Thursday 16th May 2024

CASTLE COMBE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

Minutes for Thursday 16th May 2024 at 7.00p.m.

Present. Cllrs FW, JM, JP, SB, GCL, JH and Unitary Cllr. N. Botterill (part) plus 8 members of the public.

Apologies for absence. Cllr. Bruce Blair.

  1. Approve Minutes of the meeting held on 18th May 2023. JM proposed them as a true record, seconded by Cllr. SB. All Approved.
  2. Matters arising – None
  3. Chairman’s Report: Cllr FW presented the attached report.
  4. Village Hall report: Cllr JM presented his report. Hire income at £3922 was 20% up on the previous year. The year-end accounts show a balance of £4920, £586 down on the previous year due to major expenditure on electrical improvements and repairs.  Risk and Health & Safety Assessments are undertaken quarterly and remain satisfactory.
  5. Sports Field report. The Colts Football Club is doing very well, it is for 5 – 17 year olds, with boys and girls.  The boundary maybe affected by the sale of the car park, but it will not affect the football pitch.                                                      6.                TV Committee report.  Cllr. GCL presented his report.  Everything was functioning very well, the funds are up from last year, year-end balance of £9694.62.  There was a small problem with some of the invoices going astray, so the committee has changed payment to digital which is working very well.  The trees have been checked and the Ash with suspected ash dieback is in leaf so it will be checked again next year.  There was some concern re the parcel of land being sold but the land owner has confirmed the system will be safe.
  6. Open Forum. St Andrews verbal report on the car accident in the village, when a driver lost control.  The Manor green keepers were very helpful, and the stone masons have been called to repair damage in the churchyard, the church gate will also need repairing.  The work will be covered by insurance.  The church has had a very busy year with Harvest Festival and other events they have held.  The southern slopes of the church are in urgent need of repair, and grants are being sought.  There are lots of fund raising events planned, the first is a summer concert.

CASTLE COMBE ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Minutes for Thursday 16th May 2024 at 7.30p.m.

Present. Cllr. FW, JM, JP, SB, GLC, JH and Cllr. NB.   4 members of the public.

  1. Apologies for Absence. Cllr. BB
  2. Election of Chairman. The clerk asked for nominations for Chairman. Cllr. JM Proposed Cllr FW and seconded by Cllr. SB. Unanimously agreed.

The Clerk asked for nominations for Vice Chairman:  Cllr. JP proposed Cllr. JM seconded by Cllr. JH. Unanimously agreed.

  1. Acceptance of Office. The papers were signed after the meeting
  2. Declarations of interest. SB re item 7.
  3. Minutes of 21.03.24 meeting. Cllr. JH Proposed the minutes were correct seconded by Cllr. SB all agreed.
  4. Matters arising

4A. Area Board and Parish Forum meetings

                (i) Area Board

Next meeting is 10th June 18.30 at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. Cllr Mackelden will attend.

 (ii) Parish Forum

Next meeting is 19th June. Cllr Winup will attend.

4B.          Parking Review (FW)

There were 35 bookings in March and 37 in May.

Two extra spaces agreed with Highways near the toilets. Require a Traffic Regulation order which takes several weeks.

We held a meeting with senior officers and councillors to discuss the problems caused by the number of visitors on peak days. Meeting notes are attached to the minutes.

4C.       Footpaths

Cllr Bettles will deliver slabs to the Roman Bridge and will liaise with Cllr Mackelden to lay them with help from Gareth Hare. Cllr Bettles will also deliver scalpings to the golf course footpath for laying on a date to be arranged.

The donation of £100 to the Cotswold Wardens will be arranged by the clerk.

4N.       Congregational Chapel Car Park

We are still in discussion with our solicitors regarding the technicalities of a potential sale.

  1. Update re land opposite Westway Close

The planning application should be issued this month

  1. Finance

Income and expenditure items reviewed.

Reconciliations have been reviewed quarterly by Cllrs Winup and Prior including the year end.

The internal audit review is in course. 13th June agreed for the extraordinary meeting to confirm the annual accounts.

Lloyds balance is lower than normal, but reimbursement of last year’s fuel costs (£1045.35) is on the way from Village Hall account.

Shawbrook fixed bond expires 15th August. Interest of £727.50 will be due.

At the next meeting we shall need to review likely expenditures to assess whether full rollover is possible (we also have a 100 day account).

7a.

Income:

 

WC precept £6,000.00
Fairfax & Favour Solicitors 300
refund  PCW Website inv pd twice 56
Donation from film company £493.00
Born Again Product donation £1,000.00
WC 47325 CIL money £228.42
Shawbrook Interest    £330.74

 

Expenditure:

 

Wessex Water 306.92
Cllr. Winup chairs expenses 125.00
Salary 847.50
HMRC 253.61
Cllr. Winup repay Solicitors 473.42
Cllr. Winup digiprint 43.50

 

Lloyds Current Account @ 30th March 2024           £2,663.18

Shawbrook Investment @ 30th March 2024           £30332.20

  1. Correspondence (DR)

        8A. Zurich Insurance renewal agreed (increase of 7%)  Cllrs agreed to the increase and payment of the invoice.

