SOUTHWICK PARISH COUNCIL

Chair: Cllr Kath Noble, 230 Chantry Gardens, Southwick, Wiltshire, BA14 9QX 01225 352503

Clerk:  Nicola Duke, April Rise, 81 Studland Park, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 3HN 01373 864127

 

Minutes of a virtual meeting of the Parish Council held on

Tuesday 16^th February 2021 via Zoom at 7.30 pm.

 

 Present: Cllr Noble (Chair), Cllr Carey, Cllr Clayton, Cllr Eaton, Cllr Heydon, Cllr Jackson and Cllr Pomeroy

In attendance: Nicola Duke (Parish Clerk)

 

Public Participation

Members of the public were invited to make representations to the Council on any matters relating to the work of the Council or to raise any issues of concern:

 

AGENDA ITEM

 

2020/98                Apologies for Absence

Cllr Morland due to inability to attend virtual meetings, accepted.

2020/99                Declarations of Interest and Dispensations to Participate

None.

 2020/100              Minutes of Council Meetings

 The minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on 19^th January 2021 were approved for accuracy and adopted (proposed Cllr Jackson, seconded Cllr Clayton).

2020/101              Wiltshire Council Report

Following a motion to adjourn to receive a report from Wiltshire Councillor Horace Prickett. 

 Cllr Prickett had provided a report, which had been circulated to members and is attached to the minutes.  He drew attention to the following:

·                          Several complaints had been received about traffic on the A361 from Frome.  Cllr Prickett had looked into this, noting that a bypass would be the ideal solution. One solution for traffic entering the village from the west would be to install a ‘step down’ speed limit before the 30 mph limit.  This had been done in other neighbouring parishes and had been successful. The PC was asked to consider supporting this and taking it forward to CATG.

·                          It was noted that a significant proportion of meetings at Wiltshire Council had been cancelled recently, which was not unusual given the time of year and the approaching elections in May 2021.

·                          The WC Regulation 16 consultations for Neighbourhood Plans were noted, Southwick NP being one Plan out for this consultation.

·                          Cllr Carey reported that he had experienced issues taking the acute left turn into his road, which had sometimes meant that traffic overtook him and the bollards at speed.  This was as a result of the speeds vehicles were travelling entering the village. 

 Motion to re-convene.

 2020/102              Highways/Environment

a)                   Reports from Councillors on matters of concern:

a.                   Cllr Carey – reported on an unofficial pedestrian route which was being created to Brokerswood Farm Shop and asked whether this could be considered for formalisation and surfacing.  It was agreed to take this forward with CATG, which would also support the reduction of the speed limit.

 b)                      Highways and Traffic – Cllr Clayton had provided a report, which had been circulated to members. The report was a summary of issues discussed during the previous 12 months.  Members discussed the installation of a cycle path into Trowbridge, which was felt to be a good idea, although it was noted that this would not address the requirement for a cycle path down Frome Road.  Cllr Prickett was asked to investigate the potential of the project and its funding with Wiltshire Council. Cllr Clayton reported that some of funding allocated to CATG for 2020/21 had not been spent during the year and might be carried forward into 2021/22. Cllr Carey proposed that the small works identified in the report should be referred to CATG, this was seconded and resolved.

 c)                      Rights of Way – the Clerk reported that no response had been received from Wiltshire Council following the submission of a list of issues after the November meeting. The delay was due to the covid-19 pandemic, the reduction in officer resources and the work resulting from the increase in the use of the footpaths.

 d)                      CPRE Best Kept Village Competition 2021 –the PC considered whether to enter the competition (information previously circulated).  It was agreed that this should not be pursued for 2021 as it was not felt that the village environment was at an appropriate standard to enter.

 e)                      Dog Warden – Members agreed that dog waste was a significant issue in the village. It was agreed that the dog warden should be informed of the issue and asked to visit the parish.   It was noted that Cllrs Noble and Eaton had tried to make contact with the Dog Warden but had not received any response.  Cllr Eaton suggested that signs should be erected around the village. This was agreed and the Clerk would liaise with Cllr Eaton to arrange for the signs to be purchased. The costs for an additional bin had been researched and reported earlier in the year and were not noted to be significant.  Cllr Carey proposed that two bins should be purchased, that an article be prepared for the Village News bringing the issue to residents’ attention and asking for suggestions for the location for the new bins.  This was seconded by Cllr Eaton and resolved. Cllr Carey asked for this article to be expanded to include comments made by Cllr Heydon at the January meeting regarding the need for improved village citizenship. This was agreed and Cllr Heydon undertook to prepare the article for inclusion in the April edition.  The Clerk would arrange for the purchase and installation of the new bins once locations had been agreed.

 2020/103              Planning Applications, Decisions and Consultations

20/10073/FUL - Greenacres, 3 Hoopers Pool, Southwick, BA14 9NG - Proposed stationing of static caravan for residential accommodation – Objection due to the layout of the buildings on the site given that the proposed building was distant from the existing house and would encroach on the countryside.

21/01142/FUL - 4 Lamberts Marsh, Southwick, Trowbridge, Wilts - Single storey extension – Support.

