15th May 2025

Minutes of Castle Combe Annual Parish Meeting on

Thursday 15th of May 2025 at 7.30p.m.

Present:  Cllrs. F. Winup, J. Halliday, S. Bettles, B. Blair, G. CleggLittler, J.Mackelden

Unitary Cllr Jon Atkey, 16 members of the public, Clerk S. Parker

Apologies for absence.  None

  1. Minutes of APM Meeting on 16.05.2024 SB proposed them as correct, seconded by Cllr, J. Halliday all agreed.
  2. Matters arising
  3. Chairman’s report. FW welcomed WC Cllr. J. Atkey to his first meeting and said we are looking forward to working with him.  Cllr. FW gave thanks to Nick Botterill for all he had done over the last 4 years.

Highway matters He said that the PC are looking at signs for around the Market Cross.  The Parish Steward is working very well and liaises with Cllr. JH on his visits to the parish.  Cllr. FW thanked his fellow councillors, Julie Hare for agreeing to do the internal audit.   Cllr. FPW full report is attached to the minutes and available online, as are all the further reports below.

  1. Village Hall report. B.B. reported that the year-end shows a deficit of £585 solely due to deferred reimbursement of previous years’ fuel costs to the Parish Council. He thanked Anna Roberts and Julie Hare.
  2. Sports Field report. JM reported that there are 260 players between 7 -18 years of age in 16 teams, including girls’ teams.  They have had a defibrillator for 10 years which has not been used.  The hard surface at the entrance has been laid and the fence along the side is to prevent children chasing the ball onto the B4039.  Most of the Ash trees with die back have been removed, but there are a few left to be removed.  A reminder to dog owners is not to walk them on the pitch as it makes more work for the officials and not good for the children to stand in dog excrement.

5a  Castle Combe Circuit.  Cllr.  JM   The liaison meetings with the Circuit have resumed and they have informed us that there is one race day and action day this year.  They have discussed the traffic queues and the problem of getting people into the circuit, which they hope they have resolved.  The bike nights have settled down, they have introduced a no return rule, so they cannot leave and go back into the circuit.  They have planted a hedge along the new fence line.

 

  1. TV Committee report. Garth Hare reported that the funds at year end was £9750.  There are a few nonpayers, but reminders have been sent out. There was a problem with one quadrant that failed, but the engineer came out and fixed it.  Spare parts are getting more difficult to get, they are looking ways to resolve it.   Thanks were given to the committee and Julie Hare for doing the internal audit
  3. Open Forum. Julie Hare said that the south side of the church roof is being repaired at a cost of £330k.  They are £25K short plus the loan from the Diocese. The south side of the scaffolding is being used for storage. They hope to finish the work by October.  A resident asked about the £6600 precept and what it is spent on.  FW confirmed that the PC had spent over £9K last year and explained that fees from films brings in some extra funding. He also reiterated that the precept per parishioner is only 25% of the average for a Wiltshire Parish Council.

 

Draft Minutes of Castle Combe Annual Parish Meeting on

Thursday 15th of May 2025 at 7.30p.m.

Present:  Cllrs. F. Winup, J. Halliday, S. Bettles, B. Blair, G. CleggLittler, J. Mackelden

Unitary Cllr Jon Atkey, 16 members of the public, Clerk S. Parker

Apologies for absence.                           None

  1. Apologies for Absence None
  2. Election of Chairman The clerk asked for nominations for Chairman, Cllr. JM nominated Cllr. FW, seconded by Cllr. JH. There were no other nominations, the clerk asked if everyone approved. All agreed.

The clerk handed back to Cllr. FW after he signed his Acceptance of Office.

Election of Vice Chairman.  Cllr. FW proposed Cllr. JM as vice chairman, seconded by Cllr. SM, there were no other nominations, all approved.

  1. Acceptance of Office both Cllrs. Signed their declarations of Acceptance of Office.
  1. Declarations of interest. Cllr Bettles re item 9. Dispensation approved under paragraph 13 (Code of Conduct and Dispensations) of the Model Standing Orders 2018 (England) to remain in the meeting whilst the item is discussed, but without voting powers. All approved.
  1. Minutes of PC meeting on 20.03.25 meeting Cllr. JM proposed they are accepted, seconded by Cllr SB. All approved.
  2. Matters arising

            4A. Area Board and Parish Forum meetings

                        (i) Area Board.   Next meeting 2nd June 18.30 at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. FPW will attend subject to relevance of items on the agenda.

 (ii) Parish Forum.   Deferred until after election. FPW will attend if free.

4B.       Parking Review (FW).  There were 230 visits in March with 100 observations and 55 bookings. Over half of these were in the car park.  These are similar to the figures for April.

As mentioned in the Chairman’s annual report, several highway changes will be trialled following a meeting with Highways.   These include revisions to the area around the Market Cross to enhance safety by improved road markings and signage, posts on the B4039 at top of the hill (like those by the river), short extensions to the yellow lines at the top of the hill and near the toilets, new signage at Whitegates (this has been done)

Further possible changes (such as restricting access to the village on peak days, possible ANPR, extension of the car park or use of overflow parking sites), will await the success or otherwise of these.

4C.      Footpaths (FW)

The Chairman invited Richard Tanner, the new owner of Parsonage Wood and Rack hill, to provide an update on the works currently in course and proposed. He will also provide an insert for the next addition of the Combe Courier. A parishioner queried whether the work done so far was in compliance with conservation area regulations and will meet separately with Mr Tanner on site.

