Wellow Parish Council
Clerk
Geoff White
Myrtle
Cottage, Wellow, BA2 8QS
Tel: 01225 830159
Minutes of a meeting of the Parish
Council held on Monday, April 8th 2013 at 8pm in the Village Hall.
Present:
Cllrs Andrews, Betts, Clarkson, Doman, Karthauser, Prentice, Wheeler and White
along with eight members of the public.
Agenda:
13.046 To accept apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Cllr
Caudle and Dist Cllr Butters.
13.047 Declarations of interest in any
matters on the agenda or in March minutes
There were no declarations of
interest.
13.048 To confirm Minutes of meeting
held on March 11th2013.
The Minutes were approved
unanimously.
13.049 To report matters arising from
the Minutes and not on the agenda.
1958 deed
relating to the playing field
The Chairman said that a barrister
has been instructed to give a decision on the validity of this deed.
Neighbourhood
Plan Questionnaire
The Chairman said that 132
questionnaires had now been completed and that he would distribute anonymised
answers to Councillors. HP
Access up
the village hall drive to the new build at West End Cottages
The Chair reported that Cllr Caudle
has made arrangements with FDC Law to issue an easement instead of a lease to
grant access to the owners of the new build. PC
Repairs to
the wall at the bottom of the village hall drive
The Council wants to remove the tree
stump at the bottom of the village hall drive, to widen the entrance to the
drive. Cllr White has sought advice from Jane Brewer, and said that Jane Brewer
would not be available until towards the end of this month but that she would
be in touch with her again regarding the removal of the tree root. JW
Traffic
calming
The Chairman reported that he had
been in contact with Paul Richards, Superintendent Avon & Somerset Police.
Mr Richards has said that the police would not support a Community Speed Watch
or enforcement unless engineering works have been put in place, when they might
consider supporting CSW. The Chair has written back requesting that the police
do support the CSW, because Wellow does have “engineering works”.
Flooding
Cllr Doman said that he would be
contacting B&NES regarding the flooding to the east of Ford Farm. PD
Children’s
play area
Following the quarterly report from
B&NES, repairs in the play area are on-going.
Shop next
to the Fox and Badger
Cllr White said that she had been in
touch with Peter Groves, the landlord’s agent, regarding the shop and that he had promised to be in touch with
her in May. Cllr White has agreed to make sure this happens. JW
Library
Cllr White said that it seems a good
idea to try and establish a book exchange rather than a library at first which
follows the model adopted by Combe Hay. She is trying to get in touch with Curo
about the possible use of the residents’ lounge at Manor Close.
JW
Survey of trees
on the playing field and car park
Cllr White also reported that Scott
would be carrying out a tree survey shortly but that she would remind him if
necessary. JW
13.050 Road safety on Bulls Hill
Cllr White said that she had been in
touch with Stefan Chiffers at B&NES and that he would be visiting the site
with a view to implementing new innovations later this week.
From the floor Andy Smith reported
that a lorry had hit Grierson Gower’s wall which had resulted in the power
being cut. A similar collision had also
taken place at Brook Lodge. Other Bull’s Hill residents expressed their
concerns over road, and especially pedestrian, safety on Bull’s Hill.
Mr Gower was of the view that double
yellow lines would not be appropriate as parked cars did, in fact, contribute
to traffic calming on Bulls Hill.
It was suggested that an electronic
system warning drivers of their speed might be effective.
A list of maintenance repairs to
Bulls Hill e.g. road signs will sent to Nick Sperring, Highways Inspector. JW
Cllr White agreed to keep everyone
up to date and Cllr Karthauser asked whether we could obtain any video
evidence.
JW
13.051 Planning
New applications
13/00755/LBA
Site Location: Manor
Barn Farm Lane Wellow
Description of Proposal: Internal
and external alterations for the conversion of stone outbuilding into
additional living space and artist's studio.
13/00754/FUL
Site Location: Manor
Barn Farm Lane Wellow Description of Proposal: Conversion of stone
outbuilding into additional living space and artist's studio.
Cllr Clarkson said that
she had no objections to the proposal but that we would need to make sure that
we incorporated Roy Williams’ letter regarding the position of the solid fuel
burner’s flue. She agreed to respond
accordingly. DC
13/00525/FUL
Site Location: Parcel
6722 Dunkerton Hill Dunkerton Bath
Description of Proposal: Erection
of a building for storage and netting of harvested Christmas trees and
machinery and animal feed
Cllr Clarkson referred to
the report from Dunkerton Parish Council.
