Present: - Mr Hounsell, (Chairman); M/s Hooper, Mrs Kingston; Messrs Fowler, Holt, Lintern, Rogers and Townson.

In Attendance: - Councillor R Watson (SCC), Councillor J Williams (TDBC), WPC Butt (Avon & Somerset Police), and Mr Crossley (Clerk)

Mr Fowler declared a non-prejudicial interest in minute 794 (heating vent outlet at The Stables, Station Road) and a prejudicial interest in minute 798 (Alleged nuisance at Hatch Inn). He left the meeting during consideration of that item.

The minutes of the meetings held on 8 and 21 May and 1 July were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

The Clerk reported that Sterling Services Ltd had made an offer to manufacture and donate to the village stones which when engraved with the name of the Parish could be placed at the entrances to the village. The chairman and himself had visited the company's site and the product, which the company had offered, appeared to be eminently suitable for the project which the Council had in mind. It was understood that similar stones had been manufactured for use elsewhere.

Enquiries had also been made of the highway authority about the proposal from Mrs Gee to plant a tree at Hatch Green and subject to a number of minor conditions no objection had been made to that proposal. Mrs Gee had asked if the Council could contribute towards the cost of the tree, which was estimated to be £25.

RESOLVED that

1) the company be thanked for its generous offer and photographs of similar proposals together with a design for the stones at Hatch Beauchamp be submitted to the next meeting

2) a grant of 50 % of the cost of £25 been made towards the tree at Hatch Green

3) an application be made to the County Council for the balance of the cost of the tree at Hatch Green to be met from the Golden Jubilee fund.

The Clerk reported that there had been no response to the notice seeking volunteers to help with the spreading of scalpings on the footpath, which ran from the school to the Village Hall. Members indicated that it had been suggested there might be a better response if the Council could set a date for the work.

He had had no response from the contractor responsible for cutting grass on the playing fields for advice as to how to deal with the thistles on the footpath, but the Chairman indicated that he had received an offer from Mr M Pettit who would clear and sprayed the thistles for a charge of £10 per hour.

RESOLVED that

1) Mr Pettit be asked to undertake a morning's work clearing and spraying the thistles on the footpath and the position be reviewed after this work has been done

2) the Chairman speak to Mr J Denholm about what he might be willing to undertake as an adjoining owner to deal with the trees on his property

3) a further request for volunteers for a set date to be made when the new notice board has been installed in Station Road.

The Clerk reported that TDBC had agreed to make a grant of 85 % of the cost of the scheme for providing equipment and seats at the play area, and that the balance of the cost (£136.72) would be met by the Village Hall Trustees. The Council would need initially to meet the VAT, but this would be recoverable. He had, therefore, arranged for the scheme to proceed.

As regards the new notice board, the school governors had agreed that it could be erected at the school premises, and that TBDC were able to meet part of the cost. Mr Holt submitted a sketch with a suggested design and a proposed location, which had been agreed with the head teacher. He indicated that the cost of the timber materials for the notice board of a similar size to that currently located in Station Road was approximately £25.

RESOLVED that

1) the proposals for the play area be noted

2) the design and location of the notice board shown in the sketch prepared by Mr Holt be approved, and that quotations be obtained.

.

The Clerk reported that TDBC had advised that responsibility for the provision of waste bins lay with the Parish Council, but that it would arrange for them to be emptied if they were on public highways. The chairman indicated that he had been advised by the chairman of the Village Hall Committee that the bin had originally been provided by them and located at the Post Office at the request of the former post mistress, and that they were willing to relocated it within the playing field, which they were now in the process of doing.

RESOLVED that the position be noted.

The Clerk reported that he had clarified that the property known locally as "The Lodge" was indeed the property listed as "Grey Lodge". TDBC were unable to amend the legal entry in the list, but had amended its records and the website to reflect the position.

The Clerk reported that Taunton Building Control had confirmed that the outlet was guarded in compliance with building regulations and that the issue of projection across the highway was a matter for the County Council as highway authority.

