MINUTES OF MEETING OF STERT PARISH COUNCIL
held in Stert House on 25th September 2017
Present:
Clive Boyes (CB), Chairman
Sam Deacon (SD), Councillor
Lucy Barker (LB), Councillor/Treasurer
William Howkins (WH), Councillor/Clerk
1. Apologies for absence
Alick Edwards and Chris Lawrence sent their apologies.
2. Declaration of Interest
SD informed that she had recently applied to WC for permission to fell several trees on her property including the leylandii that were obscuring the view from the churchyard.
3. Minutes of previous meetings
The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting and the previous PC meeting held on 17th July were approved (proposed by LB and seconded by SD) and signed by CB.
4. Treasurer’s Report
LB reported that since the last meeting, there had been a single expenditure of £54 for a gift to Mr. Neville Burrell in lieu of fee for the internal audit. A donation of £30 had been received for use of the village chairs for a wedding. The balance now stands at £2790.53, as confirmed in the passbook by WH.
Our income for the current year is £1036.21 compared to £1018.03 this time last year. Our expenditure this year totals £269.25 compared to £570.92 for this time last year.
LB was pleased to report that the 2016/17 accounts had been approved by the external auditor. She requested approval to pay Alick Edwards £300 for the past year’s verge maintenance and this was unanimously approved.
5. Neighbourhood Watch
WH had circulated a report to residents from Wiltshire Police about thefts from parked cars especially at out-of-the-way sight-seeing spots, giving advice on how to take precautions. Apart from this, there was nothing specific to report.
6. Tinkfield Recycling Centre.
CB reported that WC’s decision on the revised planning application had recently been postponed until 20th October to allow Grist Environmental to clarify further aspects of their application following the receipt of comprehensive comments from North Wessex Downs ANOB and Etchilhampton Parish. These mostly concerned the construction of the proposed bund along the eastern boundary to mitigate the negative visual impact of the site and the timing of these works. Concerns were also raised about congestion on A342 due to site traffic and the mud it brought onto the road. The application should clarify where the material for the construction of the bund would be sourced and give a definite time scale for its completion.
SD suggested that the problem of the mud on the road should be directed to the Environment Agency.
7. A342 verge maintenance
It was noted that work had started on clearing and resurfacing the footpath beside A342, starting opposite the Fox and Hounds pub and working towards the Tinkfield Recycling site. When this section was finished, work would start on the section between Stert Lane and Clock Inn.
8. Sale of Land at Stert.
CB said he understood that the contract for the sale of the land opposite Fullaway Farm was signed last week. The new owner intends to use it as a nature conservation area.
9. Claironailes
The new owner of Claironailes has said he intends to put the property up for auction in the near future. The PC will carefully monitor any future planning applications for the development of this property.
10. AOB
10.1 Discharge into Stert Brook. Last month, Rachel Lawrence reported a bright orange discharge which she noticed in the stream at the ford by Mill Cottage. LB and SD traced this upstream to the discharge point from below the old WC landfill site (now beneath Grist Environmental waste transfer station). LB took a sample of the water from the stream (although this was not analysed) and reported the incident to the Environment Agency. The EA did not consider the incident to require emergency response and instead referred the matter to WC. Neither the EA or WC have taken any action, nor WC responded to the PC’s detailed questions regarding the incident. It appears that the sudden discharge may have been caused by work done by a WC’s field maintenance contractor while replacing the old pipework at the discharge point.
After much discussion, it was concluded that this was probably an isolated incident and whilst the PC sought action, the regulators considered no further action was required. Residents are asked to report any reoccurrence of water pollution incidents immediately to the EA Pollution Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60 and then to the PC so that the matter can be pursued further.
10.2 Motocross. CB reported that a Motocross (dirt biking) event had been held in Potterne Wick on two occasions, the latest on 26th August from 9 am till 6pm. Because of the noise disturbance, Potterne PC had tried to prevent these meets, but WC had issued a licence some years ago. Stert PC had also received complaints from residents about the noise. Potterne PC was presently discussing the future of the event with WC with a view to have the licence revoked.
10.3 The Christmas Party will be held on 22nd December at Stert House. The PC thanked CB and Georgie Boyes for again offering their house for the occasion. CB added that the carol singing around the village would be on 18th December and the carol service in the church would be on 20th December.
Other village events in the near future are:
Sat 14th October Concert in St James’: Music for Awhile, Bach and Sons
Fri 3rd November Stert Talk by W. Howkins: “My world adventure as a civil engineer”
Sun 19th November Recital in St James’, 2 violins and organ, Daphne Moody et al.
Fri 8th December Stert Talk by David Stephenson, “Hip replacement, technology in motion”
For further details, see Parish Website “www.stertparish.com”.
11. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Monday 11th December at 7.30 pm in Stert House.
Stert Parish 