Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 25.11.10
in the Village Hall, Castle Combe
Present:
Councillors: F.Winup (Chairman)
A.Bishop (Vice Chairman)
Mrs. J. Halliday
M. King
J. Mackelden
G. Ruggles
D. Taylor
3 Parishioners
1. Apologies for absence:
Apologies for absence were received from Unitary Councillor Mrs. J. Scott and Clerk D. Ryall.
2. Declarations of interest:
There were no declarations of interest.
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 16.09.2010
These were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters arising:
A. Area Board meeting
Councillors Winup and Bishop attended the meeting held on 22nd November. The Unitary Council Parking Strategy Review will be recommending to the Executive a standardisation of parking fees across the county based on a small number of bands.
B. Traffic calming and speed checks
Councillor Bishop has written to the Unitary Council seeking a further review of the B4039 speed limit in Upper Castle Combe following the results of the earlier exercise. There are numerous such requests from elsewhere so an early response is unlikely but will be pursued as necessary.
C. Parking Review
Our long-standing concerns regarding inadequate parking controls were escalated to the Area Board and to the responsible Unitary Councillor. There are inadequate resources available despite the potential income across the county which could be spent on highway improvements in accordance with legislation.
D. Neighbourhood Policing
Wiltshire Police’s annual £108 million budget is to reduce by £15 million over the next four years with a loss of up to 150 officer posts and up to 200 staff jobs. The effects will mainly be seen in non-urgent incidents or non-urgent administrative requests, e.g. firearm certificate applications. The number of neighbourhood police will not alter and the air ambulance arrangements will continue until at least 2014. At the request of the Police Authority the meeting agreed our local top five priorities to be as follows:
– Answering emergency calls
– Tackling crime
– Neighbourhood policing
– Keeping people safe
– Keeping the roads safe
E. Trim Tram footpath
Work has now been completed with the aid of a grant from Wiltshire Council. The path forms a safe route between the upper and lower villages and is being well used with numerous favourable comments. The meeting thanked Councillor Bishop for his efforts to achieve this result. Parishioners expressed the hope that further work between Hans Lane and Upper Trim Tram might be possible at some later date.
F. Cold weather plan
The Area Board received 24 requests for additional grit bins of which only 5 were agreed due to funding constraints. One of these was allocated to the hill leading out of the village towards Ford. The Unitary Council has also amended its previous stance on the provision of additional salt in those instances where Parish Councils are prepared to fund additional bins themselves. Up to one ton will be supplied free of charge subject to adequate storage facilities. Councillor Bishop is investigating further.
G. Invasive plants project
Central funding for coordination will continue but not funding of the actual physical removal which will rely increasingly on volunteers. Councillor Bishop will insert an article in the next Combe Courier. The meeting thanked Mr Sabin for his efforts both now and future.
H. Neighbourhood Tasking meeting
Not yet convened. Mr Ryall will investigate. Mr Sabin agreed to continue as our representative.
I. Emergency Planning Event
A successful exercise was undertaken on 14th October, tailored by the Unitary Council Emergency Planning Team to reflect an extreme flooding event in Castle Combe. The meeting agreed that it would of value to offer a repeat of this exercise to parishioners and the Chairman agreed to make arrangements accordingly.
J. Warhorse
Filming was somewhat more extensive than expected but overall was well received and of major benefit to a number of local businesses as well as providing welcome Parish Council income to help support major expenditure and keep the precept as low as possible. The meeting agreed that the release document could be signed by the Chairman on completion of a small number of minor outstanding works.
5. Finance
Income:
Film donation – Warhorse 10000.00
PIGS grant – trim tram footpath 3529.25 Expenditure:
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
MAZARS – audit 158.62
Wessex Water – ½ year bill 64.09
C.P.R.E. subscription 29.00
Vitalise – donation 20.00
Brookman – repair steps, play area UCC 246.75
Liz Taylor – plants etc. 20.49
D. Ryall – printer cartridges 15.62
Cllr. Bishop – newsletter printing 27.00
Mrs. Le Coz – plants War Memorial 31.00
Cllr Ruggles – plants for troughs 12.56
Cllr Halliday – plants for play area 7.48
Play Safety Ltd – audit 148.05
D. Ryall – salary & costs (2months) 270.41
Routen Chaplin – Pavilion Insurance 696.58
Expenditure on Trim Tram will be included on the next set of minutes.
