9th April 2008

ADOPTED
WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 9th April 2008 at 7.30pm in the Committee Room West Monkton Village Hall
Present: Cllrs Reeves (Chairman) Day, Ellis, Haskins, Gage, Tully, Cavill.
In attendance: Mrs P A Cavill, Clerk and one member of the public.

42/08 Apologies
There were apologies from Cllr Besley.

43/08 Adoption of the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 12th March 2008
The minutes, having previously been circulated, were adopted and signed as a true record: proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Haskins and agreed unanimously.

44/08 Matters arising from the Minutes; Clerk’s report
The Clerk’s report, having been circulated prior to the meeting, was noted.
Cllr Gage will mend the notice board on Greenway. Cllrs Haskins and Gage will attend to the puddling of water inside the Spital bus shelter.
The circus that came to Prockters Farm was the first one to have visited the Parish - there was no noise or disturbance.
The speed restriction sign is now in place at Walford Cross (50mph). The style and size of the Red Route signs have been explained by SCC and more have appeared at the junction of Camels Hump and the A38, which is where many accidents occur. These are temporary signs until the road improvements are made.
It was agreed the Clerk should check with Allianz if the replacement ‘Parish Church’ sign would be covered by insurance, then order the replacement sign.
It was proposed by Cllr Reeves and seconded by Cllr Ellis, agreed unanimously that Ms M Newland would be offered a remuneration of £10 to ensure the area from the Merry Monk bus stops to the School crossing on the A3259 at Elms Estate is kept clear of rubbish when she cleans the bus shelters. The Clerk will provide a high visibility vest, thick gloves, a litter picker and a supply of black bags. Litter pickers in other areas are being sought.

The meeting was closed.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

It was reported by the Editor that the Annual Parish Report will go out as a centrefold in the Village News (made possible by its new format).
It was noted that an increased Police presence has been observed in the past couple of days.
Following discussion it was realised that not all the local Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators are known.

The meeting was reconvened.

45/08 Items raised by the Public in Open Session
It was agreed unanimously that the Parish Council would pay the additional printing charges incurred by the inclusion of the Annual Parish Report as a centrefold.
It was agreed that the low turn out for the Annual Parish meeting was regrettable and efforts would be made to encourage the public to take a more active role. The start point for the awareness raising exercise would most likely be an article in the Village News explained what the Parish Council is and what it does in the Parish.
It was agreed that the Clerk should contact the Neighbourhood Watch offices to establish who Local Co-ordinators are. Cllr Ellis will provide contact details.

46/08 To receive Annual report dated March 2008
The Annual Report had been circulated prior to the meeting. It was adopted unanimously, following a proposal to adopt it by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Gage and all agreed.

47/08 Village Hall proposed extension
Further information had been provided by K Goodwin regarding usage statistics, which had been circulated prior to the meeting.
There was considerable discussion. The Parish Council wanted to establish that if it were to raise a precept to make the grant requested by the Village Hall, that the beneficiaries i.e. the users of the Hall and its new extension would be residents of the Parish, primarily. It was agreed that it was impossible to make clear demarcation between Parish and non-Parish; and recognised that the Village Hall depends on out of Parish bookings for financial viability.
It was noted that the Village Hall Committee has reserves in the bank but was not prepared to use these funds as they were for the upkeep of the existing building. Without a significant grant from the Parish Council the Village Hall Committee would not meet the tenth and final qualification for a grant from the Joint County and District Council (SCC/TDBC) Capital Grants for Village Hall and Community Centre Projects Partnership and therefore the Appeal would fail.
The grant requested from the Parish Council was £50,000, which would be raised by an increase in precept, spread over three years. The figures for costs provided by the Village Hall Committee would appear to be inline with current thinking on building costs and appear to be in accordance with the BCIS Index which is updated very frequently.
The Parish Council did not accept the argument put forward by the Village Hall Committee in support of their request for a grant - viz. to provide a community facility for the 1000 new houses shortly to be built - because one of the S106 agreements of the Development includes provision of a new Community Hall. However, the Parish Council is mindful of the needs of the 4000 houses that will be built in the Parish under the Regional Spatial Strategy up to 2026 which will result in the Parish population increasing to 13000 people. There is no guarantee that Community Facilities would be included as part of the provision associated with that future development. For this reason, the Parish Council agreed unanimously to the following motion: The Parish Council will make a grant of £50,000 to the Village Hall Committee phased over a three year period starting in the Financial Year 1st April 2009 - 31st March 2010. Any costs incurred by the Parish Council, legal or otherwise, will come out of the £50,000 and will not be an extra. The motion was proposed by Cllr Gage, seconded by Cllr Tully and agreed by all.
It was noted that residents of the parish would see the increased Precept reflected as approximately 32p per week increase on their Council tax over the three year period.
It was agreed to ask K Goodwin to attend the Parish Council meeting in May to provide detailed figures and a time line for the Village Hall Extension.

