The Minutes of the previous meeting (February 2009)

MINUTES OF MEETING OF HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 17TH MARCH 2009 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.
Jane Woodcock, Parish Clerk

PRESENT

Peter Bysouth, Robin Carpenter, Rob Lloyd, Kevin Margetts, Malcolm White.

IN ATTENDANCE

Jane Woodcock (Clerk), Hannah Lefeuvre (District Councillor), Simon Gale Head of Planning and Development Control at SSDC, Neil Waddeston Customer Service Manager for Planning at SSDC, and two members of the public.

Before the Meeting commenced there was the opportunity for a question and answer session with Simon Gale. Please see the attached notes for a summary of the discussion.

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
    There were apologies from David Beckley, Bill Turner and Cathy Bakewell.
  2. MINUTES OF MEETINGS HELD ON 17th February 2009 (Already Circulated).
    Hannah Lefeuvre pointed out that under item 6b should read Mr and Mrs Small not Smith. The minutes were then approved and signed.
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
    Robin Carpenter said that he had ceased to have a personal interest in the Woodentop Farm application. There were no declarations of interest.
  4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
    1. Parish Website. There was no further information.
    2. Team Somerset – The Clerk had not yet contacted Team Somerset to include Hardington in the listings.
    3. Charity Trust Insurance. Quotations had been received from Aon for a £100,000 indemnity (£166.75) and a £200,000 indemnity (£235.00). After discussion, the Council decided not to proceed with this insurance.
  5. DISTRICT & COUNTY COUNCILLORS' REPORT

    Hannah Lefeuvre reported that:

    1. The Audit Commission had scored SSDC highly on both its Resource Management and the clear way it makes information about its spending available to the Public. SSDC has generally improved on its scoring since last year and in the current financial climate is giving more for less.
    2. Somerset Waste Partnership had completed an end of year register which shows that everything that is collected for recycling in Somerset is being recycled with no stockpiling. Over 90% of materials collected are recycled here in the UK, with just 8% being recycled overseas. The energy saved by recycling reduced carbon emissions by 118,000 tonnes compared to the environmental impact of burying these materials in landfill sites (this was equivalent to the carbon produced by 33,000 cars or 20,000 homes per year). Even with the recent economic downturn, materials collected for recycling in Somerset continue to find markets. 163,000 tonnes had been recycled saving us almost £7 million in disposal costs and landfill tax.
    3. A new Business Support Facility at Yeovil Innovation Centre (Copse Road) had been set up in conjunction with Business Link, Yeovil College and South Somerset District Council. It is a drop-in resource room open all week for any local business or entrepreneur to use without prior appointment. More information could be found at the Yeovil Innovation Centre website, telephone 01935 385900.
    4. A flagship Play Area in Yeovil will create a £340,000 play destination designed with the help of hundreds of local schoolchildren by an award winning landscape design company. It will enlarge the existing play facilities at Yeovil Recreation Centre. Contractors should start on Monday 23 March, aiming to complete the work ready for this year's school summer holiday.
  6. PLANNING MATTERS
    1. Application 08/04934/FUL: the formation of an access track and the erection of a forestry storage building(GR 349662/107815) at Daisydown Coppice, Cheddington Woods, Downclose Lane, North Perrott, Crewkerne for Mr R Appleby (Updated Location plan). The Council could see no reason for objection to the revised plan but asked the Clerk to check the previous drawings for any significant change before replying to the Planning office.
    2. Any planning applications received after publication of this Agenda - Application 08/04480/FUL: the retention of a temporary agricultural workers dwelling and the erection of a wind turbine at Woodentop Farm, West Coker. The wind turbine has been reduced in size to measure 6.5m to the hub. The Council had no objections to this amendment.
    3. Results of previous applications - full permission had been granted for Application 08/05170FUL, the erection of tractor and machinery store at Barry Lane.
    4. Parish Plan and Design Statement sent to Planning Office. Jo Manley will endeavour to get back to the Clerk by 27th March.
  7. AFFORDABLE HOUSING
    1. Clerk reported that she had not yet spoken to Sally McCarthy SSDC about what assistance SSDC can give us. She had seen Lyn Lockyer, Members Secretary SSDC, and been advised the best way forward would be to contact Ric Pallister, District Councillor, who holds the portfolio for housing and that perhaps he could come to a meeting. Councillors decided that after their discussions with Simon Gale they should just keep Ric Pallister updated on the situation. It was agreed that arrangements would be made for the District Planning Officer to come and look at possible sites, and changes in policy with respect to 'Choice Based Lettings' be investigated.
    2. Clerk had made contact with Community Council for Somerset, Rural Housing section, who were offering a Housing Survey. Councillors asked the Clerk to keep the Community Council informed on what was happening.
  8. PROPOSED RECREATION FIELD
    1. Arrangements for presentation. Clerk asked to write to Mr Kong inviting him to speak at the Annual Village Assembly.
    2. Play Audit. James Dival Community Play Officer has booked a minibus for April 4/5 for a Study Tour. Peter Bysouth and Rob Lloyd would look to see if they each could do one of the days. Clerk asked to help with publicising both Study Tour and Play Days. The Clerk would remind James that he had offered to help at the next Farm Open Day in the Parish.
  9. PARISH PLAN
    1. Village Hall Re-development Committee. The Committee had not met since the last meeting. Peter had looked again at the matter of VAT and, as the Council were Custodian Trustees and were not directly running the Village Hall, they could not claim back the VAT. A copy of the guidance from HM Revenue & Customs would be passed to the Re-Development Committee.
    2. Computer Classes. Clerk had yet to investigate this item.
    3. Litter Pick. This would be on 25th April as 18th was already booked. Peter Bysouth and Clerk will look at the arrangement for Risk Assessment.
    4. Driver Awareness Course. Booked for 8th May. Clerk has asked for posters and flyers. Clerk asked to advertise in April and May Messenger and to book the village hall.
  10. FOOTPATHS
    1. Robin Carpenter reported he had completed the footpath survey. He had noticed that some signs had already been replaced. He would put the survey on the Website after removing details of volunteers. The bridleway Y10/25 from Marsh to Halstock has now been sorted with Dorset County Council, with the unpaved unclassified road over the County border now usable.
    2. The Clerk reported that Stephanie Wheeler, South Somerset Bridleways Association, and a colleague will attend the June meeting.
    3. Explore Somerset Website. Robin Carpenter has yet to hear anything from this site.
  11. HIGHWAYS
    1. Critical Ordinary Watercourses (COW'S). The Clerk had spoken to The Environment Agency. Chinnock Brook (whilst running through the Village) is not a COW. No streams / other watercourses in Hardington fall into this category. Clerk has sent a letter to Paul Tucker re the Council’s concerns about the bridge over Chinnock Brook
    2. Signpost at Lyatts. Highways needed a letter rather than an email stating we had the funding. This has now been sent.
    3. Rob Lloyd reported that the drains at Hill End were still blocked. There was a very bad pot hole in North Lane on the first corner where water is running down the Lane instead of into the ditch. There was also a massive pothole opposite the entrance to Milcombe Farm. Drains on Coker Hill were blocked. There was discussion over the bank of Chinnock Brook at North Lane. Clerk was asked to clarify where road ended and farm track began so responsibility for repairs could be clarified.

