Wickwar Parish Council
Meeting of the Parish Council – Minutes
A meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday 7th October 2020, via ZOOM, commencing at 7.00pm.
Attended:
Councillor S Isaac
Councillor A Carroll
Councillor C Maidment
Councillor G Fielding
Councillor M Harris
Apologies:
Ward Councillor and Councillor P Trull
Councillor A Pennington
Clerk:
Mrs R Davis
Public time (20 minutes)
Two parishioners attended to present planning applications for their property which they had recently submitted to South Gloucestershire Council. Councillors asked questions and the parishioners responded.
1.10.20 To RECEIVE apologies for absence.
Apologies were received from Councillor Trull and Councillor Pennington. Councillor Isaac gave apologies for the first part of the meeting and joined part way through. In the absence of the Chairman (Councillor Isaac), Councillor Fielding (Vice Chairman) chaired public time, items 1 – 5 and items 7.1 – 7.3 before Councillor Isaac arrived and took over as Chairman.
2.10.20 To NOTE and RECORD Declarations of Interests relevant to this meeting.
No interests were declared.
3.10.20 To AGREE whether the minutes of the last meeting should be signed as an accurate record of the meeting.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to accept the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 2nd September 2020. They were duly signed onscreen (to be signed in hard copy after the meeting).
4.10.20 To determine which items, if any, of the Agenda should be taken with the public excluded.
No items required the public to be excluded.
5.10.20 Planning – For the Council to NOTE the following planning decisions
None received.
6.10.20 Planning – For the Council to REVIEW and COMMENT on planning applications received before the meeting.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to defer the planning items until Councillor Isaac joined the meeting. Planning was considered immediately after item 7.3, at which point Councillor Isaac took over as Chairman for the rest of the meeting. After planning items had been considered the agenda resumed at item 7.4 (with Councillor Isaac as Chairman).
6.1.10.20 P20/16674/F Hall End Barn North Of Hall End Lane Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12: Demolition of existing agricultural buildings and erection of 2no. agricultural buildings with associated hardstanding, parking and improvements to access.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to submit a neutral response and the following comment: Wickwar Parish Council has a concern about the agricultural justification for the size of buildings proposed, on what is a small parcel of land.
6.2.10.20 P20/16114/MW Wickwar Quarry The Downs Wickwar South Gloucestershire: Extraction of limestone with progressive restoration to lake.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to support the application and make the following comment: Wickwar Parish Council supports this application because the expansion of the quarry will have a positive impact on the local economy, and hence the area.
6.3.10.20 P20/17519/F Land At Arnoldsfield Trading Estate The Downs Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8JB: Erection of single storey storage building (Class B8).
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to support the application and make the following comment: Wickwar Parish Council supports this application because the proposal will have a positive impact on the local economy, and hence the area.
6.4.10.20 P20/17664/TCA Maple House Station Road Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NB: Works to no.1 Horse Chestnut to remove large branch, works to no.3 Leylandi to reduce height by half Situated in the Wickwar Conservation Area.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to submit a neutral response.
7.10.20 Items for CONSIDERATION and DECISION
7.1.10.20 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on a proposal to introduce an annual Parish Council Awards scheme.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to introduce an annual Parish Council Awards scheme ready for the 2021 annual parish assembly.
7.2.10.20 To CONSIDER and take a decision on estimates to cut the hedges at King George V Playing Field and Park Field in the autumn.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to accept the estimate from R O Williams and Son from the three received, to cut the hedges at King George V Playing Field and Park Field as soon as possible. It was further RESOLVED to ask the contractor to cut the hedge around the allotments as part of the job.
7.3.10.20 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on quotations for proposed new benches around the village.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to accept the quotation from Marmax Ltd to supply six Witton benches in brown recycled plastic.
7.4.10.20 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on whether to engage ROSPA to carry out an independent interim inspection of newly installed equipment and surfacing at the King George V Play Area (after the new climbing unit has been installed). APPROVE funding. (Cost to be advised at the meeting).
