MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF PUBLOW WITH PENSFORD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 11th MAY 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 J Gully, Mrs T Jones, S Pattimore, Cllr Paul May (Ward Councillor). Mrs H Richardson (Clerk), and 7 Members of Public.
76.1. Sue Grimes was elected as Chairman and Paul Baxter was elected as Vice Chairman.
76.2. The Chairman signed the declaration of acceptance of Office.
Public Participation: The Vice Chairman of the Village Hall addressed the council to confirm that the Village Hall Management committee was supportive of the proposal to investigate additional parking on the village hall playing fields.
76.3. Apologies for absence: Dr L Malt, Cllr Paul May (Late)
76.4. Declarations of Interest: None
76.5. Appointment of Representatives were agreed:
a) Memorial Hall Committee: Paul Baxter
b) Parish Council’s Airport Association: Steve Grimes
c) Parish Liaison Meetings: Sue Grimes
d) ALCA Meetings: Sue Grimes
e) B&NES Local Council Group: None
f) Chew Valley Forum: Tracy Jones
g) Flood Representative: Claire Dinsdale
h) Guardians for Defibrillators: Claire Dinsdale (Hillcrest), Layla Malt(Post office) Beth (Woollard
i) Staffing Panel: Tracy Jones, Steve Filer, Steve Grimes.
j) Allotments: Sonia & Stevie
k) Signatories for Unity Bank: Steve Filer, Paul Baxter, Steve Grimes, Tracy Jones, Claire Dinsdale.
76.6. The Standing orders were reviewed and adopted unchanged.
76.7. The 2026-27 schedule of meetings were approved.
76.8. The Parish Council Risk assessment was reviewed and adopted unchanged.
76.9. The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 13th April 2026 were agreed as a true and fair record and the Chairman signed them.
76.10. Planning:
a) Applications to consult:
i) 26/01312/FUL: 16 Hillcrest, Pensford: Re-siting of oil tank to front of house from rear with hard standing for plastic oil tank – double bunding. The Parish Council resolved that they have NO OBJECTION
ii) 26/01050/FUL: The Old Surgery, Wick Lane Pensford. Addition of low carbon technologies at the Old Surgery air source hear pump system, solar panels array and battery storage. The Parish Council resolved that they have NO OBJECTION.
b) Decision Notification:
i) 26/00983/TCA 26/00983/TCA: 4 Church Street, Pensford: Leylandi – reduce in height by approximately 8 feet. NO OBJECTION
ii) Application Reference: 26/00868/FUL: Rising Sun, Church Street, Pensford. Proposal: Change of use of the upper floors of the public house to provide ancillary guest accommodation. PERMIT
76.11. Matters for Discussion
a) 31 Replies were received for the Housing Needs Survey – Cllr Sue Grimes will finalise the results to be discussed next meeting.
b) The Parish Council approved the insurance premium of £1069.39
Paul May joined the meeting
c) The Parish council discussed the draft response to 26/P/0686/OU2: Bristol Airport expansion plans. Comments are due by 28th June. The approval was deferred to next meeting so that the response could incorporate information from Sarah Warrens comments to B&NES on air pollution and the briefing note due to be circulated by the PCAA.
76.12. Financial Matters
a) Financial Report was accepted
b) May payments were approved. CD & SF to sign.
Purpose for Expense – Amount – VAT – Recover
Mrs Helen Richardson (45.5j) – Salary £923.13 £- N/A
HMRC (Month2) £359.17 £- N/A
Steve Fluke – Dog bin £116.67 £- N/A
Frank Scholfield – Footpath Officer £85.00 £- N/A
DPM Garden Contractors £50.00 £- N/A
Zurich Insurance £1063.39 £- N/A
Easy Space – Secure hosting £51.12 £8.52 Y
76.13. The B&NES Ward Councillor apologised for not attending the annual village meeting as he had come straight from Chairing a B&NES meeting. He reported that the B&NES Local plan options document will be issued in July and comments will be invited by August. He is still concerned about the numbers of houses planned for Whitchurch although he has fought to have them reduced significantly. He met the Cabinet Member for highways recently and they agreed that the roads were not designed for high volumes of cars. He is meeting the leader of the Council this week when he will reiterate that a green strip is needed between Bristol and Whitchurch so that Whitchurch remains a village.
76.14. Reports
PCAA: Paul May has said that it is highly likely that BANES will object to the Bristol Airport planning application and he has agreed to speak supporting our objections at the BANES meeting on 14th April. BANES councillor Sarah Warren has confirmed BANES already supports our position and it may be more relevant that the PCAA should speak at WECA’s public meetings (committee, scrutiny or audit panels), to try to influence the Mayor, who she thinks may be in favour of expansion.
Save Felton Common are planning a briefing opportunity on Felton Common for North Somerset, BANES and Bristol Councillors, and Councillors from surrounding Parish Councils in Felton Village Hall on Saturday 16th May from 11.00-13.00. Their Chair Debbie Johnson will lead and they will have an in situ simple version of the proposed fences, lights and columns that rise to 8.5M high and stretch over 240M into the common, virtually splitting it in half. Refreshments will be served before, during and after the event. Cllr Grimes is unable to attend but if any councillors wish to go, please just meet there. There will be ample parking by the hall and on the common by the church.
a) Village Hall – have had their annual meeting this month, the finances are in good order, but they would like more committee members. They are supporting of the car park project and have lots of events coming up.
b) Village Hall Car Park – Initial quotes received for £94,000, or £54,000 without steel bollards. Details would be circulated to councillors.
c) Repair to War Memorial – Still in progress.
d) Repair to Marquee – The Bike Joust has move to the 13th June and so the repair would be dealt with before then.
e) Allotment – Several new allotment holders.
f) Clerks Report – circulated.
g) Chairman’s report – Nothing to report.
76.15. Items to carry forward to the next meeting: Additional Parking for residents, Housing needs survey.
76.16. To note Future Meetings:
DATE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Monday 8th June 2026 at 7pm in Pensford Village Hall
The meeting closed at 20.28
Publow with Pensford Parish Council
Parish Clerk
10 Watts Corner, Glastonbury, BS6 8FD
Phone: 01458 741336. Mobile: 07899 970173
Email: clerk@publow-with-pensford-pc.gov.uk
