LACOCK PARISH COUNCIL Parish Clerk: Lana Steward
The Griffin, Bowden Hill, Lacock email:[email protected] Chippenham, Wilts. SN15 2PP Tel: (01249) 730254
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 14 September 2020 at 7.30pm via Zoom
THOSE TAKING PART:
J Durrant (Chair), J Boldon, A Turnbull, P Shaw, M Chislett, S Gregory, Chris Doel, P Glen, H Shepherd and P Holliday. Also taking part was were Graham Heard and Ben Anderson. Adam Withers from Pegasus joined the meeting to answers any queries regarding the solar farm planning application.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME:
No members of the public took part in the meeting.
Planning Application No 20/06740/FUL – discussion on this application was brought forward. AW thanked the PC for the help and advice received – they are happy with the comments received.
Traffic along Folly Lane – PC looking for reassurance from a traffic management plan that this is going to really be managed. How are you going to manage HGVs going down Folly Lane west. Where is the site compound office going to be? – within first field in Folly Lane. There will be 12 HGVs per day delivering between 10am-4pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-1pm on Sunday. Traffic from M4 arriving on site can be tracked and their will be a banksman to control flow of traffic in and out of site.
Will the lay-by be properly serviced and maintained during construction? Problems with mud on the road – can we have an assurance that wheel washing facilities will be available? AW: we can commit to this.
MC asked about rights of way and servicing of footpaths – access tracks to the inverter stations will be a geotexlite membrane. LAC02 – a 10 metre wide strip will be resurfaced. AW will meet with MC.
AW was asked about what community benefit there was likely to be. AW explained that the firm preferred to contribute a tangible benefit linked to the solar business e.g rooftop solar on a community building. However in Lacock this would be inappropriate. Meeting to be arranged to discuss further.
2 APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received from A Barley.
3 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON AGENDA ITEMS:
JD and CD declared an interest in Planning Application 20/06840/FUL re Solar Farm and JB declared an interest in the request from Wiltshire Scrapstore under Finance item iii).
4 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
It was agreed (CD/AT) that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 July 2020 be signed as a true record.
5 UPDATE FROM MINUTES:
Scaffolding Tower – CD had spoken to Mr Hopkins but the tower is still in situ.
6 AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY REPORT:
J Boldon - JB advised that the Area Board had endorsed the findings of Wiltshire Council and LGBCE that all the land to the north of Showell Nurseries will go into Chippenham Town Council and not Lacock Parish from May 2021. A Government White Paper has been issued for consultation on the provision of 300k new homes per annum and a change to the planning system to fast track planning applications. Once growth areas have been identified they will automatically be given outline planning. Renewal and protected areas will still be protected.
A Turnbull - Website - accessibility review has been completed. Short paper will be reviewed by JD and AT. Screen in village shop should theoretically work. Corsham Road play area – nothing to report.
C Doel – War memorial at West Street is 100 years old this year – should there be some sort of commemoration? Mary Gubbins, lay preacher, from Chippenham will be standing in until a new vicar is appointed. Allotments at Nethercote East no longer required, therefore the community orchard can go ahead.
H Shepherd – A report from HS was circulated prior to the meeting. Twelve new entrants to the school. From next week there will be temporary spacing marks towards the gateway leading to the school. Wise Owls – lots of new starters. Lackham – predominantly on line learning currently. Reduction in students for higher education study but agriculture has increased. Lacock volunteers – JD has written to the original volunteers to ascertain whether they are still prepared to be on the list.
P Glen – An email from the Football Club has been received outlining their financial difficulties. After a lengthy discussion it was proposed PH, seconded PS, that the club be advised that the £212 owed to the Parish Council should be paid within 30 days and failure to do so will result in the PC serving notice to terminate their licence. It was noted that the Football Club is in debt to the Cricket Club to the tune of £322.39.
Acacia trees – 3 or 4 stumps need grinding out – quote received from Wessex Rural Crafts in the sum of £120 plus VAT = £144.00. Proposed by PG, seconded PH, that the quote be accepted. All in favour. A quote has been sought for the removal to ground level of the split Robinia tree. PG and PH met with Tara with a view to tidying up and securing the playground by the tennis court. Path through the plantation – needs a new fence to block off gap into playing field. GH will meet with PH/PG to see what is being proposed.
P Holliday - Mrs Freeman’s bench – PH produced a picture of the exact bench and proposed that this be permitted, seconded by HS. All in favour. Tennis court – works needed to clear moss and renew net and posts. PH to obtain quote for new net and storage facility. PH put forward a proposal that the PC fund the purchase of some power tools (quoted at £1200 inc. VAT) so that he and PG could carry out works on the cemetery, playing fields and the parish without calling in outside contractors. The Clerk was instructed to contact the PC insurers to ascertain the insurance liabilities, ie cover for individuals, storage etc.
M Chislett – MC’s report had been circulated prior to the meeting. Annual Governance and Accountability return now available to view on the website. Grit bin review in hand. Footpaths – PIGS (Paths Improvement Grant Scheme) available to assist with provision or improvement of footpaths and rights or way.
P Shaw – Stoggy Lane – trees on the side overgrown – emergency vehicles would not be able to access – to be reported on MyWiltshire. GH will ask Tara Castle to check ownership – PS to send map to GH. Ice Cream Van – PS had sent in the PC objection to the street trading licence application.
S Gregory – SG’s report had been circulated prior to the meeting. High Street/West Street junction – proposed SG, seconded PH, that PC confirms its contribution of £1250 to enable a street lighting and drainage survey to be undertaken to determine an accurate cost estimate for a future substantive bid application. All in favour. Notton crossing – CATG have agreed to move this to their priority list and to arrange a site meeting with LPC reps and WC.
