Present; Stuart Campbell, Chairman,Pam Cobb, Alison Cavaliero, Mary Stanhope, Hugh Delap, Ray Benfield, Rowena Wood and Stephanie Jenkins, Clerk.
Also present Gitte Dawson, District Councillor.
1a Apologies for absence ; apologies were received from Betty Harris and Richard Blamey. Councillors asked the Clerk to send flowers and good wishes to Betty after her recent operation.
2 Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting of May 8th were agreed to be an accurate record.
3 Planning Matters
Morris’s Stores/Antique Shop;. The “For Sale” sign has now been removed from the building and the profile of the glazing bars has been reduced in width.
Brae Cottage/ Rosemary Lane; internal alterations and repositioning of doors. Consent has been granted under delegated powers
The Shrubbery; erection of extension to garage. This had been considered by a quorum of Councillors and no objections were raised.
Sunnycroft/Pipehouse; new application for extension. Consent granted under delegated powers.
Woodpecker Cottage;two-storey extension at rear over existing flat-roofed single storey building. Councillors’ only reservation was over the colour of the hardwood frames to the extensive glazing. RW to request that a dark brown stain is not used.
Rock Cottage; as this is back on the market, the Clerk was asked to remind the Planning Department that, although the property is technically in Hinton, Freshford needs to be notified of any new planning applications.
Conservation Areas; the Chairman reported on a very positive meeting with three members of B&NES’ Planning Dept., Andy Pegler, Morgan Baynham and Jessica Hunnicut. They all agreed that, following the Shimuzu case, enforcement powers had been severely weakened, but that this will possibly be rectified in a current White Paper. However, before decision and enforcement powers can be strengthened, the Conservation areas need to be reviewed; a slow process because of lack of resources. Lack of photographical evidence is often crucial and the Chairman offered, subject to Councillors’ approval to carry out a photographic survey of the areas within Freshford, following Planning criteria. This offer was appreciated and may speed up the review of Freshford’s two conservation areas, particularly once the Parish Plan Committee has completed a Village Design Statement. Councillors supported the idea of a survey.
Hermitage Garden House Enforcement; still under review.
Threat of Extra Housing; the Chairman expressed his thanks to Peter Duppa- Miller who has been exploring this subject with B&NES with particular reference to possible building in AONB. The Government’s decision to breach Green Belt protection means that only its AONB status would protect Freshford. Whilst B&NES have indicated that they would not be in favour of major development within the Cotswold AONB, the Regional Assembly line has not supported this view and, with the large sums of money involved, Freshford, along with other local parishes remains vulnerable. SC and HD offered to look at and comment on the Regional Spatial Strategy Draft document currently on line.
Village Design Statement; the Chairman stated that this would be the section of the Parish plan which, at present, would carry most weight. It should deal with all visual aspects of the village from landscape and characteristics through to architectural detail. HD was asked to raise this at the next Steering Committee meeting.
4 Freshford Mill
No action of any kind as yet. The Chairman reported that there has been further vandalism at the site. He stated that the Freshford Mill Association were in the process of making an application for lottery funding for their scheme for the site.
Parish Plan
HD reported that the analysis of the returned surveys was underway. A meeting in September would present the results to the public and ways forward would be discussed and agreed. Key areas would be identified and sub-committees set up. The Steering Committee would meet again on June 15th. HD noted that Ros Floyd Sanchez has, as suggested by the Parish Council, interviewed a number of local employers as part of her Group Survey brief. The Chairman reminded Councillors that the Parish Council has the final responsibility for endorsing the Parish Plan.
Website Contents; after discussion, it was agreed that the Parish Council’s page on the village website should contain the following; the current Agenda, Minutes of the previous month’s meeting (only after these have been approved as a correct record) and Planning Applications with a direct link to the B&NES’ site (comments could be posted and dates for residents to contact the Planning Dept with their views)
The Clerk was asked to add the website address to the list of Councillors on the noticeboard.
Village Shop
A very comprehensive report had been circulated round the village by the Shop Committee, including detailed options and business plans. AC told the meeting that they are still progressing with the idea of buying the shop, possibly taking in the neighbouring Younghusband property. Peter and Kate Davies are prepared to keep the shop running until they receive an acceptable offer. SC asked AC to ensure that the Shop Committee liaise with the Freshford Mill Association to avoid clashing funding applications.
Affordable Housing
HD reported no further progress in securing a site. SC to pursue the matter of a response from Steven Axford. It may be necessary to look at some of the other sites identified. The Chairman will contact Limpley Stoke Parish Council to see if they have any plans for a similar scheme.Councillors felt that it would be a good idea to have a list of the sites identified (not a plan) on the Parish Website. It was agreed that the presence of B&NES’ Gary Ward and Jon Mutter from Western Challenge at the Annual Parish Meeting had clarified issues for those not entirely clear about the purpose and function of Affordable Housing. RC felt that it would still be helpful to reinforce, on the website, the fact that the elderly in possession of housing, albeit possibly too large for them to continue living in unaided, would not be eligible for Affordable Housing. HD is to ask Gary Ward for an official statement about exactly who IS eligible. It was agreed that housing for the elderly certainly is an issue which needs addressing and the Chairman offered to approach Jean Hawker who had brought the matter up at the Annual Meeting to assure her that it will feature on future Parish Council Agendas. HD reported that the land at the end of the Glebe which would provide an approach to the field beyond is part of houses number 8 & 9 and it was agreed that there would be no point in approaching the owners before the owner of the housing land had shown an interest in selling.
