Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 15th October 2018.
Minutes of the meeting of the Parish
Council, held on Monday 15th October 2018, in the Village Hall at
7.30pm.
1. Apologies: Cllrs Katrina
Maxwell and Terry Oxman, also David Hall (Somerset County Council
(SCC)).
Present: Cllrs. Martin Allen
(Chairman), Martin Baker (Vice-chairman), Brian Gale, Pat Lennard and
Ray Triggol, also Cllrs Derek Alder and Liz Perry (Sedgemoor District
Council (SDC)).
Also present: the Clerk,
together with one member of the public.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting of
17th September 2018 were taken as read, approved and signed.
3. Matters arising from the minutes.
- Adopt a Kiosk. The
Clerk said he had received an email from the lady who had expressed an
interest in this project but saying she had decided not to take part.
However, there is another lady who originally responded to our appeal
for ideas, and the Clerk was asked to contact her and enquire if she is
still interested.
- Fingerpost Restoration. The
Clerk reported SCC had replied to his (requesting guidance), to say
volunteers from the Parishes were being sought to be trained by SCC,
following which they would be allowed to inspect and carry out
superficial restoration to the fingerposts (eg cleaning and painting).
Any more substantial renovation would be carried out by qualified
contractors, funded be the Parish Council.
No volunteers had come forward and the Chairman said he would look into
the possibility of a basic clean-up of the local fingerpost.
4. Somerset County Council report.
None.
5. Sedgemoor District Council report. Cllr
Alder reported as follows:
- SDC loan to Eastover Hotel. In
view of the rumours and misinformation around, Derek wished to point
out that the loan recently agreed for the completion of the project was
on commercial terms and agreed over a fixed period. SDC are not allowed
to borrow to pay for services. The loan mentioned does not involve
taking funds from other service funding.
- Small grant aid for local
projects and small business loans. He said there are limited
funds available for grants and small loans for small businesses.
- Projected new Transport Road
Scheme (up to 2050). SDC were being given more responsibility
here, and 11000 new homes are required to be created/built in Sedgemoor
by 2050.
- Former Cattle Market. Development
is progressing with 129 new homes planned, the first 20/30 of which
will be of modular construction.
- Single occupancy accommodation. There
are 470 young people in Sedgemoor requiring accommodation and currently
on the waiting list.
- Former Cellophane site.
The pods are to accommodate EDF employees and after 10 years they will
'go back'.
- The former 'Odeon' cinema shops,
Penel Orlieu. Derek said that, after a great deal of
investigative work, Sedgemoor served notice on the owners only to be
told the property had been sold on for £1, to unknown owners.
- SDC Local Plan (up to 2032). The
Chairman said the consultation period ended on 10th October 2018.
6. Planning.
Reference: 18/18/00006.
Type: Full Planning Permission.
Proposal: Erection of a single
storey extension to NE elevation.
Location: The Shires, West End
Cottages, Chedzoy Lane Bridgwater TA7 8QS.
Applicant: Mr Horrobin.
The Clerk displayed a full set of paper plans which were examined by
the councillors. This is for a dining room extension and there are no
comments from neighbours. It appears to be slightly larger than that
which would be allowed under “Permitted Development”. The property is
in flood zone 1.
The Chairman called for a vote and the councillors voted unanimously to
support the application.
The Clerk to advise the SDC Planning Department appropriately.
7. Correspondence.
- Village Agent Scheme funding. The
Clerk reported that the Community Council foe Somerset (CCS) were
celebrating having successfully secured a third round of Big Lottery
Funding for the Somerset Village Agent Scheme, which will fund the
scheme for a further 3 years. The SCC also contribute to this.
After a discussion, Cllr Pat Lennard offered to invite Vanda Squire to
a future PC meeting to give a talk.
- NALC Star Council Awards. The
National Association of Local Councils Awards are the only awards in
England to recognise the achievements of the local council sector. On
14th September the judging panel selected this year’s finalists and
Watchet town council are among them.
