Present: Cllr. R W G Butt (Chairman)

The Chairman welcomed Mr. Terry and the two District members and invited all present to take part in an extended public session to discuss generally the traffic calming in the village.

So many questions and comments were fired at the Chairman and Mr. Terry that the Clerk found it difficult to minute the session. Mr. Terry thought that the best way forward from this public session would be if the Parish Council were to compose a letter containing its suggestions on the calming which could be used by the District Members, who had agreed initially to approach the Executive Member for highways.

Mr. Terry also thought that it would be a good idea (to follow up the letter) if a Working Party was appointed by this Committee to make a calm and collected overall survey of the present scheme and come up with recommendations for its greater efficiency.

The Chairman thanked Mr. Terry and all present for their contribution to the discussion and opened the formal part of the meeting.

1. Minutes of an Environment Committee meeting held on 9th February 2004

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

2. Matters arising from the minutes of 9^th February 2004

a). Keyhole Stile on Footpath BA 19/34

Clerk reported that an order had now been made for the stile to be removed. There was no intention to replace it with any other barrier.

Chairman of Council reported a telephone conversation with Stuart Ballard, Footpaths Officer with B&NES. Cllr. Derrick thought that the idea was a backward step as the stile had worked perfectly well for over 50 years. He said that this Council should hold Mr. Ballard responsible if ever a child ran onto the road and was injured.

b). Avon and Somerset Police. Partnership funding for PCSOs

The Clerk was able to relay a few more details of the scheme after talking to an officer at police headquarters. Members were still not convinced that these officers were the way forward in the battle to stop vandalism and to relay confidence to residents who fear anti-social behaviour. It was decided to leave the idea on the table.

 

 

 

 

 

To page Two…………………….

Minutes of an Environment Committee meeting held on 8^th March 2004. Page Two.

3. Correspondence

a). B&NES. Powered Two-Wheeler Strategy Consultation

The Clerk was able to verbally précis the document and after a brief discussion it was agreed that the strategy was enviable but did not really involve Parish involvement.

b). B&NES. Annual Review of Supported Bus Services

Letter with good news for residents off Orchard Way as a solution to the withdrawal of the old C3 bus route has been found and certain buses would now provide direct services to bath from Orchard Way and also cover internal routes to serve the shops and doctors etc. Noted with satisfaction as Mr. Provest agreed to peruse the timetable and give Council his views.

4. Village Traffic Calming

Chairman asked members to cast their minds back to the earlier extended public session with Mr. Terry. He proposed that the way forward should be as suggested by Mr. Terry during that session.

He suggested that the Working Party should consist of members and non-councillors. He could see the Party involving residents (those who live along the route and others), the Community Safety Action Group, Neighbourhood Watch, Police, the Clerk and Mr. Terry. He suggested that the findings of the Working Party should be fed directly back to the Council as other committees were involved and he wanted to open the debate to as many members as possible.

5. Action Plan 2004/2005/Planting on Roundabouts

Chairman reported on the meeting taken with Mr. Brook of B&NES. The Clerk and Mr. McInnes were also present. He reported that, in principle, Mr. Brook was happy for the PC to look after the roundabout with one very important condition. The PC must make sure that all workers were warned of the fact that the roundabouts were placed in a fairly high-speed stretch of road and care must be taken when working there.

Chairman said that he was looking for sponsorship, (which B&NES would allow) and was confident that he could tie up a couple of deals very soon. He would now work with the Clerk to decide the position of the flowerbeds, both on the roundabouts and on the verges in Dunkerton Hill and follow up the suggestion that B&NES may be able to supply plants.

6. Action Plan for Ecewiche Green 2004/2006

The Chairman and Clerk were due to meet a landscape consultant this morning but the consultant had to cry off at short notice - although the time was not wasted as Chairman and Clerk toured the site to assess the re-planting. Chairman said that he would like to think that the development could be "signed off" before the end of the month as the only work left to now do was a final grass cut. Clerk has ascertained that the contractor would like to carry out a final inspection with the Clerk of Works in time to submit the final bill within this financial year.

Clerk had tabled an initial Action Plan for members to peruse. It covered grass cutting, hedge treatment, path treatment and possible sites for steps. Cllr. Mrs. Thomas asked that an info type notice board should be considered and it was agreed to add it to the Plan. The Chairman would now call a site meeting, probably next month, when the Plan can be assessed "on the ground".