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2016/12/08
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 6th December 2016.

Minutes of the meeting Of The Parish Council held on Tuesday 6th December 2016 in the Village Hall at 7.30pm.

1. Apologies: Cllrs. Pat Lennard, Katrina Maxwell and Ray Triggol.

Present: Cllrs. Martin Allen (Chairman), Martin Baker, Brian Gale, and Terry Oxman.
Also: Cllrs. David Hall (SCC) and Liz Perry (SDC).
Members of the public: None.

2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 4th October 2016 were taken as read, approved and signed. The Clerk advised a slight amendment had been made, at the Chairman’s request, concerning the letter of support sought by the PCC.

3. Matters arising from the minutes.
  • Broadband Solutions (suggested title by the Chairman). Martin Allen (Chairman) outlined the up to date position, which he said was much more positive. A third public meeting had been held in the village hall earlier on today, attended by 22 residents. Representatives of four organisations offering alternative systems to areas where superfast broadband fell short of the Government’s target were present and outlined their schemes:

    Voneus
    Exmoor Technology
    Rural Broadband South West
    South West Mobile Broadband
    West Country Broadband.com

    Villagers have received several “flyers” from the Chairman, delivered door to door, encouraging them to apply for the £500.00 Government grant vouchers (one per household) which are designed to go towards the cost of alternative schemes necessary where the Superfast rollouts fail to provide a satisfactory speed. To date a total of 97 applications have been made and acknowledged, and is likely to finish up at over 100. The Chairman, Martin Allen emphasised that each applicant was free to use the voucher as they saw fit.

    The choice is basically between a 4G system and a “line of sight” system.

    Martin said a further meeting would follow, and he felt it more appropriate for a separate committee to be formed to take matters forward.

    David Hall said he felt the whole village owed a debt of gratitude to Martin Allen for his unstinting effort to date to move matters forward. All agreed. David went on to say the winning bid in Phase 2 “would be announced in mid-December with the coverage area being revealed in January”. He was not able to divulge details but said he felt optimistic about things.

  • Parish Notice Board. The Clerk explained that although it had been decided to seek quotations for replacement at the last meeting, the possible cost at about £1000.00 was prohibitive, and Don Johnson had kindly offered to do the job at cost. Jonathan Dethier had offered to supply some materials and the Chairman said things were moving along nicely.

  • SCC Chairman’s award for services to the community. (From the meeting of 17th August). Martin Allen reported he had attended the award ceremony at the Taunton Rugby Club on 20thn October and he was delighted that Amanda Triggol received an award in recognition of her work in the village to raise money for charity including organising “Pop in for a Pint” in the village hall.
4. Somerset County Council report. David Hall reported as follows:
  • Broadband Phase 2 Rollout. He said the winning bidder would be announced on 15th December with the coverage details to follow in January 2017.
  • Growth Deal 3. The allocation of infrastructure funds for the locality is looking very positive.
  • Hinkley Point. David said he attended a Nuclear Industry dinner in London recently and showed the industry to be in very good heart. He said there were now already 1100 staff working on site and that the spin off from this vast project would be very beneficial to the locality.
  • Bristol Road. A one way system was to be affective from 23rd January 2017 for six months, designed to assist and facilitate the road junction improvements in the Wylds Road area.
5. Sedgemoor District Council report. Cllr. Liz Perry reported about changes to recycling collections due soon.

6. Planning.

Reference: 18/16/00007/LP.
Proposal: Formation of Access.
Location: Fernside, Ward Lane, Chedzoy, Bridgwater, TA7 8RN.
Applicant: Mrs.V.Govier.

The Clerk reported this application had been referred to the Chairman on receipt, who confirmed it represented a simple “drop kerb” entrance to the property and as such did not warrant a special planning meeting. An appropriate note of support had been sent to Sedgemoor.

Reference: 18/16/00008/DT.
Proposal: Erection of first floor side extension and two storey extension to front elevation, installation of first floor balcony and alterations to dormer windows to rear.
Location: Stoneleigh, Front Street, Chedzoy, Bridgwater, TA7 8RE.
Applicants: Mr and Mrs M Clothier.

On receipt of this application, a special planning meeting was held and as a result a letter conditionally supporting it was sent to Sedgemoor.
              

