Present: Cllr. R W G Butt (Chairman)

Mr. P Provest informed the meeting that had taken some photographs of the stile to be discussed in Item 6. Chairman thanked him for his help and tabled the pictures to be looked at later.

Mr. I McInnes said that he would like to raise three items for the committee's perusal.

1. Footpath 19/25. He said that recently barriers have been erected in this footpath but they still do not stop motorbikes from using the path.
2. Wellow Lane hammerhead to Russet Way. He had noticed that vehicles are still using this short cut, sometimes across a resident's front garden.
3. Roundabouts. He mentioned the fact that B&NES have given this Council permission to plant the two roundabouts. He wondered if money would be set aside this planting season to make a start.

Chairman asked the Clerk to investigate the first two with the highway inspector and he would be bringing up item three later in the agenda when a comprehensive planting scheme is discussed.

1. Minutes of an Environment Committee meeting held on 8^th December 2003

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

2. Matter carried over from the meeting of 8^th December 2003

The Chairman asked that members return to the lengthy document circulated by B&NES concerning the B&NES relationship with voluntary bodies.

He said that he had read the report again and said he found it a little difficult to understand in places because he found the terminology a bit technical and only understandable by specialist officers with a voluntary sector background. Other members also found the document a difficult read.

It was agreed that the committee would take the offer from Cllr. Mrs. Thomas to give the document another read and asked her if she could come up with some comments during the next Council meeting.

3. Correspondence

a). DEFRA. Equine Issues

Letter from Alun Michael MP describing the Government's future policies. Left on the table.

b). B&NES. Parish Council Consultation re their Affordable Homes Policy

Another lengthy report asking for comments before 15^th January 2004 when a Overview and Scrutiny Review meeting will be held in the Small Hall, Somer Centre, Gullicks Tyning in Midsomer Norton at 4.30 p.m.

The Chairman had read the draft strategy and terms of reference and he gave a brief report to members and it was finally agreed to make one very important suggestion for the Panel's scrutiny. This committee felt that, from evidence gleaned from this Council's own Planning Committee meetings, affordable housing is being lost through permitting large extensions on small starter units - usually upsetting a well thought out street scene. The Clerk was asked to convey the comment to the Panel.

4. Village Traffic Calming

The Chairman apologised for not having collated the results.

5. Key-Hole Stile in path BA 19/34 opposite the Co-op

The pictures supplied by Mr. Provest were studied at length and members agreed that its state of repair could cause accidents and give problems to mums with buggies therefore it was decided to ask B&NES Footpath Department to advise on a suitable repair or alternative.

6. Action Plan

An updated Plan had been circulated with the agenda and the various items were reviewed.

Cllr. Mrs. Thomas asked why work (except for the grass cutting) on Ecewiche Green was not programmed. The Clerk said that he had assumed from recent debate and decisions made by this Committee that, other than keeping the grass down, all other work was to be placed in an independent action plan for the Green which would be inaugurated after site meetings in the spring.

Roundabout planting, as mentioned during the public session, was then debated and it was agreed that this Committee wished that a start should be made next financial year and £1000 was earmarked for the scheme. It was also decided that further flowerbeds should be established at the Dunkerton Hill end of the by-pass and that extra flower baskets be left to the following year.

It was also decided that, following the experience of the past three years, an 18foot Christmas Tree should be used at Dunkerton Hill as the larger trees were of a better shape.

Grass cutting on the Village Green would remain at 5 cuts but the cutting of the Radstock end of the by-pass should be raised to 6 cuts to emphasise the flowerbeds. The two jobs would cost £704.

The Clerk had obtained two estimates for grass cutting on Ecewiche Green - the two were practically identical so £2000 was placed in estimates for the job.

The Clerk has costed the re-modelling of the beacon plinth and the painting of the beacon brazier at £3000 but members felt that the Beacon was not really the responsibility of this Committee.

It was recommended that the Finance Committee and Council look for other funding for the job.

Cllr. Mrs. Butt asked if this Committee agreed with her that street lighting should be looked at, as she felt that all new lighting should be of the "downlighting" type. Members agreed and the Chairman concluded that light pollution was a legitimate subject for this committee to debate.

The Clerk was asked to introduce an action plan expressly for Ecewicke Green ready for the next meeting when ideas can be taken from all members of the Council for consideration in readiness for a site meeting.

The complete cost of the Action Plan for 2004/2005 is £7574.

7. Bid for funding in the year 2004/2005

Meeting closed at 9 p.m.