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Author: SKPC Clerk

Annual Parish Meeting 2021 – Chairman’s Report

Chairman’s Report 2021

Last summer seemed to be dominated by problems arising from an influx of visitors to Neigh Bridge Country Park. Neigh Bridge acted as a sort of safety valve for the rest of the Water Park as the lakes nearby tightened their controls. Parking, litter and anti-social behaviour were the three main problems, none of which have easy solutions. During the winter I attended three multi-agency online meetings to explore the problems in the Water Park as a whole and to try and come up with some ways of ameliorating them. It was helpful to know that the problems at Neigh Bridge were widely known although as yet I haven’t heard of any neat solutions.

Recently the Parish Council heard some proposals from the rebranded Cotswold Lakes Trust about how they planned to be more of a presence at Neigh Bridge. This included employing someone to work weekends during the “season”, a new children’s playground, a pop up cafe, portaloos, 30 minutes free parking. We were heartened that the Trust had given so much thought in trying to improve the culture at Neigh Bridge. Time will tell, I guess!

When the first lockdown occurred last year and we could no longer hold meetings in the Village Hall, the Parish Council held weekly teleconferencing meetings. This was before we became aware of Zoom. As the year progressed we turned to Zoom and held monthly meetings once again. By taking out a subscription we could increase the number of participants and the length of the meetings. This was particularly useful when considering the planning application for the development of the land to the South-East of Ashland House. There was a very strong feeling in the village that this development should not go ahead and many people attended the January meeting to express this. It was gratifying to see the expertise within the village put to good use when formulating the objections. The Parish Council was able draw on all this when submitting its own objections. We are still awaiting a decision.

One of the achievements last year was the refurbishment of the telephone box and the installation of the second defibrillator. Several people helped but the driving force behind this achievement was Karen and Lynton Mogridge, to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. A small team was formed to do the required weekly checks and their involvement is much appreciated.

Another achievement which has recently taken place is the creation of a new website for the village. We are very grateful for the work that Peter Watkins did in developing and maintaining the previous website for many years. It was great that Mike McKeown and Jon Lunn volunteered to create the new website. Migrating everything over took some doing and involved consulting with different groups in the village. The end result is very eye catching and user friendly. Several people have been trained to update the website so that every change does not have to go through one administrator.

The Village Lake has been a blessing for many people during the lockdowns by providing a safe space to walk and commune with nature. Mike Wilding (Chair of the Village Lake Committee) will report on all the developments there during the last year. On behalf of the Parish I would like to thank the committee for the work they have put in to make the lake such a special place. I was involved in helping to acquire the £5,000 from the Calor Rural Community Fund and I’m pleased to say that money has now been spent on such items as the eco island, the pond dipping platform and the shed to name just a few.

Although this is the second year that the village has not been able to convene the early Spring litter pick, thanks to several people who regularly pick up litter on their walks etc., the verges and footpaths are not looking too bad at all. Of course it’s frustrating to see the wanton throwing of cans and bottles in hedgerows and ditches but I think it would be so much worse if we just left it, so please help if you can.

We are very close to the completion of the process for the Neighbourhood Development Plan when the referendum takes place on May 6th. Although Ron Monroe and Sarah Powell stepped down from the Parish Council at the last election they volunteered to continue to see the NDP through to its conclusion. At times this has involved quite a bit of work for them and this has been much appreciated. I’m sure they will be relieved once the referendum has taken place and the result known.

I took over from Roger Sleeman as the Chair of the Parish Council in October. We lost so much experience at the time of the last election that it was really helpful that Roger, with his 40 years experience on the Parish Council, took on the role of Chair until the rest of us had a chance to find our feet. There are still many occasions when we are catching up to know the historical context of issues that arise but I think we make up for some of this with the enthusiasm of newcomers.

We eventually managed to get much of the footpath in The Street resurfaced. I have come to realise how important it is for the Parish Council to continue to exert pressure to get things done. However, there are different ways of doing this and I think we have seen the benefit of our Parish Clerk, Wendy Cartwright, forming positive working relationships with key people in the District and County Councils. Having said that we now have to face the fact that Wendy will be stepping down from this role, to focus on her music teaching, in a couple of months time. We are in the process of finding her successor. I’m sure the whole village would like to thank Wendy for what she has achieved and the manner with which she has done it.

