Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 16.09.21
In the Village Hall, Castle Combe.
Present:
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
J. Mackelden.
B. Blair
S. Bettles
Mrs. J Halliday
G. Clegg Littler
Unitary Cllr. N. Botterill
D. Ryall (Clerk)
Members of the public – 3
1. Apologies for absence
Cllr J. Prior.
2. Declarations of interest:
None
3. Minutes of the meeting held 29.07.21
It was proposed by Cllr Bettles and seconded by Cllr Halliday that these were accepted as a true record. This was unanimously agreed by the meeting and duly signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising:
4A. Area Board Meeting and Parish Forum.
Area Board.
The next meeting will be held on 27.09.21. The Chairman said a decision on attending will be decided when the agenda is published.
Parish Forum.
All meetings cancelled until further notice.
4B. Parking Review.
Parking statistics
Cllr Winup said the information for July/August is still outstanding.
4C Footpaths
Cllr Winup said the Cotswold Wardens have cleared the Golf Course footpath and Cllr Bettles said he would mow the cleared area next to School Lane. Cllr Winup said Chris Hull has agreed to help Cllr Bettles spread the scalpings remaining in the farmyard on the golf course footpath and that he had been advised that no further scalpings are available until further notice.
The Cotswold Wardens will install a stile & barrier at the top of the Trim Tram footpath with materials provided by Wilts Council and will possibly need a jack hammer to make the post holes.
Cllr Winup explained the dangerous state of the Crippleshank bridle path and told Cllr Botterill he would send him the detail and previous responses from Wilts Council.
4F. Market Cross
Cllr Winup said he had again progressed David Newton for invoices and maintenance plans etc but received no response.
Cllr Mackelden confirmed he is in contact with owners of the vehicle which damaged the Cross.
4N. Chapel Car Park
The Chairman said he had again contacted the solicitors for an update on the land registration of the playing fields etc.
4O. Financial Standing Orders.
To be reviewed by the Chairman & Clerk.
4R. Second Homes and Holiday Lets.
The Chairman said the Government appears to be reviewing the situation and will possibly introduce some form of legislation.
17. Gigaclear
The Chairman said no firm timescales have yet been provided for installation or clear proposals on methodology. The Council have requested Gigaclear to investigate the previous Fujitsu work of 1995/6 which could avoid excavating the village centre. Cllr Botterill said Gigaclear are running well behind schedule, and he will investigate their proposals for Castle Combe.
Gigaclear have been informed of the October filming dates.
18. Jackson River Films – Village filming.
This will take place in mid-October and last for three days with some filming near the estate yard entrance. The film company is aware that the vehicle entrance must not be unduly inhibited.
5. Finance. £
Income
Jackson River Films – donation 21000.00
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
CPRE membership 36.00
Citizens Advice Bureau 50.00
Cllr Winup – drone signs 12.16
Cllr. Winup – newsletter printing 33.50
SSE – electricity bill 90.51
Water 2 Business – half year bill 89.42
Lloyds Bank current account @ 27.08.21 £54037.32
Shawbrook Bank deposit account. £1000.00
5A. Reserve Accounts.
The Chairman said he and the Clerk suggest only transferring £14000 plus the existing £1000 into a suitable account until the filming is complete. It was proposed by Cllr Mackelden and seconded by Cllr Halliday that this was accepted and unanimously agreed by the Council.
6.Correspondence
6A. Bobby Van Trust – request for donation.
The Council agreed to donate £30.00
6B. Wilts Council – climate change consultation.
The Clerk said he has distributed the documentation for this for consideration by the Council. The Chairman said he would arrange for it to be included in the village newsletter.
7. Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
Woodbury House UCC – retrospective application for chicken house.
Court Cottage – single storey extension.
Land at UCC – All weather riding area etc
Meadowside UCC – fell one Cypress, one Ash, reduce Beech by 30%
P. C. Object:
Woodbury Hill House UCC – convert WW2 RAF buildings to tourist accommodation.
P.C. Under Consideration:
Nil
Unitary Council under Consideration.