 4N.       Congregational Chapel Car Park.  The transfer deed for the sale to Mr and Mrs Macdonald is being prepared by our solicitors.

  1. Finance

Income:

   WC precept     6,600.00

Expenditure:

Cllr. F. Winup Digiprint                                                    87.00

Cllr. F. Winup No Parking signs                                          19.85

Cllr. F. Winup Clips                                                           15.90

Cllr. F. Winup clamp clips                                                  26.48

Cllr. F. Winup Channel & adaptors                                     19.49

Bowen & Partners yearly payroll fee                                168.00

Walc membership                                                            145.81

Water2Business ½ yr                                                       177.23

Mrs. S. Parker Feb/Mar/April wages                                 880.45

Cllr. J. Mackelden wood chip                                             48.00

Mrs. P Marsh defibrillator                                                  24.00

Cllr. F. Winup Land Registry                                              14.00

Cllr. F. Winup Chairmans expenses                                   125.00

 

Lloyds Current Account @ 30th April 2025                                15474.98

Shawbrook Investment @ 30th April 2025                                  23562.31

 

7A. Appointment of internal auditor

Julie Hare has kindly agreed to take over from Claire Fawkes for this year.

  1. Correspondence (DR)

            Zurich Insurance renewal agreed effective 1st June subject to clarification of Buttercross cover.

  1. Planning Applications

The long-awaited Stonewood application has at last been received and the company was invited to present the proposals to attendees and to answer any questions. After long and helpful debate, the application was considered under three separate elements. That relating to the Stone wood extension and car parking (plus relocation of the Wood Recycling Centre) is supported subject to a review of the proposed entrance which is considered inadequate for the potential increasing vehicular traffic. That relating to retrospective permission for change of use to a builder’s compound (for Stonewood’s use) and storage building plus removal of the earth works operation is supported but with reservations that the latter activity had been allowed to continue without approval for a considerable period and would still take six months to be finally complete. The third element, change of use from agricultural to Class E (Office and Light Industrial) is supported in the knowledge that any application involving new buildings will require separate planning approval.

An application to replace an existing greenhouse at Brook House was unanimously supported.

Following the last meeting we objected to application PL/2025/02172 (Gable Cottage) as we have reservations as to the extent to which the application conforms with Core Policies 57 (iii,iv and vii) and 58 (6.138). We also considered that the diagram did not show the full ground coverage of the garden building. We also recommended that to minimise the impact on neighbouring properties, use of the hot tub should be restricted to a curfew of say 10.00pm as is the case with other properties within the parish. Following today’s meeting we have learned that the application has been agreed following the submission of revised documents.

We have been advised that approval has been granted for clearance of a natural clearing to enable construction of a storage building in woodland at Rack Hill. Whilst this would in all probability have received our support, we have expressed surprise to the planners that it was not pre-advertised by them nor is it yet on the list of approved applications.

  1. Unitary Councillor

Cllr Atkey advised that the new cabinet will be formed shortly following the recent election results.

  1. Playing Fields and Circuit (JM)

Nothing to add to those in the annual report other than Cllr Mackelden will chase for the regular lists of forthcoming events and their noise classifications.

  1. Play Areas (JM Lower, FW Upper)

Lower : Cllrs Bettles will cut the grass and Cllr Mackelden will do a general tidy.

Upper:  Cllr Bettles will arrange a weed kill and debris blowing, following which a working party may be needed for a general tidy.  Once the proceeds from the Chapel car park sale are received, some replacement equipment will be considered.

  1. Highways (JH)

Cllr Halliday has asked Highways about reinstalling the Roman Bridge bollard which has been knocked down yet again and has chased the request to have the eroding riverbank repaired.  She has asked for the yellow lines to be re-done.    Cllr. JH reported that the gully lorry cleared all the drains through village, and the Parish Steward will be back in June, when he will continue filling in potholes and other work. The local police have been asked to do another speed check in Upper Castle Combe and the village.

  1. Village Environment Cllr. GCL. Environment Report Cllr. GCL. We are still waiting to hear from WC regarding extra-large bins for tourists to use as the existing bins are inadequate. Wilts Local Nature Recovery Strategy webinars and presentations can be followed on Twitter Facebook and Instagram, although the recovery strategy may only be applicable to this parish to a limited extent.    Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Climate Alliance in conjunction with Swindon Borough Council, is on 20th/21st June. This event will focus on mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting and improving resilience to climate change effects. There have been sustainability initiatives at the golf club, including reducing the amount of single-use plastic around the hotel, Castle Inn and the introduction of biodegradable refuse bags. In addition, Mike Roberts has in the past led the PCC’s work in achieving a silver eco church award.   The police have asked us to place an Insert in the Combe Courier re recent burglaries in the area.     Cllr Winup is being interviewed by BBC TV next week re drones.
  2. Whitegates

The new signage has been installed. Further signage under consideration for the turning circle.

  1. Village Hall Cllr. FW said there is nothing to add from the earlier report at the AP Meeting.
  1. TV Committee Cllr. GCL said there is nothing to add from the earlier report at the AP Meeting.
  1. Approval of annual Governance statement

The annual figures were unanimously agreed and the relevant documentation signed by the Chairman, Responsible Financial Officer and Internal Auditor, and the date for the Notice of Publication was approved

  1. Procedure for co-option of new councillor

Cllr Winup outlined the procedure, and any potential candidates will be reviewed at the next meeting or earlier.

  1. Next Meeting

17 July 2025 at 7.30pm in village hall.