    9.37pm Rob Lloyd left the meeting.

  12. PARISH LENGTHSMAN
    1. Work carried out last month. The Clerk had received the lengthman’s time sheet. He had checked and cleaned drains on Wimborough Lane, and painted the lettering on signposts at Lyatts and Hardington Marsh. He had rubbed down and stained the three notice boards. He had met Mr Smith and agreed materials for footpath at the Moorings. He had contacted SCC about flooding on Coker Ridge. They have made a note about it but it was not a high priority as no homes were at risk of flooding.
    2. Work to be done includes: The drain coming out of Hardington Moor towards Primrose Hill by the Newmans (large Hedge) as it has been blocked for some time; the drains at Hill End and on Coker Hill are also blocked; the hedge needs trimming at Black House Lane; there was also the footpath by Mr and Mrs Smith’s garage and the notice board at Hardington Marsh.
  13. RISK MANAGEMENT
    1. Training for Parish Clerk. Clerk reported she had undertaken one of 2 sessions, and may make some changes to the agenda to show which are decisions and which are items for report. She had also met with Lyn Lockyer, membership secretary at SSDC, instead of an induction which had been useful.
    2. Peter Bysouth reported he had received one reference for the Clerk but second did not keep records over two years so had asked Clerk for a further referee.
    3. New specimen signatures and change of clerk's details for NatWest Bank. The Clerk had taken the papers into NatWest where they had checked the paper work and said the changes should be completed within a week. When the Clerk had checked the position today she was told that the changes had not been done and that her contact was not at work. Another employee had found the paperwork which not been sent off and still needed some signatures, and these had been delivered to Clerk's house for the meeting. Nat West had also lost the Standing Order paperwork so this would have to be done again.
    4. In view of the response from Simon Gale it was felt that the Council's comments regarding business use at The Stables were correct.
    5. The Clerk and Peter Bysouth had attended the event for councillors and clerks to promote the 'Power of Well-being'. This is a new power for parish and town councils which could allow them to help finance initiatives such community shops, or renewable energy in their parishes. Information was passed about this to the other Councillors and agreed to discuss at another meeting.
    6. Freedom of Information Scheme. Postponed.
    7. Speaker for the Annual Village Meeting. Councillors agreed to ask Ernest Kong to speak. The Clerk will also need to invite representatives from other groups in the Parish.
    8. Noticeboard in Hardington Marsh was damaged in recent windy weather with one door blown off. Agreed to ask if the Lengthsman can repair.
  14. FINANCE
    1. The Clerk confirmed her hours of 30 hours for January 09 and 26.5 hours for February 09.
    2. The Clerk confirmed her expenses came to the sum £106.67.
    3. New signatures for Nat West not yet set up (as explained in item 13c).
    4. Data Control Registration Fee of £35.00 was agreed and a cheque issued.
    5. SALC Affiliation Fee of £135.03 was agreed and a cheque issued.
    6. The cheque for the previous donation of £100 to Hardington Pre-School had been cancelled and a new cheque was issued for £100.
    7. Donation of £100 to the Messenger was agreed and a cheque was issued.
    8. Clerk's salary of £450 and expenses of £106.47 were agreed and a cheque issued.
  15. CORRESPONDENCE
    The Parish Council Representative on the Joint Area South will provide a Parish view point and can raise items of concern from parishes. She will eventually be able to vote. A notice of Voluntary Sector Forum on 18th March at Somerton Community Hall had been received, as had an email from Councillor Tony Locke about the possible use in local communities of people on the Community Payback Scheme. There was also the agenda for The Somerset Cultural Agenda on 20th March, further information about flooding workshops, a possible parish sandbag store and visit from Roger Meecham Engineer to Parish Council meetings. Other correspondence was circulated.
  16. MATTERS OF REPORT & ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
    There were no matters of report.
  17. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING & CLOSURE
    The next meeting will be on 21st April at 7.30pm. This will be The Annual Village Assembly followed by a Parish Council meeting. The meeting closed at 9.59pm.

©
Hardington Mandeville
Parish Council
2012