Council minutes September

Minutes of the meeting of Westwood Parish Council held at the Parish Room, Farleigh Lane on Monday 6 September 2021 at 7.30pm.

Present

Cllr. J Bishop Chairman

Cllr. Johnston

Cllr.A Pittman.

Cllr. P Phillips

Mr. R Coleman Clerk

There were three members of the public present initially.

Wiltshire Council Cllr. J Kidney attended (Part-time).

1. Apologies.

Apologies relating to personal reasons for non-attendance were received and accepted from Cllrs. T Leeder and G Mumford

2. Co-option of a New Member.

In the absence of the proposed co-optee, this Agenda item was deferred until a subsequent meeting.

3. Declaration of Interests.

There were no interests declared.

4. Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on 2 August 2021.

The minutes of the meeting were agreed to be an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.

5. Wiltshire Council Report.

Cllr. Kidney gave the following brief report:

Wiltshire Council Consultation on ‘Climate Strategy’ and ‘Our Natural Environment Plan’ – These consultations will run from 1 September to 17 October, and they are accompanied by ‘Library Drop-in Sessions’ and ‘Engagement Events’.
A36 Trunk Road – Traffic lights have been installed at Limpley Stoke because of land slippage and a survey is to take lace soon with a view to developing a plan for remedial action.
Bradford on Avon One-way System – This Emergency Traffic Order has now ended and normal traffic flows have returned, although there is further work in hand, including a public consultation, to investigate whether some form of one-way system can be implemented permanently.
Winsley to Bradford on Avon Cycleway – This scheme is now to be implemented.
Afghan Resettlement Scheme – Householders are being invited to inform Wiltshire Council if they have any available accommodation.
BoA Community Area Transport Group (CATG) – Next meeting 11 October at 4pm
BoA Area Board Meeting – Next Meeting 5 October.

6. Highways and Environmental (including Biodiversity).

a. The Council noted the following report (shown in italics) by the Westwood Biovdiversity Group:

1. Following a request from a parishioner, a member of Westwood Biodiversity Group, NOT to use weedkiller on the footpath that leads from Westwood Park to the quarry, we're delighted to report a recent wildflower count identified 25 different wildflower species. In the same spirit, a review of the grass triangle in Lower Westwood by the red telephone box library shows great potential for a wild flower 'meadow'. We kindly request to the Parish Council:

a. to amend the grass cutting programme for this area to once per annum. With some additional Autumn wild flower sowing, we believe a fabulous wild flower bed could be created.

b. to consider using local wild flower seeds such as https://britishwildflowermeadowseeds.co.uk/products/wiltshire-meadow-seed-mix to create this bed. Westwood Biodiversity Group could provide some volunteers to steward this area, if required.

c. to consider adding some signage to the area to highlight the biodiversity activities. Examples could be provide if required.

We continue to review the potential of regenerating the dew pond by Westwood Manor, making contact with the National Trust to agree potential actions.
We will be shortly engaging with Selwood Housing to ascertain & discuss their current approach to grass cutting within the parish of Westwood. We will report back any discussions to the Parish Council.
The Community & Education element of our group posted, on our social media feed, a few activities during the Summer holidays to start an engagement programme with our community to encourage biodiversity within parishioners on back gardens. We plan to increase these activities over the coming months.
Our next meeting is 16th September, should the Parish Council have any requests for support, please ensure we receive details by 15th September latest so we can consider as a group.

The Chairman thanked the Group for their report and commented that the Parish Council ownership of land within Westwood is very limited and the Group will need to contact the owners of areas they wish to utilise directly. Cllr. Johnston commented that the Group may wish to consider specific proposals for the two ‘humps’ in Westwood Park and to present these proposals to the Parish Council. Other proposals will need to be discussed with the relevant landowners such as Selwood Housing and Wiltshire Council and this would include obtaining the owner’s consent for utilising the grass triangle in Lower Westwood by the red telephone box for a ‘wild flower meadow’.

