Present: Cllr. E J Derrick (Chairman)

Cllr. Mrs. E V Latchem (Vice-chairman)

Mr. McInnes asked to speak to up-date the Council on the recent happenings at ALCA and NALC. He mentioned that he is part of the team, which will inspect applications from Councils wishing to become Quality Councils and at an initial meeting of the team, they spent 5 hours considering the "tick-sheet" supplied by NALC. There were so many questions sent back to NALC that he would be surprised if the team would feel confident to make decisions by the end of August, which was their aim.

He reminded the Council that he had agreed to steer this Council through the process and would be meeting Mrs. Thomas shortly to discuss the effectiveness of the Web Site.

He went on then to rally the troops to the ALCA AGM due on 3^rd September at Keynsham Town Council Meeting Room. He said that ALCA had a pretty good record for finding officers and committee - let's keep up the good work.

Cllr. Mrs. Coleshill wished to introduce herself and Mrs. Bevan to full Council and to give a resume of their work so far since 1^st May when they were elected. She summarised the traffic calming, some planning matters and the question of the C3 bus withdrawal.

Chairman said that he hoped that Cllr. Mrs. Coleshill would stop pushing for more calming and mentioned that the Clerk had already written to B&NES officers asking them to stop. He also asked that the two B&NES Councillors should not interfere with traditional Parish Council business as he felt that his members and the Clerk were well qualified to represent the village on local issues.

The Public Session had taken 35 minutes so the Chairman closed it - the two B&NES Councillors then left.

1. Minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 12^th May 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 12^th May 2003

ALCA Training - 13^th September 2003

Clerk reminded members that definite numbers were now required for the session at Keynsham Town Council Meeting Room. It was confirmed that Cllrs. Butt, Mrs. Matthews, Mrs. Kennedy and Gregory would attend.

3. Correspondence

a). B&NES. Public Entertainment Licences

Notice that the Youth Centre and Waggon & Horses have applied for licence renewals. Noted with no objections.

b). B&NES. "A Landscape Character Assessment"

A copy has been received for the Council library.

c). Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Ethical Framework Regulations

Letter explaining the regulations to be followed by the monitoring officer when allegations of councillor misconduct are referred to him. Noted.

d). The Standards Board. Revised booklet for 2003

Ten copies of "How do I register and declare interests and register gifts and hospitality" received for distribution. Members took several copies and the Clerk will hold the rest.

e). Bath and Wansdyke Magistrates Court. Recruitment

Letter explaining the work expected of lay magistrates. Noted.

f). B&NES. Funding of Environmental and Heritage Projects

Leaflet laying out the types of projects to be covered and the type of organisation allowed to apply. Members suggested that the new "Friends of the Hump" might qualify for grant aid.

g). B&NES. Garden waste and cardboard collections

Leaflet and e-mail has been received explaining the new system (which has already started). The Clerk has written a lengthy piece on the new service in the Newsletter.

h). B&NES. Norton Radstock InfoPlus

Letter asking for volunteers to sit on the consultation panel to advise on the present service and recommend any expansion. There were no volunteers.

i). David Rogers. Withdrawal of the C3 bus route

Mr. Rogers made a very good case to show hardship for people of all ages who live in the estates south of Orchard Way, especially in the two peak periods when workers and school children find the service most convenient. He did however mention that the service, during the middle of the day, was little used.

Members agreed that the Clerk should write to B&NES to register this Council's support for an all out effort by B&NES to keep a similar service going.

4. Accounts

a). Payment of Accounts

Accounts had been tabled at the start of the meeting and all were endorsed for payment. They were:

Fosseway Press Ltd £39.08, 52.93, 335.50 & 28.02; Thompsons 11.60; Focus DIY 9.98; M J Whittock (salary and expenses) 1416.84 & 1414.84; Inland Revenue 553.10 & 786.67; Peasedown Cricket Club 200; Information Commissioner 35; Chris Champion 666.52; Cyril Chivers 169.45; Roy Mannings 321; SEC Contracting 818.05; SLCC 220; SWEB 20.54 & 791.84; Landscape Company 351.59; C Mitchell 280; Neon Polythene 29.38; Norton Garden Machinery 4.70 & 25.41; J Barker 144; J Beck 14 & 14; Rev Bonsey 2 & 2; Bath Road Service Station 7.69, 18.73, 7.49 & 7.49; ALCA 23.98; Avon Business Machines 164.50; Peter Davies 109.20, 124, 129.66 and 233.20; Fr Ferguson 2; Southwest Fencing Services 352.21; Victim Support Avondale 100; 1^st Peasedown St John Guides 163.50; Peasedown Opportunity Project 125; Beacon Tots 150; 1^st Peasedown St John Scout Group 500 and WISH 150.

The Finance Committee at its meeting on 14^th July considered the Annual Return and recommended that it should go forward to its next stage.

1. Section 1 of the Annual Return prepared and signed by the RFO is endorsed and signed by the Chairman of Council.
2. Section 4 of the Annual Return prepared and signed by the Internal Auditor is endorsed.
3. As all questions on Section 2 of the Annual Return can be answered in the affirmative the Chairman of the Council and Clerk of the Council should sign it.
4. The Annual Return is sent to the External Auditor for his final certificate.

The proposal was seconded and agreed unanimously.

5. To receive the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 19^th May, 16^th June and 14^th July 2003

Cllr. Derrick presented these minutes. He reported on the fact that he had attended the B&NES Planning Committee meeting last week to speak against the plan to cut one of the Swedish houses in two and build a detached house in it place. He argued that the plan would not comply with the SPG and that the idea would squeeze the half left into a corner surrounded by a small commercial estate and the new detached house. The planning committee had agreed with him and refused the application. Cllr. Derrick was thanked for his work on the item. All other decisions were endorsed.

