Cleeve Parish Council s2

CLEEVE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of Cleeve Parish Council held on 14th November 2017, commencing at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Cleeve.

Minute Ref: / Agenda Item / Action
Present:
207/17 / Cllr Hilary Burn (Chairman)
Cllr Jean Ashman (Vice Chairman)
Cllr Alan Doughty
Cllr Marianne Pitman / Cllr George Stringer
Cllr Deb Lister
Cllr Toby Morton
In attendance: Alicia Fox (Clerk to the Council), 8 members of the public
208/17 / Apologies:
District Cllr Deborah Yamanaka
209/17 / Member of the public
A member of the public spoke about the Lord Nelson, he is not happy about mixing the café with alcohol, and will still oppose it but not as negative as originally thought.
The applicant of the planning application on 116 Main Road spoke. He advised that they have submitted a retrospective planning application for off road track. Residents moved to the house 18 months ago and field was just used outside space. Motocross is a hobby he appreciates off road bikes can be seen as a nuisance. Currently training for motocross racing, uses manufacturers standard exhaust. Idea of field would be used for training and checking bikes are in order, he has bought an electric bike which is essentially silent. Only since soil mounds being built has a complaint been made. The 28 14 day rule has been complied with.
Only used by himself and 2 children, occasionally a friend.
210/17 / Declarations of Interest
a)  Declarations of Interest relating to items on the agenda.
There are no declarations of interest.
b)  Dispensations
There were no applications for dispensations for section 33 (b) to (e).
211/17 / Minutes of the meeting held on 10th October 2017
The minutes of the meeting held on 10th October were agreed as an accurate record and the master was then signed by the Chair Hilary Burn.
212/17 / Clerks report
All finances from last month have been made.
Risk Assessments
Clerk chased NSC regarding Bishops Mead to Claverham.
Correspondence
Letter sent to Yatton United Charities Clerk confirming Cllr Pitman to continue.
Thank you letter was sent to Chair Georgie Biggs for the CPRE event Cllr Burn attended.
Internal Audit meeting with Grant Thornton:
1.  Need to be posting draft minutes to the website within 14 days of the meeting, everyone happy with this?
2.  Can we confirm if we are happy to continue using Grant Thornton for 2018/19?
Both points agreed.
Car Wash
Caroline Crane advised behind the car wash is littered with their rubbish.
No 3 Main Road
Cllr Burn and the Clerk visited no 3 Main road on Monday 6th November, the owner was advised a bat survey would be required and if they were keen to develop the field it would be beneficial to come to Council early on. The Clerk has sent over information regarding the bats.
The Old Stables
NSC under pressure with volume of cases but it is being handed over to new case officer and an update will be received soon.
Holiday- please can I request:
- 1 weeks leave Monday 23rd April
-2 weeks leave from Monday 18th June- Sunday 1st July, this then uses all my holiday to start again on 3rd July.
Both holiday dates agreed.
All About Cleeve submission- As previously agreed via email by Councillors
Bank balances-
Business account- £20,075.15
Treasurers account- £ 530.57
213/17 / District Councillors report
Green garden waste collections
Don’t forget that garden waste collections will be monthly instead of fortnightly in December, January and February. In Cleeve the collection dates will be Tues 19th Dec, 16th Jan and 13th Feb. We should be getting new collection calendars, and they can also be downloaded from NSC’s website http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/.
NSC Planning Developments
NSC is holding some public Local Plan drop-in events aimed at “generating ideas and starting the debate” for more detailed planning for large proposed housing developments near Banwell, Churchill, Backwell and Nailsea.
For Churchill and Banwell - Wed 22 Nov at Churchill Primary School 6-8:30pm and Wed 29 Nov at Banwell children’s centre 3-7pm.
For Backwell & Nailsea - Thurs 30 Nov at Backwell Parish Hall 4-8pm and Thurs 7th Dec at the Tithe Barn, Nailsea 2-6.30pm.
There is also online consultation at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/localplan2036.
Last week I went to an exhibition put on by Taylor Wimpey in Backwell for the 700 houses they propose to build at Grove Farm, south west of Backwell, extending into Brockley parish. The idea is to upgrade Chelvey Rd as a route into the development and continue on to Nailsea Station. Brockley PC is not keen!
Council Connect
Last year NSC introduced an automated switchboard for its phone line 01934 888888. This involved automating many calls which could be directed easily to the right department. Some examples of programmed words for waste bin queries are: Bin Collections; Bin Timetables; Food Waste; Recycling Bins; Recycling Centres; Wheelie Bin Not Emptied.
If these words are spoken into the Interactive Voice Response system (IVR) the call will go to the Development & Environment Directorate. Over 75% of calls now go straight through the IVR, without the need to involve an operator, and with reportedly very few complaints.
Residents’ calls are logged onto a system which delivers the request to the services’ back office systems. For example, if the resident reports a pot hole, the team will ask a set of questions to establish the right information. This is then logged onto a database and electronically transmitted to the pothole team who will action it.
