June 2009

ADOPTED
WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 10th June 2009 at 7.30pm in the Committee Room, West Monkton Village Hall.
Present: Cllr Reeves (Chairman), Cllrs Day, Ellis, Gage, Cavill
In attendance: Mrs P A Cavill, Clerk; PCSO C Rollston, Cllr E Waymouth

091/09 Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr R Tully (illness), Cllrs M Besley and S Haskins (business).

092/09 Adoption of the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 13th May 2009
The minutes of the meeting having been previously circulated, it was resolved to adopt the minutes of the meeting on 13th May 2009, as a true record. Proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Gage and all agreed.

093/09 Matters arising from the minutes: Clerk’s report
The Clerk’s report having been previously circulated was noted. The requirement for evidence to be provided before TDBC would consider enforcement action at the Stables at the top of Noah’s Hill was disappointing. The evidence is clearly there insofar as the gates are not appropriate for agricultural use, and indicate the stables are being used for activities needing greater security. Some information was produced at the meeting which will be forwarded to TDBC Enforcement Officer. Mail which was clearly a telephone bill addressed to ‘The Stables’ Noahs Hill, had been delivered to another resident. It was reported that a compressor is running at night and at weekends, and sometimes in the afternoons. People are on the site in the afternoons, and this will be reported to TDBC.

The meeting was closed.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
PSCO Rollston gave an update to policing in the area. PSCO Tracy Cornish has changed her beat area to Trull, and PC Curtis has taken over the beat in Burnham on Sea. PC Curtis’ replacement started work a few days ago and is currently settling in. Tracey’s replacement will start on 7th July and will receive 5 weeks training. Parish Councillors reported some ongoing matters to PSCO Rollston.
• K Welsh is continuing to destroy the verge at Brittons Ash by parking his works vehicle there, overtly advertising his garage. Others have followed: Coles Commercials appear now to be doing something similar at the verge at the junction A38 and Langaller road to Creech and a 4wd truck on the roadside at AMP Access yard; and cars regularly advertised for sale in the lay-by opposite Thornash Close on the A3259. All instances are very distracting to road users and the Parish Council wish to see preventative measures taken in the interests of safety.
• Prockters Car boot sale cars are parking in Camels Hump (Hobbs Lane) and obstructing the visibility splay
• A sofa has been dumped at the top of Yalway Hill.
• Phone number of PSCO will be placed on the website and in the Village News.
Other matters raised in PQT
The road sign for Dyers Lane is sufficiently damaged for the road name to now be illegible.
Turning into and getting out from Yew Tree Lane onto the A38 when there is a standing queue is difficult and a yellow ‘Keep Clear’ box has been requested by residents.
Cllr E Waymouth was congratulated on her recent election as County Councillor.

The meeting was reconvened.

94/09 Items raised by the public in Open Session
The dumped sofa will be reported to TDBC litter hotline.
The phone number for the PSCO will be put on the web-site and sent to Village News editor for inclusion.
Councillor Waymouth explained there is much more partnership working at SCC than previously.
SCC I Titcombe will be contacted regarding repair to the Dyers Lane sign and the Keep Clear yellow box at the junction between Yew Tree Lane and A38.

95/09 Casual Vacancy on Parish Council
A candidate for co-option had come forward. A brief verbal resume of the candidate, David McCubbin, was given. The Parish Council resolved to co-opt David McCubbin to be a Parish Councillor on West Monkton Parish Council with immediate effect. The proposal was made by Cllr Cavill, seconded by Cllr Gage and all agreed. Councillor McCubbin will be informed in writing.

96/09 Planning layout for lay-by opposite Thornash Close
The Clerk had made enquiries with Jenny Short (Monkton Elm Garden Centre) regarding a planting layout, which was a requirement of SCC Highways before granting a licence to plant. Mrs Short will make a site visit, make recommendations, and prepare sketches suitable for submission to SCC for about £80.00 to £100.00. In view of her reputation and the fact that she is local to the Parish, it was resolved to proceed with this enquiry. The proposal was made by Cllr Reeves, seconded by Cllr Ellis and all agreed. Cllr Ellis volunteered to attend the site meeting. The Clerk will make arrangements.

97/09 Footpath and Burial ground grants from TDBC
After discussion it was resolved to submit a claim for £500.00 for the burial ground and £100.00 for the footpaths. The proposal was made by Cllr Cavill, seconded by Cllr day, and all agreed.

98/09 Allotments – application form etc
This item was deferred to next month as Cllr Haskins was not in attendance.

99/09 Millennium book account
There were no sales of the Millennium Book during the last financial year and stocks of the books are all but exhausted. It was agreed that a further print run was not necessary. There are nine remaining unused ISBN registrations (numbers probably held at the British Library). Cllr Ellis has a collection of photographs and stories from the older residents sufficient to produce a first draft – ‘Ten years on’ (working title). After some discussion it was resolved that the bank account currently named ‘Millennium Book account’ should be renamed ‘Book account’ and the funds in the account (£182.00) should be used to assist in the production of the next book. The proposal was made by Cllr Cavill, seconded by Cllr Reeves and all agreed. The prospect of another book will be advertised in the Village News and on the web site giving Cllr Ellis’s name and number so more information can be gathered.

