Stert Parish

MINUTES OF MEETING OF STERT PARISH COUNCIL  

held in St. James’ Church on 11th December 2023 

Present:    

• Chris Lawrence (CL) Chairman
• Alec Edwards (AE) Dty Chairman
• Lewis Cowen (LC) Councillor
• Lucy Barker (LB)  Councillor/Treasurer 
• William Howkins (WH) Councillor/Clerk

1. Apologies for absence

Ann Harris sent her apologies.

2. Declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

3. Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the previous meeting of the PC were agreed, proposed by LC and seconded by AE, and signed by the Chairman.

4. Treasurer’s Report

LB reported the PC’s account balance stands at £4,133.75 and this was confirmed by WH.

Since the last meeting there have been the following expenses:

–  £400 to Alick Edwards for village maintenance,

–  £20 to Stert PCC for the use of the church.

–  £121.74 for the Christmas party refreshments.

These amounts are all in line with our budget.

5. Precept

LB presented a spreadsheet showing a summary of the accounts for 2023/24 and her proposed budget for 2024/25. The past year’s precept had included a £500 payment  to WC for implementation of the A342 speed limit. As this was a one-off payment, LB suggested that the requested precept be reduced from £1800 to £1500. This was unanimously agreed by the PC, as proposed by LC and seconded by WH. CL proposed that the PC contribute £100 to the newly launched campaign for church repairs and this was also agreed.

6. Christmas Party

WH reported that he had received about 20 replies to the invitation sent to to village residents. LB and Mrs. Howkins had 

been shopping and all preparations for the party were in hand. 

7. Grist recycling

CL brought up the planning application by Grist Environmental to extend their recycling yard several metres eastwards. WC approved this application with the condition that a screening dike be built along the eastern perimeter and planted the dike with trees. The dike has not been completed: it ends several metres from the main road and no trees have been planted. CL said he would write to Nigel Grist asking him when he planned to complete the work as more than two years have elapsed  since the application was approved.

8. Footpaths

LB reported that WC had attempted to improve to the access to the footbridge at the bottom of the village by Mill cottage. Access was still difficult for pushchairs and she proposed to buy a sack of gravel and spread it herself. She also reported that access to the new footbridge over the railway line leading to Urchfont had become overgrown with brambles and suggested that Stert walkers take a pair of secateurs in the pocket to help keep the path open. WH was asked to send out a request to residents to request help with this.

9. AOB

9.1  LB brought up the running of the library in the phone box now that Sarah Lane had left the village. A volunteer was needed to take charge of this. (After the meeting, LB asked Sue Bromhead if she would take this on, and she has kindly agreed to do so.)

9.2  LB reported that the apple tree planted to acknowledge Clive Boyes service to the PC had born its first apple! She handed over the plaque to WH who would make a wooden mounting for it and set it beneath the tree..  

10.Next meeting

The next meeting was scheduled for 4th March 2024