Minutes of the Annual Meeting of High Littleton Parish Council held on Tuesday 13 May 2025 6.45 pm.
Councillors present
K Fuglesang, P Ghillyer, M Whiting, A Godwin, S Gould, C Lindley and R Lane. Ward Cllr A Morgan arrived 7.30pm.
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 resident attended to view the meeting.
Agenda
2505.1 Apologies – to note apologies for absence
None.
Agenda
2505.2 [TO RESOLVE] To confirm and approve minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 8 April 2025
Resolved – the Council agreed that the 8 April 2025 minutes were a true and correct record of the meeting.
2505.3 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
[TO RESOLVE] To review and approve Code of Conduct
Resolved – reviewed and approved with no amendments.
2505.4 [TO RESOLVE} to consider and approve Councillor areas of responsibility
Resolved to approved the following:
Allotments – P Ghillyer
Parish Sweeping – P Ghillyer
Cemetery – R Lane
Street Lighting – P Ghillyer
Neighbourhood Plan – S Gould
Recreation Ground – K Fuglesang
Communications/Media – M Whiting, R Lane
Greyfield Woods – C Lindley, P Ghillyer
Police/Neighbourhood Watch – S Gould
School Governor – A Godwin
Transport/Highways/Footpaths – All Councillors
Parish Liaison – All Councillors
Environment – Robert Lane
Mary Jones – S Gould
Finance – S Gould, M Whiting
Defibrillator/Bleed kits – S Gould (Ha), P Ghillyer (HL), M Whiting
Development Control, Forestry Works and Footpath Diversions
2505.5 Planning applications to consider and decide comment for submission to B&NES
a) Applications to consult
[TO RESOLVE] 25/01314/FUL Swallows Nest Broom Hill Lane High Littleton BS39 6JT
Erection of detached garage and garden store.
Resolved to support.
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
25/00557/FUL 22 Southover Road High Littleton BS39 6HR
Erection of a first floor rear extension. Installation of first floor side window with obscured glazing.
Permit – to be removed from the agenda
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.
Pending consideration
2505.6 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide the purchase of bleed kit(s) for Greyfield Wood
Resolved to approve.
2505.7 TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide response to 25-028 – North East Somerset Area TRO – Preliminary Consultation – 1) Aumery Gardens 2) High Street 3) Eastover Road
Resolved to object to 1), 2), and 3) as proposals would not solve the issues but will only move them to another location in the parish.
2505.8 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide any action to be taken re deteriorating old miners railway bridge on lane to Biggs yard (near the tree at the fork in the road)
C Lindley and P Ghillyer have spoken to the land owner and they are aware of the issues.
2505.9 [TO RESOLVE] To consider and approve end of year accounts and bank reconciliation
Resolved to approve. The Council agreed that the Chair sign the accounts and reconciliation.
2505.10 Internal and External audit 2024.25 – a) [TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve completion of conflict of interests re audit b) [TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve Annual Governance Statement 2024.25 c) Internal Audit d) [TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve Annual Accounting Statement 2024/25 e) [TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve dates for the exercise of public rights 2024/25
a) Resolved to approve the Conflicts of Interest form with no Councillors holding any interests.
b) Resolved to approve the Annual Governance Statement. The Council agreed that the Chairman should sign the statement.
c) The Clerk reported the Internal Audit complete with no issues raised.
d) Resolved to approve the Annual Accounting Statement 2024/25. The Parish Council agreed that the Chair should sign the statement.
e) Resolved to approve the exercise of public rights for 16 June to 25 July 2025.
2505.11 [TO RESOLVE] To consider and approve Asset Register
Resolved to approve. Addition of VAS on Paulton Road £4998.
2505.12 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide any comment on the Parish Charter Consultation – deadline 27 June
Resolved to request clarification of additional responsibilities that Parish Council’s will be expected to take on – R Lane to draft comment.
2505.13 [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide any contribution towards purchase of outdoor gym equipment for the Recreation Ground
Resolved to approve the quote from Sunshine Gym £2904 inc VAT (a comparison quote was obtained from Broxap and also comparison prices researched online and Sunshine Gym were the best value). Ward Council Empowerment grant ££650) and CIL funds to be used to fund half of the quote.
