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Minutes of Town Council meeting held on Monday, 3rd March 2025

Mere Town Council

Town Clerk – Mrs. L. C. Wood

 

Minutes of a meeting of Mere Town Council held on Monday, 3rd March 2025 at 7.00 pm in the Andy Young Pavilion, Duchy Manor, Springfield Road, Mere, Wiltshire.  BA12 6EW

Present:  Councillors John Jordan (Chair), Nick Beale, Sandra Catley, Aubrey Colman, Philip Coward, Rachael Hansford, Clive Hazzard, Raymond Hill, George Jeans, Kate Symonds & Lesley Traves.

Also 10 members of the public.

Public Participation Session

Mel Wilkinson representing the Carnival Committee introduced the new Chair and Vice-Chair of the Carnival Committee (Victoria Johnson & David Hytch) and said that enough volunteers had come forward to give the committee the confidence to plan for a carnival for September 2025.  Last year’s event was successful and although we spent a lot of money, our finances are healthy.  John Jordan said that many people in this room had played a part in organising the carnival and paid his respects to the committee members past and present.

Mr. Birch of Oaktree House, spoke in favour of his planning application.  He pointed out that there was an error in the planning application – it wasn’t going to have 16 parking spaces but could accommodate 16 people if all accommodation was used to capacity at the same time.  The equestrian use is low key and will not be commercial.

Elaine Stallard thanked the Council for support with the Solstice Beacon proposal but unfortunately, after all our hard work, we are sorry to say that the Solstice Beacon will not now go ahead.  The beacon’s value means that it is uninsurable for malicious damage and it cannot realistically sit within the Tower Stories project although they would support a separate application for another time in which we may have to include funding to provide 24-hour security cover.

David Hytch explained that he had been working with the Town Council to get an electric vehicle charger into the car park in Salisbury Street but this project had now reached a déjà vu situation in that the company that I was working with has been bought out by another business and the new business has decided that they no longer wish to support the work in Mere to install an EV charger.  He said that this was very disappointing news for him personally and he thought it was a poor decision but he has not yet given up on the project as he was looking to find alternative providers/suppliers

 

Reports from local police representatives

  • None present

 

  1. Apologies for absence received from Cllrs. Debbie Beale, Glen Ings and Linden Stone.

 

  1. To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other interests from Councillors on matters to be considered at the meeting.
  • Jeans declared a pecuniary interest in Minute No. 544a) [payment recipient]
  • Lesley Traves declared a personal interest in planning application PL/2025/01213

 

  1. Minutes – RESOLVED that the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday, 3rd February 2025 be approved & signed as a correct record.

 

  1. Matters Arising from Public Session
  • None

 

  1. Matters Arising from previous Meetings (not covered by other agenda items)
  2. a) For Chairman & Vice-Chairman to sign Operating Agreement and Licence for EV chargers to be installed in Salisbury Street Car Park – the Chairman said it was disappointing news that this project with Pluscharge would not now be realised (see public session) and said that the Town Council would remain hopeful that another company could be found to provide EV chargers in the car park.
  3. b) Public Toilets Refurbishment – update – Rachael Hansford reported that the planned meeting with Healthmatic did go ahead, although Roger Pipe was not able to come along as he was taken ill. However, we got the answers to the queries that we had which have now been fed back to Roger and when he is back he will schedule the electrical work, plumbing work and doors etc. The Chairman thanked Cllr. Rachael Hansford & Aubrey Colman and wished Roger a speedy recovery and the Clerk confirmed that he was doing well.  The Clerk confirmed that she would be writing to Wiltshire Council to make sure that they would be happy for us to charge for using the toilets in the way that we were planning.  (i.e. overnight usage).
  4. c) Report on South West Wiltshire Area Board meeting held on 19th February 2025 – the Chairman reported on the meeting which he said was rather abrasive at times, largely due to the distribution of LHFIG funds and progress of projects.

*d) Resources, timetable & information for Town & Parish Council elections (information in Clerks Report) – noted.  The Clerk said that she would be happy to print off some nomination papers & also confirmed that Cllr. Jeans had volunteered to take nomination papers in to the council offices and that she and Cllr. Jeans would make convenient appointments for this.

