ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

                                 22nd April 2008

 

                              Chairman’s Report items

 

Looking back 07/08

 

Election covered in the introduction

 

Cross Tree monument

  Finished in January 08. Plaques put up. Slip road to be completed.

  CD (produced by Steve Young) is available of Presentation and with photos by John

Hinks.

   Final tranche of funds received from Heritage Lottery Fund

 

Cross Tree Community centre

   Planning approval granted.

    It comprises of the restoration of the Old Library / School and a new single storey wing on the west side with new office, toilets and kitchen.

   Please consider the question on your handout.

   A display is being held on 6th may @7.30 in the Church

 

Road Safety scheme through Wraxall village

  Completed last year

   Not certain of its effectiveness.

   Vehicles still speed through village

   Pedestrians still take their life in their hands

 

Wraxall service station (Budgens)

   Now open.

   Looks a lot better.

   Has caused the near neighbours some grief.

  The - No right turn- is not complied with.

   As the Planners failed to have Budgens pay for the extension of the central island expected to be carried out this year.

   Similarly NSC did not impose a litter collection charge as part of the planning gain.

 

 

Affordable Housing

   Surveys completed and analyzed.

   Possible Sites reviewed.

   One is preferred.

   More analysis to be done with ERH and NSC before further public consultation and decision is made.

 

 

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 NSC Core Strategy

  This is primarily about new housing.

  Workshops were held last year on the proposals with much resistance from PC’s

  The issue for us is the 9,500 new homes for South Bristol .

  One proposal is for the area adjacent to the Equine Vets on Weston Road running back to Bristol.

   I and others were against this proposal in particular.

 

Local Post Office

   Failand PO seems to be safe.

   Others not so fortunate.

   Dick Wittington deserves our thanks for his active campaigning to retain the Post Offices

 

Parish Plan

   Doug Macmillan will update us.

   The exercise has been more onerous than any one realized.

   Doug has stuck with it, with changing support despite the many set backs and provocations.

   He and his small steering group deserve our thanks.

 

Predisposition and predetermination by Councilors

   This was an issue that came up during the year and demonstrates the difficulties councillors work under

   Predisposition is where a C holds a view in favour of or against an issue but they have an open mind to the merits of the argument before they make the final decision at the council meeting.

   Predetermination is where a C is closed to the merits of any argument relating to a particular issue and makes a decision on the issue without taking them into account.

This impression is created in a number of ways such as quotes in the media, what they have said at meetings or written in correspondence.

You will recognize how easy it is for a C to get into difficulties with this requirement.

 

Clerk’s remuneration

   A reminder, that we do not pay Freda (our Clerk) what she should really be entitled to.

   She signs an undertaking each year to limit her remuneration to an agreed figure and any national increases that are pending. With no payment for provision of an office, mileage etc.

   I mention this because one day, it may not be Freda, and, the precept will have to increase substantially to accommodate the increased charges.

 

P.C. risk assessment

   This is an example of today’s bureaucratic nonsense.

   PC’s have managed without one for a 1000 years.

   However, to the credit of two of the councillors we produced one.

   I didn’t realize we took so many risks? 

 

 

Mtg. Councillor Elfan Ap-Rees

   See Minutes of Mtg.

 

Web Site

   I will let Doug outline the present position

 

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Quarry

   We still do not know who owns the Quarry opposite the Battle Axes.

    Freda, has and continues to pursue every lead.

 

Prow

    The PC continues to report problems on the PROW.

    We are disappointed at the lack of action from NSC

     E.g. There was a mtg. some time ago at which the PC together with other interested parties and NSC presented proposals for new routes, realignments and abandonment’s.

    This was to be set out on a map and be presented for public consultation. We have seen nothing yet. 

 

BattleAxes

   Those of you who pass by the BA regularly will recognize that it is a poor advert for a gateway building into our Parish. 

    It has been this way for some time and it is deteriorating rapidly.

    The present owners have commissioned an architect to come up with some ideas.

    The initial proposals were put to a public meeting earlier in the year and the comments taken on board.

