WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the meeting of WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL held by ZOOM video conferencing, on
Wednesday 20th January 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, Mr D Luke, Mr
K Boulnois
21.01.1. TO RECEIVE ANY APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Nil.
21.01.2. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS – Cllr Huxtable reported that
700 County Council employees had been seconded to support the covid vaccination project.
Current figures showed that 10% of the county’s population had been vaccinated. A further
centre near Shepton Mallett would open next week. Mark PC had received a grant towards the
purchase of a S.I.D. but he had the impression they weren’t keen to join forces on a road safety
project approaching Blackford. The County Highways would be refurbishing signs and updating
road markings in the Blackford area in the near future. Cllr Smith offered to speak with Mark PC
to see if they would reconsider. Cllr Huxtable was thanked for his attendance and report. Cllr
Costello had nothing to report from Sedgemoor DC.
21.01.3. TO RECORD ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – Cllr Candy declared an interest in item
21.01.10 as a resident of Combe Lane
21.01.4. MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 16
TH DECEMBER 2020. – RESOLVED: that the
Chairman be authorised to sign the minutes as a correct record of the previous
meeting.
21.01.5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Mrs Becker-Hughes, Chair of Green Wedmore updated members
on the Worthington Woods project. She was concerned about the lack of safety signage.
Seats had been donated and various projects were planned. The group was looking to install
a bridge from The Lerburne and she was grateful for the close co-operation shown by the
Parish Council. Green Wedmore had not been able to hold events this year due to the
pandemic but she was currently “crowd funding” to raise funds for ongoing expenses. Mr
Luke, Chair of Theale Village Hall Management Committee said that he had applied for a
grant from the County Council’s green initiative to refurbish the hall which was a well used
local facility. No money had been spent on the hall for the past ten years. The kitchen needed
modernising and the hall needed the ceiling to be lowered and a divider fitted so it could
operate as a small venue when appropriate. A working party had been set up to deal with
minor maintenance and he would be seeking a grant from the Parish Council in due course.
21.01.6. MATTERS ARISING –
(a). Blackford road safety issues – Cllr Smith had visited Blackford to see where gateways
might be installed. A resident had circulated photos of the various options available. It would be up to
the Highways Manager to decide on the siting of any gateways.
(b). SCC grant applications update. – Cllr Mulliner had not heard anything about the
progress of the grant application which was almost certainly due to staff shortages at County Hall.
Theale Village Hall had also made an apllication for funds.
(c). Speed awareness update. – Cllr Smith had submitted a list of potential sites for S.I.,D.
placements and was in contact with the new Highways Manager.
21.01.7. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) Audit of accounts 24
th November 2020 TO 24TH December 2020 – Cllr Keen and Cllr
Mulliner reported that all was in order.
b) Accounts for Payment – as per the following list
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Payment Payee Details Amount
DD ZOOM Monthly subscription £14.39
BACS M Isgar Build wheelchair ramp into Council Rooms £55.00
BACS Cheddar Signs Private parking sign at Council Rooms £43.80
BACS Sedgemoor DC Clerks salary £1757.48
BACS Clarity Copiers Photocopy charges £4.61
BACS B Whitcombe Supply Christmas trees for churches and businesses £322.00
BACS Humphries Kirk Legal advice and correspondence £300.00
BACS J Bethel Replace broken manhole cover Worthington Woods £240.00
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at Car Park £108.26
BACS Water2Business Water Rates Council Rooms £44.85
BACS J Bethel Replace damaged posts to map board Lascot Woods £300.00
DD Mainstream Phone calls £1.08
CARD ZOOM Monthly subscription £14.39
BACS W Jackson Highways and cemetery work £165.00
BACS Mrs R Stevens Clean Council Rooms (Retainer) £12.50
BACS R Pring Clerk’s expenses £17.46
BACS D SummersCooke
Clean toilets (Retainer) £177.50
21.01.08 TO CONSIDER A SUITABLE RECIPIENT OF THE HENRY BUTT TROPHY 2020. – The Clerk
gave details of the award for the benefit of newer members and said that a recipient was
agreed on at the April meeting prior to the Annual Parish Assembly in May. He asked
members to consider anyone who might be suitable and that a similar request would be
appearing in the IOW News.
21.01.09 TO CONSIDER CO-OPTING A MEMBER TO REPRESENT BLACKFORD WARD – The Clerk had
previously circulated an application form from Mr J Newton. Another resident had made
enquiries but had not submitted the application form sent to him by the due date so it was
assumed he had reconsidered. Proposed by Cllr Tinney and seconded by Cllr Mulliner that Mr
Jonathan Newton be co-opted as the Ward member for Blackford. This was agreed
unanimously.
21.01.10 TO CONSIDER USING CIL MONEY TO UPGRADE PART OF COMBE LANE – Cllr Keen outlined
the reasons for upgrading Combe Lane. Most of the traffic using the lane were visitors to the
allotments and Scout Hut so it was important that the Council made a sizeable contribution. Several
allotment holders have complained about damage of their cars due to the large potholes. Cllr Smith
had concerns about ongoing costs and as there were now several new Councillors in post with
limited knowledge of spending CIL money the PC should revisit and review the wish list for using CIL
funds.
21.01.11 GOOD NEIGHBOUR SCHEME – The concept of this scheme is to continue helping each
other post covid. Cllr Costello said that an Allerton resident had set up a scheme in that area
with volunteers taking people for hospital appointments etc. She hoped the Council could
support a similar scheme in Wedmore.
21.01.12 ISSUES AND QUESIONS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS – Cllr Mulliner asked if the Council
could support the funding of a new entrance and pathway at Blackford church. The Clerk
referred her to the SALC website which had a guidance note explaining that grants towards
places of worship were not permitted, but they could financially support burial grounds and
cemeteries. Cllr Smith reported that Blue Cedar had applied for permission to access the car
park to connect their development at Holdenhurst to the main sewer. They would deal with
signage etc. and would pay the Council £3.5k as compensation. The work would probably
take place in May or June. It was agreed to publish details in the IOW News. Cllr JamesLloyd updated members on the safe cycling route project towards Blackford and said the
school were running a competition to design road safety posters. Cllr Kirley asked about the
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continuous water leak in Church Street. The Chairman suggested he contact Cllr Huxtable.
Cllr Costello mentioned instances of drug dealing in the Borough which had been reported to
the police.
21.01.13 CORRESPONDENCE
Item From Whom Subject
ALL CIRCULATED
21.01.14 COMMITTEE REPORTS
Cemetery – Planned meeting deferred for the time being
Facilities Allotments & Footpaths – All rents had been paid and hedges cut back
Finance & General Purposes – Nil
Housing – Green Wedmore were publishing a document shortly
Highways – Nil
Planning – Meeting next week
Footpaths and Green Issues – Nil
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON COMMITTEES
IOW News – Late going to press this month. The committee were looking for a new
treasurer
Play Areas – Meeting tomorrow
SALC – Nil
Wedmore Playing Fields Management – Both Councillors attended latest committee
meeting
Village Halls – Nil
Twinning – Nil
21.01.15 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 8.50 pm
