CASTLE COMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the remote Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 16.07.20
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe
Present:
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
- Mackelden.
- Bettles.
- Blair
- Mrs. J Halliday
- Prior
- Mrs. H. Reeves
- Ryall (Clerk)
Unitary Cllr. P. Whitehead
Cllr. N. Botterill
- Apologies for absence
Nil
- Declarations of interest:
Nil
- Minutes of the meetings held on 21.05.20
These were accepted as a true record and will be signed remotely by the Chairman.
- Matters Arising:
4A. Area Board Meeting and Parish Forum.
Area Board.
Both meetings are cancelled until further notice.
4B. Parking Review.
- i) Road Markings.
Cllr Winup said additional 20mph road surface markings would be placed at the six locations suggested by Cllr Jane Halliday costing £415.15. The exiting markings will be refreshed at the same time.
The original 20mph CATG charge to the Council has been paid and will not be increased due to the overall budget cost of the £4000 being exceeded by £1000.
The agreed repainting of the yellow & white lines is in abeyance due to the virus and is being urgently progressed with Highways.
- ii) Parking statistics
Cllr Winup reported there were sporadic warden visits and no bookings in June.
4C Footpaths
The Chairman said that Cllr Bettles has moved some scalpings to the Whitegates turning circle which have been spread by Cllr Prior and the rest taken to the golf course footpath. Both sites need more which the Parish Steward has agreed to deliver to Cllr Bettles. The Cotswold wardens have agreed to repair this footpath and the Roman Bridge footpath post virus and when scalpings are available.
The Chairman reported that the Trim Tram footpath is being used a bridle way and he has arranged for a sign at the top and a barrier at the kissing gate. The bridle path which should be used is Crippleshank which at present is dangerous for horses and walkers. Cllr Bettles said he would investigate the best course of action.
4F. Market Cross
The Chairman said the estimated final cost is £87370 of which £4065 is a retained sum awaiting a final report from David Newton, project co-ordinator which will include final documentary research, column monitoring and a maintenance plan.
4M. Speeding on the hill
The Chairman reported the 20mph speed limit has been installed with additional road surface signs to be added.
4N. Congregational Chapel
The Chairman said the Council’s solicitors have applied for registration of the playing field land and the title will then be split between the playing fields and the previous chapel car park. Any transfer will need discussion with the Estate as the 1955 conveyance restricts the use of the land to sporting activities. The purchasers of the Chapel have made an offer but others will be sought before the final decision.
A resident has suggested a referendum should be held regarding the sale. We have responded that it is more sensible to make the Council’s finances more secure after the Market Cross restoration showed that significant reserves are essential to match potential grants. An alternative would be to significantly increase the precept which would be unacceptable to the parishioners. The Council considers that in the circumstances a non-binding referendum would be inappropriate.
4O. Financial standing orders.
To be reviewed by the Chairman & Clerk.
4P. Colour slides.
The Clerk said he will recontact the company now the lock down has been partially lifted.
- Notice Boards.
Jason Reeves has kindly refurbished the Whitegates board and re installed it alongside the bus shelter.
- Finance. £
Income
Cllr Winup – wood filler 19.99
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
Cllr Winup – postage 4.00
WALC – annual subscription 145.85
CPRE – annual subscription 36.00
Wilts Bobby Van Trust – donation 30.00
Splash Wilts – donation 30.00
SSE – quarterly bill 121.13
Cllr Winup -play area paint, swings etc 677.93
Liz Taylor – plants etc 71.20
Aston Brooks Solicitors – fee car park 300.00
Rodney Gould – paint play area 1000.00
Cllr Winup – play area parts 63.80
Wilts Council – 20mph speed limit charge 1000.00
- Ryall – printer cartridge 64.99
HMRC – tax 239.20
- Ryall – salary 410.80
Cllr Winup – sanitisers for play areas & village hall 446.54
Cllr Winup – auditors gratuity 31.50
Lloyds current account @ 26.06.20 £33688.96
Shawbrook Bank deposit account £1000.00
- Correspondence.
6A. SSE – smart meter for the village hall.
The Clerk said this was about installing a smart meter mark 2 the village hall. The Chairman said the village hall subcommittee has agreed. This was unanimously agreed by the Council.
6B. NALC/WALC – playground and village hall reopening.
The Clerk said this listed & interpreted the Government instructions for reopening these areas. The Chairman said the sanitisers, notices etc installed comply with this information.
6C. Wessex Water – urgent sewage repairs in the lower village commencing October 20.
The Clerk said this was a well know problem where the older part of the system had a dog leg which has often caused blockages. The Chairman said he had asked for an updated map to replace the Council’s 1996 edition.
6D NALC – LTN procurement.
The Clerk said the Council complies with this latest version of the procurement regulations.
Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
Colham Mill – erect three bay garage with office above.
Manor House Hotel – tree surgery.
P.C. Under Consideration:
Three Gables UCC – change roof tiles from natural stone to Marshfield reproduction stone.
