Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council, held on Monday 22nd May 2017 in the Village Hall at approximately 8.00pm.

1. Apologies: None.

2. Present: Cllrs. Martin Allen (Chairman), Martin Baker, Brian Gale, Patricia Lennard, Katrina Maxwell and Terry Oxman. Also Cllrs David Hall (Somerset County Council), Derek Alder (Sedgemoor District Council) and Liz Perry (SDC).

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

3. Minutes of the previous meeting of 24th April 2017 were taken as read, approved and signed.

4. Matters arising from the minutes.

• Affordable Housing. The Chairman read out an e-mail received by the Clerk from Esther Carter – Housing Project Development Officer, Strategy and Development at Sedgemoor District Council, which sets out the background and thinking behind this scheme designed to promote small scale developments in villages within Sedgemoor to provide affordable housing where there is seen to be a demand. SDC is in the process of consulting on the new emerging Local Plan. This Plan has designated Chedzoy as a Tier 4 Settlement.  The suggested approach for a Tier 4 under the new Local Plan can be found on pages 83/84/85 and 86 of the Plan document. The link to follow for the Local Plan Consultation is www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/localplan.
  
  To justify any provision of housing development in Chedzoy the first step is to look at the housing needs for the parish. A newly formed team (Housing Development Team) have produced a timetable from 2016 to 2020 which incorporates the new Tiers in the Local Plan. The Housing Need Survey (HNS) for Chedzoy has been booked for 2017.
  
  There are currently two sites in the village identified in the 2017  Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) for Chedzoy, one along Chedzoy Lane travelling out of the village on the right between Field Barn and West End Farm and the other behind Moggs Farm running up to the Churchyard.
  
  Esther Carter is offering to provide a presentation if the Parish Council so wishes with a question and answer session on:
  
  
• What is affordable housing?
• Is there a need of affordable housing in Chedzoy?
• Site identification.
• Delivery models available in rural parishes.
• Local lettings policy.
  
  If the Parish Council is interested, there will be no financial implications and very little member time needed. Esther will provide the support needed to progress the matter further.
  
  A discussion took place with Derek Alder saying the overall Central Government desire was to provide affordable housing where it was needed most, and to ramp up the house building figures.. Under the scheme normal planning guidelines can be circumvented or even set aside where a distinct demand is identified throughout appropriate settlements. It was agreed that the Clerk should invite Esther Carter to provide a presentation either at the next Parish Council meeting or some other time to suit her.  Martin Baker kindly offered to deliver a flyer to every household in the village about the arrangements.
  
  
• Fracking. At the last meeting the Chairman requested the councillors think more about the matter ahead of a further discussion tonight. He asked for those present to consider supporting the stance taken by Bridgwater Town Council and to declare Chedzoy a “Frack Free Zone”. A discussion took place about the many possible harmful effects of fracking on surrounding areas. The tangible benefits to the village itself- with no mains gas available – would seem to be minimal.
  
  A vote was called and all six councillors present unanimously supported the Chairman’s motion:
  
  “This Council recognises that areas of Somerset have been licensed for onshore unconventional oil and gas development, which could involve the process of fracking. Unless and until these activities can be shown to have a “social license to operate” and that the consensus of scientific peer-reviewed evidence indicates that they can be carried out without risk to the public health, without risk to the environment, without risk to water contamination, without risk to our rural economy and further that the industry as a whole can meet the three tests set aside by the Government’s Committee on Climate Change, the Parish of Chedzoy is resolved to be a frack free zone”          
  

5. Somerset County Council report. See Annual Parish Meeting minutes

6. Sedgemoor District Council report. See Annual Parish Meeting minutes.

7. Planning.

Reference: 46/16/00011.
Application: Full Planning Permission at Camping Field at Fitchetts Farm, Stawell Road, Stawell, Bridgwater TA7 9AU.
Proposal: Variation of condition 6 of Planning Permission 46/14/00004 to allow a maximum of 20 caravans and all year round use.

