LIMPLEY STOKE PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING- DUE TO COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS HELD on the 7th July 2020 at 7.00pm

Councillors: Chairman - Mr Anthony Gennard (AG), Mr Francis Firmstone (FF), Mr Ian Barnes (IB), Mr Alan MacDougall (AM), Ms Denise Barnes (DB), Mrs N Boulton (NB), Mr Ed Elias (EE), Mr Johnny Kidney (JK) (County Councillor for Winsley and Westwood)

Apologies: None

In attendance: Bryony Kohn (Parish Clerk)

Members of the public: None

Item Action

059/20 Declarations of Interest

Cllr Francis Firmstone - Planning application 20/04857/VAR Cliffe House, Cliffe Drive, Limpley

Stoke, BA2 7FY.

060/20 Open Forum

a. Councillor for Winsley & Westwood Report. The Council were grateful to receive an

update from Councillor Johnny Kidney outlining the latest developments from Wiltshire

Council. (see attachment for details).

b. Police Report. No police report this month. 061/20 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Limpley Stoke Parish Council held on the 2nd June 2020.

The Minutes (previously distributed to Councillors for comment) were approved with no comment and will be signed off as an official record by the Chairman. 062/20 Financial Items (BK).

Approval of payment of invoices and notification of receipts a. SO120 – Idverde. Monthly (June) Playpark Litterbin emptying: £18.37.

Decision: Approved. b. SO121 – B Kohn. Clerk salary (June)

Decision: Approved.

c. DD155 – A Duck. Grasscutting (May) £385

Decision: Approved. d. DD156– I Barnes. Printing: £36

Decision: Approved.

063/20 LSPC Policies

The LSPC approved unanimously the following policies-

a. Code of Conduct.

b. Complaints Procedure.

c. Financial Standing Orders. d. Procedural Standing Orders.

1 e. Publications Policy.

f. Register of Interests.

g. Risk Assessment Policy. 064/20 Planning

a. 20/04857/VAR Cliffe House, Cliffe Drive, Limpley Stoke, BA2 7FY Variation of condition 9 and removal of condition 10 of 13/02255/FUL Decision: No Comment

b. 20/04476/FUL Lynton Cottage, 16 Middle Stoke, Limpley Stoke, BA2 7GF Rear extension, associated works, car charging points

Decision: Support with comment.

c. 20/05183/LBC Lynton Cottage, 16 Middle Stoke, Limpley Stoke, BA2 7GF

Decision: Support

The Hop Pole Inn. AG updated the councillors on The Hop Pole Inn developments and outlined the aims and progress to date. A full update is available on the website https://limpleystoke.org/

Stage One: • Community support for the purchase of the Inn has been achieved (currently 97.8% positive from replies received). • The BC has been completed (95%). • The Councillors unanimously agreed to the proposal to submit an offer of £218K (inclusive of VAT) to purchase the Inn to Criterion Asset Management who are the agents acting on behalf of the Wellington Pub Company.

a. Action 07/20: Hop Pole Inn purchase Business Case construction. A Business Case showing possible Costs and Revenue has been completed and was submitted to Katie Feilding (WALC) for initial approval. She is content with the BC and stated that it demonstrated a full understanding of the issues and was a very strong case for

achievement of the PWLB loan in due course. This includes a demonstration of how the

loan will be repaid in all eventualities, including agreement that the community would AG support increased Precept figures if necessary, under extreme circumstances

b. Action 08/20: Contact Wellington Pub Company. The PC is now in negotiations with the AG Wellington Group for an up to date purchase figure.

c. Action 09/20: NALC approval to apply for a PWLB Loan. When this has been completed AG AG will, on behalf of the whole Parish Council, apply for permission to the NALC to apply

for a Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) grant by 24th July 2020.

d. Action 10/20. PWLB Loan Application – submission. Once approval is granted AG will, on behalf of the whole Parish Council, submit a PWLB Loan Application to the PWLB AG supported by a suitable Hop Pole Inn Business Case. 065/20 Action Plan.

