Stoke St Gregory

STOKE ST GREGORY PARISH COUNCIL

Meeting held on Monday 11^th July 2005, 7.30pm

in the Village Hall.

Present Julia Clewes (Chairman), David House, Sue Hembrow, John Hembrow,

Trevor Williams & Robert Hembrow.

David Lake (footpath officer), Mike Nicholls (Chairman, Burrowbridge Parish

Council), Gail Lanigan (Community Transport Development Officer), Nobby

Clarke (Somerset County Council).

7 members of the public.

In attendance (Liz Smith (Clerk),

Public Question Time

Polkesfield Members of the public living in Polkesfield had read in the Village Hall Newsletter that the Parish Council were considering acquiring the remainder of the field and putting a youth shelter on it. They were opposed to this idea and asked that the field be grassed down , mown and left for the use of younger children. It was agreed that this would be done and if at any time in the future, the residents wanted it used in some other way then it would be looked at again.

Dark Lane They asked that the visibility in Dark Lane be improved. Children walk down the road early in the morning at the same time as people going to work in cars. The lane is very narrow and it is difficult to see pedestrians. It was agreed that the Clerk should contact the County Council to ask if the lane could be trimmed more often.

Community Transport Gail Lanigan spoke about her work developing Community Transport. A new scheme is just coming in to use. There are two vehicles, serving Wellington and Taunton, which will be available to anyone who rings up and books them at a time or place when there is no public bus service. Priority will be given to people going to work. The cost will be slightly more than the bus but there will be a travel pass giving a 50% reduction to pensioners, etc. If necessary, GL will contact the surgery and ask for their co-operation to help patients book appointments in advance so that they can book the bus as well. This is a trial scheme and will last for 3 years. Mike Nicholls said that there had been no response from Burrowbridge residents, who probably use the surgery in Langport.

North Curry Parish Council have a scheme whereby 6 volunteers take patients to appointments, collect prescriptions, etc. GL said that if required, she would help to set up a scheme of Community Drivers but it would take 6 – 9 months. Being over 70 does not necessarily prevent someone from becoming a volunteer driver, provided they are fit and well. Expenses are paid at 32p per mile. The driver’s insurance company has to be notified and the correct form of wording used.

North Curry Parish Council have also passed on the information that Cooks Coaches will be taking over the village bus service. It will be reverting to its old, shorter route with a timetable roughly similar to the present one, extended to Musgrove Hospital. Fares, including weekly travel tickets will be cheaper.

Alfred’s Trail Burrowbridge Parish Council are looking into obtaining funding from the Community Access Fund to develop the trail to the monument at Athelney and on into Stoke St Gregory by Windmill Hill. They have asked if SSG will support them in this venture by also applying for similar funding. DL asked about the access to the Alfred Memorial, which should have been funded by Sedgemoor District Council when the Parrett Trail was created. He also said that part of the route from Burrowbridge to Athelney is a towpath and not a public right of way. Some of the gates are chained and not dog friendly. Ray Hobbs will liaise with the Council on further developments.

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting

Apologies were received from Ian Parker & Irene Browning.

Minutes of the Previous Meetings

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 13^th June were agreed to be a correct record of that meeting.

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 4^th July: Falcon Housing Trust should be Falcon Rural Housing Ltd, also, it was agreed that the Parish Council should be joint applicants for planning permission. With these two amendments it was agreed that the minutes were a correct record of that meeting.

The Chairman signed the minutes.

Matters Arising

Footpaths DL said that the path from the school to Huntham Close had been weeded and the hedge clipped back, thanks to SH and the owner of the other property. Maize was making some paths inaccessible but he was receiving pleasing co-operation on others. He was asked if the path through Huntham Close could be cleared where it passes beside the open ground.

Purchase of field at Polkesfield

(SH declared a personal interest as she is related to 2 of the trustees and took no further part in the discussion).

DH said he had spoken to the owners of the field and they were ready to enter into negotiations. If they bought the field they would want to have the development gain. SALC advise that the Council clearly need to take legal advice on negotiation of the restrictive covenant and need to avoid any description of the land that might get it caught by the Charity definitions. Avoid use of "trust" "for the benefit of the inhabitants" etc. Take care on the Valuation as if presently "agricultural" the conversion to
"recreational" may qualify as development gain. Any gain should be shared even if only 10% to PC and is there a time limit - who determines the successors in title to the present vendors? The PC has power to acquire at market value (a restrictive covenant may reduce
that value) and to use for a purpose allowed by law for a PC (recreation OK - LG(MP)A 1976 s19). The Clerk was asked to write to the owners to ask if they were prepared to buy or lease the field and on what terms.

