Annual Parish Meeting minutes from 2006 (adopted 2007)

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
PARISH OF WEST MONKTON
Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd March 2006, at West Monkton Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Persons present: Mr and Mrs Calder, Mrs Heard, Mr M Besley, Rev G Boucher, Cllrs Reeves (Chairman of the meeting), Corcoran, Ellis, Day, Besley, Tully, Cavill. Minutes of meeting taken by Parish Clerk.

Apologies were received from Mrs T Reeves.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd March 2005.
The minutes of the meeting held in 2005 were adopted and signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr G Day, seconded by Cllr H Ellis, and all agreed.

2. Matters arising.
There were no matters arising.

3. The guest speaker, Cllr J Williams, Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council was welcomed to the meeting. He addressed the meeting on the ‘Vision for Taunton’.

The process of regeneration was already underway, as part of a 20-year plan. Geographically Taunton is at the centre of the South West region, which covers the SW peninsular from Tewkesbury to Land’s End.

The plan is wider than just land use, encompassing economy, culture and sport. The development will keep and nurture the heart of Taunton. Growth in the area has been consistent since 1971, and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the SW.

Regional headquartering facilities are offered to organisations and government departments to grow the local knowledge base and attract young people to come to the area, and/or to stay in it. A balanced economy is the target. Central to the plan is the use and development of the river/canal going through the centre of the town and green wedges that come right into town from the rural surroundings.

Infrastructure/congestion issues are addressed. In 1971 when the motorway was built it was a blessing, but thereafter there was little investment in roads, and Taunton does not have sufficient.

Within Taunton can be found an area of worst deprivation in Somerset, exacerbated by a low wage economy and therefore difficulties in house purchasing. The earning:price ratio is 1:8 which is a punitive as London. 47 hectares off the river, through the centre of the town have been identified as ripe for development and much of the land is in the ownership of TDBC. The planners worked with various agencies to formulate the urban extension framework: this allows for sensible expansion in the future and has identified areas for regeneration, including 10 thousand new jobs and 7 thousand homes. The recently published Regional Spatial Strategy indicates more homes than that would be needed. There is economic potential in all of the schemes.

The Firepool development is on the outer limit of the regeneration area, including offices, retail, housing, health-care, leisure, hotel, multi-storey car park close to rail/bus interchange, flood defence improvements with new weir and marina, northern distributor road. The River Tone/canal would become navigable through to Wellington, although not regenerating the lift. This would be a very expensive and major piece of engineering as the route has been built over. It is likely that the Nynehead lift could be restored. There is a bid with ‘Water landscapes’ to encourage the wider development of the canal, Wellington, Taunton, Bridgwater, Langport, with branches off. The car park would be ‘skinned’ with flats to diminish the impact of the building and a boulevard would link into the centre of Taunton. The road to the Abbey Manor site has begun, they have planning permission for homes and office space in the East Goods yard, work should start in July.

Market relocation. There is financial pressure on the auctioneers and commercial reality may persuade them to relocate to junction 24, the produce market would relocate within Taunton. An LTP bid has been made for the Northern Inner distributor road, and funding should become available.

Section 106 agreements should assist the regeneration plans.

The ‘Vision’ team is driving the matter forward, and there is huge developer interest. 2km of the riverside will benefit from the regeneration process. There will be a ring of multi-storey car parks within a 5 or 10-minute walk from the centre for shoppers. A Park and Ride scheme will be developed for commuters. The car parking will be supported by electronic advance warning signs indicating where the spaces are.

The Vision team are working with Somerset County Cricket Club to ensure they stay in the centre, although they may need more land to develop. They want to achieve regular one-day international matches, for that the seating capacity needs to be increased to 15 thousand (currently at 11 thousand). They wish to become a centre of excellence for Ladies Cricket, and have a training centre for the young. The target is for 365 days per year activity/active business; conference and banqueting facilities would link with the proposed hotel. Building of flats and redevelopment of the stands will be the subject of an imminent planning application. Additionally, 5000 sq mtrs of retail and 200sq mtrs of office space are envisaged. The Morrisons site would be redeveloped, riverside development swill increase the value of the site but this work not likely before 2016.

The cultural quarter would reach towards Tangier, providing office workshop residential space, also a new theatre – either an upgrade of the existing or a total new build. It would be 550 seats, 1000 is not sustainable and 550 is large enough to attract big names. New Brewhouse theatre director supports this. There would be a new library, and Goodlands Gardens would be enhanced. Castle Green would go back to being an entertainment area/good quality public open space and produce market; there would be an enhance river front, and a new bridge (road/cycle/pedestrian). An art gallery is proposed but no location identified in the plan as yet.

Lidl was built on the old Penny and Reeves site (commercial for commercial) with no overall plan in place at the time. That is why an overall plan is so important now – to guard against cherry pickers for sites.

High Street, by taking both sides it becomes an attractive prospect for developers. This would enhance the current retail function of the area, providing a boost economically for Taunton. The proposals are for 300000 sq ft of retail space – it is estimated that 600000 sq ft would be needed by 2011. The development would be supported by a bus drop in the centre, as it is a huge area for shopping; there would also be a new bus station and more residential.
Many various studies have been undertaken in association with the delivery of the Vision:
Retail capacity, urban housing potential, affordable housing, car parking, S106 strategy, flood alleviation, landscape assessment, community involvement strategy, LTP2 and major scheme bid, culture and leisure, economic, sustainability appraisal (80% to live and work in Taunton).
The urban extension study has Comeytrowe and Monkton Heathfield under consideration, but the RSS will take over. Ruishton has been discounted due to flooding risk.

