Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 22.11.12
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman)
A. Bishop (Vice Chairman)
Mrs J. Halliday
B. Harvey
J Mackelden
G. Ruggles
D. Ryall (Clerk)
3 Parishioners
1. Apologies for absence:
Apologies for absence were received from Unitary Cllr Mrs J. Scott.
2. Declarations of interest:
All Councillors declared an interest in item 5A (precept) and Cllrs. Bishop and Winup in item 17. (TV Committee).
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 20.09.12
These were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising:
A. Area Board Meeting
The Chairman said the meeting was not attended as there was nothing on the agenda affecting the village.
B. Traffic Calming and Speed Checks
Cllr Bishop reported that no date had been given yet for the implementation of the 30mph limit on the B4039 in the upper village. The Clerk said this could be affected by the proposal to install a footpath between Whitegates and the car park.
C. Parking Review
The Chairman said there had been 8 bookings during the last review period.
D. Neighbourhood Policing
The Clerk said the police have now started a regular patrol of the car park. They have reported that the paper bin had been set on fire three times and that a van on the hill was broken into and tools stolen.
E. Council Vacancy
The Chairman said that Mr Weir, Police House, Whitegates, had enquired about filling the vacancy and after discussion with the Chairman had completed the necessary documents. Cllr Bishop proposed that Mr Weir was co opted onto the Council which was seconded by Cllr Ruggles and unanimously agreed by the Council.
F. Halifax Account Closure
The meeting agreed that after closure the money (£7353.43) be transferred to the Lloyds current account.
5. Finance- £
Income
Nil
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
B W S L – ½ year water bill 73.37
MAZARS –audit fee 162.00
Flourish & Bloom – maintenance 183.00
Cllr Ruggles – plants 14.40
Mrs Le Coz – plants War Memorial 33.00
Cllr Halliday – plants 6.40
Play Safely – audit fee 151.20
Southern Electric – 1/4ly bill 116.52
Liz Taylor – bulbs etc 16.74
Cllr Winup – newsletter printing 27.00
5A Precept 2013-4
To conform to the revised code of conduct within the Localism Act the Clerk, as officer of the Council, gave all of the Council dispensation to discuss and vote upon the new precept. He said the precept had been held at £4250 since 2005 and the gap between income and expenditure had increased considerably over that period. Cllr Harvey thought that a modest increase was appropriate to start closing the gap. After some discussion it was proposed by the Chairman and unanimously agreed by the Council that the precept should be set at £4500 for the next financial year.
6. Correspondence.
A. Sports Pavilion Insurance
The Clerk said that the existing insurers, Fortis, had proposed to increase the premium by £100 to £649.00. To obtain an alternative he contacted the Council’s new insurers, Zurich, who was willing to include the Pavilion on the Council’s main insurance for £55.47 until May 2013. At which time the main insurance renewal would be increased by £100 for the next year. He had discussed this with the Chairman and changed the insurance over to the Zurich.
B. Play Safety – Audit report
The Clerk reported that the report had been circulated and he had paid the fee of £151.20
C. Victim Support – request for donation.
The Clerk read the letter from Victim Support and the meeting agreed to donate £20.00
D.War Memorial Trust – request for donation.
The Chairman said the Trust had previously given £500 towards refurbishment of the War memorial. The meeting agreed to donate £20.00
7. Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
The Old Courthouse – structural repairs.
2 Gib cottages – change of use
Manor House Hotel – fell 4 trees
Church View Cottage – tree surgery
Molescroft Cottage UCC – tree surgery
P.C. Under Consideration:
Nil
P.C. Rejected:
Nil
Wilts Council Granted:
Reading Room Cottage – conservatory
Upper Manor House – tree surgery
Ford Bridge – tree removal
The Old Courthouse – structural repairs
2, Gib Cottages – change of use
Manor House hotel – fell 4 trees
Wilts Council Rejected:
Nil
8. Unitary Councillor
No comments received
9. Playing Field and Circuit Reports
Cllr Mackelden said the C.C.Colts have confirmed they will repaint the Pavilion woodwork in their colours of black and white. The Council approved their plan.
He said there had not been a Circuit meeting recently and that he had reported the recent complaints to the CC Circuit management.
Cllr Winup said a table top exercise was to be carried out to evaluate the revised plans for traffic flow and parking at the Jap Fest meeting.
10. Play Areas Report
Cllr Harvey said the ROSPA (Play Safety) report of the Whitegates play area only listed minor problems. Cllr Winup said he had asked the contractor to repair the splits reported in the play surface as this was guaranteed for 5 years.
Cllr Harvey said that the report on the lower play area had shown significant concern about the state of the timber. After close examination he considered the apparent rot to be superficial and that treatment with preservative would be adequate. However the bark needs topping up and he would make enquiries about cost.
Cllr Winup said the overhanging trees would be cut back next week by Mr Senneck.
11. Highways Report
Cllr.Bishop said the Community (Parish) Steward system had been reinstated and the Parish allocated 4 weeks through the year. They came on 21st November and cleared all of the drains on the hill. Mr Middleton has written to Cllr Scott to congratulate the steward on the excellent work done.
12. The Village Environment
Cllr Ruggles said he had cleared the pound of leaves on two occasions and noted the chair dumped near the playing field entrance had not been removed. Cllr Halliday said a mattress had been fly tipped at the top of the hill going to Ford. The Clerk said he would contact Wilts Council again. Cllr Winup said he would ask the Golf Club to clear the path from School Lane to the lower village and Cllr Bishop said he would contact Wilts Highways about the path from Old Dairy Drive to the phone box.
13. Whitegates
Cllr Harvey said there was nothing to report.
14. The Village Hall
The Chairman said that he was trying to get a start date from Mr Brookman.
15. Footpath/Pavement from Whitegates to the car park
The Chairman said he was disappointed that no one from Whitegates had attended the meeting as the footpath was for them. He has submitted this as a Community Issue to the Area Board but as yet this has not appeared on their web site. Cllr Mackelden said he agreed that there was a problem having recently walked along that part of the B4039
16. Village Social Event.
The Council agreed to donate £125.00 to this with anything left over going to the possible Christmas village cross event
17. TV Committee
Cllr Winup said he had issued a draft constitution to the Council for their approval. He said he and Cllr Bishop could participate in any discussion but could not vote on the document. He explained that there is no clear ownership of the equipment and if the constitution was accepted then ownership would move to the Council. The document also gave protection to committee members as they would come under the umbrella of the Council’s insurance. Their continued ability to vote would however be dependent upon them agreeing and signing the ‘Register of Member’s Interests’ which the Clerk would arrange. He said the committee was looking at fibre optics and that with new technology less people would rely upon the system such that it would ultimately become unsustainable.
Cllr Mackelden proposed that the revised constitution be accepted giving the TV Committee the support of the Council. This was seconded by Cllr. Halliday and unanimously agreed by the rest of the Council.
18. Date of Next Meeting
This was confirmed as Thursday 17th January 2013 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.