WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the meeting of WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL held by ZOOM video conferencing, on
Wednesday 21st April 2021 at 7.30 p.m.
Present: Councillors:, Mrs P Costello (Chair), Mrs I Beacom, Mrs J Candy, Mr D Cox,
Mrs J Farley, 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, Mrs S Worrall
In Attendance: Mr. R Pring (Clerk), Cllr D Huxtable (SCC), Mr Pete Brown, Mr Alan Benson
21.04.1. TO RECEIVE ANY APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Cllrs G Cousins and J Keen
21.04.2. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS – Cllr Huxtable asked if the
Council had been asked to comment on a proposed footpath diversion at Sand. There
had been no such communication so he agreed to send it to Cllr Smith tomorrow.
Following a question from Cllr Newton, he said that there were projects on the SCC job
list that were four years old. The lead time by Council contractors was frustrating. The
small improvement scheme had a budget of about £2m and of the 88 projects
completed, only one was on his ward at Mark. The Cheddar Road scheme would not
be considered in the near future. He would take further advice on speed reduction
measures between Blackford and Mark. Cllr Newton suggested an escalation by the
council’s design team and Cllr Smith expressed disappointment that the Cheddar Road
scheme was not due for consideration. Cllr Thorogood asked how much county
money was being spent on cycle routes. Cllr Huxtable estimated £2m but would
confirm later. Cllr Beacom said that the water leak in Church Street was still ongoing.
Cllr Huxtable said it was a constant source of frustration but he had no means of
speeding up the contractors. Cllr Costello gave details of meetings attended at
Sedgemoor.
21.04.3. TO RECORD ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – Nil.
21.04.4. MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 17TH MARCH 2021 – RESOLVED: that the
Chairman be authorised to sign the minutes as a correct record of the previous
meeting.
21.04.5. MATTERS ARISING – The Clerk said that during the lockdown, the Council Rooms had been in
constant use by the Police as a meeting point. This included evenings and weekends. The heating
had been raised and this had resulted in a high bill from the supplier. Once discovered the room
temperature had been lowered and had now been switched off but due to the winter period, another
high bill was expected. Despite that, the Police presence in the village had considerably increased.
21.04.6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Nil.
21.04.7. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) Audit of accounts – 24
th Februarey 2021 – 31st March 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
BACS Blackford V. Hall Amenity Grant £500.00
BACS Theale V Hall Amenity Grant £500.00
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BACS Wedmore V Hall Amenity Grant £500.00
BACS Good neighbours
Group
Grant towards running costs £500.00
DD Sedgemoor DC Clerk’s salary £1757.48
BACS Theale Players Grant towards defibrillator £1095.00
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at toilets £10.30
BACS Clarity Copiers Photocopy costs £4.34
BACS Ms R Smith Overpayment of allotment rent £11.25
BACS Jon Bethell Fencing at Worthington Woods £491.00
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at toilets (adjusted) £8.88
DD Mainstream Phone calls £1.12
BACS W Jackson Grass cutting, highways and allotment work £1085.00
BACS D SummersCooke
Clean & lock toilets £275.00
BACS Mrs R Stevens Crean Council Rooms £25.00
BACS R Pring Clerks expenses includes printer cartridges £70.22
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at car park £113.83
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at Council Rooms £701.50
BACS ZOOM Monthly subscription £14.39
BACS SW Councils Annual subscription £558.00
BACS Wedmore in
Bloom
Annual planting grant £750.00
BACS Sedgemoor DC Clerk’s salary £1886.74
BACS Came & Co Annual insurance premium £1618.62
21.04.08 TO CONSIDER COSTS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF “VILLAGE GATEWAYS” AT BLACKFORD–
Cllr Newton gave a detailed presentation on proposed village gateways either side of
Blackford including red road markings and rumble strips. There were visibility issues at the
Wedmore side of the village. He proposed that the gateway at the Mark end should go ahead
