October 2009

ADOPTED
WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 14th October 2009 at 7.30pm in the Committee Room, West Monkton Village Hall.
Present: Cllr Reeves (Chairman), Cllrs Tully, McCubbin, Cavill (arr later), Ellis, Day, Besley, Gage, Haskins.
In attendance: Mrs P A Cavill, Clerk; PC A Beake; two members of the public; Cllr Waymouth (arr later).

140/09 Apologies
Apologies were received from PCSO Murray (not on shift).

141/09 Adoption of the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 9th September 2009
The minutes of the meeting having been previously circulated, it was resolved to adopt the minutes of the meeting on 9th September as a true record, proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr McCubbin and all agreed.

142/09 Matters arising from the minutes: Clerk’s report
Clerk’s report was noted. The Parish Council wished to record that the responses from SCC regarding safety improvements to the junction A38/A3259 at Monkton Elm were considered unsatisfactory. The date for implementation of safety measures keeps being deferred. The Chairman sought further ideas from Councillors. The Police position was that they complete a form following any road traffic accident which is submitted to the statistics centre at SCC Highways. It is the statistics that determine actions that will or will not be taken. According to SCC a speed camera would not be considered because the accidents at the junction are not recorded as speed related.

The meeting was closed.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
• Residents of Dosters Lane have reported vehicles approaching the junction at excessive speeds for the road.
• Cllr Gage reported a meeting with SCC footpaths – on the East Deane Way a stile has been broken by animals.
• PC Beake reported crime statistics for West Monkton. His beat also includes Hankridge and Priorswood industrial estates but those figures were not reported. In the past month there have been thefts of 2 bicycles, 3 burglaries, 2 assaults, 1 criminal damage to property, 1 criminal damage to a vehicle. Cllr Haskins commented that the insurance companies have reassessed upwards post code TA2. The motor cycles causing nuisance in School Road are under scrutiny, ASBO warnings will follow and if ignored the motor cycles can be confiscated.
• It was noted that the ‘No Entry’ sign at the junction of Milton Hill with the main A3259 at the Croft Garage is flush with the pavement (parallel with the kerb) so that cars travelling in the direction of Taunton do not see that the junction has no entry.
• Litter has been dumped in Gotton outside Brookfield up Gotton Lane.

The meeting was reconvened.

143/09 Items raised by the public in open session
SCC I Titcombe will be informed about the ‘No Entry’sign.
The TDBC Litter Hotline will be informed about the dumped litter.

144/09 Layby and other plantings
• After discussion of the alternatives, it was resolved that the Parish Council would go ahead with ‘Option 1’ of the three prepared by J Short. This is drifts of bulbs and wildflowers planted in fine grasses with climbing plants along a back post and wire fence. The resolution was proposed by Cllr Besley, seconded by Cllr Ellis, and all agreed with one abstention. A quote will be obtained from two local landscapers whose work has been endorsed by J Short, and this will form the basis of an application for 50/50 funding from the SCC Community Chest administered by Cllr Waymouth.
• Councillors gave their bulb planting requests to the Clerk. These will be sourced as inexpensively as possible for roadside planting.
• Plant a Tree scheme will be published in the village news – using native british species. Kelways have quoted bare rooted plants from 75p to £2.00 depending on size and specie, these will be purchased in January for distribution – planting is necessary before dormancy breaks.

145/09 Allotments
One application form has been completed, there are 10 names on the waiting list. There is gridlock with availability of allotments. There are 11 at the site, all are occupied. The problem is a national one. The possibility of other land coming available is remote although one location remains under consideration. TDBC is issuing a new Allotments Policy – all future housing developments will be required to provide allotments under S106 agreements. This will not apply retrospectively to the Monkton Heathfield development. The locking tap is still an ongoing issue – the design deemed necessary does not appear to exist commercially.