8 Footpaths, Walls and Trees
Footpath alongside the Matthews’property; complaints again about the fact that it is overgrown with weeds and that the hedge needs cutting back. Ian Croker is to be asked to deal with the weeds and Councillors agreed that Stuart Ballard from B&NES Footpaths Section should be asked to approach the Matthews about the hedge to avoid unpleasantness.
Tyning Wood Footpath; MS informed Councillors that the upgrade to this was in hand.
Freshford Lane/ overgrown hedges; MS was asked to approach residents about this. Ian Croker can be asked to cut back the weeds along the stretch nearer the Hall.
9. Highways and Railways
Letter from Mrs P Murray; this informed the Parish Council that, because of obstructive parking on the other side of the road, there had been vehicular damage caused to the Murrays’ garden bank and a water stopcock had needed to be relocated. SC (in RJB’s absence) and RJB felt that Highways should be asked to install a chicane which would prevent irresponsible parking. RJB is to contact Ken Williams to discuss this.
Satellite Navigation; following RJB’s experience of being directed down totally unsuitable roads into the village, Gitte Dawson offered to see if anyone on the Council is dealing with problems raised by these systems.
Emergency Access; an ambulance had been unable to get through on Rosemary Lane and the Chairman had reported this to Highways, the Police and Ambulance Services. Once a report is received from the Ambulance Drivers the police will approach car owners. SC is to ask Neil Terry to put up another “No parking beyond this point” notice on Rosemary Lane. RJB is to design a diplomatic letter to circulate to residents on Rosemary Lane and Mountpleasant informing them of the problem and asking that they and their visitors use consideration in choosing parking spaces.
Railway Issues; new timetables are available and it was agreed that it would be useful to have these on the website. Plans for the flowerbeds at the station are in hand and RW is liaising with the relevant authorities over possible funding. The vandalism of the new shelter was reported to the Beat Police Officer who wanted to investigate further before arranging a meeting with Councillors and residents.
10 Correspondence
B&NES Highways; Guide to Sustainable Transport, Public Transport map. Expansion of Norton Radstock Dial a Ride Scheme.
CPRE; invitation to Garden party, July 9th
ALCA; Newsletter
Avon & Somerset Police; Annual Report, email about change in drugs team funding, notice of Parish Forum Meeting, July 19th
Community Action; Newsletter
Action for Pensioners; Newsletter
Open Spaces Society; Annual Report and Newsletter.
B&NES Environmental & Consumer Services; Gambling Act/ Draft Statement of Principles
11 Finance
Payments needing to be made in June
Ian Croker. Street Cleaning , £189.37
Allianz Cornhill, Insurance Premium, £476.80
Annual Meeting Expenses, (photocopying and refreshments) £38.63
David Richardson, Photocopying, £3
Clerk’s First Quarter Salary; £687.50
Ian Croker (second payment needed before the July meeting) £189.37
Peter Davies, payment for Internal Audit duties; £100
Annual Audit;
The Clerk presented the Audit documents for Councillors’ approval. The Accounts were approved and all the questions in the Statement of Assurance were satisfactorily answered. A number of Variances will need to be explained as this has been an unusual financial year. Two sums of money were received, £3000 from the Friends of Freshford for professional representation at the Freshford Mill Inquiry (the Parish Council paid the balance of £3327 from reserves as agreed after extensive consultation within the parish) and £1500 from DEFRA towards the creation of a Parish Plan by a Steering Committee ( the Parish Council added a further £250 to this and the Steering Committee have agreed to keep the Parish Council fully informed as to how this money is spent). In effect the Parish Council has acted as a conduit for these funds and the Clerk was asked to make this clear to the Auditors. She stated that both she and Peter Davies were not clear as to the way that the £3327 for the Mill Inquiry should be presented and it was suggested that she contact the very experienced Clerk at Coombe Hay, Peter Duppa Miller, for advice.
The date for advertising the public inspection of accounts is July 3rd and the accounts must be sent to the Auditors by August 14th.
Risk Assessment;
As required by the internal auditor the cemetery had been inspected by the Clerk and two Councillors. Since the previous check, six months ago,
A further three headstones require wedging and two need to be placed flat.
12 Items for the Parish Magazine
News of the website
13 Pre-advised Other Business
Fete Report; the Parish Council had raised £113 ? and had some sweets remaining which will be kept for next year. It proved impossible to locate the banner. Where is it?
Graffiti; the Clerk reported that the Council’s Graffiti team would be dealing with the damage on the bridge.
Pump at Park Corner; RW expressed a view that the pump and the raised area around it need to be preserved as a valuable historic part of the village. Parking and leaving builders’ skips have caused some damage. She felt that funding might be available from Wessex Water under their environmental awards. Councillors agreed that this would be a worthy cause and the matter will feature on July’s Agenda.
14 Date of Next Meetings
Monday July 17th subject to confirmation.