WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the meeting of WEDMORE PARISH COUNCIL held at Theale Village Hall on
Wednesday 19
th
January 2022 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, Mr D Kirley, Mr A Landers, Mrs E Mulliner,
Mr A Reeson, Mr A Smith, Mr S Thorogood, Mr P Tinney, Mrs S Worrall
In Attendance: Mr. R Pring (Clerk), Cllr D Huxtable (SCC)
Due to some concerns from members about the increasing corona virus risk, the meeting moved to
Theale Village Hall
22.01.1. TO RECEIVE ANY APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Apologies from Cllrs J Newton,
22.01.2. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS – Cllr Huxtable had previously
circulated a monthly report. He added that the number of corona virus patients in local hospitals
was around 40-50 and was flattening out. Cllr Costello had nothing to report from Sedgemoor
22.01.3. TO RECORD ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – Nil.
22.01.4. MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 15
TH
December 2021 . – RESOLVED: that
the Chairman be authorised to sign the minutes as a correct record of the previous
meeting.
22.01.5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Nil
22.01.6. MATTERS ARISING –Nil
22.01.7. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) Audit of accounts 24
th
November 2021 to 21
st
December 2021 – Cllr Beacom and Cllr
Mulliner reported that all was in order. Cllr Landers questioned the amount of money being
charged by Sedgemoor for bin emptying and litter picking etc. Cllr Kirley had raised this with
the Clerk who had submitted invoices over a two year period. They showed that bins were
being emptied twice a week and there was no opportunity to get this done by anyone else as
they had the disposal facilities and were able to fulfil the commitment
b) Accounts for Payment – as per the following list
Payment Payee Details Amount
BACS Mrs G Cousins Supply mince pies for “Lamplight” £28.75
BACS D Summers-
Cooke
Clean & lock toilets £220.00
BACS Mrs R Stephens Clean Council Rooms £25.00
BACS R Pring Clerk’s expenses £42.84
BACS W Jackson Hedging and highways works £464.00
DD Mainstream Broadband and phone calls £63.42
BACS Mrs P Costello Christmas entertaining £95.60
BACS Netwise New website set-up costs £1450.80
BACS Bridgwater
Carnival
Provide signage and stewards for “Lamplight” £420.00
BACS Community
Heartbeat
Defibrillator servicing £198.00
DD Sedgemoor DC Clerk’s salary £1756.79
BACS EDF Energy Electricity at toilets £21.25
BACS B Whitcombe Supply Christmas trees £309.50
BACS Sedgemoor DC Litter clearing car park and play areas £487.66
21.01.08 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM ALEXANDER HOWLEY, CHEDDAR FIRE STATION – Mr Howley
informed the Council that their current engine or “pump” was 21 years old and due for
replacement and the Devon & Somerset Fire Authority were replacing it with a smaller unit
with smaller water tanks and equipment. Certain types of fires such as electrical ones could
not be dealt with and a chimney fire such as occurred in Wedmore earlier today could not
have been tackled due to a shorter ladder and hose reel. He was looking for a letter of
support for a larger pump and would email the Clerk with more details later
21.01.09 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM SONYA BEDFORD ON WIND TURBINES – Ms Bedford was
unable to attend but Cllr Cox said that a pre-feasability study had been commissioned from a
consultant to look at wind turbines within the parish. Several options had been considered.
Cllr Cox thanked members for feedback to the previously circulated details. Cllr Cox noted that
it was important to feed in to the pre-feasibility study even if not always positive. The next step
was to review the whole parish and talk with Sedgemoor planning officers to see what steps
they would like to see.
21.01.10 UPDATE ON S 106 AGREEMENT – Cllr Smith said that Strongvox had paid £104k to
Sedgemoor DC as part of the suggested improvement scheme for Pilcorn Street. He had written to
the County Council who indicated that they had not been party to the S106 agreement but if the
suggested proposals were to go ahead, that was a matter for the Parish Council and Sedgemoor.