I will end by saying that we plan to continue with Parish Council meetings via Zoom for the time being. While the health advice continues to identify the risk, in relation to COVID-19, as people meeting indoors it seems sensible to use Zoom. Anyone can attend these meetings. If any of you need help with how to use Zoom please let me know. Also you can approach any of the Parish Councillors if you wish to make a point or highlight a problem.

John Whitwell

April 2021

Annual Parish Meeting Minutes May 2020

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 4th May, 7.30 pm, 2020

Present: Cllr R. Sleeman (Chair),R. Elsey (Vice chair),Cllr M. Keegan, Cllr M. Rigby, Cllr A Stradling, Cllr G. Valentine, Cllr J. Whitwell, Cllr S. Parsons (Gloucestershire County Council), Cllr. T Berry (CDC), Mrs. W Cartwright (Clerk).

Due to the national lockdown restrictions by the Government, a face to face public meeting was unable to take place and instead a virtual meeting was held by Councillors at which all the reports which had been written and previously distributed to parishioners by e-mail distribution list and on the Somerford Keynes parish website were presented.

  • Chair’s Report: Report given by Cllr Sleeman.
  • Village Lake report: Cllr Sleeman presented the short report written by Mike Wilding.
  • Neighbourhood development plan (NDP): Cllr Sleeman presented the short report written by Ron Monroe.
  • Clerk’s Financial report: A brief overview of the 2019/20 internally audited accounts was given in terms of receipts/payments.
  • Cotswold District Council (CDC): Report given by Cllr Berry.
  • Gloucestershire County Council: Report given by Cllr Parsons.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 8.00 pm.

Annual Parish Meeting April 2021 agenda

Councillors:  John Whitwell (Chair), Richard Elsey (Vice chair) Mandy Keegan, Michele Rigby, Roger Sleeman, Angela Stradling, Graham Valentine,Tony Berry (Cotswold District Councillor), Shaun Parsons (Gloucestershire County Councillor)

Clerk: Wendy Cartwright

Monday 26th April 2021, 7.30pm, To be held by zoom conference

Please contact John Whitwell on [email protected] for details and password.

  1.    To receive apologies
  2.    To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4th May 2020
  3.    To receive the Chair’s report (John Whitwell)
  4.    To receive a report on the Village Lake (Mike Wilding)
  5.   To receive a short financial report from the Clerk (Wendy Cartwright)
  6.    To receive a report from our District Councillor (Tony Berry)
  7.   To receive a report from our County Councillor (Shaun Parsons)

Questions may be asked after every report.

April 2021      

April 2021 agenda

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 12th April at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall is CANCELLED due to Covid-19.  However, it will be held via zoom meeting:

Please contact John Whitwell on [email protected] for details and password.

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Declarations of interest
  3. Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting held on 1st March
  4. Matters arising from previous minutes
    • Parish clerk and internal auditor appointment
    • Future plans for Neigh Bridge Country Park
  5. Planning applications
  6. Correspondence
  7. Financial Matters
  8. Questions/comments

Wendy Cartwright, Parish Clerk

5th April 2020

Correspondence

  • Watercourse maps

Planning Applications

  • 20/03592/FUL – Erection of 8 detached holiday units, ancillary buildings, provision of new landscaping, vehicular access, LME
  • 21/00774/FUL – Pool, boat store and jetty design, LME
  • 21/00843/FUL – Extension of the rear decking at 12 Spinney Lake, LME
  • 20/03319/FUL – Erection of single storey front extension at The Weighbridge Cabin, The Paddocks, Somerford Keynes
  • 21/00961/FUL – Change of use from a cycle hire facility (E (a) Use Class) to a single residential dwelling (C3 Use Class) at Tall Trees Water Lane Somerford Keynes
  • 21/00215/FUL – Proposed re-roofing of ground floor roofs at Old School House Somerford Keynes
  • 21/00216/LBC – Listed Building Consent for Proposed re-roofing of ground floor roofs and internal alterations at Old School House, Somerford Keynes
  • 21/01000/FUL 21/01000/FUL – Demolition of existing buildings and erection of a replacement single storage pent roof building at Land Parcel Known as The Lane Garden Ewen Road Somerford Keynes
  • 21/00840/TCONR- Sycamore – 2m overall crown reduction at Brockhill, Somerford Keynes
  • 21/01381/TCONR – Silver Maple – Brockhill, Somerford Keynes

