Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 4th October 2016 in the Village Hall, at 7.30pm.

1. Apologies: None.

Present: Cllrs. Martin Allen (Chairman), Martin Baker, Brian Gale, Patricia Lennard, Katherine Maxwell , Terry Oxman and Ray Triggol.

Also: Cllrs. David Hall (Somerset County Council) and Derek Alder (Sedgemoor District Council).

Members of the public: Mr and Mrs Jonathan Dethier, Simon and Sally Howes, Amanda Triggol, Rodney Young and Richard Woodward.

2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 17th August 2016 were taken as read, approved and signed.

3. Matters arising from the minutes.

• Broadband problems. The position Chedzoy finds itself in, or 'where we are' regarding its continuing wait for superfast (or even fast) broadband is that it was not originally included in the first “Connecting Devon and Somerset” rollout, apparently due to an anomaly. The village settlement is, quite simply, too far away from the fibre-enabled box outside Mole Valley Farmers on the A39.
  The Chairman opened the discussion by saying that BT - via Paul Coles - had rectified the telephony and connectivity problems with landlines throughout the village very speedily earlier in the year. However, the slow broadband speeds are becoming an ever increasing problem.
  Apart from inconsistent and interrupted downloading problems, the uploading of important information (tax returns etc.) that can now be done no other way except on line, is now becoming so unreliable that it is causing serious problems when it fails. Students needing to access information for homework and/or projects are being severely disadvantaged by the absence of a facility that is assumed by their academic institutions to be available to them, but it is not. An unreliable internet connection is almost worse than none at all, but we are still paying the same standing monthly charge for a seriously flawed system as those enjoying a consistent reliable service.
  He fully understood the growing frustration felt by members of our community now facing (at best) an 18 month delay before things might improve (and this only if we are included in the current phase 2 rollout process).
  David Hall (SCC) said the tendering process would end shortly and it would become clear by the end of the year if Chedzoy is included in it. He said a new enabled box was needed in the village and that BT had suggested a joint funding arrangement might be possible. There is the voucher (grant aid) scheme whereby villagers could apply for £500 of aid to be used towards an interim solution. Details of how to apply can be found on the Connecting Devon and Somerset website. Some persistence is required, but at least one member of the community has succeeded in obtaining this satellite facility. It is hoped to include some helpful notes on how to submit an application in the November issue of “Chedzoy News”.
  David Hall said if anyone had problems with the process he would be happy to assist via his technical team at County Hall, he even added that he would be happy to send a member of the team to the village, to assist where necessary. He went onto advise us to wait till the year end when things would be clearer, but said there was certainly no harm in exploring all possible alternatives in the meantime.
  Simon Howes outlined a scheme involving the positioning of a transmitter on a strategically positioned building (such as the Church Tower), with dishes using microwave technology via “line of sight” connection.
  The Chairman said Malcolm Friend, Churchwarden, had told him of a scheme involving the erection of an aerial on the Church tower (for example) giving a signal to surrounding properties.
  Simon Howes said he would find out more about the scheme he outlined. It was felt Malcolm Friend would give us some more details of his “Tower” scheme.
  The matter will be further discussed and explored at the next meeting (6th December 2016).
  
  
• Overgrown trees in Higher Road. It was decided there was no major problem here.
• Rubbish being dumped in the culvert in Manor Road. It was agreed there is an element of Fly Tipping involved here. The Clerk reported he had contacted Homes in Sedgemoor who advised him the culvert was the responsibility of SCC highways, and they (SDC) would advise SCC highways of the problem.

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

• Hinkley Point. The contract had now been signed. The construction project would be good for local businesses and road improvements will be extensive e.g. at Bristol Road, junctions 23 and 24 as well as elsewhere. Mitigated funding for roads and housing would now be triggered.
• County Council funding difficulties. The position here is very tight. With the autumn statement from the Government awaited, Government support declining, business rate rearrangements clarification awaited, devolution proposals and in due course nuclear business rating being all major factors that will substantially affect things.
• Somerset Rivers Authority. With Andrea Leadsom, the new Environment Minister recently stating the SRA will not be given precepting powers would not be in place in time, this year will be the same as last in that the necessary funding will show as an increase in the Council Tax level, rather than as a separate precept like the Police.
• With last winter being a mild one, road treatment materials were high ahead of this coming winter.
• Drainage and Flood prevention measures. Work on the Severn Barrier continues. Other drainage schemes are going ahead. Improvements to the A39 Street Road were complete.
• Short Mat Bowls. David said Bridgwater without Parish Council has expressed an interest in having the equipment.

5. Sedgemoor District Council report. Cllr. Derek Alder reported the following:

• The SDC budget consultation will end on 31st October. He said just 9.5% of the Council Tax levied went to SDC, with a Band D property typically this amounted to £146 pa, and £34 of this sum relates to drainage costs.
• Hinkley Point. The vast bulk of the workforce will be housed in the Bridgwater area and 180 prefabricated dwellings are soon to be placed on the old Cellophane site. Sedgemoor DC estimates it will need to build some 5000 houses in the coming few years.
• Government funding for house development. Sedgemoor had applied for £43 million and awaits news.
• The Parish Cluster Groups – these are being reconfigured.

