Present: Cllr. E J Derrick (Chairman)

The Chairman announced that Councillor Ray Witt had died suddenly on Friday. He had no other news concerning the funeral arrangements, which would be circulated as soon as the Clerk had the details. He asked that members and the public stand for a minute's silence in remembrance of his life.

The Chairman then introduced Cllr. Chris Watt, the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny for Housing and Community Safety on B&NES. Cllr. Watt had been invited following his letter to the last Council meeting.

He described his role in the group and then asked for questions, mainly on community safety matters, from members and public. He was able to take with him a long list of anxieties and fears, which he would endeavour to get answered and would write to the Clerk in due course.

The Chairman thanked him for his attendance.

Mr. N W McInnes asked to report on recent progress, or otherwise, on three items. He reported on the successful Quality status of Weston super Mare and the progress of works in Beacon Field, where he thought that if this Council became a Quality Council he could see B&NES asking the PC to take it over. He also commented on the fact that the rural roundabouts were a disgrace when compared with the city ones.

He also thought that the networking started by Bathampton could well spread all over the district very soon.

Cllr. Mrs. Bevan (B&NES) asked to introduce a young man from Hook who had experience with a very successful Youth Council in that town. He said that he was at Bath Spa College for the next three years and was living in the village. He asked if his experience would be useful to the local YPC. Chairman said that he would be made very welcome and suggested that he get in touch with the Clerk after the meeting to get a contact name for the YPC Clerk.

Mr. Coles of Carlingcott asked if the delivery of the Newsletter had improved since he wrote to the Clerk in September when the Clerk had told him that the Council was looking into an improved system.

The Chairman said that the whole of Carlingcott had now been put on a mailing list. Mr. Coles said that, if the Newsletters were left with him, he would organise their delivery around the hamlet. Members welcomed his generous offer and asked the Clerk to liaise with Mr. Coles.

Mr. Coles also asked why did this Council object to the diversion of the footpath near Carlingcott Mill. He wondered how did this Council consult with the people there? Chairman replied that, from the experience of several members, it was known that the diversion would direct the path into a flood plain. Camerton Parish had agreed with us so a common front was taken. Mr. Coles disagreed as he said that, in nineteen years, he could remember only twice when the field had flooded and he knew that local people would use the path more often if it did not pass so close to the Mill.

1. Minutes of a Council meeting held on 29^th September 2003

These minutes, which had been previously circulated, were taken as read agreed a true record and signed by the Chairman.

2. Matter arising from the minutes of 29^th September 2003

Parish Design Statement

Cllr. Butt said that he and the sub-committee had not met so he had nothing to report. Noted.

3. Correspondence

a). B&NES Outlets for selling Garden Waste Sacks

Letter asking if the Council could recommend outlets in the village whom could take bulk deliveries and sell the sacks for a cash premium. Three members offered suggestions, the Clerk will keep the B&NES contact on file.

b). Lansdown Day Nurseries Ltd.

Letter explaining that they have taken over the nursery in Eckweek Road and would be starting an after school scheme. Later they hoped to obtain grant aid from the Sure Start scheme to fund a new purpose built amenity on the site.

Chairman said that he had made enquiries at the Primary School and could see no reason why this Council should not support this initiative. Clerk to write giving full support to their ideas.

c). Peasedown Opportunity Project

A long letter explaining the Project's problems with funding. It seems that B&NES is now asking them to pay an, albeit, small rent for the use of the Youth Centre. POP is asking for support in trying to reduce that rent, to nil if possible. Information was forthcoming which explained the Project's aims and sympathy was expressed at their inability to afford the rent. It was agreed to write to B&NES to plead for their rent-free use of the Centre.

d). B&NES Relationship with Voluntary and Community Groups

Agreed to pass to the Environment Committee for their observations.

e). B&NES Public Entertainment Licence at Beacon Hall

It was agreed that no objections would be made to the application for renewal.

4. Accounts

a). The following accounts for payment were tabled and agreed: -

Fosseway Press £5.39, 335.50 & 42.01; R Mannings 267.98; C Champion 750.16; M J Whittock (salary and expenses) 1436.84 & 1505.95; Inland Revenue 863.67 & 552.48; C Chivers 348.66; J Chiswell 670; Norton Garden m/c 159 & 6; Peasedown St John Community Association 2750; Holcombe Majorettes 100; SEC 818.05; GB Sports and Leisure 84.89; SWEB 791.84 & 9.44; Avon Business Machines 612.45; Rev H Bonsey 2 & 2; Avon Door and Lock 101.20; BT 147.53 & 35.25; The Lord Hylton 90; J Beck 14 &1.50.

b). The Internal Auditor reported that he had carried out a mid-term check on the books and had found no matters to concern him.

c). The Clerk reported that the Audit Certificate has been received from the External Auditors with one minor comment highlighted. The audit fee of £350 was well down on last year, which the Chairman felt must have reflected the comprehensive and professional way in which the Internal Auditor and Clerk had presented the figures. The Chairman congratulated the IA.

d). The Clerk reported that the money in the Halifax Guaranteed Reserve Account has been re-invested for 12 months at the promised 4.2%. Noted with satisfaction.

5. To receive the minutes of Planning Committee meetings held on 13^th and 27^th October 2003

The Chairman presented these minutes and asked for comments or questions. Cllr. Butt mentioned the fact that car sales were still being carried out on the forecourt of the old garage in Ashgrove. He was disgusted with the B&NES Enforcement Officer as he felt that the situation could have been cleared up much more quickly. It seems that allowing for the red tape to be processed and appeals made the salesman will be able to sell his cars for the whole of the understood 12-month lease that he holds. Clerk was asked to get in touch again with the EO to see if the process can be pushed along to stop the practice and give the resident behind a clear passage again to her house. All decisions were endorsed.