School Bus JC has been to see Mr Fletcher, the Deputy Head of Heathfield, and Mr Baldock. They had been very supportive and will speak to the children concerned. If the present behaviour continues he will come out himself and the children may ultimately be banned from the bus. JC has also spoken to the primary school head.

Community Beat Officer There have been further incidents involving young people pushing the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. PC Hicks is presently on paternity leave and calls and letters have not been answered nor has he attended a meeting since the Annual Parish Meeting in April. It was felt that the Parish Council and the Playing Field Committee need some guidance in handling a situation that is getting out of control. The clerk was asked to write to Insp Mike Ashwin.

BT Phonebox Chargecards for cashless phone boxes may be obtained by ringing

0800 148 144.

VE/VJ Celebrations SH was congratulated on organising a successful event that had been enjoyed by many people.

BMX Track The Parish Council has authorized the expenditure of up to £1000 on the track. Forms for funding, partly completed, were passed to SH.

4. Boundary Changes

DH’s notes regarding the proposed changes were circulated prior to the meeting. The review group at TDBC are recommending that SSG & BB be joined with North Curry and West Hatch to form one ward represented by two councillors. This would form a ward some 14 miles long split by the A358. It was agreed that these changes would be unsatisfactory and the Clerk was asked to write to the Boundary Commission and TDBC saying that the Taunton/Ilminster and Taunton/Langport roads form a natural boundary and it would be more logical to take in Durston and Ham to even up the numbers. Each village would prefer to continue to have its own councillor.

5. Irene Browning

A letter has been received from IB stating that due to recent ill health she was obliged to stand down as the Council’s representative on the Village Hall Committee and also as School Governor.

It was agreed that John Hembrow be the Council’s representative on the Village Hall Committee. Proposed: JC, Seconded: RH, All in favour.

The Clerk was asked to contact the Chairman of the Governors as there is no longer a minor local authority representative on school governing bodies.

6. Planning

No reply has been received yet from the enforcement officer regarding the fences at 9 Willey Rd. DH to speak to him. The Clerk was asked to keep those who had drawn the situation to the Council’s attention informed of progress.

36/2005/014 Erection of two storey front extension at Moorside, Woodhill.

TW, JC & RH will visit at 6.00pm on Thursday evening if it is convenient to the owner.

36/2005/011LB Alteration of roof space to form en-suite bathroom at Poplar Farm, Meare Green. DH said that TDBC have refused permission.

Financial Matters

a. Stoke St Gregory Youth Theatre has been invited to represent the South west in a prestigious All Winners Festival to be held in Halifax. A request has been received for assistance with the cost of transport and accommodation. It was agreed that the council should give £75.00. Proposed: RH, Seconded: JH, All in favour.

b. VE/VJ weekend – entertaining evacuees. JC spent £44.88 on food and ES spent £31.16 on drinks. It was agreed that cheques be raised to reimburse these amounts.

c. Planning fees, New Village Hall. The Council has already agreed to meet the cost of the planning fees for the new hall. It was agreed that the application will go in in the council’s name as this will reduce the cost.

8. Correspondence

a. TDBC Planning Department changing from local plan to local development framework. Statement of Community Involvement – consultation document circulated.

b. S Hamdi – children should be consulted about the facilities they would like in the village. Clerk to reply asking if she would like to become involved.

Feedback from meetings

DH and ES attended Annual Meeting with Parishes at the Deane House. Subjects discussed included the Standards Board, changes in planning process, material considerations when looking at planning applications and Gypsy incursions – what can be done?

Any Other Business

a. NC asked if anyone had experience of the ambulance service. On one occasion, a Sunday morning, the ambulance had taken 25mins to attend an emergency.

b. Journal 2000. £155.81 was returned to the Clerk for banking. The Clerk was asked to write to Pam Merritt acknowledging receipt of the money.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.50pm.

Date of Next Meeting: Monday 8^th August, 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

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