8th June 2005

ADOPTED
WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Wednesday 8th June 2005 at 7.30pm in the Committee Room, West Monkton Village Hall.

Present: Councillors J Reeves (Chairman), H Besley, H Corcoran, N Cavill, G Day, R Tully
In attendance: One member of the Public

100/05: Apologies for absence
H Ellis, L Warren, PC Stuart Curtis

101/05: Adoption of the minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held on 4th May 2005 at 7.30pm
The minutes were adopted with no amendments.

102/05: Matters of report arising from the Minutes
Clerks notes were circulated prior to the meeting. The e-mail to the LAT was read out explaining the Parish Council’s position as regards the Youth Shelter. ‘...Following discussion with the SCC, at the meeting of the Parish Council on 4th May 2005, it was resolved that the lease should continue for another three years. Furthermore it was resolved that the Parish Council should offer the availability of the site to the LAT for consideration for the location of a Youth Shelter. It would be up to the LAT to take the matter further. The Parish Council is prepared to allow the site to be considered, and to accept the on-going costs of litter picking in the area. The Parish Council would not have any involvement in construction, maintenance or insurance of the Youth Shelter...’

The meeting was closed.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 The state of the various walkways through Monkton Heathfield was drawn to the attention of the Parish Council. The overgrowth of weeds, grass, nettles and brambles is narrowing the space available and causing scratching and, after rain, wet clothes. The unevenness of the surface is a cause for concern.
 Milton Hill/School Road triangle of grass only cut in part.
 Volunteer speed guns on main road by Thornash Close
 Footpath between Yallands Hill and Aginhills obstructed by fencing and stiles removed.
 Restricted visibility and difficulties getting onto main road (A38) from Acacia Gardens
 Stan Morgan picking up litter in Parish
 Repairs to 2 benches nearly complete, message from L Warren, regarding their relocation.

The meeting was reconvened.

103/05; Items arising from Public Question Time
 All agreed the walkways were in need of attention. D Quick (SCC) to be informed. Walkways in question are: footpath alongside allotments from Main Road (A3259) to Old Peoples Bungalows in Heathfield Drive; from Elms Estate to School Road; from School Road to Brittons Ash, and from the car park of the flats in Heathfield Drive to School Road.
 Triangle of grass, School Road/Milton Hill. A clear undertaking was given by D Quick, but area only cut along the long side of the triangle not all over.
 Footpath obstruction, in hands of Rights of Way officer, Tamsyn Matthews. Meeting with owner on Monday next. Cllrs G Day and H Besley to set out locations of Parish footpaths with accompanying notes as to what has been done with them. From this, planning for footpath maintenance in the future could ensue. Agreed, not enough time to make a grant claim from D Greig this year.
 Acacia Gardens, Parish Council agreed to ask I Titcombe to reconsider his comment ‘...I have discussed this junction with the Accident Investigator and he did not suggest that any changes were necessary here. I have also checked this junction myself recently and could not find a particular problem with the visibility when vehicles are parked outside the hairdressers.’ It was suggested that a survey be undertaken at about 8.50am.
 Volunteer traffic guns. PC Stuart Curtis very positive, and volunteers willing. PC Curtis believes there may be funding available. Volunteer safety an issue. Statistics re success rates would be helpful. PC Curtis to be invited to next Parish Council to explain details.
 Location of repaired bench seats. One already agreed, to go beside letterbox at Meadway. Suggested that the other could be placed by entrance to Ganges field at Sidbrook Cross Roads. Clerk to check this location with SCC Highways and TDBC.
 Stan Morgan litter picking, it was agreed a thank you gift would be appropriate – ditto for the person who keeps the flower tubs beside the seat at Goosenford if they could be identified.

104/05: To decide on bus shelter design
Parish Council referred to J Herrington’s recommendations and agreed that the new shelter for the Merry Monk bus stop should be metal at the back and metal all the rest of the way round below the mid-rail. It was agreed to ask if the old shelter could be relocated to the bus stop in the lay-by on the other side of the road where, currently, there is no shelter.

105/06: To decide on level of maintenance grants for 2005 for Burial Grounds and Playing field/Play area; and the Footpath Grants for 2005/06.
The Parish Council agreed that the Burial Ground grant should remain at £320 for 2005. It was agreed to apply for £400 for the Playing Field/Play Area grant, in view of the costs of grass maintenance. It was agreed not to apply for a Footpath Grant for 2005/06 in view of the short time frame available. The Footpaths Officer wished to compile an up to date record of the paths and their state so that an application could be made for 2006/07.

106/05: To discuss investment opportunities rather than the NS&I
The Parish Clerk had information from NS&I, Alliance and Leicester, and the Bank of Ireland/account for Local Councils. The Abbey enquiry had not been pursued due to the low rate of interest. A comparative table was circulated prior to the meeting. Following discussion, it was proposed by H Corcoran, seconded by R Tully, to open an account with the Alliance and Leicester; that the NS&I should be retained, and that £6000 from that account should be transferred to the Alliance and Leicester. All agreed. The signatories to the new account would be Chairman, Vice-Chairman, H Corcoran, H Besley and the Clerk.

107/05: To consider what the Parish Council might do to mark the Trafalgar Weekend 21st to 23rd October.
After some discussion it was agreed to have a beacon at Hill Farm, to link with the chain of beacons being lit, and to have a barbecue, with cider and hot dogs, on Friday 21st October. St Augustines' may wish to mark the event in the church service on the Sunday.