The Clerk reported that Mr R Knight had tendered his resignation as a member of the Council. The Returning Officer had advertised the vacancy but there had been no requisition for an election. It was now for the Council to co-opt a replacement member. The Clerk advised that the Council could move directly to co-opting someone who had previously expressed interest when the last vacancy was advertised, or could give a new notice inviting expressions of interest

RESOLVED that

1) the Clerk arrange for a notice to be published inviting expressions of interest in writing to the Chairman, and that co-option be considered at the next meeting

2) the Clerk write to Mr D Graham (who had previously expressed an interest) drawing his attention to the notice

3) a letter be sent to Mr Knight thanking him for his services to the Council.

The Council considered a letter from Sterling Services Ltd drawing attention to "break-ins" to their yard, which they believed were being carried out by children. The company were concerned because of the inherent dangers in the site and although they had discussed the problems with the police they were anxious that the problem should be discussed by the Council. They would welcome any comments which the Council might wish to make as to how security might be improved. Member referred to the open access to the site and to the fact that there were no visible signs indicating it was private property. The fact that it did contain a listed building might also be an attraction to some people.

WPC Butt inform the council that she had advised the company on the provision of security fencing

RESOLVED that the Council supports the views of the police on the need for security fencing and improved signs.

797 Pledge to "Kill Your Speed" campaign

Somerset County Council was proposing to mount a campaign to encourage motorists to reduce excessive speed and improve safety on roads. As part of that campaign they had provided a number of campaign leaflets and had also produced a video, which could be made available to local organisations. They sought the co-operation of the Parish Council in promoting the campaign. Members were shown the Video, which they agreed had been well produced and they were encouraged by the objectives behind the campaign.

With regard to speeding in the village and in particular in Station Road, WPC Butt indicated that as promised she had arranged for a number of speed checks to be carried out and this had produced no evidence of a speeding. Mr Watson indicated that this did support the evidence which the County Council held. WPC Butt explained that further training was shortly to be held on the use of mobile speeding cameras and it might be that at some future date the Council might wish to explore this option. She also advise that she had been told that the roadway outside the Hatch Mews development had now been adopted and she would continue to check on parking in that area.

Members referred to the use of illuminated electronic signs used to inform speeding motorists of excessive speed but were advised that these were extremely expensive.

RESOLVED that the Council support the policy initiative to reduce excessive speed, and that the video and literature be made available to any local organisation which wishes to make use of it.

Members referred to issues that had been raised about vehicles emerging from the Hatch Inn car park into Station Road, and also to excessive noise from one or two vehicles leaving the property late at night. WPC Butt undertook to speak again to the licensee about noisy vehicles.

It was not felt that the problem caused by emerging vehicles was an isolated incident, and that the problems had been aggravated by works which had been carried out in the vicinity recently. Members acknowledged, however, that there were no easy solutions although the provision of a highway mirror on the property immediately opposite the car-park access might bring some benefits. Mr Watson inform the Council that the highway authority still anticipated bringing forward its proposals for improving Station Road in the current year.

RESOLVED that the highway authority be asked to look at the problem of emerging vehicles from the Hatch Inn car park when they are examining its improvement scheme.

The Chairman reported that the Planning Committee at its meeting on 18 June had agreed to offer no objection to the application to form a vehicular access and hard standing at 8 Crimthorne Cottages, and subject to a number of detailed comments had offered no objection to proposals for the erection of a replacement garage at Grey Lodge.

The Council had been advised of the latest draft school organisation plan published by Somerset County Council. It was a substantial document and Members had been informed that it could be accessed on the Internet. The draft plan indicated that over a period of time the numbers attending the local primary school were expected to reduce, but inquiries which been made of the local head teacher had indicated that there were no proposals in the plan which adversely affected the school.

RESOLVED that the position be noted.