6. Planning. No new applications.

7. Correspondence.

• PCC request for supporting letter. The Chairman was asked by Malcolm Friend, Churchwarden, if a letter of support for grant aid for repairs to St Mary’s Church could be provided on behalf of Chedzoy Parish Council. In order to meet the deadline, and knowing that council members would support the application, the chairman has written and submitted a letter of support. Copies of the letter are available to PCC members if they wish to have them.
• Neighbourhood Planning Bill. The Clerk read extracts from a letter from Gavin Barwell MP, the new housing and planning minister, which extolls the vital role of Parish Councils in the community, and he says he is anxious to work with the councils who have been “champions of neighbourhood planning” in recent years. It is intended to simplify the compulsory purchase process. In actual fact this will mean little to Chedzoy in practice as housing development in the parish is highly unlikely in the foreseeable future.
• Information on GIS Mapping Systems. The Clerk read parts of an email from SCC outlining new ways of reporting problems on the Highways and Rights of Way difficulties. Residents can now report issues via the website relating to highways such as potholes, blocked drains or poor road surface conditions.
  The Clerk also read out an email from Mark Smith, our PPLO (parish pothole liaison officer), and also our footpath officer. In the email Mark says the new reporting system has been live for most of this year although it has not been without its teething problems. He says it is still possible to report problems via email. The rights of way mapping was overhauled earlier in the year and Mark says it works fine for him.
  If anyone has a problem concerning either roads or footpaths they can report them on line, or otherwise he is happy to report them, but he points out he can’t report what he doesn’t know about.
  We as a parish are very fortunate to have Mark who, despite no longer being a councillor, never the less he’s happy to retain responsibility for footpaths, roads and the website. We appreciate his efficient help and wish him well in recovering following his recent operation.
• Wessex Water Grid Community Fund. The Clerk read extracts from an email from Wessex Water in which they praise local communities who are affected by the many water works repairs being carried out to the network. The Wessex Water Community Fund has over the past two years provided £11,000 in funds for 16 extremely worthwhile environmental projects e.g. A wildlife friendly veranda at a school, bat boxes and invaluable botanical surveys of country wildlife sites. The scheme is being extended for a further year and a total of £20,000 contributed with a maximum single grant of £2000.

8. Matters arising from the correspondence. None.

9. Finance.

Balances after allowing for all payments made:

Lloyds Bank Current Account	£4373.58
Lloyds Bank Deposit Account	£2.48
Cambridge Building Society Easy Access Account	£12252.99

The final tranche of the precept for 2017/167 of £1000.00 has been received.
The interest rate on the Cambridge account dropped to 0.15% as from 02/09/2016 meaning that in a full year interest will amount to just £18.35.
The external audit has now been completed with no fee being payable again this year. The allotment rents are now all paid up to date.

The amenity grant cheque issued in favour of the Playing Field Association for £257.00 has not been presented for payment yet.

Cheque no 528 (Payee Tailored Wealth Financial Management Ltd. for £ 238.80) was issued in between meetings – the authorisation for this was the agreement at the last meeting to go ahead and engage that company to set up the work place pension.

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

Number	Payee	Amount	For
529	C.N Fry	£152.47	September net salary
530	C.N Fry	£141.98	Expenses to date
531	C.N Fry	£200.00	Bus shelter maintenance- due to Roy Beale
532	C.N Fry	£440.00	Playing field grass cutting- due to Peter Clapp
533	HMRC	£114.40	PAYE July/August/September

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

• Foster and Adoption week. SCC are appealing for people to consider becoming foster carers or to adopt young people. Monday 17th October is the start of National Adoption Week 2016.
• SDC Legal Advice Service. A letter has been received from SDC reminding all Parish Councils that they can provide legal advice, drafting and representation for Parish Councils at the current hourly rate of £ 100, which compares very favourably with other Legal practitioners.
• Hinkley Point C Project. The Clerk has received a phone call from the people handling the public relations for the project, basically apologising for not having been able to supply an amended timetable for the development yet, following the Government giving it the go ahead. EDF have not yet drawn a revised timetable up but as soon as one is to hand we will be advised appropriately.
• Playing Field Inspection Reports. The Clerk has received the inspection reports carried out by SDC in June and September, together with an invoice for £180.00 for the work. He will pass this on to the Playing Field Committee and at the same time enquire about the delay in presenting the grant cheque for payment.
• Parish Notice Board. The Parish Notice Board has become unserviceable, after many years of service, due to wood rot. It was agreed that quotations would be sought for a suitable replacement to be made in hardwood as soon as possible.
• Pat Lennard commented on how well the bus shelter garden was looking and she suggested the thanks of the council be passed on to Roy Beale, the caretaker. This was agreed.

There being no other business the meeting was declared closed at 8.55pm.

Date of next meeting: Tuesday 6th December 2016 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.