Minutes
WESTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of meeting held on Monday 4th November 2024 at Weston Hills Village Hall
Commenced at 7.30pm
Present:- Cllrs, Dicks, Brotherton, Casson, Ellis, Halgarth, Mews, Pennington, Clerk/RFO.
Apologies Cllrs Bellamy and Pratt.
Absent :- None
In Attendance:- Three members of the public.
The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, and informed those present that the meeting was being recorded and asked that everyone refrain from using their mobile phones. The chairman thanked Cllr Brotherton for chairing the October meeting. Due to time constraints the Chairman said that agenda items 14, 15 & 16 would be deferred to the December meeting.
The Clerk informed the meeting that he had received Cllr Higgins resignation as a Parish Councillor. Cllr Mews asked the reason for her resignation and the Clerk read out the resignation letter after being requested to do so. The Chairman asked Cllr Mews if he would take over Cllr Higgins duties with regards to internet banking and Cllr Mews agreed to do so.
24.147 Declaration of interest in accordance with Localism Act 2011
Cllr Casson on all planning matters as he is on the SHDC planning committee.
Cllrs Brotherton re planning application H22-0834-24.
24.148 Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 7th October 2024
Minutes of the meeting having been circulated were taken as read by the Chair and signed as a true record. Proposed AC, seconded PM, unanimous vote in favour by those who were present at the meeting.
24.149 Public Forum
A resident Roland Biggs reiterated his concerns from the September meeting on the turnover of Parish Councillors. The chairman replied that there were many and varied reasons why and that this was not unusual in Parish Councils for this to happen.
Andrew Surman of Hollyoaks asked if it would be possible to have a fob to allow his company access through the gates for maintenance purposes. It was agreed to look at this but that in the short term he should contact the clerk for access when the gates were closed. Mr Surman also reported that his team had found a hypodermic needle in Weston Hills playing field.
Resident Jenny Pennington gave her usual update on the energy projects proposed for the area. Preliminary hearings have taken place with the planning inspectorate with regards Outer Dowsing. National Grid are sending surveys (MIQ’s) out to property owners. Traffic and speed monitoring cables have been placed on many local roads. Cllr Pennington said he was concerned about an access road being muted down to the Weston Marsh sub-station and the amount of vehicles that would need access to local roads to build it.
24.150 Matters Arising
The bench outside Weston Hills Village hall has now been varnished and it was agreed that the work done was to a high standard.
24.151 Correspondence
email from SHDC inviting the council to a planning training evening on Thursday 12th December. It was agreed that Cllrs Brotherton, Casson, Mews and Pennington together with the Clerk/RFO would attend.
email from Mr Bowers re. the increase in his allotment rent. Dealt with as agenda item.
email from resident Mr James voicing his concerns about traffic on the Austendyke Road. Dealt with as agenda item.
24.152 SID/CSW
The email from Mr James was discussed. The Parish Council continues to be concerned about the traffic on the Austendyke Road and in light of the recent three car collision the Chairman will ask for a site visit with LRSP. Chairman to action.
The SID unit is working on Moulton Chapel Road and the chairman will continue to look into getting more 30mph road signs at a cost of £20 each. Cllr Casson said he would ask to see if any were available from SHDC. The CSW continues to operate and a new location is planned for the mobile SID on the High Road near Wimberley Close.
24.153 Remembrance Day Wreath.
The Parish Council has made its usual donation of £100 to the Royal British Legion and Cllr Pratt accompanied by Cllr Dicks will lay the wreath at the Lychgate on Remembrance Sunday.
24.154 Allotments.
Those present considered an email from Mr Bowers with regards the increase in his allotment rent. Due to the six month rule governing resolutions it was agreed to make this an agenda item after the six month rule has expired and look at the matter in February.
The council has received a verbal complaint from an allotment holder about the state of the south side road at the allotments which had been churned up by a tractor. It was agreed that the best solution would be to use topsoil to repair the damage but that this could not be done until the spring. It was agreed that the Clerk would obtain a quote from Michael Clay for this work and also repairs to the potholes at the entrance to the allotments to be considered in the spring.
24.155 Weston Playing Field
After discussion it was agreed to proceed with the proposed works at Weston playing field, the hedge clearance (£750+vat), site clearance (£1,675.00+vat) and new play equipment (£49,099.09+vat). Proposed by AB, seconded LE, unanimous decision in favour.
Proposed ground works for the installation of the CCTV (£833.94+vat). Proposed by AB, seconded IP unanimous decision in favour.
24.156 Weston Hills Playing Field
The Clerk reported that the second and final payment of £10,114.68 from the SPF for the play equipment had been received.
24.157 Planning Matters
Notification of application for consideration available via SHDC website:-
H22-0708-24 Approved by SHDC
H22-0801-24 Prospect House 196, Moulton Chapel Road No Objections
H22-0856-24 65 Broadgate Weston No Objection
H22-0861-24 Adjacent Old Vicarage Weston No Objections
H22-0827-24 Bell Inn Change of use to convenience shop Comment
Comment. The Parish Council while supporting the need for businesses of this type in the parish is concerned about the impact the opening hours may have on nearby residents. It is also concerned about parking outside the business on the Austendyke Road and recommends the car park at the back of the property needs to be opened for parking.
24.158 Finance Report
The financial report to 31st October 2024 (Please see accompanying report) having been circulated was taken as read and its contents noted. It was resolved to accept the financial report, Proposed BH, seconded AB, unanimous vote in favour.
The Clerk informed those present that s137 grant applications had been received. These would be considered by the working group of Cllr Brotherton, Cllr Mews and the Clerk in November with its recommendations presented at the December meeting.
The proposed 2025/26 Budget and Precept and the grass cutting contracts discussed in closed session.
24.159 Items for Discussions
Cllr Pennington commented on a recent “Wash Frontage Meeting” about dredging of the river. He thought a grant had been given for this work but that it had not been used for that purpose. Cllr Casson said he believed the Environmental Agency had reported that the river didn’t need dredging for another two years and questioned that while a grant may have been agreed had it been paid.
Cllr Halgarth reported he had received complaints about parking outside Weston Hills school. The chairman said double yellow lines had been requested at this location which had been refused but that he would contact the local police on the matter. Chairman to action.
Cllr Halgath asked who made the decision as to what is included in the minutes. Cllr Halgarth said that in the April meeting he apologised to Cllr Ellis for his conduct at a prior meeting and that this had not been included in the minutes. The Clerk replied that the minutes were the responsibility of the Clerk and were intended to provide a record of discussions and decisions made not the meeting ad verbatim. However the Clerk would always take in to consideration requests from councillors (who always receive draft copies before meetings) to amend the draft minutes before they are then signed off by the full council as a true record.
Cllr Ellis said that she would be attending a meeting for the Grass Roots SPF for Weston Village Hall and as Cllr Bellamy was unavailable would be prepared to represent the Parish Council. The chairman advised that Cllr Ellis should contact Cllr Bellamy on this matter.
24.160 Date of Next Meeting
Monday 2nd December 2024 7:30pm at Weston Village Hall.
The three members of the public left the meeting and the meeting then went into closed session to discuss finance matters
Chairman …………………………………………………