100/09 Official reports
Cllr Cavill reported that there was a new structure at TDBC, based on Task and Finish groups and Overview and Scrutiny. A new Corporate Strategy has been formulated. Waste collection proposals were to roll out the collection service in partnership with Bridgwater, but Bridgwater (Sedgemoor Council) is not ready yet. The County Council will help Sedgemoor to reach the same level of preparedness, so the decision has been deferred. West Monkton’s collections will stay as they are. Development at Firepool is progressing. The Regional Development Agency has stated that Project Taunton will still have funding. Although there will be a report to the Government in June, from the Department of Communities, the interim present employment land survey by TDBC shows short medium and long term availability of employment land is scarce.

101/09 Planning applications registered at TDBC

48/09/0017 Miss K Purchase. Installation of mechanical plan and erection of galvanised palisade fencing to the rear of unit 4 (Currys) Riverside Retail Park, Hankridge Way, Taunton. Likely issues – none listed. Parish Council supports this application.

48/09/022/T Mr D Galley. Application to re-pollard one willow tree included in Taunton Deane Borough (West Monkton No.3) Tree Preservation Order 1998 at 21 Acacia Gardens, Bathpool. Likely issues – the tree will need re-pollarding, the application will be assessed on site. Parish Council supports this application.

48/09/024T Mr D Galley. Application to carry out management work to one walnut tree included in Taunton Deane Borough (West Monkton no 3) tree preservation order 1998 at 64 Acacia Gardens, Bathpool Taunton (TD777). Likely issues – none listed but D Galley has visited the site and agreed in principle. Parish Council supports this application. Parish Council suggests that, in the interest of good management and husbandry of trees, permission to re-pollard as required during the life time of the tree is given, with D Galley’s recommendation as to the frequency of re-pollarding. This will have an advantageous effect on officer workload.

102/09 Planning decisions made by TDBC
48/09/0014 Demolition of four agricultural buildings and erection of two single storey office buildings with associated parking, at Proctors Farm, Blundell’s Lane West Monkton, as amended by agents letter received on 27th April, and revised site plan no 199/1 received Feb 09, and revised elevation details received on 19th and 20th May 2009. Permission granted: Site has good transport services, fits with already established farm diversification, small scale does not harm visual amenity. No conflict with Planning policy guidelines and directives. Begin w/in 3 years use materials specified on plan, keep to parking arrangements, travel plan to be submitted to Local Authority; premises to be offices only; make arrangements for wildlife; windows and doors to be timber; no waste stacking and storage.

48/09/0016 Erection of conservatory to rear of 71 Farriers Green Monkton Heathfield. Permission granted: no detrimental impact on visual or residential amenity no conflict with Taunton Deane Local Plan Policies S1 (general requirements) and S2 (Design). Begin w/in 3 years; use materials in specification.
Planning applications registered at TDBC

48/09/0016 Erection of single storey extension to property and garage and resurfacing of drive at West Lodge, West Monkton. Permission granted: enhance/maintain character and visual appearance of Conservation Area, no harm to visual or residential amenity. No harm to nearby trees. Proposal does not conflict with TDBC Local Plan Policies S1, S2, H17 (extensions), EN6 (protection of trees) and EN14 (conservation Area). Begin w/in three years; use materials specified; prior to commencement of work on site, submit details of foundation construction for approval by Local Authority, to protect tree roots.

103/09 Communications
It was agreed that before any action would be taken regarding extra lighting in the hammerhead cul de sac at the end of School Road, all residents would be sent a letter asking their opinion on lighting in the cul de sac.

104/09 Receipts and payments and Financial sheet
Receipts
Precept £29597.00

Payments
Bus shelter cleaning for May
Mrs David £20.00
Bus shelter cleaning & litter picking for May
Ms M Newland £30.00
Miss A Kimber £20.00
Clerk’s salary for May £509.80
Clerks expenses April and May £68.31
BWBSL (water for allotments Dec 08 to June 09) £16.28
Allianz Insurance for year to 31st May 2010 £841.69
Re-issue of Village News cheque for printing costs for Annual Report £73.20

After some discussion it was resolved to move the bulk of the precept money into a high interest account; because the Clerk had been informed by Mr K Goodwin that the Management Committee of the Village Hall would not require the £17k grant required from WMPC would not be needed until March 2010. The proposal was made by Cllr Cavill and seconded by Cllr Gage and all agreed.

105/09 Dates of forthcoming Parish Council meetings
8th July, 9th September, 14th October, 11th November. Planning committee: 7.00pm in the Church Room on 12th August, 9th December.

106/09 Outstanding items
Allotments – will be on agenda next meeting.
Spring flowers in verges
Bearing in mind the SCC advice regarding roadside planting, planting sites were discussed and a list drawn up: up Greenway, the bank at Milton Hill, verges on the A3259, by the seats at Sidbrook and New Cross, verges at the Brittons Ash bus stops, the bank at Camels Hump, possibly the grass triangle by the K6 box (but check with A Coles first), verge opposite Musgraves Old Farm. It was resolved to adopt this list (with possible further additions/amendments); check planting times and sources of daffodil bulbs, wild primroses, and wild flower seeds with Jenny Short; identify a list of species and locations; get some costs for materials and labour to plant them.

There being no further business, the meeting ended at 9.14pm.

Chairman .........................................................................