108/05: To receive Official Reports
Dedication of new Burial ground was a very successful event.
West Monkton Parish Council’s comments on SCC LTP2 sent into Transport Policy Unit.
Countryside Agency Landscape Access Recreation map received, commencement order expected August 2005, until then not a walking map. Map does not show triangle of land at end of Blundells Lane joining A3259.
The Market Planning application for the site at Chelston has been approved by TDBC. Shortly it will be sent to the Government Office of the South West. Being a totally livestock market has been an allowable exception to the Local Plan. It remains to be proved to the Highways Agency that there is an adequate facility off the Motorway junction to service it. However, the release from Directive 14 is expected shortly. Compared with the progress of the Huntworth application, the Chelston one is doing better. Huntworth cannot be approved by the Government Office of the South West until clear of Directive 14; there may not be sufficient facility at junction 24.

109/05: To consider Planning Applications
48/2005/020: Erection of bicycle shelters at Heathfield Community School
No comment
48/2005/023: Erection of extensions and installation of dormer windows at Springfield, Redhill, West Monkton. Initial Assessment: Impact to be assessed on site.
Comment: Height of the roof ridge to be in keeping with the neighbouring properties, also colour of roof tiles as the houses are clearly visible form some distance away.
48/2004/072 Amended Planning Permission: demolition of outbuildings at 107 –109 Bridgwater Road to build 4 garages with wardens’ flats above. Omit porch canopy, add extra garage door and window at rear elevation, change door to a window at end elevation, change external wall finish from render to brick to match adjoining properties. Amendment granted
Comment: Noted
Appeal by D Cleere re garage at 4 Kyrenia Cottage School Road, Monkton Heathfield. Appeal withdrawn by Mr D Cleere.
48/2005/024 Erection of 2-storey extension, single storey extension and porch, and erection of detached outbuilding garage together with associated access alterations at 1 Hyde Lane Cottages, Bathpool. Initial assessment – scale of the proposed outbuilding/garage
Comment: scale of outbuildings to be in keeping with neighbouring properties, extensions to the house no more than what has been done already by neighbouring properties.

110/05: To receive Planning Decisions made by TDBC
The list, having been previously circulated, was noted.
48/2005/013: Change of use of field to provide an additional 10 sites for touring caravans at Tanpitts Farm, Dyers Lane, Bathpool, Taunton. Permission granted subject to conditions
48/2005/016: Demolition of lean to shed and erection of single storey extension to family room at 5 Goosenford, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton Permission granted
48/2005/015LB: Insertion of new roof light, glazed panels to living room, alterations to ceiling at 10 Walford House Permission granted
48/2005/017: Continued siting of Portacabin for church activities on land between Bathpool Chapel and 103 Bridgwater Road Permission refused
48/2005/018LB: Alterations and amendments to the Stables, Marlows, West Monkton
Consent granted
48/2005/019: Retention of detached garage at 4 Kyrenia Cottage, School Road, Monkton Heathfield
Permission granted

111/05: To consider Communications
The list of Communications received was circulated prior to the meeting.
The letter from BT was discussed, cashless payphones for the two phone boxes having low usage but community need. These are at Monkton Heathfield, and at West Monkton. The phone box in Bathpool is not under consideration. It was established that Emergency Services could be accessed from a cashless phone box. All agreed the red box at West Monkton should be retained. All agreed that cashless option was better than no phone box at all.
J Williams letters on Rural Policing and Gypsy purchase of small parcels of land. The Parish Council agreed to invite J Williams to give further advice on these matters (July or September).
Boundary Commission – no further comment.

112/05: To consider and adopt accounts for year ending 31st March 2005 and to note comments from External Auditors and Closure of Audit of Accounts for year ending 31st March 2004.
The notice advertising Closure of the Audit for year ending 31st March 2004 was posted.
The comments of the External Auditors, on the Accounts for year ending 31st March 2004, having been previously circulated, were noted.
The Clerk presented the Accounts for year ending 31st March 2005, and answered questions. It was proposed by R Tully, seconded by H Corcoran, that the Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2005 be adopted. All agreed. The Clerk will arrange for the accounts to be inspected by the Internal Auditor, Mr T Bullen.

113/05: To approve payments and receipts (as listed) and the Monthly Financial Sheet
These details were circulated prior to the meeting.
Receipts
VAT reclaim for year ending 31st March 2005 £249.02
Payments
Mrs David cleaning bus shelters May 05 £20.00
Clerk wages, May £411.97
Clerks expenses, May £40.91
Parsons grass maintenance, April and May £119.86
Moore Stephens
Annual Audit for the year ended 31st March 2004 £170.38
Hire of Hall and Police surgeries to Nov 2005 £26.60

The monthly financial sheet was signed.

114/05: Web-site update
A number of replies had been received for the Business Directory. Number of visits to the web-site in May was 147, April was 130.

115/05: Dates of next meetings
Wednesday 13th July, no meeting in August, Wednesday 14th September.

116/05: Outstanding items
Skateboard Park remains an outstanding item.

117/05: Urgent Matters raised with the permission of the Chairman
 Explanation sought for an article in the Press referring to the building of 9 affordable housing units in place of two bungalows in Richards Crescent. It was explained that this is a move requested by the Housing Association (formerly TDBC Housing) to use up unused land at the end of Richards Crescent. The bungalows would be demolished to provide access; the residents of the bungalows have been consulted and are content.

 After some discussion it was agreed to dispose of the old computer and printer, as they have no value and it seemed unlikely a home could be found for them.

The meeting closed at 9.59pm.

Chairman................................................................. Date..................................................