The Minutes of the previous meeting (March 2009)

MINUTES OF MEETING OF HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 21ST APRIL 2009 AT 9.45PM 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.
Jane Woodcock, Parish Clerk

PRESENT

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

IN ATTENDANCE

Jane Woodcock (Clerk), and five members of the public.

Before the meeting commenced there was an opportunity for the public to speak.

Karen Clotworthy said she was imploring the Parish Council to push on with the Play area. Let’s not be here in ten years time! Sara Quinton, Claire Proudley and Tanya Ogden also added their support for a play area in the village believing it would make the village a better place and that it was needed 'for our children now'.

Dave Wise then addressed the meeting. Last week there was an incident on Primrose Hill when his car was engulfed in slurry when a spreader stopped suddenly. He wanted to know what the Parish Council was going to do about it. The tractor driver involved was a contractor for Malcolm White. Whilst the Council sympathised with Mr Wise they felt this was not an issue they could do anything about.

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
    There were apologies from Cathy Bakewell, Hannah Lefeuvre and Lesley Boucher.
  2. MINUTES OF MEETINGS HELD ON 17th March 2009 (Already Circulated).
    Robin Carpenter pointed out that item 10a should say the issue of the continuation of bridleway Y10/25 into Dorset has been raised but not sorted with Dorset County Council. The minutes were amended approved and signed.
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
    Kevin Margetts said he had a personal but not prejudicial interest in item 6a.
  4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
    1. Team Somerset – The Clerk had contacted Team Somerset. It was felt we needed local organisations to agree to be included in the listings.
  5. DISTRICT & COUNTY COUNCILLORS' REPORT
    None given this month as already reported at the Annual Assembly.
  6. PLANNING MATTERS
    1. Application No.09/01408/LBC: the erection of a single story extension at Brookmead, Moor Lane was discussed. There were no objections to this application.
    2. There were no other planning applications.
    3. There were no results from previous applications.
    4. Parish Plan and Design Statement sent to Planning Office. Jo Manley’s comments will be put with the correspondence to be circulated and put on next month’s Agenda.
  7. RISK MANAGEMENT
    1. New specimen signatures and change of clerk details have now been completed.
    2. A letter had been received from Mr J G Hedges expressing his concern about the rise of 27.7% in the precept this year on top of a 12.5% rise the previous year and questioning how effective the Parish Council is at policing highway matter.
      It was agreed to write to Mr Hedges explaining that the rise in precept was to build reserves to cover projects including the Recreation Field and Affordable Housing both of which the village had supported in the Parish Plan. The Council shared Mr Hedge’s frustration and concern about highways. The last two local highways representatives have not lasted long. Highways now seems to operate as a unitary system from Taunton, which does not help to resolve local issues. It was agreed to ask the Lengthsman to investigate why the drain at the Newmans was not working well.
  8. FINANCE
    1. Clerk confirmed she had worked 39 hours in March.
    2. Precept of £10,000 had been received.
    3. Renewal of Parish Council insurance was discussed. Proposed premium was £340.09 for 2009/10 compared with £325.65 for 2008/09. Peter to contact Norwich Union for a quote.
    4. The bank reconciliation for March was approved by the Parish Council and signed.
    5. Quarterly Comparison was approved by the Parish Council and signed.
    6. Date for Audit 01/06/09. Clerk and Chair have started process.
    7. Subscription to Community Council for Somerset of £30 was agreed and a cheque drawn.
    8. Payment for Parish Lengthsman scheme (one of two this year) of £336.09 was approved and a cheque drawn.
    9. £8.21 for tree planting (payable to Francis Jones) was agreed and a cheque drawn.
  9. HIGHWAYS
    1. Clerk has received a reply from Paul Tucker, Bridge Maintenance Team Leader, about North Lane Bridge (over Chinnock Brook). He informed us that the work is nearing the top of the list and will be done in 3-6 months.
    2. Sign post at Lyatts. Clerk has sent a letter as requested but not yet heard anything. Council asked that she chase it up.
    3. Rob Lloyd reported a dangerous pot hole just west of Hill End. Clerk to report to Highways.
    4. Clerk had received notification about surface dressing on some roads around Hardington due to start on the 12th May. Agreed she will put note in the Messenger.
  10. FOOTPATHS
    1. Robin Carpenter has yet to hear anything from Explore Somerset Website.
    2. Robin Carpenter had nothing else to report this month.
    3. The Council had received information about a scheme run by Ramblers to encourage families to go walking called Legs Explore. Agreed details of events near to our area could be placed in the Messenger.
  11. PARISH LENGTHSMAN SCHEME
    We had received a time sheet for last month. He had cleared the drains from Hardington Moor to Primrose Hill and from Coker Hill to Hill End. He reported to Highways on a number of drain tops which were unable to be lifted off the tops, and about the ditch in Wimborough Lane. He had taken the door from the notice board away for repair and cut back bushes in Black House Lane. He will do the footpath next to Mr and Mrs Smith’s garage next month.
    Work for next month:
    • To find out why the drain by the Newman's is blocking and to let Clerk know if not a problem he could sort out.
    • To get the Village Hall in good order for a forthcoming wedding.
    • Clear the gutters, clear away any rubbish and have a good general tidy up.
    • To finish repair on notice board and any other outstanding work.
  12. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING & CLOSURE
    The Council agreed any other business to be carried forward to next meeting and the meeting closed at 10.37pm.

©
Hardington Mandeville
Parish Council
2012