Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 19.03.15
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
A. Bishop (Vice Chairman).
Mrs. J. Halliday
J. Prior.
G.Ruggles.
D. Ryall (Clerk)
4 Parishioners.
1. Apologies for absence:
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mackelden and Unitary Cllr Mrs. J. Scott.
2. Declarations of interest:
There were no declarations of interest.
3. Minutes of the meetings held on 15.01.15
These were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising:
A. Area Board Meeting and Parish Forum
Cllr Halliday attended the meeting on 19.01.15 and reported that the main topic was a 25year plan to improve Chippenham and move it up market. She also said a priority list of roads with bad pot holes was being prepared.
Cllr Mackelden attended the meeting on 2.03.15 and reported and that there would be no residential developments west of the A350 but no similar statement about commercial development. There was no discussion about the Range planning application.
Cllrs Ruggles and Winup attended the Forum meeting on 18th March and reported that a useful presentation on the planning system was given but gave nothing new. It was stated that the Area Board meeting in September will relate to rural villages.
Cllr Haliday agreed to attend the Area board meeting on 20.05.15
Cllr Winup said he had attended the Wilts Council budget review meeting on 26.01.15 which mainly consisted of an explanation of further cut backs due to Council Tax being frozen for another year.
B. Parking Review
The Chairman said the installation of the new bus signs has been delayed due to Balfour Beatty workload and he was continuing the progress Wilts Council.
Cllr Winup said there had been no parking bookings since February and no change since Unitary Cllr Scott said she would speak to the department concerned. He said the Unitary Council car parks review recommended a 15min grace period where the parking fee had been already paid and various changes to charges in all of the Chippenham car parks.
C. Neighbourhood Policing
The Chairman said that to date no further meetings had been arranged. As there are only two officers covering 38 villages it is proposed that it would be more productive if they attend the Parish Forum meetings.
D. Footpath School lane to Whitegates
Cllr Winup said the Golf Club had agreed to lay hard core provided by Wilts Council and that the Council would review the results. The provision of a hand rail at the Park Lane end was still being pursued but any further improvement would need a PIGS grant.
E. Village Flooding
Cllr.Winup said that the modelling report of the Bybrook had been sent back for further review and was now targeted for May/June. Nettleton PC has suggested the Councils consider it together to ensure it meets every ones requirements.
He said the sewage pipes appear to have been repaired successfully and there is no evidence of rats.
F. Highways & Street Scene
Cllr. Halliday reported the Clerk and herself had a meeting with Richard Dobson to discuss the items on the village work list. She said that no progress had been made since the last meeting and that Richard Dobson had agreed to arrange a community day on 26th March at which he would arrange for the potholes to be fixed and for the masonry gang to repair the bridge parapet etc. The Chairman said he would progress Mr Bolland about the wall repairs near the Roman Bridge.
He said the new signpost was almost finished and Wilts Council has agreed to install it and pay 50% of the cost. The Clerk said the post should be delivered to Wilts Council when complete.
G. Defibrillator.
Cllr Winup confirmed that the decision on this and First Aid training is deferred until receipt of the Solar Farm community benefit money and the village meeting to decide on its use.
H. Solar Farm
Cllr Winup said that the community benefits money would be paid when the first electricity was generated. He said the traffic light system, the state of the road and the verges was continuing to give concern.
I. Market Cross – Structural Survey
The Chairman said this had taken place and the preliminary report issued to the Council. The ownership of the Cross was discussed by the Council and the Clerk said he would review the previous documentation for conveyances etc
J. Council Vacancy.
The Clerk said the Council could now co-opt as there had been no request for an election. The Chairman said Mr Glen Thorn had again expressed an interest.
It was proposed by Cllr Halliday and seconded by Cllr Bishop that Mr.Glen.Thorn is co opted onto the Council. This was unanimously approved by the members present. The Clerk said he would prepare the necessary paperwork.
5. Finance- £
Income
CC Colts – field rent 50.00
CC Congregational Church – car park rent 5.00
CC Village Hall – hearing loop 1715.58
Shawbrook Bank – investment interest 356.05
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
Cllr Winup – adhesive 6.78
WALC – training course for Cllr Prior. 42.00
Newtech Southern – hearing loop 2058.82
Wilts Citizens Advice -donation 30.00
Victim Support – donation 20.00
Wilts portage – donation 20.00
Cllr Winup – newsletter printing 27.00
Southern electric – quarterly bill 81.21
D Tonks – payroll costs 432.28
Cllr Winup – Chairman’s Expenses 125.00
D. Ryall – petty cash 40.00
Outdoor play Southwest – deposit for disabled swing 1260.00
Wessex water – half year bill 76.94
CC Village Hall – room hire 45.00
6. Correspondence.
A. CPRE – Best Kept Village Competition.
The meeting agreed that the village would not enter this years competition but that a village tidy would be organised instead.
