Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 17th August 2016 in the Village Hall at 7.30pm.


1. Apologies: Cllrs. Martin Allen, Katrine Maxwell, Terry Oxman and Ray Triggol.

Present: Cllrs. Martin Baker (Acting Chairman), Brian Gale, and Patricia Lennard also Cllrs. David Hall (SCC) and Liz Perry (SDC).

Members of the public: Mr.  Rodney Young.

2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 29th June 2016 were taken as read, approved and signed.

3. Matters arising from the minutes.

• Speed Indicator Device (SID); possible relocation to Front Street. The Clerk reported that agreement had been reached to resite the SID on to the 30mph repeater sign outside of Fishers Cottages.
• Short Mat Bowls. With Cllr. Hall having delivered his SCC report earlier in the meeting, and leaving to attend to another commitment, we shall check on the position here at the next meeting.
• Work Place Pension. For the benefit of clarification the Clerk updated the meeting on the Presentation, Question and Answer session and Agreement in Principle to proceed to comply with the directive of setting up a Work Place Pension scheme. A further full discussion ensued and it was felt a matter of some regret that a fewer number of Councillors were present at this meeting (3) compared to the previous one (4). However, bearing in mind the statutory responsibility the Parish Council has to comply with here, the possible ramifications of delay, the 'Agreement in Principle' to proceed taken at the last meeting and the attractiveness of the offer by 'Tailored Auto Enrolment' to Parish Councils – namely a setup fee of £349 plus vat and an ongoing monthly fee of £10 plus vat per employee (in our case solely the Clerk) - it was decided to proceed to engage this firm to handle the matter.
  The proposal was made by Cllr Gale and seconded by Cllr Lennard. All agreed. The Clerk was asked to place on record the regret felt that so few councillors were present.
• SCC 'Listening, Learning and Changing' initiative. The Clerk read a communication from SCC concerning its initiative during this summer to obtain the views of the public about the Council’s priorities and other key issues. Cllr. David Hall (SCC) advised the meeting that there was an event this Saturday at the Cornhill Bridgwater on the matter. Pat Lennard kindly agreed to arrange the completion of the questionnaire on the issue and to return it by 30th September.

  
4. Somerset County Council (SCC) report. David Hall reported as follows:

• Hinkley Point FID. Following agreement by the Chinese, French and EDF to the FID, the latest delay is by Theresa May’s government having a review of all the details before giving the final go ahead. David said activity is still on going on site and there seems confidence that agreement will be forthcoming before Christmas.
•  Clarification awaited. David said that following Brexit and the subsequent change of Prime Minister, there were several important issues awaiting clarification on the way forward. Namely Devolution, Hinkley Point and the Business Rate retention proposals.
• Broadband Problems. David said the response to the invitation to Tender for Phase 2 was encouraging. Clearly he could not go into detail but expressed the hope that Chedzoy’s problems could be part of the eventual project.
• Road improvements. Substantial projects are continuing.

5. Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) report. Cllr. Liz Perry reported the following:

• SDC Core Strategy Plan. This is under due consideration by Sedgemoor.
• Recycling Limits. These are under review.

6. Planning.

Application reference: 18/16/00005/LE. 
Proposal: Retention of change of use of dwelling to a children’s home.
Location: West End Cottages, Chedzoy Lane, Bridgwater, TA7 8QR
Applicant: Headway

The Clerk read the views of the Chairman, Cllr. Martin Allen (presently abroad on holiday):

“Dear Chris, I have read this application through several times, and it seems to only amount to a confirmation of a use that has already been established by Somerset County Council. I am not aware of any problems arising from its previous use, in spite of the concerns voiced in the beginning by some parishioners. Having said that, however, I think it might be wise to get the views of the current Chedzoy Parish Council, just in case anyone has strong opinions about its use. Personally I see no reason why the application should not be supported, but there may be things I do not know about that need to be considered.”

