WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the meeting of WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL held at Wedmore Village Hall, on
Wednesday 16th June 2021 at 7.30 p.m.
Present: Councillors:, Mrs P Costello (Chair), Mrs I Beacom, Mrs J Candy, Mrs G Cousins,
Mr D Cox, Mrs J Farley, Mrs J Keen, Mrs B James-Lloyd, Mr D Kirley, Mr A Landers,
Mrs E Mulliner, Mr J Newton, Mr A Smith, Mr S Thorogood, Mr P Tinney,
In Attendance: Mr. R Pring (Clerk), Cllr D Huxtable (SCC), Mrs E Gillibrand, Mrs E Wotton
Prior to the meeting the Chair, vice-Chair and recently elected members signed the Acceptance of
Office Register. The Chair welcomed everyone to the first face to face meeting for
several months.
21.06.1. TO RECEIVE ANY APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Cllrs S Worrall
21.06.2. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS – Cllr Huxtable had nothing
to report but was willing to receive any questions. Cllr Mulliner asked if it was correct
that more County funding had been allocated to green projects to support those
organisations unsuccessful at the last round of applications. Cllr Huxtable replied that
this was correct and that those organisations that had previously applied would not
have to re-submit applications. He mentioned a new Highways website for the public to
make use of together with extra funding being made available for village halls. Cllr
Costello commented on the recently held poll concerning a proposed unitary authority
which had decided in favour of the “Stronger Somerset” group. She had been
inundated with queries about the missed green bin collections which had been due to a
shortage of drivers but now appeared to be back on course. Sedgemoor was
discussing the issue with the contractor and Councillors were asking for some form of
compensation for green waste subscribers. She had also chaired a Licensing
Committee at Sedgemoor.
21.06.3. TO RECORD ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – Nil.
21.06.4. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 19TH MAY 2021 – RESOLVED: that
with one amendment the Chairman be authorised to sign the minutes as a correct
record of the previous meeting.
21.06.5. MATTERS ARISING – a. Review of processes and procedures. Cllr Kirley said that following
the investigation into a complaint against the Clerk, the investigator had highlighted some
procedures and processes that needed updating. A small sub-committee had ben formed to
look at these matters and would report back in due course when their work was complete.
b. The Clerk reported that the Air Ambulance clothing bank was in situ in
the village car park.
21.06.6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Nil.
21.06.7. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) Audit of accounts – 24th April 2021 – 24th May 2021 – Cllr Keen and Cllr Mulliner
reported that all was in order.
b) Accounts for Payment – as per the following list
Payment Payee Details Amount
2
BACS Rapide Systems Washroom cleaner and stationery £23.40
BACS Premier Trophies Replica Henry Butt trophy for Bob Selwood £42.39
BACS Wedmore PTA Grant towards swimming pool etc £500.00
BACS OddJob Unblock drains at public toilets £63.00
DD Sedgemoor DC Clerk’s salary £1756.79
DD Mainstream Line rental and phone calls £64.48
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at toilets £8.68
BACS Clarity Copiers Photocopy charges £8.77
BACS Cheddar Signs Dog sign for Worth. Woods and no smoking for toilets £51.00
BACS Rapide Systems Consumables public toilets £29.28
BACS Ground Level Tree cutting Car Park £108.00
BACS Ground level Pruning trees and hedges Blackford Play Area £768.00
DD Mainstream Broadband and line rental £63.00
DD Mainstream Phone calls £0.42
BACS W Jackson Grass cutting , highways and cemetery work £968.00
BACS Mrs R Stevens Clean Council Rooms £25.00
BACS R Pring Clerk’s expenses £17.46
BACS D Summers-Cook Clean and lock toilets £220.00
21.06.08 TO CONSIDER COSTS FOR THE CREATION OF A DEMARCATION ZONE AT THE CEMETERY
CAR PARK– Cllr Cousins outlined proposals to create a demarcation zone between the grass
and the car park at the cemetery involving some kerbing and blue shale. This plan had been
ongoing for a couple of years and she would like it to progress without delay. Two quotes had
been obtained. She proposed the lower quote submitted by Chambers Services be accepted.
This was seconded by Cllr Kirly and agreed. – ACTION Clerk
21.06.09 TO CONSIDER A FURTHER UPDTE AND TO AGREE ANY PROPOSALS IN RELATION TO THE
COUNCIL PRIORITY LIST – Cllr Cox had previously ciculated a list of priorities for the Council
including supporting the proposed medical centre, repairs to Theale village hall and a new
website. He proposed the list be formally accepted. This was seconded by Cllr Smith and
agreed. ACTION – DC
21.06.10 TO CONSIDER SITING A SHED AT THE ALLOTMENTS FOR PLANT AND SEED EXCHANGE ETC. –
Cllr Candy reported that all plots had now been let but there had been a request to site a small shed
on a corner plot where allotment holders could swap seeds, plants and produce. A discussion
followed concerning the running costs of the allotments and it was generally agreed that a major
increase in rents was needed to offset some of the running costs. Cllr Candy said that the shed
would cost in the region of £700. She proposed this be approved in principal. This was seconded by
Cllr Thorogood and agreed. ACTION – JC
21.06.11 TO CONSIDER A PAPER CONCERNING HEALTH AND WELLBEING FROM CATHY BUTTERWORTH –
Cathy Butterworth had circulated a paper on the proposed project and Mrs Gillibrand added that the
project needed the support of the Council to go ahead. Last time the Council paid for printing
directories for every household and also paid for the rental of two halls in the village to stage
exhibitions. The members agreed to fully support the project as previous and would consider a grant
application in due course.
21.06.12 ISSUES AND QUESIONS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS – Cllr. Cousins reported that following
some anti-social behaviour in the village it took six days for a PCSO to visit the complainant.
Although the incident had not been reported by “999” she felt this time lag was excessive. Cllr
Thorogood asked if an orchard off Worthington Close had a covenant to prevent it being
developed. The Chair said she had no idea and suggested an enquiry with the landowner.
Cllr Smith noted that when the Highways Dept signed off work to a contractor no time scale for
completing the work was included. This was proving very frustrating when we were pressing
to get work completed. Cllr Newton reported that the Blackford gateway materials had been
delivered to the Highways Dept at Dunball. .
21.04.16 CORRESPONDENCE
3
Item From Whom Subject
ALL CIRCULATED
21.04.17 COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Cemetery – Letter of appreciation concerning the maintenance of the cemetery had been
received
• Facilities Allotments & Footpaths – Nil
• Finance & General Purposes – Nil
• Housing – Nil.
• Highways – The sewerage scheme in the car park should be starting soon.
• Planning – Meeting Weds 23rd June in the Council Rooms
• Footpaths and Green Issues – Cllr Mulliner gave details of recent Green Wedmore activities
including a bank holiday cycle ride and a reduced rate for locals applying for solar panels.
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON COMMITTEES
• IOW News – AGM being held next month and Tom Wright would be succeeding
John Rook as Treasurer. John has held that post for 10 years and has done a first
class job..
• Play Areas – Tree work at Blackford now completed and repairs carried out to
equipment at Wedmore
• SALC – Nil
• Wedmore Playing Fields Management – Nil
• Village Halls – All halls were now open and taking bookings for events. Street party
being held in Blackford hall car park and a party was being held on 24th July at
Theale
• Twinning – Nil
21.04.18 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING –
(a). Chairman – Nil
(b) Clerk – Nil
(c) Members – Nil
There being no further business the meeting was declared closed at 8.22 pm
