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Minutes of a meeting of Mere Town Council held on Monday, 4th November 2024

Mere Town Council

Town Clerk – Mrs. L. C. Wood

 

Minutes of a meeting of Mere Town Council held on Monday, 4th November 2024 at 7.00 pm in the Andy Young Pavilion, Duchy Manor, Springfield Road, Mere.

 

Present: Councillors John Jordan (Chair), Glen Ings (Vice-Chair), Sandra Catley, Aubrey Colman, Philip Coward, Rodney Coward, Rachael Hansford, Clive Hazzard, Raymond Hill, George Jeans, Linden Stone, & Lesley Traves.

4 members of the public

 

Public Participation Session

George Jeans said that he would be declaring a personal interest in the discussion on the public toilets and would not be voting on the matter.  He wanted to point out, however, that he was in favour of cars parking on the wide pavement to the north of the public toilets and wondered if moving the water filling station on to that elevation may cause a conflict.

It was explained that the old flag pole had been removed and Cllr. Jeans volunteered to erect a temporary flagpole for the Remembrance period.

Aubrey Colman asked if the cemetery grass could be cut.

Reports from local police representatives – None present

  1. Apologies for absence received from Cllr. Kate Symonds.

 

  1. To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other interests from Councillors on matters to be considered at the meeting.
  • Clive Hazzard declared a pecuniary interest in Minute Ref: 493 a) Payments
  • John Jordan declared a personal interest in planning application PL/2024/09486
  • George Jeans declared a personal interest in Minute Ref: 492b)

 

  1. Minutes – RESOLVED that the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday, 7th October 2024 be approved & signed as a correct record. (attached)

 

  1. Matters Arising from Public Session
  • None

 

  1. Matters Arising from previous Meetings (not covered by other agenda items)
  2. Minute Ref. 475b) Commemoration for Dr. David Longbourne – the Chairman had been to discuss this with the family and the thought was that a little corner of the new cemetery with a couple of benches, rose bushes and perhaps a bird bath might be created and they felt that this would honour Dr. Longbourne marvellously. The Chairman and Cllr. Hill had identified an area in the cemetery that would be suitable for this.  RESOLVED that this should proceed as discussed.
  3. IT Support – this was raised at the last meeting and Cllr. Colman recommended some local IT support, which we have followed up and whilst this may help in one aspect, it wouldn’t help with the maintenance of the equipment, hardware and software issues and so we are still looking to see if it might be possible to find a company that can look after all our IT support requirements under one umbrella.

 

  1. Reports & Consultations
  2. Wiltshire Councillors Report
  • Fly Posting – requests for advertising with posters around the town should be given to southernhighways@wiltshire.gov.uk.
  • Still having difficulties to get a response regarding the lighting of the bollards along Eric Mitchell Way and so I have now emailed the leader of Wiltshire Council.
  • I have raised an issue, also with the leader of the Wiltshire Council, about a street light along Church Street that has not been working for 3 or 4 years.
  1. Project Co-Ordinator’s Report (report attached) – members noted information within the report. Roger Pipe talked about the MUGA and asked for thoughts on the possibilities.  In general, members felt that the any overhaul of the MUGA should enable as many sports as possible.  Catley said that she felt any future plans for refurbishment of the children’s play area in the Recreation Ground should encompass some inclusive and accessible playground equipment.

 

  1. Planning
  2. Applications for consultation response:

 

Application No: PL/2024/07389
Application Type: Prior approval Part 3 Class Q: Agricultural buildings to dwellinghouses
Site Location: THE ACORNS, BARROW STREET, MERE, WARMINSTER, BA12 6AB
Proposal: Prior Approval Part 3 Class Q – Conversion of barn to residential dwelling
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planningapplication/a0iQ3000008FLM5IAO/pl202407389

The Chairman pointed out that the Town Council had supported a similar application for this property in 2022 but that the Planning Authority had objected on the grounds that the building was not capable of conversation without significant new building operation works being undertaken and that it was within close proximity of agricultural buildings which would detrimentally impact the amenity of future occupiers.  The Clerk read out the criteria for determination of prior approval and it was RESOLVED to recommend approval of the above application.

Application No: PL/2024/09486
Application Type: Notification of proposed works to trees in a conservation area
Proposal: Elder. Crown reduction and remove dead limb which is in contact with a garage. Blue arrow on photo. Bramley Apple. Crown reduction. Red arrow on photo.
Site Address: VOGUE COTTAGE, SALISBURY STREET, MERE, WARMINSTER, BA12 6HE
Planning Register Link:  https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000A4oDO

RESOLVED to recommend approval of the above application.

  1. Highways, Rivers, Footpaths, Traffic & Transport
  2. To identify jobs for the Parish Steward, Sparkle Team and MyWiltshire reports.
  • Hedge blocking pavement in Clements Lane
  • Leaves on the pavement at the top of White Road/Chetcombe Road

The Chairman complimented the Town Council’s grounds team on the clearance work they carried out on overgrowth along Dark Lane.

  1. LHFIG requests:
  2. To request the levelling of a 1.2m footpath width along the length of White Road from where it leaves the junction outside No. 18 to where it joins Footpath MERE20 otherwise known as Burton Path.

RESOLVED that the Town Council should focus on the LHFIG project requests that we have on the table at the present time rather than add more at this stage.

