CASTLE COMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 21st of November at 7.30p.m.
Present. Cllrs F. Winup, J. Mackelden, J. Prior, G. CleggLittler, S. Bettles, J. Halliday. Cllr. N. Botterill, clerk S. Parker
- Apologies for absence. Cllr Blair.
- Declarations of interest. Cllr Bettles re item 7b (noise report at East Combe Farm)
- Minutes of the meeting 26th September 2024 JH proposed they are a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr. JP all agreed.
- Matters arising –
4a. Area Board Meeting. Cllr Winup reported there was nothing of direct relevance to us at the November meeting. Cllr Winup will attend on 10th February subject to relevance of agenda items.
4a. Parish Forum Meeting. Cllr Winup will attend on 27th November. The dates of Parish Forums are being reviewed to match better with Area Boards.
4b. Parking Review There were 15 bookings in September and 41 in October. Unitary Cllr Botterill has discussed with Highways the top of the hill which currently remains at 40mph despite our previous request for a reduction to 30mph. It was agreed to defer a formal approach until the next meeting as the rules are changing in January making it easier to lodge appeals. In the meanwhile, he and Cllr Halliday will liaise to arrange dash cam footage.
4c. Footpaths. Cllr Bettles will deliver slabs to the Roman Bridge and liaise with Cllr Mackelden to lay them with help from Gareth Hare. The Golf Club are doing the footpaths School Lane to Park Lane.
4n. Congregational Chapel Car Park. Documentation is to be prepared for distribution to potential purchasers, who will also be made aware of the charges register and a query on the exact size of the plot.
8a Impact of visitor volumes. At the previous meeting a very long discussion took place on the three main issues: visitor volumes, vehicle movements and safety.
Unitary Cllr Botterill has drafted a discussion document for review prior to the next meeting.
In the meanwhile, he will arrange on site meetings with Highways to illustrate the issues.
- Finance: – Balances
Lloyds current account at 15th Oct 2024 4467.85
Shawbrook 1yr fixed 15729.11
Shawbrook 100-day account 15332.20
Income Nil
Payments
HMRC NI Paye 253.61
Mrs. S Parker 3 months 847.59
Cllr Winup Digiprint 49.30
Cllr Winup Safety signs 86.82
Playsafety Ltd Rospa inspection 187.20
TOTAL 1424.52
Budget figures for 2025-6 were discussed and agreed. Outgoings of £10250 exceed income of £6850. The shortfall will be met partly from existing reserves and partly by an increase of £600 in the parish precept (to £6600), the first increase for two years. The increase is around 4p per week per parishioner, and our precept per person remains at about 25% of the average for a Wiltshire Parish council.
Latest reconciliations are to be reviewed by Cllrs Winup and Prior.
Notice given to withdraw £7500 from the 100-day Shawbrook account. Due at Lloyds 17th
Correspondence –
British Legion Poppy Appeal. It was agreed to give the RBL a grant of £50.00
Date of next year’s local elections set for 1st May.
- Planning Applications Determined. None
7b Planning Applications Under Consideration: None.
7c Planning update on Noise Report at East Combe Farm.
The Stonewood planning application has been delayed yet again following a noise impact report which has necessitated revisions. They are now likely to apply only for light industrial use.
Cllr Bettles again confirmed that aggregate movements are outgoing only and that they are planned to be completed within six months. The Unitary Council enforcement officer is aware of the situation.
- Unitary Councillor Report. Unitary Cllr Botterill advised that there is some national debate about changing local authority structures, but these are still in the very early stages.
- Playing Field and Circuit
Cllr. JM said there are no issues with the playing fields.
The Circuit liaison meeting due on 23rd October was deferred by mutual agreement. Cllr Mackelden will rearrange and follow up the hedge replacement proposals.
- Play areas
Cllr Bettles has applied weedkiller to the lower playground and undertaken other maintenance tasks on the grassed area. He will shortly lay compressed scalpings at the entrance.
Cllr Mackelden will lay further chippings as necessary.
The sanitiser has again been vandalised and will not be replaced.
- Highways Unitary Cllr Botterill advised that there is no firm evidence that Circuit Motors are encroaching beyond their boundary.
Cllr Halliday advised that the results of the B4039 metro count towards The Gib should be available shortly.
The recent speed limit change has an unexpected 60mph anomaly for about 200 metres. She will liaise with Unitary Cllr Botterill to query this.
She is also chasing up several signage and road marking issues plus potholes and broken verges.
Further police speed checks will take place on the B4039 plus a review of any cars parked illegally on the pavement.
- Village Environment. Cllr. GL.
Unitary Cllr Botterill will enquire re the availability and collection arrangements of large bins in view of the vastly increased visitor numbers.
A new home upgrade grant (HUG2) has been launched but is unlikely to be practicable for most local properties.
The new sign at the car park exit warning against illegal drone usage appears to be having some effect, with fewer drones have been seen since installation.
- Whitegates One of the picnic tables has been damaged beyond repair and will be removed (but it has since been repaired)
- TV Committee Cllr CleggLittler reported that The Freeview signal was lost in part of the village necessitating repairs costing £547.20. Subscription letters will be issued in the New Year as usual. Funds stand at £9175
- Village Hall Cllr Winup said that the Quarterly inspections were satisfactory. Funds stand at £5511
- Mulled wine night. Cllr. Mackelden said the date is 14th December and the council agreed to underwrite costs up to £125.00
- Date of next meeting. Confirmed as Thursday 16th January 2025 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall Castle Combe.