January Minutes

 

SOUTHWICK PARISH COUNCIL

Chair: Cllr John Eaton, 30 Blind Lane, Southwick, Wiltshire, BA14 4PG 07818 870098

Clerk:  Nicola Duke, April Rise, 81 Studland Park, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 3HN 01373 864127

Draft Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council held on

Tuesday 18^th January 2022 at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall.

 

Present: Cllr Eaton (Chair), Cllr Snell, Cllr Watson, Cllr Curry, Cllr Noble, Cllr Jackson, Cllr Carey, Cllr Clayton, Cllr Prickett, Cllr Porter and Cllr Hayden.

In attendance: N Duke (Parish Clerk) and 3 members of the public.

 Public Participation

Members of the public were invited to make representations to the Council on any matters relating to the work of the Council or to raise any issues of concern:

·         The resident who had submitted an application to register Southwick Court Fields as a village green addressed the Council; outlining the background and reasons for the application. 

·         Cllr Watson briefed members on the new online booking system for the Village Hall and thanked Cllr Noble for her years of dedicated service to the Hall.

 

                AGENDA ITEM

2021/98                Apologies for Absence

None.

2021/99                Declarations of Interest and Dispensations to Participate

None.

2021/100              Minutes of Council Meetings

 The minutes of a Planning meeting of the Parish Council held on 7^th December 2021 were approved for accuracy and adopted (proposed Cllr Curry, seconded Cllr Jackson).

2021/101              Wiltshire Council Report

Cllr Prickett reported the following:

·         Following a review of the bus services 28% of current services would be cut; this included the cutting of the late bus service from Bath and the service which runs from Warminster to Salisbury.  Wiltshire Council had identified a bus which could be used to provide this service however, the shortage of drivers was an issue.

·         Cllr Prickett drew attention to the overgrown hedges running alongside Footpath 17.  It was confirmed that the left hand hedge was the responsibility of the school and the right hand hedge had previously been cut by Selwood Housing.  It was agreed that the Clerk would write the appropriate letters to both organisations requesting that the hedge be attended to.

·         Attention was also drawn to pitch 4 at 5 Poplar Tree Lane, which had been scraped clear with the ditch and drain being removed.  As this had the potential to cause issues with water drainage it was agreed that the Clerk would bring this to the attention of Wiltshire Council. 

2021/102              Highways/Environment

To receive reports from Councillors on matters of concern and to decide what action, if any, to take:

 a)     Highways and Traffic:

a.       To receive any updates on outstanding matters and raise any new issues requiring action; including any report from CATG:

                                                               i.       Cllr Prickett reported that he had met the WC Highways Engineer to look at issues with congested parking at Chantry Gardens, which had resulted in access issues for service vehicles.  The engineer would be sending through some options for the PC to consider.

                                                             ii.      Cllr Carey reported that CATG had approved the PC’s request for a speed assessment along the length of Frome Road. It was confirmed that the PC’s contribution to this would be £625 and that this had already been approved.

                                                           iii.      Members noted the difficulties of progressing issues relating to Southwick, especially given that the majority of Trowbridge members were new to their posts.  The Chair undertook to carry out some networking and Cllr Prickett would send him contact information.

b.       Members considered the recent serious accident at Firs Hill, noting the tragic nature of the incident. It was hoped that the speed assessment referred to in the agenda item above might offer a step forward to developing mitigating measures for the issues on the road.

c.       Cllr Porter drew attention to the level of car parking in the village during the park runs held at the Country Park, which created congestion and health and safety issues.  Members discussed options and it was agreed that the Chair and Cllr Porter would make an approach to Southwick Country Park to see if there was a way to mitigate this.

d.       Members noted that the issue raised regarding car parking on grass verges in Chantry Gardens which created access issues for utility had been addressed during Cllr Prickett’s report.

b)    Rights of Way issues and lack of response/action by WC – Cllr Carey tabled information on current rights of way issues and was thanked for his efforts.  A copy of the information is appended to the minutes and the PC agreed that the issues raised should be taken forward with Wiltshire Council.  It was agreed that Cllrs Carey, Clayton, Prickett and Hayden would work together to progress footpath related matters.

c)     Environment – members noted the increased amount of dog faeces in the parish and, following debate, agreed that as a first step the Clerk would make contact with the Dog Warden to seek advice. 

d)    Land between Hollis Way and Frome Road –members considered the condition of the piece of land, noting that ownership lay with Selwood Housing.  It was agreed to bring the poor condition of the land to the attention of Selwood and ask that improvements be made.

e)    Village litter pick – Cllr Clayton asked that arrangements for a village litter pick be added to the agenda for the February PC meeting and this was agreed.

f)      Village newsletter – Cllr Noble asked for an update on the appointment of a new editor for the newsletter and the Chair confirmed that a potential candidate had been identified.  A report would be brought to the February PC meeting.

