Present:- Messrs Buck, Downie, Fowler and Hounsell. (Mrs Kent from Minute No 905)

In Attendance:- Mr Crossley (Clerk)

Mr Hounsell in the chair

The Clerk reported that all members had signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office

RESOLVED That Mr Hounsell be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year

Mr Hounsell signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Chairman and took the chair

901 Apologies

Apologies were submitted on behalf of Messrs Graham, Holt, and Parsons and Mr Williams (TDBC)

There were no declarations of interest

903 Appointment of Vice Chairman

RESOLVED That Mr Fowler be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

The Clerk reported that following the election in May there remained 2 vacancies on the Council and that the Council now needed to consider how those vacancies should be filled. Letters were submitted from 2 members of the public expressing an interest in being co-opted onto the Council

RESOLVED That Mrs P Kent of Hatchwood House, Curry Mallet Road, and M/s H Hooper of 29 Home Orchard be co-opted as members of the Council

(Mrs Kent was present at the meeting, signed the Declaration of Acceptance, and took her place at the meeting)

905 Appointment of Planning Committee

RESOLVED That

1) Messrs Fowler, Hounsell, Holt and M/s Hooper be appointed to the Planning Committee, that the membership be revised to 4, and that the quorum be set at 3

2) Copies of agendas be circulated to all members of the Council for information

RESOLVED That Messrs Holt and Hounsell be appointed the Council's representatives on this committee, and that no nominations be made for the various elections to be made by that body

907 Annual payments/subscriptions

1) That the annual insurance premium of £331.39 be paid to Cornhill Insurance, and that enquiries be made of SALC about the availability of other insurers in this field

2) That the payment of the annual subscription to SALC and SPFA be approved

Standing Orders required that this item be considered but no proposals were before the Council

RESOLVED That the position be noted

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2003 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

The Clerk reported that arrangements still had to be made for the proposed meeting with the Highway Authority. Members doubted that this proposal remained a priority

The video provided by WPC Butt had still not been seen by all members of the Council and the Chairman undertook to ensure that the video was circulated amongst all members including those newly elected to the Council

The Clerk reported that the circulation of the existing Rights of Way map had been delayed because of the elections

RESOLVED That the Clerk ascertain the availability of access to the computerised form of the map available within TDBC

A copy of the skeleton plan had now been received but it was quite lengthy and would require a major commitment if members were to have one completed and maintained

RESOLVED That an electronic copy be made available to members and the matter be further considered at the next meeting

1) That Mr Holt be appointed the Council's representative on the Village Hall Management Committee

2) That the Chairman and the Clerk be appointed to attend meetings of SALC

3) That Mr Fowler be appointed as the Council's representative on the Footpath Liaison Committee

4) That authority be given to the Clerk, after consultation with the Chairman, to make any further nominations to outside bodies required before the next meeting

RESOLVED That 1) the minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on the 23 April 2003 and circulated with the Agenda be noted

2) the attention of the contractors be drawn to the swallows nest in the roof of the bus shelter at Capland

Copies of the minutes were circulated to members. The Committee had considered the following developments :-

1) Orangery at Buttles Lodge

2) Rear conservatory at 6 Nightingale Acre

3) Dwelling adjacent to Beauchamp Bungalow and retention of access to serve Beauchamp Bungalow

The Clerk submitted an Annual Statement showing receipts and payments for the year ended 31 March 2003 together with a bank reconciliation showing £47.99 in the Current Account and £2002.27 in the Business Reserve Account. Because of the changes in membership of the Council it would also be necessary to revise the bank mandate with NatWest Bank. Authority was also sought to pay a number of accounts

RESOLVED 1) That the Annual Statement be approved

2) That the Council continue with its banking arrangements with NatWest Bank for a Current Account and a Business Reserve Account and the Clerk, Mr P N Crossley remain as correspondent for the accounts

3) That in addition to Mr Hounsell, Messrs R Fowler, G Downie and J Holt be nominated as authorised signatories to replace Messrs Lintern and Rogers

4) That the Bank be authorised to take instructions from any 2 of the authorised signatories.

5) That the Clerk be authorised to provide any further information required by the Bank

6) That payment of the following accounts be approved :-

a) Clerk’s salary £218.67

b) Clerk’s expenses £20.74

c) Clerk’s office and admin costs £17.12

d) Parsons (Landscapes) Ltd £88.51

e) Allianz Cornhill £331.39

f) SALC £ 99.75

g) SPFA £10

The Clerk reported that the Moore Stephens as the Council's external auditors had nominated 16 June 2003 as the appointed day for electors to question the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003. He had arranged for the publication of the relevant notices.

The revised regulations required the Council to complete a 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.

RESOLVED that 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

A letter had been received from PC Tom Murphy introducing himself as the new Beat Manager for the Parish in replacement of WPC Butt. He hoped to attend a future meeting.

RESOLVED That the letter giving information of this year’s competition be noted

SALC had issued invitations to a number of training events aimed at members

RESOLVED That 1) Mrs Kent and Mr Buck be nominated for the New Councillors Training event on I July

2) That the Chairman be nominated for the Training Workshop for Chairmen on 28 May

RESOLVED That the letter from DEFRA be noted and that the issue be further considered at the next meeting

RESOLVED That the Chairman and Clerk be authorised to attend this event on 3 July

RESOLVED That Mrs Kent and Messrs Buck and Fowler be authorised to attend this presentation to be held in Taunton on 12 June

RESOLVED That the invitation to this conference on 15 May 2003 be noted

RESOLVED That the requests for donations from The Samaritans, Air Ambulance, Community Council, NSPCC and Victims Support be initially declined, and enquiries be made of which charities are supported by the Village Hall Management Committee

927 Development at 8 Crimthorne Cottages

The Clerk reported that the applicant had appealed against the refusal of detailed planning consent for the proposed dwelling adjacent to 8 Crimthorne Cottages, and that an informal hearing was to be held to which the Council would be entitled to attend. Alternatively the Council could make its views known in writing.

RESOLVED That a letter be sent advising the inspector that the Council strongly supports the grounds for refusal, which were based on sound planning principles, and that this is the unanimous view of the Council.

1) CVS Newsletter on "Somerset Leisure Access Partnership"

2) Safety Camera Partnership News Sheet

3) Briefing Notes on Rural Workshops

4) Countryside Agency publication – Parish Plans Guidance. (After circulation amongst Members this will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting)

5) Rural Youth Spring Newsletter

6) Parrett Catchment Flood Management Plan – letter from Environment Agency

1) Attention was drawn to the problems from overhanging trees when the A358 was closed and traffic was diverted through the village, which would to be drawn to the attention of the Highway Authority

2) Members expressed a wish to be kept informed of progress made in resolving the problems associated with last year’s fireworks display

RESOLVED that the appreciation of the Council for the services which they have rendered to the village be passed to those former members who did not seek re-election at the elections in May 2003

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.15pm

P Hounsell

Chairman

The next meeting of the Council is on 9 July 2003