WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the meeting of WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL held by ZOOM video conferencing, on
Wednesday 17th March 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 B James-Lloyd, Mrs J Keen, Mr D Kirley, Mr A Landers,
Mrs E Mulliner, Mr A Smith, Mr S Thorogood, Mr P Tinney, Mrs S Worrall
In Attendance: Mr. R Pring (Clerk), Cllr D Huxtable (SCC), Mrs V Becker-Hughes, Ms E King,
Mr Pete Brown
21.03.1. TO RECEIVE ANY APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Cllr J Newton
21.03.2. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS – Cllr Huxtable had
submitted his monthly report. The covid rate in Somerset was quite low and
vaccination rates progressing well. He was disappointed that Wedmore was
unsuccessful with its bids for funding from the Climate Emergency Fund but he was
hopeful that the cycle path project would receive some funding in due course. He had
no further news on the water issue in Church Street. Cllr Mulliner said she was also
disappointed that the green bids were unsuccessful. Cllr Huxtable said that the total
bids amounted to £3.5m resulting in grants of just over £1m. Only one parish in his
ward had received funding. That was for solar panels on a village hall. He said that in
due course there would be a detailed response to all the applications. He advised
members that if they submitted a feasibility study into the proposed cycle route, their
request would probably be received very favourably by County. Cllr Costello gave
details of meetings attended at Sedgemoor and asked Cllr Huxtable to investigate
issues at Mark where road closures had hindered school transport to Hugh Sexeys
School.
21.03.3. TO RECORD ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – Cllr Worrall declared an interest in item 13
due to a family member being chair of the committee.
21.03.4. MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 17TH FEBRUARY 2021 – RESOLVED: that the
Chairman be authorised to sign the minutes as a correct record of the previous
meeting.
21.03.5. MATTERS ARISING – Nil.
21.03.6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Nil.
21.03.7. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) Audit of accounts – 20th January 2021 – 24th February 2021 – Cllr Keen and Cllr
Mulliner reported that all was in order. Cllr Thorogood queried the high cost of electricity at the
Council Rooms. The Clerk explained this was a winter quarter bill and the high cost was due
to the heating being left on during the lockdown.
b) Accounts for Payment – as per the following list
Payment Payee Details Amount
DD Mainstream Line rental and phone calls £62.52
BACS Clarity Copiers Photocopy costs December £13.69
BACS ZOOM Monthly subscription £14.39
BACS Green Wedmore Grant towards cook book £800.00
BACS J Bethel Repairs Blackford PlayArea £822.00
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DD Sedgemoor DC Clerk’s salary £1757.46
BACS Somerset CC Bus route 67 contribution £1500.00
BACS Water2Business Water rates allotments £19.16
BACS Clarity Copiers Photocopies January £5.45
BACS Clarity Copiers Photocopies February £15.07
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at Council Rooms £783.68
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at toilets £11.21
BACS Play Inspection Co Annual Play Area safety inspections £243.00
BACS J Wheway Tree pollarding work £1600.00
BACS Rapide Systems Toilet rolls public toilets £29.28
BACS J Bethell Repairs at Theale play area £380.00
DD Mainstream Broadband and line rental £60.30
DD Mainstream Phone calls £0.17
BACS Sedgemoor DC Rates at Council Rooms £590.13
BACS Sedgemoor DC Rates at toilets £484.03
BACS Sedgemoor DC Rates at cemetery £442.60
BACS Mrs R Stevens` Clean Council Rooms £25.00
BACS R Pring Clerk’s expenses £24.21
BACS D Summers-Cook Clean & lock toilets £225.00
BACS W Jackson Grass cutting and highways works £805.00
21.03.08 TO RECEIVE A SHORT PRESENTATION ON ST ANDREWS MENTAL HEALTH WARD IN WELLS –
Emma King gave a presentation that the mental health ward at Wells was being transferred to
Yeovil resulting in difficult transport options for many parishes in this area which didn’t have
direct links to Yeovil. She would send a link so that Members could submit comments if they
so wished.
21.03.09 TO CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF A SECOND SPEED INDICATOR DEVICE AND AN UPDATE ON
LOCATIONS – Cllr Smith had previously circulated a paper. He said that the newly appointed
Highways Manager had approved 6 out of the suggested 8 locations for SID’s to be placed.
