MINUTES OF
MEETING OF STERT PARISH COUNCIL
held in Stert House on 17th July 2017
Present:
Clive Boyes (CB), Chairman
Alick Edwards (AE), Dty Chairman
Chris Lawrence (CL), Councillor
Sam Deacon (SD), Councillor
Lucy Barker (LB), Councillor/Treasurer
William Howkins (WH), Councillor/Clerk
1 Apologies for absence
There were no apologies for absence.
2. Declaration of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
3. Election of Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
Having expressed their willingness to continue to serve, CB and AE were unanimously elected Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively (both proposed by CL and seconded by SD).
4. Minutes of previous meetings
The Minutes of the Annual PC meeting held on 22nd May were approved (proposed by CL and seconded by AE) and signed by CB. The minutes of the Special PC meeting held on 7th June were approved (proposed by LB and seconded by CL) and signed by CB.
5. Treasurer’s Report
LB reported that since the Annual Meeting on 22nd May, a single payment of £212.25 had been made for the parish insurance, as approved at that meeting. £90 had been received from the Scotts and Herrod-Taylors as donations for the use of the PC’s marquees and £1.16 was received as interest of the parish account. The balance now stands at £2814.53, as confirmed in the passbook by WH.
LB reported she had checked what benefits there were from the PC’s membership of the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils. She could see none and therefore proposed that our membership should not be renewed for 2017/18. This was agreed.
6. Neighbourhood Watch
AE had no incidents to report and WH reported that, apart from some routine warnings from Wiltshire Police, which he had passed on to residents, there was nothing particular to report.
7. Tinkfield Recycling Centre.
Planning application documents had been received from WC for the retroactive approval of the revised plans submitted by Grist Environmental for the lean-to extension of the new sorting shed, extension of the existing baler shed and the relocation of the eastern bund some 40 metres from its original position into the adjacent field. This relocation is to allow for a 20 m emergency/fire protection lane behind the extended sorting shed as stated in the Design and Access Statement. The PC had been shown these plans at the Special Meeting with Grist Environmental on 7th June, previously minuted.
Following further discussion of the new application, the PC had no objection to the extensions of sorting and baler sheds, but were concerned about the screening of the site when viewed from A342 near the Lion Monument. The plans do not show the extent to which the site would be hidden by the proposed bund and planting, as commented by Charles Routh of Somerset, Avon and Wiltshire Area Team, Natural England. However, the PC felt that provided the bund was constructed as shown on the drawings, the view of the site would be greatly improved compared with the present situation.
It was therefore agreed that the PC should support the application subject to the following conditions:
- The bund to the east of the site should be constructed to the lines and levels shown on drawing GE/TINK/NBE/05 within 12 months of approval by WC of this application.
- Planting of trees on the bund should be done within 6 months of completion of the bund earthworks.
- The planting should be a mix of native deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs.
- The 20 m gap between the bund and the new sorting shed should be kept clear as the intended emergency/fire protection lane and not used for recycling/waste operations as it is outside the permitted operational boundary.
WH was instructed to submit these comments to WC before the deadline on 27th July 2017.
8. A342 verge maintenance
CB reported that in response to the PC’s service request under the Parish Steward scheme in February and repeated emails from Mr. John Ericson of Clock Inn Park to WC’s Highways department about the restricted access along the footpath between Clock Inn Park and the village, Highways Councillor Bridget Wayman, had ordered the hedge around the dangerous blind bend to be cut back to allow safe pedestrian access along the footpath. She has also requested cutting back the encroaching bank and resurfacing the path to be undertaken as part of WC’s major works contract to be carried out in the coming months. The hedge cutting has been carried out at the bend, but further cutting needs to be carried out along the remaining sections of the footpath. This will be monitored by Mr. John Ericson who will keep the PC informed.
9. AOB.
9.1 Last month, while walking with her dog along the road towards Byde Farm, LB was badly bitten by the black Labrador belonging to Fiona Squire and had to go to hospital to have the wound treated.
She has not reported the incident to the police as Fiona Squire was understandably shocked and apologetic that her dog caused this injury and has assured LB her dog will not ever be allowed onto the footpath or road unless on a lead. The PC has since heard that other village residents have felt threatened by her dog and no longer dare to use the footpath near Byde farm. To prevent any future incident, Fiona Squire has now installed an electric gate and dog-proof fencing around her property.
The PC acknowledges its responsibility to ensure that our village footpaths may be safely enjoyed by the community but feels that now the measures that Fiona has taken to prevent any future incident are in place, no further action need be taken by the PC at this time. The PC has sent an email to residents advising that if any walker sees the dog outside on the loose, or is threatened in the future, they should report it to one of the council members.
9.2 CB reported that he had met the new owner of the land adjacent to Fullaway Farm, Mr. Clyde Wynn Williams. He told CB that he has purchased the land to make a nature reserve for his daughter.
9.3 LB advised the PC that the footpath from Crookwood Mill Farm to Bridge Farm has been cleared by the Urchfont volunteer rights of way team who have also installed 3 new stiles with materials supplied by WC.
9.4 LB passed on a copy of the New Verge Guide to AE setting out the times of the year for cutting verges and hedges.
10. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Monday 25th September at 7.30 pm in Stert House.
Signed ………………. Dated …………….
Chairman
Stert Parish 