The number of “abandoned” calls (ie not answered) has been difficult to address in the last year due to the introduction of garden waste bins and difficulties with the new waste contract. The total number of calls was unexpectedly high, and four extra staff were employed to deal with this.
The contact centres allow 10 calls at any one time. The 11th caller will receive a message to say that all agents are busy, please call back later. In order to make cost savings contact centre hours were reduced from 08:00-18:00 to 09:00-17:00 in July. Hours will probably be reduced further in the future.
New Highways Contract
North Somerset Council’s highways contractor is Skanska, on a 2-year contract ending in April 2018 which could be extended for another year. NSC had intended to start a new long-term contract in April with Bath & North-East Somerset Council, for highways and street lighting (maintenance and new & replacement lights). But B&NES then decided not to change its contract next year. So NSC is now making a 5-year agreement with Peterborough County Council for highway maintenance and street lighting from April next year. Peterborough also has Skanska as its highways contractor on a contract up to 2013, meaning that Skanska will continue to be NSC’s contractor under this new arrangement. So no change there!
214/17 / Lord Nelson Update
Cllr Burn explained to the members of the public what was included in the letter sent to Jon Tout. The Clerk read the question received from Mark Crosby and Cllr Burn said a response needs to be sent. The response drafted by Cllr Burn has been agreed by all Parish Councillors.
‘We requested at our meeting on 14 February for alternative suggestions for the site other than a petrol station. As you well know it has been made clear to us by residents that a petrol station is not welcome in Cleeve. The proposal put forward in the current consultation is very similar to that given on 14 February. Cleeve Parish Council at that meeting stated we were not against development and have worked successfully with other developers. We wondered if the message had got lost that we are in favour of working towards a sustainable development on that site other than a petrol station.’
3 members of the public leave.
215/17 / Tony Moulin for YACWAG
Tony Moullin spoke about the need for the surveys for Greater horseshoe bats in Cleeve. North Somerset is a bat hotspot. There are around 7000 bats in North Somerset, 15 maternity roosts, 2 of which are on the doorstep of Cleeve. Smaller bat is the Lesser bat which is also in the area. He has asked the Parish Council to comment on the Bat special area of Conservation paper. Paper is not about stopping development just protecting the bats. Ancient hedgerows even pre Tudor, 13th and 14th Century hedges used for feeding by the bats. Young bats hitch a ride with their mums to learn to feed from beetles, they need the right landscape such as cows grazing producing dung beetles. The bats are suffering from the cumulative effect, each planning application is dealt with independently and is not looking at the bigger picture of the impact for the bats which is what this document aims to do.
Tony said there must be a plan, the document not fully approved. Developers should employ consultants for zone A and B and Natural England need to be involved. Press on the objection in paragraph 4.17 which states about a minor impact affecting bats. Even a small bit of a development could impact the bats with the cumulative effect. Need to identify the areas which you think are sensitive and tie in the land use, need to keep grazing as it is a habitat. Lighting needs to be kept to a minimal.
2 member of the public leaves.
216/17 / Bridleway application
57 Ruggs way, Cllr Burn would like the Council to support it as not many places for horses to be ridden and can also be used by children.
217/17
Planning Applications:
(a)  For discussion:
i)  17/P/2376/F 27 Main road
No objections.
ii)  17/P/2398/F 116 Main road
Cllr Burn suggests a bat survey is done, residents advise they had one done due to planning applications on the house. Cllr Burn requested a copy is sent into the Council. Structure of the field has changed and therefore the ecology has changed. Cllr Ashman said if it had been ploughed as an agricultural field no planning application would need to be made. Wild flower seeds have been planted and no trees removed. Cllr Doughty heartened when he learnt it was just for owner and family, would need to have that written in the Councils response as a condition. Cllr Ashman said if they got planning permission the 28 14 day rule would no longer apply, residents advised if the Council did approve it then they would still apply it. Cllr Pitman asked if a log is kept, resident advised he has done this.
Council supports the application with the following permissions:
Immediate family use
A log of days and times are kept
Restriction of 14 days for internal combustion engines
Unlimited electric use
Time of use on a weekend between 10am and 4pm.
2 members of public leave.
iii)  17/P/2464/TPO Stonewood Farm
Object
Please can the Council consider the application as we feel the trees should remain in this location and they look for alternative solutions to reroute a water main if required.
(b)  For information:
17/P/1649/F 54 Cleeve Hill- Consent granted
218/17 / Finance
(a)  Payments received: None
Payments for authority – The Council approved the following items for payment:
Item / Cost (£)
North Somerset Council – dog bin emptying / £115.20
Clerk’s Salary (AF) – 16th October to 18th November / £485.10
Cleeve Village Hall / £126.00
Backwell school- Land maintenance / £282.00
Backwell school- Land maintenance / £330.00
Litter Picker’s Salary / £54.00
Inland Revenue / £16.00
Clerk – administration / £25.00
Clerk – travel – miles @ £0.45 / £14.40
Clerk – use of home as office – 5 weeks £20.00
219/17 / Consultations:
North Somerset and Mendip Bats special area of Conservation (SAC)
The Councillors agreed with the comments drafted by Cllr Burn.
