Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 21, 01.16
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe
Present:
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
A. Bishop (Vice Chairman).
Mrs. J. Halliday.
J. Mackelden.
G.Ruggles.
G. Thorn.
D. Ryall (Clerk)
4 Parishioners.
1. Apologies for absence:
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr J. Prior.
2. Declarations of interest:
There were no declarations of interest.
3. Minutes of the meetings held on 19.11.15
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. Mackelden attended the area board meeting on 18. 01.16 and reported that the Chippenham area land allocation plan had been rejected by the inspector and there had been discussion about the Queens 90thbirthday celebrations clean up exercise. He said that the police would probably increase their precept requirement and need an additional £750K. Cllr. Halliday agreed to attend the next meeting on 27th February at Abbey Fields School.
Parish Forum.
Cllrs. Ruggles, Thorn and Winup attended the meeting on 20.01.16. A presentation about the new Highways arrangements was given by Mr. Parkes and Mr. Carter who said the new contractors are Ringways and the Lanscaping Group who take over in April. The Parish Steward scheme is to be reintroduced and will be closely involve the Parishes. It was confirmed that the Apps system is not working properly and was ignored unless the request was a statutory requirement. The Parishes were asked to collate views on the new system but told nothing will happen unless it is statutory requirement. The Chairman confirmed that the previous coordinator, Richard Dobson was back and had a provisional meeting with the Clerk. Cllr Thorn had a further meeting with him and will report later in the meeting.
4B.Parking Review
New signs re parking and cyclists
The Chairman said that he had chased Wilts Council for the cost of this as the grant paperwork cannot be completed until this information is available. He believed that Wilts Council are trying to push it down the CATG route.
The revised white lines outside the Castle Inn are still on the ‘implementation list ‘and he said he had again queried the date but not pushed it too hard to avoid the CATG.
Parking Statistics.
October – 8 observations, 5 bookings. November – zero. December – 2 observations, 2 bookings.
4C. Footpath School lane to Whitegates & Village
The Chairman said 5 tons of hard core had been laid at the village end by the Golf Club staff but the rest is still a quagmire and walkers are using the buggy paths. A further 5 tons is to be provided and laid at the School Lane end.
4D. Village Flooding
The Chairman said the revised Bybrook modelling report was now due at the end of February. He said this would be reviewed with Nettleton Council who are investigating possible water holding areas.
4E. Defibrillator.
Cllr Winup said that this and First Aid training continues to be deferred until the village cross repair costs are known.
4F. Market Cross
The Chairman said that netting had been installed as per Mr Constable’s suggestion. He said Historic England have agreed a grant of £10600 towards the initial development estimated cost of £13250 subject to conditions. This stage has to be completed before 11th March to meet the end of their financial year. They have relaxed their advertising and tendering requirements because of the short time scale. Quotes have been received from three professionally accredited advisors who when appointed will obtain expert figures from COBRA, roof experts, structural engineers etc.
The Council reviewed the three quotations received and it was proposed by Cllr. Winup and seconded by Cllr Ruggles that David Newton Associates were appointed. The Council agreed unanimously and the Chairman said he would contact Mr Newton immediately and sign the Historic England contract.
4G.Precept and Budget 2016-17
The Clark reviewed the estimated spend for the current financial year and said that overall this would be under the budget agreed for 2015-16. The Council operating costs would be over due to a payment error by the company administering the payroll, without this that part of the costs would also be below budget. He said that he and the Chairman therefore recommended retaining the precept at £4750 for 2016-17.
It was proposed by Cllr Bishop that the budget for 2016-17 was accepted and the precept for 2016-17 set at £4750. This was seconded by Cllr Mackelden and unanimously agreed by the Council.
4H. Queen’s 90th Birthday 12th June
The Chairman said this coincided with the social committee’s tennis afternoon. He said he would ask Mrs Clegg to liaise with Mrs Constable to avoid overlap with the Church event.
