CASTLE COMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 16.03.17
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe
Present:
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
J Mackelden. (Vice Chairman).
S. Bettles
B. Blair
Mrs. J. Halliday.
G. Ruggles
D. Ryall (Clerk)
8 Parishioners.
1. Apologies for absence:
Cllr. J. Prior, Unitary Cllr. Baroness. Jane. Scott.
2. Declarations of interest:
Cllrs J. Mackelden & F. Winup declared an interest in item 7. Planning
All councillors in item 4J. Election.
3. Minutes of the meetings held on 19.01.17
These were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising:
4A. Area Board Meeting and Parish Forum
Area Board
The last meeting was not attended as there was little of interest for the Council on the agenda.
Parish Forum.
The meeting on 15th March was attended by Cllr. Ruggles who said there was considerable discussion about fly tipping in the area.
4B.Parking Review.
New signs & car park charging.
Cllr. Winup said Wiltshire Council had not yet responded to his email of 30th January which requested information about proposed charging system and how the potential increase in illegal parking in the lower village will be prevented. Unitary Cllr Jane Scott’s recent e mail does not address this or the Council’s request for a trial period. The statement that the money received will be used to keep the visitor toilets open is of no interest to the village. The new village signage costs are part of this proposal.
Parking statistics
The Chairman said there were 5 bookings in January and 12 in February.
4C. Footpaths
School Lane to the village
The Chairman reported that Cllr Scott says that some scalpings will be available shortly for the muddy areas.
School Lane to Whitegates
Cllr Halliday said the Parish Steward had informed her that English Landscaping had found this footpath on the list from Balfour Beatty and that he had now been given permission to clear it.
4D. Village Flooding
The Chairman said the Environmental Agency modelling plan of the Bybrook is still outstanding.
4E. Defibrillator.
Cllr Winup said that this and first aid training continues to be deferred until the village cross repair costs are known. Once this is known grant aid will be sought.
4F. Market Cross
The Chairman said the deadline for the second interim grant from Heritage England expires on 17th March and that all the figures required have been submitted but English Heritage have to decide what is eligible. The Council has received £6502 out of a proposed £10000 grant towards an estimated development costs of £13250.
Cllr Mackelden said the App had been discarded for a more sensible approach by Heritage Technology of upgrading the existing web site incorporating 360 degree views of the cross and digitising Adrian Bishop’s book. The quote was £3800 and this approach would be more mobile friendly than downloading an App. Cllr Mackelden said English Heritage also thought a presentation to the village about the restoration would also help with the Lottery grant. The Chairman thanked Cllr Mackelden for the work done and thought the presentation could be given by the Council and would be a good social event.
4G. Conveyances and Licences.
Estate Yard Licence
Cllr Blair said he had had a meeting with Cllr Winup & David Ryall to discuss the draft licence proposed by the estate and a further one with Damian Bettles (the estate) to discuss changes suggested by the Council. He said the majority of the revisions requested by the Council had been accepted with the major exception being the request to amend the length of the licence from 5 to 15 years. The estate has proposed further amendments which Cllr Winup said needed further discussion. Cllr Blair agreed to arrange a further meeting with Damian. Bettles.
Mr. Neale, tenant of the cafe, said they had received numerous unacceptable complaints from garage owners about customers blocking access to garages. The Chairman said the Parish Council had no involvement and any parking problems were between the garage owners and the estate.
Ms. Bright said they would like to change the Sunday opening hours from 9am -3pm to 10am to 5pm.
Cllr Winup advised that the appropriate planning application should be submitted to Wilts Council.
Lease – car park Congregational Church
The Clerk said this had been agreed and signed. The amendments requested by the council have been included. These extend the lease from 7 to 15 years and that the tenancy ceases if the adjacent building ceases to be a place of worship.
4H. Ladywell
Cllr Bettles said he had the restoration on his list but was concerned about possible planning issues..
4I. Holiday Lets and Second Homes.
Cllr Halliday said she thought a representative of Wilts Council was to give a presentation on this topic. Cllr Winup said after Cllr Scott’s comments at the last meeting and the paper prepared on the subject by Wilts Council there seemed little point as there is no action that can be taken with existing properties.
