Table of Contents
Clerk: Philip Edwards (CiLCA) clerk@westharptreeparishcouncil.co.uk
www.westharptreeparishcouncil.co.uk
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Councillors Present: H Colton, R Ireland (Chairman), S McCombe, J Mitchell and E Weatherill
Also Present: Philip Edwards (Clerk)
2501_[1] Public Participation Session
There was no public participation contributed by members of the public.
MEETING ADMIN
2501_[2] Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies for absence.
2501_[3] Declaration of Interest
There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary or personal interests.
2501_[4] Confirmation of Minutes
RESOLVED: The Parish Council meeting minutes of Monday 16th December 2024 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by Chairman.
REPORTS – To receive and note any reports:
2501_[5] Chairman’s Report
- There was no report received from the Chairman
2501_[6] Clerk’s Report
- A report was received from the Clerk
- The Clerk had been in contact with SSE and they had agreed to correct the rates and invoices in accordance with the originally agreed contract. This remained outstanding on the account.
- BANES had written to confirm that details ACV had been corrected
- Noted: correspondence shared with council members listed in the appendix.
2501_[7] Meetings attended Reports
- Cllr Mitchel provided details of a meeting with Cllr Colton, Cllr Mitchel and Harptree Surgery on 20th December.
2501_[8] Memorial Hall Reports
- Cllr Weatherill provided a report on the Hall annual general meeting. (See appendix for a copy of the report.)
- The Parish Council was unanimous in wanting to thank the village hall committee and volunteers for the hard work that had gone into the transformation of the hall and its activities
2501_[9] Highways Reports
- Noted: the report from Dst Cllr Wood was reviewed regarding highways issues (see appendix)
- The council expressed their thanks to Dst Cllr Wood for progress made and requested the Clerk to follow up with Cllr Wood regarding:
- Requesting an up to date response regarding the two sets of double yellow lines
- Removal of the new road layout signs that were still in place
- Details of the budget decision regarding an extension of the 20mph speed limit on the Bristol Road
- Requesting removal of the flashing speed sign on the approach to West Harptree from Compton Martin
2501_[10] Recreation Ground Reports
- Noted: there were no reports on the recreation ground
2501_[11] Ward Councillor’s Report
- A report was received from BANES District Cllr David Wood (see appendix)
2501_[12] FINANCE
(a) Payments and income – see appendix 2025-01 Finance Reports
- RESOLVED: payments to approve listed in finance report
- Noted: payments and Income listed in finance report
- Noted: bank reconciliation
2501_[13] PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Application Reference: 24/03863/VAR
Application Address: Harptree Surgery , Bristol Road, West Harptree, Bristol, Bath And North East Somerset, BS40 6HF
Proposal: Variation of condition 1 (Temporary Permission) of application 21/03192/FUL (Erection of a portable office (Portakabin) as a temporary structure (3 years) to increase room capacity at a GP Surgery in West Harptree. Due to social distancing, there is insufficient room (temporarily) within the Surgery to house all members of the team. Whilst the portable office is in place, internal works within Harptree Surgery will increase the number of consultation rooms and make for a permanent solution, allowing for the removal of the portable office.)
RESOLVED: The Parish Council are unable to remove their original OBJECTION to this application. The planning application requests either a) an extension of the existing temporary consent for the portacabin for an additional five years or b) granting consent for the unit as a permanent facility. While the council appreciate the day to day pressures on the surgery, the council believes that the practice must make an appropriate permanent solution a priority and thereby remove the portakabin as soon as is reasonably practicable, certainly in less than two years. Members of the council met with the surgery on 20th December and offered help and support in developing plans for a permanent extension and to make the Memorial Hall available for the new non-clinical uses that the practice manager has recently outlined. (See planning response in the appendix for full details).
Application Reference: 24/04156/EFUL
Application Address: Parcel 15628, Stowey Road, Stowey, Bristol, Bath And North East Somerset,
Proposal: Construction, operation and decommission of a 49.9MW capacity solar farm on land south of Stowey Road, consisting of ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and associated development including transformers and switchgear, electrical substations, substation compound, a telecommunications mast, cabling, utilities, access tracks, perimeter fencing, landscaping and areas for biodiversity net gain (BNG) enhancement.
RESOLVED: The Parish Council OBJECTS to this application. (See planning response in the appendix for full details of the objection).
To note recent updates, see ‘West Harptree’ under ‘PARISH’ on BANES website:
https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/search.html#advancedSearch
2501_[14] ITEMS FOR ATTENTION OF THE CLERK
- Noted: there were no other items for attention of the clerk
- Noted: there were no requests for business to be considered at the next meeting
2501_[15] DATE OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED: Date of next meeting: Monday 10th February 2025, 7.30pm at West Harptree Memorial hall.
Diary: https://westharptreeparishcouncil.co.uk/diary-of-parish-council-meetings/
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 20:36
Agreed as a correct record,
signed by the Chairman of the meeting: _______________________ on:_______________
(Chairman initial all other pages)
- Version: 1.1
- Status: Approved