Financial Matters

Zoom subscription expenses £14.39; Microsoft subscription £59.99, Busy fingers printing £12.60

NDP News Issue 9

THE FINAL STEP – TIME FOR YOU TO VOTE

The journey to formal approval for the Somerford Keynes and Shorncote Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) is almost complete. The final step is for the community to vote in the upcoming referendum. So it’s time to update you on how we finally got to this point and what you need to do.

The NDP is the only way in which local community views can directly inform new planning policies. Is that important? It would certainly appear so, because the NDP is playing an important part in a planning application on which local opinion is being expressed very strongly.

THE STORY SO FAR

The last NDP News reported that the NDP had been submitted to Cotswold District Council, our local planning authority, whose endorsement is needed for it to progress. A further public consultation followed and the NDP was sent to an Independent Examiner for comment. This consultation period ended on 24 January 2020 and that’s the last you may have heard of the NDP.

Now read on.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

The consultation was completed successfully, the Independent Examiner sent his initial comments and queries on various aspects of the Plan, and then – – – –  – covid-19!! We had been aiming to run the referendum on the NDP at the same time as the elections in May 2020, but then the government announced that all elections and local referenda would be postponed for a year. Not what we wanted to hear, but in the grand scheme of things, not the most disastrous aspect of the pandemic which we are still battling now.

Although our plans to finish this process had been torpedoed, we were able to continue to work towards completing the remaining stages prior to the referendum. For reasons explained below, this was an important decision. The rest of this “News” reports what has happened between February 2020 and now.

THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Before CDC can approve a Neighbourhood Plan to go to referendum it must be endorsed by an Independent Examiner, whose job it is to ensure that the NDP meets all the requirements of European legislation, the national planning framework and the CDC Local Plan and that it completed all of the administrative stages.

In February 2020, the Examiner produced a list of points upon which he sought clarification to ensure that they complied with all of the above. The Parish Council responded to those queries and the Examiner published his full report on 28 July 2020. This was a key point, because it is this recommendation that decides if the NDP can move forward.

THE EXAMINER’S REPORT

The report states that “Subject to a series of recommended modifications – – – the Somerford Keynes and Shorncote NDP meets all the necessary legal requirements and should proceed to referendum”. That’s what we wanted to hear because the referendum is the final stage and the opportunity for local people to make the final decision.

CDC, as the local planning authority, endorsed the Examiner’s recommendation on 28 August, commenting, “While there is an ever increasing number of made neighbourhood plans, there are very few that have been prepared and written without professional assistance, so we think you can be doubly proud of this achievement.”

The Report made a particular point of commending the level of public consultation, ensuring that our NDP is a true reflection of community views and aspirations. It states, “the Plan has promoted an inclusive approach to seeking opinions of all concerned”. The Examiner points out that the Plan has “a very clear focus on safeguarding local character and providing a context within which new homes can be accommodated. – – -It has a particular focus on maintaining the rural identity of the neighbourhood area.” He also commented, “The production of the Plan has been well-managed”.

The modifications he proposed were largely helpful clarifications to ensure that Policies were correctly worded to conform to planning requirements. Two Policies had to be deleted. SKPOL2, on first option to buy new houses for local people, is now a Community Proposal, and SKPOL12, relating to outdoor advertising and signage, included because of strongly held local views on this matter, has been deleted because it is a matter for CDC. None of the changes interferes with the central objectives of the NDP, agreed so long ago in our public consultations.

The full NDP can be downloaded here

WHAT’S LEFT TO DO?

The only outstanding matter is to ensure that you vote in the referendum in May. Everyone in the Parish is entitled to vote, either in person or by using a postal ballot.

This has been a long road – – -far longer than we envisaged at the start! Now we’re near the end, please play your part one more time and vote in the referendum. It’s YOUR village and YOUR Plan.