For information - Cllr. Butt reported that he has been asked by an interested party to attend a meeting at the site of the old Ashgrove Garage to discuss the application for three houses. Cllr. Bolwell asked to also attend.

6. To receive the minutes of an Environment Committee meeting held on 2^nd June 2003

Cllr. Butt presented these minutes. He asked for questions or comments. There was general satisfaction with the overall effect of the new flower baskets and beds. Members congratulated Cllr. Butt and his committee. Clerk said that Mr. Chivers was now in complete charge of the watering and seemed to get the frequency just right. Clerk said that although the cost of the watering element of the beds and baskets could not be estimated last November, he would be keeping a record of this year's extra work so that a firm estimate can be arrived at for the job next year. It was pointed out that work being done watering the flowers and emptying the litterbins on the new POS, should be really charged to this committee. The Personnel Committee would have to keep an eye on monies set aside this year for the Caretakers and if the head became exhausted money may have to be vired.

Cllr. Butt said that he and Cllr. Mrs. Matthews had produced the questionnaire on the traffic calming and with the Council's permission they would like the Committee to distribute them in the village. Council agreed.

Cllr. Butt also mentioned the fact that he had now met a group of people from the estates abutting the new POS who have formed a "Friends" group and wished to help the Council with voluntary work and a certain amount of quiet policing. Members were very supportive of the idea and looked forward to receiving the Group's ideas for the possible future uses of the POS.

Cllr. Butt announced that he and the Clerk would now be actively working towards an official opening on 20^th September. A band from Downside School and the Holcombe Majorettes were to be approached to see if they could perform and the Chairman of Council has agreed to supply a light picnic tea. An advance notice has been inserted into the August Newsletter and the press and notice boards would now be used to publicise further details. (Andrew Dix lives beside the site and is the "Friend's PRO)

All recommendations and suggestions were endorsed.

7. To receive the minutes of meetings of the Magazine Committee held on 19^th May, 16^th June and 14^th July 2003

Cllr. Mrs. Thomas presented these minutes. She was able to show a dummy of the new cover design to be used for the fifth birthday Newsletter. The cover now shows explicitly that the Newsletter is a Council publication. Church news has been put inside on page seven and replaced by Council meeting news. All recommendations were endorsed.

8. To receive the minutes of a Finance Committee meeting held on 14^th July 2003

Cllr. Mrs. Butt presented these minutes. She drew attention to the fact that, at the end of the first quarter of the financial year, 25% of the planned spending had taken place. All recommendations were endorsed.

9. To receive the minutes of a Personnel Committee meeting held on 19^th May 2003

Cllr. Mrs. Latchem presented these minutes. She reported that the new Cemetery Caretaker was doing an excellent job and was tackling the flower-watering job very efficiently.

10. Reports

a). Police Liaison Meeting

Cllr. Bolwell reported a very well attended meeting on 16^th July. He thought the attendance was good because the motor bike nuisance was a definite item on the agenda - in the past the nuisance was only discussed when brought up by members. Cllr. Bolwell was disappointed with the attitude of the Police who still wanted to shift the responsibility for stopping the illegal practice onto other agencies. He said that the Police took the attitude that "its not our job to chase teenage motor cyclists across fields". Chairman was also disappointed with that attitude as he reminded members that the Clerk had researched the problem and he had found that, as the practice is against a criminal law, only the Police could take action. It is not possible for the Council to tackle the problem with a by-law.

b). Safety Action Group

Cllr. Mrs. Button reported on a very busy meeting when most of the problems discussed were also regularly on this Council's agenda. The Group is at odds with the Parish Council, as they would prefer more traffic calming - they have now suggested more road pinch points to deter speeding motorists.

c). School Governors

Cllr. Mrs. Latchem asked if she might give a brief report as things were changing at the school. She was a little worried that the Government was again suggesting that the minor authorities should not have an automatic right to nominate a governor to primary schools. The governors at the school has again made a strong plea to government to keep the status quo as this Council had always provided high quality interested governors.

d). Youth Parish Council

Chairman of Council reported on a meeting held in the Youth Centre, which he attended with Cllr. Butt and the Clerk. He reported that he was not happy with the way the YPC was going as he felt that their leader was influencing the youth's thinking. Only five young people had attended and the youth leader had virtually taken the chair. A lengthy discussion took place when nearly all members gave their views on how they felt the youths should be supervised - and by whom. No firm solution was found and it was eventually decided that the Clerk should have a talk with Scott Lange, the Community Action officer responsible for YPCs, to see if he had any previous experience with the problem. Meanwhile it was hoped that, after some of the youths had attended the two training courses arranged for the summer holidays, the problem might solve itself.

11. Any other business, being a preview of correspondence received since 17^th July for noting or placing on a future agenda.

a). B&NES. Draft Supplementary Guidance - Archaeology. To Planning Committee. b). B&NES. Bus Information Strategy - Consultation. To Environment Committee. c). B&NES. Letter from Mr. Brook saying that he is still working on the Commons Registration application sent to him by this Council over two years ago! Noted. d). Alun Michael MP. Letter informing local councils that he is introducing even more measures which, he says will give an even better quality of life in rural areas. Noted.

12. Dates of next meetings

The Clerk had circulated with the agenda a meeting and financial programme for the year September 2003 to July 2004. Members agreed the programme.

It was agreed that the usual arrangements for considering planning applications during the August recess should take place again this year.

Meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.