Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 10.03.22
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe.
Present:
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
Mrs. J Halliday
S Bettles
Prior
Unitary Cllr. N. Botterill (part time)
Ryall (Clerk)
- Apologies for absence
Cllrs. B. Blair, J Mackelden, G Clegg – Littler
- Declarations of interest:
Cllr Bettles items 4B & 7
- Minutes of the meeting held 20.01.22
It was proposed by Cllr. Prior and seconded by Cllr Bettles that these were accepted as a true record. This was unanimously agreed by the meeting and duly signed by the Chairman.
- Matters Arising:
4A. Area Board Meeting and Parish Forum.
Area Board.
Cllr Bettles agreed to attend the next meeting to be held on 14.03.22 at the Wilts & Swindon History Centre on Cocklebury Road, Chippenham.
Parish Forum.
All meetings cancelled until further notice.
4B. Parking Review.
Parking statistics
Cllr Winup said there were 8 bookings in February. There is considerable concern about the proposal to implement charges in the Dunns Lane car park which the Council will strongly resist. A Freedom of Information request has been sent to Wiltshire Council for the documents justifying this proposal. Unitary Cllr Botterill said that two suggestions have been made to improve the situation. The first is to improve for public use the footpath which goes from School Lane to the village. Cllr Winup said this has been proposed before and is impractical as it is a long way round and dangerous as it skirts round a golf course tee. The second is to extend the car park onto adjacent Wilts Council owned land. Cllr Winup said this would cost a significant amount of money and be unlikely to reduce the parking problem in the village that charging will cause.
4C Footpaths
Cllr Winup said the new barrier at the top of the Trim Tram footpath is complete and that the Crippleshard bridleway is clear after the recent storms. Wilts Council have been asked by the Clerk to review the route of footpath CCOM 5 which requires safety barriers etc installing.
Cllr Halliday said she would progress the village steward for scalping deliveries of which about 20tons are required Cllr. Bettles said he will arrange for them to be moved to his yard and find out the transport costs.
4F. Market Cross
Cllr Winup said the maintenance plan has been reviewed with David Newton and the initial measurements taken of the pillars and roof cross members. The measurement positions have been photographed and regular monitoring from the exact locations is necessary. Some final research documentation is outstanding.
4N. Chapel Car Park
The Chairman said we are now waiting for the Land Registry to confirm the registrations.
4O. Financial Standing Orders.
The Chairman said these have been reviewed by himself and the clerk and issued. It was proposed by Cllr Halliday and seconded by Cllr. Prior that the revised documents were accepted which was unanimously agreed by the meeting.
4P. Queens Green Canopy
The Clerk said the trees have been delivered for planting in the playing field to fill in gaps in the boundary hedging and corners. Cllrs Bettles & Prior said they would plant them where necessary.
The Clerk said that Wilts Council were not supportive of creating a children’s nature area on their land at Whitegates and their recent letter on wildflowers etc only applies to road verges.
4Q. Gigaclear
The Charman said no information received about implementation etc.
- Finance. £
Income
Jackson River Films donation (John Guise) 100.00
Castle Combe Village Hall – roof repairs 4195.00
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
St Andrews Church – notice board contribution 250.00
- Ryall – petty cash 25.00
Cllr Winup – chairman’s expenses 125.00
Cotswold Wardens – donation 100.00
Cllr Winuo – newsletter printing 24.72
Parish Council Websites – annual maintenance 200.00
Cllr Winup – St George’s flag 7.38
SSE – quarterly invoice 138.91
Castle Combe village hall – hire PC meetings 37.50
S> P. Isaacs – Village Hall roof repairs 5034.00
Cllr Winup – Union Jack 91.31
HMRC – tax 239.20
- Ryall– salary 410.80
Lloyds Bank current account @ 22.02.22 £28387.09
Shawbrook Bank deposit account. £15000.00
5A. the Chairman said that he and the Clerk have reviewed the proposed transfer of assets to the Shawbrook Bank and decided in the current circumstances £12K would be more appropriate.
- Correspondence
6A. YKPC
Quire woodland car park application -There is still concern about the owner’s plans for the site and the current forestry taking place. Cllr Bettles said the latter seems extreme as the woodland was pollarded in the last few years.
30mph speed limit Yatton Keynell – Wilts Council have rejected requests that the revised speed limit is extended to include Tiddlywinks. The Council agreed to support YKPC’s objection to the Wilts Council position.
Leigh Delamare Solar Farm – the Council agreed to oppose the latest changes to the planning application which now routes the construction equipment etc through Yatton Keynell, Grittleton Road and through Sevington to access the site.
- Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
Paddock Barn, The Gibb – replace porch, internal & external alterations, convert outbuilding.
1, Westway Close – remove 2 Ash trees.
4, Westway Close – 30% reduction of Maple & Cherry trees.
East Combe Farm – change of use of one building to ‘Flexible’
P.C. Under Consideration:
Nil
P.C. Opposed
4, Woodbury Hill – replace workshop/garage with games room & car port
Unitary Council under Consideration.
Court Cottage – single storey extension.
Church Cottage – refurbishment & internal alterations.
4, Woodbury Hill – replace workshop/garage with games room & car port.
Unitary Council – Granted.
Woodbury Hill House – convert WW2 RAF buildings to tourist accommodation. Work cannot start until several conditions have been met.
Chapel Lane UCC – all weather riding area.
The Old Rectory – replace existing conservatory & install air heat pump.
Congregational Chapel – install half dormer window at the rear.
1, Westway Close – remove 2 Ash trees.
4, Westway Close – 30%reduction Maple & Cherry trees.
Withdrawn, Quire Woodlands Long Dean – create parking area.
- Unitary Councillor
Cllr Botterill said the strike by Hills Municipal Collection who are members of the GMB Union is expected to last until 18th March. This has resulted in a decision being taken not to collect blue bin recyclable refuse so there is no disruption to the general waste service. The other unions involved; Unite & Unison have accepted a 7.1% increase. There could be further industrial action but hopefully this can be avoided.
- CC Circuit & Playing Field
CC Circuit – Cllr Mackelden reported that no liaison meeting has been arranged and there has been no further information about revised entrances etc.
Playing Fields – Cllr Mackelden reported that he had received comments from the CC Colts about the proposed lease which he been distributed to the PC for comments.
He said there has been problems with fallen trees on the roadside of the boundary which has been discussed with Wilts Council. The Chairman said that before the renewal date the boundary hedges etc should be examined.
- Play Areas
Cllr Prior said the repairs to the Whitegates play area surface edges should be reviewed again in the summer. The Chairmen agreed and asked Cllr Prior to investigate replacement of the springers which have deteriorated badly.
Cllr Mackelden reported that there were several areas of the lower play area requiring attention which he would fix when he has recovered from COVID 19.
- 11. Highways
Cllr Halliday reported the Village steward was doing his usual excellent job and gullies have been cleared throughout the village and on the B4039. Numerous potholes have been filled, the Ford Road edges and the Woodbury hill road will be repaired on his next visits when he can get assistance.
She said no replies have been received yet to her requests for speed checks at various places on the B4039 and repainting the road markings is weather dependent.
The review of the of road subsidence caused by the river opposite the toilets is still outstanding as is the request for new road signs and markings at Westway Close. She said the ‘not overnight’ sign is missing from the car park and she will ask for a replacement.
- Village Environment.
The Clerk said the Ash trees outside Cllr Clegg- Littler’s property are the responsibility of Wilts Council who will check them when they are in leaf.
The Chairman said that a quotation of £540 for repairing the War Memorial wall has been received from Mr Russell Buffon and it was proposed by Cllr Halliday & seconded by Cllr Prior that Mr Buffon’s quote was accepted. This was unanimously agreed by the meeting.
- Whitegates
The Chairman said the Whitegates bus stop roof has been repaired by Yarsley Vaughan free of charge except for materials. The clerk said he would send a letter of thanks.
- TV. Committee.
Cllr. Clegg Littler reported that he as issued the invoices.
The amplifier mast repairs have been delayed by Covid restrictions and there are no system problems.
- Village Hall
The Chairman said the hall roof repairs are complete and he has cut pack and applied weed killer onto the plants between the garden walls and Village Hall which will need repeating at intervals. He has also cleared debris from the kitchen roof. The Village Hall has been allocated 14th August for the Circuit Car Boot sale which is shared with St Andrews Church. Last year there were insufficient volunteers and if this occurs again then the Village Hall will have to withdraw from the list of candidates.. The organisation is straight forward if there are sufficient volunteers. The Chairman will seek an organiser via the Combe Courier.
.16.CoronaVirus update
This item to be removed from the agenda unless the statistics worsen.
17.Queens Jubilee Celebrations.
The Chairman said the Church were proposing an organ recital and refreshments and White Gates a children’s party and a BBQ in the evening. Cllr Mackelden said the Social Committee were also considering what type of event to arrange. The meeting agreed that some level of financial support be provided and possibly Jubilee mugs be again considered.
- Date of next meeting
This was confirmed as Thursday 19.05.22 at 7.00 p.m. in Castle Combe Village Hall for the Parishioners Annual Meeting followed by the Parish Council Annual Meeting