HATCH BEAUCHAMP PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Hatch Beauchamp Parish Council held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 11 November at7.30pm.
Present:- Mrs Scott, Mrs P Kent, Messrs Downie, Hounsell and Parsons.
Apologies:- Messrs Fowler, Graham and Green
In Attendance:- Mr Fothergill (SCC), PCSO Leniston (Police), Mr Crossley (Clerk)
Mr Downie took the chair
1696 Apologies
RESOLVED that the absences of Messrs Fowler and Graham (business) and Mr Green (holiday) be recognised as approved absences for the purposes of S185 Local Government Act 1972
1697 Declarations of interest
Mr Hounsell declared a prejudicial interest in min 1706 (footpath from Home Orchard to Village Hall)
1698 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman
1699 Questions from Members under Standing Order 23
There were no questions from members
1700 Report of Planning Committee of 28 September 2009
The Committee had considered an application for tree works at Oakfield Cottage, and had been happy to leave the decision to TDBC acting on the advice of the Tree Preservation Officer, and an application to refurbish and extend Beauchamp House Nursing Home, which it had supported whilst also asking that concerns about exiting traffic be drawn to the attention of the Highway Authority
1701 Affordable housing in Hatch Beauchamp (min 1689)
Mr Felix Marsh from the Community Council for Somerset made a presentation to members on “refreshing” the housing needs survey completed in January 2005 to establish whether there was currently a local need for affordable housing, on the methodology involved and on the steps which would be undertaken with the Parish Council to identify a suitable site if demand was established. Members then deferred consideration of the issue until later in the meeting, and when they returned to the issue at the end of the meeting it was
RESOLVED that further consideration be deferred to the next meeting
1702 Rural Youth Project
Ellen Harty from the Rural Youth Project gave a presentation to members on developing within Hatch Beauchamp proposals for young people at risk of engaging in anti-social behaviour. She outlined the background to the team and confirmed that there would be liaison with the police and that contact had already been made with Mr Green as Chairman of the Village Hall Committee. PCSO Leniston reported that a briefing meeting was being organised.
RESOLVED that the Council lend its support to the project, and that information on other relevant contacts be e-mailed to M/s Harty
1703 “PACT” issues
This item appeared regularly on the agenda at the request of the police, and PCSO Leniston updated members on the actions taken to deal with and resolve the “PACT” priorities identified in July, and on other issues identified to the police.
RESOLVED that no further “PACT” priorities be identified
1704 Co-option (min 1681)
The clerk reported that no formal expressions of interest had been received (Mr Knight having withdrawn). Members referred to other informal expressions of interest.
RESOLVED that the Council continue to seek a co-opted member
1705 Notice board outside Primary School (min 1682)
The Chairman and the Clerk reported on their further enquiries about the provision of a replacement notice board. The school were happy for the existing board to be replaced. A meeting had been held on site with a manufacturer but it had transpired that the smallest standard board would be too small to accommodate the number of community notices currently displayed. Details of a number of alternatives had been obtained and the likely cost of a suitable board was now nearer £1000.
As to a draft guide of notices which might be displayed, the Clerk suggested that the guidance be restricted to prohibiting commercial notices.
The Clerk confirmed that the grant of £350 from Mr Fothergill had been received
RESOLVED that
1) Mr Downie explore with Mr Holt and Mr Wilson whether they would be able to construct an appropriate notice board on more suitable terms.
2) Mr Fothergill be thanked for the grant
1706 Footpath from Home Orchard to Village Hall (min 1684)
The Clerk reported that SCC had now removed most of the shuttering along the path where it ran through land owned by Mr Durman and that the length which remained was not considered to be a problem. Members confirmed that there was now a problem with broken springs on the gates at the end of the made up section of the path. Mr Hounsell, having declared a prejudicial interest because of adjoining land ownership, made a personal statement about enquiries which he had made about the ownership of land close to the made-up section of the path, and he advised of the actions which he and a neighbour were to take with regard to a number of trees which were causing problems for their properties. He then withdrew from the meeting and members continued to consider the issues.
RESOLVED that the actions being taken with regard to the trees be noted, that Mr Parsons approach Mr Durman about his willingness to replace on behalf of the Council the gate springs if the Council meets the materials costs, and that the Clerk write to the owners of the field behind Home Orchard with a request for them to deal with the brambles overhanging the path.
1707 Proposed Allotments Strategy for Taunton Deane
TDBC was consulting on an emerging draft strategy for allotments and was seeking the views of the Council. As well as proposals for promoting allotments the strategy envisaged all large-scale proposals for new dwellings making provision for allotments and smaller developments making a financial contribution in lieu which in parished areas would be spent within the parish
RESOLVED that the Council gives its broad support to the strategy, and TDBC be advised that in rural parish areas where there is limited development it should be acceptable for the allotment provision to be within the parish rather than within the proposed 1km of the new dwelling
1708 Winter Service 2009/2010
SCC Highways had provided details of its winter service programme which confirmed that the salting policy would limit pre salting to the main traffic routes. No routes within Hatch Beauchamp other than the A358 were included in the programme. SCC would continue to maintain and re-fill salt bins in agreed locations and this year only were offering to all parish and town councils the opportunity to collect de-icing materials on a self-help basis.
RESOLVED that SCC be advised of the Council’s disappointment at the exclusion of Hatch Hill from the programme, and as this route is used as a bus route, as a route for school buses, and is the emergency services route into the village, it be urged to provide at the very least salt bins on the hill and to have them regularly re-filled
1709 Community Policing Awards 2009 – nominations
RESOLVED that the Clerk be advised of any nominations members may wish to make.
1710 Request for grant – Victim Support
RESOLVED that this request be declined
1711 Half Year Report on Income and Expenditure 2009/2010
RESOLVED that the half year report on income and expenditure circulated with the agenda be approved
1712 Accounts
The Clerk submitted a Statement of Account and Bank Reconciliation Statement showing £36.53 in the Current A/c and £4756.38 in the Reserve A/c
RESOLVED that the following payments be made
1) Clerk’s salary, expenses and office costs £389.59
2) Parsons Landscapes Ltd 77.19
3) St John’s PCC 250.00
4) Hatch Beauchamp Baptist Church 95.00
5) Parsons Landscapes Ltd 62.76
1713 Items of report
1) circulation sheet of 5 November 2009
1714 Items for next meeting (13 January 2010)
1) discussion on use of funding for footpath maintenance
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.45pm.
Chairman