Present:- M/s Hooper, Messrs Buck, Downie, Fowler, Holt and Hounsell.

Apologies: - Mrs Kent, Messrs Graham and Parsons.

In Attendance: - M/s Val Grainger (Community Council), Councillor Watson (SCC), Councillor Williams (TDBC), Mr Crossley (Clerk)

Mr Fowler declared a prejudicial interest in Minute No 960 (Station Road Improvement) as he owned a property fronting the road, and left the meeting whilst that matter was being discussed

Mr Fowler asked that the minutes of the meeting of 3 September be amended to reflect that he had apologised for his non-attendance at the meeting because he had a prejudicial interest in Minute No 952 (Application for planning permission at Unit 9 Hatch Mews Business Park). Mr Parsons had written to query the accuracy of Minute No 939 of the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July (Future of Hatch Beauchamp Conservation Area) which he felt did not reflect the discussion, but after consideration members remained satisfied that the minute accurately reflected the position

RESOLVED That the minutes of the meetings held on 9 July and 3 September 2003, amended to reflect the reason for the absence of Mr Fowler from the meeting held on 3 September, be approved as a correct record. (The minutes were then signed by the Chairman)

RESOLVED That this item be again deferred to a later meeting when more members are able to attend

M/s Val Grainger of the Community Council gave a presentation to members outlining the process for the preparation of a Parish Plan. She explained that the current programme facilitating the preparation of plans was in part a response to criticism that the Government was not getting involved in rural affairs, and that through the Countryside Agency a programme had been developed to run to 2005 whereby grants of up to £5000 were available to fund 75% of the cost of preparing plans. The aim was to have the local community actively involved in expressing its views and concerns and producing an action plan which could have a programme period of up to 20 years and which could be used by the whole community to attract funding for different initiatives. Early consultation with the District Council and the County Council would facilitate the plan feeding into the community strategies which those Councils were obliged to produce, and whilst the Parish Plan would not be legally binding it would be of considerable persuasive authority, particularly if those Councils were consulted as the Parish Plan was prepared.

M/s Grainger explained that the burden of preparing the plan should not fall on the Parish Council, although it needed to be supportive and act as banker. It would also need to find a small cash contribution (max £250) although the balance of funding could be "in kind". A separate steering group would be needed and this should flow from the initial "open" public meeting if there was sufficient local interest. Once prepared and adopted it would be for the Steering Group to decide how the plan was to be kept up to date. She confirmed that the preparation of Parish Plans was not mandatory at the moment, but may eventually be mainstreamed through District Councils.

Mr Williams advised that whilst the District Council did support the preparation of Parish Plans, as they tended to be aspirational in nature they needed to be both reasonable and practical as no additional resources were being provided to the statutory authorities to support their implementation.

M/s Grainger provided copies of advisory literature which could be circulated to members and which supplemented that already in the course of circulation with the Members Circulation Sheet.

RESOLVED That M/s Grainger be thanked for her presentation; the additional literature be circulated to members; and that a decision on whether to convene a public meeting be made at the next meeting.

The Clerk reported that he had been advised by TDBC that other commitments had prevented a formal reply being prepared in response to the questions raised at the last meeting, but he had been assured that a response would be provided for the next meeting and that meanwhile an enforcement officer had been asked to visit the site to ascertain the factual position

The Clerk reported that no further information had been provided by the Play Group, but that this might be due to the request having been caught up in the school post over the summer holidays. Mr Buck undertook to follow this up with the group

RESOLVED that the matter be further considered at the next meeting

The Chairman reported that he had completed the survey of frontagers and had obtained their consent to the County Council entering on property in order to carry out a detailed survey which was a prerequisite to a design being prepared. This information had been passed to the County Council.

Mr Watson advised that when the surveyors had arrived some misunderstanding had arisen as it was claimed that plans seen by some of the frontagers had shown a requirement for land to be taken for a footpath on the opposite side of Station Road to the Hatch Inn, to which they objected. He assured members that from the enquiries he had made there were no such proposals; that the survey was needed to address the issues of narrowing the carriageway and dealing with the drainage; that sufficient information had now been obtained to address those issues; and that he hoped that information on the detailed design would be available for the next meeting.

RESOLVED That the position be noted

The Chairman indicated that he had delayed the group discussion on the Standards Board documentation and video until after the holiday period and that he hoped to make the necessary arrangements shortly

Mr Fowler advised on his exchange of correspondence with TDBC as a result of which it had cleared the surface of Footpath T/14/23 between the playing fields and the tarmac path leading to Home Orchard. The Chairman and himself had dealt with the elm on Footpath T14/18 which was obstructing the path. TDBC had also given him a contact for future maintenance work.

