MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PUBLOW WITH PENSFORD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2025 IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, PENSFORD
Present: Mr P Baxter, Ms C Dinsdale, Mr S Filer, Mrs S Grimes(Chairman), Mr S Grimes, Mrs J Gully, Mr W Tantam, Mrs H Richardson (Clerk), Mr Paul May (Ward Councillor) and 4 Members of Public.
Public Participation: A resident complained about an overgrown hedge, and ivy growing on the Lock up
69.1. Apologies for absence: Mrs T Jones, Dr L Malt, Mrs J Stephenson
69.2. Declarations of Interest: None
69.3. The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 8th September 2025 were agreed as a true and fair record and the Chairman signed them.
69.4. Planning:
a) Applications to consult:
i) 25/03794/TCA. River Bank, Mill Lane, Woollard. Rowan tree – dead. To fell. The Parish Council resolved to SUPPORT the application
ii) 25/03623/TCA. 1 Old School House , High Street, Pensford. Silver birch – diseased & in danger of falling branches, to take down the tree & leave a small stump. The Parish Council resolved to SUPPORT the application
b) Decision Notification:
i) 25/02819/CLPU. Portal, Publow Lane, Publow: Construction of a single storey rear extension to form additional living accommodation following demolition of existing conservatory (Certificate of Lawfulness for a Proposed Development).LAWFUL
ii) 25/02390/CLPU. Tyreece , Wells Road, Pensford: Use of existing outbuilding as residential annexe (Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use). LAWFUL
69.5. Matters for Discussion
a) The Parish council discussed the Local Plan Option Document and resolved to respond to the consultation to say that they were in agreement with the document that the parish obligations of an additional 25 homes over the plan period should be met by infill only. However, the Parish Council did OBJECT to the large numbers proposed for Whitchurch and were concerned about the knock-on impact of the additional traffic generated by large development in Whitchurch on the A37 and rural roads through the parish.
b) It was agreed that Councillors would be allocated a .gov.uk mailbox and would stop using personal email addresses to comply with Assertion 10 in the 2026 AGAR. The Parish Council is given the use of up to 100 mailboxes within their domain package and so there would be no additional cost.
c) Expenditure of up to £500 was approved to purchase a new laptop for the clerk as the existing computer is not compatible with Windows 11 and support for Windows 10 was about to stop.
d) The Parish Council approved expenditure of £250+VAT for an advance road closure warning sign and road closure sign to be put in place for Remembrance in order to comply with B&NES requirements. Councillors disagreed with being forced into this expense but the licence for the event would not be issued without it.
e) The Parish Council discussed the process for emptying the bins following the resignation of one of the volunteers. It was agreed that the other volunteer would be approached to see if he would take on more bins with the possibility of nominal remuneration and reduction of total bins.
f) It was agreed that a new guardian for the Woollard Defibrillator was need and residents would be asked to volunteer.
g) The discussion regarding the installation of the new defibrillator cabinet was deferred until installation costs are provided.
h) It was agreed that the Acker Bilk Bench needed oiling, the lock up door needs wood preserver. The Village Caretaker would be asked to do it and the expenditure would be taken out of the £300 agreed at the July meeting
69.6. Financial Matters
a) The First Draft of the budget was discussed and projects were put forward to consider including a Speed indicator device, a basic projector for meetings, repairs to the War memorial and an increase to the Village Caretakers budget.
b) Financial Report was accepted
c) October payments were approved.
Purpose for Expense – Amount – VAT – Recover
Mrs Helen Richardson (68.5i) – Salary £1084.13 £- N/A
HMRC (Month 7) £453.08 £- N/A
DPM Lucas – Grass Cutting £50.00 £- N/A
The Information Commissioner £52 £- N/A
Frank Scholfield £85.00 £- N/A
69.7. B&NES Ward Councillor reported the 40mph extension on the A37 to the South of Pensford had been approved. He would be holding a meeting to discuss the Local Plan on Tuesday 21st October in the British Legion in Whitchurch. He met with Stefan Chivers who said that the additional double yellow lines in Pensford would not be progressed as it moves the problem to another area. He was quite positive about creating the safe route to school along Publow Lane. He needs a proposal for the Ward Councillors Initiative as soon as possible.
69.8. Reports
a) PCAA: Next meeting on 20th November
b) Allotments: One tenant about to leave.
c) Village Hall – Last meeting was regarding the Christmas Fayre.
d) Village Car Park Proposal – Will be presented to the committee in November.
e) Relocation of Footpath – report circulated. Proposed route was under 2m wide – allotment holder would be asked if they would provide additional width.
f) Clerks Report – circulated.
g) Chairmans report – Nothing to report
69.9. Items to carry forward to the next meeting: None
69.10. To note Future Meetings
DATE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Monday 10th November 2025 at 7pm in Pensford Village Hall
The meeting closed at 20.28pm