Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held at Holton Village Hall on Monday 19th January 2026
A meeting of the North Vale Parish Council was held at 7:00 pm on Monday 19th January 2026 at Holton Village Hall.
Present: Jenny Chambers (JC), Janet Down (JD), Philip Bourne (PB), Julian Sincock (JS),
Barry Druce (Clerk) Hayward Burt (HB) (Unitary Councillor) No members of the public
Apologies: Apologies for absence were received from David Young (DY), David Badham-Thornhill (DBT),
Graham Boaler, Douglas Hodges, and Max Oetley; Nicola Clarke (Unitary Councillors).
As DY and DBT were both absent, members elected JC to take the Chair.
Electors Question Time /Comments: No members of the public being present, no items were raised for
discussion.
Unitary Councillors’ Report: The Unitary Councillors’ written reports which had been circulated previously were
taken as read and noted. HB stated that the car parking charges were again being reviews by Somerset Council who
are basically looking to apply a County-wide common policy. HB also mentioned the fact that Somerset Council
are seeking Government approval to apply an increase of 11% on the Council Tax charge for 2026-2027.
26.001 Declaration of Interest/Dispensations: None were declared.
26.002 Minutes of Last Meeting: The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on the 15th December 2025 were
taken as read and as PROPOSED by JS, SECONDED by PB, were unanimously approved. There were no matters
arising.
26.003 Planning Applications: The following planning applications had been received since the previous
meeting:-.
25/03027/TCA – Notification of intent to Fell No. 1 Tree within a Conservation Area. – T1 – Ash – It is
interfering with electricity and telephone cables and also rubbing against hardware on a telegraph pole by the garden
wall. Proposed works: A tree surgeon has advised taking it down to ground level so it doesn’t cause future problems. –
Upper Hook Cottage Lower North Cheriton Road North Cheriton
25/03062/HOU – Erection of single storey side and front extensions to dwelling. – 1 Tomlins Higher
North Cheriton Road North Cheriton. JC explained that a previous application had been granted but had
expired before work was started. The applicant is now applying for a smaller extension and there have been no
objections raised locally. It was decided to submit a ‘No Objections’ comment.
26.004 Planning Decisions – The following planning decisions had been received since the previous meeting:-.
25/02740/HOU – Proposed single storey side extension, two storey front extension to form a porch and dormer
windows to existing attic rooms in the south elevation – Elliscombe Farm Gibbet Road Maperton
GRANTED
25/00916/FUL – Construction of four dwellings with associated access, parking and landscaping (revised scheme) –
Land At Lower Cheriton Lane North Cheriton GRANTED
JS recalled that the applicant had offered to finance the installation of a pedestrian crossing to service the
development and undertook to contact him. The Clerk undertook to make enquires with the Somerset Highway
Department on the viability of such a project.
26.005 Planning Other – The Clerk reported that the required comments in respect of PA 25/02740/HOU had
been submitted as instructed.
26.006 Correspondence: All correspondence of interest received by email had previously been distributed and
were taken as read, and items of potential interest had been referred to local contacts in order to maximise public
awareness. The Clerk drew members’ attention to the information that had been provided concerning:-
▪ Safety Defect Completion Monthly Review (BKMV 02-01-2026)
▪ Wessex Water Drop-in poster
26.007 Financial Matters
(a) Review balances as at 31st December 2025 – The schedule was reviewed. The balance as at 331st
December 2025 stands at £18,526.62..
(b) Authorise Payments – The following items were authorised for payment:-
(i) Barry Druce – Clerk’s salary and expenses for December 2025 – £343.86
(ii) HMRC – Payment of PAYE deduction – £77.20
(iii) Lloyds Bank Charges – £4.25
(c) Report Monies Received – The following payments had been received:-
(i) 9th December 2025 – Bank Interest – £8.45
(d) Review of Clerk’s Salary – Members referred to a report which had been prepared by the Clerk
concerning the method which is recommended for determining salary levels for Parish Clerks, in line with the
Local Government Pay Scales and it is anticipated that their pay award with effect from 1st April 2026 would be in
the region of 4%. It was confirmed that the pay level for the Clerk of North Vale Parish Council had previously
been fixed at point 17 of the NJC Pay Scale. After a full discussion it was PROPOSED by JS, SECONDED by PB,
and unanimously DECIDED that the Clerk Salary should be increased to £4,816.00 per annum with effect from the
1st April 2026.
(e) Precept For 2026-2027: The Clerk referred to the prepared report on various alternative precept values
that had been presented to members for consideration. A full discussion then followed with questions raised in
respect of the different levels of proposed precept shown in the report, when compared to the budget proposal for
the coming financial year. JS recommended that the Parish Council should try to keep in pace with inflation and felt
that an increase of 2.5% would be appropriate. Discussion followed and it was eventually PROPOSED by JS,
SECONDED by PB, and UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED that the precept for the 2026-2027 financial year should
be raised at the level of £11,668.00. The Clerk was instructed to notify the Local Authority accordingly.
26.008 Speed Indicator Device latest update – The Clerk confirmed that the two new S.i.D.’s had been delivered
and were currently in PB’s garage waiting to be erected, pending the posts being installed by Crestmoors (yet to be
organised). He explained that as the devices were supplied with solar panels, they were not accompanied by battery
charges, and in practical terms of usage, the chargers would make life much easier for the operators. After a brief
discussion it was PROPOSED by PB, SECONDED by JS, and unanimously AGREED that two chargers should be
purchased at a cost of £115.56 each (net of VAT).
The Clerk reported that a site meeting to finally agree the location of the posts for the SiD’s was to be held with
Andy Barron (Somerset Council) in North Cheriton on the 27th January 2026, and that DH and JS had agreed to
attend, MO unless otherwise engaged.
26.009 Matters of report and items for next meeting. –
(a) JC reported that potholes in the road above Sherrils Corner, Clapton Lane, Maperton, had now become very bad
and required urgent attention. The Clerk undertook to report the problem to Somerset Council.
(b) The Clerk referred to correspondence that had been sent by MO to Somerset Council concerning the flooding in
Lower North Cheriton Road, North Cheriton, and undertook to notify Somerset Council as well and appeal for a
rapid resolution.
(c) It was agreed that the date of the next meeting will be the 16th March 2026.
The Meeting closed at 7.40 pm
North Cheriton Village Blog 
