Wellow Parish Council
Clerk
Geoff White
Myrtle
Cottage, Wellow, BA2 8QS
Tel: 01225 830159
Minutes of a meeting of the Parish
Council on Monday 12th September 2011 at 8pm in the Village Hall.
Present: Cllrs
Andrews, Betts, Clarkson, Doman, Wheeler, White and Witty. District Cllr
Butters also attended.
Seven members
of the public in attendance.
Agenda:
11.105 To accept apologies for
absence.
Apologies had been received from
Cllr Prentice and Cllr Caudle.
11.106 Declarations of interest in any
matters on the agenda or in June 2011 minutes
Cllr Andrews declared an interest in the item
on solar panels (11.110 3(d) and Cllr Doman declared an interest in the item
referring to the Trekking Centre (11.110 3(a)
11.107 To confirm minutes of meeting
held on June 13th 2011.
The minutes of the Parish Council
Meeting held on July 11th 2011 were approved unanimously.
11.108 To report matters arising from
the minutes and not on the agenda.
None
11.109 Parish Plan
a.
Neighbourhood Watch
Cllr Wheeler said that
there had been and increase in thieving during the current recession. He suggested that we have a Neighbourhood
Watch Scheme in Wellow and that we invite the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator
from Freshford to address the Council.
Cllr Doman mentioned that
there was already an informal scheme amongst farmers.
Cllr Wheeler said that the police
were very enthusiastic about Neighbourhood Watch schemes and it was agreed that
he would get in touch with his contact in Freshford.
TW
b.
Village Tidying Day
Cllr Wheeler reported that he was
familiar with a similar scheme in Newton Ferrers in Devon. He suggested that we should look into
clearing the approaches to Wellow. Perhaps we could compile a list of things
that need to be done and then set aside a day to address them. Cllr Betts referred to the state of the phone
box saying that it was full of cigarette ends and cobwebs.
The Clerk was asked to put a
suitable notice on the notice board asking residents to identify possible
works. . GW
Cllr Clarkson said that she would
clean out the phone box. DC
The Chairman suggested another
village walk and Cllr Witty suggested that the phone box could be used for a
paperback library.
The Chairman said she would put a
notice in the Parish News HA
c.
Petanque Piste
This item was deferred until later
in the meeting when Dist. Cllr Butters was due to arrive.
Upon his arrival Don Grimes,
president of the City Petanque Club in Bath, described how a petanque piste is
constructed. He identified a part of the car park outside the Village hall as a
suitable site as there was already a firm surface. The cost would be around
£500. It was agreed that the Council
would undertake further investigations.
SB
d.
Ownership of trees and open spaces
Cllr White said that she was still
waiting for a reply from B&NES regarding the possibly diseased tree on
Bull’s Hill.
The Council agreed that she should
also ask B&NES about one of the trees to the west of the church which was
showing a number of dead branches. The
Clerk mentioned that he had been present when a small branch fell from the same
tree, narrowly missing two men who were loading up their van underneath it. JW
e.
Upgrade of village shop
Cllr Witty informed the
Council that a Community Empowerment Grant worth up to £100,000 was
available. She mentioned the possibility
of extending the Village Hall but suggested that the barn adjacent to the
village shop might represent a better project.
At the moment, the barn is used for storing agricultural equipment but
it could be converted into a museum with some catering facilities, perhaps a
coffee machine. Cllr Witty said that
Jane Phillips, who owns the barn, is not averse to the idea.
Cllr Witty suggested that
she speak urgently with Jane Phillips to finalise any plans as the deadline for
initial applications was the end of September with a further deadline at which
detailed final plans would be submitted in the spring.
Cllr Betts suggested that
we form a sub-committee in respect of the final plans but pointed out that, for
such a project so succeed, we need volunteers to run it.
Cllr Wheeler said that,
before any action is taken, we should ascertain whether there would be
sufficient demand to make the project viable.
It was agreed that Cllr
Witty could take some initial steps. MW
11.110 Planning
1. New applications
a. 11/0384/FUL: Wychwood, 3 The Laurels,
Midford. Erection of single storey rear extension following demolition of
existing conservatory.
It was
pointed out that, although the submission relates to Midford, the property in
question lies within the parish boundary of Wellow.
Cllr
Clarkson said that she had looked at the plans and didn’t feel that there were
any contentious issues. Cllr Doman
agreed and the Council unanimously agreed to support the application.
b. 11/03494/FUL: Homelea Cottage, High Street, Wellow. Erection of a single storey extension plus
minor alterations including removal of attached structures.
The Council voted
unanimously to support the application.
c.
11/03806/TCA Holly Tree
House, High Street, Wellow. Pruning of two trees.
The Chairman declared an
interest as she can see the trees in question from her garden. She did say, though, that she had no
objection. Cllr Witty took the Chair for
this item.
The application was
approved unanimously.
2.
Decisions received
The
Council noted the following decisions:
11/02428/FUL Manor Farm, Farm Lane.
Provision of manege. PERMIT
11/01959/FUL 4 West End Cottages. Erection of rear
lean-to. PERMIT
11/02417/FUL
and 11/02418/LBA Weavers Farm. Extension and
conversion of existing barn to a holiday let. REFUSE
11/02666/FUL West End Cottages.
Erection of detached residence. WITHDRAWN
3.
Other planning issues
a.
11/00438/UNDEV: Selling of
firewood at the Trekking Centre. Cllr
Betts said that we have no right to go on to the land in question.
Cllr
Clarkson said that the Trekking Centre had been asked to remove the signs
advertising firewood but that they were still there.
Cllr
Wheeler expressed surprise that Mr Shellard is allowed to construct a layby for
his own use but was informed that, when B&NES inspected the site, there was
nothing in the layby.
