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

MINUTES OF MEETING OF STERT PARISH COUNCIL  

held in St. James’ Church on 21st August 2023  

Present:    

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

1. Apologies for absence

Alick Edwards sent his apologies.

2. Declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

3. Minutes of previous meetings

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

4. Treasurer’s Report

LB reported the PC’s account balance stands at £4,675.49 and confirmed by WH.

Since the last meeting we have received £30 for the use of the PC tables and chairs and £50 to purchase the marquee.

There have been the following expenses:

• £164.53 to renew the PC insurance,
• £78.42 to renew membership of WALC,

–  £40 to Stert PCC for the use of the church.

–  £100 for a M&S voucher as a gift to our auditor.

These amounts have all been previously been agreed and are in line with our budget.

LB requested authority to pay Alick Edwards for his work maintaining the village verges etc. £400 was budgeted for this.

This was unanimously approved.

5. Planning application PL/2023/06350 Orchard Cottage

CL opened the discussion of  of the planning application for building works at Orchard Cottage by inviting Mrs. Letitia Boyd-Thomas to explain the rationale behind the application. She started by apologising for not having discussed the plans with the PC before sending in the application to WC. She said that she and her husband were very happy to have found their cottage in Stert and intended to make it their permanent family home. However, with two young children and a third on the way, they needed the extra space as the children grew up. However, they had decided not to go ahead with building the new 2.5 storey dwelling.

LC commented that he would have opposed the application if the new dwelling was included in the proposal due to the development being too great an expansion of the existing cottage and annex. WH was also of the same view and he too would support the application if the new dwelling was not included. LB expressed concerns about the overhang of the new thatched roof on the annex restricting access for wide vehicles down the driveway to Mill Cottage. She also stressed the need for proper traffic management of delivery lorries through the village during construction. CL said he was opposed to the nearly 50% extension to the existing building, it being in a conservation area. He then called for a vote on whether to support the application with the proviso that the new dwelling would not be included in the application. This was carried (3 for, 1 against and 1 abstention).

6. Rights of Way

LB reported she had arranged for Alison Rasey, the WC countryside access officer to visit the footbridge by Mill Cottage, with a view to making it more user friendly for push chairs and bicycles. She read out the 2 emails sent by Ms Rasey following the meeting:

It was nice to meet you today, I’ll investigate with our contractor the changes to the steps we identified at the footbridge crossing, and also a fix to try to prevent further erosion of the path near the footbridge, the stoning, and the post replacement.

You will be pleased to know that there is a gate with a ‘fencing funnel’ at the first cattle grid now, newly installed, on the right hand side of the grid which enables one to get past the grid.  I called at Crookwood Mill Farm and they are happy with the current solution.  We’ll see how the unconventional stiles with the lift-up bar are received, they are not of a usual design, but one could argue that they are more accessible than climbing onto and over a conventional stile.  If the fence becomes permanent then we will ask for gates to be installed there.

So hopefully the rights of way issues there are resolved for the time being; I’ll get back to you with news on the ford/footbridge crossing for an estimated time of works, hopefully this side of Christmas.

Just another quick thought, the cattle grids didn’t have hedgehog ramps that I could see, so they are very effective mammal traps as they are.  We recently persuaded a farmer to put steps into his, as a hog fell into his cattle grid and couldn’t get out, by the time it was found it was very thin.  Could the PC persuade the landowner that hedgehog ramps/steps would be a good thing, and could he install that?  I attach images of the steps (cheap breeze blocks and bricks), but a ramp could simply be of soil mounded up to the edge on the non-cattle side in each of the sections.  It could be a good news story for the village website too?

LB added that Ms Rasey had pointed out that some of the trees along the track leading down to the stream needed cutting back. It was agreed to ask Alick Edwards to do this. 

7. Christmas Party

CL said he thought the Christmas party was an important event in bringing the village residents together and noted the success of last year’s party. He thought that winter temperatures made holding the party in-doors preferable although the church had obvious drawbacks with the pews constricting the space. A provisional date 22nd December was suggested. This would be discussed in greater detail at the next PC meeting.

Since the meeting, WH has offered to hold the party at his house, but at an earlier date, say the weekend of the 15th..

8. AOB

8.1  LB reported that she had received a free replacement apple tree to be planted in recognition of Clive Boyes tenure as PC chairman. Frank and Alick Edwards had agreed that it could be planted on their land beside the lay-by the old railway bridge. It was agreed that this would be a more suitable place than the bank opposite the churchyard where the previous tree had been planted and subsequently died..

