Minutes of the meeting of Westwood Parish Council held in the Parish Rooms, Westwood at 7.30 pm on Monday 5 March 2012.
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Present
Cllr. A Parker Chairman
Cllr. J Bishop
Cllr. G Edwards
Cllr. S Harding
Cllr. S Higgs
Cllr. J Johnston
Cllr. R Howard-Evans
Cllr. I Richardson (Part-time)
Mr. R Coleman Clerk
Wiltshire Councillor L Conley attended (Part-time).
There were no members of the public present.
1. Welcome and Introductions.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies.
Apologies for non-attendance were received from Parish Councillor. Cllr. T Biles.
3. Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on 6 February 2012.
The minutes of this meeting were signed as a true and accurate record.
4. Adjournment.
The Chairman welcomed Helen Lines and Caroline Metz from ‘Wiltshire Good Neighbours’ – an enterprise jointly supported by Wiltshire Council, Community First, Wiltshire age UK and Salisbury District age UK. Ms. Lines gave a presentation on the role and responsibilities of ‘Wiltshire Good Neighbours’ and commented that the main purpose of the scheme was to empower older and vulnerable residents to access the services, information and support they need to live safe, comfortable, fulfilling and independent lives. She introduced Caroline Metz as the local (Westwood) coordinator for the ‘Good Neighbour’ scheme.
Parish councillors expressed their support for the ‘Good Neighbours’ scheme and invited Ms. Lines to provide information on the scheme that could be placed on the website and in the Westwood Update.
A Question and Answer session followed at the conclusion of which the Chairman, Cllr Parker, thanked Ms. Lines for her presentation.
5. Westwood Road Safety.
a. Cllr. Richardson stated that the road works to improve the state of the classified roads through Westwood had now been completed during the period 22 – 28 February and he commented that except for one or two relatively minor matters the work had been completed to a high standard. He added that he had raised a query about the stretch of road from the tree-lined single lane [west side] to Downside Nurseries, which has not been repaired.
He reported that the ‘white-lining gang’, including painting the virtual pavement, are scheduled for 7 March and that resurfacing is still planned for June / July, after which the white-lining, including the virtual pavement, will be repainted.
Cllr. Richardson stated that he had attended the CATG Meeting that afternoon and that additional works for Upper Westwood, costing £538, have been approved and funded by the CATG. He commented that he had raised query about the date of works, which was to include signage and white-lining for the Westwood Nursery School area. He observed that other works which require legal permissions, such as moving the speed derestriction sign from the start of the tree-lined single lane to the other side of Downside Nurseries, will be revisited at the time of making a Traffic Order for the permanent implementation of the 20mph speed limit, if that is agreed.
He reported that other points emerging from the CATG Meeting were:
· The total budget of £25K for this fiscal year had been committed. The budget for 2012 - 13 is £10,602, and expectations of substantial further funding for Westwood should be lowered, unless Westwood Parish Council make financial contributions towards the work.
· Along with the C213 at Monkton Farleigh, and the C225 from the A36 to Midford, the C217 from Cock Hill, Trowbridge through to the A36 are to be considered for a total C road speed review. The 20mph trial in Westwood will not exclude the C217.
· Outstanding traffic calming and road improvements will need to be reviewed and updated, and revised requirements resubmitted to the CATG for their June meeting. Cllr. Richardson suggested that a meeting of the Westwood Road Safety Group is convened to carry out the review.
· The 20mph survey questionnaire is being finalised and it is estimated that it will be sent out towards the end of this month. However, the Parish Council has raised some concerns regarding its wording and emphasis which will be forwarded to the Wiltshire Council coordinator, Martin Rose.
· After completing the remaining metro counts at the other 20mph sites and following the analysis of all the survey results a report is to be published in the Summer.
The Chairman thanked Cllr. Richardson for his report. Cllr. Richardson stated that Mr Dave Thomas at Wiltshire Council had been particularly helpful and supportive in the implementation of these road safety improvements at Westwood and, following a proposal from Cllr. Richardson, the Council resolved unanimously to write a letter to the Wiltshire Council Service Director for Highways, Mr Parvis Khansari expressing its appreciation of the work undertaken by Mr Thomas..
Cllr. Howard-Evans stated that he still supported some form of footway utilising the existing grass verge at the Iford end of the village and was very disappointed that this matter had not been included in the work programme to be implemented at Westwood. Cllr. Richardson commented that a great deal had been achieved but the programme would be one of continuous improvement and requests for this footway work would be submitted to the Wiltshire Council CATG in due course.
