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2016/04/06
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 5th April 2016.

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council, held on Tuesday 5th April 2016, at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

1. Apologies: Cllrs. Ray Triggol, Katrina Maxwell, David Hall (SCC) and Mrs Liz Perry (SDC}, the latter two had a clash of meetings.

Present:  Cllrs. Martin Allen (Chairman), Martin Baker, Brian Gale, Patricia Lennard, Terry Oxman and Derek Alder (SDC)

Members of the public: Messrs. Pete Dodge, Richard Woodward and Rodney Young.

2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 23rd February 2016 were taken as read, approved and signed.

3. Matters arising from the minutes.
  • Landline and Broadband Problems. Martin Allen (Chairman) read an e-mail reply from Paul Coles (BT South West Regional Partnerships Director (BT plc)) to the Clerk, summarising his remedial proposal to these problems as follows:
  1.  The key determinant of broadband speeds in Chedzoy is the distance that the community is from cabinet 19 that is connected off of Bridgwater exchange.
  2.  Issues relating to telephone calls and ability to order new lines were primarily down to a capacity shortage between the cabinet and the exchange – this has now been resolved.
  3.  Additional issues affecting stability of broadband were caused by some line pairs splitting- we have now proved where those are, and are moving people over as we speak.
  4.  A more substantive upgrade will happen next week when we are looking to provide a replacement cable over a 230 metre span. We hope to complete that next (this) week.
  5. The Chairman said several residents had received visits from the engineers re: problems.
  6. Paul Coles has also agreed to meet the councillors when the proposed improvements have been carried out and the dust has settled, to answer any remaining queries there may be. The Clerk was asked to arrange this meeting, possibly at the next Parish Council meeting.
  • Footpath obstruction at Parchey. The Clerk reported he had received a phone call from George Montague, SCC Rights of Way officer covering Sedgemoor, confirming the matter of further action was still under consideration by the Environment Agency, owners of both the Bristol gate and the land. He said he now had contact details at the Agency and after a suggestion from Richard Woodward it was decided the Clerk should follow up with the Agency and suggest the possibility of involving the Ramblers Association in an endeavour to resolve this long standing problem.
4. Somerset County Council report. None (see 1).

5. Sedgemoor District Council report. Derek Alder reported as follows:
  • Development in Sedgemoor. Council houses are again being built in the SDC area, at West Huntspill and Highbridge (21 homes in all). Additionally, a further 11 homes previously sold off under “Right to Buy” have been acquired by Sedgemoor. In the last 12 months, 570 new properties had been built, 157 of which were affordable and so were redistributable by SDC. Also in the last year, 51% of new builds in SDC area have been built on former brownfield sites. The development of the old cattle market site was yet to start, but agreement had been reached on an entry road past the Newmarket Hotel and exit road to run into Bristol road, accommodated by the demolition of a single house. Various individual minor developments are pending, such as the former Pig and Whistle PH site involving affordable homes which is nearing completion, the former Hope Inn PH site on Taunton Road, the former Withy Cutter PH site [Frederick Road], the former filling station on the junction of Bath Road [junction with Branksome Avenue] , and the former Paragon Laundry site opposite the Hope Inn on Taunton Road.
  • In the last year Sedgemoor’s planning performance has been amongst the top 25% of all local authorities in the country.
  • In the past year Sedgemoor had allocated £56,000 in grant aid to local community groups and £80,000 to minor flooding issues on the Levels.
  • Sedgemoor receives just 9p in every £ levied in council tax.
  • The drainage board portion of the council tax is not capped and Sedgemoor are obligated to raise the total required by the board, which amounted to £1.3 million or 23% of the total council tax total yielded by all band D properties in the past year.
  • There are 157 CCTV cameras throughout Somerset which are all controlled by SDC.
6. Planning. No new proposals.

