Agenda and minutes

Chairman of Forum, Cllr Richard Curry,

Compton Martin Parish Council

1.1  Richard Curry Chair of the Forum welcomed everyone to the meeting.  The aim of the Forum is to improve collaboration and engagement between the public sector, voluntary sector and the local community.  As a way of encouraging members of the public to attend our meetings, at our last meeting we agreed to split the meeting into two parts. 

1.2  The first part of the meeting, ‘Ask the Forum’, will be an informal open session where members of the public and forum members are invited to ask questions.  This will last no longer than 1 hour.  The second part of the meeting is more formal and will include presentations and invited speakers on topical issues. 

1.3  ‘Ask the Forum’ session will finish at 7.20pm, there will be a short tea break before commencing the second part of the meeting.  Members of the public are invited to stay if they wish.

Open public session 

2.1  The Chair invited the Police to provide an update report on activity.  The Chair invited questions on Policing matters and any other issues.  There were no questions submitted in advance of the meeting that were required to be tabled.

2.2  Questions that required a further response have been recorded on the attached action log.

2.3  NOTE: PACT and Parish Cluster meetings have now been disbanded.  Issues previously raised at these meetings can be discussed during the informal part of the Chew Valley Area Forum meeting.

3.1   Apologies were received from Councillor Paul Crossley (B&NES) and Ed Bramall (Curo).

3.2   The notes were agreed as an accurate record.

4.1  There were no matters arising.

Richard Daone, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Planning Policy

5.1  The Chair welcomed Richard Daone to the meeting. Richard gave a presentation on the Placemaking Plan consultation.

5.2  The consultations documents are available online at: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/placemaking-plan

5.3  The attached presentation that accompanies these notes covers the full presentation that was provided at the meeting.

5.4  Question and answers raised during this item are as follows:-

Q – Has there been any definition set out about local green spaces?

A – Yes, this is included in options document in the planning framework.

Q – Is there communication about the plan being placed in the Chew Valley Gazette?

A – Local media is being co-ordinated and we will check that this publication is included.

Q – Has the extension to the boundaries for affordable housing been agreed?

A – Yes parishes are able to extend.

(attached draft document)

Sara Dixon, Bath & North East Somerset Council Planning Policy

6.1  Sara Dixon referred to the profile previously circulated to group.  This is a working draft and aims to provide an overview of the population and its characteristics and gain a better understanding of the issues and opportunities affecting the local community.  More work is required on developing the profile further, particularly around the areas where the priorities have been identified.

6.2  The Forum discussed in groups any gaps that may exist and what else should be included.  Feedback from the groups included:- 

§  It was suggested that data around first and second car ownership would be useful, this would show how high the level are in some parishes.

§  Data on GP Surgeries would be seen as a useful addition.

§  The point was raised that there are four existing Neighbourhood Plans within the Chew Valley area, we need to be careful that there is not duplication occurring.

§  The Forum profile is a broader document than the Neighbourhood plans.  An effort to avoid confusion with overlaps needs to be considered.

§  There needs to be coverage that takes in the whole area which includes parishes without neighbourhood plans and cross reference to the parishes that do have them.

6.3  Sara agreed to progress this further and report back to a future meeting.  A steering group may be required to take the area profile onto the next stage.

For information

7.1  Sara referred to the briefing note previously circulated to the group.

7.2  The Council has appointed Matthys van Tonder to drive forward the delivery of Broad band and Wi-Fi across B&NES. This will include exploring options for sharing access to the School Fibre Network across B&NES.

7.3  It was agreed to invite Matthys to a future meeting.

8.1  For information.  The Council’s internal 10 in 100 project, which aims to bring forward the ideas of staff through a supported programme, is exploring the idea of offering this to the community.  Any ideas for this programme to be sent to Sara Dixon.

8.2  Previous projects included; Parish Rangers, incentives for volunteers, Book Bugs, Reading between the lines, shopping plus, Wheels for All and Warpit.

9.1  Chris Head raised concerns over the recent highways works and the diversions put in place for a fifteen mile diversion for a five hundred yard stretch of road.  He added further problems would be created when Chew Magna High Street is closed due to Hibernia roadworks. The closures are having a negative impact on businesses, school coaches that use the routes are impacted and late attendance has been a result of the delays.

9.2  There needs to be a better level of communication about planned highways works with businesses and the communities being better informed.  Sara agreed to speak to the Highways team. 

Thursday 12^th February 2015, 6.30pm, The Wellsway, West Harptree

10.1  Future agenda items included; Clinical Commissioning Group – Community Services Review, Schedule of Capital Highway works, Rural Broadband, Area profiles and action plans.

11.1 Wednesday 12^th February 2015, 6.30pm, The Wellsway - Harptree Hill, West Harptree, BS40 6EJ