146/09 K6 Box
The restoration work is finished and Councillors commented on what an excellent job had been done by S Rolls and requested that this message should be passed on the Mr Rolls.
D McCubbin will put together 1000 words for the ‘Adopt A Kiosk’ competition, and some photos. His draft copy will be circulated to all Councillors for input and comment. It was noted that the deadline for entry to the competition is 28th October 2009.
Cllr Cavill suggested that in the future the Box might become a WiFi point.

Cllr E Waymouth arrived at this point in the meeting at 8.25pm.

147/09 The next book
No-one was able to recall the ISBN numbers taken out when the first book was produced. The Clerk will contact the British Library to see if they can be ascertained. Cllr Ellis requested assistance and contributions. Cllr Reeves agreed to assist. It was agreed that the working title is ‘Ten years on – a history in the making’. It was suggested that requests for contributions and help could be posted on notice boards in the Parish. Cllr Tully agreed to try to track down the box of old photos recently given to Heathfield School. A Union flag and the Guide Flag had recently been found, probably dating back to the time that there was an active Guide pack in the Parish.

148/09 SLCC/SALC
Councillors attendance at the two training sessions for Power of Well Being was confirmed, three had already attended at Burnham on Sea, five more will attend on 29th October at Carhampton.
The NALC agreement for the annual increase in Clerks salaries, backdated to 1st April 2009, was reported. It was resolved to award the increase to the Clerk with immediate effect, proposed by Cllr Gage, seconded by Cllr Haskins and all agreed.

149/09 Transport Strategy
• Some Councillors had read the recent consultation document and found nothing in it to confirm the suggested northern distributor road route published in the Taunton Mail. Email responses to enquiries by the Clerk had been circulated. R Needs SCC stated that the road route in the Taunton Mail was not coming from any plans at County Hall and it was not part of the Transport Strategy 2009 to 2016. Discussion indicated that new thinking from CABE in relation to the Monkton Heathfield development would encourage the main road through the centre of Monkton Heathfield to be developed into a commercial and busy High Street. If that were to be the case, the relief road would not be appropriate but additional road enhancements would be needed to shift the traffic – hence the concept of a northern distributor road. TDBC LDF(Local Development Framework) will come before the public for consultation in January (Ann Rhodes). The RSS is likely to be withdrawn so all options are open. It will have to be wholly developer funded, and will relate to what is developed and where.
• Cllr Eileen Webb, Chairman of Creech St Michael Parish Council had requested funding to assist the payment of the traffic consultant employed by Creech St Michael Parish Council to survey the safety position at Adsborough on the A38. It was agreed that West Monkton Parish Council had concerns enough of its own about safety on the A38 at the Monkton Elms junction and the Langaller cross roads. The situation at Adsborough is not in the Parish of West Monkton.
It was resolved that West Monkton Parish Council would not financially support Creech St Michael with their appointment of a consultant; proposed by Cllr Cavill, seconded by Cllr Tully and all agreed. The Clerk will write to Creech St Michael Parish Council and explain WMPC’s position.

150/09 Official reports
SCC: Cllr Waymouth confirmed the availability of the 50/50 Community Chest funding and was assured that as soon as quotations were available, an application would be made to her for support for the layby garden opposite Thornash Close. The budget was under consideration, the current administration is committed to a nil increase in County Council tax so the budget will be tight.
TDBC: Cllr Cavill confirmed that the budget loomed large at TDBC, there is a 1.2million shortfall. The government has withdrawn 45% of its Growth Point funding for Taunton, but it is hoped that there will be something for Project Taunton next year (£2m). The works that the Growth Point money would have funded now find themselves short by about £450k, so some adjustments may be necessary. The Cricket Club development is ongoing and on schedule. The Brewhouse is still in trouble, the Core Council review is continuing at TDBC.
Village Hall: Cllr Tully is now the Chairman of the Village Hall Management Committee: he reported that work on the Hall extension will start late Oct/early Nov, finish June 2010. Harrison Collard is the contractor. Cllr Tully was congratulated on becoming Chairman.

151/09 Adoption of annually reviewed documents
The Risk Assessment document and the List of Assets document had been updated since last year to reflect changes in the Parish and were circulated prior to the meeting. It was resolved to adopt both documents without further amendment: proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Day and all in favour.