30mph limit on Abbey Bridge – CATG agreed to £7k funding for the implementation of the revised 30mph speed limit subject to PC contribution of £1750. Proposed by SG, seconded AT – agreed.
7 PARISH NOTICEBOARDS:
This item was withdrawn – no information.
8 PLAYING FIELD:
Mixed hedging whips required to fill in the corner of the play area by the entrance gate, behind the substation and various other infilling needed.
9 PAVILION REFURBISHMENT:
Pavilion – one quote has been received for the revamping of the toilets, new tiles in the shower and fixing leaking ceiling. A second quote is required.
Only one quote for the pavilion roof has been received, second required.
10 CORRESPONDENCE:
1 From Alfie Stapleton - as there is nothing to do in the village he and other youths should have a skate park in the village. (about 12 youngsters in the village – PH: not an option at the moment plus costs) 2 From Patrick Goley in response to PC letter regarding drainage on Bowden Common. (refer the matter to Richard Williams) 3 Briefing Note 20-27 - Temporary Pavement Licences 4 From Wiltshire Council - Street Trading Application from Henrys of Hilperton. 5 From Graham Heard advising that, with cost savings needed this year, they will only be cutting the verges and the ground they can get to with a standard tractor flail mower and a flail hedge trimmer, not the boggy and steepest ground which needs a specialist tracked vehicle. 6 From Melksham Without Parish Council re Pre-application Public Consultation - Land South of Woodrow Road, Melksham. Pre-application only however JB to make an approach to Melksham Without with regard to community benefit to support traffic calming measures. 7 From Harry Ramsey re Pre-application Public Consultation - Land South of Woodrow Road, Melksham. 8 Briefing Note 20-28 - Planning Update August 2020 - providing notification of: 1 Publication of the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement (July 2020) 2 Publication of an updated Local Development Scheme (July 2020), and 3 Government Consultation on proposals for changes to the planning system. 9 From Peter Hickman - Matters concerning Parking Notices, obstructions to the Public Highway and Interference with Vehicles in Lacock Village. (issues should not reoccur and PH is looking into this). 10 Application for funding from Wiltshire Scrapstore (£1200 from PC for removal of interior stud wall and £1516 from PC for flooring (total needed £8116 11 From MWPC - Public Consultation re Wick Solar Farm - minutes of meeting with Pegasus Planning and JMB Solar to discuss their proposals for a solar farm at Wick Farm.
11 FINANCE:
i) Accounts -
It was resolved (PH/MC) that the following cheques be raised:
401119 S J White £ 470.05 (for July) 401120 S Steward £ 322.75 (for July) 401121 Mant Leisure Ltd £ 810.00 (play equipment repair) 401122 Idverde Ltd £ 233.99 (Grounds mtce - July) 401123 S J White £ 470.05 (for August) 401124 S Steward £ 319.90 (for August) 401125 Idverde Ltd £ 233.99 (Grounds mtce - August) 401126 National Trust £3075.30 (allotment boiler house roof)
401127 Abee Pest Control £ 68.00 (wasps nests in cemetery) 401128 P Glen £ 289.00 (various) ii) Statement of Account -
It was resolved (AT/MC) that the Statement of Account showing a balance of £24966.25 as at 21 August 2020 in the Co-operative Bank current account and £52772.29 in the Cambridge & Counties deposit account should be signed by the Chair as being correct. iii) Request for grant from Wiltshire Scrapstore –
The sum requested, £2716, for removal of interior stud wall and flooring, was considered. The Clerk was asked to look into what powers the PC has to consider this request.
12 PLANNING:
20/0705/TCA Fell 1 conifer – Bewley Cottage, Bowden Hill ,Lacock NO COMMENT
20/07100/TCA Up to 3 metre lateral reduction to Holly tree and 20% thin; up to 3 metre reduction to 5 Yew trees – Lacock Cemetery, West Street, Lacock. NO COMMENT
20/06974/FUL Demolition of units 4-11, demolition & re-build of Building C, extensions to Building C & D and re-routing of the access road – Stonegate Farmers Ltd, The Old Sidings, Corsham Road, Lacock. – NO OBJECTION provided Wiltshire Council finds the proposed increase in vehicle numbers arising from the proposed development acceptable. LPC also wish WC to explore the possibility of securing funding from Stonegate Farmers for the improvement of the road surface between the Stonegate site and the A350 – this section of the road is suffering damage from the increasing numbers of HGVs using the site. It should be noted that the Transport Statement provided in the application erroneously states at para 3.3.1 that “there is a network of on-road and traffic free cycle routes which can be easily accessed by future visitors to the development”. This is an incorrect and misleading statement as there are no such cycle routes. JB will also arrange meeting with owners to discuss community benefits.
20/07631/TCA Re-coppice group of Hazel to 6 inches – The Old Vicarage, 19 Bowden Hill, Lacock. NO COMMENT
20/06840/FUL Construction of a solar farm and battery storage facility together with all associated works, equipment and necessary infrastructure – Land North of Melksham substation nr Melksham, Wiltshire – NO OBJECTION subject to the submission of a satisfactory Traffic Management Plan covering the routing and control of HGVs to the Folly Lane West access in order to avoid nuisance to local residents and the wider highway network. Also subject to the submission of satisfactory details relating to the proposed Site Compound which presently is not in the planning application area.
13 OTHER BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION:
i) Lights, no.1 and 4, at the pedestrian crossing not working – both out as well as light on Nethercote Hill, already reported a number of times. BA to chase. ii) Bewley Lane lights have been changed to LED.
12 DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
Monday 12 October 2020.
There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 10.20pm.
Signature of Chair upon approval of Minutes.
…………………………………… 12 October 2020