The Minutes of the previous meeting (April 2007)

MINUTES OF MEETING OF HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 15th MAY 2007 AT 7.30PM AT THE VILLAGE HALL

Members were reminded that the Council has a general duty to consider the following matters in the exercise of any of its functions - Equal Opportunities (race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status & any disability); Crime & Disorder, Health & Safety and Human Rights.
Diane Howes, Parish Clerk

PRESENT

Peter Bysouth, Robin Carpenter, Kevin Margetts, Malcolm White, Bill Turner, Rob Lloyd and David Beckley.

IN ATTENDANCE

Diane Howes (Clerk), Lesley Boucher and Hannah Lefeuvre (District Councillors).

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
    There were no apologies for absence.
  2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
    1. Peter Bysouth was elected Chairman. Proposed by Robin Carpenter and seconded by Rob Lloyd.
    2. Robin Carpenter was elected Vice Chairman. Proposed by Bill Turner and seconded by Malcolm White.
    3. The Declaration of Acceptance of Office was signed by all Councillors. The Acceptance of Office of Chairman was signed by Peter Bysouth.
    4. Declarations and change in Register of Interests by Councillors form was distributed to be returned at the June meeting.
    5. Peter Bysouth agreed to be the Village Hall representative, proposed by Robin Carpenter.
    6. The Clerk agreed to be the reporter to the Messenger.
    7. Rob Lloyd agreed to be the Highways representative.
    8. Robin Carpenter agreed to be the Parish Environment Officer.
    9. The Somerset County Council request for short, medium and long term projects were discussed. The budget initially will be £270,000. It was felt that it should be linked to the Parish Plan and proposals suggested were:
      1. Affordable Housing.
      2. Adoption of green lanes in the Parish (Common Lane, Coldharbour Lane and Ridge Lane).
      3. Improvements to the Village Hall.
      4. Recreation area.
      5. Traffic speeding.
    10. The Accounts for 2006/2007 were distributed.
    11. The budget 2006/2007 will be distributed at the June meeting.
  3. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 17th APRIL 2007 AND PLANNING MEETING HELD ON 10TH APRIL 2007 (Already Circulated). The minutes were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
  4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
    Robin Carpenter declared an interest in 7a as he is Vet to the applicant.
  5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
    1. Parish Website. There were no matters to discuss.
    2. Cardboard Recycling. Cathy Bakewell had agreed to speak to the residents around St James' Terrace in order to find out what their objections are to the proposed siting of a cardboard recycling bin in front of No. 1. The Clerk had found 2 other possibilities. Perry's Waste Paper would hire a recyling 'bin' for £6.50 per week which would include one collection each week. Martock Waste Paper run a scheme (in conjunction with SSDC) where a skip is delivered on a nominated weekend each month. It is collected and credits given for the weight of cardboard collected. These credits are then converted to money by SSDC. However the money collected must be for a nominated scheme ie the Village Hall, and the skip must not contain any business cardboard. It was agreed that the Clerk would arrange for a skip to be delivered on the last weekend of each month starting in June. It was agreed that the skip should be sited on the verge at the back of the church at the top of North Lane and that the Clerk would advertise the scheme in the Messenger.
    3. David Beckley confirmed that he would be attending the Gambling Act seminar on 14th June.
  6. DISTRICT & COUNTY COUNCILLORS' REPORTS (By invitation)
    Our two new District Councillor’s introduced themselves to the Parish Council. Lesley Boucher said she had found the last couple of weeks to be a steep learning curve. A rota would be devised by herself and Hannah to attend meetings. Hannah Lefeuvre said that affordable housing is important to her. They thanked the Parish Council for the very warm welcome they had been given. They felt the Parish Council were friendly and enterprising eg the cardboard recycling. Hannah Lefeuvre offered to chase up the Doing it Right booklets for new Parish Councillors.
  7. PLANNING MATTERS
    1. Robin Carpenter left the room. A letter had been received from SSDC giving notification of appeal by Mr P C Richards against the refusal to application 06/00709/FUL The erection of a temporary agricultural dwelling at Wooden Top Farm, West Coker Hill. This is to be by information hearing. The Clerk reported that she had received a telephone call from Mr Michael Trevallion asking for a copy of the minutes when the application for the eco dwelling had been discussed as he thought the minutes might differ from the comments sent to the planning office. The Clerk read out the minutes to Mr Trevallion who agreed that they were in fact exactly the same as the comments received by the Planning Authority. Robin Carpenter re-joined the meeting.
    2. 07/02107/FUL Internal alterations, loft conversion and erection of rear extension at Briar Patch, Moor Lane, for Mr and Mrs G Chapillon (this application was received after publication of the agenda). After discussion the Council objected to this application because they felt the white upvc cladding to the dormer windows was not in keeping. They suggested wooden weather boarding or tiles would be preferable.
    3. There were no results of previous applications.
    4. Rob Lloyd queried the erection of 2 garages at Old Track and whether planning permission was needed. Bill Turner confirmed that one was a replacement garage and the other had obtained planning permission.
  8. FOOTPATHS
