parish and the Police, for giving up their time to attend and hoped that they would gain from the occasion.

3. Presentation of the “John Dyer Award”

Mrs Pamela Forrest expressed the difficulty the committee had in choosing the recipient of this year’s award out of the worthy other names put forward. However the committee have decided Mrs Margaret Streatfield should receive this years John Dyer Award for many years of service to the community. Particularly to Education as a reading assistant for 15 years, a school governor for 9 years. Involvement in the Brownies, the Church and many newcomers’ events. Margaret has also been a key member working with Fair trade, luncheon clubs, various trusts and music. These are only a few of the services Margaret has given her time and energy to. Betty Dyer and her son Nigel who presented the award attended the award ceremony.

Margaret expressed her gratitude for the award and thanked the committee for all the work of sifting through the applications to arrive at one winner.

4. Minutes of the last parish Meeting - April 18^th 2005

The law requires that the Parish Council, prior to the next Annual Parish meeting, will agree the minutes of the annual parish meeting. The minutes of the previous years meeting had been considered and agreed by the Parish Council at their meeting on Monday 18^th July 2005. There were no questions concerning the minutes.

5. Reports from the Chairman of the Parish Council Committees

Councillor Mike Webb - Chairman of Planning

The planning committee meet two times a month, usually on the first Monday in the month and before the full council meeting. The duty is to pass comment from the parish’s perspective, before South Gloucestershire Council makes the final decision. We do not always agree with the decisions made by South Gloucestershire, the old Esso station, the council felt was ripe for a small office development for 20 people, being on a previous commercial site, between two other commercial enterprises. However as Esso had cleared the buildings off the site, the land then became encompassed by the green belt; green belt laws applied, so planning was refused. However there are occasions when we do agree one such is in Bridle Way where the overall appearance of the street would be spoilt by a parking plan.

Councillor John Cutland - Finance and General Purposes.

Councillor John Cutland presented the provisional accounts for 2005 – 2006, which showed that the council had under spent the budget by some £391. This was achieved this year by under spending on the precept by £80, and an excess of the predicted income from the cemetery and playing fields of £311. It must be remembered that the Parish have two play areas.

The development fund is used for major projects and then reimbursed over a number of years from the precept. Last year the Cross Hands play area costs were met from the development fund and will need to be reimbursed at the rate of £3500 for 5 years. The fund is also used to hold other funds for long service, election expenses, the war memorial maintenance and interest.

Councillor Ann Wilkins - Playing fields & Open Spaces Committee

The committee this year have carried out the maintenance of the two play areas, and the Limekiln fields. These are provided for the benefit of the parish and need to be kept in good order. The Cross Hands play area was refurbished, we now need to look at the Lime Kiln fields area during the next year or so. Each year we have an annual inspection and if there is urgent work to do then it will need to be done, the development fund is where that money will come from. The parish also maintains the cemetery.

Councillor Brian Davis. Footpaths Committee.

The footpaths committee monitors the many miles of paths both in the village and the rural area. The parish council would like to take this opportunity to thank Thornbury Ramblers for all their work over the years reporting on the state of the paths and carrying out maintenance. This year we have been heavily involved with a South Gloucestershire Council initiative the Easy Access Trails. The council submitted a route to South Gloucestershire Council. The route has had £2000 spent on it to upgrade the styles to Kissing gates and farm gates to have easy access. This is one of 10 walks in the series. A booklet will be published in mid April and the parish Council are organising a walk of the route on 9^th July at 10am with refreshments served at the end of the walk.

7. A NEW TEEN MEETING POINT.

This topic was added at the last minute. Councillor Brian Davis took this opportunity to give the meeting an up to date situation on the charity Team & Co. Two youths, Dean Hurkett and Tom Lewy were sadly killed in a motoring accident on Thornbury Hill in 1998. A charity was set up to raise funds for a memorial to them. The council are assisting the charity to find a suitable memorial and location. At this point Councillor John Head reported that following discussions with the charity, the council and the police a “teen meeting point” would be a fitting memorial to the boys. The most suitable place is a fenced off area inside the Cross Hands play area. Further discussions will be held with Marlwood school representatives with a view to them assisting in the project. The council believe if the youth are involved they will take ownership and look after the meeting point.