See attachment for details and updates. 066/20 Any Other Business.

a. AG informed the councillors that Councillor Denise Barnes was taking on the role of Community and Events for LSPC. b. IB will contact Andy Cadwallader regarding the potholes and general poor condition of the

2 road surface of Midford Lane. IB Action 16/20 – Midford Lane road surface.

c. FF reported that significant numbers of ash trees in the Limpley Stoke valley have suffered Ash Die back and was concerned that the rate had significantly increased. DB will draft a leaflet to be distributed to residents highlighting the Ash Die back concerns and requesting that residents report cases to the LSPC so that the extent of the problem can be monitored. Action 17/20 DB to produce a leaflet to be distributed. BK to forward the leaflet to Freshford and Winsley PCs. DB, BK

d. NB reported to the LSPC the latest meeting from FLISCA. The Galleries had been a great support to the community during the Covid 19 crisis. New flooring and chillers have been installed and deliveries and orders have been successfully fulfilled. Volunteers are desperately needed especially as many older and more vulnerable volunteers have been unable to volunteer during these times. A request will be put on the Face book page. NB e. New councillors are needed to fill the 2 vacancies on the LSPC. Members of the community are encouraged to contact AG if they wish to volunteer. Two specific roles that we are currently looking to fill are:

• King George V Play Park Lead. To include annual safety report actions, maintenance management, improvements (pagoda lighting, pizza oven), access and restriction policy, and liaison over landscaping and tree plans. • Environment Lead. To include developing the Council’s Environment theme in support of the Neighbourhood Plan, identifying practical solutions to local environmental issues (in concert with Freshford PC where appropriate), updating the Council members of initiatives that may be worth investigating.

Action 18/20. AG will pursue additional Councillors to fill the 2 roles above. AG f. BK thanked IB for enabling the virtual meeting. 067/20 Date of Next Meeting. Tue 1st September 2020 at 7.00pm. To be held virtually if Covid 19 restrictions are still in place.

The Chair closed the meeting at 9pm.

Signed (Chair)……………………………………

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Limpley Stoke Parish Council – Johnny Kidney, Unitary Councillor’s Report July 2020 ------A36 update Following the nasty crash on the A36 last week, I have again contacted Highways England to chase up on my request for a review of the speed limit with a review to a reduction to 30mph through Limpley Stoke. Unfortunately Wiltshire Council has no remit over the A36 as it is controlled by Highways England, however in previous correspondence and discussions Highways England had indicated that they would carry out a review. I will also be liaising with Michelle Donelan on this. HGVs – There has been a marked increase in heavy vehicles using the B3108 as a cut through from the A36 to avoid the weight limit that has been introduced on the A36 Cleveland Bridge in Bath. At my request, this is being monitored by Wiltshire Council’s highways officers, and through them I have also requested the B&NES install signage on the A36 to warn of the height limit at the railway bridge in Limpley Stoke with a view to discouraging HGVs from attempting to use this route. Woods Hill – While CATG meetings are currently on hold due to the pandemic, it would be worth the Parish Council getting a request in for the plans for Woods Hill so that it is well placed for when meetings resume. ------B3108 update The appalling and unsafe parking in the vicinity of the canal bridge has become an increasing problem as lockdown has lifted. As well as making it a hazardous environment for pedestrians with cars parked on the footpath, it, this also makes it social distancing all but impossible. Prior to the pandemic, Winsley Parish Council and I had requested double yellow lines to be installed on the part of Winsley Hill closest to the bridge. I have now also requested that these be extended alongside the footway on the Limpley Stoke side of the canal bridge. As part of the Government scheme to provide funding for local authorities to create new cycleways on busy commuter routes, I proposed the stretch of B3108 between the roundabout at Winsley and Bradford-on-Avon to be put forward for funding for a segregated cycleway, as it is heavily used by young people accessing St Laurence School. I was pleased that this was shortlisted as one of five schemes from across Wiltshire to be submitted to the Department for Transport for funding and that the bid has been successful. I also requested that the scheme be accompanied by a reduction in the speed limit, and this too has been approved. ------Church Lane planning application – Following my call-in to committee as requested by the Parish Council, this was considered by the Western Area Planning Committee at Wiltshire Council via a remote video meeting. In response to my statement on the Parish Council’s behalf, as well as submissions by the Parish Council and local residents, the committee determined that a decision should be deferred to allow them to undertake a site visit to get a better understanding of the concerns raised. The site visit will take place on 22nd July ahead of a further meeting of the committee later that day. ------Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) Following issues with lengthy queues as result of social distancing requirements on site, even with the postcode system that was introduced, an online booking system for visits to the HRCs is now up and running. A wider selection of materials is also now being accepted than when the sites first reopened.