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to wait for the annual ROSPA inspection due in March/ April 2021.
7.5.10.20 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on action required to address problems with litter bins at King George V Playing Field.
No action was required as a new double litter bin has recently been installed by South Gloucestershire Council.
7.6.10.20 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on options to replace the wooden bridges removed from the King George V Play Area in September.
Councillor Carroll suggested installing used tyres, which has been approved by ROSPA as long as certain safety precautions are taken. Councillor Carroll will look into this further and bring a proposal to a future meeting.
7.7.10.20 To CONSIDER priorities for spending the £10,000 Business Support Grant received in July 2020.
This will be considered as part of the development of the Parish Council action plan.
7.8.10.20 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on the process for agreeing a Parish Council action plan for 2021/22 to inform the budget-setting process.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the Clerk will circulate a draft list of actions to Councillors, with comments due by the end of October 2020. A date for a ZOOM meeting to review the draft priorities will be agreed at the next meeting (for mid-November).
7.9.10.20 To CONSIDER and AGREE the application process for projects to be funded from unallocated Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, and the process for consulting on infrastructure priorities.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the Clerk will circulate the expression of interest form for comments, to be approved at the next meeting.
7.10.10.20 To CONSIDER and AGREE how to respond to the NALC consultation on the Planning for The Future White Paper.
Councillors were invited to respond individually.
7.11.10.20 To NOTE the website accessibility check for www.wickwarparishcouncil.gov.uk and APPROVE the website accessibility statement.
The website accessibility check, which showed 100% accessibility, was noted.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the Wickwar Parish Council website accessibility statement.
8.10.20 To NOTE the switchover to new Councillor email addresses and to remind Councillors of the need to log in weekly.
Noted.
9.10.20 To NOTE the outcome of enquiries regarding ownership of Wickwar Cemetery and Park Field.
Noted. The Clerk reported that Councillor Trull will review the minute books to check for a reference to the purchase of the land and the Clerk will submit an enquiry to the Land Registry.
10.10.20 To RECEIVE the register of correspondence received.
Received. It was noted that Wickwar Wanderers Football Club had requested access to the pavilion changing rooms for senior matches, but this request had been refused by the Clerk as government and FA guidance stipulates that changing rooms should remain closed. The Council wished to signal its support for accthe Clerk’s response.
11.10.20To NOTE the interment (cremation) IRO Lees.
Noted.
12.10.20 To NOTE the transfer of the ERB IRO Finlinson to P Cutbill.
Noted (plot 415).
13.10.20 To NOTE approval of an application for a memorial IRO Ebborn.
Noted.
14.10.20 To NOTE the monthly bank reconciliation for August 2020. Chairman to sign as a true record.
Noted and signed onscreen by the Chairman.
15.10.20 To APPROVE accounts for payment and NOTE additional payments made in line with Financial Regulations. (These are listed in the attached payment schedule).
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the accounts for payment.
16.10.20 To NOTE the budget monitoring report to 31st August 2020, prepared by the Clerk. Chairman to sign as a true record.
Noted and signed onscreen by the Chairman.
17.10.20 To NOTE emergency work to make the play area safe £320 (remove wooden bridges and replace balance beam).
Noted.
18.10.20 To APPROVE the annual CIL funding statement to be sent to South Gloucestershire Council.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the annual CIL funding statement (2018/19) for Wickwar Parish Council.
19.10.20 To REVIEW and APPROVE changes to the asset register for 2020/21.
Postponed to the next meeting.
20.10.20 To APPROVE a journal from the general reserve to the earmarked reserve of £10,000 (Business Support Grant).
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve a journal from the general reserve to the earmarked reserve of £10,000 (Business Support Grant).
21.10.20 To NOTE the NJC pay increase for the Clerk to be applied from 1st September 2020 (backdated to April 2020)
Noted.
21.10.20 Items for the next agenda
Cemetery extension.
The meeting was closed at 9:36pm.