7. Correspondence.
  •  Proposed [road] closure at Fowlers Plot Road. The Clerk reported the Highway Authority has received an application from Somerset Highways to close this road in order that necessary drainage work can be carried out after 2nd May for an estimated 5 day period.
  •  HM Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday Commemorative Medal. The Clerk read a letter from the Tower Mint announcing the medal which is aimed at schools and councils to mark the forthcoming event. As Chedzoy has no school, it was felt inappropriate to order any.
  • Somerset Day 11th May. The Clerk read a letter from “Passion for Somerset” encouraging local celebrations on the day or the following weekend.
  • The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). This organisation provides:-
  1. Support and advice for assessing planning applications.
  2. Access to planning resources and publications.
  3. A free national planning helpline.
  4. Access to CPRE Somerset events.
  5. The organisation is looking for Parish Councils to join at a fee of £36 per year.
Bearing in mind the very limited development anticipated in the village it was felt unnecessary to join.
  • Large mobile phone masts - relaxation of planning rules. A letter has been received from SDC press office advising the Chancellor has announced that large mobile phone masts of up to 25 metres high will in future be given the go ahead without requiring planning permission.
  • Sedgemoor “Ready for spring”. The SDC press office advise they are busy gearing up for spring with Berrow beach recently having been cleaned up by volunteers who collected 50 sacks of rubbish. SDC staff are aiming to make Sedgemoor “blooming lovely” with 65,000 spring bedding plants, 25,000 spring flowering bulbs, 58,000 summer bedding plants and later on 90 hanging baskets, 19 flower towers and 30 troughs full of colourful flowers to follow.
  • RLT2 and RLT3 funds. The usual reminder that any funds due are time limited. Chedzoy currently has no funds available.
  • New Chief Constable – Avon and Somerset. Andy Marsh is now in place. The Notice of Election for the post of PCC is on public display. Election due 5th May.
  • Finger Posts.  The County Council are planning to protect these historic historical items with the help of local partners. Further details to follow.
  • CCS - Community Council for Somerset. A new Chief Executive has been appointed.
  • New Sedgemoor Neighbourhood Police Sergeant appointed covering our area.
  • SDC community Safety Survey. Between March and May 2015, 5000 survey forms were randomly sent to Sedgemoor households with 1626 replies coming back – results as follows:-
  1. 95% of residents feel safe at home during the day.
  2. 88% of residents feel safe at home after dark.
  3. 89% of residents feel safe in the town/village centre during the day.
  4. 57% of residents feel safe in the town/village centre after dark.
  5. Litter, dog fouling and fly-tipping are the top 3 anti-social behaviour issues of concern to residents.
  6. Generally it is perceived that crime and anti-social behaviour levels have stayed about the same in the previous three year period.
  7. Only 15% of respondents felt that the presence of Closed Circuit Television cameras in the district have no effect on their feelings of safety.
  8. Cycling in Sedgemoor appears to make people feel less safe than travelling by car, bus or walking.
  9. 70% of respondents have not been a victim of crime themselves.
  • SDC Leisure fund.  £500,000 of funds provided by EDF have been distributed by SDC to support sports clubs and voluntary groups in the Bridgwater area, being designed to increase participation in sport and physical activity. There are two consultation meetings coming up, Monday 18th April and Wednesday 27th April at the YMCA in Bridgwater.

8. Matters arising from the correspondence. None.

9. Finance.

Balances with all cheques having been cleared:-

Lloyds Bank current account £2581.55
Lloyds Bank deposit account £2.48
Cambridge Building Society Easy Access account £12252.99


5 cheques signed at the meeting.

Number Payee Amount For
503 Mr C.N Fry £152.47 March net salary
504 Mr C.N Fry £221.42 Expenses to date
505 Mr C.N Fry £200.00 due to R Beale (bus shelter maintenance).
506 Roger Preece £75.00 Repairs to taps at allotments.
507 HCI Data Limited £83.76 Renewal of website domain for next 2 years

The Clerk advised that smaller councils were being given the chance to appoint their own external auditors in the future. He said his personal preference was to remain as we are.

Revised limit for S137(A) 2016/17 set at £7.42 per elector.

The Clerk asked the council to agree to the reimbursement of £42.00 to the Chairman, who was carrying out considerable printing on behalf of the council. This was proposed by Cllr. Brian Gale and seconded by Cllr. Martin Baker with all agreed.

10. Any other business including date of next meeting.
  • Martin Allen (Chairman) wished to express the thanks of the council to Mr Don Johnson for his sterling work in producing a very comprehensive parish newsletter which included comprehensive coverage of Parish Council meetings.
  • Rubbish in the Manor Road culvert at the bottom of gardens of some Higher Road houses. Cllr Pat Lennard reported this. After a discussion, Derek Alder (SDC) said we should write to Homes in Sedgemoor who could deal with both council houses and former council houses. The Clerk to see to this.
Date of next meeting (which will be the annual trio of meetings) Wednesday 18th May 2016 starting earlier than usual, at 7.15pm.

There being no other business the meeting was declared closed at 8.35 pm.
   

 





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