Present: Cllr. E J Derrick (Chairman), Cllr. Mrs. E V Latchem (Vice-chairman)

Mr. Terry Nicholls asked to address the meeting as Chairman of POP. He wished to give the Council further information on their proposed BMX track, which they still felt was most suited to be situated in the Council's Recreation Field. He showed a photograph of a similar scheme that is up and running in Keynsham and asked for Councillors to throw out the recommendation from the Recreation Field Committee that the Rec. should not be used for the project.

Chairman thanked him for his submission and said that the subject would come up later on the official agenda.

Mr. Cundall of Belle Vue Close agreed with Mr. Nicholls as he felt that Beacon Field was not a suitable site for the track.

Cllr. Mrs. Bevan was then asked to make her presentation on International Mining Week 2005. The week would be held between 11^th and 18^th May this year and is being organised by a group called Culture 2000 based in the South of France. The Radstock Museum is heavily involved together with Dick Graham our local historian.

Cllr. Mrs. Bevan asked that the PC might wish to input something into the week and suggested that our parish Newsletter might carry publicity for the various functions organised by the Museum.

The Chairman thanked her for her presentation and assured her that the PC would certainly be involved in some way.

1. Minutes of the Special Council meeting held on 10th January 2005

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. Matter arising from the minutes of a Council meeting held on 29th November 2004

John Everitt, CEO B&NES. Double Taxation

A reply was received just before Christmas to the second letter sent by the Clerk on this subject where questions were asked whether B&NES would treat this Council as a special case and offer grants towards maintaining the road verges and two roundabouts taken over by this Council. His reply was not helpful as he stood behind his Council's policy that all PCs should be treated alike - there would be no special cases.

On the question of advertising signs on roundabouts, which could bring revenue to the PC if allowed, he said that he would ask the Planning Office to expedite a swift answer. Clerk reported that he had still not heard from the planners!

Cllr. Butt was amazed at the reply as he had in his possession many documents sent out by the ODPM, which specifically state that double taxation does exist and asking principle councils to do everything they can to ameliorate the situation.

3. Correspondence

a). Community Action. New Licensing Act Seminars

The nearest venue is at Keynsham Baptist Church on 14^th February at 10 a.m. There were no volunteers to attend on behalf of this Council, but it was noted that some members were attending on behalf of other organisations.

b). B&NES. Parish Sweeper Review

Letter explaining that the Scheme is now open to Parishes not yet signed up although a negotiated entry will be required, as not all parishes are suitable. Members agreed to stick with the present system where B&NES have full responsibility for the cleanliness of the village.

c). Mr I Patrick, New Buildings

Letter showing concern over the lack of a street lighting on the path between his hamlet and the Church. He also reported a street light outage. Clerk to reply informing him that lighting on the footpath is now top of the Lighting Committee's Action Plan.

d). Mr. C Stewart, Old England Way

Letter asking for this Council to push for traffic calming in the new estates. Clerk was asked to get in touch with Cllr. Sir Elgar Jenkins to see if any progress has been made with this Council's Traffic Plan, which he has had for some months.

e). POP. BMX Track

Letter from Mr. Terry Nicholls asking to clear up a few misconceptions, which have crept into their application for help with a site for the track. The letter was noted as his presentation in the Public Session had already answered the questions.

f). Bristol International Airport

A reply to this Council's comments had now been received. Members were not happy, as the reply was so full of jargon and technical reasons for their need for extra air space that members asked that the letter be left half read on the table.

g). B&NES. Children's Equipped Play Areas

Letter explaining that B&NES was now willing to grant aid parish play areas up to 85% of the cost and that they would be looking for applications for grants now that they have made their independent inspections. Applications were now invited and are expected before 11^th February. Clerk reported that their inspection had noted that the two rockers were in poor repair and various other small problems. Members asked if the grants would reflect the work required to satisfy the recent DDA legislation but the Clerk did not know at this stage. It was agreed that the Clerk should apply for as much as possible including the painting, which the DDA Acts require to be in brighter colours.

h). ODPM. Freedom of Information Act 2000

Letter pointing out that the ODPM has appointed the Clerk as the Qualified Person under Section 36 of the Scheme, with the Chairman of Council being his deputy. Noted.

4. Accounts

The following accounts were agreed for payment: -

Payee	Amount	Payee	Amount
Fosseway Press Ltd.	£345.55	Peter Davies	£64
*M J Whittock, Salary & Expenses	£1457.67 & 1442.42	J Chiswell	£1590
Inland Revenue	£568.03 & 823.66	BT	£155.64
Revd. B Sutton	£6	Seaboard Energy (SWEB)	£791.84
J Beck	£42 & 14	*C Chivers	£106.76
SLCC	£115	*C Champion	£800.57
J B Sports and Leisure	£355.44	*R Mannings	£136.68
SEC	£646.92 & 2767.03	Revd. Hugh Bonsey	£2
Cllr. Mrs. Thomas	£20.20	A F Denning	£205.04
1st Peasedown St John Scout Group	£121.50	Mazars (external auditor)	£411.25
Open Spaces Society	£12.50

 

The Chairman took a recorded vote and Cllrs. E J Derrick (Chairman), Mrs. E V Latchem (Vice-chairman), J S Bolwell, Mrs. F M Butt, R W G Butt, Mrs. M A Button, F J Day, J W Goring, M J Gregory, Mrs. M Kennedy, C Rich, J P Rich and A A Spiller voted in favour with none against.