Ron Munroe, Sarah Powell, the NDP Team

Published and printed by Somerford Keynes Parish Council 24 March 2021

Spring 2021 Newsletter

Spring Newsletter 11

Clerk Wendy Cartwright 01285 861517 

[email protected] 

Councillors: Richard Elsey, Mandy Keegan, Michele Rigby, Roger Sleeman, Angela Stradling, Graham Valentine, John Whitwell (Chair) 

COVID Update:

We have all been subject to strict Lockdown in recent months but, thankfully, there are now signs that cases are decreasing with Cotswold District being significantly lower than the national average. Also, very recent news that those over 56 are now being offered their vaccinations. We very much hope that easing will continue as planned in forthcoming weeks.

As we are not delivering this newsletter by hand at the moment, we would ask you to encourage neighbours, particularly any new to the village, to send Wendy their email addresses so that we can keep in touch and ensure they get updates.

The list of volunteers who have offered to help during the pandemic has changed due to people moving etc. If anyone would like to be added to the list, please contact Wendy.

The current list is:

  • Julie Allen (Water Lane 07801065690)
  • Andy Clark (Water Lane 862745)
  • Paula Eales (The Street 862430)
  • Peter Burrows (The Street 07988712375)
  • Claire Avery (Elm View 07889629070)

New Look Website!

Our massive thanks to Mike McKeown & Jon Lunn who have built our new look website at: https://www.somerfordkeynes.org.uk/

Some of the benefits of the new site include:

  • Dynamic content including news, notices, and blogs
  • Dynamic resizing means the site works on mobiles and tables as well as PCs
  • Photo galleries
  • Local directory
  • Content search
  • Easier to manage, which means people from groups such as the Parish Council, Village Lake, Village Hall, Church and History Group can manage their own content
  • Uses modern web technology, which allows a nicer design, meets government guidelines on accessibility and improves security

We are very also grateful to Peter Watkins for his many years of support.

Bakers Arms

We are pleased to advise that on 12 April, when we hope restrictions are lessened, the Bakers Arms will reopen on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from midday to 9pm. Only the garden will be open initially. There will be a bar service, with light food being served during the daytime such as sandwiches, mezze boards, and scones. Hot food will be served in the evening.

Subject to the further release of restrictions, from 17 May the BAs should be fully open again with a new menu.

Home deliveries will continue until further notice. Any queries call the BAs on 01285 861298 and someone will call back asap.

Good news on NDP (Neighbourhood Development Plan)

The Coronavirus pandemic has delayed progress on the NDP, as with so many other things. However, there is good news to report. The Plan was submitted to the Independent Examiner in November 2019. He had to decide if it met all of the criteria to be submitted for referendum in the community. The good news is that the report, published in July 2020, endorsed the plan to go forward to this final stage. There will be an “NDP News” in the near future giving more information about this.

The referendum will be held as part of the elections scheduled for this May when you will be asked to vote to approve the NDP. It is important that the community votes in the referendum to show whether we endorse this Plan, which has been developed in response to the views expressed by you, the people of the Parish.

Neigh Bridge

During the winter there have been three Cotswold Water Park multi-agency meetings involving County Councils, District Councils, Parish Councils, and the Police. There are working groups set up to try and improve the three main problems of Littering, Parking, Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour. The problems experienced at Neigh Bridge last year received a lot of attention in these meetings and we do hope that as the weather improves and restrictions ease, we will not see a repeat of the problems experienced last year.

The Village Hall

The Village Hall has obviously been closed for the last couple of months. There is a Committee meeting this week where, following Government guidance, decisions will be made in terms of when to re-open. Further information will be made available in due course.

Village Lake Update

As the weather improves, it will be lovely to see this beautiful amenity used more. Recent developments are the anti-slip strips have been installed on the boardwalk by volunteers from the village and the owl box camera has been installed – hopefully, this will provide some great images if we’re fortunate enough for an owl to nest in the box! Videos can be downloaded from the village website.

Keeping the Village Tidy & Neat

Due to Coronavirus, we have not been able to run our normal Litter Picking activity, but it has been noticed that a number of residents have been making their own efforts on this front. A big thanks to them all and a special shout out to Des Sheen who has individually made a huge impact!

Cutting of Hedges – it’s growing season, so we’d be grateful if residents would make best efforts to trim back any overgrowing shrubs, trees and hedges.