The Clerk added that if a decision on a matter was required by the Parish Council, then notice of that decision must be given to the Clerk not less than seven days before the relevant Parish Council meeting so that it can be added to the Parish Council meeting Agenda.

b. The Chairman stated that the discussion on the action to be taken following the Tree Survey would be deferred until a subsequent meeting because more information is required before a comprehensive management plan can be agreed – in particular the value of the Scot’s Pine (identified in the survey as requiring felling) to rare species of birds and the impact of future proposed changes to the Westwood Park Play Area would need to be assessed first.

c. In the absence of unanimous support from the residents of 117-120 Upper Westwood, the Council resolved not to support the request for a road sign indicating the location of their properties.

d. There were no specific tasks identified for the Parish Steward to undertake.

e. The Clerk stated that he had been informed by a parishioner that action taken at the ‘old mushroom site’ at the top of Lyefield Lane could indicate that some form of development is to take place. The Chairman stated that information he had confirmed that the action taken was simply for temporary storage and that no development was planned and that if it was then a planning application would be required. The Clerk added that he had recommended that the parishioner contacts Wiltshire Council Development Management and the Wiltshire Council Enforcement Team if he continued to be concerned.

f. Cllr. Phillips reiterated his concern that the cast iron ‘Direction Sign’ located at Lower Westwood Road (opposite Lyefield Lane) was missing – even though the post remains – and that it requires replacing. The Clerk stated that he would inform Wiltshire Council Highways.

Following concerns expressed by councillors, the Clerk confirmed that he had taken the necessary action to ensure that the Dog Litter Bin at the bottom of The Pastures was replaced.

7. Planning.

a. The Council noted the current status of extant planning applications thus:

Planning Application No.	Address	Details of Application	Planning Decision
20/11061/FUL	109 Upper Westwood BA15 2DP	Installation of Solar Array and Ground Source Heat Pump	Pending
21/00448/LBC	109 Upper Westwood BA15 2DP	Installation of Solar Array and Ground Source Heat Pump	Pending
PL/2021/03320	The Yard Westwood BA15 2AL	Erection of fencing in connection with use of the site for dog day care facility.	Approved
20/03928/FUL (See above)	The Yard Westwood BA15 2AL	Retrospective change of use of agricultural land to equestrian use, the formation of a menage measuring 20m x 60m and the retention of 8 pole mounted floodlights around the menage.	Approved
PL/2021/06159 David Wyatt	39 Bobbin Lane Westwood BA15 2DL	T1 – Oak Tree – crown reduce 2m-2.5m to allow more light to rear garden and keep tree pruned on a cyclical basis as per tree report from 1997, crown raise to 3m above ground level & crown clean to remove deadwood and crossing branches,	Approved
PL/2021/05553	No. 10 Tea Gardens Avoncliff BA15 2HD	Variation of Condition 2 of 21/00694/FUL to allow a change in proposed roof material to seating area canopy from timber shingle to composite slate.	Approved
PL/2021/05811	55 Lower Westwood BA15 2AE	The application refers to the approved planning application for the erection of a single story detached double garage at 55 Lower Westwood. The garage will have a stone dwarf wall, be clad in oak and have a Roman tiled roof.	Pending
PL/2021/05676	44 Lower Westwood BA15 2AR	Demolition of existing porch and conservatory, and construction of single storey extension and entrance link to existing house	Pending
PL/2021/06399	81 Lower Westwood BA15 2AE	Proposed existing lawful use as a single dwelling and residential curtilage	Pending

b. The Council examined the following planning applications and resolved to send comments to Wiltshire Council as shown (in italics):

PL/2021/06849

Berksholme, 70 Elms Cross BA15 2AL

Proposed new ground floor extension, including internal and external alterations to the existing dwelling.

New

The Parish Council objects to this proposed development for the following reasons:

The proposed development for reasons of size and location is contrary to NPFF Para 13 and Wiltshire Core Strategy CP51. There would be an unacceptable material difference to the property in respect of size compared to the original property and it represents overdevelopment of the site and would have an unacceptable visual impact.

c. The following planning application was received after 31 August 2021.

PL/2021/08435

David Cox

Midway Manor

Bradford Road, BA15 2AJ

Notification for prior approval under Class R for a Change of Use of Existing Agricultural Storage Barn for Use as a Café/Restaurant with Ancillary Conference Space

New

The Parish Council has no comments.

d. There were no other planning matters.

