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NOTICE AND AGENDA FOR MEETING OF STERT PC

St James Church, Stert, Monday 17th June 2024, 6:30 pm

1. Apologies
2. Declaration of Interest
3. Minutes of previous meeting.
4. Treasurers Report
5. Approve exemption from external audit
6. Approve financial governance for 2023/4
7. Approve accounts for 2023/4.
8. Co-opting new Clerk
9. General Election Parking
10. Grist Recyling
11. AOB
12. Date of next meeting

Members of the public are welcome to attend.

MINUTES OF MEETING OF STERT PARISH COUNCIL  

held in St. James’ Church on 22nd May 2023  

Present:    

• Chris Lawrence (CL) Chairman
• Alick Edwards (AE) Vice Chairman
• Ann Harris (AH) Councillor
• Lewis Cowen (LC) Councillor
• Lucy Barker (LB)  Councillor/Treasurer 
• William Howkins (WH) Councillor/Clerk

There were no members of the public present.

1. Apologies for absence

There were no apologies.

2. Declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

3. Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the previous PC meetings held on 13th February and 20th March 2023 were approved, proposed by LC and AH respectively and seconded by AE and LB respectively and both signed by the Chairman.

4. Treasurer’s report

LB reported the balance of the PC account stood at £4,978.44, and this was verified by WH on the bank statement. She also reported that the precept for 2023/24 of £1,800 had been received. Since the last meeting there had been the following expenses: £20 to Stert PCC for use of the church, £43.90 for a plaque for the apple tree, £40 to Clock Inn as a contribution to their Coronation Party, and £43.20 to WH as reimbursement for the cost of the website.

LB requested authority to renew the parish insurance with Zurich via Community First. If we commit to another 3 years with Zurich, the cost will be £164.53, a significant reduction on last year’s rate as it excluded certain optional add-ons such as coverage for bouncy castles which are not needed. This was agreed. 

LB also requested authority to continue membership of WALC expected to cost £77.88 as last year. They had been most helpful with advice to the PC on freedom of information regulations. This was agreed. Finally she sought agreement to buy our auditor a gift in lieu of his fee, and suggested £100. This was also agreed.

5. Marquee

CL invited a discussion of the management of the village marquee. The village owns two marquees, one in fair condition, and the other somewhat damaged. It was decided, given the age of the marquees, that the PC could not guarantee that it was loaned out with all the required parts and nothing broken. The PC did not want to be responsible for a potential event bing ruined by a marquee mishap. LB noted that the marquees had been bought a number of years ago, and the purchase price had been more than repaid by donations for their use since. It was therefore decided to try and sell the marquee.  LC to draft a suitable notice to be put in the Redhorn Parish Magazine.

6. Saddleback: Rights of Way

There was representation from some residents over the ease of passage to the right of way at the cattle grid by Saddleback Farm. There were also other representations about ease of passage over the  rights of way at the stream  at the bottom of Stert. It is clear that both these rights of way are easily accessible by walkers. It is only those walking certain dogs (Saddlepack) and those with bikes/prams (stream) that have less easy access. As the PC is unsure of the rules concerning dogs/bikes/prams, and could find no definitive ruling on the matter, it was decided to seek guidance from the WC Rights of Way Officer.

7. Devizes Gateway

CL reported on a stakeholder breakfast meeting he had attended in March given by Wiltshire Council.

He reported that plans for Devizes Gateway (nee Parkway) Station are on hold for a year pending further studies. This is because there is insufficient justification for incorporating a Devizes station into the rail network as a stand alone project. Time is needed for a new plan which is being proposed by Network Rail involving expanding Westbury station into a larger rail hub to accommodate freight traffic from the quarries in Cornwall as well as passenger services. An expansion of Westbury Station should make it possible for there to be an hourly service from Westbury to London Paddington calling at Devizes, Pewsey and Bedwyn.

The earliest that Devizes Gateway could open would be 2029. More detailed information on this proposal can be found on the Network Rail Website. 

8. AOB

The tree that LB had planted to acknowledge Clive Boyes long service to the parish had unfortunately died. LB said she would buy another tree but said the bank where the previous tree had been planted was unsuitable due to weeds and roots. It was agreed to find an alternative place to plant the replacement.

