Minutes of the Meeting of High Littleton Parish Council held on Tuesday 10 June 2025 7 pm.
Councillors present
K Fuglesang, P Ghillyer, A Godwin, S Gould, C Lindley, D Hunter and R Lane.
Opportunity for the members of the public to speak (the public are asked to limit their address to 5 minutes with maximum time allowed 20 minutes). Please note that the Parish Council cannot make a decision on any item which is not on the agenda, but items may be put forward for a future agenda.
A member of the Speed Watch Volunteer Group attended to update the Council – three new sites to monitor traffic have been approved, a) outside the school b) outside the star and the junction at Timsbury Road. Currently the group have only 5 volunteers (any interested residents can contact the Clerk or any Councillor) and carry two sessions monitoring the traffic each week.
A resident attended to view the meeting and thanked the Council for their contributions towards the repair of the cemetery wall.
Douglas Hunter attended to express his interest in the Councillor vacancy.
After he had signed the form of acceptance, he joined the Parish Council for the meeting and will forward his register of interest to the Clerk in the next 28 days.
Agenda
2506.1 Apologies – to note apologies for absence
Apologies were received and accepted from M Whiting. And apologies were received from Ward Cllr Ann Morgan.
Agenda
2506.2 [TO RESOLVE] To confirm and approve minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 13 May 2025
Resolved – the Council agreed that the 13 May 2025 minutes were a true and correct record of the meeting.
2506.3 Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Request for Dispensations
To receive declaration of any members personal or prejudicial interest in any item on the agenda
S Gould re item 2506.5 and 2506.14 g) as trustee of the charity.
Development Control, Forestry Works and Footpath Diversions
2506.4 Planning applications to consider and decide comment for submission to B&NES
a) Applications to consult
[TO RESOLVE] 25/02015/FUL Leafy Way Mearns High Littleton BS39 6JR
Erection of a replacement dwelling following demolition of existing and associated works.
Resolved to support with the caveat that B&NES Council adhere to the Bio Diversity plan.
b) To note decision notifications
23/04622/VAR Hallatrow Business Park Wells Road Hallatrow BS39 6EX
Variation of condition 7 (Plans List (Compliance)) of application 22/02775/FUL (Change of use to learning and non-residential institutions (Use Class F1) for a temporary three year period with associated siting of porta-cabins and shipping containers (part retrospective)). Condition Number(s): Condition 7 – Approved plans Conditions(s) Removal: Please see covering letter Please see covering letter
Pending consideration
23/04623/VAR Hallatrow Business Park Wells Road Hallatrow BS39 6EX
Variation of condition 9 (Plans List (Compliance)) of application 22/02777/FUL (Change of use to storage or distribution (Use Class B8) for a temporary three year period with associated siting of porta-cabins and shipping containers). Condition Number(s): Condition 9 – Approved Plans Conditions(s) Removal: Please see covering letter
Pending consideration
23/04687/FUL Hallatrow Business Park Wells Road Hallatrow BS39 6EX
Material change of use (temporary) for B8 use and associated operational development (in connection with adjacent permitted use) (Retrospective).
Pending consideration
23/04686/FUL Parcel 0172 Wells Road Hallatrow
Material change of use (temporary) for F1 use and associated operational development (in connection with adjacent permitted use) (Retrospective)
Pending consideration
24/02290/FUL Hallatrow Business Park Wells Road Hallatrow BS39 6EX
Erection of warehouse (Use Class B8) with associated hard/soft landscape works; drainage; and ecological enhancement area, together with stopping up of existing business park access to vehicular traffic; creation of new vehicular access for business park off the A39 with right turn lane and widening of the A39 to accommodate a new public foot/cycle path.
Pending consideration
25/01078/FUL 23 Butlass Close High Littleton BS39 6HD
Erection of single storey rear and side extension and revised fenestration to existing dwelling following demolition of existing garage, side porch and conservatory.
Permit – to be removed from the agenda
25/01314/FUL Swallows Nest Broom Hill Lane High Littleton BS39 6JT
Erection of detached garage and garden store.
Permit – to be removed from the agenda
2506.5 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide request from the Charity of Mary Jones for a page for the charity on the Parish Council website
Resolved to approve. Clerk to contact website manager to request a quote for the set up.
2506.6 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide a request for a contribution towards Village Day yarn bomb trail materials and prizes
Resolved to approve £100 [SECTION 137 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972].
2506.7 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide a request from Dunkerton and Tunley Parish Council for support for a Bath Wells Express Bus
Resolved to approve that the Council support the proposal in principle but did not consider that the route from Farrington Gurney to Wells was viable, as this part of the route is already adequately provided by the half hourly Mendip Explorer service from Bristol. P Ghillyer to draft a response supporting the route from Bath to Farrington Gurney but proposing that the service terminates at Paulton TESCO as this is not provided by any other service for villages at the west end of the Cam Valley. The reduced length of the route would also allow an increased frequency of service.
2506.8 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve insurance renewal 2024.25
Resolved to approve.
2506.9 TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve/decide Risk Assessment template procedure for events/activities
Resolved to approve. A form to be completed as appropriate for any event/activity and minuted before the event/activity takes place. All Councillors to complete the online Health & Safety Course provided by B&NES Council.
2506.10 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve Standing Orders
Resolved to approve adoption of the latest NALC recommended model standing orders.
2506.11 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve contribution (43%) towards Recreation Ground insurance
Resolved to approve.