8. Finance.

a. The Clerk reported the current financial position at 6 September was as follows:

Details of the Accounts		Amount
Credits & Debits
Lloyds A/C 1643417

Bank Statement		£36,453.24
30-Jun-21

Credits (1 July 2021 to 31July 2021):
None		£ -
		£ -

Debits (1 July 2021 to 31 July 2021):
Clerk's Salary (June)		£ 573.73
Clerk/s Back Pay (1/4/21 to 30/6/21)		£ 215.79
Clerk's Expenses (May & June)		£ 34.46
Internal Audit (R Randall)		£ 150.00
Information Commissioner		£ 40.00
D Downes		£ 670.00
Crown Gas		£ 28.98
E-on		£ 29.77
		£ 1,742.73

Balance at 31 July 2021		£34,710.51

Credits (1 August 2021 to 31 August 2021):
Remembrance Plot Purchase		£ 275.00
Memorial Tablet Fee		£ 130.00
		£ 405.00

Debits (1 August 2021 to 31 August 2021):
Clerk's Salary (August) - Standing Order		£ 645.66
Clerk's Expenses (July)		£ 14.71
Clerk (R Smith) Nursery School		£ 23.50
D Downes (July)		£ 715.00
Crown Gas & Power		£ 29.95
		£ 1,428.82

Balance at 31 August 2021		£33,686.69
Credits (1 September 2021 to 6 September 2021):
None		£ -
		£ -

Debits (1 September 2021 to 6 September 2021):
Clerk's Salary (August) - Standing Order		£ 645.66
		£ 645.66

Balance at 6 September 2021		£33,041.03

Lloyds A/C 7573321
Bank Statement		£ 2,346.30
31-Jul-21

Credit (1 August 2021 to 6 September 2021):
10 August (Approx)		£ 0.02
		£ 0.02
Debits (1 August 2021 to 6 September 2021:
None		£ -
		£ -

Balance at 6 September 2021		£ 2,346.32

National Savings Account (Park Fund)
Balance at 31 December 2019		£ 17,165.79

Credits:
Interest 1/1/20 to 31/12/20:		£ 123.59
		£ 123.59
Debits:
None		£ -
Balance at 6 September 2021		£ 17,289.38

Total Funds at 6 September 2021		£52,676.73
Payments to be authorised 6 September 2021
Clerk's Salary (September) (Paid 1 October 2021)		£ 645.66
Clerk's Expenses (August)		£ 10.47
Crown Gas & Power(Paid)		£ 29.95
D Downes		£ 685.00
		£ 1,371.08

b. The Council resolved to make the payments shown under ‘Payments to be authorised’ above at Agenda item 8a.

9. Cemetery.

The Clerk stated that the fees for a Burial Plot in the Garden of Remembrance and for a Memorial Tablet had been paid recently.

10. Nursery School Building.

a. Cllr. Johnston stated that her latest inspection indicated that everything was in order and that it had been left very clean following the removal of its various contents.

Following a comment by councillors, the Clerk stated that he would contact Zurich Municipal Insurance to inform them that the building was unoccupied – something that the Clerk stated he had done previously when the Nursery School vacated the building, and the Parish Council became liable for its insurance.

b. The Clerk stated that the legal advice regarding the existing covenants obtained from Forrester, Sylvester, Mackett (FSM) had been sent to all councillors for information. The Council noted the recent quotation relating to the demolition cost if the building were to be demolished – around £12,000 – but the impact of demolition on the mines beneath would need to be carefully assessed before taking such action and it may result in demolition being prohibitive. The Chairman reported that a parishioner was to present a proposal for the building to be used as a community hub and that further discussions are necessary before any decision is made regarding the future of the building. Cllr. Johnston proposed that a public meeting is held before any decision is made to permit parishioners to express their views.

11. Footpaths.

There was nothing reported.

12. Play Area.

a. Cllr. Phillips confirmed that he is undertaking a regular inspection of the Play Area and Equipment and that appropriate records are being maintained.

The Clerk confirmed that he had contacted Sovereign to report the damaged swing seats. He added that Sovereign had agreed to replace those seats.

13. Neighbourhood Plan.

Cllr. Leeder confirmed that he and Wiltshire Council (Chris Roe) had not had the opportunity to meet yet and that they still needed to agree a date and time to meet in order to discuss the Draft Westwood Neighbourhood Plan and necessary changes to it.

14. Date of Next Meeting.

Councillors agreed that the next Ordinary Parish Council Meeting would be held on 11th October 2021 at the Parish Room, Farleigh Lane commencing at 7.30pm.

The meeting concluded at 9.15pm

Chairman

Westwood Parish Council