CASTLE COMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the remote Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 19.11.20
via ZOOM
Present:
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
- Mackelden.
- Bettles.
- Blair
- Mrs. J Halliday
- Mrs. H. Reeves.
- Ryall (Clerk)
Unitary Cllr. P. Whitehead
Members of the public – seven
- Apologies for absence
Cllr J. Prior.
- Declarations of interest:
Nil
- Minutes of the meetings held 24.09.20
It was proposed by Cllr Mackelden and seconded by Cllr Halliday that these were accepted as a true record. This was unanimously agreed by the meeting and will be signed remotely by the Chairman.
- Matters Arising:
4A. Area Board Meeting and Parish Forum.
Area Board.
The next online meeting is 2pm on 16.12.20
Parish Forum.
All meetings cancelled until further notice.
4B. Parking Review.
- i) Road Markings.
Cllr Winup said the invoice for £415.25 for the additional 20mph road surface markings has been paid but the yellow lines and ‘slow down cyclists’ markings will not be repainted until March 2021.
- ii) Parking statistics
Cllr Winup reported there were 20 bookings in September mostly in the carpark for encroachment on the grass and one in October.
4C Footpaths
The Chairman said there are still a number of muddy patches on the the School Lane footpath which have appeared in the recent heavy rain. Cllrs Bettles and Blair agreed to fill them in with the scalpings available on site. Cllr Bettles said the Parish Steward has delivered about 7 tons of scalpings and agreed to liaise with the Clerk and John Walker to arrange to move them to the Roman Bridge footpath.
Cllr Bettles said he would check the fallen tree has been removed from the footpath to Nettleton Mill.
The Chairman said there has been no further response from Stephen Leonard re the dangerous Cripple shanks bridlepath despite a villager recently breaking a leg. This is a health & safety issue for which the Unitary Council is responsible under the 1990 Highways Act.
4F. Market Cross
Cllr Winup said the estimated final cost remains at £87370 of which £4062 (retentions etc) is not yet payable. The one year defect period expires February 2021. He said David Newton (project designer) will finalise the maintenance plan and documentary research by the end of November 20.
4M. Speeding on the Hill.
The Chairman said most motorists are more careful since the implementation of the 20mph speed limit but there are still transgressors mostly local people. He said investigation into speed indicator devices indicates ex VAT costs of £6000 – £9000 and that sharing with other Councils had other complications. Unitary Cllr. Whitehead said that this seemed excessive and would pass details of Councils who had installed these devices to Cllr Winup. The Chairman said that speed watch should possibly be considered now that it has recommenced. He said that cyclists are a major problem with some apparently using it as a time trial route and he asked the Clerk to write to all local cycling clubs asking for help.
4N. Chapel Car Park
The Chairman said the registration of the playing field was still outstanding because the Land Registry being in arrears due to COVID.
4P. Colour Slides.
The Clerk said the slides are with the firm for digitally copying and printing.
4Q. Notice Boards.
The Clerk said an oak replacement was expensive at about £1000 and suggested refurbishment should be considered. The Chairman said he was speaking to a carpenter in the morning and would ask his advice.
4R. Wessex Water – Sewer Repairs
The Chairman said these have been completed.
6C. WALC – Planning White Paper
The Chairman reported that a response has been sent to the Government questionnaire.
6F. Community Policing Neighbourhood Teams
Cllr Halliday reported that Debbie Smith of Whitegates, an ex police constable, has agreed to assist her as the village representative.
- Finance. £
Income
Village Hall Committee – resurface village hall floor 2423.52
HMRC – VAT recovery 896.28
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
- Ryall- salary 410.28
HMRC – tax 239.20
Water Business – half year charge. 84.09
Cllr. Bettles – marine ply for play area. 208.42
Cllr Winup – newsletter printing & bin lid wood. 41.43
ROSPA Play Safety – audit fee. 164.40
Wilts Council – additional road signs. 415.25
Liz Taylor – plants etc for 4 planters. 128.75
- Ryall – printer cartridge 21.98
Cllr Halliday – plants etc for 2 planters. 47.27
Cllr Winup – wood chippings lower play area. 26.00
Kinch Fuel Oils – heating oil village hall 165.83
R.B.L. Poppy Appeal – wreath 50.00
Lloyds current account @ 28.10.20 £32101.58
Shawbrook Bank deposit account £1000.00
5A. Precept
The Chairman said that he had reviewed the finances with the Clerk and thought the precept should remain at £5750. It was proposed by Cllr Halliday and seconded by Cllr Mackelden that the 2021-22 precept should be £5750 which was agreed unanimously by the meeting.
- Correspondence
6A.Wilts Council – Census 2021.
The Clerk said this was a request to publicise this within the local community. The meeting agreed that this should be entered on the Council Website, Combe Watch and the Newsletter.
6B. CCOM 19 Right of Way.
The Clerk said that a visitor to the village has notified Wilts Council, the Ramblers Association, Parish
Council etc that this footpath is blocked but is identified as a legal Right of Way. One end starts in the field adjacent to Brook House, passes between the cottages on the Street and Parsonage Wood finishing at the Trim Tram footpath. Mr. Iversen of Brook House said he was aware of this and at the request of a Wilts Council official has repaired the stile into his field and was told that the footpath was dangerous and impassable. The Chairman said that as Wilts Council have been informed of the situation they need to take action.
Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
Brook House – fell Yew & Holly trees.
Cleeve House UCC – 30% reduction to Beech & Birch trees.
Combe House – 40% reduction to Birch tree.
Garden Cottage – fell 8 Ash hedge etc.
Brook House – fell 7 Ash trees,
Hill House fell 9 Ash trees
Middle Cottage – replace upper windows & Porch canopy.
P.C. Under Consideration.
Combe Cottage – change of use from shop to dwelling.
PC Rejected – Nil
Unitary Council under Consideration.
Three Gables – change of roof tiling. – Withdrawn
Brook House – fell Yew & Holly trees.
Cleeve House UCC – 30% reduction to Beech & Birch trees.
Combe House – 40% reduction of Birch tree.
Garden Cottage – fell Ash hedge etc.
Brook House – fell 7 Ash trees.
Hill House – fell 9 Ash trees.
Unitary Council – Granted
1, Whitegates – removal of 106 order.
Hans Farm – fell Sycamore & Ash trees.
2, School Lane – 30% reduction to Hawthorn & fell Cherry.
South Cottage – change extension material to stainless steel and internal alterations.
Unitary Council Rejected. – Nil
Nil
The Clerk commented on two applications commented on by the Parish Council they were not informed of amendments which were added before the closure date and after the Council had responded. He said this was disappointing as this could have affected their decision. The properties concerned were Fuchsia Cottage where car parking arrangements were added and South Cottage change of material from natural stone to stainless steel. Unitary Cllr Whitehead asked the Clerk to send him details of the applications concerned.
- Unitary Councillor
Unitary Cllr Whitehead said that COVID continues to tax Wiltshire Council’s resources and he was grateful with the response the workforce together with the residents and businesses to the latest lockdown. He said community champions have been created and outlined the latest Government initiatives supporting businesses which are being introduced in the County. He said the Wiltshire infection rate is one of the lowest in England although still rising and is widespread across the County with no local hotspots. The schools continue to be safe with very few occurrences with the home being the most dangerous place.
- CC Circuit & Playing Field
CC Circuit – Cllr Mackelden reported that the circuit is closed during the current COVID lockdown and hopes to reopen in December and there is no further information on the planning application to move the main entrance.
Playing Field – Cllr Mackelden reported that all football has stopped and draft new lease is being prepared.
- Play Areas
Cllr Mackelden said the additional wood chippings have filled the areas under the swings etc and that sanitiser was still working. Cllr Bettles said he would cut the grass when the weather permitted.
Cllr Reeves reported that the Whitegates area was fine with the exception of the sanitiser which needs refilling. Cllr Winup said he would check it.
- 1 Highways
Cllr Halliday reported that:
Cyclists are now the major speeding problem on the Hill
The Steward has cleared around the gullies on the hill and on the B4039.
Tanker has been requested to clear the gullies at the triangle.
The report on the speed checks carried out on the B4039 before the lockdown is outstanding.
The Parish Steward has confirmed the salt bins are full and has removed any rubbish.
All road signs cleared of vegetation.
The Contractors, Iverde, have yet to cut back the carpark island shrubs.
The road sweeper has visited twice and swept the whole village.
Grittleton Lane surface is in a poor state and filling in potholes is now ineffective.
The edges of Ford Road are breaking up and need scalpings laying at the sides.
Car park new markings disappearing due to boy racers.
12.Village Environment.
Cllr Prior reported that after 4 months Wilts Council have said the fly tipping on Chapel Lane is not their responsibility and he will arrange removal. District Cllr Whitehead said he will enquire why this has taken so long. Cllr Prior said the late night disturbances by boy races continues with limited help from the police who are always too late. Cllr Halliday said Wilts Council had informed her that there are no appropriate preventative measures they could install. District Cllr Whitehead said he would discuss this with the department concerned.
Cllr Winup said the toilets are now being cleaned twice daily by Wilts Council and the two lady volunteers have been given gift hampers for their work over the past months. He said two new waste bins are on order to replace the damaged ones.
- Whitegates
Cllr Reeves said there was nothing to report.
- TV. Committee.
The Chairman said that the topmast mast amplifier will be replaced due to the lightning strike.
- Village Hall
The Chairman said Cllr Mackelden has joined the committee and is a cheque signatory after extensive progressing of Barclays.
He said the recent examination of the village hall roof next to the Old Rectory wall has revealed slipped & broken tiles, broken guttering and rotten soffit and facia boards. Brookmans have been asked to quote for the repair.
- Second Homes & Holiday lets.
Cllr Halliday said this is an increasing problem with 27 of the 50 homes in the lower village now having no permanent residents with the village ‘dying on its feet’ and with properties that have recently been sold or become vacant this will continue. She said that recent replies from Wilts Council to the Clerk has confirmed that there is nothing in the planning system that can prevent this occurring.
Unitary Cllr Whitehead said he will discuss this with the new planning director.
- Coronavirus update
The Chairman said the local buddy systems were working well with no known cases in the Parish.
The Wiltshire stats on 10th November were 94 cases per 100k people compared with 245 per 100K nationally. District Cllr Whitehead said the latest Wiltshire figures are 105 per 100K
- Date of next meeting.
This was confirmed as Thursday 21.01.21 at 7.30 p.m. probably by ZOOM video link