After a discussion, it was decided to support the application but to express the preferred view of the Parish Council that a liaison committee be set up much as had been in place previously.

The Clerk to report appropriately to Sedgemoor Planning Dept.

Application reference: 18/16/00004/LE.
Proposal: Erection of dwelling to form holiday accommodation, on site of previously approved garage for which the foundations have been constructed.
Location: Parchey House (2), Ward Lane, Chedzoy, Bridgwater TA7 8RW.
Applicant: Mrs. C Williams.

The Clerk confirmed that the Planning Development committee had decided to refuse permission for this application at its meeting of 16th August 2016.

7. Correspondence.

• Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) donation request. The Clerk read a letter from the Sedgemoor CAB appealing for a donation to help cover its costs, This is becoming an annual appeal and again the Parish Council has decided to respond positively. Cllr Brian Gale proposed a donation of £50 be sent and this was seconded by Cllr Pat Lennard. All in favour.
• SCC Chairman’s Award for Service to the Community. The Clerk read the details of this year’s award and after a discussion it was decided to put Mrs Amanda Triggol’s name forward. This was proposed by Pat Lennard and seconded by Brian Gale, in recognition of the tireless good work she carries out in organising many social events in the village, including 'Pop in for a pint', the recent Queen’s birthday celebration weekend and the Harvest Auction refreshments. Cllr Pat Lennard kindly agreed to complete the nomination form and in particular the section requiring specific details of reasons for the nomination.
• Somerset Association of Local Councils (SALC) Annual General Meeting, Saturday 17th September 2016. This to be held at the Edgar Hall Somerset, to run from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The Clerk said 2 representatives from each parish are invited and it was resolved the Clerk together with Pat Lennard would go.
• SCC 'Somerset-Our County Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2016'. The Clerk read to the meeting the Public Summary outlining the strengths of Somerset and its weaknesses on a comparative basis with other counties, concerning all aspects concerning vulnerable children and young people.
•  Police and Crime Commissioner’s consultation 2016 - survey. The Clerk read the aims of the PCC, Sue Mountstevens, in setting the Police and Crime priorities for the area in the Police and Crime Plan, the new one of which will run from 1st October 2016 to 31st March 2021. The Clerk was asked to complete the survey.

8. Matters arising from the correspondence. None.

9. Finance. Balances after allowing for all payments made:-

Lloyds Bank Current Account	£5256.22
Lloyds Bank Deposit Account	£2.48
Cambridge Building Society Easy Access Account	£12252.99

The external audit was now nearing completion. A few points of clarification had been sought by Messrs Grant Thornton, and the Clerk hoped there would be no fee payable again this year.

9 cheques to be issued when signed by 2 councillors as follows:

Number	Payee	Amount	For
519	C.N Fry	£152.67	July net salary
520	C.N Fry	£152.47	August net salary
521	C.N Fry	£106.20	Expenses to date
522	CAB	£50.00	Donation
523	CVHA	£160.00	Annual Amenity Grant
524	CPFA	£257.00	Annual Amenity Grant
525	St Mary’s Churchyard	£525.00	Annual Grant
526	Chedzoy News	£200.00	Printing costs last 4 editions
527	OUEM	£40.00	Allotment rent

10. Any Other Business, including the date of next meeting.

• Request from Avon and Somerset PCC for volunteers to come forward to be trained to check on the welfare of people detained in custody, in the Bridgwater area. The Clerk read details of this very commendable scheme. He said he would give serious consideration to applying.
• Overgrown trees in Higher Road. This problem was discussed and it was decided to monitor the situation and consider any possible further action at the next meeting.
• Rubbish being dumped in the drainage culvert at the bottom of the gardens of Nos 1-4 Higher Road. This culvert needs to be kept clear as a vital part of the drainage of surface water from Manor Road. The Clerk was asked to seek the help of Homes in Sedgemoor on the matter.

Date of next meeting; Tuesday 4th October 2016 at 7.30 pm in the village hall.

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