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Irene Browning, David House, Ian Parker & Robert Hembrow

In attendance (Liz Smith (Clerk),

Apologies were received from John Hembrow.

Declarations of Interest: None.

 

Minutes of the Previous Meetings

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 12^th September:

p.20, Item 5 Planning: Higher House Farm should be Higher Helland Farm

p.21, Item 8a Any Other Business: skate park should be BMXtrack

Subject to the above two amendments, the minutes were agreed to be a correct record of that meeting and signed by the Chairman.

 

Matters Arising

Footpaths DL said that the steps at Dark Lane have been cleared. JH has resurfaced the gateway of the permissive path and Messrs Coates have cleared theirs as well. The two headland paths that had been ploughed up have now been seeded with grass.

Low cost housing Justin Roxbrough e-mailed that purchase of the site is being delayed until the two ransom strips are transferred from TDBC and SW Co-op. They are also waiting for the Planning 106 agreement (money for recreation). He will send an agreement for the PC to lease the open space at a later date. They have interviewed potential residents and would like to confirm allocations at a private meeting. It was agreed that the Council would meet JR at 7.00pm prior to the November Council meeting.

Village Hall DH reported that he and others had et the builder on site to discuss provision of electricity, water, sewage, etc. The builder hopes that groundworks will start in 4 weeks’ time with completion in May/June next year. The sale of the old hall should go through on 20^th October. The hall is cleared except for the piano. The buyers have agreed that the memorial hamstone will remain in situ and that if the wall is ever rendered or rebuilt, the stone will be given to the trustees of the New Hall.

Name of the new hall: The trustees have to decide on a name for the new hall. They would like to keep the name "Williams" as the sale of the old hall is largest contribution to funds. Suggestions were: "Stoke St Gregory Williams Hall" (1 vote)or "New Williams Memorial Hall" (6 votes).

Notice board. The purchasers of the old hall to be asked if the notice board can remain in situ until the new hall is built then a new, free standing notice board to be purchased to stand at the entrance.

Youth No young people had turned up to the second session of the open hall. SH reported that the maintenance gates of the new BMX track have been vandalised, possibly by youths wanting a longer run up to one of the jumps. A notice will be going up on the Playing Field forbidding motorised vehicles, golf, alcohol and glass. The clerk was asked to write to Heathfield School saying that the Playing Field committee is willing to offer football, tennis and cricket coaching and asking them if they can make the youngsters aware of these facilities. Anyone young person interested in coaching to contact SH.

The track will be extended, at further cost to the Playing Field. The Council confirmed that they will be contributing £1000 towards the cost of the track.

Meals on Wheels The Chairman thanked Nobby Clarke for the County Council’s contribution to the new service.

First Aid Course Diana Silk e-mailed details of courses available through St John Ambulance. The clerk to publicize and ask for volunteers to gain an idea of numbers interested.

Emergency Plan Comprehensive notes received from Somerset County Council. These to be circulated with the correspondence and each councillor to fill in the questionnaire to the best of their knowledge and return them to the clerk for collating. The plan to be drawn up bearing in mind the possible emergencies likely to affect this village, eg: flooding or being snowed in.

Burial Ground Ditch Following the meeting with Mr & Mrs Tipping earlier in the evening It was agreed that the Tippings will fill in the ditch behind their property and the adjoining property at their own expense having first piped it with a pipe of the same diameter as that in the existing bit of filled in ditch. They will also ensure that the level of the pipe is correct so that water drains away. When the ground has settled they will plant a hedge. The tree warden advises that there are no longer any subsidies available for hedging. TW has some plant protectors available to help protect the plants against rabbits. The clerk to write to the Tippings.

 

Planning

36/2005/016 Erection of Village Hall, Dark Lane. TDBC advise permission granted.

36/2005/005 Amendment to 2 storey front extension at 1 & 2 Woodhill Cottages The proposed amendment raises the height of the front storey extension by approximately 18". It is still lower than the existing ridge. The Council has no objection.

36/2005/020H Removal of hedgerow on land to the South East of Millfield, Stathe.

The Tree Officer considers that the hedge consists of a few misshapen field maples, some clumps of brambles and a decrepit barbed wire fence. The Council agreed with his opinion. They have no objection to the removal of this hedge.

36/2005/021T Application to carry out work on a tree at Frog Lane barn, Meare Green.

The Tree Warden has visited the site. When the application for a Tree Preservation Order was made he had said then that the tree should be pollarded regularly on safety grounds. The Council agreed with his opinion. They have no objection to these works.

 

Finance

It was agreed that the Council would donate £50 towards the cost of the poppy wreaths. The Remembrance Day Service will be held at the Baptist Church this year. JC will lay the wreath on behalf of the Council. SH has spoke to the School about involving the young people in the service.

The following cheque was approved for payment:

488 E Hembrow 427.72 Clerk’s salary.

Proposed: TW, Seconded: DH, All in favour.

The last payment to the Public Works Loan Board will be made this month. The loan was taken out to pay for the Burial Ground.

 

Correspondence

Item 1: Community Handyman Scheme: details to be circulated.

Item 4: Somerset Air Ambulance, request for a donation – to go on next agenda.

Item 5: TDBC, Parish Play Area Grants, passed to SH. The tractor in the Children’s Play Area is dangerous and needs replacing. They will apply for a grant.

Item 9: War Memorials Trust, The clerk to ask if a grant can be obtained for the memorial on the Playing Field.

 

Feedback from Meetings

Town & Country Planning System TW & JC had attended a meeting about the new planning system. There were few people but lots of acronyms. TDBC is keen to preserve villages; there will be no more big estates outside the town. There will be a centre of excellence at Firepool.

LAMP DH had attended a forum. The future organisational structure of LAMP and the Parrett Catchment Project had been discussed. He said that there was much in the report that was good. The consultants had recommended that integrated policies should be adopted, however, he was very concerned that the Standing Conference and the Executive Board would be composed entirely of appointed bureaucrats from the County and District Councils, DEFRA, Government Office, the conservation agencies, etc; all unelected. There would be no involvement from the parish councils in decision making, there would be no representation from farmers, landowners, Internal Drainage Boards, etc on the Executive Board. He felt strongly that this is wrong and urged members of the Parish Council to support him at a meeting on 18^th October. The clerk was asked to write voicing the Council’s concerns over the new proposals and saying that they do not wish to lose their representation.

Any Other Business

Information The website needs to be kept updated. Details of the new County Councillor should be on the Notice Board . The clerk to make a notice.

Bus A complaint has been received from a member of the public concerned by the speed at which the bus goes through Woodhill. The clerk was asked to write to Cooks Coaches asking that the drivers observe the speed limits and drove carefully through Woodhill. CP said that he would be going out with the Road Traffic Unit later in the month and would make a point of observing the buses.

Rock Salt has been dumped on the corner of Willey Road and Slough Lane. One of the plastic bags has already split open. The Council was not notified that about the salt and there is nowhere to put it. The Clerk was asked to write to the Highways Department asking for a grit bin.

Phone Box The box by the Playing Field is almost obscured by the hedge. John Musgrove to be asked to trim back the hedge.

Ditch The ditch between The Mardy and Willow House is blocked and water backs up. The ditch under the road is blocked. The Clerk was asked to contact the Highways Authority.

 

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