Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 19.01.17
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe
Present:
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
J Mackelden. (Vice Chairman).
B. Blair
Mrs. J. Halliday.
J. Prior
Unitary Cllr. Baroness. J. Scott
D. Ryall (Clerk)
4 Parishioners.
1. Apologies for absence:
Cllr. G. Ruggles
2. Declarations of interest:
There were no declarations of interest.
3. Minutes of the meetings held on 17.11.16
These were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising:
4A. Area Board Meeting and Parish Forum
Area Board
Cllr Winup attended the board meeting on 16th January at which the main item, a highways question and answer, was cancelled due to the illness of Cllr. Whitehead.
Parish Forum.
The Chairman and Cllr Ruggles attended the meeting on 23rd November about planning enforcement at which it was stated that the number of planning enforcement officers has reduced from six to two.
The Chairman attended the meeting on 18th January at which there was a question and answer session with senior members of the police.
The precept for 2017-18 is to rise by £0.75M to offset the reductions in central police funding. Further savings of £2.5M have to be made on top of the previous £17.0M. This will have a significant impact and to reduce this Wiltshire police intends to try to recruit 500 special constables. The impact on rural areas was queried and the police said they would try to minimise this and asked that the public reported everything so they could channel their resources in the most effective way.
The next meeting is on 15th March and will be attended Cllr. Winup if available.
4B.Parking Review.
New signs re parking and cyclists.
Cllr. Winup said Wiltshire Council is proposing to re introduce charges for parking in the car park and increase the warden visits to the village. The income received would offset the cost of new signage and the continuation of the toilets. Unitary Cllr Jane Scott issued a list of the proposed charges.
The Chairman said there should be a trial period as previously there was a large increase in the amount of illegal parking and that a formal commitment to more warden visit would be necessary before agreement. A formal response will be sent to this effect.
Cllr. Halliday confirmed that the white line hatching outside the White Hart is to be carried out by the village steward.
Parking Statistics.
Cllr. Winup said there were very few bookings in November and December.
4C. Footpaths
The Chairman reported that, contrary to previous advice, scalpings cannot be used on footpaths only on highways. Cllr Scott said she would investigate and inform the Council of her findings. Cllr Winup said if this was not acceptable then it would be necessary to revert to gravel which would be unavailable until the next financial year.
He said no response had been received from Wilts Council about the ownership and responsibility for the footpath from School Lane to Whitegates. The probability is that both now lie with the Lysley Estate who will continue to allow usage on a permissive footpath basis.
4D. Village Flooding
The Chairman said during the heavy rainfall in December the emergency plan had been used and worked very well. He reported that the Environmental Agency plan should be available for review with Nettleton P.C. by the end of January.
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 grant application could not be submitted until the way forward was decided on the requirement for an ‘app.’ Cllr Mackelden said he been in contact with David Newton and the Heritage lottery and believed that a revamped version of the existing web site with more emphasis on the village cross would be acceptable and cheaper. He said he would be discussing this further with David Newton and the Heritage lottery team
Cllr Winup said the fixed quotations time period ends this month but he has asked the selected firm, Sally Strachey Historic Conservation, if they would extend the date. They have agreed but said sub contract costs might increase their figure of £56065.54. Their own costs will remain unchanged.
4G. Conveyances and Licences.
Cllr Winup said a draft of a revised licence for access across the estate yard and car park spaces had been received today and would be reviewed before the next meeting.
16. Ladywell
The Chairman reported that Mr Lysley has said he would repair the Ladywell so the kind offer from Cllr Halliday and Mrs Chapman was no longer required.
17. Holiday Lets and Second Homes.
Unitary Cllr. J Scott distributed a document prepared by Wilts Council planning on this subject for consideration by the Council. She said there had been little success nationally to overcome this problem and some Councils have imposed restrictions on new build developments. She said to apply this in Wiltshire it would need including in the Local Plan and the support of other Parish Councils and suggested it was further discussed with Alistair Cunningham. This will not solve the problem as no new builds are planned and the problem relates to older properties.
19. Elections – Council Vacancy.
The Chairman said that Cllr Glen Thorn had decided to resign for business and health reasons and he thanked him for the work done for the council. The vacancy has been advertised for 2 weeks and can be filled by immediate co option as there is the full election in May 2017.
It was proposed by Cllr. J. Mackelden and seconded by Cllr. J. Prior that Mr S. Bettles be co opted onto the Council as he had shown significant interest and narrowly failed being co opted previously. The meeting unanimously supported this proposal.