Woodbury House – convert WW2 RAF buildings to tourist accommodation.
Woodbury House – retrospective application for chicken house.
Land at UCC – All weather riding area etc.
Court Cottage – single storey extension.
Meadowside UCC – fell one Cypress. One Ash, reduce Beech by 30%
Unitary Council – Granted.
Upper Combe Lodge – fell 3 Ash trees.
Congregational Chapel -revised scheme to provide residential accommodation.
8. Unitary Councillor
Cllr Botterill said that he now had the portfolio for climate change which linked with the Wiltshire natural environment plan (green blue infrastructure) and said several consultations have taken place. He said that there was an online copy of the climate change presentation and information on the natural environmental plan on the Wilts web site which he hoped the Council would consider. Webinars on both subjects will take place in October.
9. CC Circuit & Playing Field
CC Circuit – Cllr Mackelden reported that no liaison meeting has been arranged and that traffic had been well controlled at the last race meeting.
Playing Fields – he said the new lease will be available for discussion at the next Council meeting.
10. Play Areas
The ROSPA audit due this month has not yet taken place.
Cllr Mackelden said he has laid additional chippings on the surface of the lower area and cleared the weeds.
Cllr Prior said gaps are appearing on the Whitegates play area surface and he would arrange for a quotation for repairing them. The Chairman recalled that the last ROSPA inspection had said that the risk was minimal and the previous quote very high. Cllr Prior has contacted Mrs Reeves about the leaf blower who said she is happy to retain it and keep the play area tidy.
11. Highways
Cllr Halliday reported the Village steward was doing his usual excellent job. Weed killer has been applied to the Whitegates pavements, the vegetation cut back on all B4039 junctions and the missing 50mph sign replaced on the B4039.
‘Slow children signs’ have been requested for Westway Close and Cllr Halliday asked the Chairman if he could assist as a CATG application was required. He asked Cllr Halliday to obtain the likely cost from Wilts Highways.
The Quarry Corner layby resurfacing with tarmac and removal of bank is outstanding and will be done when Highways are in the area. Cllr Halliday said that there has been no response from Wilts Council to this or tarmacking the Whitegates turning circle. The white roundels on the hill near Old Werretts have worn away and she has requested they are repainted.
12. Village Environment.
Cllr Clegg Littler said the village tidy took place as agreed but had to be abandoned due to the very bad weather. The Chairman said flooding occurred at the White Hart that weekend and there appeared to be little knowledge of where the flood prevention equipment is kept. He said he would include this information in the next newsletter. He said after the recent fatality at the Golf course he would re issue the defibrillator instructions to the Council.
The Chairman said no response has been received from Minerva about repairing the War Memorial and new drone signs are on the notice boards.
13. Whitegates
Cllr Prior said there was nothing to report.
The Chairman said Wessex Water have carried our repairs to the sewage system, but further work could be required.
The bus turning circle repairs are still outstanding and tarmac should be considered instead of scalpings.
14. TV. Committee.
Cllr. Clegg Littler reported that he was still trying to get the bank account signatures changed.
The amplifier mast repairs have been delayed by Covid restrictions and there are no system problems.
15. Village Hall
The Chairman said the hall is now open under Covid restrictions. Mr Halliwell has kindly removed the roof vegetation which has exposed significant damage for which quotes for repairs are being sought.
When this is complete consideration would be given to installing double doors onto the playing field.
16. Queens Green Canopy
The Clerk said the was a celebration of the Queens Platinum Anniversary 2022 and an incentive to plant more trees to offset carbon emissions by offering free saplings to applicants. The Council asked the Clerk to investigate and apply if possible.
17. Coronavirus update
The Chairman said the latest Wiltshire stats were 1630 tested positive in the last 7 days (up 20%) and 377000 people have received one jab and 296000 received two. Unitary Cllr Botterill sad the infection rate increase is in the 15 – 19 age group.
18. Date of next meeting.
This was confirmed as Thursday 18.11.21 at 7.30 p.m. in Castle Combe village hall.