20/00379/OUT - Land South of Trowbridge, Southwick, Trowbridge, Wilts - Outline planning permission with all matters reserved except access for the erection of up to 180 residential dwellings (Use Class C3); site servicing; laying out of open space and associated planting; creation of new roads, accesses and paths; installation of services; and drainage infrastructure – Members noted that the proposal for development on this site had been previously objected to by the PC in March 2020 and it was resolved to re-iterate the objections made at that time, which were still applicable.

To receive and consider planning applications received after the issue of the agenda (where the response time fell outside of the meeting schedule and an extension cannot be obtained) – None.

 

Planning Decisions – none received at time of issue. Cllr Carey reported on two enforcement issues at Moorfield Farm and Mallards. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact Wiltshire Council in respect of both issues; to clarify the planning permissions in existence and ask for the sites to be investigated to ensure that any developments were in line with permissions granted. 

 

Consultations

a)                   Wiltshire Council Local Plan Consultation (information previously circulated) – Cllr Eaton outlined the principles of the Plan as they might impact the parish of Southwick. It was agreed that Cllr Eaton would prepare a consultation response on behalf of the Parish Council to ensure that the parishes interests were protected.  This would focus on the unsuitability of Southwick for large developments due to lack of infrastructure in the parish and its village nature, which relied on the protection of a buffer zone with Trowbridge to retain its character. Cllr Eaton would circulate the proposed response prior to submission.

 

b)                   Wiltshire Council Gypsy and Travellers Plan Consultation (information previously circulated) – Members noted that the site at The Poplars was continuing to grow and gain momentum, which presented a risk for Wiltshire Council and local landowners. It was agreed to respond to ask WC to be more dynamic and resolve the local issue mentioned.

 2020/104              Finance

a)                     The Bank Reconciliation and Financial Position Statement as at 31^st January 2021 was noted (previously circulated).

b)                      Members had been provided with a report from the Parish Clerk regarding the PC’s banking arrangements which was discussed. It was resolved to approve the recommendations contained in the report as listed below with the adjustments to take place following the elections in May 2021 (proposed Cllr Carey, seconded Cllr Eaton):

a.                   Bank correspondence address to be the Parish Clerk’s address.

b.                   Online banking to be established as per the circulated protocol.

 c)                      Members considered a grant request from the Southwick Baptist Church (previously circulated) for £300 towards the cost of a new mower. This was approved (proposed Cllr Noble, seconded Cllr Eaton) with the amount to be paid from the parish fund as opposed to the solar fund.

 d)                      The below listed payments were approved (proposed Cllr Jackson, seconded Cllr Noble):

HMRC	PAYE February 2021	£86.07
W J Fox	Newsletter honorarium and postage	£63.64

 

 

 

 

2020/105              Village Caretaker and Clean Up Day

Members considered the recruitment and appointment of a Village Caretaker (January minutes refer) and the arrangements for a potential Village Clean-up Day. Cllr Carey and Cllr Noble confirmed that they had the relevant paperwork relating to a previous appointment.  Following discussion, it was agreed to leave this for the new Council to determine in May 2021. Cllr Carey would circulate the paperwork. It was agreed that a Village Clean Up Day would be arranged for later in the year, once the coronavirus regulations would permit.

 2020/106              Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

Cllr Eaton reported the following:

·                         Regulation 16 documents had been submitted to Wiltshire Council, which had been accepted.

·                         Monday 22^nd February 2021 had been set as the start of Wiltshire Council’s consultation period. This would run for 7 weeks.

·                         In response to a question Cllr Eaton confirmed that the Inspector for the Plan had not yet been appointed.

 2020/107              Councillor reports (for information only).

Cllr Eaton – expressed concern at the continued absence of Cllr Morland. Cllr Noble confirmed that the absence was due to an inability to attend virtual meetings remotely or travel to join meetings.  Cllr Eaton reported that he had looked into technology products which would enable Cllr Morland to join meetings. The Clerk confirmed the regulations regarding apologies for absence, noting that apologies from Cllr Morland had been accepted to date.  It was reported that NALC had advised that in person meetings were expected to recommence from May 7^th 2021.  The Clerk would develop some policies and protocols for in person meetings and list as an agenda item for the March meeting.

 It was confirmed that election nomination papers would be issued in March and that elections would take place in the village hall. The Clerk confirmed she would issue the timetable for the elections as soon as it was received from Wiltshire Council.

 2020/108              Correspondence

a)                      Megan Keast re: donation towards trip to Switzerland – Cllr Noble reported that the proposed trip had now been cancelled and no further action was required.

 b)                   Mr Dunn re: Speeding on the A361 Southwick to Hoopers Pool (previously     circulated) – it was noted that this had been discussed under a previous agenda item and that a project to reduce the speed limit would be taken forward to CATG.

 c)                   The Chair reported on a funding request from Busy Bees, which would be referred to the March meeting. It was noted that other grant applications would need to be sought due to the amount of the project.  The Chair would liaise with the applicant to confirm the exact amount of grant being requested from the PC.

 2020/109 Date of next meeting

Tuesday 16^th March 2021 at 7.30 pm (virtual meeting via Zoom).

 

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 8.51 pm.

 

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