Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council, held on Monday 4th April 2018 in the Village Hall, at 7.30pm.

1. Apologies: Cllr. Terry Oxman.

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

Also: Mr Chris Fry (Clerk) and 13 members of the public.

2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 19th February 2018 were taken as read, approved and signed.

3. Matters arising from the minutes.

• Suggested usage of the ex-telephone kiosk. Ideas have been sought through 'Chedzoy News', and to date the following suggestions have been received:
  a/ A mini information centre.
  b/ A 'therapy' box.
  c/ A mini library.
  
  Following a discussion, it was decided to approach the people who made the suggestions to see if a working group could be formed to take matters forward.
  
  
• Speed Indicator Device (SID) programme withdrawal. The Chairman advised that the programme was withdrawn from 31st March and, bearing in mind views were required before that date, and noting the lack of enthusiasm at the last meeting to take part in an alternative self-funding scheme, The SCC Highways department had been advised that Chedzoy did not wish to take part. David Hall reminded the meeting that the equipment stored at Bawdrip was available for our use should the 'Speed Watch' team be reformed.
  
  
• Affordable Housing October 2017 survey results. The Chairman briefly outlined the bare bones of the survey results. Six respondents, whose personal details remain confidential with Sedgemoor District Council Housing Health and Wellbeing Service, have expressed an interest in Affordable Housing, four in Shared Ownership schemes and two in renting.
  
  The significant and very specific questions now posed to Chedzoy Parish Council by the SDC Affordable Housing Team, are as follows:
  
  a/ Do Chedzoy Parish Council agree to tackle the Affordable Housing shortfall in the parish? The Parish Council is usually asked to put sites in order of preference. However, with such a small number of sites available, could members look at any alternative sites in the Parish?
  
  b/ Would Chedzoy Parish Council be interested in accepting the Community Housing Fund grant, and which payment option would be appropriate?
  
  c/ Would Chedzoy Parish Council like to set up a Housing Sub-Group?
  
  A full discussion took place, with the Chairman requesting the opinions of each Councillor present, before opening up the meeting as a whole to take comments and opinions from all present. It quickly became apparent there was strong opposition to the proposed scheme. There are already several developments, quite close to the village, which provide considerable affordable housing, Kingsdown (Bridgwater Without) and the land running along Bower Lane to the Westonzoyland Road (Bower Flowers) in the pipeline.
  
  The Chairman pointed out that the likely reclassification of the village from “Unsustainable” to “Tier 4 settlement”, later this year, could bring about limited infill and incremental housing development in Chedzoy, which could possibly help to alleviate any pent up shortfall.
  
  It was also pointed out that affordable housing normally took up 40% or so of any relevant development, and it seems unlikely that the relatively small number identified as required could therefore justify any bespoke development in its own right. The numbers do not appear to be viable.
  
  It was decided to invite Esther Carter to the next meeting, when members of the public and the Parish Council could put questions to her, ahead of the Parish Council finally deciding on its responses to the questions posed by SDC Affordable Housing Team. A flier will be sent round the village inviting parishioners to attend this meeting and put their points of view.
  
  
• Fry’s Lane. The Chairman read out a letter from a resident of Fry’s Lane stating support had been sought from Laurence Hackling of SCC Sedgemoor depot at Dunball, and that limited constructive assistance has been offered as follows:
  
  a/ SCC will sort out the damaged tarmac at the end of the metalled part of the lane, above the main sewer. They will clear the two storm drains at the Front Street end of the lane which should alleviate the flooding outside Sibley’s Farm and along the lane.
  
  b/ They suggest SDC Clean Surroundings people are requested to mechanically sweep the upper part of the lane three or four times per year when the other roads are swept (the resident will make the request).
  
  c/ They will arrange for ten tonnes of roadstone planings to be supplied. More significant improvements cannot be funded at the present time.
  
  The recent serious fly-tipping problem further down Fry’s Lane when many cans of old sump oil were dumped in a ditch- amounting to 750-800  litres in all , was cleared promptly by SDC Clean Surroundings. The Chairman asked the Clerk to send a letter of thanks to them.

