2017/02/15
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 13th February 2017 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
Minutes of the meeting of the Parish
Council held on Monday 13th February 2017 in the Village Hall at 7.30pm.
1. Apologies. None.
Present: Cllrs. Martin Allen (Chairman), Martin Baker, Patricia Lennard, Katrina Maxwell, Terry Oxman and Ray Triggol.
Also: Cllrs David Hall (SCC), Derek Alder (SDC) and Liz Perry (SDC).
Members of the public: Messrs Peter Dodge and Francis Hunt and Ms Jo Smoldon.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 11th January 2017 were taken as read, approved and signed.
3. Matters arising from the minutes.
4. Somerset County Council. Cllr David Hall reported on the following:
Cllr Alder concluded by saying Sedgemoor is the fastest growing District in the South West with unemployment standing at just 2% of the workforce.
6. Planning. No new applications
7. Correspondence.
8. Matters arising from the correspondence. None.
9. Finance.
Balances after allowing for all payments made.
Interest amounting to £47.09 was added to the Cambridge Building Society Council Easy Access account on the 31st December. The Clerk said the balance quoted at the January meeting had not reflected this.
3 cheques issued signed by 2 councillors as follows.
The Clerk said the payroll lady, Diane Malley, advises this year’s payroll fee will be £81.00, reflecting a more complex situation where liaison about the work place pension is necessary.
Wessex Water advise that, as a non-personal user, the parish council is free to switch water suppliers from 1st April 2017.
10. Any Other Business, including the date of next meeting.
Date of next meeting: Monday 13th March 2017 in the village hall at 7.30pm.
1. Apologies. None.
Present: Cllrs. Martin Allen (Chairman), Martin Baker, Patricia Lennard, Katrina Maxwell, Terry Oxman and Ray Triggol.
Also: Cllrs David Hall (SCC), Derek Alder (SDC) and Liz Perry (SDC).
Members of the public: Messrs Peter Dodge and Francis Hunt and Ms Jo Smoldon.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 11th January 2017 were taken as read, approved and signed.
3. Matters arising from the minutes.
- Broadband Problems. Martin Allen advised the meeting that nearly 100 £500.00 vouchers had been successfully obtained by parishioners but to date less than ten had been redeemed. Rural Broadband South West had installed seven systems in the village for trial purposes, but there were signalling problems with Open Reach not supplying at present. It is understood that the deadline of the end of March for the redemption of the vouchers may well be extended if necessary. He went on the say that Gigga Clear had been awarded the main contract to install a completely new system in the next 18 months or so. Cllr David Hall said he would look into the present problems and report back.
4. Somerset County Council. Cllr David Hall reported on the following:
- County Council full meeting
this Wednesday (15th February). With the full Council due to meet this
Wednesday the Budget for the coming year would be discussed and agreed.
A further £17.5 million of savings were necessary, making the total of
savings made over the past 8 years up to £150 million from the revenue
budget.
- Council Tax. The general
increase this year had been held to 1.99 % with the additional 2% being
levied to specifically fund adult social care.
- Growth Deal. This had
yielded from Central Government £56 million over the past two years
with a third year’s funding due shortly.
- Devolution. Devolution,
involving combined regional authorities drawing power out from Central
Government to the Regions is proceeding albeit at a modest pace.
- Water Management. Water
Management schemes are ongoing.
- 'Out of the Mouth of the Parrett'. As Somerset’s Lead Member for libraries, David outlined this project organised by Somerset Libraries and Theatre Melange, a company well-known for producing innovative public events celebrating particular places and people, working together over the past 9 months to collect local people’s thoughts, memories and pictures of the river Parrett to display in this one-of-a-kind creative exhibition. Local people of all ages have endeavoured to reveal all that is unique about Somerset’s extraordinary river landscape. Over 600 people’s thoughts and aspirations are to be displayed in the libraries of Bridgwater, South Petherton and Martock. This is a free multi-media exhibition for adults and young people (aged eight plus) from 21st March to 8th April, to include a spectacular world of light.
- Local Plan. The (bulky)
paper copy of this has been received by the parish council and the
consultation period has commenced.
- Sedgemoor Housing and Hotel
Developments. Many
small developments are progressing well throughout the district. At
Kingsdown there are 100 plots, and the Withycutter site is progressing.
The former Cellophane (Innovia) site includes 180 dwellings. The
Railway Station is to be refurbished. Three or four hotels are either
under construction or planned; at Eastover; Best Western at the old
hospital site in Salmon Parade, and at Junction 24 of the M5.A fourth
is rumoured to be at Bridgwater Gateway. Substantial housing
development is planned at Highbridge and Burnham.
- River Severn Barrage. This is progressing.
Cllr Alder concluded by saying Sedgemoor is the fastest growing District in the South West with unemployment standing at just 2% of the workforce.
6. Planning. No new applications
7. Correspondence.
- New Rural Crime Initiative. The
Police are concerned at the increasing level of rural crime and the
difficulty in reporting it. They have created a new text number – 81819
which should be used to send information directly to the Rural Crime
Team. Inspector Joanna Mines from the Rural Crime Team in Somerset said
they are trialling the new number for 3 months. Many people who belong
to the FarmWatch scheme had requested this.