Cllr Cox had asked Sedgemoor how much CIL money was expected and how could the Council
access the £104k. He was looking for quotes to build a retaining wall outside of No 6 Pilcorn Street,
where the owners were very supportive but had received only one of £2640.00. It was proposed by
Cllr Worrall and seconded by Cllr Kirley that Cllr Cox continue to progress the project and this was
agreed, ACTION – DC
21.01.11 TO CONSIDER INVESTING IN SAFETY MEASURES AT THE CEMETERY – Cllr Cousins said that
following a recent safety inspection it was decided that a handrail was needed to access the
cemetery from the top gates due to a dangerous slope. Jon Bethell had submitted a quote of
£600 including VAT and a second quote was double that price. It was proposed by Cllr Kirley
and seconded by Cllr Beacom that the quote from Mr Bethell be accepted and this was
agreed. Cllr Cousins said that safety signs had been posted on the top and bottom gates and
a concrete plinth at the top needed replacing and would be discussed at a further meeting
tomorrow.
21.01.12 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD ON 5
TH
JANUARY 2022 –
These had been circulated, agreed and signed by the Chair of the Planning Committee.
21.01.13 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CEMETERY COMMITTEE HELD ON 15
TH
JANUARY 2022
These had been circulated, agreed and signed by the Chairt of the Cemetery Committee.
21.01.14 WEDMORE “HAVE YOUR SAY” DAY – Cllr Beacom said that she had been consulting
with Green Wedmore to make a united effort to raise awareness of reducing carbon emissions
and other issues affecting the parish including street lighting. The proposed new doctors’
surgery would also be highlighted together with the Neighbourhood Plan. She felt that some
display boards would be needed and was referred to Phil Butterworth for some help. Cllr
Costello offered to provide some refreshments over the weekend of 18/19 February.
21.01.15 TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO POLICIES AND TERMS OF REFERENCE – Cllr. Farley had
previously circulated an updated Safeguarding Policy. With one amenment it was proposed
by Cllr Farley and seconded by Cllr Kirley that the policy be adopted. This was agreed.
21.01.16 ISSUES AND QUESTIONS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS – Cllr. Costello asked for
suggestions to mark the Platinum Jubilee taking place in June. It appeared that Blackford and
the 3 C’s Harvest Home committees were already planning events and a large tea party was
being held at St Mary’s church. Cllr Reeson mentioned blocked drains on the road to
Latcham. He was informed these could be reported on-line. Cllr Cox had been in discussion
with Sedgemoor Homes about providing low energy housing. Cllr James-Lloyd had been
updating the new website and hoped to be fully operational early February. Cllr Kirley offered
to attand the Zoom meeting on Parish Carbon Footprints. Some other Councillors would also
attend. He also urged Councillors who had not attended the basic “Councillors Essential
Training” package by SALC to sign up as it was a requirement. The Christmas lights are to be
stored in Cllr Cox’s barn once testing and repairs were complete. A suggestion to purchase a
thermal imaging camera would be discussed at the next meeting. Cllr Candy said she and Cllr
Kirley had met with some of the allotment tenants to discuss the recent rent increases. A
suggestion to join the National Association would be discussed next meeting. Cllr Smith was
meeting with the Highways Engineer to discuss the SID locations, yellow lines and other
issues. Cllr Farley asked what was going to happen to the large amount of spoil dumped in
the field next to the Playing Fields ? Cllr Kirley would raise this at the next meeting of the
WPFMC. Cllr Thorogood said that he would be applying for a free energy assessment for
Theale Village Hall.
21.01.17 CORRESPONDENCE
Item From Whom Subject
ALL CIRCULATED
21.01.18 COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Cemetery – Meeting held Saturday 15
th
January
• Facilities Allotments & Footpaths – Nil
• Finance & General Purposes – Nil
• Housing –Nil
• Highways, Car Park & Brook – Need a meeting end of February
• Planning – Meeting 2
nd
February 2022
• Footpaths and Green Issues – Nil
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON COMMITTEES
• IOW News – Meeting 7
th
February
• Play Areas – Meeting 25
th
January
• SALC – Nil
• Wedmore Playing Fields Management – MUGA deferred to end of Feb/March.
Check re spoil being dumped in village field next to playing fields
• Village Halls – Wedmore being used by pharmacy for Covid vaccinations.
• Twinning – Travelling to France this year
• Green Wedmore. Nil
21.01.19 MATTERS OF REPORT AND ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING –
(a). Chairman – Nil
(b) Clerk – Nil
(c) Members – Allotment Society membership. (JC). Thermal Imaging camera (DK)
There being no further business, the meeting was declared closed at 8.55 pm