14th June 2006

ADOPTED
WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 14th June 2006 at 7.30pm in the Committee Room, West Monkton Village Hall.

Present: Cllrs Reeves, Besley, Tully, Day, Corcoran, Wallington, Ellis. Cllrs Tully and Cavill arrived later.

In attendance: there were no members of the public in attendance. D Greig, Parish Liaison Officer TDBC attended.

264/06 Apologies
Apologies received from L Warren.

265/06 Adoption of the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17th May 2006 at 7.30pm
It was proposed by Cllr H Besley, seconded by Cllr H Corcoran, that the minutes, having been previously circulated, were adopted as a true record. All agreed.

266/06 Matters of report arising from the minutes
Clerk’s report, having been previously circulated, was noted. The phone number quoted for R Wimbury was corrected to 412443 (not 312443 as reported).
There were no other matters arising.

The meeting was closed.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
D Greig reported that the Annual Meeting with the Parishes (14th Sept) would have Chief Insp John Snell as speaker; the topic would be Rural Policing and Neighbourhood Watch. It was noted that the date clashed with the Workshop on Footpaths Improvement, (organised by SCC), to which the Chairman was already committed to attend, and the Clerk was also unable to attend.
The Chairman had received a letter from a new resident of Sidbrook Orchards on the topic of lighting, also more correspondence from Mr and Mrs Heard and from the SCC Highways Lighting engineer.
Evidence of a survey of the Parish Footpaths conducted in the 1950 was produced. It was noteworthy because reference was made to the footpath between Aginhills and Yallands Hill, in terms of the ’continuation of the path from Yallands Hill to Cheddon‘.
Request received from Mrs Mitchell regarding additional ‘No skateboarding’ signs in School Road.
Request received for the roadside greenery and shrubs to be attended to in the lay-by opposite Thornash Close, where the bus stop is located.
Reports received that scramble type motorbikes are using the walkways through from School Road to Heathfield Drive as a short cut.

The meeting was reconvened.

267/06 Matters arising from Public Question Time
It was agreed that the Clerk should contact the Enforcement Officer regarding the specific complaints about the building development in Sidbrook Farm, and inform the Enforcement Officer that local residents had not received notice of the plans nor of the subsequent amendments.
It was agreed that the information regarding the 1950’s survey of Parish Footpaths should be sent to Mrs Fletcher, Rights of Way Legal Team SCC. The reference to ‘continuation’ of the footpath from Yallands to Cheddon indicates the footpath from Yallands to Aginhills was in existence at the time of the survey, also, since the survey was conducted by West Monkton Parish Council, it infers the footpath from Yallands to Aginhills was on the west side of the stream since that would have been in Cheddon Parish. If the footpath had been located on the east side, it would have been in West Monkton Parish, and part of the survey.
It was noted that the TDBC Estates Office, following a similar request in 2005, had informed the Parish Council that no further notices would be produced or affixed because the notice was unenforceable, not being supported by any bye-law. It was agreed that a request should be made to move the existing sign, which skateboarders cannot see when they are skateboarding, to a wall parallel with the road so it would be visible to active skateboarders.
It was agreed that the matter of the greenery and shrubs by the bus stop would be reported to Somerset Direct.
It was agreed the alleged mis-use of pedestrian walkways by motor bikes would be reported to PC Curtis

268/06 To consider Lease agreement for Play Area 2005 - 2008
The Clerk and the Vice-Chairman, having checked the document, recommended that it was too flawed to be acceptable to the Parish Council. Accordingly, Co Cllr R Tully had undertaken to return the document to its author for re-drafting - the salient points having been noted on the document.

269/06 To receive official reports
Cllr Cavill reported that the recent Open Day held by TDBC on ‘Affordable Housing’ had been a huge success. 123 people have put their names down on a list held by Redrow and other developers. Redrow’s Affordable Homes are the DEBUT homes. Sites are being identified within Taunton Deane.

270/06 To consider Planning Applications received by TDBC
08/2006/012 Mrs S Melhuish. Retention of conservatory on rear of property at 31 Cashford Gate, Taunton. No comment
48/2006/035LE Mr G Clifford. Application for Lawful Use Certificate re Dan’s Dismantlers, The Old Mill, Riverside, as auto dismantler, repairs and sale of vehicle parts. No comment
48/2006/037 Mr M Hicks. Erection of a single storey extension to the shop at Monkton Heathfield Stores, 15 School Road, Monkton Heathfield Taunton. Likely issues that will need to be assessed - none listed. Council supports this as a village amenity serving the local residents.