    Initial talks are now required with the Planners to demonstrate that the proposals will not harm the character of the area but rather improve it and will also benefit and serve the community.  

 

Burial ground

    As you may be aware our burial grounds are filling up.

    The PC has identified and earmarked with NSC another site at the back of the Wraxall Service station.

    However, NTC have also asked if they can have it. To which we have replied NO

    Please consider the question on your handout.

 

 

Boundary

    This is an item that raised its head recently when NTC passed a resolution to pursue expanding their boundaries to include The Elms, the land down to the Land Yeo, the land to N&B station and land towards Tickenham.

    The PC has not yet received any formal proposal to this effect.

    The PC remains committed to rejecting such a proposal.

    Should a firm proposal be put to NSC .You will have an opportunity to vote on the matter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Looking Forward 08/09

On going problems

     The ongoing problems of; litter, pot holes, etc. will continue.

     I find the level of litter unacceptable. It conveys a message to visitors and residents that we don’t care, and have no pride in our area. It certainly doesn’t add to the attractiveness of our hedgerows.

      Also that NSC will not require Take Away Outlets to pay the cost of local litter collection.

      If you agree we could do something.

      The PC could employ an Orderly to collect litter and tackle some of the other issues. Speeding, dog fouling.

      Do you think it is a good idea?

     What about a litter pick day?

      How can we prevent people throwing litter?

      How can we enforce litter penalties?

      Use the hand out to give us your immediate thoughts and also the Parish Plan to air your views.

 

Parish Plan returns

       Your returns will be analysed and interpreted and a draft parish plan drawn up.

       It will be presented to the PC for scrutiny, comment and approval.

       It will then be passed to all parties who have the ability to deliver the actions, NSC, Primary Health Care Trust, the Police etc.

        It will also be made available to all residents with a priorities Action Plan.

        Doug will speak further on this.

 

 

The Elms Nursing home

    The new nursing home will be opening shortly.

    We will see what impact it has on the area.

 

Cross Tree Community Centre

    As I mentioned earlier there is a display in the church on the 6th May @ 7.30 pm.

    Fund raising continues and there is a question asked on your hand out as to whether the PC should ask for a one off charge on the precept for the element of the Centre that is for the use of the Community. The likely charge would be circa £100

  

Rural trends. Economy –people- services-environment- go zero.

    On the walls are posters drawing attention to what could well be issues for the coming years.

    They are stated simply as factual bullet points. The consequences are complex and varied.

    If we take just one item, farming, in all its varieties, provides food, maintains the landscape, supports wild life, underpins tourism, provides employment directly and indirectly.

    This is a large economic sector in this area? This sector is at risk.

     So much so that future food security is a real worry.

     Did you know that there are only two meals in the pipeline at any given time?

     And that is in Supermarket Lorries.

     That the government has closed down all basic food storage facilities.

     This is worrying when you consider the increasing world demand, impact of climate change, bio fuels, common agricultural policy, increasing population.

     Shortages will occur. We must support our farmers.

     These are all big subjects.

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     Do you find yourself wondering about these matters?

 

     Claire will draw these issues out in her speech.

 

 

Sustainable Communities

    Many of us will react unfavourably to the very words because politicians abuse and use the words for political gain.

     Yet I instinctively feel we would be more secure and have a better quality of life if we did change the way we live.

     Those of us born between say 1930 and 1960 can remember scarcity as well as plenty.

It would be great to harness ideas and skills from that age group.

     A sort of “go zero” challenge.

     Think about it, get it started.

     There are some pointers on the wall, have a look see if you agree?

     Listen to Claire.

     It would be great if a group formed to pursue these issues and gave them some passion and inspiration.

 

 

 

 

Gov’T white paper on local communities “Wellbeing”

 

Royal assent has been given to the Local Government and Public Health Act.

There are several aspects to the act.

One is the “Power of Wellbeing” which will provide Town and Parish councils with a general power to spend on any activity which adds to the wellbeing of its community.

 

We will need to see the detail particularly the definition of “wellbeing”

For me “Wellbeing” suggests contentment, refers to quality of life, happiness, security.

