Draft Minutes of the Castle Combe Parish Council Meeting 23rd November 2023 at The Village Hall.
Present:
Cllrs: F. Winup (Chairman)
Mackleden
G CleggLittler
B. Blair
Mrs. J Halliday
S. Bettles
Mrs S. Parker (Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer)
8 members of the public.
- Apologies for absences J Prior and Unitary Councillor N. Botterill (the latter due to the change of date).
- Declarations of Interest. SB re item 4.7 and Cllr. JM re item 16
- To Approve Minutes of the meeting on 21st September 2023. Halliday proposed them as a true record, seconded by Cllr. Bettles. All agreed.
- Matters arising
4a. Area Board and Parish Forum meetings.
- i) Next meeting is 11th December 18.30 at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. Main topic is Highways and the Unitary Council Portfolio Holder will be attending, as will Cllrs FW and JM.
(ii) Parish Forum. Cllr FW was unable to attend on 18th October but will attend the next on 17th January.
4b Parking Review.
September and October statistics awaited. We have chased.
Problems continue for visitors to the car park due to the difficulties in payment, the machines are unfit for purpose and are being cannibalised with spares obtained from elsewhere pending agreement shortly of a contract to install new machines capable of accepting cards and Ipay.
We wrote to Jamie Mundy (Highways) confirming proposals for the area outside the toilets.
Posts will be installed enabling clamp signs as on the hill. White hatching to be installed as on the hill, enabling continued parking as the road is wide enough at this point for safe parking. Unlikely to be implemented until early 2024. Jamie had also suggested wooden posts (similar to those by the Bybrook) to prevent parking on the green areas on the B4039 at the top of the hill. Review in Spring.
4c. Footpaths. No news yet re work on footpath 5 by Cotswold wardens. Not urgent. There is a large tree trunk across Trim Tram which needs to be removed. Cllr. SB agreed to look at it.
Scalpings are available, to be laid when weather conditions allow.
4n Congregational Chapel car park. Our solicitors are still investigating the release of the restriction to recreational use. Karen Lysley has kindly agreed to release the 70 year old restriction but confirmation is needed that she is able to do so. Once the restriction is removed, we can consider the best way in which to place the site on the market for sale.
- Update re land opposite Westway Close
The long awaited planning application is still in course, but we understand will be submitted before the year end by Stonewood Builders. They are arranging an open meeting in the village hall on 7th December to explain their proposals to interested parties.
In the meanwhile, the Unitary Council enforcement officer will visit the site following a parishioner’s complaint of a possible planning breach. The normal first step in such cases is to request that an application is submitted as soon as possible.
- Finance:- All approved the finances for payment.
Income Film Shoot in Village £493.00 after currency conversion costs
Lloyds current account at £ Sheila please insert balance
Shawbrook 100 day act £15,001.46
Shawbrook Fixed Bond act £15,000.00
Payments since July meeting
| Cllr. Winup repayment printing/wood/defibrillator/walc membership | 376.16 |
| Cllr. Mackleden repayment for bark chippings | 60.00 |
| HMRC | 231.64 |
| Flowers | 74.85 |
| Defibrillator electric x 2 | 96.00 |
| Playsafety Rospa report | 180.00 |
| RBL Poppy Appeal | 50.00 |
| Mrs Parker | 795.30 |
| HMRC | 231.44 |
- The new NALC Financial Regulations have been reviewed by the Chairman, Responsible Financial Officer and Councillor Prior. Changes are small and the main action is a regular review by a councillor (John Prior), which we had already introduced. The latest reconciliations are complete and have been reviewed by Councillor Prior.
- Review of draft budget. NB precept to rise to £6000
- Approved the updated NALC pay grade for clerk (3.88% backdated to 1st April)
- Future options for the Shawbrook account. Once 100 day notice expires on 26th January, we can switch to a new 100 day account paying 4.51% (currently 1.00%). NB Shawbrook have subsequently agreed to make the switch immediate.
- 6. Correspondence – Request from British Legion for donation to Poppy Appeal. £50 remitted. All approved.
7 Planning Applications Determined. PL/2023/02598 -: Woodbury Hill House, Conversion and extension of existing former double garages into home office. WC Decision: Approve with Condition
PC comments supported the application, they are concerned about the height of roof and would like restrictions on future changes on site.
