March 2010

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 10th March 2010 at 7.30pm in the Committee Room, West Monkton Village Hall.
Present: Cllr Reeves (Chairman), Cllrs McCubbin, Cavill, Day, Gage, Haskins, Tully
In attendance: Mrs P A Cavill, Clerk; apologies from Cllr Waymouth.

30/10 Apologies
Apologies were given from Cllr Ellis (personal), and Besley (business).

31/10 Adoption of the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 10th February 2010
The minutes of the meeting had been previously circulated, and it was resolved to adopt the minutes of the meeting on 10th February as a true record, proposed by Cllr McGubbin, seconded by Cllr Day and all agreed.

32/10 Matters arising from the minutes: Clerk’s report
Clerk’s report, having been previously circulated, was noted.

The meeting was closed.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
• It was reported that the road signs for the road works on the A38 were misleading, badly positioned and causing chaos. Furthermore, the heavy equipment was left parked on Milton Hill overnight which was obstructing and dangerous.
• It was reported that there was a lot of litter in the verge between Yallands Hill and the Maidenbrook roundabout.
• The kerb outside the bungalow at the junction between Milton Hill and the A3259 will be repaired, the SCC Area Supervisor has inspected the site.
• The Viridor Lorries are allegedly driving in excess of 30mph within the limits in Monkton Heathfield, and driving in an intimidating way towards other motorists; the lorry and drag is particularly intimidating.
• On the A38 the potholes are getting worse, causing cars to change their position in the lanes of the carriageway.
• Thanks from A Newberry were noted.
The meeting was reconvened.

33/10 Items raised by the Public in Open Session
• Highways matters will be reported to SCC I Titcombe.
• The roadside litter will be reported to TDBC.
• Viridor will be contacted re the driving practice of some of their drivers.

34/10 Allotments
The Clerk has been trying to arrange a site meeting with Simon Briggs, SCC, and interested Councillors. None of the dates considered so far were ideal, and Cllr Tully noted there was little point having the meeting at 8.00am as the traffic would already be building by then. The Clerk will try to determine another date in the following week, at 8.30am. Councillors advised to park a little away from the site and walk, to avoid the congestion.
The letter from D Almond, secretary of the Allotments Association, had been circulated prior to the meeting. The Clerk had sought advice from TDBC. The Parish Council has no statutory power to enforce membership of an insurance scheme. Further attempts to produce a design for a locking tap to satisfy the tenants will be made.

35/10 Layby
The work has been completed all bar the planting. Shrubs were considered as an alternative to the honeysuckle for the back fence and after discussion it was agreed that hedging plants had the potential to re-create the problem of rubbish etc so the honeysuckle will be planted. Bulbs will be planted in the autumn. The grass seeded are may need spraying to keep weeds down, and watering if the summer becomes very dry.
Information about the Energy Saving Trust had been circulated prior to the meeting and it was agreed the Parish Council would become a member.

36/10 Parish Council Dispensation
The document produced by TDBC Tonya Meers had been circulated prior to the meeting. After discussion it was identified that 5 members had prejudicial interest, i.e. more that 50% of the membership of the Council. The Councillors concerned signed the document, which will be completed and submitted to TDBC.

37/10 Highways
The installation of speed wires on Yallands Hill was noted. If the statistics collected support it, then the SIDs will go forward, 1st year £750.00 PC contribution, second year £350.00 PC contribution.
Some Councillors still had reservations about the Speed Watch radar gun, and after some discussion it was agreed to put the matter into the Village News and onto the web-site to see if some residents would like to come forward, Parish Council to facilitate. Annual recalibration costs are £230.00. Insurance cover/claims would need to be sorted out. Volunteers would need to be prepared to commit for at least a 12 month period.
The position of the Parish Council re PWB and the pedestrian crossing on A3259 was reported. Although Parish Council has the Power to proceed, it would have to be in accordance with procedures and regulations laid down by SCC. The figure quoted by SCC is £80,000, and this would take 5 more years of high precept to reach the sum required, after the next 2 years of Village Hall grant. It was thought that a sign showing old people crossing the road might be put to protect the elderly crossing the A3259 from the bus stop outside Hartnolls Farm.
The statistics provided by SCC Martin Dongworth had been circulated prior to the meeting, and will be kept on file. Currently the statistics do not provide adequate information for any further action to be taken to improve the junction.

38/10 Consultation on LDF
Further consultation papers had been circulated by email prior to the meeting. One set of hard copies provided by TDBC, further copies would have to be paid for. Councillors had no further comments to make on the documents.

39/10 Arrangements for APM
Councillor Reeves gave notice that the APM will be on 31st March at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. Refreshments will be served. Mr Chris Robinson will talk about the project to produce a pictorial guide to the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. Reports will also be presented from the Police, the Rector and the Parish Council.