2505.14 [TO RESOLVE] To approve the following finances
a) Payments
Resolved to approve the following items for payment in May
| Description | Amount £ | |
| DD | Sage Payroll – May 2025 | 12.00 |
| DD | Pension Contributions– Mar 2024 | 40.84 |
| DD | Yu Energy – Apr 2025 | 96.35 |
| SO | D Stephenson – website maintenance | 25.00 |
| Total | 174.19 | |
| CARD | Somer Printing – May/Jun printing | 417.10 |
| Easyspace – starter plus yearly fee | 92.76 | |
| Total | 509.86 | |
| Cheques | ||
| 002744 | Kirsty Headlong MY 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 49.90 955.60 |
| 002745 | HMRC Employer’s and Employee’s NI May 2025 May 2025 Tax – K Headlong Total | 107.41 196.00 303.41 |
| 002746 | Austin sage – Recreation Ground grass cutting | 380.00 |
| 002747 | Branching Out – April cemetery grass cutting | 610.00 |
| 002748 | ALCA – Planning in Plain English, MW, AG | 90.00 |
| 002749 | MSN Dial A Ride – 2025.26 grant | 200.00 |
| 002750 | High Littleton Parochial Church Council – wall repair contribution | 500.00 |
| 002751 | B George – May/June News & Views delivery | 150.00 |
| 002752 | Trenjory Designs – May/June News & Views delivery | 200.00 |
| 002753 | JRB Enterprises – poop bags | 64.94 |
| 002754 | HeartSafe (E.U.) Ltd – bleed control kits x 2 | 492.50 |
| 002755 | HeartSafe (E.U.) Ltd – additional bleed control kit for Woods | 199.00 |
| Cheque Total | £4145.45 | |
| Grand Total | £4829.50 |
b) To note receipts
2505.15 To receive any updates on district matters from Ward Cllr Ann Morgan
Ward Cllr Morgan reported that B&NES are sending an Officer to view work taking place on the garden on The Drung and the ownership of Rosewell has changed but nothing is yet known about the new owner’s intentions.
2505.16 To receive reports and updates on current items
- Allotments – the Council noted the request to investigate bringing water to the allotments has been withdrawn.
- Recreation Ground
See item 2505.13.
- Police and Neighbourhood Watch
No news.
- Defibrillator
See item 2505.6.
- School Governors
No news/updates.
- Grass and Cemetery
R Lane reported positive feedback on the grass cutting and work on the wall has started.
- Charity of Mary Jones
S Gould reported that the charity meet on 27 May.
- Parish Magazine
The Council noted that the advertisement of the Neighbourhood Plan referendum ensured a good turn out for voting.
- Greyfield Wood
P Ghillyer reported that B&NES are remedying a gate (into Longlands) which has slipped due to a missing nut.
- Environmental Group
R Lane reported the lasted Repair Café was very busy with 21 items taken in and there is a free Greener Homes event in the Scout Hall on 6 June.
- Parish sweeping – [TO RESOLVE] to consider and approve any areas to be swept
Clerk to follow up on requests from last month and resolved to approve Claremont and Greyfield to be the next areas to be swept.
- Highway/footpath Issues
M Whiting reported that the faded road marking on the roundabout in Hallatrow are on B&NES list of works.
- Transport/buses
The Council requested that Ward Cllr Morgan approach the new Mayor re the lack of buses in rural areas.
- Neighbourhood Plan – referendum result
The Council noted the referendum result in favour of Bath & North East Somerset Council using the Neighbourhood Plan for High Littleton and Hallatrow to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.
- Streetlighting
The Council noted new B&NES Council lampposts in Gores Park.
- Rosewell Home
See item 2505.15. K Fuglesang to investigate the ownership of the field by the home.
- Church Farm
No news/updates.
- Councillor vacancies
The Council noted 2 vacancies.
- 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 planters have been purchased and S Gould and C Lindley to liaised to install.
- Councillor lanyards – to be removed from the agenda.
- CIL Funds – [TO RESOLVE] to consider and decide 2025 CIL projects/expenditure
See item 2505.13.
- Investment of reserve funds
No news/updates.
2505.17 Correspondence
2505.18 Items for next meeting
Review and renew insurance
Review/approve Standing Orders
Risk Assessments
2505.19 To note future meetings
The Chair closed the meeting at 8.30pm.
Date of next meeting – 10 June 2025
| Kate Fuglesang Chair | Kirsty Headlong Clerk |