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PEASEDOWN ST JOHN PARISH COUNCIL

Present: Cllr. E J Derrick (Chairman), Cllr. R W G Butt (Vice-chairman)

Before the formal part of the meeting the Chairman presented trophies to the winners of the Peasedown St John in Bloom Competition - he congratulated them on their success and a photograph was taken by the Clerk for the next Newsletter.

Mr. Clark asked if something could be done to fence off the green at the eastern end of Hillcrest.

1. Co-option of new member

The Clerk reported three applicants received before the closing date. Mr. Royston Clark, Mr. Nathan Hartley and Mr. Michael Roy have applied for the single seat. On the first paper ballot an overall majority was not satisfied but the person with the lowest votes was dropped from the ballot. On a second ballot Mr. Roy received six votes and Mr. Hartley five.

The Chairman declared Mr. Roy co-opted to the Council to serve until the next ordinary election of the Council.

2. Committee places for the new member

There are two vacancies on both the Amenities and Environment Committees so it was agreed that Cllr. Roy should be offered a place on each committee.

Cllr. Mrs. Thomas, who serves on no committees, asked if she could take the other spare place on the Amenities Committee. Council agreed.

3. To appoint a second delegate to serve on the Police Liaison Meetings

It was agreed that Cllr. J P Rich should join Cllr. Bolwell on this body.

4. Correspondence

a). Avon and Somerset Police

A letter from the crime prevention officer warning this Council that a spate of robberies has been recorded at clubs, halls etc. The officer was willing to visit premises and offer advice. Agreed that a copy of the letter be sent to all clubs and halls in the parish.

b). Camerton Parish Council

A letter was received from the Vice-chairman of that Council and his wife, thanking this Council for the hospitality at the 50^th Birthday Celebration. Noted.

c). Bill Coles, Carlingcott

Another letter of thanks was received thanking the Council for a splendid evening at the 50^th Birthday Celebrations. Noted.

5. Accounts

The following accounts were presented for payment and in a recorded vote all members present agreed to pay.

Payee	Amount	Payee	Amount
Fosseway Press Ltd.	£37.49, 355.92 & 80.91	Peter Davies	£190, 132 & 124
		K Doughty	£140
Inland Revenue	£626.72 & 620.45	Southwood Waste Services	£142.18
		BT	£35.25
Norton Garden M/c	£46.92	Arleen Services	£9.79 & £9.79
Cllr E J Derrick	£35	Revd Ruth Farrant	£2
Caudwell Communications	£44.87 & 29.57	Trophies of Radstock	£20.15
B&NES	£1504.32	Focus	£23.94
SWEB	£9.30

To receive the minutes of an Amenities Committee meeting held on 12th September 2005

In the absence of Cllr. Spiller, Cllr. Bolwell presented these minutes.

He asked for questions and a debate took place concerning the broken down lighting in the lane between Carlingcott and New Buildings. Several members agreed that the lighting should be repaired with winter almost upon us. It was decided to return to the debate when reviewing the Finance Committee minutes later in the meeting. The Clerk reported that the Assistant Clerk had written to the Rotary and Lions Clubs asking if they would like to help with the DDA work in the Rec. All other decisions and recommendations were endorsed.

6. To receive the minutes of an Environment Committee meeting held on 12th September 2005

Cllr. J P Rich presented these minutes and asked for comments and questions. All decisions were endorsed.

To receive the minutes of a Finance Committee meeting held on 19th September 2005

Cllr. Mrs. Butt presented these minutes. She asked that all members take note of this Committee's policies towards spending until the position of Clerk and the new office was settled. She also asked members to note that her committee had agreed to recommend to Council that the lighting repairs asked for by the Amenities Committee be not approved and frozen until later. A debate on the safety or otherwise of this lane without lights was then well debated and when put to the vote the Finance Committee's recommendation was agreed. All other decisions were endorsed and agreed.

