Minutes of the Parish Council
Meeting
Held on 16th June 2008 at
7.15 p.m. in the Jubilee Hall
Present: - Cllr J
Cutland (Chairman), Cllr
A Wilkins, Cllr K. Cannell,
Cllr J Head, Cllr M Webb, Cllr B Willcox, Cllr T. Hunt, Cllr M Tyrrell (SGC).
Mr R Phillips (Clerk)
Cllr M Perry
(Holiday), Cllr B Davis (Holiday), Cllr P
The clerk
will be the responsible person in the case of a fire and evacuation.
The fire
exits are through the fire doors on the back wall and the main entrance.
The assembly
point is on the car park at the front of the building.
The nearest
public telephone is at the parade of shops.
3.1 Mrs Susan
Wildman thanked the council on behalf of the Twinning Association for the
letter of permission to use Lime Kiln field for their Hog Roast.
3.2 Mrs
Susan Wildman expressed concern about the danger of crossing the Gloucester Rd.
(A38) using the refuge opposite the church Lynch Gate. The refuge is very worn
down and access on both sides of the road is very difficult particularly when
wet. On the Church side the small footpath is submerged in two inches of water
and on the other side the steps are very slippery and lacking any form of
handhold. She suggested that this was a well used point of crossing not only
for local residents but also to reach the bus stop. She requested that the
council take action.
Clerk to investigate A38 crossing by church and
make report to SG. Action
to Clerk
None
5.1 Parish
Council meeting of Monday 12th May 2008.
Cllr
Cllr John
Head gave an update on his visit to see a local landowner re. potential sites
for allotments. It was not possible to discuss this matter with the landowner
during this visit but he would try again at the earliest opportunity.
The amended
minutes were accepted as correct and signed by the chairman.
5.2 Extraordinary
Parish Council meeting of Monday 2nd June 2008
The minutes
were accepted as correct and signed by the chairman.
The
chairman welcomed
6.1 SG Parish Plans Guidance Document
Concern had been raised on several occasions about
the status and authority of this document and whether it had been subject to
consultation and approval from the SG Cabinet. Michelle assured the Council
that it was in general use amongst the other parishes and no others had
expressed the same concerns that Alveston seem to have. She wasn’t sure if the
document had been through an approvals process but had discussed the content of
page 23 where Alveston had most concern, with others within SG. Whilst it was
agreed that some of the wording was not good, the purpose of the section was to
strongly encourage Parish Councils to respond to the Parish Plans and to always
remember that they were the representatives of the community and the content of
the plan should be the views of the community.
6.2 Working Group
The Chairman outlined the purpose and outcome of a
working group of council members who had met to discuss the Plan and Action
Schedule previously presented to the Council by The Parish Plan Steering
Committee. They had discussed and agreed changes to the Action Schedule to be recommended
to the Steering Committee. Amendments were made to some wording of the actions
and to the priorities and responsibilities. A letter of response and an amended
version of the Action Schedule were agreed at the meeting and were presented to
the council for their approval.
In supporting these amendments, Cllr Hunt suggested
that so far he had seen little to suggest that there had been consultation by
the Steering Committee with partners or anyone else. Shouldn’t people in the
other areas referred to within the action schedule also be consulted before the
final document is written? An example was action 3.4 where establishing Youth
Activities would require involvement from SG Children & Young Peoples Dept,
had they been consulted?
Cllr Hunt commented that nothing had taken place
formally and he felt strongly that far more consultation and discussion should
be held before the Action Schedule is finalised. He was concerned the Council were
being “railroaded” into agreement before the task had been properly completed.
The Chairman pointed out that many of the actions
involved a degree of funding and a lot of people don’t seem to realise that
most of these actions would need funding through the Precept and Cllr Head suggested
that sometimes you don’t always get what you want.
Cllr Willcox
suggested that because the Parish Plan Steering Committee were shortly
due to present the Plan and the Action Schedule at a Parish meeting, it was
important that the Parish Council needed to give a view and preferably endorse
the Plan in principle before the meeting.
The Working Group amended Action Schedule was
presented to the Council and it was proposed to offer this as the Council’s
preferred version in a letter to Les Forrest, the chairman of the Steering
Committee. The Council would then endorse, in principle, the Plan and amended
schedule. The proposal was unanimously agreed.
In thanking the council for allowing her to take part in the discussion,
7.1 Playing
Fields & Open Spaces
The most
recent specific Playing Fields committee was held on 3rd March 2008,
items proper to this committee were discussed in Full Council on 12th
May.
It was
reported that the second cricket team, The Anchor, Morton had made no contact
and there was some doubt that they would ever in fact play.
Clerk to contact the Anchor cricket team and
establish its intentions. Action
to Clerk
The painting of the play equipment and the replacement
of the shackles and bearings on the swings had not been progressed.
Clerk to progress identifying local painters and
obtain quotes for play equipment painting.
Action
to Clerk
Clerk to investigate state of swings and seek
guidance on the procedure required. Action
to Clerk
A letter had
been received requesting junior football pitch goalposts at Lime Kiln field to
be re-erected to allow youngsters to play informal games.
Clerk to discuss options with Chris
Keefe and progress. Action to Clerk
7.2 Footpaths
(held 2nd June 2008)
The minutes
were accepted.
7.3 Planning
(held 2nd June) - Cllr Mike Webb.
Cllr Webb
reported on the last two planning meetings confirming no contentious issues.
Planning minutes are now distributed to all members for information.
