Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 19.07.12
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman)
A. Bishop (Vice Chairman)
Mrs J. Halliday
J Mackelden
G. Ruggles
D. Ryall (Clerk)
1 Parishioner
1. Apologies for absence:
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Harvey.
2. Declarations of interest:
There were no declarations of interest
3. Minutes of the meetings held on 17.05.12, 21.06.12 & 27.06.12
These were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising:
A. Area Board Meeting
The Chairman attended the last meeting and reported that an unimpressive presentation had been given by the Wiltshire Highways representative about the new Highways & Street Scene organisation. In contrast a Yatton Keynell Councillor gave an excellent presentation about the village.
B. Traffic Calming and Speed Checks
Cllr Winup said he had been informed that the report about the revised speed limit on the B4039 was about to be issued. He was not confident that the changes requested by the Parish Council would be accepted.
C. Parking Review
Cllr Winup said there had been five bookings recently and the Wardens were regularly visiting in the evenings and weekends…
D. Neighbourhood Policing
The Clerk read a report from PC Hannam in which she said they were regularly going through the village putting inconsiderate parking notices on cars parked on double yellow lines. A number of residents had complained about this but moved their cars after explanation of the obstruction caused. There were no other significant incidents to report.
E. Waste Collection
Cllr Bishop said that plastic bags for garden waste were still not being provided or collected after numerous requests to various departments. The Clerk was asked to make Cllr Scott aware of the problem.
F. Village electricity Supply
The Chairman said there have been no problems recently.
G. Queens Jubilee
The events in the lower village and Whitegates had been very successful with the latter raising over £300 for charity.
H. Localism Act/ Code of Conduct
The Clerk reported that all Councillors had now entered their pecuniary interests on the Wiltshire Council web site register. The Chairman said the new Code had created a problem with the village hall committee as none-councillors would also have to enter their details on the register. This was unacceptable and the recommended alternative from Wiltshire Council is to make them none-voting volunteers.
I. Best Kept Village Competition
The Clerk reported that the village hade come a disappointing fifth out of six. The areas criticised were:
General untidiness of gardens etc in the upper village
Lack of information in notice boards
Maps difficult to understand.
Lettering on the war memorial needs replacing.
The Chairman said after all of the hard work put in by the village this was difficult to accept.
J. Highways and Street Scene
Cllr Bishop and the Clerk said response from this organisation continues to be very poor
K. Council Vacancy
The Chairman said he had been unsuccessful in obtaining a nomination from Whitegates and it was agreed that the vacancy should be advertised in the newsletter unless a nominee came forward within the next few days.
5. Finance- £
Income
The production Factory – donation 250.00
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
WALC – subscription 111.62
Cllr Halliday – weed killer etc 18.97
Southern Electric – quarterly bill 141.60
Cllr Bishop – replacement cheque for No 950 268.74
Carers support – Wiltshire – donation 20.00
Cllr Ruggles – plants 9.95
Zurich Municipal Insurance – annual premium 887.32
Cllr Winup – AGM refreshments etc. 36.54
Mrs le Coz – plants War Memorial 31.50
Cllr Winup – newsletter printing 27.00
Liz Taylor – plants 35.99
Flourish & Bloom – maintenance 151.00
CC Social Committee Jubilee – donation 100.00
Mrs J Harvey – Whitegates Jubilee – donation 300.00
Cllr Halliday – plants 13.75
Cotswold Wardens – donation 50.00
Kinch Fuel Oils – 500 litres 262.24
Wiltshire Walling – repairs to pound and pump 390.00
6. Correspondence.
A. CPRE – membership renewal (£29)
The meeting agreed to renew membership
B. Youth Action Wiltshire – request for donation
The meeting agreed to donate £20
C. Bobby Van Appeal – request for a donation.
The meeting agreed to donate £20
D. Community First – annual subscription (£36)
The meeting agreed to renew membership
7. Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
Nil
P.C. Under Consideration:
The Cottage UCC – extension, resubmission of 11/3700/FUL
P.C. Rejected:
Nil
Wilts Council Granted:
Gable Cottage UCC – alterations to out building
Nettleton Mill – revised position of garage etc.
Wilts Council Rejected:
Nil
8. Unitary Councillor
No comments received
9. Playing Field and Circuit Reports
Cllr Mackelden said the C.C.Colts annual football tournament had gone well.
The Chairman reported that he had attended the meeting run by Wiltshire Council to investigate the poor organisation by Future Design of the JAPFEST event and the consequential significant disruption to traffic and business in the area. A follow up meeting will take place in September at which Wiltshire Council will make proposals about how future similar events must be organised. He said the Allington Farm shop had demanded £4500 compensation for loss of business.
10. Play Areas Report
Cllr Halliday said she would ask Wiltshire recycling to carry out the repairs to the lower play area climbing frame now the weather had improved. The Chairman suggested she ask Barry Senneck to cut back the trees at the rear of the play area. He said he would discuss the responsibility for play areas with Cllr Harvey.
11. Highways Report
Cllr.Bishop said the pot holes on the hill have been reported and repaired. Cllr Halliday said holes were appearing at the entrance to Westway close.
12. The Village Environment
Cllr Ruggles said the repairs have been carried out to the walls of the pound and pump and Mr Chapman has been paid. He confirmed that a tree had fallen across the footpath in Parsonage Woods close to the TV mast which the Clerk said he would ask Mr Lysley to arrange for its removal. Cllr Halliday said there was fly tipping in the lay by on the way to Ford. The Clerk was asked to contact Highways about replacing the open topped litter bin near the river bridge. Flourish and Bloom are to be asked to remove the ivy from the bus shelter at the top of the hill on their next visit.
13. Whitegates
No report
14. The Village Hall
The Chairman said that the new Code of Conduct required sub committee members who are not Councillors to declare their pecuniary interests. He said that to obviate this it was proposed to change the Village Hall Committee Constitution by increasing the Council members from 2 to 3 and to redesignate the 2 village representatives as none-voting volunteers. This would give a quorum of Councillors in case of a vote and eliminate the requirement for others to declare any pecuniary interests. The Clerk was asked to check that the insurance would cover volunteers. (subsequently confirmed)
15 Section 137 Donations
This item was deferred until the next meeting
16. Date of Next Meeting
This was confirmed as Thursday 20th September 2012 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.