11th April 2007

ADOPTED
WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 11th April 2007 at 7.30pm in the Committee Room West Monkton Village Hall.

Present: Cllrs Reeves, Warren, Ellis, Day, Cavill (arrived later), Corcoran, Tully, Besley, Wallington (left before end).
In attendance: the Clerk, Mrs P A Cavill; two members of the public attended.

46/07 Apologies
There were none.

47/07 Adoption of minutes of the Parish Council meeting on 7th March 2007
The minutes of the March meeting were adopted as a true record, proposed by Cllr Corcoran, seconded by Cllr Ellis and all agreed.

48/07 Matters arising from the minutes
Clerks report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
It was agreed to wait for further contact from Rural Housing Enablers
SCC response to letter regarding crossing Dyers Lane/Milton Hill was noted. Parish Council remain concerned about safety issues.
Offer from M Newland to clean the bus shelter at the Merry Monk noted. It was agreed to write to her and monitor how the job was done. After some consideration it was agreed to keep the payment made for bus shelter cleaning in the Parish at £10 per bus shelter per month for the year ahead.
Forms for the CEP account at Lloyds Bank were circulated for signing.

The meeting was closed.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
A member of the public reported that the refuse collectors are coming up Dyers Lane at the same time the children are coming to school. Supermarket bags were tending to be scattered following the collection.
The waste bin by the triangle at West Monkton by the phone box was being used for black bin bags; the bin was often overflowing which spoilt the look of the area around the seat. The same pertained to the waste bin beside the seat at Cherry Grove.
The Play Area at Farriers Green has a dog bin at its edge beside the pavement going into Farriers Green, and recently a ‘No Dogs’ sign had been erected on the other side by the play equipment. It was observed that it was not possible to keep dogs (off the leash) away from the play equipment whilst it appeared to be permissible for them to be off the leash by the dog bin. It was reported that the waste bin at the far side of the Play Area by the seat had contained dog bags and syringes.

The meeting reconvened.

49/07 Items raised by the Public in Open Session
It was agreed that the Clerk would contact Les Birnie at TDBC re Waste Collections - request reschedule Dyers Lane collection, and ask DLO to increase frequency of emptying of waste bins by seats, also to explore the possibility of lidded bins.
It was agreed the Clerk should inform TDBC about syringes in the waste bin at Farriers Green Play Area.

50/07 Annual Report
Cllr Besley thanked the Chairman, Cllr Reeves, for preparing the Annual Report. He proposed it should be received and adopted, seconded by Cllr Corcoran. All were in favour.

51/07 Revisions to Model Contract for Clerks and review of wages paid excluding Clerk
Copies of the original model and the revisions were distributed. The revisions were considered and then signed in accordance with SALC advice. The Parish Council adopted the revisions and agreed unanimously to apply them to the Clerk’s current contract. The Clerk will file the signed revisions with her contract.
It was agreed to continue to pay the same wages to the three bus shelter cleaners for the year ahead (£10.00 per bus shelter per month).

52/07 To consider a delegate for the SCC Area Working Panel
The letter from SCC was read to the Parish Council, and dates of the next round of meetings read out. No volunteers were forthcoming; Cllr Tully could not as he is already a member of the Panel. The matter will be considered again at the next meeting.

53/07 Insurance Premium for 2007/08
The Clerk reported that the Insurance Premium for the year ahead would be £760.42. The Clerk had requested an amendment in that there were now three cups rather than two held in the same private dwelling house. For the year ahead this would appear as an endorsement to the Schedule issued. Next year it would be incorporated into the body of the document and the cost of the premium amended accordingly. This would be a matter of pence. The Clerk reported that the Insurance Company would send a standard letter explaining that they would not cover public liability on the allotment plots but that this cover was very often available as part of domestic insurance policies. Allianz Cornhill had agreed that the letter could be copied and sent to all Spital allotment holders. The Parish Council, being aware that exceptional circumstances prevail regarding provision of insurance for Parish Councils, determined that they were prepared to accept the premium as quoted from Allianz Cornhill for the year ahead.

54/07 Official Reports
Cllr Reeves reported on a recent meeting of the CEP. The Design Code is in the developmental stages and not finished yet. It will evolve with the Reserved Matters. Professionals on the Panel are asking very pressing questions including the location of the Local Centre and its access. Progress is being made slowly. The TDBC Planning meeting on 23rd May will be the one most likely to consider the Outline Application. Once that is granted, the details will follow. The previous stumbling blocks of traffic assessment and drainage seem to have been sorted out. New councillors were invited to consider joining the CEP.
Cllr Tully reported on SCC matters.
The County has obtained 4 stars.
Cllr Tully explained that for reasons he would not go into, the Rights of Way Section from now on would deal with RoW matters as they came in. However, Cllr Tully has requested that the disputed footpath will be given priority.
The dualling of the A358 will come up within the next month (next week), plus the Blackbrook Loop and the Park and Ride.
Cllr Tully advised that the Creech St Michael LAT had been granted a speed gun and would be using it in the West Monkton area. Cllr J Reeves reminded councillors that West Monkton Parish Council had declined the Police invitation to apply for a speed gun and undergo training due to concerns about old people who administer the gun who could become victims of road rage and also it is not a job for civilians. The administrators of the gun have to be visible with warning notices displayed.
There is a new PCSO for the area, whilst Stuart Curtis remains the Beat Manager for West Monkton and Priorswood. The PCSO will be using a bicycle.

Cllr Cavill’s TDBC report was deferred as he had not arrived.

