Present: Cllr. E J Derrick (Chairman)

Before the formal start of the meeting the Chairman presented trophies and certificates to the class winners in the Peasedown St John in Bloom Competition. He congratulated all the winners, especially residents from the street, which had been selected for the best community prize.

Public Session: There were no questions

1. Minutes of a Council meeting held on 22^nd July 2002

These minutes, which had been previously circulated, were taken as read agreed a true record and signed by the Chairman. There were no matters arising.

2. Correspondence

a). ALCA. Training

Application form for two courses for Councillors and Clerks to be held on 26^th October and 23^rd November. There were no volunteers.

b). ALCA. 6^th Edition Local Council Administration

Notice that ALCA are able to supply this new edition at the favourable price of £47 to include postage and packing. It was agreed unanimously that the Clerk should obtain a copy for the Council.

c). Community Action. Youth Parish Councils

Pamphlet explaining the functions and powers of Youth Councils was received from Community Action. Members were very keen to look further into the idea and to that end asked the Clerk to circulate a letter to interested parties. If the initial response was good, to call a meeting of a steering group on similar lines to the method used to set up the Jubilee Group.

d). Gemma Burgess, Russet Way

This young lady has just finished the second year of a four year course which will eventually give her a BA in Psychology and French. Her letter explaining that she is about to leave on her sandwich year in France when she will be able to improve her French and study their way of life. She will be able to earn a little money from teaching English but her expenses will be high, as she still has to pay 50% of her tuition fees although not at her college for the year. Members were pleased to note her progress so far and asked that the Finance Committee look into the possibility of a grant.

e). CPRE B&NES Branch Seminar

Invitation to send delegates to an all day seminar on 12^th October. There were no volunteers.

f). Persimmon Homes

Letter from Peter Bond (Marketing Manager) giving his apology for not attending the trophy presentation this evening. He asked that his firm's congratulations be given to the winner.

g). Joint Strategic Planning and Transportation Unit

Notice giving their intention to now adopt the replacement structure plan. Noted.

h). ALCA. 29^th AGM

Notice of the meeting was received and a request for delegates to attend on 2^nd November at 10 a.m. at Church House, Long Ashton. Cllr. McInnes had already handed the Clerk his acceptance and Cllrs. R Butt and Mrs. K Thomas agreed also to attend. Clerk to send acceptances.

i). Mrs. Pamela Wright. Age Concern Beacon Lunches

A letter of thanks was received for the grant made from the Jubilee Fund.

j). B&NES. New Decision Making Arrangements

Letter laying out the new arrangements due to the adoption of the cabinet system. The letter backs up the talk given at the last Liaison Meeting, which has already been reported to Council.

k). B&NES. Field Boundaries Project

Follow up letter to that received a year ago reminding this Council that it is one of now only a few not to take part in this survey. The Clerk informed members that he has covered the search for volunteers in the latest Newsletter. Cllrs. Mr. and Mrs. Butt showed interest in the job together with Cllr. Mrs. K Thomas.

Agreed to place on the agenda of the next Environment Committee meeting.

l). Information Commissioner

Letter following this Council's entry in the Register, it seems now that we have to sign up to a specific Publication Scheme. Clerk was asked to get a copy of the model scheme from their web site and put again on the agenda of the next Council meeting. The Scheme must be submitted by the end of the year.

m). B&NES. Cluster Meetings

Letter informing this Council that these new meetings, which have been set up to replace the old Contact Meetings, will carry on using the old meeting and venue timetable. Each Cluster will have its own Liaison Officer and if matters of concern are passed to him 7 days before each meeting, he is expected to get the officer concerned to attend the meeting. Members are asked to give their concerns to the Clerk in plenty of time for him to submit them. The next meeting will be held on 3^rd October (not really enough time to keep up the notice required). Cllrs. Butt and McInnes will continue as this Council's delegates.

3. Accounts

The following accounts were presented and agreed for payment.

Fosseway Press £39.90 & 283; Penny Waste 380.70; Mumfords Vineyard 68.70; M J Whittock (salary and expenses) 1270.74, 7.39, 7.39, 1268.52, 7.39 & 7.59; Inland Revenue 465.51 & 465.51; Playground Management Services 76.96; BT 126.04 & 35.25; Rev Bonsey 2; Rev Beech 2; Rev Farrant 2; Trophies of Radstock 44.86; Wessex Water 55.64; SWEB 8.44; Hilliers Garden Centre 19.62; Peter Davies 226,60,120 & 232; Norton Garden Machinery 9.96; J Barker 144; J Beck 14,14.

