MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STERT PARISH COUNCIL held in Stert House on 15th July 2019
Present:
- Clive Boyes (CB), Chairman
- Lucy Barker (LB) Councillor/Treasurer
- Ann Harris (AH)Councillor
- William Howkins (WH)Councillor/Clerk
- Apologies for absence
Alick Edwards and Chris Lawrence sent their apologies.
- Declaration of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
- Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman
As both Clive Boyes (CB) and Alick Edwards (AE) had agreed to stand again for election to the offices of Chairman and Vice Chairman, they were duly elected. CB’s nomination was proposed by LB and seconded by AH, AE’s nomination was proposed by WH and seconded by LB.
- Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16th May 2019 were approved (proposed by LB and seconded by AH) and signed by the Chairman.
- Treasurer’s Report
LB reported that the PC’s balance stands at £3206.31, and this was confirmed by WH in the pass book.
She had two expenses to report: insurance renewal of £240.25, as agreed in item 4.5 at the last PC meeting (the budgeted figure for this was £260) and a cash payment to CB of £69.45 as reimbursement for purchase of 10 folding chairs for the village. This item has not been budgeted for, but could be considered to be covered by the budget of £100 for miscellaneous.
She requested authority to buy the usual gift for our internal auditor and this was agreed by the PC.
- Neighbourhood Watch
WH said there was nothing to report. CB raised the issue of alarms going off in properties whose owners were away from home. Residents are kindly reminded to make arrangements to leave a key with with a neighbour so that he can switch off a false alarm.
- Byde Farm planning application
Fiona Squire had submitted an application for change of use for one of the buildings at Byde Farm to convert it into an apartment. The PC had no objections to this application and WH had registered this with WC.
- Speed limit on A342
WH had not received any news of the speed survey prior to the meeting. He subsequently learnt that at a CATG meeting on 25th June, it was reported that there had been a further delay by the consultants in completing the survey and results would now be given in the July CATG meeting.
- Claironailes update.
There had recently been complaints from neighbours about the burning of building waste on the Claironailes site causing noxious fumes. CB had spoken to Mr. Lynch, the new owner, who assured him that he had been only burning wood offcuts and that he would be careful to watch the wind direction in future. Residents are reminded to show consideration to their neighbours when burning bonfires and only burn garden waste.
- Replacement of water main on A342
CB reported that he had been informed by David Tennant, Wessex Water, of their proposed schedule of works for the new water main along the A342 as follows:
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- 22nd July for 7 weeks in the highway with two way traffic lights from near the Fox and Hounds Pub to Ridgecroft
- 9th September for 6 weeks in the field north of the road from Ridgecroft to the Monument
- 21st October for 3 weeks in the highway from the Monument to Monument cottages
- 11th November for 7 weeks in the field from Monument cottages to Stert village lane
- 6th January 2020 for 7 weeks in the highway from Stert village lane to Clock Inn cottage
Letters to residents will be sent out around the end of June beginning of July.
- AOB
11.1 CB requested the PC ’s approval for buying a further 20 folding chairs to the 10 he had already bought last month from Ikea. He told the PC that the plastic backs on the existing chairs had become brittle and broken and were no longer fit for use. The PC agreed that although not budgeted, it could afford the outlay of approximately £140 for these chairs.
11.2 Sue Bromhead had asked the PC if it could do something about a bright light shining across the valley from a farm in Urchfont disturbing the evening landscape. LB said she had also noticed this light and confirmed that it did cause a nuisance. She suggested that she could talk to the farmer concerned to see if he couldn’t do something to turn it or shield it. This was agreed.
- Next Meeting
The next PC meeting is scheduled to be held in Stert House on Monday 30th September 2019, at 6.30 pm.
Stert Parish 