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

• He reminded the well-known author,  Damian Boyd,  may be persuaded to open any Kiosk library when/if set up.
• SRA becoming a Precepting Authority. The neighbouring MP,  David Warburton,  is sponsoring a private members bill which could receive its second reading later on this month in Parliament. It has government support.
• Colley Lane Relief Road Bridge (aka Colley Lane Southern Access Route). Work has recently started on this single span bridge which will go over the railway line, canal and river.
• £83 million Central Govt. Funding. This has been received for Capital spending in the Bridgwater/Taunton corridor. Use of these funds are restricted to Capital schemes such as road access improvements and schools.
• Highways department. They have coped well during the recent bad weather.

5. Sedgemoor District Council report. Derek Alder and Liz Perry reported as follows:

• The new SDC Chief Executive has been initiating an internal reorganisation at Sedgemoor.
• House building is taking place e.g eight units at the old Withy Cutter PH site in Sydenham and several other small sites. Some council houses are being bought back by SDC, where it simplifies improvement work.
• 'Commercialism'. This is when SDC is the prime developer of a site e.g. at Northgate (this development is to include a cinema).
• The Old Cattle Market site has just been sold to a new developer (100 homes).
• A new food waste digester has been approved off the A38, opposite the Car Auction site.

 6. Planning.

Application Reference Number: 18/18/00001/CAN.
Location: 1(2), the Barn, Front Street, Chedzoy, Bridgwater TA7 8RE
Status: Granted Permission.

Application Reference Number: 18/17/00003/DT. (Victoria Osborn).
Status: Appeal against decision
The appeal has been rescheduled for 11th April at Bridgwater House. Liz Perry (SDC) has kindly agreed to attend.

Application Reference Number: 18/17/00008/DT.
Location: Land to the south of Manor Barn, Higher Road, Chedzoy, Bridgwater TA7.
Status: Granted Permission.

7. Correspondence.

• Somerset Libraries Services Consultation 2018. This has been extended to 13th June 2018- see www.somerset.gov.uk/librariesconsultation
• Avon and Somerset PCC newsletter. This has been received- see www.pcc@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk.
• Transforming Ageing – 'funding nineteen big ideas to improve the lives of people in later life' - see www.ageing.better.org.uk.

8. Matters arising from the correspondence. None.

9. Finance.

Balances after allowing for all payments made:-

Lloyds Bank Current Account	£2806.36
Lloyds Bank Deposit Account	£2.48
Cambridge Building Society Easy Access Account	£12318.53

Five cheques were signed as follows.

Number	Amount	Payee	For
589	£40.00	OUEM	Allotment rent
590	£200.00	Mr C.N Fry	Bus shelter maintenance – R Beale
591	£ 88.40	Mr C.N Fry	Expenses
592	£152.47	Mr C.N Fry	March net salary
593	£ 36.79	Mr C.N Fry	Gardening equipment- R Beale

The Clerk presented the 2017/2018 Income and Expenditure Account. He said the Council had exercised remarkable control over expenditure with the bank balance rising by £1000 + during the year.

The accounts were adopted by the Parish Council with Cllr. Ray Triggol proposing and Cllr. Martin Baker seconding the motion.

The accounting Statement was signed off by the Chairman and Clerk (Responsible Financial Officer). The Internal Audit will now proceed and then the Governance Statement will be presented at the next meeting followed by the External Audit.
           
10. Any Other Business including date of the next meeting.

• EDF/Hinkley Connection. The Clerk reported receiving a telephone call from Donna Burnell of the National Grid advising work on the power line to Bristol was starting. The only work to be carried out within the village is the burying of some lines and this will not take place till 2020/2021.
• Pig Lane. It was reported there remains a problem of visitors’ parked cars causing congestion near the playing field. The Clerk was asked to speak to SDC Planners to see what they may be able to suggest to help matters.
• Churchyard Statue. The Chairman pointed out that there was a plan, as reported in the Chedzoy News, to replace the missing Sydney Mason Collins Equestrian Statue with a replica, using a resin-based material of similar appearance to the original, but of no residual scrap value. Although this action does not directly involve Chedzoy Parish Council, the chairman wished to congratulate the project as an outstandingly good idea, and it was welcomed and supported by all at the meeting.
• Village Agent. Now we have lost our Village Agent, Cllr Pat Lennard said that Vanda Squire of the Somerset Village and Community Agent scheme would be happy to attend a Parish council meeting to outline the service she offers. The Clerk was asked to arrange this.

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 9th May 2018 in the village hall, starting with the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council at 7.00 followed by the Annual Parish Meeting and then the next Parish Council meeting.

There being no other business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.15pm.