Cllr. Higgs congratulated all those concerned in improving the appearance of the village and for making it a safer place to live.
b. Councillors decided that it was premature to assess whether the ’20 mph Speed Limit’ should be made permanent and that a more informed decision could be made following the completion of the trial, publication of the metro count survey results/analysis and knowledge of the feedback from the Survey Questionnaire. The Clerk was asked to place this matter on the agenda for the September Parish Council meeting.
c. Discussion on possible additional road safety measures for Westwood was deferred until a subsequent meeting.
d. The Chairman observed that the proposed Community Survey questionnaire had only been received by some councillors. A sample questionnaire was tabled and circulated to all councillors. Notwithstanding that, and also bearing in mind that it was to be a generic questionnaire equally applicable to the five trial sites, he considered that some of the wording could be improved and that better ‘tick boxes’ could be provided that required some thought to be exercised by the respondents when completing the questionnaire. He invited all councillors to forward any comments to him and he stated that he would liaise with Cllr. Richardson when responding to Wiltshire Council, David Rose.
6. Neighbourhood Policing.
a. In the absence of a member of the Neighbourhood Policing Team, no report was given’
b. There were no other matters reported.
7. Bradford on Avon Community Area Board.
a. The Clerk stated that he had still not yet received a reply from the Area Board Chairman to the Council’s invitation to address the Parish Council on the role of the Area Board. The Clerk was asked to make the necessary representations in order to secure a reply.
b. There were no matters raised that needed to be tabled at the forthcoming Area Board meeting.
Cllr. Richardson offered his apologies and left the meeting for another appointment.
8. Sub-Committees - Sub-Committee Reports.
a. The Council noted the status of extant planning applications thus:
W/11/02742/LBC 48 Lower Westwood Replace Garden Room Pending
W/11/03304/FUL 9 Chestnut Grove Single Storey Extension Permitted
W/11/03311/FUL 2 Staples Hill. Rear Conservatory Permitted
W/11/03315/LBC Well House. Garden Room/Alterations Consent
W/11/03318/CLE Magdalen Farm. Cert. of Lawfulness Pending
W/11/03319/FUL Magdalen Farm. Temp. Worker’s Dwelling Pending
W/12/00064/FUL 37 Lower Westwood. Rear Extension Permitted
b. The Council resolved to send comments to Wiltshire Council on the following planning application as shown in italics:
W/12/00306/TCA Ancliff Square Tree Works NEW
The Council resolved that it had no objections to this application.
c. There were no planning applications received after 28 February 2012.
d. The Clerk reported that he had contacted Wiltshire Council, Chris Kirk, regarding the felled oak at Lyefield Lane and was awaiting a reply.
Cemetery.
a. Cllr. Bishop reported on behalf of the Cemetery Sub-Committee. He stated that it appeared in good condition, although the path to the cemetery between the two gates must be kept cut back – especially in the area of the privet hedge – to allow access for the bier.
b. The Clerk stated that he had no more information regarding the Closed Churchyard/Cemetery. Cllr. Harding commented that the longer this matter continues the less likely it would be that Wiltshire Council would pay the Cemetery Grant.
c. The Clerk stated that he had approved an application for an interment in the Remembrance Garden and that the appropriate fee had been paid
Finance.
a. The Clerk reported the current financial position – details of which are appended to these minutes.
b. The Council resolved that the signatories for the National Savings Westwood Park Fund were to be the same as those for the other Westwood Parish Council Bank accounts, namely Cllrs. Parker, Bishop and Johnston.
c. The Council resolved to make the payments shown under ‘Payments to be authorised’ above.
Open Spaces.
a. Cllr. Edwards reported on behalf of the Open Spaces Sub-Committee and commented that there was nothing significant to report.
b. Cllr. Edwards stated that there was little to report with respect to the Play Area and that seven fencing slats remain missing from the Play Area fence. He commented that the new surface near the gate to the Play Area had now been installed and added that there was no additional graffiti to be seen.
Cllr. Johnston reported that a parishioner had observed a dog in the Play Area that appeared to belong to one of the adults who was supervising a child in the Play Area and that a number of fag ends had been discarded there also. The Clerk was asked to obtain a couple of ‘No Dogs’ signs to be erected at the Play Area.
The Clerk confirmed that Neville Day had undertaken the husbandry of the trees in Westwood Park.
C. Cllr. Bishop reported that he had received a request from Trowbridge Rangers Football Club to have the use of the Playing Field for their matches. There ensued a discussion on the effect on the condition of the Football Pitch resulting from the increased of this Playing Field if such a request was granted, the need for additional line marking, increased traffic and the possible noise nuisance to neighbouring properties if football matches are played on both Saturday and Sunday. Councillors also commented that it was a local village Playing Field and its use should be restricted to local village clubs, such as Westwood United Football Club.
