Wickwar Parish Council
Meeting of the Parish Council – Minutes
A meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday 3rd February 2021, via ZOOM, commencing at 7.00pm.
Attended:
Councillor S Isaac
Councillor A Carroll
Councillor C Maidment
Councillor G Fielding
Councillor A Pennington
Ward Councillor and Councillor P Trull
Ward Councillor A Rush
Apologies:
None
Clerk:
Mrs R Davis
Public time (60 minutes)
A member of the public attended to ask that the path from the corner of the King George V Playing Field to the ARP tower be registered for inclusion on official maps before the UK government deadline (1st January 2026).
A member of the public attended to make comments in relation to the South Gloucestershire Council consultation on the construction of road humps on the Sodbury Road/ Frith Lane, item 7.10 on the agenda. The Council noted the comments.
A member of the public attended to comment on the South Gloucestershire Council Local Plan phase 1 consultation, item 7.11 on the agenda. They requested that the Council publicise the consultation locally again, and provide some guidance about the implications for Wickwar. The Council noted the requests.
Seven members of the public attended to raise concerns about application P20/24180/F – installation of a 4.99MW solar farm, item 6.1 on the agenda. The Chairman extended public time to allow all attendees that wished to speak on this matter to do so. The attendees were asked to email their comments to the Clerk after the meeting to circulate to Councillors, which was duly done.
1.02.21 To RECEIVE apologies for absence.
No apologies were received.
2.02.21 To NOTE and RECORD Declarations of Interests relevant to this meeting.
None.
3.02.21 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 13th January 2021. They were duly signed onscreen (to be signed in hard copy after the meeting).
4.02.21 To determine which items, if any, of the Agenda should be taken with the public excluded.
No items required the public to be excluded.
5.02.21 Planning – For the Council to NOTE the following planning decisions:
5.01.02.21 P20/22826/LB 39B High Street Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NP: External alterations to remove and replace the rear extension roof. Approve with conditions.
5.2.02.21 P20/22520/F The Piggery Bristol Road Cromhall South Gloucestershire GL12 8BA: Creation of vehicular access onto (Class B) classified highway and installation of 1.8m security gates. Approve with conditions.
5.3.02.21 P20/21808/F Little Shortwood Farm Wickwar Road Yate South Gloucestershire BS37 6PA: Conversion of existing stable building to form annex ancillary to the main dwelling. This application has been withdrawn and no further action will be taken on it.
6.02.21 Planning – For the Council to REVIEW and COMMENT on planning applications received before the meeting.
6.1.02.21 P20/24180/F Newlands Farm West End Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8LD: Installation of a 49.99mw solar farm and associated infrastructure including substation, transformer stations, internal access road, perimeter security fence and access gates and internal access tracks.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to defer commenting on this application to allow the Council more time to consider the information presented by members of the public attending the meeting, and to review the planning application documents.
The Clerk to arrange an extra ordinary meeting for the following week to consider the application, and seek an extension from the planning officer to respond to the application.
6.2.02.21 P21/00010/F Leechpool Farm Tanhouse Lane Yate South Gloucestershire BS37 7QL: Creation of a new access onto Limekiln Road to serve equestrian/agricultural uses
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to submit a neutral response and make the following comment. The Parish Council requests assurance that the access road will be for equestrian and agricultural uses only, and will not be for residential use.
6.3.02.21 P21/00065/TCA Cliff House 1 High Street Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NE: Works to trees as per the attached proposed schedule of works (section 5 of application form and schedule of works document) submitted to the council. All trees situated within the Wickwar conservation area.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to submit a neutral response.
6.4.02.21 P21/00142/F 20 The Buthay Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NW: Erection of single storey front extension to form additional living accommodation.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to object to the application and make the following comment. As far as the Parish Council is aware listed building consent should have been applied for, although there are no other objections to the application.
After the meeting it was confirmed that the building was ‘locally listed’ only, so listed building consent was not required.
7.02.21 Items for CONSIDERATION and DECISION
7.1.02.21 To APPROVE the appointment of the GAPTC Internal Audit Service to undertake the internal audit for 2020/21 (cost £235).
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to engage the GAPTC Internal Audit Service to undertake the internal audit for 2020/21 at a cost of £235.
7.2.02.21 To CONISDER and take a DECISION on an estimate for 2x A3 permanent display boards for the Wickwar Nature & Remembrance Trails (approx. £160) to be fitted outside the Town Hall, and confirm location.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to purchase 2x A3 aluminium display boards of the Wickwar Nature & Remembrance Trails to be mounted outside the Town Hall, at a cost of £160.
Councillor Trull left the meeting immediately after this item.
7.3.02.21 To CONISDER and take a DECISION on an estimate to install 2x recycled plastic benches at the King George V Playing Field and the Wickwar cemetery (£75 per bench plus materials), and APRROVE CIL funding for this.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to accept the estimate of £75 per bench (plus materials) for the installation of two benches at King George V Playing Field and Wickwar cemetery, from Tony Gardner Property Maintenance.