The Chairman read a formal letter of complaint sent by 11 angry Stawell villagers to the Planning department following the decision to grant this permission. They highlight the traffic flow problems and other major concerns about the matter. We await developments.

Reference: 18/17/00001/DT
Proposal: Retention of the temporary change of use of land to site a mobile home for a period of 18 months.
Location: West Moor House, Ward Lane, Chedzoy, Bridgwater TA7 8RW.
Applicants: Mr and Mrs C E Rhodes.

This application is for retrospective permission to site a static caravan for 18 months to give the family living accommodation, while extensive remedial work is carried out to mainly the first floor  of the property. It was discussed and the vote was as follows:-

 For the proposal: 6.
Against: 0.

The Clerk to advise Sedgemoor DC appropriately.

8. Correspondence.

• Total Transport Strategy. The Clerk read an e-mail from Jemma Lawson Volunteer Engagement Advisor CSW Group appealing for volunteers. She says the transport agenda is a top topic in Somerset and they are working on the Total Transport Strategy as part of the “joining in staying in” project. Nine events are planned across the county and anyone aged 50+ who is not currently volunteering is invited to attend. Anyone interested can phone Jemma Lawson on 07786190221.
• Speed Indicator Device - update on the delay in the next installation at Fishers Cottages. The Clerk read an e-mail from Dave Grabham Traffic Engineer at County Hall saying that he still is unable to advise us of an installation date. He apologises but says there are 16 locations in the same position. The problem is due to damage caused to the devices. He will advise when the situation improves.
• Performing Arts Library. The Clerk read an e-mail from Mandy Winter Library Supervisor of the Performing Arts Library saying that within Somerset we have an award winning Performing Arts Library based in Yeovil, who can supply choral music or orchestral parts for performances by choirs at a fraction of the cost of buying materials. Further information can be found at http://www.somerset.gov.uk/pal

9. Matters arising from the correspondence. None.

10. Finance

Balances after allowing for all payments made.

Lloyds Bank Current Account	£6036.31
Lloyds Bank Current Account	£2.48
Cambridge Building Society Easy Access Account	£12300.08

Four cheques issued and signed by two councillors as follows:

Number	Payee	Amount	For
552	Mr C.N Fry	£152.47	Net May salary
553	£144.52	Mr C.N Fry	Expenses
554	Linda Friend	£10.00	Internal Audit
555	Came and Co	£667.45	Insurance for the year

The insurance premium has risen, because insurance premium tax rose from 9.5% to 12% as from 1st June.

The £5000 first tranche of the Precept has been received (£2500 to come later in the year)

Copies of the 2016/17 accounts were distributed.

11. Any other business and date of next meeting.

• Battle of Sedgemoor Display Case. The Clerk reported that he had done a bit of digging, and found that this had been erected in 2007 by Sedgemoor Regenerations Department. The Sedgemoor DC Tourism Department may have been involved, but this has now been disbanded. Victoria Banham still works for SDC and she previously was in the [Leisure and] Tourism Department, and although she advised the Clerk that Sedgemoor might consider covering the cost of refurbishment, they would need to find the original art work – which was proving a big problem.
  
  Following a discussion it was agreed that the Clerk should approach Don Johnson and request that he considers doing the job for the Parish Council. The District Council would have to put the work through a professional firm at great cost if and when things could move forward. Mark Smith is looking after the rest of the display.


• West End Cottages Children’s Home – problems of cars being parked in the village. The Clerk read an e mail received this very morning from the manager of the home saying his staff had advised him of local residents complaining about the staff parking in the village and being picked up and taken to work. He said the problem would soon be resolved as it was caused by one of the two male residents who has a habit of damaging cars parked at the home. He was going through the judicial system and would be moving out on 31st May.

The Clerk was asked to respond saying the Parish Council was looking forward to this happening.

There being no other business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.30 pm.

Date of next meeting: Monday 3rd July at 7.30pm.