The Council resolved to refuse the request. Cllr. Bishop stated that he would write to Trowbridge Rangers Football Club.
Cllr. Bishop relayed a request from a parishioner to the Council regarding the use of the Playing Field on 26 May 2012 for a Westwood School PTA sponsored Football Tournament to raise funds for the school. The parishioner had also requested that temporary access between the school and the Playing Field be created – subject to it being restored to its original condition after the tournament.
The Parish Council resolved that the Playing Field could be used for that purpose and that temporary access could be created. Cllr. Bishop agreed to inform the parishioner.
Environment.
a. In the absence of Cllr. Richardson there was nothing significant to report from the Environmental Sub-Committee.
b. Cllr. Edwards reported that the Parish Steward had been requested to complete any tasks that remained outstanding from his previous visit, including weed-spraying. Councillors identified potholes in Boswell Road and in Hebden Road as needing attention.
The Chairman asked that the website be used to invite parishioners to suggest tasks for the Parish Steward and that a similar note be placed in the Westwood Update. Cllr. Edwards stated that he would investigate how the website could be used and that he would contact the Newsletter editor.
c. Clerk’s Note.
This item was taken early in the meeting (at Agenda item 5) whilst Cllr. Richardson was present.
The Clerk stated that Stuart Renfrew, Wiltshire Council, Highways Dept. had requested a ‘parish contact’ be nominated so that he could ‘walk the highways’ in Westwood to identify any additional tasks that needed to be undertaken that were outwith the remit of the Parish Steward. Cllr. Richardson offered to be that contact. The Clerk was asked to pass these details to Mr Renfrew.
Footpaths.
a. Cllr. Johnston reported on behalf of the Footpath Sub-Committee and stated that there was nothing significant to report.
b. The Clerk invited the Parish Council to decide whether it wished to accept the offer from the Footpath Warden and to have a ‘kissing gate’ installed at the junction of Paths 7 and 8. Councillors discussed this matter at length, observing that these footpaths had many stiles on them and a single ‘kissing gate’ at this junction would not make any significant difference to the accessibility of this part of the countryside. The Council resolved not to request the installation of a ‘kissing gate’.
c. The Council noted the Footpath Diversion Order (Path 38).
9. Wiltshire Core Strategy Consultation – ends 2 April 2012.
The Council resolved that it had no comments to send to Wiltshire Council.
10. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration 2012.
In the absence of Cllr. Biles no report was given but it was noted that Cllr. Biles is to attend the next meeting of the Jubilee Celebration Committee.
Cllr. Parker tabled a poster advertising the ‘Wine and Cheese’ fundraiser to be held at The Old School House on 14 April 2012.
11. Westwood Update – Newsletter.
a. The Council considered a request from a parishioner to include commercial advertising on the Westwood Update and following a discussion on the merits or otherwise of this request the Parish Council resolved that the Editorial Policy would remain unchanged i.e. that there would be no commercial advertising in the Westwood Update.
b. The Editorial Policy Issue 1, dated 6 December 2004 was reviewed and the Council resolved to amend it as follows:
Delete Policy, Paragraph 9 and renumber existing paragraphs from 1 to 11 inclusive. This paragraph related solely to the reproduction cost of the Newsletter.
Clerk’s Note.
The Editorial Policy document is now ‘Editorial Policy Statement, Issue 2, 5 March 2012.
12. Mobile Library.
The Clerk stated that Wiltshire Council is undertaking a consultation on the proposed routes and timings of the Mobile Library visits and that the consultation ends on 11 May 2012. The Clerk was asked to include this matter as an Agenda item at the next meeting to allow councillors to sound out the views of parishioners.
13. Valley Parishes Alliance (VPA).
Cllr. Parker reported that he had attended the meeting of the VPA held on 9 February and gave the following report (shown in italics) that he read out at the meeting:
· The VPA website is fully up and running now – can be accessed at -www.valleyparishesalliance.org.uk.
· The position paper on canals was submitted to British Waterways in December
· Andy Thomas and Cleo Newcombe-Jones from BANES council made a presentation regarding the localism bill. Banes have held focus groups and Parish events. There are 3 main aspects.
o Neighbourhood development orders
Neighbourhood development orders would allow Parishes – to get some things set up without the need for planning e.g. solar panels – the right to build e.g. car parks and community facilities – small scale development that has local support
o Neighbourhood plans
This is planning focussed and is a permissive tool to enable Parishes to plan some future developments that the parishioners want e.g. affordable housing, old peoples housing, renewable energy, visionary policies. It is aimed at enabling Parishes to help shape local planning and become more involved in planning.