6. Correspondence
A. 2011 census
The meeting agreed an insert to the next Combe Courier.
B. Wiltshire Council re Precept 2011
Following discussion Councillor Mackelden proposed retention of the previous level at £4250. This was seconded by Councillor Halliday and unanimously agreed.
C. Wiltshire Council re Open Spaces
A WCC questionnaire was reviewed and it was agreed that the clerk could confirm the entries as submitted.
D. Wiltshire Council re Local Elections
An update on co-opting procedure is with the clerk in case of need pending the next elections which have been deferred to 2013.
7. Planning Applications
P.C. Approved:
Meadowside UCC – replacement dwelling.
The Laurels UCC – tree surgery.
Combe House – install satellite dish.
House of flavours UCC – roadside signs.
Riverside House – tree surgery.
The Manse UCC – tree surgery.
P.C. – Under Consideration:
The Old Smithy UCC – single storey extension
P.C. – Rejected:
The Cottage UCC – Rear and side extensions.
Unitary Council Granted:
C.C. Circuit – allow one Sunday to be used to create additional weekend racing
Trimmels – tree surgery
Upper Combe Farm – alter field access and gates etc
Riverside House – tree surgery
Brook House – tree surgery
Telephone Exchange UCC – tree surgery
Unitary Council Rejected:
Nil
Withdrawn
Nil
8. Unitary Councillor
No major issues to report.
9. Playing Field and Circuit reports
The Playing Field insurance has been renewed at £696.58 payable by Castle Combe Colts. Councillor Mackelden advised that there are no issues to report although he will check the status of a polythene tank which Councillor King raised as a potential problem.
The most recent Circuit liaison meeting confirmed a need for an open pre-meeting re Japfest with attendance by representatives from the police, Parish Council and other interested parties. Parking and admission arrangements are also under review. Noise levels at the September motorbike event were excessive and precise details of monitoring arrangements will be sought. Late night driving by college attendees has also deteriorated but the Circuit management may be unaware. Councillor Mackelden agreed to coordinate all these issues.
He also reported that the Village Hall/Museum had been successful in obtaining a car boot date in October 2011 (precise date not yet known).
10. Play Areas report
Councillor Halliday reported that the latest Rospa report identified a number of high priority concerns, but these were all on land owned by the Unitary Council, to whom she has written. She has also advised Rospa yet again that these items should be addressed separately to the Unitary Council and should not form part of the Parish Council report since we have no responsibility for them. A small number of minor issues which are within our responsibility will be dealt with or monitored as recommended. Councillors Halliday and Bishop will liaise. Councillor Halliday has also undertaken various bulb and shrub planting which will show results next Spring.
11. Highways
Councillor Bishop reported that the Parish Steward had devoted his recent visit to Whitegates and had done a good job although weed control had been later than ideal. Councillor Halliday expressed concern at the condition of some verges on the Ford road and the Chairman agreed to look at these.
12. Village Environment
Councillor Ruggles reported that he and Mr Ryall had a constructive meeting with Vicky White of Wiltshire Waste Management regarding signage, and draft proposals were on their way. He has also replaced planting in the village troughs and cleared the Pound on the hill. Recent instances of fly tipping were rapidly dealt with.
13. Whitegates
Councillor King expressed concern at the poor quality of the surface work undertaken at the entrance road. The Chairman will ask the clerk to pursue this.
14. Village Hall
Councillor Winup confirmed that the central heating installation had gone smoothly with only minor rectifications necessary so far. The loft insulation is also complete and work on the secondary double glazing will begin shortly.
15. Photo shoot
A low key stills photo shoot took place today for which a donation of £100 was sought and received.
16. Date of next meeting
This was confirmed as 7.30 pm on Thursday 20th January 2011 in the Village Hall.