But what does it mean to the government?

(Mr. Macawber when asked for the definition of happiness said income £20 expenditure £19 - 19 s and 6p; Happiness. Income £20 expense £20 and 6pence; Misery)

We will wait and see.

Other aspects are superficial like what we call ourselves?

However, will any proposals allow us to take more control of our lives?

It is doubtful.

We have a centralizing Gov’t

And, the loss of our freedoms little by little has gone on for some time.

So we may have passed the point at which the changes can be reversed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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OTHER FUTURE ISSUES

 

Oil cost – production - shortage?

On the wall is a poster showing three headings

Extraction - combustion – Exhaust.

Each is important in the matter of CO2 emissions and energy security.

Extraction - Less new finds now yet increased demand. Not yet extracting the heavy oil which is expensive to extract and few refining facilities. No reduction in output therefore no reduction in CO2 emissions. If serious about CO2 why not cut production?

Combustion – The easy target to tax No appreciable impact on CO2 emissions. No incentives to go Green.

Exhaust – Again No incentives to encourage carbon capture.

For us this approach means increasing costs for little benefit.

I expect a 60 % increase in fuel prices over the coming year.

 

 

Waste as a fuel?

 

This is very exciting and links to the oil issue.

It is a solution to both waste disposal and energy production.

So why isn’t it being rigorously pursued?

Vested interests come to mind.

On the wall is the solution

The Gasplasma Process.

It converts the municipal waste into a gas that is useable for renewable energy generation.

It converts the inorganic matter into an inert vitrified residue useable as an aggregate.

It is a closed process that produces no environmentally polluting gases

It leaves only 1 % to go to land fill almost nothing.

They can be built on a scale to suit the needs of a local community.

There are some photographs of the test facility for a small scale operation and the model for a large regional facility.

I witnessed the operation to recover platinum and other scarce metals from Catalytic converters from vehicles (see the residue in the form of vitrified stones – granite like)

 

Some simple facts;

We recycle about 50 % of municipal waste in NS.

1 ton of land fill municipal waste is equivalent to between a third and a half ton of coal in Calorific value terms. The process would generate

18% electricity to the grid

50% heat available for process or district heating etc.

 

If located in say Avonmouth. A 100,000 tonne plant would be able to serve 8000 houses (5.5 MW) and have 15.5 MW available as heat. As well as a valuable aggregate and water. And you have disposed of the waste with out recourse to a landfill site.

 

End

 

 

 

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Introductions

 

 

Doug Macmillan.

 

Our speaker on the Parish Plan is the steering group Chairman Doug Macmillan

Doug has driven the Parish Plan Steering Group through the year overcoming personnel changes of the group and numerous other provocations and difficulties and a lot of personal effort to get to a point where the Questionnaire is “Ready to Go”.

It is to his enormous credit that he has stuck with it. And, to the small team that has closed it out Many thanks.

This Plan will mean a lot to this community so please give it your support.

 

 

End

Thank you Doug,

The aggregate wisdom of a large group of diverse individuals will almost certainly get it right.

 

Our next speaker is Claire Milne.

Now Claire caught me out; she asked what bus she got to the FVH.

Now I thought bus timetables and routes were a local secret handed down from generation to generation and not to be shared.

Eventually I discovered she could get here but not get back so…

Claire works for Transition Bristol, Bristol Food Hub, and Bristol Food Links.

Claire works on various sustainable food initiatives in Bristol, having previously worked in London for the national umbrella organization, Sustain; The alliance for better food and farming, where she coordinated the food poverty project.

In Bristol she is an active steering group member of Transition Bristol, coordinates Bristol Food Hub- a small social enterprise running educational activities promoting sustainable food stakeholders across the city.

Before moving into sustainable food, Claire previously worked as Campaigns and Parliamentary Officer for the World Development Movement, campaigning on global social justice issues, which, whilst taking her to far flung places, made her realize that re-localisation is the most meaningful and empowering  solution we have on offer.

 

 Claire, we look forward to you raising our awareness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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