7. Correspondence.
  • Environment Agency improvements to King Sedgemoor Drain. The Clerk reported on an e-mail from the Environment Agency, outlining plans to clear vegetation and carry out surveying work at Parchey Bridge during November, designed to enable de-silting work to follow if deemed necessary.
  • Playing Field vandalism. The Clerk said vandalism to the protective mats at the Playing Field has taken place shortly after the last meeting and that the Playing Field Committee were processing an insurance claim, involving a £250 excess payment, directly with the agents.
  • Keeping control of your dog. The Chairman had received a report of a dog with its owner, but not on a lead, knocking people over whilst out walking. In fact advice had been given by the Police to the appropriate owner. It was felt that dogs should always be kept under control, and on leads when near other people.
  • 'Why not become a County Councillor'? The Clerk revealed a poster from Somerset County Council, encouraging people to consider becoming County Councillors – the forthcoming election date being 4th May 2017.
8. Matters arising from the correspondence. None.

9. Finance including setting the Precept for 2017/18.

Balances after allowing for all payments made:

Lloyds Bank Current Account £3385.03
Lloyds Bank Deposit Account £2.48
Cambridge Building Society Easy Access Account £12252.99


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

Number Payee Amount For
534 C.N Fry £152.67 October net salary
535 C.N Fry £152.47 November net salary
536 C.N Fry £182.34 Expenses to date


Setting the Precept for 2017/18.

The Clerk distributed the projected expenditure figures he had prepared which showed total estimated expenditure at £7278.00 for the financial year 2017/18.

He advised the Councillors that it was necessary to build in a “cushion” for unexpected expenditure (such as the work place pension and notice board repairs this year). He went on to say the only source of income the Parish Council had was through the Precept, and they should be proud of the tight control that they keep on expenditure in general.

After a discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Baker and seconded by Cllr Gale to set the Precept at £7500.00 for the year 2017/18, with all in favour.

10. Any Other Business, including date of next meeting
  • Sedgemoor Battlefield Display Case. This has suffered storm damage. Mrs Linda Friend (the previous Clerk) has advised that as far as she can recall the board was erected in 2007 by Sedgemoor District Council’s Regeneration Dept. Mark Smith who used to be a Parish Councillor and at the time of the board being erected worked at Sedgemoor, has advised the Clerk that he was involved in the project which involved this one and two more in Westonzoyland. SDC’s tourism section may have arranged things and it was a community project with many meetings. He is not sure who is responsible for the sign’s upkeep. The Clerk has sent an email to Victoria Banham, the one person still dealing with tourism issues (the main tourism section having been disbanded) and a reply about the matter is awaited. In the meantime, Mark is keeping the board safe in his garage.
  • Winter Service. The Clerk has collected the village’s allocation of 10 @ 20Kg bags od salt for casual use at Highway or footway black spots, and is storing it at his property. In case of need it is beside the green shed at the front of his house.
  • Council Tax Scam. The Clerk read an e mail from SDC advising of a scam in which people offer to lower your council tax banding for a fee.
  • Somerset Village Agents evaluation exercise. The Somerset Village Agent project is currently being independently evaluated to learn about how well the project is doing, where it could be improved, and how it will continue to flourish in the future. There is an online questionnaire which the Clerk said he would complete.
  • Register of Electors 2016. The Clerk has a copy together with details of the restrictions about its use.
  • Speed Indicator Device installation, 2017. These are to be during the weeks commencing 13th February and 7th August 2017.
  • Mendip Community Transport. A letter requesting grant aid has been received. No action to be taken.
  • Code of Conduct training 2017. These are to be held during March 2017.
  • Request to Complete and Promote Dependant Carers’ Survey by 18th January 2017. The Clerk to see to this.
  • Telephone Box. A letter has been received from Sedgemoor asking the Parish Council to advise it as to whether it would like to adopt the phone box. Usage is almost non-existent with just 1 phone call having been made in the last 12 months. After a discussion it was decided it was a feature of the village centre and a useful landmark. Upkeep would be a minimal expense and I was decided to request its adoption in due course. Proposed by Cllr Baker and seconded by Cllr Gale.
  • Cluster Group Reorganisation. The Clerk read extracts from a letter from Duncan McGinty , Leader Sedgemoor District council, confirming the rearrangement of the Cluster Groups, as previously stated, despite the opposition of the Quantock villages.
  • Frost damage to allotment tap. In an attempt to save money, Cllr Baker said he would look at he problem.
There being no other business, the meeting was declared closed at 8.50 pm.

Date of next meeting; Wednesday 11th January 2017 at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall. (Note from webmaster: this date was changed on 10/12/2016).
 





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