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, September 10th 2012 at 8pm in the Village
Hall.
Present:
Cllrs Betts, Caudle, Clarkson, Doman, Karthauser, Wheeler and White along with
eight members of the public.
Agenda:
12.108 To
accept apologies for absence.
Apologies were received from Cllrs.
Andrews and Prentice. District Cllr Butters also sent his apologies.
12.109 Declarations of interest in any
matters on the agenda or in July 2012 minutes
There were no declarations of
interest.
12.110 To confirm minutes of meeting
held on July 9th 2012.
The minutes of the Parish Council
Meeting held on July 9th 2012 were approved unanimously.
12.111 To
report matters arising from the minutes and not on the agenda.
There were no matters arising.
12.112 Derelict properties in Wellow
Anthony Weale, who has been looking
into this matter, reported that he had met with Mrs Cheek from B&NES and
that she had visited the properties in question. He thought it likely that B&NES have
already increased the Council Tax payable on the properties in the Square.
Mr Weale has met with the owner of 3
The Square and the property at the rear of it and the owner has promised to
have considerable work finished by Christmas, particularly plumbing.
The owner has been in Wellow nearly
every day and has carried out some painting and the replanting of the
garden. Mr Weale will continue to press
him to complete any work necessary.
The Clerk gave an update regarding
the shop next door to the Fox and Badger which had been visited by a member of
B&NES’ library staff but as the Chairman was away it was not possible to
provide any detail.
12.113 Planning
1.
New applications
12/03643/FUL: Corner House
resubmission
Cllr Caudle said that the cock and
hen top of the wall along the main road should be re-instated and Cllr Clarkson
confirmed that there used to be cock and hen walling along that part of the
wall.
Cllr Caudle felt that the height of
2.1 metres was unacceptable and that there are no solid gates, as proposed,
elsewhere in Wellow.
Cllr Clarkson said that she didn’t
mind the gates as the owners were entitled to some privacy.
Richard Holland, from the floor,
said that the provision of gates would increase on-street parking and Cllr
Doman pointed out that the entrance was originally agreed to by the planning
authorities because it would reduce on-street parking.
It was agreed that Cllr
Caudle would write to the planning department on behalf of Wellow Parish
Council and would object to the plans on the grounds of cock and hen design,
the height and the solid gates. This was
agreed by the Parish Council with six votes in favour and one abstention. PC
12/03800/LBA: Cobblers
Cottage.
Cllr Clarkson said that
she had no objection the plans as they were internal and the conservation roof
lights were only at the back and would not be obtrusive. The Parish Council
supported the application and assumed that B&NES would be mindful of listed
building applications. PC
12/03919/TCA: Tumbledown
Cottage
Cllr White said that the
owner of Tumbledown Cottage had been the Parish Councillor with responsibility
for trees and had already planted two silver birch trees as a replacement for
the one which needed to be taken down.
She had no objection to the plans and these were approved unanimously. JW
2.
Decisions received
The decisions received
were noted:
Rear of 1 to 7 High
Street, withdrawn
Bubblers Dytche, refused
Brook Lodge, permitted
Hillscroft, refused
In respect of the
application at Bubblers Dytche Cllr Betts said that she and Cllr Caudle had
attended the public meeting and that Cllr Caudle had addressed it.
12.114 Neighbourhood Plan
In view of the Chairman’s
absence, this item was deferred until the October meeting. Cllr Karthauser agreed to take the necessary
steps and Richard Holland said he would post a suitable notice on the website. JK/RH
12.115 Finance
a.
The Council approved the payments in respect of street
cleaning, the Clerk’s salary, the purchase of an ink cartridge and the fee to
the Information Commissioners.
b.
The financial report to September 10th was unanimously
approved.
c.
The Council agreed to accept the surplus funds in respect of
Wellow’s objection to the recycling plant to the east of the village as an
interim measure. The money was
originally raised by the Wellow Residents’ Association to whom it rightfully
belongs. The Clerk was asked to write to Mogers accordingly but to have the text
approved by Cllr Caudle before sending it. GW
12.116 Security
at the Village Hall
Cllr Betts said that the Village
Hall driveway needs resurfacing and asked that this be put on the October
agenda.
She felt that the gate and bollards
could be left for the time being. The
bollards are needed at the top of the driveway to prevent vehicular access on
to the playing field. Cllr Wheeler felt
that these were urgent and Cllr Doman suggested fitting metal ones, two of
which could be lowered using a key. Cllr
Wheeler agreed with him. Cllr Caudle
suggested that the Parish Council should look into the costs involved and Cllr
Wheeler said he would do it. TW
Cllr Betts agreed to look into the
costs for re-surfacing the driveway. SB
12.117 Playing Field contract
Following complaints from
Councillors regarding the grass cutting of the playing field Cllr Wheeler
agreed to liaise with the Clerk to determine exactly what was required with a
view to revising our contract with B&NES. TW/GW
12.118 Traffic calming
Mike Clarkson, from the floor, said
that we had the necessary speed guns to monitor speeds in the village and Cllr
Betts said that she would arrange the necessary training to use them. SB
Erica Smith, from the floor,
reported on the removal of flowers on the chicanes and her subsequent
correspondence with B&NES. She said
that further meetings with officials to discuss the matter were scheduled to
take place.
Cllr Wheeler expressed concern that
the various signs relating to traffic calming were being hidden by
undergrowth. He agreed to write to Nick
Jeans at B&NES re cutting back and to ask whether, should B&NES be
unable to do it, whether this was something we could undertake ourselves. TW
12.119 Covenant on the Playing Field
Cllr Karthauser said that the scope
regarding Wellow Tennis had been widened so that we should now refer to Wellow
Sport. It had been suggested that
football could be included and that the school would be supportive re football
lessons.
Cllrs Caudle and Wheeler felt that
there should be more public meetings so that the whole village was kept
informed.
Regarding the covenant, Cllr Caudle
said that she had registered the playing field with the Land Registry but that
we still needed legal advice. Alex
Martin, former Chairman, reminded the Council that advice was available from
ALCA and NALC.
Cllr Wheeler reported that he was in
touch with B&NES regarding the official handover of the Play Area. B&NES have already said that they will
carry out repairs but clarification is still required regarding responsibility
in case of accident. Cllr Wheeler will
continue his work in this area. TW
12.120 Footpaths
Cllr Caudle reported that she had
attended a meeting with the Horlers accompanied by Cllr Doman and Alex Martin.
Mr Martin said that, following a
meeting he had with Graham Starke, it had become clear that no evidence exists
for a footpath between Brunel House and Popes Lane. The costs involved in applying for a new
footpath would be between £2500 and £5000.
Cllr Caudle agreed to reply to the Horlers’ solicitor with a view to
sharing the costs. PC
12.121 Village Wear and Tear
Mike Clarkson, from the floor,
mentioned the continual flooding at Combe Hay Bridge. The Clerk agreed to write to Combe Hay’s Clerk
about it. GW
Stuart Cole, from the floor, said
that there were numerous nettles along Stoney Littleton Lane and Farm Lane and
that branches from some of the fir trees in the Dewey family’s garden were
beginning to hang over the wall and might obstruct the pavement. The Clerk agreed to mention it to them. GW
12.122 Any other reports
Cllr Betts pointed out that the
driveway leading to the car park needed leveling. The Clerk agreed to write to Council Connect. GW
12.123 Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be on Monday
October 8th at 8pm in the Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 10.10pm.
Geoffrey White
Parish Clerk
September 16th 2012