This application is not agricultural in nature and there is a worry that
the proposal would lead to an increase in traffic. We should turn it down. Wellow Parish Council will need to stress
their objections as our view would have a greater influence than that from
Dunkerton Parish Council as the proposal is within Wellow’s parish boundary. DC
Decisions received:
Application
Number: 13/00653/TCA
Site location: Canteen
Cottage, Wellow
Description of Proposal: Fell 1x
Apple tree No objection
The Parish Council noted
the decision.
Other planning matters
Richard Holland, from the floor,
reported that he has been corresponding with B&NES over the lack of a
policy on non-material amendments. B&NES are now saying that they will be
creating a policy.
Cllr Clarkson said that we are still
awaiting a decision from B&NES regarding the apparently unauthorised
development in a field opposite the Prince of Wales public house on the A367 at
the top of Dunkerton Hill. She said that
we are also awaiting a decision regarding the new window at Chapel House but
that an enforcement officer had been round and was awaiting a planning
application.
The application regarding Bubblers
Dytche was expected to go to Committee in April, but has been withdrawn – it is
now expected to go to Committee in May.
Cllr Clarkson reported on the
application to provide a new vehicular access into the field at Hillscroft. The
field is in the Green belt. She reminded
the Council that this had been discussed at the last meeting and that the
Council had voted against it. A similar
application was refused by B&NES in 2010.
The applicants have stated that the main reason for wanting this
development to proceed is for safety reasons. Councillors were not clear if
this could be considered “very special circumstances” as would be needed for
this type of development in the Green belt.
The development also did not “conserve or enhance the character and
local distinctiveness of the landscape”. Cllr Clarkson has spoken with the Case
Officer who has yet to make a decision.
The owners of the property were
invited to address the Council. They
said that the new entrance was a first step and that they intended to soften
the appearance with new trees and shrubs.
Cllr Clarkson said that she was worried about the possibility that the
owners would seek permission for a garage in the future but this was ruled out.
Cllr Wheeler agreed that the
existing entrance is dangerous if cars would need to back out on to the main
road.
The Chairman asked about the height
of the proposed walls and the owners assured him that any new walls would be of
the same height as the existing walls.
Cllr Clarkson will report the
Council’s observations. DC
13.052 General Power of Competence
The Chairman explained what this
would mean. Under the Localism Act, Parish Councils can be granted a “General
Power of Competence” (GPC) provided that two conditions are met. The first
condition is that there at least two thirds of Councillors are elected – this
condition is met. The second condition is that the Clerk is sufficiently
trained and has a suitable qualification. The Wellow Parish Clerk does not have
a suitable qualification. Thus, at the moment Wellow Parish Council does not
have the GPC. The GPC would give the Parish Council the same power to act that
an individual has. For example, it would allow the Parish Council the ability
to set up a company providing broadband to the village. While there did not
appear to any immediate need for this power, the Chair proposed that the
Council take steps to obtain the GPC. This was approved by seven votes in
favour with one abstention.
In order for Wellow Parish Council
to be granted GPC status, the Clerk would have to gain a qualification, the
most appropriate of which is the Certificate in Local Council Administration
(CiLCA). This course costs £280, but the Council is eligible to reclaim £100 as
a bursary. The Chair proposed that the
Clerk complete the course. It was agreed unanimously that he should do so.
It was agreed to pay the fee and the
Clerk said he would apply for the bursary which would mean that the net cost to
the Council would be £180. GW
At the March meeting the Chair had
reported under Any Other Reports on a request from B&NES Legal and
Democratic Services asking if Wellow Parish Council wanted to change the number
of Councillors. The Council voted unanimously that Wellow Parish Council should
continue to have nine councillors.
13.053 Station
Road Car Park
The Chairman referred to the
Council’s earlier suggestion that the Parish Council should look into the possibility of buying
the car park from B&NES. He said
that any threat of its being designated as a travellers’ site by B&NES had
receded but some Councillors were concerned that when new B&NES councillors
are elected in 2 years, they may reverse this policy. He understood that
B&NES would consider transferring the car park to Wellow Parish Council if
Wellow Parish Council wanted to continue using it as a car park. However, the
responsibility for mowing the grass, keeping the edges trimmed and tidied, and
possibly for rates, would pass to Wellow Parish Council.
Alex Martin, the previous Chairman
said that we should guard against any possibility of the car park being used as
a travellers’ site.
Cllr Andrews said that motor homes
were often parked there overnight and that various websites actually
recommended Wellow Car Park for that purpose.
