PEASEDOWN ST JOHN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Council meeting held on Monday 23rd January at 6.45 p.m. in the Cricket Clubhouse
Present: Cllrs. R W G Butt (Chairman) J P Rich (Vice Chairman)
Mrs M A Button. F J Day, J W Goring, M Roy Mrs M Kennedy, Mrs E V Latchem
C Rich, A A Spiller Mrs. K M Thomas, Mrs F M Butt
Apologies were received from Cllrs M Gregory and J S Bolwell Mrs R Rich
Also Present Local Cllr Sarah Bevan and six members of the public
Before the meeting began we had great pleasure in welcoming Ms Hazel Braund, Director of B &NES PCT to talk to us about the closure plans for Keynsham Hospital due to take place in this financial year.
There is a three month consultation which ends mid February and a copy of the consultation document is available . If there any queries Ms Braund needs to be informed.
The future provision of the Bristol South and West PCT means they will no longer need to buy beds from Keynsham.
At present Keynsham has 59 beds for the elderly and 29 beds for respite care (younger people with a disablilty).
Of these beds 9 are used by the elderly from this area and 2 are used by the younger disabled.
As respite care is provided by Social Services an eleven bed unit is not clinically or financially viable.
B&NES PCT are proposing to use the six beds that are currently mothballed at Paulton Hospital and will be able to extend facilities at St Martins Hospital in Bath.
Keynsham stakeholder group require a community hospital at Keynsham -
Mr McGuinness questioned the impact on Paulton Hospital as he met to develop Paulton 13 years ago when 38 beds were available - there are now only 20, also the geriatric side of St Martins has shifted to the RUH. The need to rationalise is understood but the needs of the elderly will grow.
Ms Braud replied that there will be more care in the community and any money saved on the hospital will be returned to Keynsham Care in the Community.
Cllr Mrs Thomas remarked that as people come off the service provided will it then disappear and Ms Braund explained that the money will be ringfenced for use within the Community caring for an increased number of people.
Public Session
Mr McGuinness said that he appreciated the minutes being posted on the website.
It was brought to the attention of the council that two road signs had been removed / defaced.
The centre of the village is a mess
On the Hillcrest Estate the parking at the start and end of the school day is a nuisance and often the pavements are blocked on the main road.
Comment was made that new jobs were promised for the Peasedown St John community when the Mercedes Garage was built and this does not seem to have happened.
The hole in the disused garage was again brought to the fore as it could be a health and safety issue.
Mr A Henon from NESA Youth Work asked to speak regarding the application of a grant from the parish council - he is to give a presentation at the next full council meeting
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.
The clerk informed the council that notices had been sent to all councillors together with blank nomination papers which according to our standing orders had to be returned to the council office by 16 January. Four nominations had been received for the position of chairman - all supporting Cllr Robert Butt. No other nominations were received at the council officer either within the time limit or since.
The clerk then asked the council to confirm by a show of hands their acceptance of Cllr Robert Butt as the new chair of the parish council. The members of the council agreed unanimously.
Jonathon Rich Proposed Cllr Robert Butt as Chairman
Michael Roy seconded
3.Cllr Butt gave a short speech of acceptance of the post of Chairman of Peasedown St John Parish Council
The chairman then asked for nominations for the post of Vice Chairman to the parish council.
Cllr Jonathon Rich was proposed by Cllr Mrs M Kennedy and this was seconded by Cllr C Rich.
The council agreed unanimously.
Both the chairman and vice chairman then signed their declarations of acceptance.
5 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 28th November2005
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.
The minutes of the Environment Committee held on 5 December 2005 were received and agreed
The minutes of the Amenities Committee held on 5 December 2005were received and agreed
The minutes of the Policy and General Purposes Committee held on 12 December 2005were received and agreed
The minutes of the Environment Committee held on 9 January 2006 were read and agreed
The minutes of the Amenities Committee held on 9 January 2006 were read and agreed.
The minutes of the Planning Committee held on 9 January 2006 were read and agreed.
The minutes of the Finance Committee held on 16 January 2006 were read and agreed
The minutes of the Policy and General Purposes Committee held on 16 January 2006 were read and agreed.
The precept resolution was read out to the full council and agreed at £77500.00 for the year 2006/2007.
The precept resolution was proposed by Cllr Mrs F Butt and seconded by Cllr J Goring
All council members were in favour.
Matters arising
Cllr Mrs Thomas raised the subject of hedge laying on the POS. It had been previously agreed to lay 50metres of hedge in 2005/2006. As this is an ongoing process maybe it should be looked at again for 2006/2007 or 2007/2008. It was suggested that maybe the Probation Service could carry out some work in Peasedown St John and the clerk was asked to contact the Service to ask if any member of their group possessed hedge.
Cllr Mrs Latchem said that white lines were being painted in Eckweek Road and was there to be a new halt sign. The clerk was asked to contact Roger Hobbs the local highways officer.
Discussion took place regarding the parish council present care of the Church of England churchyard and it was pointed out that when a churchyard is closed then the parish council may be asked by the parochial church council to take it over, in which case it would be better if it was in a state of good repair.
6 Co-Option Procedure
The new co-option procedure was adopted by the council.
A casual vacancy has now arisen due to Cllr J Derrick's resignation.
It was agreed to post notices in the notice boards and also in the press. The selection will take place at the full council meeting on 20 March 2006.
The new signatories were agreed and the mandates signed.
Mrs K Thomas proposed that Councillor Training should take place regularly on Monday evenings when there are no council meetings and this was supported wholeheartedly by the council members.
There are to be 10 PCSO's stationed at Radstock but the area is set to grow due to boundary changes.
There will, however, be only one extra police officer.
There has been no feedback on the bike leaflet so far.
It is hoped there will be funding for motorbike and officer training made available.
There are fixed penalties for licensing defaults.
b) Cllr Mrs Thomas commented on the ALCA meeting saying that Gerry Curran had talked at length about the SW Assembly. The region is Lands End to Gloucestershire. This body makes decisions but the parish councils have no input.
Mr McGuinness - Green Belt Land - There is a need to empower the bottom tier more than the top tier.
There is a hole in Eckweek Road - Clerk to speak to B&NES
Cllr M Roy is to reply to Ms Hazel Braund regarding the proposed closure of Keynsham Hospital
The clerk received an angry 'phone call from Mr Burraston of 1 Bath Road regarding the seat situated outside his house. This matter is to be referred to the appropriate committee and a letter sent to him explaining this.
Meeting Closed 21.55