MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PUBLOW WITH PENSFORD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 12th JANUARY 2026 IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, PENSFORD
Present: Mr P Baxter (Chairman), Ms C Dinsdale, Mrs T Jones, Dr L Malt, S Pattimore, Cllr Paul May (Ward Councillor) (Part), Mrs H Richardson (Clerk), and 4 Members of Public.
Public Participation: A resident complained about the traffic lights beyond Chelwood Roundabout as it appears no work has taken place for 5 weeks.
72.1. Apologies for absence: Mr S Filer, Mrs S Grimes Mr S Grimes, Mrs J Stephenson, Cllr Paul May (Ward Councillor) (Late).
72.2. Declarations of Interest: Ms S Pattimore (72.4i & 72.4v)
72.3. The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 8th December 2025 were agreed (with a small correction) as a true and fair record and the Chairman signed them.
72.4. Planning:
a) Applications to consult:
i) To ratify response to 25/04550/FUL. Rising Sun, Church Street, Pensford. Minor external alterations to include addition of new windows, doorway to replace existing window, porch, external metal staircase with railings and enlargement of external landing.
The Parish Council ratified their response to SUPPORT the application.
ii) To ratify response to 25/04534/FUL. Whitley Villa, Wells Road, Pensford: Creation of vehicular access with dropped kerb.
The Parish Council ratified their response to SUPPORT the application.
iii) To ratify response to 25/04596/TPO. 15 Station Approach, Pensford. Ash (15) – Fell. Ash (16) – Fell. Group of 6 Lawson Cypress (13) forming a hedge – Fell.
The Parish Council ratified their response to SUPPORT the application.
iv) 25/04619/FUL. Hill House, Pensford Hill, Pensford: Erection of front porch, removal of render to front elevation to expose original natural rubblestone walling (Retrospective)
The Parish Council resolved to SUPPORT the application as it will improve the appearance of the property.
v) 25/04670/AR. Rising Sun, Church Street, Pensford: Display of illuminated and non-illuminated signs to the exterior of the building and painted signwriting to the exterior walls.
The Parish Council resolved to OBJECT in its current form. Although supportive of the changes in principle the Parish Council would be minded to support the proposals, if the lighting could be made softer to reduce the impact on the neighbours.
vi) 25/04412/OUT. 84 Hillcrest, Pensford. Erection of 1no 3-bedroom dwelling with associated parking
The Parish Council resolved to SUPPORT the application as this is an infill plot, which follows the existing building line with minimal impact on nearby residents.
b) Decision Notification:
i) 25/04594/NMA: Kensington House , Pensford Hill, Pensford. Non material amendment to application 25/00605/FUL (Raising of roof in upstairs eaves room with hipped roof and lower ground floor side extension with roof terrace, glazed aluminium veranda and steps). REFUSED
ii) 25/04596/TPO: 15 Station Approach, Pensford. Ash (15) – Fell. Ash (16) – Fell. Group of 6 Lawson Cypress (13) forming a hedge – Fell.
CONSENT
iii) 25/04534/FUL: Whitley Villa, Wells Road, Pensford. Creation of vehicular access with dropped kerb. PERMITTED
iv) 25/04201/TCA: 143 High Street, Pensford. Sycamore T1 – crown lift to 5m. Oak T2 – crown lift to 5m. Horse Chestnut T3 – remove 1x lowest limb. Ash G1 – fell. Yew T4 – crown lift to 3-4m. Eucalyptus T5 – remove lowest limb overhanging garden. NO OBJECTION
v) 25/04070/LBA. Parsonage Farm , Parsonage Lane, Publow: External works for installation an electric vehicle (EV) charger in in the garage. The garage is the most north-western building at the back of the main house. CONSENT
vi) 25/02683/FUL: Cottles Farm House , Blackrock Lane, Publow: Erection of residential annexe and replacement of porch. PERMITTED
vii) 25/02684/LBA. Cottles Farm House , Blackrock Lane, Publow. Internal and external alterations for erection of residential annexe and replacement of porch. CONSENT
72.5. Matters for Discussion
a) The Parish Council resolved to co-opt Sonia Fluke onto the Parish Council.
b) The Parish Council discussed the application for the Ward Councillors fund. It was agreed that the Allotment representative will circulate quotes she had received to install guttering and water butts to collect water to help allotment holders to water their plots. The proposal would be finalised for the next meeting.
c) It was agreed that the Wall behind the War Memorial was in need of repair. PB hoped to repair it this month, once he had sourced one piece of Blue Lias stone.
d) It was reported that Cllr Dinsdale had presented the proposal for Village Car Park to the Village Hall committee and they had agreed to further investigations taking place. A Parish Council working group would meet on January 29th at 7pm to discuss what should be done next.
e) The Parish Council discussed a request from a resident, to install a Skate Park. It was agreed that the Parish Council did not own any suitable land to enable this project but would direct the resident to the Village Hall Committee.
f) The Parish Council approved expenditure of £48.98+VAT for Bin Bags
g) The Parish Council approved expenditure of £200+VAT for the renewal of Titan WordPress hosting the Website.
72.6. Financial Matters
a) It was agreed that the final budget would be approved next month when hopefully more Councillors would be present.
b) It was agreed that the Precept Request would be approved next month when hopefully more Councillors would be present.
c) Financial Report was accepted
d) January payments were approved.
Purpose for Expense – Amount – VAT – Recover
Mrs Helen Richardson (68.5i) – Salary £918.18 £- N/A
HMRC (Month 10) £359.17 £- N/A
Nisbets Bin Bags (reimburse Steve Fluke) £49.17 £- N/A
Easy Space, Titan Internet Domain Renewal £240 £40 Y
Steve Fluke – Emptying Dog Bins £116.67 £- N/A
Frank Scholfield – Footpath Officer £85.00 £- N/A
KC Printing – Housing Needs Survey £146.40 £24.40 Y
Paul May (Ward Councillor) joined the meeting
72.7. The B&NES Ward Councillor apologised for being late as he had been chairing a Lib Dems Budget meeting. He reported that following a government fair funding review, B&NES had lost £12million of Government funding over the next three years, so the budget was very tight, but most services will be continuing.
They were expecting more details of any development planned for Whitchurch in May, but he was keeping a close eye on them.
He updated the parish Council that he had requested three highways schemes and the 20 mph limit on the A37 had been include in the 2026/2027 programme, a crossing for Belluton had been included in the 2026/2027 programme and speed humps for Old Road had been included in the 2027/2028 programme.
72.8. Reports
a) PCAA: No Update.
b) Village Hall – AGM Next month
c) Housing Needs Survey. Surveys had been printing – Stevie to arrange collection. Distribution will be arranged next meeting
d) Allotment – No update
e) Clerks Report – circulated.
f) Chairmans report – No report
72.9. Items to carry forward to the next meeting: Housing Needs Survey, agree zones for Councillors to deliver. Precept & budget, Ward Councillors Fund.
72.10. To note Future Meetings
DATE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Monday 9th February 2026 at 7pm in Pensford Village Hall
The meeting closed at 20.39pm