Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 15th December 2015.
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on the 15th
December 2015 in the village Hall, at 7.30pm.
1. Apologies: Cllrs. Brian Gale and Ray Triggol.
Present: Cllrs. Martin Allen (Chairman), Martin Baker,
Patricia Lennard, Katrina Maxwell. Also Cllr. David Hall (SCC)
and Cllr. Liz Perry (SDC).
Members of the public: Richard Woodward.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 17th November 2015
were taken as read, approved and signed.
3. Matters arising from the minutes.
- Visit to flood defences and pumping station. The
Clerk John Rowland had kindly agreed to take a party of
interested villagers on the tour on Saturday 23d January 2016
and he said he was looking for 12/14 people. Cllrs Martin Allen
and Pat Lennard said they would like to go, with others
expressing an interest. The Clerk was asked to put a notice up
advertising for anyone interested to let him know as soon as
possible.
- Health and Wellbeing Budget 2015. Cllr David Hall sais
defibrillator training would not be suitable, and that the idea
of setting up a scheme to transport the needy of the village to
Doctors appointments would necessarily involve a whole lot of
administration. He went on to say that he thought a scheme
involving several 'Levels' villages in a 'Man shed' group,
encouraging the lonely and senior men in a DIY/Fraternal meetup
over coffee/tea would be appropriate. A discussion took place
and it was left that David would get some further details to the
Clerk. David added that this [man shed] was not intended to be
sexist in any way, and that a similar proposal for the Ladies
would also be considered.
- Pig Lane signage. The Clerk reported that the SCC
signage dept. (Richard Newby) had advised they could not supply
the sign reading 'Residential and Agricultural vehicles only' on
the Playing Field sign, but it was open to the Parish Council to
erect its own and meet the cost. A discussion ensued during
which the view was taken that the Parish Council should avoid
the possibility of contravening any by-laws in the matter. It
was thought that the congestion immediately outside the home of
Helen and Francis Hunt had improved of late. It was also thought
difficult for the Parish Council to specifically deny access to
any vehicle along what is a public road and right of way. It was
agreed to leave matters as they stand.
- Landline and Broadband Problems. The Chairman (Martin
Allen) reported on a letter of complaint he had sent to BT
Customer Correspondence Centre Durham, in which he outlined the
dire state of both broadband and landline connectivity to the
village. He suggested to BT that they could be in breach of
their responsibilities under the Sale of Goods Act and goes on
to say that the general frustration felt by many villagers was
such that it seems highly likely a petition could be arranged
and presented to the local MP Ian Liddle-Grainger. David Hall
said he had heard from Paul Coles BT’s Regional Director of
Customer Service that a meeting would be arranged early in the
new year when Martin Allen, David Hall and Paul Coles could get
together to examine options.
- Local Plan Review 2011/32. Martin Allen reported on a
letter he had sent to SDC’s Planners, following his review of
the 200 page consultation document – Review Stage 1. He conveyed
to them that he felt the plan had been carefully crafted and was
positive and refreshing in nature. He looked forward to the
revisiting of the settlement hierarchy and the reclassifying of
Chedzoy in the Tier 4 category set against the previous
“unsustainable” one.
4. Somerset County Council report. David Hall reported the
following:
- Huntworth road improvements. These had now started with
some initial traffic gridlock. He mentioned that 24 hour working
would be prohibitively expensive, and that EDF had satisfied the
Government that the road improvements they are instigating would
be sufficient to mitigate the increase in traffic attributable
to Hinkley itself. They could not be held responsible for any
underlying historic “'Bridgwater' road and traffic problems.
- Hinkley Point. There were no developments re; the FID
as yet, but there remains a lot of optimism here.
- The Low Carbon Innovative Centre is is due to open in
January 2016, situated at Bristol Road.
- Business Rate de-Centralisation. With the expected
'Big Lift' in the local economy, any benefit from this would
probably come in the medium to longer term. David reminded the
meeting that Hinkley Point represented the biggest construction
site in Europe, situated within the boundary of the poorest of
local government areas (West Somerset) with almost all the
physical impact being felt in another area (Sedgemoor).