8.2  The Bromheads had put in an application with WC to have a poplar tree ,for which there was a protection order, felled due to rot. LB and WH had looked at the tree but were not able to see where the rot was as it was above eye level. It was agreed that, as WC’s tree officer was well aware of the condition of the tree, it should be left to his decision as to whether the application should be approved.  

8.3. WH reported that he had received a notification from WC of an application to upgrade the footpath, Stert 11, to a bridleway. The footpath runs along the western boundary of the field south of Old Mill Cottage and connects two bridleways. The PC agreed that there was no objection to this application.

8.4. WH had received an email from John Foster of Crockwood Mill asking whether the PC could request the owner of Sleight Farm to relocate his electric fence away from the hedge in the field opposite his farmhouse so as to allow access along the footpath next to the hedgerow. The PC did not feel it appropriate for it to request this of the farmer as it was a matter for WC’s countryside access officer.

9. Next meeting

The next meeting was scheduled for 4th December.

MINUTES OF ANNUAL 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. Chairman’s Report

CL read his Chairman’s report as follows:

The purpose of the Chairman’s report is I understand to let residents know what we have been doing for the last year and more specifically what we have been doing with their money.

The main expenditure has been on the village parties. Last year we had the Queen’s Jubilee hosted by the Parish and Lucy Barker at Farlingaye  and the Christmas Party hosted by Alex Cooper and Lewis Cowen at their house. This year we had a Coronation party hosted by Daphne Moody, Alex Cooper, Lewis Cowen, Nete Howkins, Sue Bromhead, Hilary and Keith Hawkins and others. All three were very successful and enjoyable occasions. I am extremely grateful for the work done by these volunteers. I think these get togethers are an essential component of village life for many and very much hope that, as a village, we can keep them going.

Other matters that have occupied the council time and resources include the lobbying to reduce the speed limit on the A342 which has now been implemented. This was largely led by Ann Harris in order to make it safer for both the residents of the Clock Inn and rest of the village to pull out onto the main road.

The on-going potential Devizes Gateway station, due possibly to be in or right by the Parish, has been a recurring theme and Bill Howkins has been keeping a watching brief on developments.

Other Parish business has been the routine dealing of planning applications, village maintenance and general domestic issues.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all the Parish Councillors for their valuable contributions and time over the year. Particular thanks to the Clerk (WH) and Treasurer (LB) for doing their jobs impeccably.

3. Financial report

LB distributed a copy of the annual accounts to each councillor. These showed the receipts and expenditure for FY 2022/23 compared to 2021/22. 

3.1 She also presented the Certificate of Exemption from External Audit since the income and expenditure was below £25,000. This was agreed.

3.2 The Annual Governance Statement was read out by CL and each item was approved and signed by him. 

3.3 The accounting statement was also presented and signed by CL and WH. The accounts showed that on 31/3/23, the PC held a reserve of £3,262, this figure includes £200 set aside for future decoration of the phone box.

4. Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman

The previous Chairman and Vice Chairman, being willing to stand again for a further year, were duly elected, as proposed by AH and seconded by LC.

5. Questions from the public

There were no questions from the public..

MINUTES OF MEETING OF STERT PARISH COUNCIL  

held in St. James’ Church on 20th March 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 also several members of the public.

1. Apologies for absence

There were no apologies.

2. Declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

3. Planning application PL/2023/01303

The meeting was called by the Chairman to discuss the application to Wiltshire Council by Mr. & Mrs. Elderfield for the construction of a large barn to accommodate up to 150 cattle on the land opposite to the entrance to Saddleback Farm. The Chairman had circulated a draft text of the objection to PC members prior to the meeting and he now sought the PC’s approval for submitting it to WC. There was little discussion before the text was unanimously approved by the PC and WH was asked to post it on WC’s website.

The Chairman also sought the PC’s agreement to request Councillor Philip Whitehead to “call in” the application should WC’s Planning Committee approve the application. This proposal was also unanimously agreed by the PC.

4. AOB

LB raised several finance matters. She reminded the PC that the audit was due at the end of June following the annual meeting of the PC scheduled for.the end of May.

Since the last meeting, she recorded the expenditure of £20 to Stert PCC for use of the church for the last meeting as well as a further £20 for this meeting. She had also paid out £191.76 for the purchase of Prosecco wine for the Coronation party. She requested approval to give a donation of £40 to the Clock Inn Park as a contribution to their Coronation Party. This was unanimously agreed.

She also sought approval of £44 to buy an A5 sized brass plaque for the apple tree planted in recognition of the past chairman’s long service. This was also unanimously agreed.

5. Next meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for 22nd May 2023.