48/08 Dog Bins
The Clerk reported that two had been ordered, from TDBC. There are a number of favoured circuits for dog walkers, two of which need dog bins. The one goes north up Greenway and round the lanes by West Monkton Village and Cherry Grove Cross Roads; and the other route goes from School Road through the pedestrian walkways to Heathfield Drive, back towards the Merry Monk and down School Road. Both these routes have one bin, but judging by the increase in dog fouling, there is a need for a second bin on each route. One will be placed, as previously agreed, at the junction of Sidbrook Orchards with Greenway. The location of the second bin depends on 2 factors: the site meeting (to be arranged) with the dog warden at the end of Heathfield Drive on the wide grassy verge opposite the Community Centre; and the response from Cheddon Fitzpaine regarding the location proposed just within CF Parish boundary. If Cheddon Fitzpaine Parish Council agree terms as previously documented, then a third bin will be ordered.

49/08 Official reports
Cllr Cavill reported that he had been able to attend the final day of the Inspector’s Inquiry into the appeal by the Developers against TDBC for non-determination. The concluding speeches from the two QCs were distributed. There were two main areas of disagreement - the proportions within the 35% affordable housing required on the site and the extent of the funding allocated for the building costs and fitting out costs of the new Community Hall.
Affordable Housing - TDBC wanted the division to be 50% social housing 25% shared equity and 25% open market housing discounted by 30% in perpetuity. The developers wanted the discount to be 20% in perpetuity and no compromise could be reached. The developers accordingly offered 50% social and 50% shared equity which is in accordance to the parameters laid down in the TDBC Local Plan.
Community Hall - TDBC admitted that the list given to the Developers was very full (circa £700k for the building and £49k for the fit-out). The Developers had applied the BCIS Index updated on 29th March, and reached the figure of £395k for the building and £10k for the fit-out.
The Hookipa roundabout application had been granted planning permission the week before as had the Developers’ application which excluded the Hookipa site.
Cllr Tully had no report.
Cllr Reeves reported on the Annual Parish meeting, explaining that this is not a meeting of the Parish Council, but a meeting for the Parish which is a statutory requirement. The attendance was very low - 4 Councillors attended and no members of the Public. Were it not statutory, the Parish Council would decline to organise any more. The talk by Peter Daniels from Viridor had been extremely informative, and an invitation to visit the site had been extended. Next month is the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council when members of the Council are elected to particular roles of responsibility.

50/08 To consider Planning Applications registered by TDBC.
48/2008/013 Mrs J Moore Erection of two storey dwelling on land adjoining Juniper Cottage Greenway Monkton Heathfield. Likely issues: none listed. Comment: Parish Council has no objection to this application as long as appropriate materials are used.
28/2008/015 Mrs J Moore Erection of a new garden building Sybil’s Temple at Hestercombe Gardens Cheddon Fitzpaine. Likely issues - none listed. Comment: Parish Council supports this application.

51/08 To note Planning Decisions made by TDBC
48/2008/004 Two storey extension at Kenwood House Gotton, Cheddon Fitzpaine Taunton. Permission granted: begin w/in 3 years; external surfaces shall be of materials shown on approved plan.
48/2008/007LB Satellite Dish at Unit B The Old Dairy Dyers Lane Bathpool, Consent granted, no adverse impact.
The planning decisions were noted

52/08 To consider Communications as listed
The list, having been circulated prior to the meeting was noted, and various circulars distributed.

53/08 To receive and approve Receipts and Payments, and Monthly Financial Sheet
It was proposed by Cllr Reeves and seconded by Cllr Ellis, and unanimously agreed that a one off payment of £30.00 should be paid to R Bond for taking notes of the Annual Parish Meeting.
The receipts and payments were listed and the financial sheet was explained. There were two, the year end sheet for 31st March 2008 and the sheet for the new financial year starting 1st April 2008. The figures were agreed and adopted, proposed by Cllr Haskins, seconded by Cllr Tully.

Receipts
Nil
Payments
Bus shelter cleaning in March
Mrs David £20.00
Ms Newland £20.00
Miss Kimber £10.00
Clerks salary for March £447.48
Room Hire Village Hall February £6.80
R Bond Annual Parish meeting note taking £30.00

54/08 Date for next meeting
The next meeting will be the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council 14th May 2008, at 7.30pm in the Village Hall Committee Room.

55/08 Outstanding items
It was reported that there are now 4 people on the waiting list for allotments.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.43pm.

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