Minutes of the Parish Assembly held on 13 May 2025 6.30pm.
K Fuglesang, opened the meeting.
COUNCILLORS PRESENT
K Fuglesang, S Gould, P Ghillyer, M Whiting, R Lane, A Godwin, C Lindley.
APOLOGIES
None.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
Minutes
The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting and Parish Assembly held on May 2024 were reviewed.
Matters Arising from the annual PARISH MEETING 2024
None
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
An exciting finale to the end of my first year as chairperson, on Thursday 1st May the long awaited referendum was held to decide whether our villages of High Littleton and Hallatrow would adopt the proposed neighbourhood plan.
The results were in! 523 votes in favour and 58 against. In this time of pro-development, the plan will ensure the voices of the parish will be heard and we will have a say in any potential planned housing and infrastructure changes.
Unbelievably it has taken nearly 8 years to get to this point.. I’d like to thank Councillor Simon Gould and the rest of the supporting team for all their hard work.
The plan will also be at the forefront of any discussions with B&NES regarding the new local Plan.
As we have seen in previous years, an increase in traffic and in particular speeding traffic is still very much a key issue for residents of our Parish. I’m pleased to report that we have made some progress over the last 12 months. We now have flashing vehicle activation signs at every entrance point to both villages, and recently due to the location of the community speed watch group have been able to put up two 30mph signs on hallatrow hill and the exit road to Paulton. Hopefully these will have some impact on vehicle speeds, although I doubt will completely stop it.
I would like to thank the community speed watch group for all the time they give to a very important cause.
To increase transparency between residents and the parish council, in November it was agreed that the annual budget will be posted on our website in January with a 6 month review later on in the year.
Back in December we said goodbye to one of our longest standing councillors – Leonard Sheen. We are hopeful that we have now filled one of our vacancies but still have one vacant position.
The council has continued to support many of the local groups, providing funding for projects at the recreation ground including the implementation of new guttering and the purchase of some new adult gym equipment. We have supported the repair café, the dial a ride bus scheme, the yarn bombers, etc.
As a parish council we also provide funding on behalf of the church for the grass cutting of the cemetery which has been increased over the past 12 months.
Looking forward to the next 12 months the parish council are actively monitoring and pursuing where possible area’s such as Rosewell Nursing home and church farm. We have also recently agreed to purchase bleed kits to attach to the defibrillators located within the parish and will continue to work with B&NES on the new local plan.
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN UPDATE
S Gould reported that B&NES Council are working on the basis on the plan being made/adopted by the Council through a Single Member Decision. This will be issued early in June to ensure that the Plan is made before 27 June (it is required to have it adopted within 8 weeks of the referendum result).
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR APRIL 2024 TO MARCH 2025
The accounts are provisional and are going through the internal audit process, which will be followed by an external audit process. The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
BALANCE SHEET
Bank as at 31.03.25 £92364.18
Creditors
Unreconciled cheques (£1156.42)
Debtors
VAT refund due £2136.37
Council net worth as at 31.03.25 £93344.13
Significant Income/Expenditure
EXPENDITURE
Section 137
Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 provides a power for a local authority, to incur expenditure which in their opinion is in the interests of, and will bring direct benefit to, their area its inhabitants, if there is no other power available.
Dog poop bags £217
Grass cutting in cemetery £4960
Parish Sweeping
Contractor for 23.24 retained for 24.25 – charges for works done only. Total cost £2500 (sweeping bi monthly)
Parish News letter
Editing – £1200
Delivery – £900
Printing – £2604
Christmas Expendture
Trees – £442
Tree dressing, undressing and light storage – £420
Install, removal and disposal of trees – £430
Grants / Donations
Recreation Committee – £6450 (insurance £821 grass cutting £3070 guttering/fascia £2559)
Charity of Mary Jones Grant – £1000
Midsomer Norton Dial a Ride – £200
Yarnbomb materials/village day prizes – £100
Lyme Disease Uk – £250
Repair Cafe Hall hire – £324 (2025)
Sweets for carol service – £25
Capital
VAS on Paulton Road – £4998
The Meeting closed at 6.40pm