Present: Cllr. R W G Butt (Chairman)

There were no questions or comments.

1. Minutes of an Environment Committee meeting held on 5th January 2004

 

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 Environment Committee meeting held on 8^th December 2003

 

The committee was asked to look again at the B&NES consultation document on "Relationship with Voluntary Bodies etc"

Cllr. Mrs. Thomas reported on her interpretation as it might possibly effect this Council and it was agreed eventually that this Council should respond positively to the idea that the new CVS, when set up, should follow the national core services definition. Further questions set by the paper seemed to be very technical and members could not see the reason for seriously involving this Council. The level of funding could well be queried as a four-year-old estimate has been used. Clerk was asked to convey those points.

 

3. Matter arising from an Environment Committee meeting held on 5^th January 2004

 

Keyhole Stiles on Footpaths BA 19/34 and BA 19/32

Clerk has now received some suggestions from the B&NES Footpath Officer for the stiles to be replaced or scrapped. In both cases the old stiles will be given to this Council for possible future use on other sites. The stile beside the Cemetery should be taken out and stored - members agreed.

The stile on Bath Road is the most problematic and B&NES have suggested taking it out and then supplying a guardrail along the pavement edge. Clerk reported that already Highways, who have said that the pavement is not wide enough to allow the barrier, have scotched that idea. Members then decided to ask B&NES to look into the system being used by Parks in Beacon Field. They have invented a very simple and relatively cheap barrier, which would certainly fit the bill on this footpath site.

 

4. Correspondence

 

a). Avon and Somerset Police. Partnership Funding for Police Community Support Officers

Copies of a letter from the Assistant Chief Constable had been circulated with agenda. This Council has been asked for its views on the future of PCSOs now that the Home Office funding is to gradually reduce. This Council is asked whether it would be interested in entering into a partnership funding for a PCSO which could cost £25,700 per annum.

Members were a little confused as to what PCSOs do and what were their powers. The letter seemed to assume that everybody knew. The Clerk was asked to ring the contact number to see if more information was available.

b). B&NES. Environment and Consumer Services - Customer Charter

Members had been previously circulated with copies of the Charter and were impressed with its contents. It was agreed to note the Charter with the hope that B&NES would be able to keep up with the high standard it had set itself.

 

c). B&NES. New powers to ban alcohol in public places

Another consultation exercise and the papers had been sent with agenda. Members were pleased to see that B&NES have proposed to do something about rowdy behaviour outside licenced premises and the like, albeit only at present in the City of Bath, Keynsham and Norton-Radstock. Members agreed to support the proposed scheme for those areas and suggested that areas in this village should be considered later. Clerk to reply.

 

5. Village Traffic Calming

 

Chairman said that he was still not able to give the Committee the results of the public survey. He did, however, wish to raise one problem, which had come to light through another contact. He had heard that B&NES were going to look again at the whole scheme to see if most of it could be ripped out. The Clerk had made enquiries and had come up with the absolute opposite as they were still looking to add more outside the site of the new shops!

Chairman thought that it was about time that this Committee and the two District members sat round a table with an officer from B&NES when the whole scheme could be debated. Clerk to arrange for the next meeting.

 

6. Action Plan 2004/2005

 

The Clerk asked the Committee if it could give him some form of guidance on the programming of the Plan. Members felt that the programming and funding of the Plan would fall into place as the year progressed as most schemes were spread pretty evenly through the year and would not give this Committee a cash flow problem. The only question still not answered was the extent and type of treatment of the two roundabouts - this should fall into place after the meeting between Chairman and Clerk with Peter Brook from B&NES due to take place this Wednesday.

 

7. Action Plan for Ecewiche Green (for funding in 2005/2006)

 

Following this Committee's decision to have a site meeting in April and then compose an Action Plan for the Green, the Clerk asked for guidance as to what members would like to see included in the first draft.

The extent of the grass cutting had already been decided and funds provided for - the first year would be an experiment that would give guidance for future years. Three contractors have quoted for the job and the committee must choose its contractor in plenty of time to set up the contract for the start of the growing season.

The Clerk was asked to start the Action Plan with the steps that have been found to be necessary in the Morgan Way entrance, hedge laying and notice boards.

The Clerk was asked to contact the person who oversees the public open space at Camerton Batch to see if he could advise this Committee on the various hedge treatments that could be used on the Green.

Clerk said that, considering the past correspondence received from the residents of Underleaf Way, any hedge cutting would have to be done bearing in mind that noise pollution from the by-pass would increase when hedges are first laid.

 

8. Any other business - being a review of recent correspondence for noting or placing on a future agenda

Clerk reported a letter from B&NES asking this Council to comment on their strategy for powered two-wheeler vehicles. Will be placed on the agenda of the next meeting.

Clerk reported that, following a holding e-mail to the CAB concerning a grant; e-mail has been received from the CAB outreach officer asking to meet the Clerk to discuss a possible branch in the village. Clerk to arrange.

Meeting closed at 9 p.m.