The cost of a second SID plus all the ancilliary equipment would be in the region of £4k and
he asked for approval in principle to purchase a second SID. Cllr Worrall asked if solar panels
could be used instead of chargeable batteries. Cllr Smith said that not all locations were
suitable for solar installation. Proposed by Cllr Worrall and seconded by Cllr Keen that the
equipment be purchased and this was unanimously agreed. ACTION – AS.
21.03.10 TO AGREE COSTINGS TO ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF A HR CONSULTANT – Cllr Cox had
previously circulated costings for a HR consultant to consider the complaint made against the Clerk.
Cllr Tinney asked what was the purpose of getting an outside person in. Couldn’t this be dealt with
internally ? Cllr Cox outlined the pros and cons of both options. Cllr Smith proposed and Cllr Beacom
seconded that an outside person be brought in and this was agreed. ACTION – DC
21.03.11 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A GRANT FROM THE WEDMORE GOOD NEIGHBOUR GROUP – Cllr
Smith gave details of the application which had been approved by the Grants Sub-committee.
Proposed by Cllr Smith and seconded by Cllr Thorogood that the grant be awarded. This was
agreed..
21.03.12 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A GRANT TOWARDS A DEFIBRILLATOR AT THEALE – Cllr Smith
gave details of this application which had been considered by the Grants Sub-committee. He
proposed and Cllr Cox seconded that the application be approved. This was agreed..
2103.13 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A GRANT FROM WEDMORE PLAYING FIELDS MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE — Mr Pete Brown outlined the request for a grant towards the proposed MUGA at the
playing fields. It was meeting a much needed facility within the Cheddar Valley. A lengthy
discussion ensued including whether if a grant was awarded it should come from CIL or Council
funds. It was proposed by Cllr Candy and seconded by Cllr Keen that £2.5k be awarded initially from
Council funds and a request for further funding be added to the Council’s list of other causes under
consideration.
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21.03.14 TO AGREE A PROCESS TO ALLOW GRANTS TO BE AWARDED ABOVE THE CURRENT THRESHOLD –
Cllr Smith said that the current grants policy had a limit of £2.5k. He proposed and Cllr Worrall
seconded that the policy be reviewed so that grants above this threshold be considered. This was
agreed. ACTION – AS
21.03.15 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR COSTS TOWARDS FENCING AT WORTHINGTON WOODS – Mrs
Becker-Hughes had obtained three quotes for fencing at Worthington Woods. Proposed by Cllr
Candy and seconded by Cllr Farley that Jon Bethell’s quote be accepted. This was agreed.
ACTION – CLERK
21.03.16 TO AGREE THE ANNUAL AMENITY GRANTS TO VILLAGE HALLS – The Clerk reported that each
village hall in the parish received an annual grant of £500 towards their running costs. Proposed by
Cllr Beacom and seconded by Cllr Smith that the grants be awarded as usual and this was agreed.
ACTION – CLERK
21.03.17 GREEN CHARTER – Cllr Thorogood would be circulating an updated charter for the
information of all Members
21.03.18 TO CONSIDER A WORTHY RECIPIENT OF THE HENRY BUTT TROPHY 2020 – The Clerk reminded
Members that a decision would be made at the next meeting and requested nominees.
21.03.19 ISSUES AND QUESIONS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS – Cllrs Smith and Mulliner expressed
their disappointment over the planning decision in favour of Strongvox.
21.03.20 CORRESPONDENCE
Item From Whom Subject
ALL CIRCULATED
21.03.21 COMMITTEE REPORTS
Cemetery – Nil
Facilities Allotments & Footpaths – All allotments now let
Finance & General Purposes – Nil
Housing – Cllr Costello had met with Acorn and requested more rental properties.
Highways – Meeting Weds. 31st March
Planning – Meeting Weds 7
th April
Footpaths and Green Issues – Nil
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON COMMITTEES
IOW News – Need for a replacement Treasurer
Play Areas – Nil
SALC – Nil
Wedmore Playing Fields Management – Nil
Village Halls – Disappointment that Theale had not been awarded a grant from
Climate Emergency fund.
Twinning – Nil
21.03.22 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 9.30 pm
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