    1. Path from North Lane to the Ridge. Malcolm White and Bill Turner had inspected this and felt that 2 lorry loads of stone would be sufficient. This would cost approximately £180. The Clerk was asked to obtain 3 quotations for this 1 x 16 ton load of stone (approx 3") and 1 x 16 ton load of 1.5" stone.
    2. An email had been received from Somerset County Council confirming that the lane from Moor Lane to the Post Office had been adopted. They would be sending an invoice for the Parish Council’s donation of £50.
  9. HIGHWAYS
    1. The new road surface at Hardington Marsh was discussed. Only parts of this road had been renewed and this had been carried out by recycling the old road surface. The Clerk said that in the parts not renewed there were large potholes. It was agreed this was not acceptable and the Clerk was asked to write a letter of complaint. Rob Lloyd offered to meet the Highway Authority if necessary.
    2. The drains in Wimborough Lane are still blocked despite a telephone call from Mike Fear to say they had been cleared. Clerk to contact the Highways Authority.
    3. The Clerk had received a call to say that the fallen tree at Dwelley Bridge was on the list to be removed.
    4. The Clerk had received a call that Tom Greaves (Highway Authority) could not find the loose manhole cover at Partway Lane. Robin Carpenter offered to send exact map reference.
    5. Peter Bysouth expressed concern at a car which has been parked for sometime inside the gate of the field at Wimborough Lane, by the sewerage works owned by the Wessex Water Board. This car is being vandalised. Clerk to contact the Wessex Water Board.
  10. PARISH LENGTHSMAN SCHEME
    1. The Clerk had received an email from Elaine Peters confirming the work carried out by Richard Thorne and asking for clarification of the position of the stile at Hardington Marsh. Richard Thorne had also asked for confirmation that the landowner's permission was given before repairing the stile at Lyatts. Bill Turner confirmed that he was the landowner and was agreeable to the work being carried out. The Clerk will contact Elaine Peters regarding these items. Other work agreed to be carried out this month included strimming the verge splays at road junctions, and weed killer around the village hall, side and back. It was felt this would be best carried out using Round up and on Friday afternoon after pre-school had left.
    2. The Clerk had contacted Roy Hodder who had confirmed that the amount included each year for materials is £100.
    3. The Clerk had received a telephone call from Jim Adlam saying how impressed he was with the work carried out to the verge at the back of the Church.
  11. RISK MANAGEMENT
    1. The Clerk had contacted Brian Paulley regarding installation of the new oil tank and had been told that hopefully this work would be carried out week beginning 21st May.
    2. Information had been received from SSDC concerning Smoke Free England - Smoke Free Law which comes into force on 1st July 2007. Peter Bysouth agreed to take this to the next meeting of the Village Hall Committee.
  12. AFFORDABLE HOUSING
    Peter Bysouth circulated further information on setting up a Community Land Trust. It was agreed that finding suitable land was the priority. However, it was felt that the Parish Council should be aware of what is needed in case a suitable piece of land is found. Peter Bysouth agreed to speak to Gordon Rendell about his land by the Church. Bill Turner expressed concern that any housing should only be for local people. It was agreed that forming a Community Land Trust would be the only way to ensure this.
  13. FINANCE
    1. The Parish Council insurance was renewed and a cheque drawn in favour of Allianz Cornhill in the sum of £312.58.
    2. The Comparison of Figures will be circulated at the June meeting.
    3. The Annual Audit was agreed and signed by the Chairman.
    4. The Receipts and Payments Account 2006/2007 was approved and signed by the Chairman.
    5. The Clerk reported that the precept for 2007/2008 of £7000 had been received.
    6. The signatories form for Nat West Bank was completed by all Councillors.
    7. A cheque for £25 was drawn in favour of the Community Council for Somerset.
    8. The Clerk produced a timesheet showing that 23.5 hours had been worked in the previous month.
  14. CORRESPONDENCE
    The New Code of Conduct was circulated and will be discussed at the next meeting. Robin Carpenter and Rob Lloyd will attend a meeting on 29th May about proposals for the New Unitary Authority. Details of training for new Councillors were circulated. The Clerk was asked to pass a video for new councillors to David Beckley. Peter Bysouth had received a letter from Alan Cornelius thanking Councillors for the gift on his retirement. The Community Contact vehicle will be at the Post Office between 12.30 and 1.30 on Tuesday 12th June. Clerk to advertise in the Messenger.
  15. MATTERS OF REPORT & ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
    1. Peter Bysouth reported on the Parish Plan. Meetings had been held with village groups and the committee are now looking to speak to businesses in the farming community and agricultural contractors as well as pubs and other businesses in the parish. Bill Turner and Malcolm White will agree a date to meet with Peter Bysouth.
    2. Rob Lloyd asked if trees had been planted following Frances Jones's visit. Clerk to contact Frances Jones.
    3. Robin Carpenter asked that when notification of meetings are received these should be brought to the notice of Councillors and not put in for circulation as often this is not then received until too late.
  16. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING & CLOSURE
    There being no other business the meeting ended at 9.30pm. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 19th June 2007.

©
Hardington Mandeville
Parish Council
2008