5. Finance- £
Income
Shawbrook Bank – interest 183.56
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
Cllr Ruggles – plants 24.00
British legion – wreath 50.00
CC Social Committee – donation 125.00
D.Ryall – salary 264.05
HMRC – tax 141.20
Cllr Winup – newsletter printing 27.00
Lloyds Bank account @ 31.10.15 36443.11
Deposit account 20000.00
6. Correspondence.
A. Wilts Council – flood risk etc – advice literature
The Clerk said he had retained this on the agenda from the last meeting as there was a reference to landowners who were failed to clear out ditches causing road flooding. The Councillors present said they were unaware of any problems of this nature in the Parish.
B. Victim Support – request for a donation.
The meeting agreed to donate £20.
C. Wilts Council – Public Conveniences Cost Information.
The Clerk said further information had been received and that there had been no confirmation that Castle Combe had been left out of the survey as proposed by Unitary Cllr. Jane Scott.
7. Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
The Weaver’s House – tree surgery
11, Westway Close – tree surgery
Upper Manor House – tree surgery
P.C. Under Consideration:
The Old Stables, The Gib – change of use.
P.C. Rejected.
4, Old Dairy Drive – enlarge rear doors
Unitary Council Granted:
The Weavers House – tree surgery.
St. Andrew’s Church – tree surgery.
Riverside House – downstairs cloaks etc.
Unitary Council under Consideration:
Park Lane Cottage – underground extension etc.
Upper Combe Farm – cow buildings
Riverside House – replace fireplace etc.
4, Old Dairy Drive – enlarge rear doors.
11, Westway Close – tree surgery.
Upper Manor House – tree surgery.
8. Unitary Councillor
No comments were received from Cllr. Jane Scott.
9. Playing Field & CC Circuit
Cllr Mackelden said the playing fields continue to be used regularly by the Colts and nothing had been done about hedge cutting. The Clerk said he had sent an invoice to the Colts for insurance and field rent.
Cllr Ruggles said the rubbish bins on the playing fields were very untidy which Cllr Mackelden said he would discuss with the Colts.
Cllr Mackelden said the Circuit had at last organised a liaison meeting to be held on 8th February. The Chairman said there was a meeting with the Circuit and all service organisations on 9th February to discuss the Jap Day which was planning as a replacement for the Jap Fest. Cllr Winup said that Castle Combe had been allocated the April car boot and now needed an organiser. Cllr Mackelden said he had agreed to be the Parish snow warden and had notified Wilts Council.
10. Play Areas
The Chairman said the slide at the lower play area had been repaired by Cllr Prior and that the upper area was slippery and needed moss killer applying.
11. Highways
Cllr. Thorn said he had met with Richard Dobson and examined all of the problem areas with him as listed on Cllr Halliday’s last progress list. He concluded that little was likely to be done in the immediate future but he would meet Mr Dobson on a regular basis. Cllr Halliday and Cllr Thorn said they had reported problems via the app system but nothing had happened.
12. Village Environment
Cllr Ruggles said he had collected significant amounts of rubbish around the coach area in the car park.
and requested an additional rubbish bin in the car park. Wilts Council said they would look at the problem which Cllr Ruggles said he would monitor.
Cllr Halliday said Circuit Motors continue to park cars illegally with no response from Wilts Council on the action to be taken.
The Chairman said the damaged river wall should have been repaired and bollards installed last December. This has not happened and no revised date provided.
The Chairman said a formal demand notice has been sent to Heritage Finger Post Signs with 28days given before formal action is taken.
Cllr Halliday reported that she had been told that repair to the ‘Old Werretts’ walls was unlikely to take place for a while.
The Clerk said he had contacted the Police who confirmed they regularly patrol the Hans Lane car park and would ensure they visit late evening.
Cllr. Halliday said she had yet to contact Mr Wheeler about repairing the stonework at the Ladywell.
13.Whitegates
The Chairman said he had again asked the golf course to cut back the hedge and been told that in their opinion it is not their responsibility. He asked Cllr Thorn to ask Richard Dobson to investigate. Cllr Prior was to check if the street lights were now all working.
14. TV. Committee.
Cllr Winup said there have been further major problems in the last few weeks with repairs costing £2200 to date which will probably necessitate in reverting back to the normal subscription of £45.00.
15.Village Hall
The Chairman said all of the quarterly checks have been carried out successfully. He had no response from a number of decorators and would ask Mac if he would be able to redecorate the hall.
16. Date of next meeting.
This was confirmed as Thursday 31st March 2016 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.