  1. To request 30mph speed limit sign be erected on the entrance to Woodlands Road

The Chairman pointed out that this road had street lights on its entrance and for quite some way which would tell all drivers that the speed limit is 30mph and therefore he didn’t think that the Highway Authority would approve the installation of signage.  RESOLVED that the Town Council should focus on the LHFIG project requests that we have on the table at the present time rather than add more at this stage.

 

  1. Buildings, Open Spaces, Play Areas, Sports Grounds, Car Parks, Allotments & Cemeteries
  2. Draft lease for Town Council space at Duchy Manor (draft lease attached and other comments in separate report) – members noted the information and the Chairman summarised key points:

RESOLVED to proceed with the recommendation i.e.  the Town Council should commission a building condition survey, which will identify defects in the building and likely costs of repair.

  1. To consider report, plans & costings for refurbishment of Public Toilets (report attached + copy of development appraisal and revised plans) – various options of the plans were explained by Roger Pipe with costings as provided by a quantity surveyor ranging from £130,000 to £184,000. Several councillors felt that this was far too much money for the Mere ratepayers to spend on the public toilets.  Whilst members felt that some improvements needed to be made to the public toilets and that the toilets were needed in the town it was agreed to revisit the refurbishment in the near future to give councillors a bit more time to think about how this could go forward, perhaps with some further costings from builders/plumbers to smarten up & repair what we have got rather than include so much structural work in a major refurbishment.

 

  1. Finance, Policy & Resources
  2. Payments – RESOLVED to authorise schedule of payments (attached) -Cllr. Clive Hazzard, having declared a pecuniary interest, left the room whilst this matter was discussed and took no part in discussion or voting.
  3. To authorise signatures for Direct Debits for Northover Energy and AllStar Fuel Card Account – Jeans experience was that you need to monitor fuel cards because you get charged what the card company wants to charge and not the price of the fuel at the garage you have just used. Cllr. Stone suggested Fuel Genie – they charge you the price at the pump but that can only be used at supermarkets.  RESOLVED to approve the Direct Debit for Northover Energy but to explore the option of having a debit card or our bank account rather than a fuel card.
  4. To note the reconciliations for September 2024; the Chairman confirmed that he had verified the bank reconciliation against the bank statements and signed accordingly.

 

  1. General Items
  2. Briefing Note 24-19: Substantive Highways Scheme Fund 25-26 (Briefing Note attached) – Noted.

 

  1. Future meetings and events
  2. Invitation for The Chair and 3 members of the Town Council to the licensing service of Michael Molano, our new vicar on Tuesday, 26th November at 7pm at St. Michael’s– The Chairman said that he would be attending the event to welcome the vicar as Chair of the Council. Aubrey Colman, Rachael Hansford and Lesley Traves also accepted the invitation.  Some other councillors pointed out that they would be attending the event as representatives of other groups.
  3. LHFIG meeting to be held at 2.00 pm on Wednesday, 13th November at Nadder Centre, Tisbury SP3 6HJ & via Microsoft Teams – the Chairman said that he would be attending this meeting.
  4. South West Wiltshire Area Board Meeting to be held on Wednesday, 13th November at Wilton Community Centre, West Street, Wilton SP2 0DG from 6.00 pm – Cllr. Jeans said that he would be attending this meeting.
  5. Mere Town Council’s Annual Budget Meeting to be held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday, 20th November in the Andy Young Pavilion, Mere – Noted.
  6. Wiltshire Council’s consultation with Town Council and public to view proposals to redevelop Fives Court into Affordable Housing Independent Living apartments for people of 60 years and older to be held on Thursday, 21st November in the Andy Young Pavilion, Mere – timing details were not yet known but would be distributed to councillors nearer the time.

 

  1. Future agenda items – None

 

Meeting closed at 8.20 pm

 

Note:  Members are reminded that the Town Council has a general duty to consider the following matters in the exercise of any of its functions: Equal Opportunities (race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status and any disability), Crime and Disorder, Health and Safety and Human Rights.

 

 

 

 

Approved at Mere Town Council meeting held on 2nd December 2024

 

 

Signed:                                                                                                                                                                 Chair of meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MERE PEACE MEMORIAL SPORTS AND RECREATION GROUND

Registered Charity No. 1093497

 

Meeting opened at 8.21 pm

 

For Trustees to consider the following:

 

  1. Payments:

Water2Business (supply to the old Mere Cricket Club – standing charge only)

23.3.24 – 9.10.24                                                                                                                    £38.83

RESOLVED to approve the above payment:

 

  1. Report on Seeds4Success AGM held on Thursday, 10th October 2024.

The Chairman reported on the AGM and said he was dumbfounded by the amount of money that Seeds4Success raise and also the amount of work that goes into providing all the services for the youth.  Cllr. Catley said that there is a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than we get to hear about at the AGM and applauded the good work of Seeds4Success.  Cllr. Colman said that he was concerned that there was a surplus amount of money in their bank accounts but the Chairman said that he thought it was probably prudent of the charity to build reserves in the same way that the Town Council builds reserves.

 

  1. To consider draft lease for Youth Club Building for Seeds4Success and appointment of surveyor (Draft lease & report from Project Co-Ordinator attached) – – with reference to the report prepared by Roger Pipe, Trustees RESOLVED to proceed with the commercial valuation and approved the expenditure.

 

 

 

Meeting closed at 8.30 pm