After considerable discussion the Clerk was requested to ask the planning officer if reproduction stone tiles were an approved alternative to natural stone on listed buildings and if so the types used in Wiltshire.
Not withstanding this the Council voted by majority to object to this application considering it to be inappropriate to have artificial tiles on a listed building and creating a precedent in the area.
Unitary Council under Consideration.
1 Whitegates – discharge 106 order.
Fuchsia Cottage – 2 storey extension.
Unitary Council – Granted
1, Fairfieds UCC – replace single storey stable, create manure clamp etc.
Castle Inn – convert cellar area & remove reception area.
Colham Mill – erect 3 bay garage with office, comments about materials & potential holiday let use noted in officer’s report.
Unitary Council Rejected.
Nil
- Unitary Councillor
The Chairman thanked Cllr. Whitehead for arranging to have the village toilets re opened and said these were being cleaned regularly by village volunteers Mrs Ann Chapman & Hillary Baker. Cllr Whiteman said that this was typical of the community spirit throughout the County since the start of the pandemic. He said that Wilts Council staff have been working a rolling seven day week to respond quickly to the crisis and are now slowly moving from the response to recovery stage. He said the Wilts infection rate is one of the lowest being 108 people in 100K compared with the UK average of 140 in 100K & Leicester 240 in100K. The recent press statements that Wiltshire has a severe infection spike and was about to go bankrupt are incorrect and examples of poor reporting.
- CC Circuit & Playing Field
CC Circuit – Cllr Mackelden reported that track days have resumed with controls but no spectators present and that no liaison meeting has been arranged.
Playing Field – Cllr Mackelden reported that limited football training is taking place, the fields are in good condition and a draft new lease is being prepared.
- Play Areas
Cllr Mackelden said there were no significant issues with the lower play area. The nettles etc have been cut back and the bench re stained.
Cllr Reeves said the residents were very pleased with the refurbishment of the Whitegates play area and there are no issues other that the completion of the basketball equipment, Cllr Prior said refitting the plywood backing could be difficult due to distortion of the metal frame and he would ask Guy Woods, carpenter, to have a look. Cllr Winup agreed and said he has ordered 18mm sheet instead of 25mm which might help. He said that he has checked that replacing one of the children’s swing seats with infant design meets safety standards as the frame is strong enough and a parent will always be in attendance.
- 1 Highways
Cllr Halliday reported that:
The gullies on the hill and on the B4039 will be cleared in September.
Wilts Council have lost the river post reflector plates. The Chairman agreed to progress this.
The Parish Steward has sprayed all paths with weed killer and will scarify them in September
Speeding has increased on the B4039 since the lock down was lifted.
Replacement of the damaged 40mph sign outside the Golf Course entrance has been requested.
The Parish Steward is filling the various potholes in the village on his visits.
Litter bins are being emptied Tuesdays & Thursdays.
The Contractors, Iverde, will cut back the shrubbery in the car park in August.
The boy racers are visiting the car park less frequently and the police are checking occasionally.
The village is on the road sweeper’s rota.
12.Village Environment.
Cllr Prior said he has reported the litter at the entrance to the playing fields to Wilts Council with no response. Cllr Halliday said she understood it was under investigation as addresses were found amongst the rubbish.
Cllr Prior said that there was a lot of poisonous ragwort present in the village and suggested that property owners should be asked to remove it and that the hedge at Bybrook Lodge is badly overgrown and obstructing visibility down the road. Cllr Halliday said she would put the ragwort problem on Combe Watch and has contacted the owner of Bybrook Lodge on Facebook about the hedge.
- Whitegates
Cllr Reeves said there were a small people at the weekend hedge tidying session but with the help of Cllr Prior the hedge, trees and surrounding area have been cut back and cleared. The Chairman said a great job had been done and the area now looked very neat and tidy.
She said the residents have asked about creating a wildlife area and installing picnic benches. The Council agreed with this request and the Chairman said he would order 2 benches at £140 each including VAT.
- TV. Committee.
The Chairman said that a recent lightning strike damaged the mast and amplifier. A temporary repair has been carried out until replacement parts are obtained. This has limited the number of channels available
- Village Hall
The Chairman reported that the Area Board has agreed a 50% grant (£1212) towards the refurbishment of the village hall floor which will take place in the first week August. The hand sanitisers etc are fitted and the hall complies with the Covid 19 risk assessment requirements allowing the hall to be reopened after the floor refurbishment.
He said the quarterly checks had been completed satisfactorily with the only problem a missing smoke alarm which has been replaced.
- Housing Association
Cllr Halliday said there has been a lot of interest in 8 Westway Close which has recently become empty. The Clerk reported that he has been in contact with the Whitehorse Housing Assn who confirmed that preferential treatment is given to applicants who are associated with the village which happened recently when 2 Westway Close became available.
- Date of next meeting.
This was confirmed as Thursday 24.09.20 at 7.30 p.m. probably by ZOOM video link