7.a Planning Applications Under Consideration:7b. PL/2023/04581 – Works to a Listed Building Address: South Cottage, Repair and Rebuilding of failing drystone wall on front elevation. Increase height and extend, install cock and hen toppers. PC Comments. Support
7c. PL/2023/ 04062 4 The Old Dairy. Castle Combe. Solar panels and wood burner. P.C. Comments. Support the Solar panels, but have concerns about the chimney for the wood burner.
7d. PL/2023/04364 – Householder Application Address: the Weavers House, Waterside, Castle Combe, Replacement Garage & Store PC. Comments Support
7f. PL/2023/03703 Revisions to the Main Entrance Castle Combe Circuit SN14 7EY amended plans on new entrance. PC Comments Support with a provision of replanted hedge of native trees and cutting back of vegetation on quarry corner to improve visibility, entrance should be wide enough for 3 lanes of traffic entering the site. Wall should be Cotswold stone faced, and that Quarterly liaison meetings should be part of the planning conditions, also to remove the old vehicles that are used to block the gates.
- Unitary Councillor Report. In his absence Cllr Botterill provided the above updates re items 4B and 7.
- Playing Field and CC Circuit report.
Circuit:
- Play areas reports ROSPA inspections satisfactory. Small remedial works being undertaken by Councillors Mackelden and Prior
- 11. Highways report.
Cones on way to Ford have at last been removed!
Our new Parish Steward will be clearing drains and gullies, checking salt boxes and litter picking.
We have requested the street sweeper urgently as the yellow lines are completely covered by leaves but there are only three machines to cover the whole county. We are continuing to chase and have also requested a supply of flood signage.
The riverbank is still eroding and we have asked for early action yet again instead of a later date expensive repair.
The Highways Portfolio Holder has intervened to implement a 40mph limit from Upper Castle Combe to the Gib. This is in line with our own response.
There have been four accidents this year at the Gibb involving deer and we have requested deer warning signage.
Metro counts will take place early next year on the hill, near the chapel, near Quarry corner and Old Diary drive to ascertain actual vehicle speeds.
- Village Environment. Cllr. CleggLittler said there have been no further reports of contamination of the Bybrook, he said there is a fallen tree at the end of the meadow beyond the Roman bridge which could cause obstruction to the flow if the river gets high.
He has been informed that works on the irrigation lake are being carried out and that the ground works phase is nearing completion.
Coronation trees WC have been given a grant for community orchards and is asking Parish councils to submit areas if they want to plant one. We have no suitable location.
The new location for the Whitegates defibrillator has now changed and is in course of implementation.
The Coronation bench has now been fitted (Many thanks to Gareth Hare).
The old seat outside the church gates has finally reached the end of its life and will be replaced by a small version of the new Bybrook benches.
The sandbag containers outside the village hall have now been replaced by more effective protection.
The toilets are now being cleaned regularly following our complaint to Wiltshire Council
- Whitegates. Cllr. JP sent in a report to say that there are no pressing issues.
- TV Committee Cllr. CleggLittler has circulated his report to councillors, regarding the mobile reception, Gareth made enquiries of various mobile phone forums with regard to the Shared Rural Network and discovered that Castle Combe is ineligible as there is supposed to be comprehensive 4G mobile signal in the village. They have asked for confirmation that this is in place.
In light of the proposed sale of Parsonage Wood, where the mast and cable are located, we are trying to find out whether there is any documentation relating to the TV mast et cetera; most likely in the form of a Licence or Wayleave Agreement or even an informal letter of consent. It appears that title to the land is unregistered at HM Land Registry, so if there is any relevant documentation it should be held by the owners of the land or their solicitors.
- Village Hall. Our grant request to the Area Board could not proceed as it was for a capital Item (Lighting).
New external motion sensor lights have been installed.
The quarterly maintenance inspections were satisfactory.
The annual professional checks of fire equipment, boiler and electrics are being arranged.
Assets total £4109 (down £1396 year to date due to electrical repairs and updates).
The VH Committee has agreed the minutes of the latest meeting.
- Village Christmas Drinks Event. The event is on the 15th December at 6.30pm in the village hall and is open to all parishioners. Cllr. JM requested a donation from the PC to help with the cost of refreshments. Cllr. FW proposed up to £125, seconded by Cllr. JH, all approved.
- Next Meeting. Confirmed as the 18th January 2024 19.30 in the village hall.
Meeting closed at 20.49 pm