Wickwar Parish Council
Meeting of the Parish Council – Minutes
A meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday 4th December 2024, at the Town Hall commencing at 7.00pm.
Attended:
Councillor S Isaac
Councillor G Fielding
Councillor A Carroll
Councillor R Houghton
Councillor A Parris
Councillor B Walter
Councillor L Ford
Councillor S Williams
Ward Councillor B Romaine
Ward Councillor A Rush
Apologies:
Councillor J Jones
Clerk:
Sarah Quick, Parish Clerk
Public time
A member of the Ukraine fundraising team attended to thank the Parish Council for their contribution and to report that £1,000 was raised on the day which was shared between the Gloucester and Bristol communities. Going forward a new project has been started to raise money for Cancer Research. Over £700 has already been raised from selling craft items in the coffee shop and the “shine a light” project will see old candles recycled and made into new ones. The Parish Council thanked the parishioner for her huge efforts to raise these funds.
The new yellow lines in the village following the resurfacing of the High Street were raised as it appears that the lines are encouraging people to park in less suitable places. Ward Cllr Romaine will raise this with the engineer at South Glos along with the need for raised ironworks around the manhole covers near the Youth Club speed table.
WEAG advised that they have many daffodil bulbs which they intend to plant at the bottom of the stank below the lime trees. The PC believes that the stank is owned by Holy Trinity church but has no issue with the bulbs being planted.
The number of overweight lorries coming through the village has reduced in recent months although this may have been due to the roadworks. Some good feedback was received following contacting a haulage company and the Parish Council thanked the parishioner for his efforts to continue to contact companies. Unfortunately Wickwar still remains a police officer short and Ward Cllr Romaine is still trying to arrange a meeting with the new Police and Crime Commissioner.
AGENDA ITEMS
1.12.24 To RECEIVE apologies for absence.
Cllrs Jones sent his apologies
2.12.24 To NOTE and RECORD Declarations of Interests relevant to this meeting.
None for this meeting.
3.12.24 To AGREE whether the minutes from the meeting of the Parish Council held on the 6th of November 2024 should be signed as an accurate record of the meeting.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on the 6th of November 2024 should be signed as an accurate record. The minutes were signed by the Chairman.
4.12.24 To RECEIVE the Clerk’s Report on matters arising from previous minutes/ not covered elsewhere on the agenda. (circulated)
The Clerk reported that South Gloucestershire Council have advised that they will no longer be providing bin hangers with rubbish collection dates. The information is available online and the Clerk will ensure that parishioners are updated
5.12.24 To determine which items, if any, of the Agenda should be taken with the public excluded.
None required.
PLANNING
6.12.24 Planning – For the Council to NOTE the following planning decisions & notices
The following planning decision was noted:
6.1 P24/02341/TCA – 3 High Street Wickwar. Works to fell 1no. Bay. Works to 2no. Apple (T3) to reduce whole crown, height by 1.0 metre and lateral growth by 2.0 metres and (T2) to educe whole crown, height by 1.0 metre, lateral growth by 2.0 metres (on left stem when viewed from garden), and up to 1.0 metre (on right stem, when viewed from garden on area with sparsely foliated crown), Works to 2no. Macrocarpa (T1) to reduce height by 1.0 metre and trim sides. Leave top of sides with a rounded profile as feasible and (T4) to reduce height by 0.5 metre and trim sides. Leave top of sides with a rounded profile. and Works to 1no. Laurel to reduce height by 1.5 metres and lateral spread by up to 1.0 metre all situated in the Wickwar Conservation Area. Decision: No objection
7.12.24 Planning – For the Council to REVIEW and COMMENT on planning applications received before the meeting
7.1 P22/02019/F – Land Between Gravel Hill Road And Brinsham Lane Yate South Gloucestershire BS37 7BT. Construction of Temporary Haul Road to link Southfields and Brinsham West Quarries with subsequent restoration
Resolved: The Parish Council’s previous objections still stand.
Items for CONSIDERATON and DECISION
8.12.24 To CONSIDER a response to the South Glos Council 2024/25 budget consultation
Ward Councillors have not yet received their briefings about the budget. Funds remain tight within South Glos however the position is not as bad as other areas. The Clerk will circulate details of the consultation, enabling members of the public to take part.
9.12.24 To AGREE a new contract with EDGE IT services for accounting software
Following a discussion of other systems available and other quotes provided it was proposed, seconded and AGREED to sign up to another 5 year contract with EDGE IT Systems at a cost of £410 plus VAT per year.
10.12.24 To DISCUSS funding of the pump track and playing fields with the WPFA trustees
The WPFA trustees reported that the s106 funding has now been received to fund the new pump track at Wickwar Playing Fields. The build is likely to start in April/May.
WPFA’s income is small, coming only from the allotments and the football pitches therefore the Parish Council was asked to support the extra running costs of the pump track to include insurance, maintenance and bins. Reserves have also been depleted due to the onerous planning permission process and the extra surveys that were required.
At this stage exact figures have not been provided, particularly regarding the insurance premium for such a facility. These figures will be provided to the Clerk by Christmas for consideration with the Parish Council’s budget for the 2024/25 financial year.
Consideration may also need to be given for the Parish Council to be represented amongst the WPFA trustees in order to have some input as to the level of costs that the PC could be asked to support.