40/10 Official reports
Cllr Reeves had attended the Strongvox presentation on proposed development plans for the Hatcheries at Bathpool. The event was attended by about 66 people. The consensus is that the houses are ok but the extra traffic that would be generated is not. Some concerns from the new houses on the Old Forge site were allayed by the confirmation that the current entrance would be retained and it would be a gated development. The proposed bus gates on the A38 would calm the traffic in any event. The plans were in accordance with the Design Guide. The Planning application will be submitted shortly. It was suggested that street lights that responded to movement might be used so they could be switched off at night, but apparently these lights are not acceptable to SCC (precedent re cost). Iconic buildings (usually a three storey dwelling) will be incorporated. Strongvox came across as very willing to work with PC and CEP input and ideas. There may be an issue regarding insufficient green space. There will be no satellite dishes and no TV aerials, these will be centrally placed, but there will be solar panels on the roofs of the social housing (this will attract grant aid).
Cllr Cavill reported from TDBC. The master planning LDF has been released by TDBC. Project Taunton has formed a Growth Board, having a broader remit beyond Taunton town to link into the LDF work. On 26th March, tenders will be accepted to produce the next stretch of road at the former Goods yard worth £1million. It is funded by Project Taunton to allow 108 affordable houses to be built by Knightstone who have funding for this, but they have to be built by March 2012. The bridge by Tesco’s will start as soon as funds are released by the government. The Learning and Skills Council will go into County Council control for the 16 – 19 age group. This is a radical change.
Cllr Tully reported on the Village Hall extension. The work is ongoing and a week has been caught up on the schedule, but overall still a month behind. The base of the building has to be dry before the floor is laid. Observations that the site is very untidy, and likely to be in breach of health and safety regulations, would be reported back to the next project meeting.

41/10 Planning applications registered at TDBC

48/10/0004 Mrs H Pulsford Change of use from residential and restaurant to B1 business (Offices) at The Poplars, 70 Bridgwater Road, West Monkton. Likely issues: Permission for the change of use of The Poplars was granted in 2003, but not implemented. The proposal for the increased scale of offices will be assessed against policy. Parking provision and access will need careful consideration. Comment: the Parish Council recommends there should be no access at all from the property onto the A38. Is the provision of 25 car parking spaces sufficient for the square footage of office space that will be created?

48/10/0007 Mrs S Melhuish Erection of extension to conservatory to the rear of 31 Acacia Gardens, Bathpool, Taunton. Likely issues – assess any impact of extension on site. Comment: the Parish Council does not consider there will be any impact of the extension on the site.

42/10 Planning decisions made by TDBC

Tree Preservation Order (at Hankridge) to Mitchell and Butlers 27 Fleet St Birmingham B3 1JP

48/10/0003/T Application to pollard two willow trees included in Taunton Deane Borough (West Monkton no3) Tree Preservation Order 1998 at 9 Acacia Gardens Bathpool, Taunton (TD777). Consent granted: work to be completed within 2 years; pollard trees back to previous pruning points as per British Standard BS3998:1989

48/09/0051 Reserved matters application for the erection of a two storey dwelling on land adjoining Juniper Cottage Greenway Monkton Heathfield (48/08/0013). Development approved because it will not have a detrimental impact on visual or residential amenity, so does not conflict with TD Local Plan Policies S1 (general) and S2 (Design). Conditions: bathroom window to be obscure glazed to protect amenities of adjoining residents; no fencing higher than 1mtr between forward wall and highway or rear western boundary to protect amenities of adjoining residents; garage to be used for the parking of vehicles only in association with the dwelling to ensure there is adequate space within the site for parking clear of the highway.

43/10 Communications
Communications list had been circulated prior to the meeting and documents distributed.
44/10 Receipts and Payments
The receipts and payments were explained and the financial sheet was also explained. It was agreed to sign the financial sheet. It was resolved to authorise the payments, proposed by Cllr Gage and seconded by Cllr Haskins.
Receipts
Allotment rents for 2010 £275.00

Payments
Bus shelter cleaning for Feb 2010
Mrs David £20.00
Ms Newland £30.00
Miss Kimber £20.00
Clerks salary for January £351.54
HMRC £163.38
Clerks expenses Jan to end March 2010 £120.25
Glasden 6 x grit/salt bins £928.27
EDF
energy supply to phone box (Mar09 to Feb10) £87.32
Spital Trust rents
£10.00 bus shelter, £15.00 allotments £25.00
Village Hall room hire Sept to Feb £17.80

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

Councillor………………………………................... Date…………………..



Interest rates
Lloyds Business Instant Access a/c 0.05%
Lloyds Fixed Term Deposit 0.51%
Alliance and Leicester 0.1%

45/10 Outstanding items
Church Servery refurbishments: no-one seemed to know what progress had been made in regard to an application for a grant from Cllr Waymouth. Clerk will investigate.

46/10 Dates of Parish Council meetings for 2010 second Weds of every month, 7.30pm Village Hall: 14th Apr, 12th May, 9th June, 14th July, 8th Sept, 13th Oct, 10th Nov 2010. Planning meetings 11th Aug, 8th Dec – 7.00pm Church Room, Precept Working Party 16th Nov 7.00pm at Hill Farm 2010.
Annual Parish meeting 31st March 2010, 7.30pm

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.20pm.


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