Freshford and Limpley Stoke are going ahead with a cross border application for a neighbourhood plan and have received funding to do so as a pilot, 150 people attended a meeting to launch it.
Neighbourhood plans do not replace Parish Plans.
They will have teeth and can put elements into planning that that the parish wants to include or exclude from higher level plans.
For plans for building, etc, the parish will need to hold a referendum where a majority votes for it.
There are summary guides on the BANES website and CPRE have a guide on their website.
o Community rights to buy
This is to enable parishes to have the right to challenge the sale of community assets and to have time to raise funds to purchase such assets. This is to stop community assets, such as pubs, shops, post offices, etc being sold off for other uses without the community having the chance to buy. With this in place parishes can say that they want to bid and there will be a 6 month period where a full bid to buy can be made. The owner does not have to accept the bid.
To activate this parishes must produce a list of properties that are assets to the community, there will then be a review period and an appeals process if owners do not want the property to be on the list. ( Note: maybe for Westwood we should consider the pub, the shop/post office, the social club, the parish hall, ........)
Parishes can put green spaces on this list. Council owned property can also be on the list.
o Community rights to challenge
Where the council provides a service in a parish which the parish believes can be provided better by another method (not a private company)then the parish can challenge the council and the council has to have a very good reason to refuse the challenge.
Information on all of the above can be found on www.bathnes.gov.uk/neighbourhood planning
· Transport
There is a meeting in March with the Highways agency to discuss the traffic situation and safety measures on the A36. The minister of transport sent a letter saying that a survey will be undertaken this year. If funding is available the results may be implemented next year.
· BANES core
There has been an encouraging meeting with BANES to discuss the plan and the disagreements that various organisations had with it. E.g. affordable housing – do Parish Councils have the right to check that tenants have local links.
BANES have put their amendments to the core strategy plan on their website.
· Gypsies and travellers
There will be a new consultation by BANES in June on specific sites for travellers.
· Kennet and Avon
British Waterways are expected to produce recommendations in a couple of weeks on the recent representations.
The VPA will probably be invited to have a representative on the Partnership Board for the canal.
BANES are trying to put “water dwellers” into the gypsies and travellers group as they think British Waterways will marginalise them.
14. Date of Parish Council Meeting.
a. The Council noted the date of the next Meeting:
· Ordinary Parish Council meeting – Monday 2 April at 7.30pm.
b. The date for the Annual Parish Meeting was agreed – Tuesday 24 April 2012.
15. Any Other Business.
Exchange of views on matters not requiring a decision.
The Clerk drew the attention of the Parish Council to the following:
· Wiltshire Council letter – ‘Fracking Operations’. This was a reply to the letter to Wiltshire Council from the Parish Council.
· Wiltshire Council letter – ‘Waiting Restrictions Consultation’. This letter extended the deadline for consultation responses to the end of April.
Cllr. Edwards reported that ‘Climate Friendly – Bradford on Avon’ had suggested a ‘Litter Pick’ should be undertaken in the village. It was agreed that this subject be included as an Agenda item at a subsequent meeting.
Cllr. Higgs stated that the introduction of a ‘Virtual Pavement’ in the village should be accompanied by guidance to road users advising them of any protocols regarding their use. She added that confusion regarding their use was evident at Limpley Stoke and she wished to avoid a similar situation at Westwood.
There was no other business.
The meeting concluded at 10.08 pm.
Chairman 2 April 2012.
Westwood Parish Council
ACTION LIST – Meeting 5 February 2012
Action 1 (5/3/12) Clerk.
To write to WC – Letter of thanks re. Dave Thomas.
Action 2 (5/3/12) Clerk.
To ‘chase up’ invitation to Malcolm Hewson.
Action 3 (5/3/12) Clerk.
To write to WC – Planning Applications
Action 4 (5/3/12) Clerk.
To make agreed payments.
Action 5 (5/3/12) Cllr Bishop.
To contact Trowbridge Rangers FC – Use of Playing Field.
Action 6 (5/3/12) Cllr. Bishop.
To contact Ed Harrison – Use of Playing Field/Temporary Access.
Action 7 (5/3/12) Cllr. Edwards
To investigate placing an invitation on the website for parishioners to suggest tasks for the Parish Steward..
Action 8 (5/3/12) All Councillors.
To obtain views regarding the Mobile Library.
Action 9 (5/3/12) Clerk.
To obtain ’No Dogs’ signs for the Play Area.
Action 10 (5/3/12) Clerk.
To contact Footpath Warden – Kissing Gates.
NB. Details of the actions above are contained in the minutes.