CASTLE COMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Draft Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 17.01.19
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe
Present:
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
- Blair
- Bettles
- Mrs. J Halliday
- Prior
- Mrs. H. Reeves
- Ryall (Clerk)
5 Parishioners.
- Apologies for absence:
Cllr J. Mackelden, Unitary Cllr. Baroness Mrs. J. Scott.
- Declarations of interest:
Cllr. Bettles – 4G, Cllr Blair – 4M, Cllr. Prior – 7. Planning Appln. – Upper Combe Farm, demolish existing buildings and erect new, Cllr Reeves – 4E & 7. Planning Appln. – erect rear extension etc.
- Minutes of the meeting held on 15.11.18
These were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
- Matters Arising:
4A. Area Board Meeting and Parish Forum.
Area Board.
The Chairman said the December meeting had been cancelled and confirmed he would attend the meeting on 04.02.19
Parish Forum.
Cllr Winup said the December meeting had also been cancelled and confirmed he would attend the meeting at Kington Langley on 20.02.19
4B. Parking Review.
- i) Car park Signage.
Cllr Winup said the meeting with Unitary Cllr Baroness Jane Scott and the parking authority to discuss the village parking problems is arranged for 20.02.19. He said he had sent a set of the original signage plans including locations to Wilts Council and suggested that ‘free’ to be added and the Councillors were asked to review the proposed locations to ensure they are the best ones.
He added that normally the Council would have to pay at least 25% of the costs, estimate £2050 in 2015, but Cllr. Scott thought there was a possibility that this could come from the Area Board capital budget. The meeting agreed that it would not seek 100% assistance in view of the Area Board’s generous grants for the village cross and defibrillators.
- ii) Parking statistics
The Chairman said that 7 were booked in November and 8 in December.
4C Footpaths
Cllr Bettles said he had about 2 tons of scalpings and that only small quantities could be obtained by the Parish Steward. The meeting agreed that this should be used for the Whitegates turning circle and that larger quantities be sought through Chris Carter, Wilts Council. This will be used to complete the School Lane foot path. The Clerk said when further scalpings were available the Cotswold Wardens would be asked to repair the Roman Bridge footpath.
4E. Defibrillators.
Cllr Winup said ES Electrical would be installing all three defibrillators on Monday 21.01.19 and the training/demonstration session would take place in the village hall on 24.01.19. The meeting agreed that the house holders concerned are paid £12 per annum each March to cover electricity costs.
The Chairman said that as no posts are required the cost will be about £750 less than forecast and once confirmed a repayment will be made to Wilts Council.
4F. Market Cross
The Chairman said English Heritage has requested that the two lowest tenderers are asked for up date quotes which David Newton is handling with a deadline of 31.01.19. He said the financial status of the 2 companies will need re visiting although Minerva is no longer subject to a Company Voluntary Arrangement and have recently completed work for Historic England. An extraordinary meeting will be arranged to agree the supplier and contracts must be signed before end March to preserve the grant offers.
4G.Estate yard Licence.
The revised license was signed by the Estate and the Council will mark out the car parking spaces in the spring.
4I. Village Welcome Pack.
Cllr J. Halliday has issued a revised version and asked for comments by 31.01.19. Cllr Blair said he would liaise with Cllr Halliday to ensure that any GDPR requirements are understood.
4M.Speeding on the hill & the School Lane junction.
The Chairman said that the traffic measurement statistics necessary for a 20mph speed limit have been issued to CATG for consideration and will be reviewed at their next meeting. The revised signage at the school lane junction will also be included in the application.
- Precept
The Clerk confirmed that the submission for £5500 has been submitted to Wilts Council
8B. Winter Salt
Cllr Halliday said the village steward has confirmed all of the bins have been filled.
- War Memorial refurbishment
The Chairman said he had applied two coats and will take a time to act.
- 17. Christmas tree festival
Cllr Halliday said this had been very successful with 24 trees and raising £1728 for the Church. She said it would held again this year with the proceeds split across other village organisations and thanked all those involved for their hard work. The Chairman thanked Cllr Reeves and Cllr Halliday for the superb tree they had obtained and decorated for the Parish Council.
- Finance- £
Income Nil
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
Liz Taylor – bulbs etc 88.00
Royal British Legion wreath donation 50.00
Cllr Mackelden – Social Club village event – donation 125.00
- Ryall – salary 410.00
HMRC – tax 239.20
Cllr Winup – brass plaque – remembrance tree 25.99
Cllr Winup – cleaning material – war memorial 18.99
Cllr Winup – newsletter printing 55.44
Lloyds Bank account @ 30 October 18 36737.00
Deposit account Shawbrook (William Prior Heritage Fund) 20000.00
- Correspondence.