5. Re-structuring of the Council and its Committees

Cllr. Butt asked that the papers agreed at the Special Council Meeting held on 10^th January 2005 be accepted and left laid on the table until the Council meeting due to take place on 21^st March 2005. Seconded by Cllr. J P Rich.

All agreed.

6. To receive the minutes of Planning Committee meetings held on 6^th December 2004 and 10^th January 2005

Cllr. Derrick presented these minutes - there were no questions and all decisions and comments were endorsed.

7. To receive the minutes of an Environment Committee meeting held on 6^th December 2004

Cllr. Butt presented these minutes and asked for questions or comments. The Clerk mentioned that he had obtained another quote for the main road grass cutting contract for next year and found it to be only £100 less. A quote for the same job with the grass picked up and removed came in at double the price. It was decided to stick with present contractor and leave the grass on the ground.

All other decisions and recommendations were endorsed and agreed.

8. To receive the minutes of Finance Committee meetings held on 13^th December 2004 and 17^th January 2005

Cllr. Mrs. Butt presented these minutes and explained the reasoning behind the estimates for the Democratic Services for 2005/2006. She asked the meeting to note that the precept figure recommended in the minutes of 17^th January was wrong and she would be putting forward the correct figure later in the agenda.

All other recommendations and decisions were endorsed and agreed.

9. To receive the minutes of the 50^th Birthday Committee meeting held on 13^th December 2004

Cllr. Derrick presented these minutes and asked members to note that the committee recommended that two stones be erected at the entrances of the village to commemorate the 50 years - he had now obtained a price. The Clerk commented upon the price - he had made enquiries around other parishes that had used stones to commemorate the Millennium and found the price obtained by the Chairman to be comparable.

It was agreed that the Chairman place the order to supply, polish, engrave and erect two stones on suitable plinths for the sum of £1950+VAT.

10. To receive the minutes of a Recreation Field Committee meeting held on 13^th December 2004

Cllr. Derrick presented these minutes and asked members to consider closely the one recommendation contained in those minutes. A full debate ensued concerning the POP proposal to site a BMX Track on the bottom end of the Rec. and many concerns were expressed by members following the BMX presentation this evening and the practical demonstration held on Saturday last at the Cricket Ground. The Chairman asked that the recommendation be not agreed, as he would like to take the proposal back for further consideration as he had other possible sites to be considered. Council agreed that the item be taken back for further consideration by the Committee.

11. To receive the minutes of a Personnel Committee meeting held on 17^th January 2005

Cllr. Mrs. Latchem presented these minutes and explained that after long study, and debate, the Committee had been able to make sense of the new system of paying the Clerk and at the same time was able to set a scale for the Assistant to the Clerk when appointed. The Clerk had circulated to members of the Committee his draft for the press advert for the Assistant post and eventually all agreed on the wording. Cllr. Mrs. Latchem asked that all other recommendations and comments be endorsed and agreed.

12. To receive the minutes of a Magazine Committee meeting held on 17^th January 2005

Cllr. Mrs. Latchem presented these minutes and drew attention to the committee's debate on taking free adverts for the Newsletter. She said that the Committee was not able to decide on a policy on the matter and asked that Council decide.

A lengthy debate took place, which centred on whether the advert in question was really an advert at all and also involved the VAT question again.

It was finally agreed that the Clerk receives the official title of Editor of the Newsletter and that it will be he who applies the following policy when accepting articles from other Councils or organisations.

The Editor was asked to follow a simple code. If he considers the insert or advert will make money for that body then he must refuse, if the article, insert or advert contains public information only, which applies solely to the parish he can accept. Any grey areas to be reported to Council.

It was also agreed that, if the Magazine Committee felt that it would like to still have a stand-alone set up it should come forward with its ideas at the next Council meeting.

13. To fix the Precept for the year 2005/2006

Cllr. Mrs. Butt proposed that B&NES should be asked to precept for £74270 for the year 2005/2006. The proposal was seconded by Cllr. J P Rich and carried unanimously.

Clerk was asked to inform Resources Planning at B&NES.

14. Reports

a). Police Liaison - Cllr. Bolwell.

Cllr. Bolwell was unable to attend the last meeting and his deputy, Cllr. Mrs. Lewis-Mason is still sick, so he reported on the latest figures supplied by the Police.

b). ALCA

Cllr. Butt reported on a meeting held on 8^th December, which was very well attended. He reported that Mr. Duppa-Miller was the new Secretary but ALCA has been advised that the Chairman is not too well and was urgently looking for a successor.

The meeting heard about the threat of take-over by the Bath city area but fortunately neighbouring parishes have clubbed together to fight any possible expansion - their way.

15. Dates of next meetings

Post meeting possible arrangements: -

7^th February - Planning Committee: 21^st February - Recreation Field, Environment and 50^th Birthday Committees:

7^th March - Planning and other committees as required: 14^th March - Magazine and other Committees as required:

21^st March - ANNUAL PARISH MEETING followed by COUNCIL.