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

1) siting of 2 static caravans for staff accommodation at The Farthings Hotel

2) conversion of bungalow to form 3 retirement/close care units at Beauchamp Bungalow

3) formation of vehicular access at Oakfield House

Members considered this application for conservation area consent to demolish part of the boundary wall to allow the formation of a vehicular access with wrought iron gates. A letter had been received from Mr Parsons offering no objection to the application

RESOLVED That TDBC be advised that the Council has no objection in principle subject to

a) the gates opening inwards

b) there is sufficient width to allow the gates to close if a car is parked on the drive

c) the central height of the gates does not exceed the height of the wall

The Clerk reported that the external auditor (Messrs Moore Stephens) have now issued their certificate and opinion that no issues arose out of the audit for the year ended 31 March 2003. Arrangements had been made for the necessary statutory notice to be published

SCC had written seeking the Council’s views on a review of its Speed Management Policy. Mr Watson indicated that implementation of the existing policy (which tended to lead to a standard approach across the county and incorporated a mandatory 20mph speed limit outside all schools whatever the other circumstances) had thrown up a number of anomalies and not all schemes proposed had received local support. The number of signs needed to enforce mandatory schemes was also a cause of local concern.

RESOLVED That the Clerk be authorised to complete the questionnaire after arranging a discussion with any three from M/s Hooper and Messrs Buck, Downie, Fowler and Holt

Mr Holt and the Clerk reported on their meeting with Mr Titcombe of SCC

when they had discussed the location of the new 30 mph speed limit restrictions agreed at earlier meetings. The new limits would incorporate the lay-by at Hatch Green Garage and also the area of Palmers Green, creating a speed limit restriction within the village envelope. New entrance signs would be provided on the main routes and these would be backed up by signs warning of the use of speed cameras. An electronic speed indicator sign would also be sited at the entrance to the village for limited periods.

Mr Titcombe had advised that as there was no formalised street lighting system over much of the area repeater speed restriction signs would be required and he had asked that some publicity be given to this fact.

RESOLVED that the proposals be approved

Information had been received on the process to be adopted if the Council decided to implement new arrangements that allowed Parish Councils to pay attendance and travelling etc allowances to members. To date the Council had decided against making such payments.

The Council was also being advised to adopt a Code of Practice for handling complaints. The model code had been circulated with the agenda. The Code excluded complaints about members (which would be dealt with by the Code of Conduct) and complaints about staff (which would be dealt with as employment matters under their Contract of Employment)

RESOLVED That

1) no action be taken on the arrangements for paying attendance and travelling allowances to members

2) the Model Code of Practice for Handling Complaints (2003) be adopted, and that the full Council be nominated under the Code to consider complaints

Notification had been received that an appeal had been lodged against the refusal by TDBC of planning permission and listed building consent for an extension at Buttles Lodge.

RESOLVED That the Council re-iterate its original objection

RESOLVED That M/s Hooper and Mr Fowler be authorised to attend training on this subject being organised by Avon and Somerset Police on a date to be agreed in November

RESOLVED That M/s Hooper be authorised to attend one of the training events being organised by SALC in October

RESOLVED That no action be taken on the invitation to send a representative to the Community Forum being held at Buckland St Mary on 18 September

The Clerk submitted a Statement of Account and Bank Reconciliation Statement showing a balance of £1571.29 in the Current A/c and £3210.14 in the Business Reserve A/c. The usual grants (up-rated for inflation) for playing fields, burial grounds and footpaths had been received from TDBC. The Statement also incorporated proposals for annual grants on a similar basis to previous years.

RESOLVED that

1) payment of the following invoices and expenses be approved

a) Clerk’s salary - £223.16

b) Clerk’s expenses - £15.80

c) Clerk’s office and admin costs - £4.20

d) Parsons (Landscapes) Ltd - £157.79

e) SALC (practitioners guide) - £11.99

f) Moore Stephens (audit fees) - £141.00

2) the following annual grants be paid

a) Village Hall Management Committee (for insurance) - £500.00

b) HB Baptist Church (for burial ground) - £90

c) St John’s PCC (for burial ground) - £240

 

The Clerk reported on a letter received from The Local Channel offering help with the establishment of a "free" web site. Initial attempts to log on to sites apparently sponsored had not been particularly successful but it appeared to be a developing service. The Council currently had a site sponsored through a local business

RESOLVED That no action be taken on the request at the present time.

a) Circulation Sheets of 9 July, 11 August and 3 September including in particular TDBC Performance Plan, new Ethical Framework Regulations, Avon and Somerset Police Authority Strategy Plan, Rural Service Standards 2003, draft Schools Organisation Plan, consultation from SALC on indemnities, Taunton Deane Crime and Disorder Partnership

b) Bringing Broadband e-mail to Somerset – letter from Councillor C Wolverson – it was agreed to give publicity through the local notice board and the Parish Magazine

a) The Chairman reported on his attendance at a special meeting of TDBC when the Freedom of the Borough had been conferred on 40 Commando Royal Marines

b) It appeared that the Highway Authority was now addressing the concerns previously raised about the state of the footpath and carriageway of the road leading to Ashill, and had carried out some white lining in the village but had still not tackled the junctions at Home Orchard and Nightingale Acre

c) Brambles were causing a problem for pedestrians on the main road near Buttles Lodge

a) Noise from the Hatch Inn

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.30pm. The next ordinary meeting will be on Wednesday 12 November 2003

 

 

 

 

P Hounsell

Chairman