PEASEDOWN ST JOHN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a meeting of the Environment Committee held on Monday 8th December 2003 at 8 p.m. in the Cricket Clubhouse.

Present: Cllr. R W G Butt (Chairman)

Cllrs. F J Day, Mrs. M Kennedy, Mrs. E V Latchem and Mrs. K M Thomas.

The Internal Auditor, Mr. Peter Provest.

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr. Mrs. Butt (on business in London) and Cllr. Mrs. Matthews (convalescent).

Public Session

Mr. Provest reported that the keyhole stile opposite the Co-op was now in a very poor state. He asked if this committee might look at it with a recommendation for its repair. Chairman asked the Clerk to put the matter on the next agenda as he felt that due notice should be given.

  1. Minutes of a meeting of the Environment Committee held on 27th October 2003

    2. 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 27th October 2003

    3. Footpath Signing and Maps

    Clerk reported that he had ascertained the officer dealing with this task and has now sent this committee's comments.

  3. Correspondence

    4. a). B&NES. Relationship with voluntary and community sector

    Letter and very long paper on the subject, which requires comments by 13th January 2004.

    Cllr. Mrs. Kennedy was able to inform the committee that the paper seemed to be looking to revive the local CVS (Council for Voluntary Service). She said that one was already in being a few years ago but floundered when Bath City and old Wansdyke could not see eye to eye on its joint rural and urban planning.

    Chairman said that, initially, he wondered if our views would be useful to the proposed new set-up but he now felt that we should answer the B&NES composed questions attached.

    It was agreed to have another month to look at the paper and return at the next meeting with comments.

    b). Mr. A Hastings. Extra Tree Planting on Ecewiche Green

    Mr. Hastings has now written to the Clerk and Chairman of this Committee showing his disappointment at the committee's decision to leave any large tasks on the Green until an Action Plan can be composed in the spring of 2004. He accused the Council of reneging on its promise to plant more trees in the Morgan Way triangle. Chairman and Clerk agreed that the planting had been the idea of Mr. Hastings and no other representations on planting in this area had been received from other residents. Members agreed to stick with the policy of not doing piece-meal jobs but to wait for the properly composed Action Plan which would be considered in the spring.

  4. Village Traffic Calming Questionnaire

    5. Chairman reported that he had now received a fair number of completed questionnaires and on first glance it seems that each reply points at a different problem. It seems that the like and dislikes seem to tally with the address of the sender. He would now put the answers into some form of report and bring to the next meeting.

  5. Action Plan 2004/2005 (and beyond)

The Clerk supplied figures, allowing for inflation, for the ongoing jobs such as grass cutting, planting and Christmas tree supply and fitting. These figures were agreed although it was suggested that other sites should be looked at for hanging baskets.

The Clerk had obtained a quotation for repairing and modifying the beacon and plinth - the job will be quite costly and it was agreed that the Council should consider the job as a one-off special project to be paid for from other funds.

The grass cutting on Ecewiche Green was then discussed. The Chairman and Clerk had already held a site meeting where they had considered the frequency of cutting on the various areas. It was agreed that parts of the Green should be cut less frequently than others to give a variegated look, which would allow pleasurable pursuits for both adults and children and still allow areas for wild life. The Clerk based his recommendations on one quotation but another was promised in the next few days.

Cllr. Mrs. Thomas suggested that the mature hedges needed attention, some needed to be laid before they grow too tall, but agreed that the job should wait for the Green Action Plan.

It was felt that, as there were still many questions to be answered, that a final Plan (and a bid for funding) should be deferred until next meeting, which could be held just before the planned meeting of the Finance Committee on 5th January 2004. Meanwhile the Clerk would look for further quotations to back up the figures in the Plan.

A copy of the plan so far is to be printed and distributed to all Council members with a hope that all members can input into this very important year for this committee when it is looking to improve on its successes over the past few years.

 

Meeting closed at 9.05 p.m.