7.4.02.21 To CONSIDER and AGREE the date for the Annual Parish Assembly 2021.
Decision deferred to next meeting.
7.5.02.21 To CONSIDER the response from South Gloucestershire Council regarding the Council’s casual vacancy and to AGREE next actions.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to advertise the vacancy for co-option.
7.6.02.21 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on becoming a member of CPRE (The Countryside Charity) – £36 per year.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to become a member of CPRE (The Countryside Charity).
7.7.02.21 To CONSIDER and APPROVE a revised six-month grazing agreement for Park Field (current agreement ends March 2021).
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve a seven-month grazing agreement for Park Field, to be issued to the successful tenderer with a covering letter to make it clear that the Parish Council will require access to carry out surveys for a planned future cemetery extension.
7.8.02.21 To CONSIDER and APPROVE specifications for grass cutting at the Wickwar Play Area/ Wickwar Cemetery and King George V Playing Field (quotations for April 2021 – 2023 to be sought.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve specifications for grass cutting at the Wickwar Play Area/ Wickwar Cemetery and King George V Playing Field
7.9.02.21 To APPROVE a consultation questionnaire on the proposed locations for four parish benches, to be conducted from 8th – 26th March 2021.
Deferred to the next meeting.
7.10.02.21 To CONSIDER and AGREE the Council’s response to South Gloucestershire Council’s consultation on the construction of road humps on the Sodbury Road/ Frith Lane (adjacent to the Linden Homes development) and speed limit changes on surrounding roads (consultation runs 3rd – 27th February 2021).
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to submit the following responses:
- Road humps consultation – Wickwar Parish Council is generally supportive of the speed humps as part of the wider traffic calming measures for Wickwar. The Parish Council hopes that the appropriate markings and design features for a pedestrian crossing at the Frith Lane junction are included.
- Speed limit consultation – Wickwar Parish Council supports the proposed reduction in the speed limit as part of the wider traffic calming measures proposed for Wickwar.
7.11.02.21 To CONSIDER and make comments to inform a Council response to the South Gloucestershire Local Plan Phase 1 Issues and Approaches Consultation Consultation Homepage – South Gloucestershire Local Plan 2020 – South Gloucestershire Online Consultations (southglos.gov.uk)
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to submit the response attached at appendix 1 to the South Gloucestershire Local Plan Phase 1 Issues and Approaches Consultation.
8.02.21 To NOTE the date of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council– 5th May 2021 – to be conducted remotely.
Noted.
9.02.21 To NOTE the playground inspections for November 2020, December 2020 and January 2021.
Deferred to next meeting.
10.02.21 To NOTE the Wickwar Community Centre accounts for y/e 30th September 2020.
Noted.
11.02.21 To NOTE the outcome of a review of the Tyndale Reach Multi User Path by the South Gloucestershire Council Public Rights of Way Officer, with respect to safety and ease of use by horseriders.
The Clerk reported that the barriers at the northern end of the path have not been moved as yet, to make the path more easily negotiable by horseriders. The PROW Officer is following this up.
12.02.21 To NOTE the response from Luke Hall MP to Cllr Maidment’s letter on the Wickwar Traffic Calming scheme.
Noted.
13.02.21 To RECEIVE an update on a proposal to print and sell to members of the public, copies of a compilation of local First World War diaries prepared by a local author.
Deferred to next meeting as Cllr Trull had left the meeting.
14.02.21 To RECEIVE the preliminary risk assessment of the Park Field site for a potential cemetery extension, undertaken by the CDS Group.
Noted. Cllr Pennington to provide a list of alternative suppliers to the Clerk to quote for the required groundwater assessment.
15.02.21 To RECEIVE the tree condition report carried out for the trees in/ adjacent to the closed and open cemeteries in November 2020.
Received. The Clerk will find out who is responsible for the atlas cedar tree adjacent to the open cemetery which requires further assessment and report back to Council.
16.02.21 To RECEIVE the register of correspondence received (list available at the meeting)
Received.
17.02.21 To RECEIVE a report from the Ward Councillor.
The Ward Councillor left the meeting before this item – no report.
18.02.21 To RECEIVE verbal reports from Councillors who are Trustees or Committee members of the organisations listed below, and to take decisions as necessary:
18.1.02.21 King George V Playing Fields – Nothing further to report.
18.2.02.21 Wickwar Youth Club – Have submitted an application for Community Infrastructure Levy funding to be considered at the next meeting.
18.3.02.21 Wickwar Community Centre – Noting to report.
18.4.02.21 Wickwar Town Hall – Nothing to report.
18.5.02.21 Wickwar Cemetery- The new noticeboard being made by a local craftsperson, will be ready soon.
19.02.21 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on a grant application from Yate Heritage Centre.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to grant £150 to Yate Heritage Centre.
20.02.21 To NOTE interment IRO Pollard (plot 404).
Noted.
21.02.21 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 listed.
The meeting was closed at 9.57pm.