6. Alveston Parish Council’s representative on St. Helen’s School board of Governors - Mr L Forrest.

Pupil Numbers.

Currently there are 235 pupils in 8 classes. We are predicting 217 for 06/07 and 201 in 07/08. The school’s standard number (permitted number in any one class) has been 45 but from September this is to be reduced to 30 for 2006 intake. This will then continue with each subsequent new intake and we will continue with an imbalance in class numbers for some years.

Finance

The Governor’s have set a balanced budget for the financial year 2006/2007 all-be-it one predicted on favourable circumstances.

Performance

The pupil’s examination results are once again an improvement on the year before. The school is well run by Jon Cooke and his team and the school compares favourably with its neighbours. The parish Council has my detailed written comments.

Buildings

Good news! South Gloucestershire Council have voted the monies for re-roofing the school during the summer break and to carry out the new building over the next three financial years.

General.

St. Helen’s has joined the project to achieve “Healthy School” status. The Comenius project with schools in Italy. Norway and Romania is coming to an end. The Governors have identified a site within the school grounds where the Pre-School could be positioned without compromising the integrity of the school’s security. However it will be subject to planning permission and require the approval of the Diocese and substantial funds, all matters for the attention and determination by the Pre-School alone.

7. South Gloucester Councillors – Mrs Jeanette Ward

Councillor Mrs Jeanette Ward represented South Gloucestershire Council for thee evening. If the new parish boundary changes take place then Alveston and part of South Thornbury will be amalgamated to form one ward. The boundary changes are needed so that each councillor represents about the same number of electors. At the moment this is not the case. The result will be known soon. In the mean while if people need the help of a South Gloucestershire Council councillor the she could be contacted on 864084.

8. Introduction of group representatives.

Councillor John Head then introduced each of the groups represented and invited everyone to mingle, have refreshments and talk organisations.

9. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and biscuits

The refreshments were served by ladies from Alveston Women’s Institute.

10. Formal end to the meeting.

The meeting ended at 9.00 pm.

OTHER REPORTS.

The Youth centre report was unfortunately omitted from the proceedings; this is a summary of the Youth Centre Committee Chairwoman Mrs Janet Painter.

Nearly 12 months ago I took on the role of Chairwoman of the Youth Centre Management Committee. I would like to express my thanks to the committee for all their help over the year in keeping the Youth Centre open for the benefit of the community.

Our regular users have been very supportive and faithful throughout the year. There is however still time slots available for either regular or ad-hoc bookings.

This year has not been without its problems. Vandalism to the buildings continues and the roof especially. The have been two major break-ins this year. The first caused considerable damage and put the building out of use. With the help of The Group leaders of the Explorer scouts, Bryan Painter, Ann Wilkins, Sue Steel and daughter Emma and my daughter Miranda, we were able to re-open. The second was in the New Year when a fire extinguisher was set off in the Wilcock Room and then thrown into the bushes, the vandals even left the fire door open. Luckily there was no more damage done.

While there is a lot to running the Youth Centre, the reward is being able to keep it open for the community. We do however still need bookings, both of long term and short-term duration. Consider the Youth centre for your events. Alveston Youth Centre offers the opportunity of hiring the whole or part of the premises during the day or evening. The facilities on offer are

The Wilcocks room or the hall for meetings,

The main hall for indoor sports or parties

There are kitchens available for the preparation of tea or coffee or even light lunches.

Youth groups are offered a reduced rate.

For all bookings please contact Miranda Painter on 01454 883592 for availability and costs.

I would like to extend an invitation to the AGM on May 8^th at 7pm in the Wilcocks room. If you would like to help with the Youth Centre Management Committee and its very valuable work then contact me, Janet Painter on 01454 883592.