4. To receive the Planning Register for the August recess period

The Chairman of Council asked that the register be reviewed and endorsed. He drew attention to the fact that, although this Council has given support to a new house in the paddock of Prospect House, Lower Peasedown, B&NES officers have recommended that it be refused. Chairman asked Council to note that he and the Clerk have made arrangements to speak for the proposal at the District Planning Committee on this coming Wednesday evening. Members gave the delegation their full support.

5. To receive the minutes of a meeting of the Environment Committee held on 2^nd September 2002

Cllr. Butt presented these minutes and asked for questions. He asked members to note that following the very good reception by the public for the planters and now the new flowerbed at the Radstock end of the by-pass, he would like to take up a whole meeting of the committee on looking at next year's display with an officer from the B&NES Parks Department. He was sure that the two councils could work together to provide an even better display on our streets next year. Clerk said that he would approach Andy Chard, the officer who had given a lot of advice this year. (Andy Chard can attend on the 4^th November at 7 p.m.)

Cllr. Butt said that he had carried out a lot more investigation on the derivation of the new POS name. He had now found out that the word Eckweek is definitely Saxon for "the other settlement".

All other suggestions and decisions were endorsed.

6. To receive the minutes of a meeting of the Magazine Committee held on 16^th September 2002

Cllr. Mrs. K Thomas presented these minutes. She pointed out the design changes to the Web Site and members who had logged on gave their approval. She informed members that the front cover of the October Newsletter would concentrate on the forthcoming open meeting called by B&NES concerning the Beacon Field. The minutes were endorsed.

7. To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Lighting Committee held on 2^nd September 2002

The Chairman of Council presented these minutes as he had stood in as a temporary Chairman. Clerk said that the two new lights planned for the footpath beside the Church are ordered at the price agreed. There were no questions and the minutes were endorsed.

8. Parish Council Jubilee Poetry Competition

Cllr. Mrs. Butt wished to announce some very good news. After the Competition all the poems were sent to Buckingham Palace. The poem written by Mrs. Jessica Hancocks, which had won first prize in the adult section, had certainly been read personally by the Queen as a letter has arrived thanking Mrs. Hancocks for the poem and remarking on its contents. Noted with great satisfaction by all members.

9. Reports

a). ALCA

Cllr. McInnes reported that, although there had not been any formal meetings in the past month, much had taken place behind the scenes. He mentioned the ongoing work to replace the retiring Secretary and the talks about the three county offices entering into a co-operation to give a better telephone response for members by having an automatic switch system between offices. He mentioned that the question of Quality Councils would be addressed again very shortly which would also encompass the proper training of Councillors and Clerks. He also said that the local government pay negotiations seem to be over and each council would soon receive the recommended pay scales for implementation. He also updated members on the progress at Folly Down, where three parishes are very unhappy.

b). Police Liaison Meeting

Cllr. Bolwell said that he also had no formal meeting to report, but he had received the crime figures for August and quoted from them.

c). Peasedown St John Safety Action Group

Cllr. Gregory (Chairman) reported that the last meeting called was so poorly attended that the group was about to be disbanded if the couple of delegates from Social Services and others had not intervened and asked that another date be set. The Secretary was asked to set another date - although nothing yet has been heard.

10. Any other business, being a preview of correspondence for noting or including on future agenda

a). Traffic Calming at Belle Vue Entrance

Mr. Lowman has been corresponding with Mr. K Williams of B&NES for some weeks now and he has given the Chairman of Council copies of his several letters. Chairman felt that some of his complaints were very pertinent and hoped Council would give support by asking Mr. Williams to attend a site meeting with members and Mr. Lowman. Clerk to try to arrange.

b). Pedestrian refuge, Orchard Way

Sarah Bevan has written to the Clerk asking for this Council to look into her request that B&NES should provide a suitable pedestrian refuge near the turning into French Close from Orchard Way. It was agreed to pass the letter to the next Environment Committee meeting for discussion.

c). B&NES. Salt Bins.

Refer to Environment Committee

d). B&NES. Corporate Markets - Results of Survey.

Noted

e). B&NES. Transfer and renewal of Public Entertainment Licence at Red Post Inn.

No objections.

f). B&NES. New Electoral Districts.

Letter explaining their new ideas for splitting the parish into two and setting up two polling stations. Chairman and Vice-chairman agreed to take the information and report back.

11. Dates of next meetings

Meeting closed at 9 p.m.