6A. Wilts Council – Fly tipping hot spots & signs
The Council identified the following hotspots which the Clerk will send to Wilts Council:
Cross roads where Grittleton Lane crosses the Summer Lane byway.
Lay-by on the road from Castle Combe to Ford.
B4039 ditch and lay-by at Quarry corner.
Summer Lane first 100 metres from the entrance with the B4039 at Quarry Corner.
B4039 lay-by adjacent to the playing fields and Chapel.
Whitegates at the entrance to the footpath to School Lane and next to the electricity sub station.
6B. Deborah Smith – Congregational Chapel
The Chairman said that due to the extensive repairs required the Chapel intended to sell the existing building and is seeking advice about erecting a preformed building either at the Dunns Lane car park or Whitegates which could also be used for community events. After some discussion the Council concluded they were concerned that the car park site would be open to vandalism and the Whitegates site would be opposed by the residents if it was used for parties, weddings etc. The Chairman said much more information was required of the proposal for a replacement building and its use and that the Council’s ownership of the Chapel car park taken into consideration.
- Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
The barn behind Gable Cottage UCC – increase height of access.
Cleve House UCC – fell Silver Birch & Hornbeam.
1, Fairfield UCC – retro appln for shed & summerhouse.
Brook house – fell Chestnut.
53, Whitegates – demolish conservatory and erect new rear single storey extension.
Gardeners House – fell Ash.
Upper Manor House – fell Alder
Hillside Cottage – tree surgery to Eucalyptus etc.
P.C. Under Consideration:
Nil
P.C. Objected.
Nil
Unitary Council under Consideration.
Upper Combe Farm – demolish existing buildings and erect new including house.
1, Fairfield – retro appln. For shed & summerhouse.
Brook House – fell Chestnut.
53, Whitegates – demolish conservatory and erect new rear single storey extension.
Gardeners House – fell Ash.
Hillside Cottage – tree surgery to Eucalyptus etc.
Upper Manor House – fell Alder.
Unitary Council – Granted
The Barn behind Gable Cottage UCC – increase height of access.
Cleve House UCC – fell Silver Birch & Hornbeam.
Unitary Council Rejected.
Nil
- Unitary Councillor
No comments received.
- CC Circuit & Playing Field
CC Circuit
Cllr Mackelden reported that there was still no date for the next liaison meeting at which the planning proposals for the new entrance are to be discussed.
.Playing Field.
Cllr Mackelden reported that there were no problems at the playing field and the CC Colts season was going well.
- Play Areas
Cllr Mackelden reported that he was not aware of any problems with the lower play area.
Cllr Reeves said the Whitegates area was looking tired and badly needs repainting. The Chairman confirmed this is on the priority list after the Market Cross finance requirement is finalised.
- Highways
Cllr Halliday said the Parish Steward came on Wednesday and repaired potholes and cleared out gullies two of which at the top of the hill are badly blocked.
The outstanding items on her list are
Marker posts on the river bank
Road signs at Westway Lane junction are obscured by tree branches.
Broken road edging on the B4039 at Gib Hollow
She said the river bank opposite the toilets is collapsing into the river. The Clerk said he would investigate who is responsible for repair.
- Village Environment.
Cllr Prior said there are no major problems around the village. He said he had sprayed the Whitegates play area with organic weed killer which had yet to work.
- Whitegates
Cllr Reeves said there were two houses empty in the village which has enabled the gardens to be cleaned up and a tidy for Whitegates is planned for early spring.
- TV. Committee.
The Chairman said that the system had no problems recently.
- Village Hall
The Chairman said that the quarterly checks had been satisfactory and some minor repairs have been carried out. The funds now stand at £840 after the contribution of £2703 towards the defibrillators. As year to date expenses exceed income by £450 due to the repairs and loss of the car boot sale income it might be necessary to waive the electric contribution to the Council. Cllr Reeves agreed to organise the car boot this year which is in August.
- Holiday lets & second homes
The Chairman said the Council understood that this was a significant problem and had been discussed in depth at previous meetings with Wilts Council’s support also sought. The government has recently increased taxes on such properties but it was concluded by the Parish Council that there was nothing it could do to prevent a house owner selling a property to be used for this purpose. The Chairman advised Mr Roberts that if he thought it appropriate he should write to Wilts Council to understand what action they can take.
- Date of next meeting.
This was confirmed as Thursday 21st March 2019 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.