2021/103              Planning Applications, Decisions and Consultations

20/00379/OUT – Land South of Trowbridge, Southwick, Wilts – Outline planning permission with all matters reserved except access for the erection of up to 180 residential dwellings (Use Class C3); site servicing; laying out of open spaces and associated planting; creation of new roads, accesses and paths; installation of services; and drainage infrastructure – Referred from December meeting – Objection, with the PC submitting the comments made for the previous application at the site (copy appended to the minutes).

 18/10035/OUT - Land to the south of Church Lane Upper Studley Trowbridge Wilts - Outline application for residential development (up to 55 dwellings) with the creation of new vehicular access off Frome Road and removal/ demolition of all existing buildings (all matters aside from the formation of the new vehicular access are reserved) – Objection on the grounds of highway safety, traffic generation and general negative impact on the character and appearance of the area, including impact on the views from Southwick Country Park.

 PL/2021/11220 - Brookfield House, Vaggs Hill, Southwick, Trowbridge, BA14 9NA - Conversion of outbuilding into residential accommodation (retrospective application) – No comment.

 PL/2021/11205 – Home Farm House, Hoggington Lane, Southwick, Trowbridge, BA14 9NR - Proposed change of use and conversion of garage/store/workshop into residential annex – Support (Standing Orders having been suspended to enable the applicant to address the Council).

 To receive and consider planning applications received after the issue of the agenda (where the response time fell outside of the meeting schedule and an extension could not be obtained) - None.

2021/104              Commons Act 2006 – Section 15 (1) and (2) -2020/02TVG - Application to register Southwick Court Fields as a town/village green (information attached).

Members considered the Council’s response to the application to register land at Southwick Court Fields, Southwick and North Bradley as a town or village green; noting information received from Wiltshire Council (December minutes referred; correspondence previously circulated). Following debate, it was resolved to support the application (proposed Cllr Curry, seconded Cllr Noble).

2021/105              Finance

a)    Members received and noted the Bank Reconciliation and Financial Position Statement as at 30^th November 2021 (previously circulated).

b)    Members authorised the transfer of £20,000 from the reserve account to the current account (proposed Cllr Jackson, seconded Cllr Noble).

c)     Members approved the below listed payments (proposed Cllr Curry, seconded Cllr Hayden):

 

Payee	Detail	Amount
HMRC	PAYE December 2021	£107.59
Greenacres	Playing Field cut November 2021	£291.25
W J Fox	Newsletter honorarium	£58.32
Village Hall	Hall hire September – December	£60.00
PKF Littlejohn	External Audit fee	£240.00
Spencer Caravans	Refund for advertising in Village Magazine	£39.16

 2021/106              Parish Council Budget and Precept 2022-23

Members reviewed the Council’s draft budget for the financial year 2022-23 (previously circulated), which was adopted (proposed Cllr Noble, seconded Cllr Jackson)

 Following debate members set the precept at for the financial year 2022-23 at £22,055, representing no increase to the current Band D equivalent of £29.05 per annum (proposed Cllr Noble, seconded Cllr Jackson).

 It was noted that a review of earmarked and unallocated funds would be carried out at the February PC meeting.

2021/107              Strategic Plan for Southwick

Members received information from Cllr Porter regarding planning for a village event to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. It was agreed to arrange an informal zoom meeting to discuss this further, with a view to establishing a working group to work on the plans.

2021/108              Correspondence

a)  Keast re: grant request for support with Guides trip (letter previously circulated) – members considered the request, noting that the PC could not make grants to individuals.  The Clerk would respond accordingly and inform the applicant that a grant request must be submitted by the Girl Guides as an organisation rather than by an individual. Ms Keast was to be complimented on the standard of her submission to the PC.

2021/109            Date of next meeting

Tuesday 15^th February 2022 at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall. 

 Cllr Noble requested that consideration of a replacement bus shelter at Frome Road be added to the agenda and Cllr Porter undertook to obtain a quotation.

 The Clerk was asked to check the status of the payment of the grant previously awarded to Busy Bees.

 

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.20 pm.

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