152/09 Planning applications registered at TDBC

14/09/0033 Mr D Addicott Erection of a two storey side extension, a single storey entrance and internal and fenestration alterations at Longfield, Coombe. Likely issues: will assess design against existing n site.(Technically not in the Parish). Comment: Parish Council supports this application.
48/09/0032 Miss K Purchase Erection of double garage at Tangelwood West Monkton (amended scheme to 48/09/0010). Likely issues: none listed. Comment: Parish Council supports this application.
48/09/0034 Mrs S Melhuish Erection of single storey extension and first floor balcony to rear at 41 Greenway, Monkton Heathfield. Likely issues: no observations at present. Comment: Parish Council supports this application.
48/09/0037/LB and 48/09/0036Mr D Addicott Demolition of outbuilding and construction of new link and extension, internal and external alterations including removal of internal staircase, alteration of partitions at the Old Bakery, Cheddon Fitzpaine (amended scheme to 48/03/0011LB). Likely issues: will assess against previous approval and wait views from Conservation Officer. Comment: the Parish Council supports this application but requests that the windows on the listed building should have wooden frames and be single glazed; and the other materials used are in keeping with the existing materials.

153/09 Planning decisions made by TDBC
48/09/0033T Application to fell one ash tree and two false acacia trees and to carry out management work to one magnolia tree within West Monkton Conservation Area at Glebe Court and Glebe Court Lodge, West Monkton. Permission granted : complete w/in 2 years.
48/09/0030 Erection of an extension to tyre store at ATS 138 Bridgwater Road, Bathpool. Permission granted: the proposed extension will not harm the street scene, the character of the surrounding landscape nor the neighbouring land use: as such, proposal is in accordance with policies S1 (general), and S2 (Design) of the TD Local Plan. Begin w/in 3 years; use materials specified in the application.
Withdrawn
4/08/09/0017 Change of use of part of restored landfill site to public open space and nature conservation including the erection of a pedestrian bridge, fences, and secure gate, interpretation boards, and construction of pond and drainage channels.
Refused
48/09/0027 Erection of a single storey extension to the rear and side to include a conservatory and porch at Little Oaks, 16 Sylvan Way, Monkton Heathfield. The proposed extensions, by virtue of their size, scale, design and bulk appear as incongruous additions, which dominate the bungalow and detract from its character and would result in a dwelling out of keeping with the scale and appearance of surrounding properties; therefore contrary to policies S1 (general), S2 (design), H17 (extensions to dwellings) of the TD Local Plan.

154/09 Communications
The list of communications received had been distributed prior to the meeting, and items distributed as requested.

155/09 Receipts and Payments and Financial Sheet
Receipts
Nil
Payments
Bus shelter cleaning for September
Mrs David £20.00
Bus shelter cleaning & litter picking for September
Ms M Newland £30.00
Miss A Kimber £20.00
Clerk’s salary for September £351.54
HM Revenue and Customs (employers PAYE and NIC) £163.38
S Rolls K6 restoration £983.17

Signed
Councillor.................................................................. Date..........................

Councillor.............................................................. Date..........................

Rates on accounts
A & L 0.1%
Lloyds Business Instant Access (below£5000) 0.05%, three month term deposit of £17k @0.8%

The financial sheet was explained, including bank reconciliation and budget checks. It was resolved to authorise the payments shown on the Receipts and Payments sheet, proposed by Cllr Tully, seconded by Cllr Ellis and all agreed. Cllrs Tully and Ellis signed the Receipts and Payments sheet. It was resolved to adopt the financial sheet, proposed by Cllr Ellis, seconded by Cllr Gage and all agreed. The Clerk and the Chairman signed the financial sheet.

156/09 Dates of forthcoming meetings
The dates of forthcoming meetings and those for 2010 were noted.

157/09 Outstanding items
There are no outstanding items.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 9.36pm.

Signed............................................................ Date................................