- Devolution Debate. John Osman, Leader of SCC was
leading negotiations designed to hand back power and
responsibilities to the Regions.
- Flooding. There is still no agreement on interim
funding but negotiations are now imminent,
5. Sedgemoor District Council report. Cllr Mrs Liz Perry
held a question and answer session.
- She said the redevelopment of the Northgate site in Bridgwater
was under consultation, and no decisions have yet been made.
Cllr Hall said the site was SCC/SDC co-owned and he felt there
was a strong requirement for the site to be self-funding as far
as possible.
6. Planning. No new proposals.
7. Correspondence.
- Bus Shelter tree trimming. The Clerk reported he had
given the requested consent for the necessary tree trimming
around the power lines to take place.
- Dredging Matters. The 'Stream' dredging briefing
winter 2015/16. The Clerk said he had sent a paper copy to each
councillor, and displayed a copy on the notice board, for
information purposes.
- New barriers to close roads. The Clerk reported on an
email from John Osman, Leader SCC saying he was delighted that
this idea of closing off roads in the event of serious flooding
had been suggested by local people and had now been taken
forward.
- 'Could you help a teenager in 2016?' The Clerk outlined
an email from the Fostering and Adoption Recruitment Service
asking for people to consider giving children, particularly
teenagers a home. He added that his own personal experience of
being a foster carer was fulfilling and enlightening.
- SID (Speed Indicator Device) Installation dates 2016. These
are due at the Higher Road site in the weeks commencing 11th
April and 29th August 2016.
- New Register of Electors. The Clerk has received this
together with the fairly strict rules and advice as to what he
is allowed to do with it.
- Civil Contingencies Unit- Emergency contact required. The
Clerk reminded the meeting that we still have not appointed a
suitable person here- for coordination purposes in the unlikely
event of civil emergencies. Cllr Katrine Maxwell kindly agreed
to borrow the letter and give some thought to the matter.
8. Matters arising from the correspondence. None.
9. Finance (including setting the Precept for 2016/17).
Balances with all cheques having been cleared:
Lloyds Bank current account |
£3598.34 |
Lloyds Bank deposit account |
£2.48 |
Cambridge Building Society Easy Access account |
£12192.69 |
Building Society interest at 0.5% per annum is due on 31st December
and should amount to approximately £60.00
3 cheques weresigned by 2 councillors.
Number |
Payee |
Amount |
For |
493 |
Mrs L. Friend |
£10.00 |
Internal audit fee. Replacement for cheque No. 466 |
494 |
Mr C.N Fry |
£152.47 |
December net salary |
495 |
Mr C.N Fry |
£ 208.13 |
Expenses to date |
Setting the Precept for 2016/17.
The Clerk presented his estimated total council expenditure for the
financial year 2016/17 which amounted to £6799.00. He reminded the
meeting that the only source of income open to the Council was the
Precept which is levied annually on the Council Tax payers of the
village. He added that he felt the Parish Council should feel proud
of the tight control it kept on its financial matters. He said a
Precept of £5000.00 (total) would lead to a severe depletion of
Reserves, which would in turn lead to an even greater increase in
the Precept levy in future years. Following a serious discussion,
the Councillors agreed to request a total Precept of £6000 with the
anticipated shortfall of £799 being met from Reserves.
Proposed by Cllr Lennard and seconded by Cllr Baker – all agreed.
The Clerk to advise Sedgemoor appropriately.
10. Any other business, including date of next meeting.
- 'Vehicle battery thefts delay rubbish collections'. The
Clerk said thefts of heavy duty batteries from refuse vehicles
had caused delays in refuse collections in parts of Sedgemoor,
South Somerset and Taunton Deane Council areas.
Date of next meeting Tuesday 19th January 2016.
There being no other business the meeting was declared closed
at 9.10pm.