11.12.24 To NOTE South Glos Council’s agreement to waiting restrictions at Pennington Road, Sodbury Road and Summer View
The new waiting restrictions order was NOTED and welcomed by Councillors as particularly the roads around the entrance to the estate can be dangerous.
12.12.24 To DISCUSS the funding situation with the Parish News
The PCC have undertaken an exercise to calculate the exact costs incurred to print and publish the Parish News magazine. As the villages have grown the magazine is now delivered free of charge to 1316 households in Wickwar and Rangeworthy however it now does not cover its costs and the PCC cannot support it making a loss. Advertising costs will be increased quite considerably from January 2025 however the impact of this is unknown at this stage and therefore Wickwar and Rangeworthy Parish Councils have been approached to provide funding to support.
Wickwar PC has been asked for £2,000 and this will be considered as part of the Parish Council’s budget discussions for the 2024/25 financial year.
13.12.24 To DISCUSS the recent flooding in Wickwar
During the recent storms several properties in Wickwar have been flooded along with many of the surrounding roads. Cllrs Fielding and Williams have met with the head of drainage from South Glos Council but unfortunately they did not have any solutions.
It was therefore resolved to set up a working party to investigate solutions, particularly regarding the state of many of the culverts and drains around the Downs Road and Station Road areas and whether there are any blockages. Ward Cllr Romaine is also working with the environment agency.
Cllrs Fielding, Williams and Houghton will form a working group, advertise within the village for extra help, and report back to a future Parish Council meeting.
REPORTS
14.12.24 To RECEIVE reports from Ward Councillors
South Glos’ introduction of car parking charges was discussed with Councillors feeding back that the situation in Yate will be difficult when some car parks are chargeable and others, owned privately by the shopping centre, will be free.
Ward Cllr Romaine has followed up about the new 20mph sign on Station Road. As part of the traffic management scheme it will be difficult to change, along with the double yellow line markings, but any safety concerns must be reported.
The South Glos Local Plan has not yet been finalised, another 400 homes are needed to comply with the new government target for South Glos. Ward Cllrs will keep the Parish Council updated on this as currently no new houses are included in Wickwar.
15.12.24 To RECEIVE verbal reports from Councillors who are Trustees or Committee members of the organisations listed below, and to take decisions as necessary:
15.1.12.24 King George’s Field
The car park hedges have now been cut and look great. The pavilion fencing is almost finished and then the site fencing will be able to be taken down. A few small snagging jobs need to be completed and then the pavilion project will be complete and handed over.
15.2.12.24 Wickwar Community Centre
A new fire door is needed for the entrance to the Olive Pollard room and quotes are being obtained.
15.3.12.24 Wickwar Town Hall
The gutters need to be cleared and the Clerk is obtaining quotations for this.
Christmas trees have been purchased from George Osmond and have now been put up.
Further discussions took place about the disabled access ramp which is required and Cllr Carroll visited the local mobility shop. The design has now been agreed, sizes will be double checked and put forward for agreement at next meeting.
15.4.12.24 Wickwar Cemetery
We still await feedback from South Glos Council planning department regarding the geographical surveys that took place.
15.5.12.24 Wickwar Youth Club
The Youth Leader in Charge position has now been filled with just the DBS check process to complete.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY
16.12.24 To RECEIVE the play equipment and assets inspection for November (circulated)
The inspections were noted.
17.12.24 To RECEIVE the register of correspondence received.
Nothing to note for this meeting
REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
18.12.24 See items 10 and 12
Both requests for financial assistance are to become part of the budget discussions to take place in January.
BURIAL MATTERS
19.12.24 To NOTE the interment of ashes of Olive Pritchard into plot 291 at Wickwar Cemetery
The interment was duly noted.
FINANCE
20.12.24 To NOTE the monthly bank reconciliations for October 2024. Chairman to sign as a true record. (Circulated)
The monthly bank reconciliations for all accounts as of 31st of October 2024 were NOTED and signed by the Chairman as a true record
21.12.24 To APPROVE accounts for payment and NOTE additional payments made between meetings in line with Financial Regulations
It was RESOLVED that the payments as listed in the following payment schedule should be made.
HMRC November PAYE 749.62
Staff salaries November salaries 2248.28
Sarah Quick November expenses – doormats and toilet brushes for pavilion, lights for Xmas trees, printer ink 119.03
Angie Carroll November expenses – pictures and frames for Town Hall downstairs room plus extension lead 84.71
BT Town Hall broadband 28.46
NEST Clerk pension (employer and employee contribution) 152.88
Tesco mobile Clerk mobile 7.50
Octopus Energy Town Hall November 69.74
Octopus Energy Pavilion November 91.57
George Osmond 3 x Christmas trees for the Town Hall 75.00
ALCA Budgeting training for the Clerk 35.00
Yate Supplies 3 x large bins for pavilion community room and changing rooms 58.45
Yate Supplies Pack of hand towels for Town Hall and Pavilion 20.11
Bristol Fire New fire extinguishers fitted at the pavilion 574.68
South Glos Council Localism charges for July – September 1381.97
South Glos Council Localism charges for October – December 1381.97
22.12.24 To NOTE the National Association of Local Councils pay award for 2024/25 and the back pay payable to the Clerk
The pay award and back pay calculations were viewed and NOTED.
23.12.24 To AGREE the localism contract from South Glos Council for the 2025/26 financial year
The contract has not yet been received and therefore this will be carried over to the next meeting.
ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
24.12.24 To NOTE any items for inclusion on the following meeting agenda.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.40pm.