801 Waste Action Programme

Somerset County Council had written seeking the support of Parish Councils in promoting its Waste Action Programme, and in particular at raising awareness of Somerset's waste issues. The Council was invited to adopt a number of options to advancing the programme

RESOLVED that the option of seeking further information about the Waste Action Programme be adopted and the issue be further consider at the next meeting

A copy of the newsletter describing the results of the SWARMMS study had been circulated with the Members Circulation Document. The study proposed a number of transport solutions between London and the South-West and South Wales. Included within the preferred strategy was the dualling of the Ilminster bypass and the A358 to Taunton. A letter had been received from the ADAG Action Group asking the Council to support the dualling of the A303/A30. This proposal did not form part of the study's recommendations.

Councillors Watson and Williams updated Members on discussions, which had taken place at different forums, from which was clear that a number of decisions and issues still had to be cleared before the study's recommendations were adopted

RESOLVED that the position be noted for the time being.

803 Code of Conduct

The Clerk reported that the DTLR had issued a consultation paper, which set out proposals for the framework within which allegations about misconduct by councillors could be handled by local authorities. The paper appeared to set out of a reasonable set of proposals and a copy was available should Members wish to inspect it. He reported that the consultation period had already expired, and that as it was anticipated that SALC would be responding to the paper he had suggested to them that it they might like to suggest that when an issue was referred to a sub-committee of the local Standards Committee the number of district councillors considering an issue which affected a parish councillor should not exceed the number of Parish Councillors in membership of the sub committee.

RESOLVED that no further comments be made.

RESOLVED that no action be taken on the request for a donation to the Winged Fellowship Trust.

Following the resignation of Mr Knight there now existed a vacancy on this committee. A meeting of the committee had also been held on 13 June but the minutes of that meeting were not yet available and would be circulated with the Members Circulation Document

RESOLVED that Mr Holt be appointed as the Council's second representative on this committee.

The Clerk reported that following the appointment of Moore Stephens as the Council's external audit they had nominated 19th August as the appointed day for electors to question the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001. He had arranged for the publication of the relevant notices.

The revised regulations required the Council to complete a new form of Annual Return that incorporated a Statement of accounts and a Statement of assurance. A copy of the proposed Return was available for inspection by members at the meeting.

The Clerk advised members that the council was obliged to modify its internal audit arrangements by having an internal auditor independent of the Council. The chairman indicated that consideration had been given as to whom might take up this appointment and he had approached Mr R Dominy who, subject to the approval of the Council, had agreed to accept the appointment.

As part of the Council's financial and audit controls it was desirable that the Council have a set of financial regulations, a draft copy of which had been circulated with the Agenda.

RESOLVED that

1) the annual return which incorporates the statement of accounts and statement of assurance as submitted to the Council be approved and that the Chairman be authorised to sign it on behalf of the Council

2) Mr R Dominy be appointed as the council's independent internal auditor

3) the financial regulations circulated with the Agenda be approved subject to No8 being amended to provide for written quotations for expenditure on works in excess of £250

The Clerk submitted a Statement of Account showing a balance of £1,080.31 in the Current Account and £3,236.43 in the Business Reserve Account

RESOLVED that payment of the following expenses be approved

a) Clerk's expenses £33.31

b) Clerk's salary £207.50

c) Cornhill Insurance £4.90

d) Parsons Landscapes £326.98

e) Village Hall Committee (Muga) £250

f) Salc £10

a) Annual report of Avon and Somerset police

b) Countryside Agency publications: Vital Village Update and section 17 Crime and Disorder Act 1998

c) Letter from Standards Board giving general guidance and video (copy could be made available to members)

d) Letter from Audit Commission confirming appointment of auditors and enclosing new statement of responsibilities of councils and their auditors

e) copy of village survey undertaken by primary school (to be passed to Mr Fowler)

f) notice of application to transfer licence of Hatch Inn

g) conference on domestic violence organised by Avon and Somerset police

h) confirmation that work on the 30 mph speed limit extension in the village would start in August and would include Palmers Green

i) request for views on Somerset County Council's draft corporate plan (copy to be circulated to Members and item included on the Agenda for the next meeting)

j) Shaping the future of Taunton - invitation to Clerk to attend workshops

RESOLVED that the Council consider at its next meeting the constitution of the Planning Committee.

Signed

Chairman

The meeting closed at 9:30pm.

Note the next meeting of the Council is on 11th September 2000.