Stay Safe, The Parish Council 

March 2021 agenda

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 1st March at7.30pm in the Village Hall is CANCELLED due to Covid-19. However, it will be held via zoom meeting:

Please contact John Whitwell on [email protected] for details and password.

AGENDA

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Declarations of interest
  3. Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting held on 1st February
  4. Presentations
    • Access to LME walking paths
    • The Lane Gardens (Triangular land opposite Sculpture Park)
  5. Matters arising from previous minutes
  6. Planning applications
  7. Correspondence
  8. Financial Matters
  9. Questions/comments

Wendy Cartwright, Parish Clerk

28th February

Correspondence

  • Litter picking
  • Drainage ditches
  • Aggressive dog
  • SSSI designation
  • Electric Vehicle charging points at the village hall
  • PROW

Planning Applications

  • 21/00339/FUL – Change the permitted unit type and occupancy restriction, LME
  • 21/00192/FUL – Change the permitted unit type, LME
  • Ashland update, white barn update
  • The Lane Gardens presentation

Financial Matters

Clerks salary £691.80; Zoom subscription expenses £14.39; McAfree subscription £59.99, Village Lake expenses £5.27; £467.23; Historic Town and Village Forum Subscription £15; GAPTC subscription £142.37

February 2021 agenda

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 1st February at 7.30pm in the Village Hall is CANCELLED due to Covid-19.  However, it will be held via zoom meeting:

Please contact John Whitwell on [email protected] for details and password.

AGENDA

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Declarations of interest
  3. Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4th January
  4. Matters arising from previous minutes
  5. Planning applications
  6. Correspondence
  7. Financial Matters
  8. Questions/comments

Wendy Cartwright, Parish Clerk

25th January 2020

Correspondence

  • SSSI designation
  • 20 mph speed limit
  • Community Rail partnership
  • PSL Manager change
  • Potholes, village gateway signs
  • Water Lane gritting
  • Emergency Plan, Covid plan list of volunteers, Water Lane drainage
  • Aggressive Dog, Footpath post adj to Old School House, Parish Field fencing/ditch
  • Model code of conduct

Planning Applications

  • 20/04183/FUL – Vary condition 2 of planning permission 11/03126/FUL to change the permitted unit, LME
  • 20/04499/FUL – Full Application for Construction of a temporary 19.94MW Solar Farm at Land at Grid Reference 403536 198745 Ashton Road Siddington
  • 20/03916/FUL – Full Application to vary conditions 2 and 4 of planning permission 11/03126/FUL to change the permitted unit type and occupancy restriction, LME
  • 20/03885/FUL – Full Application to vary conditions 2 and 4 of planning permission 11/03126/FUL to change the permitted unit type and occupancy restriction, LME
  • 20/04183/FUL – Full Application to vary condition 2 of planning permission 11/03126/FUL to change the permitted unit type, LME  
  • 21/00353/TCONR – Grange End Tree work; 21/00313/TCONR – Loughrigg Tree work
  • 20/04079/FUL – Development of Land to South East of Ashland House – update
  • White barns update

Financial Matters

Zoom subscription expenses £14.39; Village Lake increase £150 budget

January 2021 agenda

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 4th January at 7.30pm in the Village Hall is CANCELLED due to Covid-19.  However, it will be held via zoom meeting:

Please contact John Whitwell on [email protected] for details and password.

AGENDA

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Declarations of interest
  3. Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7th December
  4. Matters arising from previous minutes
  5. Planning applications
  6. Correspondence
  7. Financial Matters
  8. Questions/comments

Wendy Cartwright, Parish Clerk

28th December 2020

Correspondence

  • Social and safe roads
  • Non designated heritage structures
  • Ashback die back scheme
  • Water Lane and drainage issues
  • Disrupted Water supply – Church lane