4 Where previously only one person per car was allowed, that has now been increased to two. It is also hoped that trailers will soon be allowed at sites too. Further information on how to book a visit and the range of materials being accepted can be found here: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/household-recycling-centres ------Council meetings As with most other organisations, lockdown has meant that Council meetings have been impacted. However remote meetings are now up and running for certain committees. Following the first successful remote Full Council meeting last month, the next Full Council will go ahead on 21 July using remote meeting technology. Area Board – Area Board meetings have been suspended due to the Covid-19 crisis, however we are continuing to liaise remotely, and have processes in place to continue to make decisions on matters such as Community Grant Applications (for example we recently awarded a grant towards the purchase of Becky Addy Woods as a community asset, a grant that I successfully took through the Area Board despite the absence of physical meetings). You can read my review of the Area Board year in 2019/20 here: https://ocm.wiltshire.gov.uk/bradfordonavon/area-board-review-of-the-year-from-cllr-johnny- kidney/ ------Avoncliff Weir I have been liaising with a range of stakeholders including Avoncliff residents and Bradford- on-Avon Town Council on a community-led project to carry out emergency repairs to Avoncliff Weir. This will be co-ordinated by the Town Council after concerns emerged about the structural integrity of the weir and worries that it may fail in a harsh winter. ------There have been a couple of inaccurate media stories circulating in the past week or so relating to Wiltshire Council. One suggested that the County would be next to go into local lockdown due to a “300% increase in coronavirus infections”. This in fact related to a scenario where infections in the county had risen from 1 to 4 over a matter of weeks! The issue being that numbers are thankfully so low in Wiltshire compared to other areas that measures such as R-rate and percentage increases lose all usefulness. The Council issued a rebuttal of the media story here - http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/articles/council- dismisses-lockdown-reports

5 Annex A to Limpley Stoke Parish Council Minutes 7th July 2020

Limpley Stoke Parish Council Action Log as at 7th July 2020

Month Ref. Title Description Lead Update Target Date Entered May 03/19 Speed Indicator sign New mobile speed Indicator IB IB contacted Winsley and Freshford Sept 20 sign for the village. for a possible share. No traffic due to Covid 19 lockdown. On hold.

May 04/19 Playground Information Board Install a new Information AG Installation delayed until Covid 19 Sept 20 board. restrictions lifted. Quotes have been acquired. 3 Boards for installation- Park, Church, Village Hall. May 05/19 Playground clearance Inspection report – required AG Ongoing Ongoing actions repairs. Vegetation clearance and tree removal June 07/19 A36 speed limit, speeding through Maintenance required on AG/FF Recent accident on A36. Speed issues. Sept 20 the village, traffic throughput, road/verges in village. Michelle Donelan has written to road maintenance pedestrian Highways England. JK will chase. walks areas/white lines. July 13/19 Community Led Housing Promotion of project and FF Ongoing quarterly review. Sept 20 review of available space in LS July (EM) 16/19 Additional Dog Waste Bins/signs Contact Peter Lord to discuss NB Covid 19 signs, sheep worrying are up Sept 20 near Dyson Fields additional Dog waste presently. – delayed until Covid 19 bins/signs restrictions lifted July (EM) 17/19 Limpley Stoke road drains Wilts Council to be IB Ongoing- Crowe Lane gullys now Sept 20 unblocking approached to clear blocked cleared. drains.

6 July (EM) 18/19 Limpley Stoke Traffic Create document for AG Michelle Donelan has written to Wilts July 20 Management- Initial Options discussion of traffic FF CC. Reduction in speed limit being Paper. management options. IB pursued. Awaiting a response. AG and JK to follow up. AG has proposed the following options for consideration: Options to resolve Woods Hill traffic throughput have been discussed and were put forward to the Community in Jan 2020 following some focused discussion with directly affected residents. Full closure being pursued as our first priority. An experimental closure will be conducted prior to full closure to measure impact on Lower Stoke traffic and to allow mitigations to be identified. Dave Thomas (Wilts CC) stated £3000 required to pursue an Experimental Order to temporarily close the road. IB has drafted application and apply for CATG funding. Iron bollards will cost approx. £2- 3,000. IB to apply for CATG funding. Temporary water filled bollards to be considered for use in Lower Stoke. Possible road counter could be installed for accurate road user numbers. – IB has drafted a CATG funding proposal. Installation delayed until Covid 19 restrictions lifted and Dave Thomas back from secondment.

