Clerk’s Note.

Page 1450: This attachment relates, erroneously, to the Area Board Meeting held on 21 July 2010 and should be disregarded

4.       Adjournment.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting for any members of the public to raise any matters of concern and then reconvened the meeting.

5.       Westwood Road Safety.

a.       The Clerk stated that he had been handed a brief by Cllr. Parker with a request that various matters be raised and the view of the Parish Council obtained. Mr Coleman reported that Cllr. Parker had received a letter from Martin Rose, Principal Traffic Engineer, Wiltshire Council addressing a number of road safety issues, related to the current ‘20 mph trial’ together with a detailed analysis of the latest metrocount road traffic survey that was undertaken recently in the village. The Clerk commented that the matters to be raised were the addition of more 20mph roundels to be painted on the road surface (to fill in large gaps between existing ones), the introduction of some ‘gateway furniture’ to reinforce the message that motorists were now entering a 20mph speed limit area and the need to derive suitable questions to be included in the proposed questionnaire that will seek to garner parishioners’ views regarding the permanent introduction of a 20mph speed limit area when the trial has been terminated.

The Council considered each of these matters in detail and resolved by a majority (For: 0, Against: 5, Abstentions: 1) not to request additional roundels and resolved unanimously not to request the introduction of additional gateway furniture. The councillors noted the request for suitable questions and requested that this matter is placed on the Agenda for the next meeting.

Cllr. Bishop stated that he would arrange for a meeting of the Road Safety sub-Committee comprising Cllrs. Parker, Richardson and himself to take place before the next Parish Council meeting to review the progress of the trial to date and to consider the need for any further action.

b.       There was nothing to report in respect of the Community Grant application. Cllr. Biles stated that he would investigate this matter to establish the current position.

6.       Neighbourhood Policing.

a.       In the absence of a representative from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), no report was given.

b.       There was no matters reported that needed to be brought to the attention of the NPT.

7.       Bradford on Avon Community Area Board.

Cllr. Biles tabled a written report of the proceedings of the meeting held at Westwood on 20 July 2011. This report is appended to these minutes.

Cllr. Howard-Evans expressed his disappointment with the effectiveness and relevance locally – especially in the villages – of the Area Board and argued that it appeared dismissive and obfuscatory with a pre-determined agenda that left local communities and their particular issues wanting. The Clerk was asked to place this subject on the Agenda for the next meeting.

8.       Sub-Committees - Sub-Committee Reports.

Environment.

In the absence of the representative from the Environmental Sub-Committee, no report was given.

Cllr. Harding reported that the hedge in Lyefield Lane was in need of cutting back. Cllr. Edwards noted this request as a possible task for the Parish Steward.

Cllr. Biles reported some fifteen potholes at the bottom of The Pastures. Cllr Edwards noted this as a possible task for the Parish Steward. Cllr. Biles also reminded the Council that the weeds in The Pastures and elsewhere in the village needed spraying – a task that Wiltshire Council had promised to undertake some time ago.

Councillors reported that the hedge alongside the walled section of the Upper Westwood road running westwards from Upper Farm was in need of cutting back as it was encroaching on the road, effectively making that part of the road ‘single lane’ only.

The Clerk stated that he had asked Mr Say to repair the noticeboard at the Post Office.

Footpaths.

The following matters were reported by councillors:

Path 11 – This path has now been cleared.

Path 15 – Overgrown vegetation to be cut back and the footpath restored to its original width.

Path 12 (at its junction with the Lower Westwood Road) – Overgrown vegetation to be cut back.

Path 16 (The Pastures to the Upper Westwood Road) – Overgrown vegetation to be cut back.

Path 26 (Upper Westwood to Avoncliff) – The upper part of this path needs overgrown vegetation cut back and the full width of the footpath restored. Cllr. Higgs stated that she would have a word with the land owner.