Planning Applications

  • 20/04079/FUL – Development of Land to South East of Ashland House
  • 20/03092/FUL – Variation of condition 2 of application 19/l00247/FUL to seek approval of the change of permitted unit type, LME
  • 20/04292/TCONR – Tree work at East Manor Barn Somerford Keynes
  • 20/03592/FUL – Erection of 8 detached holiday units, ancillary buildings, provision of new landscaping, vehicular access plus amendments to the waters’ edge of Minety Lake, LME
  • 20/04086/FUL – Addition of hot tub to rear decking and jetty to water’s edge. LME
  • 20/04259/FUL – Variation of condition 2 of application 19/00247/FUL to seek the approval of the change of unit location, extended decking and relocation of two trees, LME
  • 20/03207/FUL – Variation of condition 2 and 4 of application 11/03126/FUL to seek approval of the change of permitted unit type, LME
  • 20/03013/FUL – Variation of condition 2 of application 19/00247/FUL to change of permitted unit type, LME

Financial Matters

  • Precept approval
  • Zoom subscription expenses £14.39

March 2021 minutes

Minutes of the meeting of Somerford Keynes Parish Council (SKPC) 1st March 2021

Present: Cllr J. Whitwell (JW, Chair), Cllr R. Elsey (RE, Vice Chair), Cllr M. Rigby (MR), Cllr M. Keegan (MK), Cllr R. Sleeman (RS), Cllr G. Valentine (GV), Cllr A. Stradling (AS) Cllr T. Berry (TB CDC), Cllr S Parsons (SP Gloucester County Council GCC), W. Cartwright (WC, Clerk) plus 5 parishioners.

Held by Zoom conference due to ongoing Coronavirus crisis.

  1. Apologies:  None
  2. Declaration of interest: GV and LME
  3. Minutes of meeting held 1st February were approved subject to amendment that 12/02/21 was the extended date of consultation for Ashland House. Proposed RS, seconded JW.
  4. LME presentation on footpaths access (Oberon Rogers, OR): OR gave a presentation regarding villager access to footpaths around LME private estate. He indicated that following the Homeowners Association meeting and discussion with the Landlord that there would be no future access given to villagers to any private footpaths. OR gave a number of reasons why this was the case in terms of the inability of parishioners to sign code of conduct and invalidating insurance policies, security and drowning issues, practical issues with electronic gates, as well as abusive people.  OR pointed out that there was free access to the public footpaths around the estate. It was questioned whether there could be seasonal access in the autumn, winter and spring months, but not the summer. OR also indicated that LME were adhering to recommendations made by the police following Covid-19, and that the LME decision of no access was final. SKPC voiced its strong disappointment given the past historic relationship with free access to walking around Mill Lake.   
  5. Lane End Gardens (Daniel Janocka, DJ); DJ gave a presentation on a future plan to replace sheds with a low-level building to tidy up the current site as well as to prevent thefts of equipment. It would be discrete, and DJ had sent plans to the Parish Council before submitting to gratefully receive any comments, as he wishes to ensure that any improvement is welcomed. SKPC agreed it was a good idea to tidy the site and had identified no adverse issues with current proposals.
  6. Clerk’s report
    1. Village Website: Mike McKeown (MM) and Jon Lunn (JL) had made the corrections that were given by MR and the website was now live. A training session was scheduled for 4/3/21 for permitted individuals to post information on the website, which included WC, MK, GV.
    2. Keynes Country Park: (KCP); Nothing further to report
    3. Village Lake: Mike Wilding (MW, Village Lake Management Committee, VLMC) gave an update of Village lake projects and indicated that LME did not need to continue to offer to mow the grass (last offered 2019) as the VLMC had a lawn mower. The anti-slip strips had been installed on the boardwalk by village volunteers and the owl box camera installed which is hoped in the future if an owl nests, videos can be downloaded on the village website. A water level gauge is still to be placed at the pond dipping pond. The LME 106 grant to be sought for planting of wildflower meadow had been submitted and correspondences were being exchanged between MW and Esther Frizell-Armitage (CDC). MW was answering questions and there were some barriers to progress, including a request for matched funding. The Natural England designation of the SSSI would now mean that consent would need to be given for regular maintenance work (e.g. pruning trees, planting), but MW had spoken to Peter Holmes (PH, advisor) who indicated that this could be listed on the form, and that such work would not have objections and consent would only be needed once. Action: MW to update TB who would follow up with CDC to help move the LME 106 grant forward. Action: MW to correspond with Natural England on consent of maintenance work.
    4. LME cycleway: No update.
    5. GCC Highways/ footpaths:
      • Village gateway signs: Awaiting installation.
      • Elm View overflowing drain/Water Lane potholes, Water Lane gritting:  WC had contacted Gill Portlock (GCC Highways) on all issues.
      • Footpath post: Footpath post and sign at end of Church Lane adjacent to Old School House needs had been replaced. Action: WC to request a meeting with Frank Dorrington-Ward (FDW) when Covid restrictions are lifted to discuss style replacement with kissing gates.
      • Cycleway red barriers: WC had contacted GCC Highways to request their removal. GP had replied to the request to remove them indicating they were still important and that she would get them reinstated.
    6. Parish Field: A parishioner had indicated that poor state of repair of the fence at the southern end of the field and MR/RE have contacted Jo Pendleberry (JP, Waterland) and she has repaired the fencing and discussed whether any more permanent solution could be sought. One suggestion had been planting thorny hedging which was agreed was a good idea. However, now classified as a SSSI, the Parish Council would need to apply for consent from Natural England. MR had spoken to PH, and requested another pack be sent to WC to give to JP. An acknowledgment form had been sent updating contact details. Action:  WC to chase delivery of additional pack if necessary.
    7. Neighbridge: Ben Wellbourn had provided clarification about the level of income from the Neighbridge car park, which was higher than SKPC had anticipated.
    8. Flooding: Concerns were raised about the high water table and flooding in the vicinity of Water Lane and Laurence King (CDC, Flood manager) and Gill Portlock (GP, GCC Highways) had been contacted. GP had reported that the culvert was clear, and LK had responded indicating that he had been unaware of any specific current problems in the village. SP indicated that clearing the County ditch and jetting culverts in the summer would be a preventative measure to the problem. Action:  WC maintain contact with GP/LK.
    9. Newsletter: AS offered to write a redesigned newsletter and requested for topics to be covered by Councillors. It was agreed a quarterly newsletter was required, and that AS would write the spring issue, RE the summer issue (June), and GV/JW the autumn issue (September). The AGM date of 26/4/21 to be publicised in the newsletter. Action: AS to draft newsletter.