 

  1. Reports & Consultations
  2. a) Wiltshire Councillors Report – Cllr. Jeans reiterated that Wiltshire Council will increase its council tax by 4.5% rather than the full 4.99 % permitted by Government. He said that he had provided a full report in Mere Matters.

 

  1. Planning
  2. a) Applications for consultation response:

 

Application No: PL/2025/00844
Application Type: Full planning permission
Proposal: Change of use of equestrian land to (sui-generis) mixed equestrian and holiday accommodation with the erection of three holiday cabins, the conversion of a stable building to holiday accommodation, ground mounted solar PV array, associated landscaping and works
Site Address: Land north of Oaktree House, Limpers Lane, Mere, BA12 6BB
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000CH2Mf

 

Cllr. Hazzard said that although he hadn’t been to the site, he had spoken to residents that live nearby and reported that they were positive about the application.  RESOLVED to recommend approval of the above application and to ask Cllr. Jeans to call this application in to committee if the planning/highways officers are making recommendations for refusal. [In order not to compromise his position as Wiltshire Councillor, Cllr. Jeans abstained from voting on this matter.]

 

Application No: PL/2025/00956
Application Type: Listed building consent (Alt/Ext)
Proposal: Installation of an alarm and CCTV camera
Site Address: The Cottage, Wet Lane, Mere, Warminster, BA12 6BA
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000CKBTR

 

RESOLVED to recommend approval of the above application.

 

Application No: PL/2025/01324
Application Type: Prior approval Part 3 Class Q: Agricultural buildings to dwellinghouses
Proposal: Prior notification under class Q for change of use of existing agricultural building to form a single dwelling and associated works.
Site Address: Land and buildings at Woodlands Road, Mere, Wiltshire.  BA12 6BY
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000ChF4vIAF/pl202501324

 

The Chairman reminded members that there was a similar application for this barn in 2015 but was not supported as there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that agricultural usage was in place on 20.3.2013 and also the application did not contain any form of structural assessment that demonstrated that the existing building was structurally strong enough to take the loadings associated with external works required for conversion to residential use. The Chairman read out the criteria for determination as to whether the prior approval of the LPA would be required.

RESOLVED that the Town Council object on the grounds that this application does not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the officer’s recommendations made to the application for this barn in 2015 under Application Reference: 15/04655/PNCOU have been overcome.

 

Application No: PL/2025/01213
Application Type: Removal/variation of conditions
Proposal: Variation of condition 2 of PL/2022/09675 – To reposition the approved annex
Site Address: 1 Lordsmead Road, Mere, Warminster, Wilts, BA12 6BZ
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000CZCoz

 

RESOLVED to recommend approval of the above application.   (Cllr. Lesley Traves declared a personal interest in this application and abstained from voting.)  [In order not to compromise his position as Wiltshire Councillor, Cllr. Jeans abstained from voting on this matter.]

 

Application No: PL/2025/01439
Application Type: Listed building consent (Alt/Ext)
Proposal: Removal of decayed floor timbers and replacement with damp-proof course and concrete slab to meet existing floor.
Site Address: Burton Grange Barn, Burton, Mere, Warminster, BA12 6BR
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000Cj7OG

RESOLVED to recommend approval of the above application.

Application No: PL/2025/02113
Application Type: Notification of proposed works to trees in a conservation area
Proposal: 889 Yew Crown lift by removing branches below 3m that overhang adjacent lanes 890 Yew Crown lift by removing branches below 2m on eastern side 891 Beech Crown lift by removing branches below 4m on eastern side 892 Yew Crown lift by removing branches below 3m on eastern side 893 Yew Crown lift by removing branches below 3m on eastern side 894 Reduce height of crown by 3-4m and sides by 1.5 -2m. lift crown by removing lateral branches below 4.5m that overhang lane
Site Address: ELM COTTAGE, CHURCH STREET, MERE, WARMINSTER, BA12 6DS
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000D9wZx

RESOLVED to recommend approval of the above application.