. Cllr Edwards noted these tasks as a possible work programme for the Parish Steward.

a.              The Council noted the status of extant planning applications thus:

W/11/01622/FUL      11 Ancliff Square        Single Storey Extension         PC Objections/Pending

W/11/01718/DDD     Weavers Mill               Remove Dead Trees              Tree Works Allowed

W/11/01848/FUL      101 Upper Westwood Rear extension                        Withdrawn.

W/11/02028/FUL      Elms Cross                 Agricultural Building                Pending.

                                                                      (Retrospective0

b.       There were no other planning applications received after 4 September 2011

c.       There were no other planning matters raised.

Cemetery.

a.       There was nothing to report from the Cemetery Sub-Committee.

b.       The Council noted the recent memorial application in respect of Roger Glyndwr Barker.

c.       The Parish Council resolved that the sum of £396 be expended in the purchase of a new Register of Purchased Graves and a Register of Burials.

d.       The Clerk stated that he had received a reply from Parochial Church Council indicating that West Wiltshire District Council (WWDC) had accepted responsibility for the tombs in the churchyard, according to copies of correspondence dated 2005. Notwithstanding this, the Clerk commented that the present position regarding financial support for the closed churchyard was far from clear and that he would place this item on the Agenda for the next meeting when he had had the opportunity to consider the matter further. Councillors commented that it was possible that whilst WWDC took responsibility for the artefacts within the churchyard, the annual grant hitherto paid to the Parish Council was for the maintenance of the grounds, such as grass-cutting.

Finance.

a.              The Clerk stated that the current financial position was as follows:

	Lloyds TSB A/C 1643417
	Bank Statement			£    5,823.47
	30-Jun-11
	(S&J Grounds Cheque 1212 - £182 presented 29/6/11)
	Credits (1 July to 31 July 2011) :
28-Jul	Dignity Funerals				£        285.00
				Total:	£        285.00
	Debits (1 July 2011 to 31 July 2011):
STO	Clerk's Salary (June)				£        344.62
1215	Clerk's Expenses (June)				£          16.51
1216	St Johns CC				£          82.32
1217	S&J Grounds (June)				£        182.00
1218	V Cooke (June)				£        237.50
1219	J Taylor (Internal Audit Fee)				£        120.00
				Total:	£        982.95
	Balance at 31 July 2011:				£     5,125.52
	Credits (1 August 2011 to 31 August 2011) :
05-Aug	James Long				£        120.00
				Total:	£        120.00
	Debits (1 August 2011 to 31 August 2011):
01-Aug	Clerk's Salary (July)				£        344.62
		Total:			£        344.62
	Balance at 31 August 2011:				£     4,900.90
	Credits (1 September 2011 to 12 September 2011) :
	None				£               -
				Total:	£               -
	Debits (1 September 2011 to 12 September 2011):
01-Sep	Clerk's Salary (August)				£        344.62
		Total:			£        344.62
	Balance at 12 September 2011:				£     4,556.28
	Lloyds TSB A/C 7573321
	Bank Statement				£     5,577.41
	11-Jul-11
	Credits:
09-May	Interest				£            0.21
09-Jun	Interest				£            0.24
11-Jul	Interest				£            0.24
11-Aug	Interest				£            0.24
				Total:	£            0.93
	Debits:
	None				£               -
				Total:	£               -
	Balance at 12 September 2011:				£     5,578.34
	National Savings A/C 138409348
	Balance at 1 January 2010				£     7,772.06
	Credits:
	Interest 1/1/10 to 31/12/10:				£          15.54
	Debits:				£               -
	Balance at 12 September 2011:				£     7,787.60
Total Balance in hand at 12 September 2011:					£    18,266.84
	Payments to be authorised 12 September 2011).
	Clerk's Salary (September 2011)				£        344.62
	Clerk's Expenses (July 2011))				£            4.67
	Clerk's Expenses (August 2011))				£            4.10
	Shaws Burial Registers (1 x £160, 1 x £170, VAT £66)				£        396.00
	Val Cooke (July/August)				£        350.00
	Mazars Audit Fee				£        162.00
	S&J Grounds Ltd (July/August) - (2 x £182)				£        364.00
	VPA Invoice				£        150.00
	St Johns CC				£          81.87
				TOTAL:	£     1,857.26
Donations/Subscriptions to be considered - 12 September 2011
					£               -
				TOTAL:	£               -

