MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PUBLOW WITH PENSFORD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 8th MARCH 2026 IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, PENSFORD
Present: Mr P Baxter, Ms C Dinsdale Mr S Filer, Ms S Fluke, Mrs S Grimes (Chairman), Mr S Grimes, Mrs T Jones, Cllr Paul May (Ward Councillor). Mrs H Richardson (Clerk), and 2 Members of Public.
Public Participation: A resident commented on the recent temporary traffic lights on Pensford Hill and thought that they worked well, the traffic flowed and it felt safer as a pedestrian. They asked the Parish Council to consider making them a permanent feature. Other residents felt that the traffic lights caused congestion by the school, increased pollution and made the back lanes busier as traffic found alternative routes. The buses were running late.
Cllr Paul May offered to organise a survey, inviting residents to submit their views.
A resident was thankful that the railings on the Bridge had been repainted.
74.1. Apologies for absence: Mrs J Gully, Dr L Malt, S Pattimore.
74.2. Declarations of Interest: T Jones (73.4i)
74.3. The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 8th February 2026 were agreed as a true and fair record and the Chairman signed them.
74.4. Planning:
a) Applications to consult:
i) The Parish Council ratified their delegated response to 26/00311/FUL: 48 Hillcrest, Pensford. Erection of 1no. 2 bed attached dwelling. The Parish Council Support the application.
ii) 26/00676/FUL Knights Folly Farm, Woollard Lane, Publow, Erection of new dwelling in lieu of the conversion scheme recently approved by application reference 25/00656/ADCOU. The Parish Council had No Objection.
iii) 26/00556/FUL: Unregistered Farm Buildings Adjacent To Sandhills Birchwood Lane Publow: Erection of 2 no detached dwellings with associated works following demolition of 2 no existing agricultural buildings. The Parish Councill resolved to OBJECT to the application. The site is in the greenbelt, outside the Housing development boundary and contrary to the Neighbourhood plan. The new dwellings would be isolated from Village Amenities and access is via a dangerous junction with the A37. The new dwellings are not a direct replacement of the agricultural barns being demolished.
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b) Decision Notification:
i) 26/00402/TCA: Hill House, Pensford Hill, Pensford. Yew T1 – reduce crown by 1m in height and 0.5m in radial spread, canopy lift to 6m over road and 2.5m over driveway. NO OBJECTION
ii) 25/03903/FUL. The Teasel Barn, Stanton Road, Pensford, Conversion of the existing detached domestic storage/garage building to a single dwellinghouse (C3 use class) together with erection of two dormer windows in the north-west roof plane and provision of parking and external amenity areas. PERMITTED
74.5. Matters for Discussion
a) The Parish Council approved expenditure of £2395+VAT for a replacement defibrillator for Woollard. This would be part-funded by the Ward Councillors empowerment fund(£1653) and the balance would be paid for by the Parish Council.
b) The Parish Council approved expenditure of £647 to purchase 4 large water butts and guttering for the allotments to help collect rainwater. This will be funded by the Ward Councillors Empowerment Fund.
c) The Parish Council asked the Clerk to Contact Defib4life regarding the recycling of our old defibrillators.
d) Following an enquiry from a volunteer litter picker, the Parish Council reviewed the litter pickers & provision of equipment and gold bags. It was reported that the Parish Council had previously purchased and donated 10 litter pickers to the volunteers, but that it was not organised by the Parish Council. More Gold bags could be requested from B&NES.
e) It was agreed that Councillors would undertake training in Data Protection and freedom of information to comply with Assertion 10. The clerk would circulate the training programmes.
74.6. Financial Matters
a) Financial Report was accepted
b) March payments were approved. TJ & PB to sign.
Purpose for Expense – Amount – VAT – Recover
Mrs Helen Richardson (45.5j) – Salary £917.73 £- N/A
HMRC (Month 12 ) £359.17 £- N/A
Steve Fluke – Dog bin £116.67 £- N/A
Frank Scholfield – Footpath Officer £85.00 £- N/A
Steve Grimes Reimburse for Latch £3.96 £- N/A
74.7. The B&NES Ward Councillor confirmed that there would be a 5% rise in Council Tax with no major cuts in the Budget. He has sent a formal complaint about the lack of activity repairing the wall by Chelwood roundabout yet the traffic lights have been operational. Work has now started,
74.8. Reports
a) PCAA: Next meeting on 26th March.
b) Village Hall – Nothing to report
c) Village Hall Car Park – Working group have held a meeting, and will gather quotes to get an idea of costs.
d) Repair to War Memorial – Still in progress.
e) Housing needs survey – Closing date 31st March. 30 surveys have been completed.
f) Allotment- Sonia is putting numbers on each plot and sending a list of current tenants to clerk.
g) Clerks Report – circulated.
h) Chairmans report – Confirming What.three.words to put on the defib at the post office and Woollard.
74.9. Items to carry forward to the next meeting: Marquee needs repair, Request for Marquee for Jousting
74.10. To note Future Meetings
DATE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Monday 13th April 2026 at 7pm in Pensford Village Hall
The meeting closed at 21.19pm