WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of an extraordinary meeting of WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL held at the Council Rooms, Grants Lane, Wedmore on Wednesday 1st December at 7.00pm
Present: Councillors: Mrs P Costello (Chair), Mrs I Beacom, Mrs G Cousins, Mr D Cox, Mrs B James-Lloyd, Mr D Kirley, Mrs E Mulliner, Mr P Tinney, Mrs S Worrall
In Attendance: Mr. R Pring (Clerk).
At the start of the meeting the Chair reminded members that the meeting was being recorded on video.
Apologies:- Cllrs J Candy, J Farley, A Landers, A Reeson, A Smith
21.12.01E to CONSIDER PURCHASING THE CHRISTMAS STREET LIGHTS AT NOMINAL COST AND INSURING THEM FOR PUBLIC LIABILITY COVER FOR ONE YEAR ONLY.
The Chair reminded members that at the last Council meeting it had been agreed to insure the lights for public liability cover for one year only, but it now transpired that in order to do so the Council had to either own the lights or have some direct insurable interest in them. When the lights were purchased it was agreed to make a grant of £500 towards their cost but the Council would not take ownership over them. That was the responsibility of the traders. She also said that rumours were going around the village that the lights were not going up this year and that was down to the Parish Council. That was certainly not the case and she said the Council fully supported the lights going up. Cllr Kirley felt that as there was no cost to the Council in putting them up and taking them down, which was being done by volunteers, the Council ought to take ownership for this year only and get the public liability covered. Cllr Worrall asked why the original owners had declined to put them up ? Cllr Cox said that things had moved and the owners had disbanded leaving just one person to sort it all out. £700 had been raised by local businesses so there would be zero cost to the Council this year. Safety checks were due next year and funds were available to carry out those checks. The Chair felt the Council ought to be aware of the ongoing costs. Cllr Kirley said that the Council had supported “Lamplight” this year and it would be good to offer this extra support to the community. Moving forward he hoped a group could be formed to look after all Christmas festivities – “Christmas Wedmore” and that it would be an ideal opportunity to donate the lights to such a group. Cllr James-Lloyd said the future of the lights should be discussed in January rather than a last minute rush such as was going on this evening .Cllr Cox proposed that the lights be purchased at minimal cost and the whole process be reviewed in January. This was seconded by Cllr James-Lloyd and agreed.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.14 pm