The Public are invited to vote for the winner at:
www.nalc.gov.uk/news/entry/1084-nalc-announces-star-council-awards-finalist-vote-for-your-council-of-the-year
- Scam Mail. Royal Mail
are appealing for the help of the public in raising awareness of scam
mail in local communities. Scam mail includes bogus competitions and
fake prize draws – usually origination from overseas and the Royal Mail
never knowingly delivers it. Should you be concerned please call the
Royal Mail helpline on 0800 0113 446 or email scam.mail@royalmail.com
- Council for the Protection of
Rural England (CPRE) Somerset 'Affordable Housing to Keep our
Countryside Alive'- event. Thursday 25th October 2018
Glastonbury Town Hall 2.00pm to 5.00pm. To book, email: admin@cpresomerset.org.uk
- 'Let Communities Decide'. The
Parish Council have been asked to support the anti-fracking movement.
Some time ago Chedzoy Parish Council indicated its support and
now there is a move to allow exploratory drilling under
'Permitted Development'. Following a discussion it was felt appropriate
for the Chairman to complete a petition on the Parish Council’s behalf.
- Affordable Housing. The
Clerk reported he had received a response to his email of 7th August to
Esther Carter, advising her of the Parish Council’s decision not to
progress in this field. The reply from Nick Draper (Housing Development
Officer Housing Health and Wellbeing) in which he clarified that under
the emerging Local Plan any development in a Tier 4 settlement requires
a local lettings policy to be applied for the duration that any new
development exists (in perpetuity).
A full discussion took place and the Clerk was asked to reply to the
email stating further consideration had been given, but the Parish
Council felt it did not warrant it to change its mind. It is felt that
very careful consultation and consideration and discussion had been had
on the subject and in all the circumstances there is no change in the
Council’s position.
8. Matters arising from the
correspondence. None.
9. Finance.
Balances after allowing for all payments made:
Lloyds Bank
current account |
£5361.91 |
Lloyds Bank
deposit account |
£2.48 |
Cambridge
Building Society Easy Access Account |
£12318.53 |
Two cheques were signed as follows:
Number |
Amount |
Payee |
For |
619 |
£152.67 |
Mr C.N Fry |
October net
salary |
620 |
£58.63 |
Mr C.N Fry |
Expenses |
The second tranche of the 2018/2019 Precept amounting to £3748.00 has
been received.
A new online service for reclaiming VAT has been set up.
10. Any Other Business, including the
date of the next meeting.
- Hedgerows. A complaint
has been received about the state of the hedges, particularly in Ward
Lane, following the recent trimming by landowners. It was agreed a very
poor job had been done, with all the mess just being left to obstruct
the roadway.
After a discussion the Clerk was asked to write to the offending
landowners about the problem.
- 'Tell us your views on Health
and Care'. A series of County wide events are being held to
hear local peoples’ views on Health and Care in Somerset and explore
how it could change in the future. Go to www.fitformyfuture.org.uk
- Bulk Buy Fuel. In an
eattempt to alleviate the hardship caused by householders having to pay
for oil central heating fuel 'up front', and bearing in mind the last
several years of minimal pay increases and the freezing of some in-work
benefits, a scheme is available for interest free loans of up to
£500.00 repayable over six months. Posters are on display. Call 01823
461099 email enquiries@wrcic.org.uk
or visit www.wessexresolutions.org.uk
- Innovation in Local Services –
talk. County Councillor Tessa Munt has arranged an evening talk
by Adam Persson and Neil Bloomfield of Martock Parish Council on Monday
22nd October at 7.00 for 7.30pm, in the clubroom of the Swan, Wedmore,
BS28 4EQ.
This non-political event is open to all Councillors and Clerks in
Mendip and Sedgemoor districts. Martock PC has become known for
providing innovative local services, including Community Policing.
No need to book but the organiser can be reached at: Tessa-in-touch@gmail.com
- Recycling. The following
points should be noted:
a/ Missed or incomplete
collections are due mainly to staff shortages, particularly of drivers.
b/ Recycle inserts are
available for insertion in new residents’ welcome packs (not
applicable, in the case of Chedzoy).
c/ Christmas collection
details are on display.
- 'Sedgemoor in the Pink for
Breast Cancer Care'. Staff members and councillors at SDC
raised over £370 on Friday 12th October in support of Breast Cancer
Care.
- Dog Dirt. A request was
made for a dog litter bin. After a discussion, it was decided that the
associated expense could not be justified. It was felt that dog owners
should bag it and take it home.
- Local Plan Proposed Main
Modifications. The Chairman wished to record his thanks to Andy
Reading of SDC for providing him with these modifications which will
continue to be most useful in the future.
Date of next meeting: Monday 19th
November 2018 in the village hall at 7.30 pm.
There being no other business the meeting was declared closed at 8.55pm.