1.  No comment
2.  Cleeve Parish Council has within its boundaries a maternity roost in King Wood SSSI and recognises the importance of protecting the species.
3.  Cleeve Parish Council agrees with this and recognises a 1km parameter around the maternity roost should be complied with and that green fields for new development should be avoided.
4.  Cleeve Parish Council recognise that the Bat consultation is required for each development.
5.  Cleeve Parish Council will advise any residents or developers to look at the impact of developing would have on the bats.
6.  Cleeve Parish Council will advise that developers and residents should seek the advice of a bat ecologist at pre-development.
7.  Cleeve Parish Council concurs with this statement if the impacts are really minor as this will be a value judgement by an officer, although due to the cumulative effect the changes to land use would need to be looked at as part of a bigger picture.
8.  Cleeve Parish Council believes that it will be extremely hard to provide replacement habitats, we can concur replacement habitats may be necessary in exceptional circumstances.
Cleeve Parish Council has noticed in recent planning applications that there have been considerable changes of land use which have not been addressed. The land use has changed in that animals no longer graze these fields and the fields are used for different purposes, this will inevitably have a detrimental effect on the bat population. The bats need animals to be grazing so that they produce dung and therefore dung beetles. The baby bats are taken out by their mothers and taught how to hunt for beetles, to do this they need the right habitat to exist. An example is given, firstly an important hedgerow acting as a corridor for the bats was ripped out, secondly fields which used to have animals on is now mown for a dog business and lastly we have an application before us for a field to be used for motocross practice.
We completely support this paper to become a supplementary planning document.
West of England Combined Authorities Joint Spatial Plan
This will be added to the agenda for Decembers meeting, Cllr Burn will draft a response to be circulated and approved by the other Councillors. Cllr Burn will be attending an open meeting in Backwell on the 30th November. Overall a submission similar to the last time will be sent, which will state that the new town needs to be nearer Bristol.
220/17 / New Metal Gates for footpaths
The Clerk read an email received from NSC and advised of the increase in costs, Clerk confirmed there is room in the budget to cover this. Council confirmed they are happy to proceed with the new gates on LA 6/2 and LA 6/4.
221/17 / Log of road accidents
The Councillors have agreed to report all accidents to the Clerk so that they can be logged. Add to AAC to contact clerk with date, location and time of incidents and cause and extent as we are starting a log database.
Clerk to ask police of any local traffic speeding offences.
222/17 / Dog Bins
The Clerk read the quote received from a private company who are currently operational in North Somerset. The quote will work out cheaper than using NSC. Final conclusions on dog bins will be decided by email.
223/17 / Budget
Clerk showed the Councillors the proposed budget for 2018/19. Clerk to send around to confirm. Parish grants to increase by £500 and village orderly salary to go to £8.50p/h.
224/17 / Book Annex room
All agreed for 2018, December 2018 to keep as 2nd Tuesday
225/17 / Lollypop lady
Contact Yatton Parish Council and ask if they would like us to obtain quotes for a zebra crossing and/ or a pedestrian crossing and put in a grant to the airport.
226/17 / Facebook
Cllr Burn worries with Lord Nelson could the account could have bad comments coming in. Cllr Lister advised it would be used as a channel of communication to as wide a community as possible to update about events. Keep it as an information forum page. Cllr Burn asked who would be posting the information, she feels that the Clerk would be the appropriate person to post updates. All Councillors agreed to a 6-month trial with 2 administrators.
227/17 / Bristol Airport Public consultation commencing 16 November
Cllr Burn attended the meeting, presentation coming out on Thursday 16th November. They want feedback on going to 19 million passengers by adding a new runway.
Document is 40 pages; Cllr Burn will draft a response and will circulate in advance of the December meeting for agreement by the other Councillors.
228/17 / Risk Assessments
None to report.
Thank Jeff for digging drainage ditch at the Rody, drainage pipe is still blocked.
229/17 / Reports on any meetings attended
CPRE- Cllr Burn attended the CPRE event and said it was very informative. An example of ahigh quality housing development to look at was Vauban, an urban extension to Freiburg. This development was considered a leading example of sustainable development.
230/17 / Invitations to External Meetings:
·  Cycle Forum 15th November Tithe Barn Nailsea 6.00pm.- No attendees
·  Cllr Burn, Cllr Stringer, Cllr Doughty, Cllr Lister, Cllr Ashman and Cllr Pitman will all attend the Bristol Airport Christmas party.
Cllr Morton cannot attend.
231/17 / Correspondence
None to report
232/17 / Meetings
The Council confirmed the date of the next meeting:
Council Meeting – 5th December at 7.30pm
The meeting closed at 9.35pm.

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