Cllr Head
asked what was the status of the enforcement order on Delmeny,
Cllr Holloway to investigate the
status of Delmeny,
7.4 Finance
and General Purposes (held 2nd June 2008) – Cllr
The minutes
of the committee meeting were accepted with a minor modification to a concern
raised by Cllr Wilkins not as stated, Cllr Cutland.
8.1 Local
Police - PCSO Tony Blackmore
· Beat
Surgeries – held once a month in
· Crime
Reports in the Parish – PCSO Blackmore was pleased to report that crime in the
community in the last month was very low. There had been 1 minor assault and 7
calls about nuisance motor bikes and young drivers.
· There had
been suspicious builders in house drives and PCSO Blackmore urged residents to
report any incidents of unknown Transits or flatbeds on people’s drives.
· Cllr Webb
asked about the apparent high incidence of people using mobile phones whilst
driving and what were the Police doing about it. PCSO Blackmore assured the
meeting that stops and prosecutions were regularly done but he agreed that it
was a very difficult offence to police.
· PCSO
Blackmore was asked about the status of the local Neighbourhood Watch and
suggested that he had personally contacted a large number of people who had
previously been involved but felt that a renewed impetus was called for. This
is one of the actions in the Parish Plan.
8.2 South
Gloucestershire Council – Cllrs
Cllr Tyrrell
reported that all responses to the SG Core Strategy consultation should have
been completed as the next stage towards a final strategy has commenced.
8.3 Severnside
Environmental Link Group – Cllr
Cllr Wilkins
reported her attendance at the
Severnside Environmental Link Group confirming that whilst a very
interesting meeting with a great deal of information about making buildings and
property more environmentally friendly, she did not believe there was any real
benefit for Alveston. The presentations were mostly about heating hot water and
not space heating and were probably more suited to new build or where major
renovations were taking place. However some £50m is available in grants and the
Government has set up approved contractors who can advise.
No immediate
actions were suggested; however Cllr Tyrrell suggested contacts in SG who may
be able to give more advice.
8.4 Frenchay
Project Stakeholders Workshop.
Cllr Cannell
advised that because of illness she had been unable to attend the Frenchay
Project Stakeholders Workshop.
Cllr Tyrrell
had attended the Workshop for SG and reported that there was some disquiet at
the event particularly over the proposals to place services at Frenchay
without, it seems, maintaining services at Thornbury and other small Hospitals.
Cllr Tyrrell said it was early days in the project and she said a “weather eye
would be maintained to ensure Thornbury and Alveston residents are not
disadvantaged. Cllr Cannell had asked for copies of future papers to be sent to
the clerk for circulation.
Report back
from Steering Committee. – Cllr
Trial digs had been completed in Glebe Field and they had shown that the
ground depth was probably sufficient although it was only a sample and with the
historical evidence accumulating about the field there was no confidence that
there wouldn’t be areas of shallow depths of soil.
The Steering committee were going to press ahead with the next stage and
a tree/hedge survey and detailed plan were to be carried out.
The council were reminded of the possible financial implications and it
was suggested that much work was still to be completed before a proposal could
be put to the council.
The chairman asked that the steering committee should pursue with vigour
the next steps before meeting with the agent.
Correspondence
for Consideration
The
following correspondence had been received and required consideration by the
Council:-
Representation
on Thornbury & Alveston Safer Stronger Community Group –no action decided
ALCA –
Planning Training Day (6th Sept) – no action decided
ALCA –
Quality Council Training (2nd Sept) – no action decided
MPH Ltd. –
Pharmacy at Greenhill Parade
The council
welcomed the news that the Pharmacy permissions had all been granted, a long
lease signed and plans being made to open in the autumn. The council would
support the enterprise in any way it could.
Alzheimer’s
Society – Application for Financial Assistance – no action decided at this
meeting but see meeting minutes of 7th July.
Other
Correspondence - None
Correspondence
Wallet
The
following is included in the correspondence wallet.
Neighbourhood
Policing Team Bulletin DC125
Neighbourhood
Watch News
South
Gloucestershire Council
Safer Stronger Community Groups
Changes to arrangements for
investigating complaints
Other Bodies
South Glos Disability Action Group –
Traveline Info.
Circulars
and Magazines.
CPRE Magazine June 2008
Glasdon – Products for Local Councils
Oldbury PS Stakeholders Group -
Powerlines
Clerks & Councils Direct
Virgin Media – dig-dat
NALC – Legal Briefing
NALC – Parliamentary Briefings
ALCA- Training Sessions
The
following payments were approved and authorised by Cllrs Cannell and Head.
|
Payee |
Reason for payment |
Chq No |
£ |
|
R. Phillips |
Salary & Expenses - June 2008 |
1475 |
821.83 |
|
B Painter |
Salary & Expenses - June 2008 |
1470 |
207.44 |
|
R Biddle |
Salary – Cemetery caretaking |
1471 |
295.32 |
|
Garden Manicures |
Grounds Mtce |
1472 |
874.59 |
|
|
Insurance |
1476 |
2,894.91 |
|
Jubilee Hall |
Hire of Rooms |
1474 |
76.60 |
|
CFS |
Photocopy machine |
1473 |
29.14 |
|
|
5,199.83 |
||
Payments previously
checked and authorised by Cllr J Cutland and Cllr A Wilkins on 2 June 2008.
|
Payee |
Reason for payment |
Chq. no |
£ |
|
ALCA |
Cemetery Training |
1468 |
35.00 |
|
BT |
Telephone |
1469 |
192.73 |
|
|
Total Expenditure |
|
227.73 |
A list of income is as follows:-
|
Payee |
Reason for payment |
Chq No |
£ |
|
SG Council |
Bus Shelter contribution |
Inc
1466 |