with a cost of about £2800. This was seconded by Cllr Smith and agreed. ACTION – JN
21.04.09 TO CONSIDER COSTS FOR TREE AND GROUNDWORK AT BLACKFORD PLAY AREA – Cllr
Farley had previously circulated costings for tree and hedge work at the play area as the lack
of air flow was causing issues with some of the play equipment. She proposed the tender
from Ground Level be agreed. This was seconded by Cllr Mulliner and agreed. ACTION – JF
21.04.10 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A FURTHER GRANT FOR A MUGA FROM WEDMORE PLAYING
FIELDS COMMITTEE – Mr Pete Brown outlined the grant application which, if agreed, would open the
doors for some substantial funding by football charities and others. It was noted that millions of
pounds had been raised for the complete playing fields project so far. Mr Brown was still in contact
with Sedgemoor for funding but the project was not top of their list at the moment although they were
keen to work with the committee. It was proposed by Cllr Costello that £10k be earmarked for the
MUGA project. This was seconded by Cllr Worrall and agreed. The Clerk would send Mr Brown a
letter of intent. ACTION – CLERK
21.04.11 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A GRANT FROM WEDMORE COMMUNITY HEALTH FUND – Mr Alan
Benson, Chair of the Wedmore & Axbridge Community Health Fund outlined the role of his
organisation which was a registered charity. They had recently received £381K being the proceeds
of the sale of a piece of land in Pilcorn Street and were currently looking for somewhere in the parish
to build a new health centre. The surgery would remain in the ownership of the Fund and a regular
income would be received from the medical partners. He hoped the Council might have some
suggestions as to what land might be available. Cllr Worrall agreed to look into the ownership of a
piece of land next to the playing fields. The Fund was looking to build a single storey building with
disabled access and suitable room for parking. Cllr Newton hoped that the project would carry a
carbon neutral commitment. After a lengthy discussion it was proposed by Cllr Smith and seconded
by Cllr Cox that £100k be ringfenced to contribute to the project from CIL money. This was agreed.
ACTION – SW
21.04.12 GREEN CHARTER UPDATE – Cllr Thorogood had previously circulated an updated charter
and was looking for help with letting the public know what was going on. Members were concerned
with the need to reduce CO2 emissions and decrease traffic flow. Cllr Smith expressed concern that
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doing away with gas boilers could cost households up to £25k. It was agreed to defer the charter to
another meeting for further consideration. ACTION – ST
21.04.13 TO CONSIDER THE ANNUAL GRANT FOR PLANTING TO WEDMORE IN BLOOM – The Clerk said
that it has been the custom to make an annual grant to Wedmore in Bloom who did a fantastic job
around the village. Proposed by Cllr Costello and seconded by Cllr Worrall that £750 be awarded
and this was agreed. ACTION – CLERK
21.04.14 TO MAKE A DECISION OF ALLOWING DOGS AT WORTHINGTON WOODS – Cllr Costello suggested
that dogs could be allowed in the woods providing they were kept on leads. Following a discussion a
counter proposal banning dogs entirely was proposed by Cllr Kirleyl and seconded by Cllr Thorogood
and was agreed by a majority of the members.
21.04.15 TO AGREE THE CHAIR AND CLERK CAN SIGN THE ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT – All
members agreed that the document could be signed as part of the annual accounts audit.
21.03.19 ISSUES AND QUESIONS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS – Cllrs Worrall referred to a letter
received from a resident concerning planning issues. She had referred her to Allerton PC who
had similar issues.
21.04.16 CORRESPONDENCE
Item From Whom Subject
ALL CIRCULATED
21.04.17 COMMITTEE REPORTS
Cemetery – Nil
Facilities Allotments & Footpaths – Nil
Finance & General Purposes – Nil
Housing – Nil.
Highways – Nil
Planning – Meeting Weds 28th April
Footpaths and Green Issues – Nil
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON COMMITTEES
IOW News – Nil
Play Areas – Nil
SALC – Nil
Wedmore Playing Fields Management – Nil
Village Halls – Nil
Twinning – Nil
21.04.18 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING –
(a). Chairman – Nil
(b) Clerk – Nil
(c) Members – Cllr Cox – Priorities list
There being no further business the meeting was declared closed at 9.20 pm