2506.12 [TO RESOLVE] To approve the following finances
a) Resolved to approved the following items for payment in June
| Description | Amount £ | |
| DD | Sage Payroll – June 2025 | 12.00 |
| DD | Pension Contributions– May 2024 | 40.84 |
| DD | Yu Energy – May 2025 | 93.21 |
| SO | D Stephenson – website maintenance | 25.00 |
| Total | 171.05 | |
| CARD | AED Locator – bleed kit for woods replaces cheque 002755 | 243.75 |
| Cartridgeright – ink cartridge and printer paper | 125.98 | |
| Defib Warehouse – Powerheat G5 Adult pads | 91.14 | |
| Total | 460.87 | |
| Cheques | ||
| 002756 | Kirsty Headlong June 2025 Salary Pension PAYE Tax National Insurance Working from home allowance Net Total Clerk’s Expenses May 2025 mileage & stationery & admin Cheque Total | 1103.48 (23.34) (196.00)(4.44) 26.00 905.70 3.92 909.62 |
| 002757 | HMRC Employer’s and Employee’s NI June 2025 June 2025 Tax – K Headlong Total | 107.41 196.00 303.41 |
| 002758 | Austin sage – Recreation Ground grass cutting May 2025 | 330.00 |
| 002759 | Branching Out – May cemetery grass cutting and sweeping | 810.00 |
| 002760 | Zurich – 2025.26 insurance | 606.57 |
| 002761 | C Wilkins – internal audit 2024.25 | 150.00 |
| 002762 | High Littleton Environment Group – bat detector contribution | 100.00 |
| 002763 | High Littleton Recreation Ground – insurance contribution | 859.87 |
| Cheque Total | £4069.47 | |
| Grand Total | £4701.39 |
b) To note receipts
2506.13 To receive any updates on district matters from Ward Cllr Ann Morgan
Cllr Morgan reported, via email, that she will be processing the empowerment fund request, is liaising with B&NES on the bus schedules in the parish and several residents have been in contact with her with concerns re the appeal to the Planning Inspectorate on the refusal of the planning application 24/04751/PACOU Poultry Houses, Langfords Lane.
2506.14 To receive reports and updates on current items
- Allotments
No news/updates.
- Recreation Ground
K Fuglesang reported that the outdoor gym equipment is due to be installed this month
- Police and Neighbourhood Watch
The Council noted reports of vandalism at Rosewell have been reported and the police have attended on several occasions.
- Defibrillator/Bleed Kits
The Council noted that bleed kits have been received and will be installed on the defibrillators.
- School Governors
A Godwin reported that the school no longer has a gardening club so is unable to take care of the newly placed planter. Councillors will water and maintain the planter in the short term with a view to consider relocating if necessary.
- Grass and Cemetery
The Council noted the facebook posts about some graves which appear to be unstrimmed and have large holes in the ground around them. R Lane thought the holes could be caused by wildlife and confirmed that the older graves are not part of the contractor’s contract while the graves he does strim cannot be strimmed at every cut. The Council noted that the Church’s policy is that each holder of a family grave should help to maintain the grave and there is a sign in the cemetery to confirm this. R Lane to liaise with the Church Wardens on this issue.
- Charity of Mary Jones
S Gould reported that he has submitted an article for the News & Views to raise awareness of the charity, and The Star will be running a fundraiser at Starfest on 28 June 4–11.30pm.
- Parish Magazine
See item 2506.14 g).
- Greyfield Wood
P Ghillyer reported that the fallen gate has been rectified by B&NES.
- Environmental Group
R Lane reported that 11 items were handed in to the Repair Café with 7 repaired and a Green Homes event was held on 6 June and was well attended.
- Parish sweeping – [TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve any areas to be swept
Resolved to approve Greyfield, Claremont, outside Emz/bus stop. Clerk to emphasis that no weed killer be used anywhere in the parish.
- Highway/footpath Issues – [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide any action to take re vehicles parking on the A39 at the bend in the road near Laurels garage
Deferred to await the outcome of the meeting of the Ward Cllr with B&NES.
- Transport/buses
See item 2506.7.
- Neighbourhood Plan – to be removed from the agenda.
- Streetlighting
The Council noted a report of a light opposite the Gug covered in vegetation which is not in the parish but will be reported on fixmystreet for B&NES to rectify. P Ghillyer to obtain details of streetlights which are no longer working to be reported to National Grid to be decommissioned.
- Rosewell Home
The Council noted that some incidents of break ins and vandalism and advise residents to report to the police and to keep a log of these.
- Church Farm
No news/updates.
- Councillor vacancies
See public participation. The Council noted one vacancy – any interested residents to contact the Clerk or any Councillor.
- Hallatrow polling station – [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide action to be taken re a polling station in Hallatrow
No news/updates.
- Village planters funded by Ward Councillor fund
The Council noted the new planters are in place in front of the school and on the Triangle in Hallatrow.
- CIL Funds – [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide 2025 CIL projects/expenditure
No items identified at this meeting.
- Investment of reserve funds
D Hunter to look into.
2506.15 Correspondence
[TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide response/action to report of overhanging hedge at the entrance to Greyfield Road
The Council noted that the resident has advised that the electricity company will be cutting back the trees which are growing through cables.
2506.16 Items for next meeting
Review allotment rent for 2026
Paulton Road VAS report
2506.17 To note future meetings
Date of next meeting – 8 July 2025
The Chair closed the meeting at 8.30pm
| Kate Fuglesang Chair | Kirsty Headlong Clerk |