6.10 Other matters

6.10.1 Litter picking: It was agreed that Des Sheen be commended on his huge litter picking efforts around the village with a letter as well as a mention in the spring newsletter, especially given that the annual village litter pick was cancelled the last two years due to Covid-19. Action: WC/AS to acknowledge DS appreciated efforts.

6.10.2 Aggressive dog: WC had contacted the owners of the dog requesting that it be kept on a lead, or if loose muzzled. The owner’s response was considered inadequate by the Parish Council and it was agreed that the FDW (GCC footpaths) and the police be recontacted as previously. Action: WC to contact external bodies.

6.10.3 Electric car charging:  Mike McKeown (MM) had requested this be investigated at the village hall and it was agreed this was a good idea. TB indicated there was money available at CDC for this type of initiative. Action: WC to inform Village Hall Management Committee.

6.10.4 PROW: A parishioner had queried whether the public footpath AKEY4 at Ashton Down, within the Cotswold Community was being inadvertently blocked had contacted Wiltshire County Council (WCC). There was still some access via a farm track but was concerned the original footpath may become lost. Action: WC to keep awareness of response from WCC.

6.10.5 Watercourse/Drainage Ditches: A question had been received from a parishioner regarding whether the County ditch could be regarded as a watercourse as there had been some indication on an old OS map that this could be the case. RS indicated that the River Thames was the nearest watercourse which was the responsibility of the Environment Agency, rather than the County ditch.

Planning applications

  • 21//00339/FUL; 21/00192/FUL (LME change permitted unit type); No objections.
  • 20/04079/FUL – Development of Land to South East of Ashland House – Developers resubmitting amended plans.
  • White barns update: TB had asked for a follow up with planning enforcement, but it would not be a fast response. Action: TB to keep aware of any update.

Financial Matters

Clerks salary £691.80; Zoom subscription expenses £14.39; McAfree subscription £59.99, Village Lake expenses £5.27; £467.23; Historic Town and Village Forum Subscription £15; GAPTC subscription £142.37 Proposed RS seconded MR. Agreed en bloc.

The meeting was closed at 9.20pm.    

Date of next meeting:  Monday 12th April 2021, 7.30 pm

Date of Annual Parish Meeting: Monday 26th April 2021, 7.30 pm