271/06 To receive Planning Decisions made by TDBC
08/2006/003 Mr J Grant. Change of use of premises to builders’ timber and plumbers’ merchants, alterations to building and erection of boundary fencing at BT Fleet depot, Venture way, Priors wood Industrial Estate; as amended by agent’s letter 7th April and plans received 23rd March and 10th April 2006. Conditional Approval.
08/2006/005 Mr J Grant. Erection of temporary building to be used as a changing room, King’s Hall, Pyrland, Taunton. Refusal.
08/2006/008 Mr M Hicks. Retention of three metal box containers for storage of archives at Priorswood Waste Recycling Centre, Crown Industrial Estate, Priorswood. Temporary Approval.
48/2006/020 Mr M Hicks. Erection of dwelling on land to the west of Pennystone, Yallands Hill, Monkton Heathfield, as amended by agent’s letter dated 11th April 2006 with attached plan. Conditional Approval: reserved matters to be submitted and approved within 3 years; site levels have to be approved; use of suitable building materials; landscaping; car park to accommodate operatives and construction vehicles; 2 parking spaces and turning space for the dwelling with properly consolidated surface before occupancy; entrance gates to swing inwards; no obstruction to visibility on adjoining road; waiting bay type A to be formed at point of access before occupancy.
48/2006/028 Mr R Upton. Erection of dwellings on plots 4 - 6 Sidbrook Farm, Greenway, West Monkton, as amended by agents letter dated 11th May and drawings numbered SPP/1230/1A and agents fax and e-mail dated 17th May 2006 with revised site location plan. Conditional Approval: windows to be sliding sash; fencing within landscape buffer on west boundary of site will be post and rail; low level underfloor planting shall be provided and alternative spp to Fagus sylvatica, Tilia cordate, and Quercus petraea shall be provided.
48/2006/029 Mrs F Wadsley. Erection of two storey side extension over existing garage, 49 Farriers Green, Monkton Heathfield. Conditional Approval; begin within 3 years; use suitable building materials.
48/2006/033 Erection of garage and store building at 5 Yew Tree Lane, Bathpool, Taunton. Conditional Approval: begin within 3 years; no new buildings including gates walls and fences or raised ground levels within 4m of the bank top of the watercourse; use of building solely in connection with existing house as single family dwelling - not as separate unit of accommodation or as commercial operation.
48/2006/031 Erection of two storey extension at Travelodge Hankridge Farm, Taunton. Permission refused: proposal would result in loss of parking spaces therefore encouraging parking on the highway, with consequent risk of additional danger to all users of the road and interference with the free flow of traffic.
48/2006/027 Formation of additional traffic lane to petrol access road, Sainsbury’s Petrol Filling station, Hankridge Farm, Taunton. Conditional Approval: begin within 3 years; no obstruction to visibility on adjoining road; landscaping scheme for surroundings.
The planning decisions made by TDBC were noted.

272/06 To consider Communications received
The list, having been circulated prior to the meeting, was noted.
It was agreed to send a copy of the Highways Maintenance leaflet to Mrs Townend. The appeal for funds from ’Relate’ was noted, however for the year 2006/07 the free donations (Section 137) had been agreed and distributed.
It was noted that the DEFRA grant, on which the Village Hall plans for extension had depended, was no longer available to village halls. The grant was specific to village halls. The way that the matter was handled was very disappointing. The MP had been advised of the situation.

273/06 To review present investment arrangements
The interest rates on the three relevant accounts were reported, and it was agreed that this was satisfactory and matters should stay as they are for the year ahead.

274/06 To approve Payments and Receipts and Monthly Financial Sheet
The information having been circulated prior to the meeting, Cllr H Corcoran proposed the approval of the Payments and Receipts list, seconded by Cllr Tully, and all agreed. Approval of the Monthly Financial sheet was proposed by Cllr Tully, seconded by Cllr Wallington, all agreed.

275/06 To note dates and arrangements regarding internal and external audit of the accounts for year ending 31st March 2006
The official notice documents had been b posted as required. The Internal Audit would be conducted by Mr T Bullen on 11th July. The annual statement of accounts, having been prepared and distributed prior to the meeting, was explained. Subject to a couple of minor alterations, and the addition of the annual interest from NS&I (expected in the post), the accounts for year ending 31st March 2006 were approved and adopted by the Parish Council; this being proposed by Cllr Corcoran, seconded by Cllr Besley and all agreed. A summary of the audited accounts will be put on the web-site.

276/06 Dates of the next meetings
Parish Council meeting: Wednesday 12th July 2006 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall
Planning Committee of the Parish Council: Wednesday 9th August 2006 at 7.00pm at the Church Room

277/06 Outstanding items
There are none listed at present.

278/06 Urgent Matters raised with the permission of the Chairman
Highways Coordinator Cllr Besley reported that it appeared the ditch opposite Blundells had been mended in the way that had been suggested some time ago.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.55pm

Signed Chairman…………………….......... Date…………………