WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the meeting of WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL held at Wedmore Village Hall on
Wednesday 15th December 2021 at 7.30 p.m.
Present: Councillors:, Mrs P Costello (Chair), Mrs I Beacom, Mrs G Cousins, Mr D Cox,
Mrs J Farley, Mrs B James-Lloyd, Mr D Kirley, Mr A Landers, Mrs E Mulliner,
Mr A Reeson, Mr A Smith, Mrs S Worrall
In Attendance: Mr. R Pring (Clerk),
21.12.1. TO RECEIVE ANY APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Apologies from Cllrs J Candy, J Newton,
P Tinney, S Thorogood, D Huxtable (SCC)
21.12.2. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS – Cllr Huxtable had
previously circulated a briefing sheet for December. Cllr Costello had attended a Grants
Committee meeting at Sedgemoor and various grants had been awarded to young sportsmen
and women, together with young environmentalists. She suggested that if any young person
was known to the Council members who might be suitable applicants for an award, they should
be encouraged to apply.
21.12.3. TO RECORD ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – The Clerk said that he was issuing a
dispensation to each member present so that the budget and precept could be
discussed later in the meeting.
21.12.4. MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 17TH NOVEMBER 2021 AND THE
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 1
ST DECEMBER 2021. – RESOLVED: that the Chairman be
authorised to sign the minutes as a correct record of the previous meetings.
21.12.5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Nil
21.12.6. MATTERS ARISING –Cllr Worrall mentioned the recent “Lamplight” evening and congratulated
all the organisers for a great community event, despite the poor weather. Cllr Kirley said that
there had been a lot of positive feedback from stallholders
21.12.7. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) Audit of accounts 26th October 2021 to 23RD November 2021 – Cllr Beecom and Cllr
Mulliner reported that all was in order.
b) Accounts for Payment – as per the following list
Payment Payee Details Amount
BACS SLCC Annual subscription £185.00
Cheque RBL Poppy Appeal Donation for poppy wreath £50.00
BACS GB Sport Play area equipment £1272.05
BACS GB Sport Play area equipment £179.52
BACS GB Sport Play area equipment £736.20
BACS J Bethell Replace fencing etc Blackfrod Play area £3829.00
DD Mainstream Line rental and phone calls £62.75
BACS W Jackson Grass cutting, highways etc £953.00
BACS R Pring Clerk’s expenses £22.86
BACS Mrs R Stevens Clean Council Rooms £25.00
BACS D Summers-Cook Clean and lock toilets £230.00
BACS St Andrews Press Print banners for “Lamplight” £207.60
2
BACS Methodist Church Burial Grant £100.00
BACS Theale Church Burial Grant £100.00
BACS Blackford Church Burial Grant £100.00
BACS Woodburys Insurance for “Lamplight” £289.00
BACS PEP Feasibility Study Green Wedmore (paid back later) £4800.00
DD Sedgemoor DC Clerk’s salary £1756.79
BACS BGW Solicitors Legal fees £60.00
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at toilets £9.32
BACS C & T Maint. Reconfigure heating due to new router £36.00
BACS Somerset CC Posts for SID’s £936.00+
19.12.8 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE HELD ON 1
ST
DECEMBER 2021 AND TO AGREE THE PRECEPT REQUEST AND BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR – The Clerk
gave a brief synopsis of the meeting and said that it was felt necessary to raise the precept
this year due to the new developments needing extra management and with the construction
and equipping of a new play area at Cross Farm. Cllr Cox referred to the Council’s “wish list”
of projects which would require funding and gave details of precepts in neighbouring parishes
which showed Wedmore to be low on the list. Cllr Beacom felt the Council should take what it
needed and no more. Cllr Kirley proiposed the minutes and budget be adopted with an
increased precept. This was seconded by Cllr Worrall and approved.
19.12.9 TO AGREE THE MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMITTEE HELD ON 7
TH DECEMBER 2021 – The
Clerk had previously circulated the minutes. It was proposed by Cllr Worrall and seconded by
Cllr Cousins that the minutes be approved and this was agreed.
19.12.10 TO CONSIDER INCREASING THE ALLOTMENT RENTS FROM 25TH DECEMBER 2021 – In the
absence of Cllr Candy, the Clerk said that the rents had not been increased for a number of years but
due to rising costs in water and maintenance, an increase was needed. It had been suggested large
plots woiuld be £50 p.a. and smaller plots £25 p.a. These rates were still below the rents applied by
neighbouring parishes. Cllr Worral proposed and Cllr Farley seconded that the rates be increased as
per the suggestion of the Clerk and this was agreed..
19.12.11 TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO POLICIES AND TERMS OF REFERENCE – Cllr Cox had
previously circulated an updated version of Standing Orders which had been drawn up in
accordance with NALC guidelines. He proposed they be adopted. This was seconded by Cllr
James-Lloyd and agreed.
19.12.12 TO CONSIDER PROPOSALS AND COSTS FOR A NEW WEBSITE – Cllr James-Lloyd had
previously circulated a paper on this project which would allow each Councillor to have an
individual e-mail address. The costs were reasonable and she proposed that “Netwise” be
asked to design a new website for the Council. This was seconded by Cllr Mulliner and
agreed.
19.12.13 WEDMORE “HAVE YOUR SAY” OPEN MEETING – Cllr Cox suggested that an open day be
held in the Village Hall in February to outline various projects on the Council’s “wish list”
including the proposed Medical Centre, street lighting and the proposed Pilcorn Street buildout. He suggested a small budget of £400 be allocated to cover the hire charge and any other
printing costs. The 18th and 19th February 2022 had been reserved in the Hall diary, He
proposed that the event should go ahead as planned. This was seconded by Cllr Kirley and
agreed.
19.12.14 ISSUES AND QUESIONS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS – Cllr Landers mentioned the ongoing
water leak on the main road through Theale. Cllr Cox had been in contact with a supplier of
EV chargers and was waiting for a further proposal. The “Warmer Wedmore” project in
conjunction with Green Wedmore was still ongoing and he hoped that some S106 funds
currently held by Sedgemoor could be used to, upgrade some social housing in the parish.
Cllr Costello said that good progress had been made concerning a footpath opposite Sexeys
School with the Vets donating a small piece of their land towards the project.
19.12.15 CORRESPONDENCE
3
Item From Whom Subject
ALL CIRCULATED
19.12.16 COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Cemetery – Meeting required early January to consider a risk assessment and slip hazards
• Facilities Allotments & Footpaths – Nil
• Finance & General Purposes – Met 1st December. Next meeting June 2022
• Housing –Nil
• Highways, Car Park & Brook – New SID posts in place
• Planning – Need to elect a vice-Chair. Next meeting 5th January 2022
• Footpaths and Green Issues – Nil
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON COMMITTEES
• IOW News – Nil..
• Play Areas – Monthly inspections ongoing
• SALC – Nil
• Wedmore Playing Fields Management – MUGA will be completed end of January
• Village Halls – Wedmore being used by pharmacy for Covid vaccinations.
• Twinning – Nil
• Green Wedmore. Met recently, discussions included street lighting and Pilcorn
Street issues.
19.12.17 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING –
(a). Chairman – Nil
(b) Clerk – the Clerk reported that he would be standing down on 30th April 2022
after nine and a half years service. He was warmly thanked by the Chair for his service to
the parish
(c) Members – Nil
There being no further business, the Chairman wished everyone a Happy Christmas and the
meeting was declared closed at 8.18 pm