There will be no developments before the infrastructure is sorted, buses would be favoured, also cycling and walking. Commercial transport companies must improve their services. The Park and Ride at silk Mills is working very well, something must be done for the east side also, off the A358, and by 2008. Terence O’Rourke the designers have developed solutions, recognising the need for alternative routes and alternative forms of transport.

Annually, there are 200,000 visitors to West Somerset Railway; other local attractions include the countryside, Hestercombe and the Cricket Ground. The West Somerset Railway has become a centre of excellence, in collaboration with SCAT offering training; they have become the only place in England making spare parts for steam engines. SCAT is also a huge draw, and is principal is a member of the Vision Advisory Board.

Ministries are relocating to provincial capitals, following the survey made by Sir Michael Lyons. One or two ministries have expressed interest in the Firepool site: it would represent a great bonus if they came.

The Taunton Vision Advisory Board runs the scheme, which represents a £700,000 to £1000 million investment over the 20-year period. There is potential competition from other cities; Bristol is huge already; Exeter is developing the Southernhay side; but Taunton is cheaper, and closer to Bristol and London.

Cycling provision is covered by high quality routes into the centre of town; the red cycle lanes, which stop unexpectedly at present, would be corrected whilst the inner distributor road would include provision for cyclists.

Flood alleviation, Environmental Agency work, will extend beyond Taunton and going downstream. Water will be retained in pockets along the course of the waterway, replacing the ditches and ponds lost in the recent past, and slowing down the rapid run off.

Cllr J Reeves thanked Cllr Williams for the valuable presentation he had made, the scheme was exciting and the overall framework good. It retained the good whilst enhancing Taunton.

4. Chairman’s Report from Cllr J Reeves, and Annual Accounts
Cllr Reeves drew on the points made in the previously circulated Annual Report, in which the annual accounts had been published. Parish Council meets 10 x per year, not in August or December. In future the Planning Committee will meet in August and December. The Local Development Guide, created by democratic process, was coming to fruition as the developers have registered an outline planning application. The government has decreed that the 1000 house will be built in Monkton Heathfield; the Development Guide endeavoured to make the best of the development. The present outline planning application has some variations from the development guide and inevitably there will be compromises. However, in accordance with the wishes of the Parish Council, the application presented a single comprehensive scheme that could deliver a suitable development of the parish for the next 100 years.
The Aginhills to Yallands Hill is an ongoing matter and it is hoped that the wealth of evidence provided will allow the correction of the definitive map at County Hall.
There has been good support for various matters by Somerset Highways, Cllr Besley being the Highways co-ordinator for the Parish Council.
New bus shelters, litterbins and seats have been installed.
The new burial ground will have important maintenance work on the railings, to stop plants growing over the bottom rung and causing rust.
The Trafalgar beacon at Hill Farm was one of a national chain, and officially registered. Unfortunately the weather was extremely unpleasant, but the bonfire was a huge success, and photos recording the event were put onto the village web site.
The LAT, under new chairmanship, is fundraising to provide facilities for teenagers. The Parish Council have made the Play Area available to the LAT.
The Parish web site has grown over the past year. On it can be found all previous minutes, Parish Council responses to surveys etc, the business directory and other information about events in the village and at St Augustine’s Church. Visit the web site on www.westmonkton.net.
Cllr Reeves expressed his thanks to all concerned, his fellow parish councillors, District Councillors and County Councillor, also David Greig Parish Liaison Officer.

5. Report on St Augustine’s from Reverend G Boucher
In April 2005 Miss J Bevans became the new Head Teacher at West Monkton Church of England Primary School.
On May 26th, St Augustine’s Day, the new burial ground was consecrated by Bishop Andrew Radford.
A Parish Day was held to celebrate the life of the Parish and to look to the future to see how church and community might be in the future. As a result, the 11.30 Special was established, half an hour of song, story and activity in the Village Hall once a month for families.
In July the Emerald Ensemble and Wells cathedral choir performed a fabulous concert in the Church, which was very well supported.
In the autumn it was learned that Bishop Andrew was very unwell, needing surgery for an aggressive brain tumour.
Following the Quinquennial survey report on the Church building a number of jobs were initiated. The glass in two of the windows has undergone restoration (completed the day of the Parish meeting), along with the stonework in one of the windows. The large maple tree on the south side of the church needs to be felled and a new concrete path laid. This may help alleviate the damp problem on that side of the Church. Some minor repairs are required to the roof. A sound system will be installed in the Church.
The future relationship with neighbouring parishes is under discussion. Possible options are: West Monkton will be untied with Cheddon Fitzpaine with one full time stipendiary post; or, West Monkton, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Kingston St Mary and Broomfield will be united with one full time post and one house for duty post. The proposed development in Monkton Heathfield will be taken into account. The parishes listed would also belong to a ‘Local Ministry Group’, which at present includes Ruishton, Thornfalcon, Creech St Michael, and Norton Fitzwarren. This group was put into practice during the Lenten services.
Baptisms 16
Marriages 6
Funerals 20 (8 in church).

6. AOB
There was no other business.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 9.35pm

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