8B. WALC invoice for 2024/5 not yet received.  The clerk will contact Walc and ask for the invoice.

  1. Planning Applications

P.C. Approved:

PL/2024/02494 – Proposed Works to Trees in a Conservation Area Address: CEDARS, PARK LANE, SN14 7HW Proposal: Yew Tree – Fell.: No Objection.   PC comments Support

PL/2024/01743 – Proposed Works to Trees in a Conservation Area Address: HIGHWAY VERGE AROUND Proposal: Removal of ADB Ash trees from highway verge – some within Castle Combe Conservation Area but the majority are outside of the Conservation Area Decision: No Objection: PC Comment Support

PL/2024/02494 – Proposed Works to Trees in a Conservation Area Address: CEDARS, PARK LANE, Proposal: Yew Tree – Fell. Decision: No Objection. PC comment Support.

9a   Planning Applications Received.

PL/2024/03464 – Proposed Works to Trees in a Conservation Area Address: LAND AT BRITISH TELECOM EXCHANGE, CASTLE COMBE Proposal: G1: 11 x Sycamore/Maples: Bordering residential property on the southern boundary. – Reduce/Pollard by 4/5 meters to a finished height of approximate 14 meters and reduce back lateral limbs overhanging residential property. – Canopy management, residents have complained about encroaching limbs and dropping branches and a recent tree failure .. . T2: Sycamore: Decay at base and declining, located next to main entrance – Fell PC Comment No Objection

PL/2024/03178 – Works to a Listed Building Address: MANOR HOUSE HOTEL, WEST STREET,

Proposal: Replacement of existing boiler and 3no. flues within roof terminal housing with 2No. new boilers and associated flues  Respond By 03-05-2024 Application Link:  PC Comment No Objection

PL/2024/03178 – Works to a Listed Building Address: MANOR HOUSE HOTEL, WEST STREET,

Proposal: Replacement of existing boiler and 3no. flues within roof terminal housing with 2No. new boilers and associated flues Respond By 03-05-2024 PC Comments Support

  1. Unitary Councillor

Cllr. Botterill reported that the travellers site appeal have been dismissed and an enforcement notice is to be served.  Lime Down Solar Farm will cover 2000 acres over 5 different sections and the batteries will be in Whitley, meaning 20 miles of cable to take the power to the batteries.  The largest area for the solar panels is on the Beaufort estate. The Unitary Council considers the proposal to be excessive in scope.

WC planning applications want all new developments to have solar panels on the roof.

  1. Playing Fields and Circuit See above report to Annual Parish Meeting.

 

  1. Play Areas (JM Lower, JP Upper)

                Lower :

Cllr Mackelden will tidy before the month end.

Upper:

Cllr Bettles will spray, and Cllr Prior will obtain the blower from Hayley Reeves.

  1. Highways Cllr. JH presented her report.

The Parish Steward did not visit in May – due to being assigned to pot holes and cutting verges.   The gully lorry has been booked for another visit.   The slow sign on the road by the two junctions will be re-painted, and WC said that Quarry Corner is not a priority.

The River ingress under the road WC will be shoring up the bank, waiting for the date for the work to start.  She is chasing signs for Westway and Dark Lane.

The metro count results show that 75% of vehicles were not speeding so no further action, she has asked for one more metro count between the two junctions on the B4039.  If anyone sees drivers doing doughnuts in the car park they should report them to the police and WC.

  1. Village Environment.

Happily what appeared to be some kind of sewage spill into the Bybrook earlier in the year has not recurred, although the source was never discovered. Incidentally a briefing note was circulated early in the year introducing a new campaign, run in partnership with Wessex Rivers trust, focusing on promoting the funded upgrade of private home owner septic tanks and sewage treatment plants. This may be of interest to residents not on the main sewage system.

With regard to the Property Flood Resilience Scheme, which was proposed by the Environment Agency last year JBA Consulting were carrying out property surveys as part of the scheme in July last year but since then I am not aware of any updates.   Cllr. GLC asked if the PC could replace the refuse bins with larger ones, during busy times they overflow.  Cllr. NB will look into this as PC had been told by WC would charge for emptying larger bins, and the PC may have to pay for the replacement bins.

 

  1. Whitegates Report. Cllr. JP said there are no issues with the play area at Whitegates.

 

  1. Village Hall. See above report to Annual Parish Meeting.

 

  1. TV Committee. See above report to Annual Parish Meeting.
  2. Approval of annual Governance statement

                Cllrs agreed to have the extraordinary meeting on the 13th June at 7.30pm

 

Next Meeting 

        13th June 2024 Approve the AGAR papers.  Full Council Meeting 18 July 2024 at 7.30pm in village hall.