2018/07/28
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 23rd July 2018.
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish
Council held on Monday 23rd July 2018 in the Village Hall at 7.30 pm.
1. Apologies: Cllr. Pat Lennard.
Present: Cllrs. Martin Allen (Chairman), Brian Gale, Katrina Maxwell and Ray Triggol.
Also present: Cllrs David Hall (Somerset County Council (SCC)) and Liz Perry (Sedgemoor District Council (SDC)).
Also present: the Clerk, together with two members of the public.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 13th June 2018 were taken as read, approved and signed.
3. Matters arising from the minutes.
No new Planning Applications, but:-
Reference: 18/18/00004/DT.
Proposal: Erection of storage building.
Location: Old Rectory Farm, Fry’s Lane, Chedzoy, Bridgwater, TA7 8JW.
Applicant: Mr Farmer.
This application was received too late for inclusion in tonight’s meeting so it will be discussed at a special planning/interim meeting on Monday 6th August 2018.
7. Correspondence.
9. Finance.
Balances after allowing for all payments made.
Five cheques were signed as follows:
Direct Debit to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) £35.00 (Data registration fee), due 29th June 2018.
10. Any Other Business, including date of the next meeting.
(The special planning/ interim meeting takes place on Monday 6th August 2018 at 7.30 in the village hall)
There being no other business the meeting was declared closed at 8.40 pm.
1. Apologies: Cllr. Pat Lennard.
Present: Cllrs. Martin Allen (Chairman), Brian Gale, Katrina Maxwell and Ray Triggol.
Also present: Cllrs David Hall (Somerset County Council (SCC)) and Liz Perry (Sedgemoor District Council (SDC)).
Also present: the Clerk, together with two members of the public.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting of 13th June 2018 were taken as read, approved and signed.
3. Matters arising from the minutes.
- Affordable Housing. The
Chairman opened the discussion by saying that, after a lengthy period
of Public meetings and deliberation, it was now time for the Parish
Councillors to decide on the way forward. He said the latest report was
a little inconsistent in parts compared to earlier ones. 'Help to Buy',
'Home Finder Service' and 'Shared Ownership' were all national schemes,
not exclusively relating to Affordable Housing. All Parishioners have
been consulted, and he said he wanted all the Parish Councillors to
give their views on this important decision.
In order to give all Parish Councillors a good chance of discussing and then voting on the matter, a further interim meeting should be called with the Clerk ensuring that the date is convenient to them all. There is a planning application which needs to be considered and which was received too late for tonight’s meeting, so Monday 6th August has been earmarked to meet, at 7.30 pm an the village hall.
- Parish Bridleways. Cllr. Katrine Maxwell said she had been advised that there were gates along the bridleways which are tied shut and causing inconvenience to members of the public in general and horse riders in particular. After a discussion, the Clerk was asked to firstly seek guidance from George Montague (SCC footpath officer for the Sedgemoor region) about this, and secondly to look into self-help amongst villagers, a few of whom have already indicated a desire to assist.
- Unitary Authority discussions.
He said that with the huge amount of funding which the County Council
have lost by Central Government withdrawing the old support grant
(amounting to £100 million in Somerset’s case), and the burden of
increased spending on both adult and children’s social care, and
bearing in mind the considerable savings to be made by amalgamating
tiers of local government, it was clearly a sensible idea to at least
consider all options. He said nothing has yet been decided and matters
are likely to move relatively slowly, so that next year’s local
government elections will probably not be affected. When asked about
the current state of Somerset’s financial position, he said that things
are understandably very tight, and other county councils are in a
similar position.
- Road Maintenance. This
is progressing satisfactorily.
- Hinkley Point. This is progressing, together with the associated roadworks.
- She said she had taken up bicycle riding again so she could see
more of conditions in the area (and keep fit too!).
- Affordable Housing. She said she was happy to be consulted as she had some experience fron other neighbouring villages on the issue.
No new Planning Applications, but:-
Reference: 18/18/00004/DT.
Proposal: Erection of storage building.
Location: Old Rectory Farm, Fry’s Lane, Chedzoy, Bridgwater, TA7 8JW.
Applicant: Mr Farmer.
This application was received too late for inclusion in tonight’s meeting so it will be discussed at a special planning/interim meeting on Monday 6th August 2018.
7. Correspondence.
- Improving Lives Strategy for
Somerset. The Clerk read out an email from Cllr Christine
Lawrence (SCC Chair of Health and Wellbeing Board), in which she says
they have a vision to improve the lives of all of the residents in
Somerset. It is necessary to work together to do this and consider all
the influencing factors. Four priorities have been identified as being
important to improving the quality of lives in the county. In an
attempt to get maximum input from both Public Bodies and the general
public, they are asking us all to complete a short questionnaire online
at www.somerset.gov.uk/improvinglives. Consultation closing date Friday
17th August 2018.
- Legal advice, drafting and
representation scheme for Parishes and Town Councils. The Clerk
said he had received a letter reminding Parishes that SDC’s legal team
are offering to carry out legal work for Parishes at a much lower
hourly rate than otherwise available, (£100.00 per hour + vVAT).
- Citizens' Advice Bureau. AB Sedgemoor Grant Aid Request. The usual annual appeal for grant aid has been received from the CAB and after a discussion it was proposed by Cllr Brian Gale and seconded by Cllr Katrina Maxwell that £50.00 be sent in. All agreed.
9. Finance.
Balances after allowing for all payments made.
| Lloyds Bank Current Account | £4140.38 |
| Lloyds Bank Deposit Account | £2.48 |
| Cambridge Building Society Easy Access Account | £12318.53 |
Five cheques were signed as follows:
| Number | Amount | Payee | For |
| 605 | £152.67 | Mr C.N Fry | July net salary |
| 606 | £152.47 | Mr C.N Fry | August net salary |
| 607 | £90.15 | Mr C.N Fry | Expenses |
| 608 | £50.00 | Sedgemoor CAB | Grant aid |
| 609 | £ 35.00 | Mr C.N Fry | R. Beale final pay |
Direct Debit to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) £35.00 (Data registration fee), due 29th June 2018.
10. Any Other Business, including date of the next meeting.
- Road Closure Chedzoy Lane. It was reported that the recent road closure in The Lane between Slapes Cross and Temple Farm, when Openreach were carrying out work, had not been organised correctly and the Parish Council were given no notice of it.
- Defibrillator 'bleeping'. This continues and is a problem for neighbouring properties to the Village Hall. Following a discussion the Clerk was asked to make enquiries and it was unanimously agreed that the Parish council would meet the cost of a new battery if this was needed (£199.00 + VAT).
- Flower Show. The Chairman said this recent event was another success and he wished to express the gratitude of the Parish Council to all those who helped in any way.
- Allotments. In view of the long, hot and dry spell that we are experiencing, it was agreed that any increased water charges for Allotment water during this period would be met by the Parish Council rather than passed on the allotment holders.
(The special planning/ interim meeting takes place on Monday 6th August 2018 at 7.30 in the village hall)
There being no other business the meeting was declared closed at 8.40 pm.
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