4J. Elections
The Clerk issued nomination paper packs to the Council for the Parish Council election on 4th May 2017. He said the nomination paper and consent to nomination documents had to be presented to the returning officer before 4pm on Tuesday 4th April 2017. He has an up to date register of electors for electoral number which are required for proposers, seconders etc
5. Finance- £
Income
Shawbrook Bank – interest 196.60
CC Colts – rent & insurance 166.03
Congregational Church 5.00
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
D. Ryall – petty cash 35.00
Victim support – donation 20.00
SSE – quarterly invoice 78.04
Cllr. Winup – newsletter printing 78.00
Cllr. Winup – wooden sign 77.98
D.Ryall – salary 264.05
HMRC – tax 141.20
Lloyds Bank account @ 31.12.16 36831.44
Deposit account Shawbrook 20000.00
5A Chairman’s Expenses
The Council agreed unanimously that this should be £125.00
6. Correspondence.
6A. WALC – election publicity document. The Clerk said this duplicated the Wilts Council information.
6B. Wilts Council Enforcement – the Clerk said these had been raised at the Council’s request to examine the apparent excessive work at Reading room cottage and to consider the large number café signs around the estate yard.
6C. Wilts Council – Up to date map of Castle Combe footpaths. The Clerk said he would circulate.
6D.Broughton Parish Council – request for information /help with solar farms. The Council agreed that that assistance should be given.
6E. Workplace Pension Scheme – the Chairman said he has received documentation instructing him to create a pension scheme for employees. The Clerk said he has asked Bowen Chartered Accountants, who look after the Council payroll, to complete the application with the Clerk to be opted out. This covers the Council for any future employee to whom the scheme might apply.
7. Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
Hill House – tree surgery.
Church Cottage – internal alterations
Castle Inn – internal alterations re staff & guest accommodation.
P.C. Under Consideration:
Nil
P.C. Rejected.
Nil
Unitary Council Granted:
1, Park Lane – internal & external alterations.
The Dovecote, Riverside House – reinstate.
CC Golf Club – fell Yew, Horse chestnut & reduce Sycamore trees
Unitary Council under Consideration:
Church Cottage – internal alterations.
Castle Inn – internal alterations re staff & guest accommodation.
8. Unitary Councillor
Cllr Baroness Scott has sent a written reply to the items she agreed to action at the last meeting.
9. Playing Field & CC Circuit
Playing fields
Cllr Mackelden said everything at the playing field continues to go well.
Circuit
Cllr Mackelden said he was still trying to get a new date for the liaison meeting. He said the plan to change the position of the main entrance appears to depend upon the Circuit getting a new architect.
10. Play Areas
Cllr Mackelden said there were no problems with the lower play area other than the bench needs painting. The Chairman said due to his knee operation the roster for mowing the lower play area would need rearranging. Cllr Bettles said he could help and use a sit on mower which would speed up the work. The Chairman asked Cllr Mackelden to liaise with Cllr Bettles.
Cllr Winup said Cllr Prior had told him that organic weed killer now needed applying.
Cllr Halliday said organic weed killer had now been purchased.
11. Highways
The clerk said that he had received no information or payment from Wilt Council for the replacement by the Parish of the vandalised finger post.
Cllr Halliday the Parish Steward continued to do an excellent job and was very helpful. She went through the highway priority list which was considerably shorter but contained items outstanding over two years. She said that the turning circle at Whitegates was becoming an H & S problem and wondered if the estate could help by scraping the surface flat and pushing the surplus material into the hole. Cllr Bettles said he would liaise with her to examine the area. Cllr Bettles said she had added missing kerbstones to the list as a villager had recently slipped and received a serious injury.
12. Village Environment.
Cllr Ruggles said that the road to Grittleton was in poor condition and asked Cllr Halliday to add it to her list. He also said that tree branches overhanging the roads around the village are dangerous as was seen recently by the branch from East Combe farm which blocked the road. The Chairman asked Cllr Ruggles to contact Pat Meakins and arrange for a short entry about property owners responsibilities for overhanging branches etc.
13. Whitegates
The foot paths are still green and slippery in places. Cllr Halliday said she would ask the village steward to have a look. She said the residents’ working party was still being convened and that flower tubs around the estate were being suggested..
14. TV. Committee.
The Chairman said invoices have been issued and that the recent lightening strike had knocked out a unit in the village hall roof which took 2 days to replace at an estimated cost of £600.
15. Village Hall
The Chairman said the bookings have been good and enabled the hall to be completely redecorated.
16. Village Welcome Pack.
Cllr Halliday said this would be given to all new residents to the village on their arrival and would cover local amenities, activities, organisations, P.C. meeting dates and times etc. The Chairman said he thought this a very good idea and asked Cllr Halliday to produce a draft for consideration by the Council.
17. Date of next meeting.
This was confirmed as Thursday 18th May 2017 at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall for the Annual Parish Meeting followed by the Parish Council A.G.M.