Yatton Keynell Parish Council
MINUTES OF A FULL MEETING OF YATTON KEYNELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE BARN – THE BELL INN YATTON KEYNELL Monday 4th OCTOBER 2021
Present: Cllr A Parker (Chair), Cllr C Grainger, Cllr M Green Cllr. F. Plowman, Cllr M Pope, Cllr S Richards, Cllr D Towl, Cllr M Woodcock, I. Plowman (Clerk).
Public Gallery – 1
1.PUBLIC GALLERY
Clarks Leaze play area – concern expressed at the loss of the play equipment, see Item 10 below.
2.REGISTER OF INTERESTS
None required.
3.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Unitary Councillor N Botterill.
4.MINUTES OF THE LAST PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting –6th September 2021 – approved to be signed by – Cllr A. Parker.
5.REGISTER OF ACTION
Village pond – Cllr Towl collecting materials in the coming week, activity with children restricted due to Covid within the school.
6.PLANNING
PL/2021/07610 – The Barn Tiddleywink – 20MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – Objection. Detailed objection had been circulated prior to the meeting which councilors approved.
Whilst the site of the proposed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) lies outside the parish it is located close to the boundary and the closest residential properties – Tiddleywink, lie within the parish. The residents of Tiddleywink have been consulted as neighbours.
The Parish Council objects to this application.
There have been two research papers published in 2021:
- Hazard Assessment of Battery Energy Storage Systems. Atkins on behalf of NIHSE. March 2021
- Grid Scale Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems – Fordham, Wade and Allison. June 2021
The first paper provides a systematic and comprehensive overview of the hazards associated with BESS
The second paper concluded that BESS are regarded as “articles” by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), contrary to the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) 2015, intended to safeguard public health, property and the environment; that the HSE currently makes no representations on BESS to Planning Examinations and it is contended that the approach of the HSE is scientifically mistaken and legally incorrect.
In particular both papers cite the significance of fire in a BESS at Carnegie Road Liverpool on 15th September 2020 and the second paper highlights that the report into the circumstances and impact of that fire remains unpublished. (Major Emergency Report MER 49652 (Liverpool City Council, Environmental Health Dept) Report from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services and operator Ørsted into the battery fire at Carnegie Rd, Liverpool, 14-15 September 2020.)
Given the lack of a clear regulatory basis and the possibility that current HSE policy is both unsound and possibly illegal, Wiltshire Council does not possess or have access to sufficient expertise to make informed planning decisions in respect of BESS installations. Therefore, no further BESS should be approved by Wiltshire Council until the role of HSE is fully clarified and a competent authority has been appointed to oversee the installation of BESS. Approval by Wiltshire Council should not be granted for new BESS until Liverpool fire report has been published and any recommendations implemented.
19/01490/FUL – Land to the East of Farrells Field
Councillors agreed to submit the two road name suggestions to Persimmon & Wiltshire Council:
Lanhill View or Drovers Green
7.WILTSHIRE COUNCIL CLIMATE STRATEGY & NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CONSULTATION
It was agreed that this was not an issue that the Parish Council should express an opinion, but residents should be encouraged to make a submission.
8.CLERK – FINANCE
Four payments were approved:
I J Plowman – £248.04 – Clerk Salary September – Cheque No. 101216
JCB-S Garden-Maintain Ltd – £618.02 – August maintenance – Cheque No.101217
JCB-S Garden-Maintain Ltd – £618.02 – September maintenance – Cheque No.101218
CPRE – £36 – Annual subscription – Direct Debit
Village Maintenance – Clerk to prepare details of the tender for village maintenance which is due to be re tendered for 2022.
It was noted that the capping on the wall around the market cross has deteriorated and should be repaired in the spring of 2022.
Cllr M Green to ask an electrician to contact the Clerk re the Market Cross electrics.
Councillors agreed to ask J Bruce Scott to source a Christmas tree again this year.
9.QUEENS JUBILEE JUNE 2022
Agreed to source a number of Trees from the “Queen’s Green Canopy” scheme and to source a suitable “green” gift for children of the village to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
10.HIGHWAYS, FOOTPATH & PLAY AREA
Parking outside By Brook School, clerk reported he had been contacted by a parent concerned about the number of cars now parking in The Street at drop off & pickup times. Councillors agreed that the Parish Council should write to Chair of Governors expressing concerns and asking that the School Travel plan is kept up to date and given current concerns over climate change to encourage parents to utilize the transport provided and that lift sharing is encouraged. Representative from the school to be invited to a future PC meeting to discuss.
Clarks Leaze Play Area, Cllr A Parker & Cllr S Richards had met with two residents to explain the Parish Council’s position. The residents were asked to report back before the November meeting with a funded alternative proposal.
11. COUNCILLORS QUESTIONS AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
Councillors thanked the fete committee for a successful village fete and were pleased to hear that six village groups (St Margaret’s Church, YKRA, Youth Club, Brownies, Pre School & FOBBVS) were receiving £350 each.
Councillors agreed that the date of the next Parish Council meeting would be published on the village Facebook page, once notice of the meeting has been legally served.
Meeting Closed 20:05
Next meeting: Monday 1st November – The Barn at The Bell Inn