55/07 TDBC Planning applications received
48/2007/006 Mrs J Moore: Formation of road at land north of Langaller Lane, Monkton Heathfield. Likely issues - none listed. Comment: No Comment
Cllrs Warren and Besley declared an interest and signed the Declaration Book.
48/2007/008 Mrs J Moore: Demolition and erection of dwelling and new garage at Redlands, West Monkton. Likely issues - none listed. Comment: Parish Council supports the application.
48/2007/009 Mr M Hicks: Erection of first floor extension above existing garage, 28 Farriers Green, Monkton Heathfield. Likely issues - no obvious concerns. Comment: Parish Council supports the application.
48/2007/010 Mr M Hicks: Enlargement of existing pedestrian entrance to School site and formation of a new cycle entrance at Heathfield Community School, School Road, Monkton Heathfield. Comment: Parish Council supports positive impact on transportation system and operating issues: endorses Design Statement - seeking reduction of general melee at School Gate.
48/2007/011 Mrs F Wadsley: Formation of new roof to include dormer windows to front of Branksome, Yallands Hill, Monkton Heathfield. Likely issues: none listed. Comment: Parish Council supported previous application, and supports this one.
48/2007/015 Mr M Hicks: Erection of two storey rear extension at Pennystone, Yallands Hill, Monkton Heathfield. Likely issues - none listed. (*amended application, see below). Comment: Parish Council supported original application and supports this amended one.
48/2007/017 Mr J Grant: Construction of dormer window to the rear, North Lea, 97 Greenway, Monkton Heathfield. Comment: Parish Council supports this application.
48/2007/019 Mrs J Moore: Construction of a roundabout and alteration of associated roads and highway structure at the former chicken hatchery, Bridgwater Road, Monkton Heathfield. Likely issues - none listed. Comment: The Parish Council supports this application - taking the view that it is the logical position for the roundabout and way for the road to go; and the line taken is the line that was described on the Local Plan. The Parish Council has always considered that the road line as indicated on the Local Plan was the correct position for efficient movement of traffic through the proposed development.

56/07 TDBC Planning Decisions
48/2006/084 Erection of steel framed agricultural building at Homelands, Yalway, West Monkton. Permission refused: application does not provide evidence of a sufficient agricultural holding or business to support the need for the proposed building; size and scale to detriment of local landscape character.
48/2007/001 Erection of two storey rear extension at Pennystone, Yallands Hill, Monkton Heathfield. *Permission refused: width, form and appearance of extension not subservient to existing dwelling, resulting in demonstrable harm to its form and character.
48/2007/002 Erection of single storey and two storey extensions to rear of 45 School Road, Monkton Heathfield. Permission granted: begin within 3 years; external surfaces to be made of materials indicated in the application; the accommodation hereby permitted will be used only in connection with use of existing house as a single family dwelling; link between main house and annex shall be formed before the use of the annex commences and link to be maintained permanently.
48/2007/004A Display of externally illuminated elevational sign and non illuminated totem at ATD Euromaster, 138 Bridgwater Road, Bathpool, Taunton. Permission granted: all advertisements to be maintained in clean, tidy, safe condition, or made safe; no advertisements to be displayed without owners’ consent, no advertisement to obscure visibility of road signs, railway signals, aid to navigation by air or water, so no hazard to use of any highway, railway, waterway or aerodrome; illumination of sign not to flash.

Taunton Deane (West Monkton No 1). Tree Preservation Order 2007 (PD22/844/TD1026). A tree at Dowsborough West Monkton considered to be under threat. Tree is on field boundary.

Planning decisions were noted.

Cllr Cavill arrived at the end of this item and stated he would defer his report due to constraints of time.

57/07 To consider Communications
The list of Communications had been distributed prior to the meeting.
No Councillor had been required pay extra postage on some of the recent circulations from TDBC.
Parish Mapping on CD Rom - no further action although CEP may consider it at a later stage.
Cllr Besley agreed to complete the Highway Questionnaire for the year ending 31st March 2007.
No comments on the SCC Review of Tendered Bus Services in TDBC - no routes through the Parish are affected.
South West Counties Allotment Association invitation to put Spital Allotments on their web-site was considered by the Council and determined that it was not required at this stage as the allotments could be put on the Parish website if needs be.
Journals were distributed.

Cllr Wallington left at the end of this item.

58/07 To receive and approve Receipts and Payments
Receipts
Nil

Payments
Mrs David, cleaning bus shelters Mar £20.00
Miss Kimber cleaning bus shelter £10.00
Clerks salary Mar £436.62
Clerks expenses from 8th March to 10 April £198.85
Clerks CEP work £122.69
TDBC DLO seat repair Goosenford £202.10
Community Council for Somerset subscription 07/08 £25.00
SALC subscription 07/08 £521.94


Notice from Village hall - room hire charges will increase to £3.40
(based on 7.30 to 10.00pm)

Clerks expenses include £130.00 of Publicity - cost of printing Annual Report for distribution to Parish

Approval of the payments were proposed by Cllr Tully and seconded by Cllr Corcoran.

The Monthly Financial Sheet, having been distributed, was considered and approved, proposed by Cllr Corcoran and seconded by Cllr Tully, and all agreed.

The application form from Lloyds Bank for the CEP account was signed by four existing signatories namely: Cllrs Ellis, Day, Tully, and Reeves.

59/07 Dates of the next meetings
Annual meeting of the Parish Council 16th May 2007.

60/07 Outstanding items
No further information has been forthcoming from SCC about the disputed footpath between Yallands Hill and Aginhills.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.15pm.



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