7. To receive the minutes of a meeting of the Policy and General Purposes Committee held on 19th September 2005

Cllr. Butt presented these minutes. He asked that members note the proposed timetable for the office move and selection process for a new Clerk. He reported that the Personnel sub-committee had now met and further progress was reported to the meeting although he said that some of the particulars he wished to report were confidential to the present Clerk. He would like to recommend that they be left until a private session is convened at the end of the meeting.

One formal motion would need to be approved in open meeting as the P&GP Committee has no funding - that is to give the Finance Committee delegated powers to calculate and award the tax-free element of the Clerk's Gratuity. This motion and a minute from the Finance Committee's meeting would possibly be needed in the future to prove the validity of this payment with the Inland Revenue.

He proposed:

"that the Finance Committee at its meeting on 3^rd October 2005 be given delegated powers to calculate and award the Clerk's tax free gratuity in accordance with Part VI of the Local Government (Discretionary Payments) Regulations 1996".

Furthermore:

"to re-affirm that this Council's decision to award a gratuity on retirement was made at the Council meeting held on 16^th November 1998 and agreed by Inland Revenue Pensions Scheme Office on 30^th January 1999".

The motion was seconded by Cllr. J P Rich and when put to the vote was agreed unanimously.

The question of the removal of the telephone box outside the school was raised by these minutes and Cllr. Butt asked that a decision should be made now as plenty of debates had already been given to this subject. A vote showed that the Clerk would be asked to write to BT and ask for its removal although three members voted for its retention.

It was eventually agreed that two more first aid boxes be bought for the two caretakers and that they should be asked to have them at their place of work, wherever that may be.

The changes to the Terms of Reference for the Amenities and Environment Committees, which had been well debated by both committees, were agreed and the Clerk will amend the members' handbook and re-print the page for circulation.

To conclude the report Cllr. Mrs Latchem asked that it be recorded that she was not happy that a sub-committee had met in a member's house - she said that the practice did not accord with the way she interpreted Standing Order no 1.

8. Reports

a). Police Liaison Meeting

Cllr. Bolwell reported a well attended meeting held at Paulton Village Hall. The new inspector was present but not yet in office. Motorcycle nuisance was again raised but did not seem to create much action from the officers. Cllr. Bolwell reported that this area, which is beat ER 122, showed a drop in crimes in July and August. Cllr. Mrs. Thomas asked that the two delegates mention the harassment given to walkers in Beacon Field by teenagers in the evenings.

b). Peasedown St John Safety Action Group

Cllr. Mrs. Button reported on a meeting held on 6^th September 2005. There were no Police officers in attendance although a good delegation from B&NES. Plans for the BMX track are still in the pipeline and the motorbike group is trying to get some formal training for youths. The Group also debated the fact that motorbike users are now harassing bus drivers by parking in front of buses at bus stops and refusing to move. Cllrs. Bolwell and JP Rich will bring up the problem at the next Police Liaison meeting. It seems also that the Youth Parish Council is likely to get a new lease of life.

c). ALCA

Cllr. Butt said that there had not been a meeting since the last Council meeting but two meetings were very imminent. A group meeting is called for next week and the AGM is in November. The name of the organisation has been changed, to reflect its new geographical area, to West of England Local Councils.

 d). Beacon Hall

Cllr. Mrs. Kennedy announced that the Hall will be ten years old on 5^th December and it has been decided to hold a reception on 3rd December which all members of the Parish Council will be invited. The day will start at 1 p.m. and entertainment has been booked and food planned.

9. Any other business being a preview of correspondence received since this agenda was closed for noting or inclusion on future agenda

The Clerk reported the receipt of the B&NES Annual Supported Bus Services plans for 2006. It was agreed that Mr. Provest, who is well known for his transport background, be asked to look at the plans for a report to the next meeting of the Environment Committee.

The open part of the meeting was closed at 8.20 p.m.

Confidential matters not divulged during the open meeting where explained by Cllr. Butt and it was decided that the Finance Committee should be left to calculate and award the package to the Clerk as set out in his contract.

 Meeting closed at 8.40 p.m.