b.       The Clerk tabled the report from the External Auditor (Mazars) in respect of the Annual Return for FY2010/11 for the Council to inspect and the Council noted that there were no matters that had to be brought to its attention. The Chairman thanked the Clerk on behalf of the Council for his conscientiousness in his financial management and for maintaining accurate financial records of the Council

c.       The Council resolved to make the payments shown under ‘Payments to be authorised’ above.

Open Spaces.

a.       Cllr. Harding confirmed that he had requested Mr Say to repair the Play Area fence and that on a recent inspection the majority of the fence now appears to be intact, although he added that some six slats were now missing. Cllr. Edwards commented that when he inspected the area on 9 September only four were missing.

Cllr. Edwards reported that the Play equipment appears in good order and that there was no new graffiti. He added that the waste bin had been emptied. Cllr. Edwards commented that there is still a need to replace a couple of bolts on the Play equipment and that he has this task in hand.

Cllr Biles reported weeds growing through the path at Westwood Park towards the Bobbin Lane end of the park.

9.       NHS Wiltshire – Practice Amalgamation.

The Council had no observations to make in respect of this consultation regarding the amalgamation of The Health Centre and St Margaret’s Surgery.

10      Valley Parishes Alliance (VPA).

a.       Cllr. Edwards stated that the next meeting of the VPA was to be held on 19 September 2011 and that he would be attending that meeting. He added that a major item on the Agenda was to address the danger of crossing the A36 trunk road.

b.       There were no actions to endorse.

11.     Date of Parish Council Meeting.

The Council noted the date of the next Meeting:

·         Ordinary Parish Council meeting – Monday 3 October 2011 at 7.30pm.

12.     Any Other Business.

Exchange of views on matters not requiring a decision.

The Clerk drew the attention of the Council to the following and he gave a brief explanation of each topic:

·         Wiltshire Police – New Non-Emergency Telephone No.

·         Wiltshire Council – New Waste and Recycling Collection Service.

·         Wiltshire Council – Redemption Service.

·        Westwood Update Adverts.

Cllr. Biles stated that a meeting had been held to discuss possible events in the village to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. He explained that a draft programme of events had been developed and that this programme was as follows:

Saturday 2^nd June               -                       The Annual Safari Supper as normal.

Sunday 3rd June                  -                       Commemorative Church Service

                                                                      Village Walk finishing at the Manor Tithe Barn for a   

                                                                      Strawberry and Cream Tea

Monday 4^th June  Afternoon event  -           Village Picnic in the Park.

                                                                      Suggestions are:-

                                                                      Sit in family/neighbour groups

                                                                      Bring Gazebos

                                                                      Brass band/music

                                                                      Children’s Games.

Monday 4^th June  Evening event     -           Hog Roast/BBQ with music and a dance at the Social Club.

Tuesday 5^th June                              -           No suggestions at the moment.

Cllr. Biles stated that he would be inviting the Parish Council to make a financial donation towards the proposed Queen’s Jubilee celebrations at some future date.

Cllr. Edwards stated that the Westwood Update is now available on the Westwood website.

There was no other business.

The meeting concluded at 9.18pm.

Chairman                                                                                                      3 October 2011.

Westwood Parish Council

ACTION LIST – Meeting 12 September 2011

Action 1 (12/9/11)      Clerk.

To make agreed payments.

Action 2 (12/9/11)      Cllr. Edwards.

To advise the Parish Steward of the proposed work programme for his next visit.

Action 3 (12/9/11)      Cllr. Higgs.

To speak to the land owner (Path 25).

NB. Details of the actions above are contained in the minutes.