The
Chairman suggested that we invite Mr Shellard to address the Council on his
future plans. The Council should inspect the footpaths along Wellow Brook. HA
Cllr
Wheeler felt we should get in touch with Highways again.
Alex
Martin, former Chairman, said that Mr Shellard had had to vacate land at Combe
hay and so may want to increase his activities in Wellow. He referred the
Council to planning reference 11/03702/AGRN on B&NES’ website.
The
Chair asked that this should be on the next agenda and that we should undertake
a village walk at the eastern end. GW
b.
It was suggested that the Council
look at the land opposite Ford farm where vegetables are being grown and raise
the issue again at the October meeting.
c.
Forge Cottage: Crisp Cowley, the agents selling the barns
adjacent to Forge Cottage, intend to make sure that any purchaser has
sufficient funds and expertise for redevelopment.
The
Chairman asked whether the provision of a car parking space at Forge Cottage
was really an issue we should be concerned about and Cllr Wheeler pointed out
that having a car parking space would mean that there would be one more car not
on the road.
d.
Solar panel at Blacksmith’s
Cottage. It was agreed that the Clerk
should write to the owners advising them that they should apply retrospectively
for Listed Building Consent to B&NES in order to “regularize the
situation”. The Clerk said that these
were the words used by B&NES when he sought advice from them. GW
11.111 Village Wear and Tear
Progress
·
The Clerk reported that Council Connect have agreed to add
the repair of the kerbs to their list.
·
The Clerk said that he had already made a start on sanding
the bench near the church but that it required a sander rather than carrying
out the work entirely by hand. He will
continue to liaise with Stuart Cole.
·
Cllr Clarkson reported that the blocked drain on Bath Hill
had been cleared.
·
Cllr White said that the road signs at the bottom of Mill
Hill were now aligned correctly.
New items
·
Cllr White said that the drain outside the school still
doesn’t work.
·
Some discussion took place re village trees – see under Item
11.109 (d)
·
The Chairman suggested that we ask Scott to undertake a
survey of village trees in order to identify any that might pose a risk.
·
Cllr Witty asked whether a grid could be placed over the
storm drain at Popes Lane.
11.112 Finance
·
The financial report for August to September was approved.
·
Outstanding payments were approved and the cheques and
invoices duly signed.
·
Cllr Betts asked about the grant paid to the minibus
group. Cllr Witty explained that the
grant of £100 was paid quarterly and that the next payment would be the second
one. The grant enable those with bus
passes to use the Friday run to Sainsbury’s at Odd Down free of charge.
11.113 Footpaths
a.
Rosemary Todd, from the floor, said that B&NES allow
parish councils to undertake footpath clearance and that they are paid to do
so. The Chairman said that Shoscombe
organise a footpath day, logging repairs needed. She suggested that we ask B&NES about this.
b.
Cllr Doman gave an update about the provision of kissing
gates.
11.114 Broadband update
District Cllr Butters reported that
improvements will reach Wellow eventually.
He raised the issue at a meeting of the Local Government Group Rural
Commission and was told that some areas do not have broadband at all. Peter Downey had mentioned the fact that he
had seen BT installing fibre-optic cable. District Cllr Butters has spoken to
Helen Moore at B&NES about this and she has indicated that Wellow is in the
lowest area re level of service. This level varies both within Wellow and with
the time of day.
The Chairman asked that the
broadband issue be placed on the next agenda.
11.115 Burial Board
The Chairman reported that the
cemetery was looking very neat and tidy as a result of the work being
undertaken there by people carrying out community service.
11.116 Empty properties
District Cllr Butters reported that
he and Alex Martin had met with Graham Sable of B&NES and had been advised
that a report should have been published in May but that it had been put back
until October.
11.117 Queen’s Jubilee
The Chairman said that we had to
decide what to do to celebrate the Jubilee and that we should look into it as a
possible fund-raising exercise.
It was suggested that the Parish
Council should organise an open meeting to discuss these matters and to ellicit
ideas.
Cllr Betts suggested the first week
in January for such a meeting and said that she would make the necessary
arrangements. Cllr Doman agreed that January would be a good time.
Cllr Witty will look into the
arrangements for road closures and Cllr Wheeler suggested that we should hold a
full street party.
Cllr Witty wondered whether we could
light a beacon but the problem for Wellow is that we are in a valley and so it
would not be seen far and wide.
11.118 Correspondence
a.
Cllr White suggested that we should join the Open Space
Society as they had been very supportive in connection with Sarah Moore’s
footpath. This was agreed unanimously.
b.
The Chairman referred to the forthcoming ALCA AGM and asked
if anyone would like to go. There were
no takers.
c.
Core Strategy – this was deferred until a future meeting.
d.
The Chairman asked whether anyone would like to go to a
meeting in connection with Public Transport Liaison. Cllr Witty said that it was irrelevant for
Wellow. This was agreed and so no-one
will be going.
11.119 Any other reports
§
The Chairman said that the Salvation Army would not be
available for the carol singing in the Square this year. Cllr Betts suggested that we approach St
Gregory’s to see what they could offer. SB
§
Cllr Betts said that no further progress had been made with
regard to traffic calming and asked that the signage should be an agenda item
in October. GW
§
Cllr Witty gave an update regarding the minibus and thanked
the committee and the volunteer drivers for their hard work. The Wellow
Community Bus Group will be holding their AGM on October 5th.
§
The Chairman said that, because of the absence of two
councillors, the election of the new chairman and vice-chairman would be
deferred until the October meeting. GW
11.120 Date of next meeting
The next meeting of Wellow Parish
Council will be held on October 10th at 8pm in the Village
hall. The meeting closed at 10.10pm.
Geoffrey
White
Parish
Clerk
September
26th 2011