PEASEDOWN ST JOHN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of an Environment Committee meeting held on Monday 9th May 2005 at 8 p.m. in the Cricket Clubhouse
Present: Cllr. R W G Butt (Chairman)
Cllrs. Mrs. F M Butt, F J Day, Mrs. M Kennedy, Mrs. E V Latchem and A A Spiller.
Also present: Cllrs. Mrs. R M Rich, C Rich, J P Rich and one member of the public. An apology was received from Cllr. Mrs. K M Thomas.
Public Session
Mr. Provest made three comments:
a). He congratulated the Council's gardener on his choice of flowers for the spring show, especially the tulip display.
b). He asked if the Council had been invited to send a representative to the B&NES Public Transport Liaison Group's meeting due to take place on 19th May.
c). When would the steps in Ecewiche Green be started?
It was agreed that the Clerk should find out why the Council was not invited to the meeting mentioned in (b) and informs Mr. Provest and the Chairman who also wished to attend.
The Clerk said he would ask the contractor for a start date on the job mentioned in (c) as the material has been paid for and is now ready for the contractor to call on when needed.
These minutes, which had been previously circulated were taken as read, agreed a true record and signed by the Chairman. There were no matters arising.
a). B&NES. Children's Play equipment - proposed grant aid scheme for 2005/2006
The Clerk apologised for putting this item on this committee but he felt that, due to the changes expected in two weeks time and the fact that the Recreation Field Committee had no pressing business he felt that this committee could handle the subject. If time was available this item would have been put on the agenda of the new Amenities Committee, but an answer is required by this Wednesday.
B&NES are proposing to continue with its grant-aid to PCs who control play area equipment. To qualify for grant-aid each PC is expected to sign up to an annual free B&NES inspection.
The Clerk reminded members that the Council also uses RoSPA for its annual inspections and they have already been booked for next month.
It was agreed that the Council signs up for the free inspection and therefore have the benefit of two opinions on the safety of the Council's equipment.
b). B&NES. Parking outside 7 Bath Road
The owners of 7 Bath Road have written to the Parking Department of B&NES asking if something can be done outside their house to allow them to more easily use a space in the road to park their car.
The B&NES Team Leader has written and asked this Council if it would like to look at the whole village and recommend possible changes to the parking restrictions.
Members were a little amazed at the suggestion as a lengthy Transport Issues Report, which contained parking suggestions, was composed last year after many member and public hours and sent to Neil Terry and Cllr. Sir Elgar Jenkins - where has that report gone!
It was agreed that the Clerk should write to B&NES informing them that this Council would take a look at the problems but to draw attention to the report already on their table.
It was further agreed that the item should be put on the agenda of the first Policy and General Purposes Committee meeting.
c). B&NES. Open Space Plan
Letter thanking PCs for their help in establishing the ownership of open spaces and their suggestions on ways things could be improved. An interim report has been prepared and forward planning has already started. Noted with satisfaction.
d). B&NES. Litter awareness
Letter explaining that they are about to embark on a comprehensive campaign of education. Posters, leaflets and car stickers are available to PCs. Agreed to ask for more posters.
The Clerk introduced this item by saying that he had had a telephone call from a Norton Radstock Town Councillor asking if this Council would like to support them in an effort to change the boundary of the Mendip book to include Bath and cut out Weston Super Mare.
Members agreed that this Council should also write a firm objection to the present boundary.
Cllr. Mrs. Butt was sorry but she was not able to finish her suggested revamped entry form for this meeting. She promised to supply the Newsletter Editor with a copy before the end of the month.
Chairman introduced two items.
The telephone box outside the school is now so frequently vandalised that it is an eyesore and is a danger because of the broken grass. Does the village really need the box? Agreed to place on the first P&GP Committee agenda, meanwhile public concerns could be canvassed through the June Newsletter.
The grass cutting done by this Council on roadside verges and roundabouts now makes a very expensive contribution to "double taxation". Agreed to find a middle way with B&NES - to be debated at the first Environment Committee meeting.
Meeting closed at 9 p.m.