5. Finance- £
Income Nil
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
Royal British Legion – donation 50.00
Grant Thornton – audit fee 360.00
Help – counselling – donation 30.00
HMRC – tax 141.20
Clerk’s salary 264.05
Cllr. Winup – newsletter printing 56.00
Cllr. Winup – plastic sheeting, chain, bolts etc. 74.64
Cllr. Mackelden – CC Social Club – donation 125.00
Lloyds Bank account @ 31.12.16 36754.85
Deposit account Shawbrook 20000.00
5A. Cheque Signatories
The cheque signatories for both Lloyds Bank and the Shawbrook have now been changed…
Cllr Winup said changes for the village hall account were now also complete.
6. Correspondence.
6A. Wilts Council – the signed diversion order for the modification of footpath number 7 has been received. This is in lower Long Dean and diverts the footpath from the hill to alongside the river. The Cotswold Wardens have been assisting with installing signposts etc.
6B.WALC – time table for the Council elections.
The Clerk said this was a useful document and reminded the Councillors that it was their responsibility to obtain nomination papers etc and submit them to the elections officer.
6C. Wilts Council – Mobile Library
The Clerk said the e mail he had distributed had a clear message ‘use it or lose it’ and that he had ordered a number of publicity notices.
6D. Congregational Chapel car park lease.
The Clerk said this expired on 1st January and he has asked Mrs Molano to arrange renewal but for a period of 25 instead of 7years as agreed at the July 2015 Council meeting with the proviso that if the Chapel was ever sold then the lease was null and void.
7. Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
1, Park Lane – internal & external alterations and change of use.
The Dovecote, Riverside House -reinstate.
Riverside House – move garage & reuse.
Shrub Farm – remove antenna & replace.
C.C. Golf Club – fell Yew & Horse Chestnut and reduce Sycamore
The Cottage – Lower Long Dean Mill –internal & external alterations.
P.C. Under Consideration:
Nil
P.C. Rejected.
Nil
Unitary Council Granted:
Riverside House – move garage & reuse.
Shrub Farm – remove antenna & replace.
Unitary Council under Consideration:
1, Park Lane – internal &external alterations and change of use
The Dovecote, Riverside House – reinstate.
CC golf Club – fell Yew & Horse Chestnut & reduce Sycamore
8. Unitary Councillor
Cllr Baroness Scott said the budget for the next year was very tough as and it will probably be necessary to increase council tax to cover social care for older people and children. Further savings will still be required which could mean further reductions in manpower.
Cllr Winup asked if she could again ask enforcement to visit Circuit Motors who were continuing to encroach on the adjacent land.
9. Playing Field & CC Circuit
Playing fields
Cllr Mackelden said everything at the playing field continues to go well.
Circuit
Cllr Mackelden said the last meeting with the Circuit had again been cancelled and he had asked for a new date. He said the plan to change the position of the main entrance appears to still be at the planning stage.
10. Play Areas
Cllr Mackelden said there were no problems with the lower play area other than the bench needs painting.
Cllr Prior reported that the village steward had done an excellent job at Whitegates tidying up and scraping off the moss. He said an organic weed killer now needed applying.
11. Highways
The Chairman gave Cllr Scott a letter requesting reimbursement by Wilt Council of the payment by the Parish for the replacement of the vandalised finger post.
Cllr Halliday the Parish Steward was doing as excellent job and was very helpful. She went through the highway priority list and said a large number of these would be eliminated when the B4039 was resurfaced through Upper Combe on 14th February 17.
12. Village Environment.
The Chairman said the road side hedges to Ford had been cut and this had made a considerable improvement. He said that the bushes, particularly laurel, which are overhanging the road down to the village from School Lane need cutting back. This is the landowner’s responsibility, in this case the Estate, and not Wilts Council.
13. Whitegates
Cllr Prior said the Golf Course has done an excellent job cutting back the hedge along side the road.
He said the foot paths were green and slippery in places. Cllr Halliday said she would ask the village steward to have a look and that the residents’ working party was still being convened.
Cllr Prior said that the racing around the car park had reduced considerably.
14. TV. Committee.
The Chairman said invoices would be issued shortly.
15. Village Hall
The Chairman said the quarterly checks had been carried out satisfactorily.
16. Date of next meeting.
This was confirmed as Thursday16th March 2017 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.