- SCC New Roads Deal. The
Clerk read an email announcing Somerset and Skanska had agreed a new
deal for highways maintenance in the county which will run from 1st
April 2017 to 31st March 2024. It is hoped this will mean fewer
potholes and more jobs. Skanska will visit local schools and help the
council to secure maximum central government funding.
- Polden Post ‘Welcome Pack’. The
Clerk read an email from Christine Greenway, secretary of the Village
News Group which produces the Polden Post, who wants to introduce new
residents of parishes in the area to the publication. She suggests an
issue could perhaps be included in any welcome packs which may be
handed out. At present Chedzoy doesn’t have one.
- Great British Spring Clean. Sedgemoor
have sent an email outlining its willingness to support either the
parish council or any community group wishing to organise a community
‘Spring Clean’ or litter pick, similar to last year’s ‘Clean for the
Queen’. This year the weekend of 3rd - 5th March has been designated.
The parish council suggests parishioners look to keep the area around
their own properties clean.
- SDC Draft Local Plan. Cllr.
Allen (Chairman) has kindly studied this heavy document which he says
is far more in line with the National Planning Policy than its
predecessor. Chedzoy is now raised one notch to “Tier 4 sustainable
development”, though only very limited new development is likely
locally up to 2032. Documents are available to inspect at the Council
offices at Bridgwater House, King Square Monday - Friday 9.00am to 5.00
pm.
- Homes in Sedgemoor launch new
friendly website. A
new website, www.homesinsedgemoor.org has been designed with their
customers in mind, to improve the quality and availability of
information to its customers. Homes in Sedgemoor manage the District
Council’s 4200 homes and is a non-profit organisation.
- New on-line support portal for
Sedgemoor public.
A new website has been developed by the Community Council for Somerset
(CCS) and Assist as part of their Somerset Village Agent project. The
website is a portal to help individuals seek advice, guidance and
support for a range of issues, from fuel poverty to asking for support
on a community project, such as funding for transport to isolated rural
areas.
- Top ten qualities to Foster. The County Council continues to look for people from all walks of life to foster – you can be single, married or in a same sex relationship, own or rent your home, have children of your own or not. Homes for children and young people of all ages and backgrounds are ungently sought. To find out more visit www.fosteradoptsomerset.org.uk or phone 0800 587 9900.
8. Matters arising from the correspondence. None.
9. Finance.
Balances after allowing for all payments made.
| Lloyds Bank current account | £2373.30 |
| Lloyds Bank deposit account | £2.48 |
| Cambridge Building Society Easy Access account | £12300.08 |
Interest amounting to £47.09 was added to the Cambridge Building Society Council Easy Access account on the 31st December. The Clerk said the balance quoted at the January meeting had not reflected this.
3 cheques issued signed by 2 councillors as follows.
| Number | Payee | Amount | For |
| 541 | C.N Fry | £157.29 | Expenses |
| 542 | C.N Fry | £152.67 | Jan net salary |
| 543 | C.N Fry | £152.47 | Feb net salary |
The Clerk said the payroll lady, Diane Malley, advises this year’s payroll fee will be £81.00, reflecting a more complex situation where liaison about the work place pension is necessary.
Wessex Water advise that, as a non-personal user, the parish council is free to switch water suppliers from 1st April 2017.
10. Any Other Business, including the date of next meeting.
- Code of Conduct training for
Clerks and Councillors. The Clerk
reminded the meeting that these sessions were due to be held in March.
- Fracking. Ms. Jo Smoldon
was invited to outline her concerns
surrounding the fact that Petroleum Exploration Development Licenses
(PEDLs) have been signed that cover North and West Somerset, an area
that stretches from Exmoor to the Mendips. This means that in the next
five years at least one borehole will be drilled for the licence to be
kept. She acknowledged that the article she presented, in describing
the possible bad effects of fracking is just one side of the argument,
but she feels strongly that villagers should at least be aware of all
possibilities.
Martin Allen said he did not think this is something the parish council could best take forward but it was suggested Jo could gauge feelings if parishioners were invited to contact her and, if interest was sufficiently high then she would be happy to arrange a public meeting in the village hall to involve a film to illustrate matters further. Anyone interested, please contact Jo Smoldon [email protected]
- New village cluster groupings. As
previously mentioned these have been
rearranged and Chedzoy belongs to Sedgemoor South East group which will
meet in The Lounge, Woolavington village hall on Tuesday 27th June and
Tuesday 21st November 2017.
- Quantock Hills photography
competition. The Quantock Hills AONB Service
and the Duke of Edinburgh to celebrate their 60th anniversary last
year. Anyone interested, contact [email protected]
- Tackling Flooding. An
email was read about the substantial government
funding which has been made available following the serious flooding
experienced on the Levels a few years ago. A seminar in Central London
is being held “Reducing the Risk and Impact of Flooding” on 27th April
2017.
- Fly-tipping on land off Ward
Lane. There is a fairly serious case of
this with rubbish being deposited just out o sight from the road. Cllr.
Ray Triggol has kindly offered to move it to the roadside so the SDC
people can remove it.
- Large stones deposited on the verge near Parchey Bridge. The Clerk was asked to report this potential hazard to SCC highways dept at Dunball.
Date of next meeting: Monday 13th March 2017 in the village hall at 7.30pm.
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