*b) Integrated planning for a sustainable future – correspondence from Mr. Nick Gosse (see Clerks Report) – members noted the information.  Cllr. Philip Coward said that a very long time ago there was a plan to take a road into Woodlands at a time when Beaumont’s were trying to get very large chimneys off site but to take a road across the route suggested would be like HS2.  It was also pointed out that Wiltshire would not build a road unless there was a financial incentive to do so and that would likely be hundreds if not thousands of houses.  Mr. Gosse was invited to speak and said that the issue was a safety one and if someone gets run over there because there are no warning signs then it will come down on the Town Council’s and the County Council’ shoulders.  Mr. Gosse asked if the Town Council would suggest to Wiltshire Council that some form of traffic calming is introduced when the detailed planning application for the Beaumont’s site is under consideration. The Chairman also reiterated that pedestrian safety proposals had been submitted to the LHFIG some time ago but no progress had been made by Wiltshire Council on this.  RESOLVED that, if a planning application for the old Beaumont’s site is presented in the future, then the Town Council should suggest that finance be sought to help improve Clements Lane corner.

  1. Highways, Rivers, Footpaths, Traffic & Transport
  2. a) To identify jobs for the Parish Steward, Sparkle Team and MyWiltshire reports –
  • Potholes on the zebra crossing at White Road
  • Foliage obstructing signage at Downside Close and Underdown

*b) Response from National Highways to letter relating to flooding of A303 and ramps on bypass bridge at Manor Road (see Clerks Report) – Noted.

  1. c) Report on LHFIG meeting held on Wednesday, 5th February – the Chairman reported that sadly, there has been no progress on pending projects. The Chairman said that he had spoken to Paul Shaddock and asked for the contact details for our lighting engineers to speak to their lighting engineers and unfortunately, he would not permit this. Cllr. Jeans asked for this to go back on the agenda for the Town Council to consider whether or not it should power up the lights along Eric Mitchell Way.

 

  1. Buildings, Open Spaces, Play Areas, Sports Grounds, Car Parks, Allotments & Cemeteries

 

  1. Finance, Policy & Resources

*a) Payments – RESOLVED to review and authorise schedule of payments (attached) [Having declared a pecuniary interest, Cllr. Jeans left the room whilst this matter was discussed.]

  1. b) To note the reconciliations for January 2025 – the Chairman confirmed that he had verified the bank reconciliation against the bank statements and signed accordingly.
  2. c) To set date, venue and member make-up for Annual Assessment of Internal Control Measures – it was agreed that the Chairman + Cllrs Lesley Traves & Sandra Catley would meet to consider the draft assessment and make recommendations for the Town Council.

*d) Actions from Interim Internal Audit Report (report attached) – the Clerk to prepare draft policy/RA for the debit card, draft Reserves Policy, review the Financial Regulations & standing orders and the Clerk confirmed that she is currently seeking insurance quotations and building valuations.  The Clerk acknowledged that she was currently using two financial software packages but said that she did not have the confidence to stop using the old system at the present time although she was hopeful that this would be the case in the near future.

  1. e) Funding for Mere Matters – is the future of the magazine in jeopardy and what sort of money would make a difference? It was confirmed that the future of the magazine was not in jeopardy and the Clerk said that the editor had given her an assurance that he would contact her if lack of finance was an issue going forward.

 

  1. General Items

 

  1. Future meetings and events

*a) Town & Parish Council Planning Forum 5th March (information in Clerks Report) – Noted

  1. b) VE Day – 8th May & VJ Day – 15th August – the Chairman confirmed that he had been working with Stuart Walker and he was keen that we should commemorate VJ Day and will be working with the new vicar to take part in that but was not keen to hold two commemoration events as they would likely become diluted. The suggestion was that we would lay a wreath on VE Day but spread the word via Mere Matters and Social Media that we would be commemorating the end of the war VJ Day on 15th

 

  1. Future agenda items
  • None

 

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.

 

*Further information on these items enclosed/attached

Meeting closed at 8.23 pm

 

 

Approved at Mere Town Council meeting held on 7th April 2025

 

 

Signed:                                                                                                                                                                 Chair of meeting.

 

 

 

Signed by the Chair of the meeting