6. To receive the minutes of an Environment Committee meeting held on 27^th October 2003

Cllr Butt presented these minutes. He reported on a meeting with Clerk that very morning when they toured Ecewiche Green to select the various grass cutting options and possible hedge work for post April 2004. They also agreed on the sites for the two new dog's mess bins subject to consultation with the Caretaker who has to empty them. The Action Plan would be re-considered for 2004/2005 at the next meeting. Cllr. Butt noticed that the Clerk had programmed the next meeting for the 22^nd December - he thought that the meeting would be too close to Christmas and asked the Clerk if he could get the necessary figures and moves the meeting to 8^th December. Members agreed and noted the date. All other decisions were endorsed.

7. To receive the minutes of a Finance Committee meeting held on 3^rd November 2003

Cllr. Mrs. Butt presented these minutes and explained more fully her committee's aim to contain the precept within certain parameters. She had noticed that a couple of committees have already broken the 7% spending available. All decisions were endorsed.

8. To receive the minutes of a Lighting Committee meeting held on 3^rd November 2003

Cllr. Gregory presented these minutes. All decisions were endorsed.

9. To receive the minutes of a Burial Committee meeting held on 10^th November 2003

The Chairman presented these minutes. All decisions were endorsed.

10. To receive the minutes of Recreation Field Committee meeting held on 10^th November 2003

The Chairman presented these minutes. He drew attention to the fact that the committee was now looking to finish the fencing of the perimeter of the Field and the money allowed in its estimates would be used to get as far as possible along the old quarry boundary. All other decisions were endorsed.

11. To receive the minutes of a Magazine Committee meeting held on 17^th November 2003

Cllr. Mrs. Thomas presented these minutes. The Chairman noticed in the pre-able to the committee's recommendation in Item 3 that three options were mentioned concerning the modernisation, or otherwise, of the present Council Web Site. One option, which the Committee had highlighted, concerned the possibility that the layout of the Web Site may not good enough to gain Quality Council status.

The Chairman said that, as the question of this Council's intentions to become a Quality Council were mentioned in these minutes, he would like to put a motion to the meeting

"that this Council works towards an application for Quality Council status".

He asked that a member second the motion.

The Clerk interjected to ask the Chairman and members if they wished to take this motion as he felt that he must advise Council that a motion on such an important subject with certain eventual financial implications should not be put without notice.

The Clerk's advice was not accepted.

The motion was eventually seconded, debated and after several points of information were raised and answered, was put to the meeting. The voting was 9 votes in favour with three abstentions from Cllrs. Day, Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Latchem. The Chairman declared the motion carried.

The debate then centred on the sequence of events required when contacting the villager willing to re-design the Web Site. It was agreed that Cllr. Butt together with Mr. McInnes and Mr. Provest should investigate the offer and to confirm the conditions and prices for the day to day updating of the Site.

The recommended bid for money to run the Committee's work in 2004/2005 was noted.

12. Members Allowances and Travelling Expenses

The Clerk reported that the promised letter from the B&NES Remuneration Panel had not been received. He warned Council that if a formal resolution was not put and agreed by the end of the year, the Council would not be allowed to pay even the travelling expenses that it pays at the moment under the old 1972 legislation.

He had been in contact with the Clerk to the Remuneration Panel who had informed him that the Panel had agreed scales for travelling but felt unable to set scales for the allowances as all parishes who had responded to his survey had expressed a wish not to pay.

1. "this Council does not wish to enter into a scheme to pay allowances to members
2. "this Council wishes to take advantage of the scheme to pay expenses to members who represent the Council outside the parish and that the scales shall be as recommended by the Remuneration Panel of Bath and North East Somerset Council
3. "this Council pays the new travelling and subsistence allowances wef 1^st January 2004".

The composite motion was seconded, taken as one and agreed unanimously.

The Clerk was asked to compose the necessary notice and carry out the legal requirement.

1. Reports

a). ALCA

Cllr. Butt reported on his attendance together with Cllr. Mrs. Thomas at the ALCA Annual Meeting held on 1^st November at Long Ashton. He reported on a typical business-like AGM.

b). Peasedown St John Safety Action Group

Cllrs. Gregory and Butt had attended; Cllr. Mrs. Button did not attend because she had not received a notice of meeting. Cllr. Butt said that he was disappointed that the police reported a rise in crime during the past month and was still surprised that the meeting attracts "more officers than men" and still duplicates the work of the Parish Council yet it is not the recognised statutory body for the village.

Cllr. Watt asked if the group had indented for money, as there was a special fund for Safety Groups held by B&NES. Cllr. Gregory explained that the application form had eventually reached him just days before the closing date. Cllr. Watt explained that the money was available for schemes like improving the footpath signs on the by-pass and for extra street lighting. The Clerk asked if this was the same money, which he had bid for from the Community Safety budget being held by the lighting department of B&NES. Cllr. Watt thought that there were two budgets to draw on.

c). CPRE Meeting and Lecture

Cllr. Mrs. Thomas reported on her attendance and was very impressed by the speaker who was an expert on light pollution. She would write an article on the subject for the February Newsletter.

2. Dates of next meetings

The proposed dates as printed on the agenda were noted except that the amendment made during reception of the Environment Committee meeting minutes in Item 6.

The Chairman wished all members contentment with the festive season.

Meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.