Other specific village roads issues will

7 be taken forward under Cat G procedures. Step 1 is to register the issues for resolution: 1. Drain cleaning. Last completed in March – investigations for further cleaning is ongoing. 2. Village gateways at 4 specific locations (Midford Lane from South Stoke direction; A36 at Midford Lane junction; Lower Stoke at viaduct junction; A36 in vicinity of Woods Hill. 3. Plans going ahead for installation. IB has selected suitable gateways and bollards for purchase. Costings being prepared. delayed until Covid 19 restrictions lifted

4. Traffic calming measures in Midford Lane and along Lower Stoke by the old station (options include but not limited to – traffic prioritisation, raised road sections, boxed passing places, timed lighting and bollards along to prevent cars using the pavement along Lower Stoke). PC funding Lower Stoke gateways. Water filled bollards to be purchased. Costings being prepared. – delayed until Covid

8 19 restrictions lifted 5. The creation of an improved village centre at the Hop Pole. Measures include viable Woods Hill solution, reduced ‘long-term’ parking near the Hop Pole and a village centre focal point. Ongoing. October 24/19 Streetlights on Crowe Hill staying AG to enquire about AG DB will contact Sarah Fraser for Sept 20 on all night streetlight timings on Crowe advice. Hill. November 27/19 Woods Hill Traffic Traffic options discussed with AG, IB An experimental closure prior to the Sept 20 residents proposed full closure in the next few months is being taken forward as a priority. See above December 28/19 Speeding on Church Lane Problem with speeding IB AG discussions with John Adler. Sept 20 traffic. ongoing January 01/20 Pizza Oven for Playpark Possible pizza Oven to be DB EE to help build when Covid 19 Sept 20 built restrictions lifted. March 03/20 Playpark Hedging Possible tree/hedge planting AG Meeting with A Duck to discuss when Sept 20 in playpark Covid 19 restrictions lifted. March 04/20 New Barbeque Grill Purchase new grill AG AG will measure during playpark Sept 20 hedging inspection once Covid 19 restrictions lifted. March 05/20 Solar Lights Purchase and install solar AG GT will research designs and costs. Sept 20 lights for playpark pagoda. delayed until Covid 19 restrictions lifted

April 07/20 Hop Pole Inn purchase business A Business Case showing AG Draft completed. Approved as a good Completed case – submission. possible Costs and Revenue case by the County secretary Katie and PC (sub- will be drawn up to include a Fielding. committee) demonstration of how the approved by

9 loan will be repaid in all 10 July 20 eventualities, including agreement that the community would support increased Precept figures if necessary – under extreme circumstances. April 08/20 Contact Wellington Pub Company. AG and FF will contact AG/FF Initial contact by FF. July 20 Wellington Pub Company Offer letter for £218,000 (inclusive f Group for an up to date VAT) submitted on Negotiations on purchase figure. price ongoing.

April 09/20 NALC approval for PWLB Loan When this has been AG July 20 Application. completed AG will on behalf of the whole Parish Council apply for permission to the NALC to submit an application for a Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) grant by 24th July 2020.

April 10/20 PWLB Loan Application – Once approval is granted the AG Summer2020 submission. Parish Council will submit a PWLB Loan Application to the PWLB supported by a suitable Hop Pole Inn Business Case. April 11/20 Pothole rectification. Contact the steward to AM AM will contact Parish Steward July 2020 progress pothole rectification. May 13/20 Overgrown ivy on Great Western Contact hotel owners. AG AG will speak to the owners whilst in Sept 2020 hotel wall discussions regarding Hop Pole

10 developments. May 14/20 Gateway sign -Lower Limpley IB to speak to Dave Thomas IB Sign near railway bridge on existing Sept 2020 Stoke about the possibility posts. at bottom of Winsley Hill May 15/20 Winsley Hill increased lorry use Traffic survey required to IB, JK JK to be contacted by IB for any Sept 2020 due to Cleveland Bridge discover any impact information restrictions. July 16/20 Road surface on Midford Lane Poor road surface IB IB to contact A Cadwallader Sept 2020 July 17/20 Leaflet to report Ash Die back Produce a draft leaflet for DB DB to draft a leaflet for distribution Sept 2020 residents to report Ash Die back in the valley July 18/20 Additional Parish Councillors Pursue additional Councillors AG Sept 2020 to fill the 2 roles of: • George V Play Park Lead • Environment Lead

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