9. Next meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for 4th September 2023.

MINUTES OF

MEETING OF STERT PARISH COUNCIL

Held at St James Church on 11th October 2021

Present: Clive Boyes (CB) Chairman

Alick Edwards (AE) Vice Chairman

Chris Lawrence (CL) Councillor

Lucy Barker (LB) Councillor/treasurer

Lewis Cowen (LC) Councillor

Philip Whitehead (PW), Wiltshire councillor for Urchfont and the Cannings, was also present as were two members of the public.

1. Apologies for absence

William Howkins and Ann Harris sent their apologies.

2. Declaration of interests

There were no declarations of interest.

3. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 16th August 2021 were agreed, proposed by CL and seconded by LB.

4. Treasurer’s report

LB reported that our balance stands at £4,442.23, verified by LC from the passbook. Since the last meeting the council has received income to the total of £185 from various people for the use of the marquee, tables and chairs during the last few months.

There were no items of expenditure to report.

At this time of year we normally approve an amount to pay the Edwards family for the cutting and clearing of the village verges etc. We have budgeted a figure of £400. AE indicated this was acceptable. This sum was proposed by CL, seconded by LB and approved unanimously.

At the next PC meeting we need to fix the precept for the financial year 2022/23. LB said she would prepare a budget to enable members to agree a suitable amount. If any councillors are aware of any possible expenses due next year, they are asked to let LB know by December 1st.

5. Co-option of new councillor

Before being officially co-opted LC described his background as a newspaper reporter over 24 years and a member of Urchfont Parish Council between 2017 and 2021. He did not stand for re-election in Urchfont this year because he had moved to Stert three and a half years ago and didn’t feel it fair to represent a parish in which he no longer lived.

6. Status of A342 speed limit near Clock Inn

CB reported that he had tried to make contact with the department at Wiltshire Council on this matter and had been told that Gareth Rogers was the person to contact. PW reported that the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) has put it on their programme for 2021/22, but that announcements advertising the proposal had not yet been published. He did not expect there to be any objections to it, however. The 50mph speed limit should start just before the turning to Stert village and end beyond the Clock Inn.

7. Update on clearance of footpath on A342

It was reported that residents of the Clock Inn had complained that the footpath opposite the entrance towards the Stert junction was covered in brambles and very difficult to walk along. CB had spoken to the parish steward and been told that the tractor that normally cuts the undergrowth there was not available. PW said he would email Richard Dobson but that the parish steward was the correct person to speak to and that the PC should make a list for him of all the jobs that need doing.

He added that the road outside the recycling centre has been described as ‘atrocious’ and it is scheduled for repair in November.

8. Future of church as a parish asset

CL began the discussion by saying that the church has trouble raising money for its running costs and there was a risk that the diocese might consider declaring it redundant and selling it off. It is an important asset for the village and he has had a discussion with Neville Moody, the PCC’s treasurer, to consider ways forward. It has been suggested removing the pews and replacing them with chairs to make the church a more flexible space for events. CL said he would have another meeting with Mr Moody to get some facts and figures.

9. Devizes Gateway railway station progress

CB said that, according to press reports, the decision of whether to go forward with this has been pushed back six months but that it is under review by the Department of Transport. PW said it was good news that they were asking for more information as it meant they were looking for reasons to make it happen. He explained that the train operators were looking for ways to shorten the journey times on the service to Cornwall and extending the service between Great Bedwyn and Westbury to include a stop at Lydeway could speed up the mainline service.

10. Notice of discharge – PL/2021/08472 – Saddlepack Farm

Councillors noted this document. Any further enquiries regarding this application should be addressed directly to Wiltshire Council’s planning department. The applicants confirmed to the parish council that that they were working with Wiltshire Council to ensure that everything was in accordance with permissions gran

11. Stert Village Party. It was agreed that the party should take place in the church and the date chosen was Friday 17th December.

12. Any other business

A budget for buying new chairs for the marquee was discussed and LB agreed she would put a sum of £200 in the budget for this.

It is proposed that all future meetings of the parish council will be held in the church, and a fee of £20 per hour would be paid.

13. Date of next meeting

The next meeting was scheduled for Monday 13th December.

Signed………………………………. Dated……………………………….

Chairman