The Chairman said he was concerned
that if the Parish Council took over the management of the car park and it was
used illegally by travellers, the Parish Council would have the responsibility
to remove the travellers, and would have to fund this process. At the moment this is B&NES
responsibility.
The car park is used a great deal
and its use as a car park may increase if the plans for tennis courts on the
playing field go ahead.
Richard Holland, from the floor felt
that Wellow Parish Council would be responsible for the walls surrounding the
car park although they might be the responsibility of the surrounding property
owners. He agreed with the Chairman that
B&NES have already discounted the site as a potential one for travellers.
It was agreed that the Parish
Council should take steps to identify the risks of ownership, ie rates, mowing,
boundary walls, insurance and the access road. This cost/benefit analysis will
be carried out by the Chair. HP
Richard Holland referred to the
barrier which was erected by B&NES but which has had the cross bar
removed. It was intended that it would
restrict the height of vehicles able to enter the car park. Cllr Karthauser pointed out that there were
no notices on the approach to the car park warning of any height restrictions,
nor were there any indications of other restrictions, eg not parking overnight.
It was suggested that we should ask
B&NES to re-instate the barrier with appropriate information on restrictions
being displayed. It was left to B&NES to decide whether this information
should be on the barrier or on the car park sign at the beginning of Station
Road. This was put to a vote and was agreed by four votes to one with three
abstentions. The Clerk was asked to
contact B&NES. GW
13.054 Traffic Calming
The Chairman said that we had already dealt with this issue in 13.050.
13.055 Financial Report
The financial report to April 8th
2013 was approved unanimously.
The Council agreed to the payments in respect
of street cleaning and the Clerk’s salary.
(The CiLCA payment was agreed to under item 13.052) The Clerk was
reminded that the grants to the Village Hall, the Burial Board and the Shop
were now due.
The Council ratified an earlier
decision made by the Chairman and the Clerk to appoint Payman of Frome to
administer the Parish Council’s payroll.
Councillors had already received information about this by email prior
to the appointment. The Clerk referred
to the new Real Time Information scheme which had been introduced on April 6th
by HMRC and explained that Payman will meet the RTI obligations.
The Clerk explained that he had
agreed a three year fixed term contract with EDF for the Christmas tree lights
and said that this meant we now had a fixed rate of just under 25p per unit,
plus standing charges, for the next three years. EDF had intended to raise our tariff from
April 1st to 35p per unit. He
had earlier sought a better deal from other providers but to no avail.
The Clerk also suggested that we pay
by Direct Debit rather than by cheque.
This would result in a 7% discount and would also guard against late
payments should a bill arrive shortly after a Parish Council meeting. It would also save on postage. This was agreed to unanimously and the Clerk
said he would send off the necessary forms. GW
13.056 Broadband
Cllr Karthauser said that he would
advise councillors of the latest developments, if any, by email. JK
13.057 Maintenance of the Playing Field
It was agreed unanimously to renew
our contract with B&NES for grass cutting. The fee will be £485 plus VAT
for the year. Cllr Doman expressed the
view that this was very good value for money. GW
13.058 Village Hall Trustees
It was agreed to defer this item
until the May meeting.
13.059 Jubilee and Millennium Funds
It was agreed to defer this item
until the May meeting but Cllr Karthauser said he would look into signage
before then. JK
13.060 Landfill Sites
It was agreed to defer this item
until the May meeting.
13.061 Any other reports
Stewart Cole drew attention to wall
damage near the church and agreed to meet with the Clerk to show him the
problem. He also said that a tree limb
had broken in the play area.
It was noted that litter had been
building up again and it was suggested that a litter picking day should be
organized once the weather improves.
Cllr Betts suggested that we
organize a village walk for councillors. This can be an item on the May agenda.
Cllr Clarkson said that there was a
lot of moss on the pavement on Bull’s Hill.
Cllr White agreed to contact Nick Sperring about it. JW
The Clerk was asked to contact Peter
Duppa-Miller regarding the rubbish left by the side of the road to the north of
the Combe Hay crossroads. GW
Cllr White asked about the
possibility of displaying the agenda and other documents during meetings
electronically. The Chairman said that
he hoped to able to try this out at the May meeting.
Cllr Andrews showed the Council a
letter received from Dorothy House acknowledging the Parish Council’s donation.
13.062 Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting was confirmed as
being on Monday, May 13th 2013 at 8pm in the Village Hall. The AGM and Annual Parish Meeting will be
held at 7.30pm on the same date.
The meeting closed at 10.10pm.
Geoffrey White
Parish Clerk
April 11th 2013