B. Shawbrook Bank – investment.
The Chairman said that he and the Clerk proposed that due to the possible extra expenditure in the next financial year it was prudent to retain the £20000 in an instant access account giving an interest rate of 1%. This was unanimously agreed by the meeting.
C. Dorothy House – request for a donation.
The meeting agreed to differ this until the next meeting as the 137 budget is over spent.
7. Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
St. Andrew’s Church – kitchen extension etc.
Upper Combe Lodge – tree surgery.
9, Westway Close UCC – tree surgery.
Nettleton Mill – replace conservatory glazing.
P.C. Under Consideration:
Nil.
Unitary Council Granted:
Gable Cottage – single storey extension.
Upper Combe Lodge – tree surgery
9, Westway Close – tree surgery
Combe House – School Lane – tree surgery.
Unitary Council under Consideration:
Nettleton Mill – replace conservatory glazing.
Withdrawn
St Andrew’s Church – kitchen extension etc.
8. Unitary Councillor
The Chairman said he had written to Cllr Scott saying that further consultation exercises were in jeopardy after the decision to introduce garden waste charges as 95% of respondents preferred the cessation of the winter collection.
9. Playing Field & CC Circuit
Cllr. Mackelden reported that CC Colts had now completed the car park extension and he has passed on the complaint about litter. It was reported to the meeting that there was still a large amount of litter and that the hedges have not been cut.
The Chairman said a Circuit Liaison meeting had been arranged for 21st April and he had requested Wilts Council to be in attendance. He confirmed that the recent noise complaints have been passed on to Wilts Council.
10. Play Areas
The Chairman said that the installation of the new equipment at the lower play area would start on 23rd March and would include a disabled swing costing £2100. The total cost is £13100 of which £10000 is met by the big lottery grant and the film donation. The requests for donations from the Manor House Hotel and CC Circuit were unsuccessful.
He confirmed that Cllr Mackelden had agreed to be responsible for the lower area and Cllr Prior for the one at Whitegates.
He said the grass cutting rota between Cllr Mackelden, Mike Roberts and himself needs to be confirmed.
11. Highways
Cllr Halliday said she had contacted Paul Bollen to arrange a meeting about the White hart A Board problem but received a negative response and was continuing to pursue the problem.
The Chairman said he had written to Wilts Council expressing concern about the recent half marathon and cycling events arranged without consultation with either Council.
12. Village Environment.
Cllr Ruggles said he had continued collecting large amounts of rubbish on the hill and noted the significant damage had been done to the verges at the top. Cllr. Prior said this had been caused by B.T. vans. The Chairman asked Cllr Ruggles to contact BT Open Reach.
Cllr Mackelden reported that the bench near his house was repairable.
Cllr Ruggles said he would contact Mr Bruce – Scott about the village maintenance contract and monitor the work carried out.
The Chairman said Mrs Hare had taken over the maintenance of the War Memorial garden from Mrs Le Coz. He also said the War Memorial railings needed repainting.
13.Whitegates
Cllr Prior said the golf course management had still not cut back the hedge and that a number of street lights were not working. He said trees outside the telephone exchange were a problem and these appeared to be on the verge and possibly a Wilts Council responsibility. The Clerk said he would discuss this with Richard Dobson.
14. TV. Committee.
Cllr Winup said fibre optics were not viable as the cost would be approx. £35000 and therefore sufficient contingency equipment would be purchased until more realistic alternatives were available to individuals He said Superfast broadband via smart TV was due but all users would not switch whilst the cheaper village system was available.
The Clerk was asked to obtain quotations for insuring the village TV mast valued at £2000.
15. Village Hall
The Chairman said there was still a problem of the insecure radiator mountings which together with the hall redecoration will be dependent upon receipt of the solar farm grant. He said he would ask Mr Wheeler to check the crack developing in the wall and decide the best course of action.
16. WALC Councillor Training Course.
Cllr Prior said this had been very useful and reviewed how the Council meeting agendas and minutes should be structured. It was emphasised that A.O.B. should not be used and the meeting restricted to agenda items with discussions never taking place by e mail as this was in the public domain. The Chairman pointed out that in practice all levels of Government use e mail and the Council had always minimised the meetings formality particularly in respect to parishioner involvement. A.O.B. has never been allowed.
17. Date of next meeting.
This was confirmed as Thursday 21st May 2015 at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall for the Annual Parishioners’ followed by the Parish Council’s Annual General meeting.