1 Apologies for Absence: Mr P Mottram and Mr H Warden.

2 Declaration of Interests

a) C Hockey declared an interest in the planning applications for 3 Market Square and 1 Orchard Close.

b) J Beale and R Beale declared an interest in the quotation for work at the cemetery

3 Late Correspondence

This will be dealt with under the appropriate agenda item ie play inspection reports and planning decisions.

4 Agreement of Minutes

The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 8 March 2005 were signed as a correct record.

5 Matters Arising or Raised by Members

a) It was agreed that it was more appropriate for item 16 of the minutes of the last meeting to say ‘error’ not ‘oversight’.

b) It was queried whether committee meetings should be open to the public. It was noted the SSDC Committee meetings were open to the public and this was considered for Parish Council committees. On balance it was decided that as the Parish Council is accountable as a group and not as individuals and committees had no delegated powers to spend money on behalf of the Parish Council, ‘advisory groups’ or ‘working parties’ was a more appropriate name.

c) K Sharp, from Somerset Highways had reported that some of the white lining in the village had been completed eg ‘keep clear’ in Silver Street by the junction with Stoodham.

d) M Willy reported that she had attended the SSDC site meeting on 6 April 2005 to consider the planning application for 19 South Street to present the Parish Council’s view. This will now go back to SSDC Area North for consideration at their April meeting.

e) The light in Prigg Lane car park has been repaired. It was noted that the new lights in Summershard and West Street do not appear to be as bright, but they do in fact direct the light down to where it is needed rather than skywards.

f) The Recreational Maintenance Grant for 2003/2004 has now been received but it appears to be for the wrong amount ie does not cover the additional information provided after the September 2004 meeting with V Sturgess.

g) A short report from P Mottram on the current situation with Community Speedwatch was read.

h) Concern was expressed that all Parish Councillors should have the opportunity to express their views on all matters for which the Parish Councillors are responsible and how could this be achieved within the day-to-day management of the Parish Council between meetings. It was noted that the Parish Council had an open policy and all letters to the Parish Council are in the public domain and as such go in the correspondence box in the library.

6 Planning Verdicts

a) The verdicts on planning applications received during the month were reported.

b) Surprise was expressed that the planning application for a caravan for the site manager at Westdown Orchard had been refused by the SSDC Planning Officer without being referred to the Area North Committee, when the Parish Council had recommended approval on a temporary basis. It was noted that neither of the District Councillors had been consulted. A letter will be sent expressing concern over this planning process.

c) The planning application for the Old Sunday School Room in Roundwell Street was approved on appeal.

7 New Planning Applications

a) 00697ful and 00695lbc Alterations and change of use to bring whole ground floor into retail use to include consumption snacks and drinks, with a two bed flat over. The Parish Council recommended approval.

b) 00762ful Erection of a single storey extension to form a breakfast room at 1 Orchard Close. The Parish Council recommended approval.

c) 00824ful Erection of a two storey extension and conservatory at Cranleigh House, 8 Lightgate Road. The Parish Council recommended approval.

d) 00883ful Erection of a two storey and single storey extension at The Coach House, Yeabridge. The Parish Council recommended approval.

e) 00672cou Temporary change of use of barn for office use at Yeabridge Farm, Yeabridge. The Parish Council recommended approval but queried the duration of temporary.

f) 00733ful Construction of disabled ramp and associated door works at Nat West Bank, St James Street. The Parish Council recommended approval.

8 Footpaths

a) The Parish Council agreed to support the application to divert the footpath by the Droveway, Y24/16 and Y24/18.

b) The problems that have been brought to the Parish Council concerning stiles have been reported to P Attwell, SSDC.

c) C Hockey attended the meeting on the Parish Paths Stewardship Scheme. SSDC want to work with volunteers to keep footpaths clean and tidy etc. There will be loans of equipment for this purpose available. There are some new signs to go on the footpaths and the booklet on the scheme will be put in the correspondence box for all to read. This scheme is not intended to take away the responsibility for statutory work from SSDC, but is intended to be work over and above the statutory responsibility.

d) After a lengthy discussion on the three letters of complaint relating to footpath matters, each Parish Councillor was specifically asked their opinion before a vote was taken to deco-opt P Kidner from the footpath committee and to disband the footpath committee until the May Parish Council meeting. These complaints were considered to be serious enough for the Parish Council to take immediate action and not defer their decision until a later meeting.

e) It was noted that SCC and SSDC have taken on board all the footpath related complaints and these are now being dealt with. R Smith from SCC has confirmed that a full and open process will be followed ie the normal procedures.

9 Lengthsman

D Muir started work on 4 April 2005 and will be working in South Petherton on Wednesdays and Thursdays each week. He will be invited to the Annual Parish Meeting on 24 April 2005 to meet some of the parishioners.

10 Highways

The double yellow lines continue to be ignored and the parking restrictions are not being enforced. The most dangerous area is opposite what was Mr Crombleholme’s shop where there is a pedestrian walkway painted on the road, which is often ignored. A request will be made to the police for more enforcement.

11 Cemetery

a) It was suggested that four new litterbins should be purchased. Prices will be sought for consideration at the next meeting.

b) Following the recent work, the cemetery is looking much better. Some work was authorised at the last Parish Council meeting but some additional work has also been carried out. It was noted that only emergency work could be carried out without the authority for the full Parish Council.

12 Churchyard

R Beale was asked to chase the new contractor to get the grass in the churchyard cut.

13 Pavilion

The report from P Mottram noted that the new licensing laws were extremely time consuming and costly for the Pavilion.

14 Recreation Field

a) It was agreed at the last meeting that the wooden slat at the top of the climbing frame should be repaired, but this is still outstanding and R Beale was asked to deal with this as a matter if urgency.

b) The MUGA is likely to be in place by the end of May 2005.

c) The tennis club need more time to progress with the proposed third court.

d) A significant amount of money could be spent on improving the Garden of Remberance eg removing trees and cleaning the wall. It was agreed to ask the parishioners at the Annual Parish Meeting what they would like to see done at the Garden of Remembrance. P Kidner will be asked to quote for removing some of the trees. All Parish Councillors were asked to visit the sight so they were familiar with the area.

e) Juniper bushes have been purchased for the bank by the steps in Bridge Road and the Lengthsman will be asked to plant these.

f) Many of the trees on the south side of the football pitch overhang the recreation field making grass cutting in this area difficult. The village caretaker has offered to carry out this work through Beale's Heating and Building for £6 per hour. This was agreed and R Beale was also reminded about removing the roller.

g) The Busy Bees Pre- School now have a quote for the new grills needed since the hedge was removed. The Parish Council agreed to give a grant of £200 towards this.

h) The Busy Bees Pre- School has asked if the Parish Council would act as the paymaster for their project to improve the area around the pre-school. This was agreed in principle, but confirmation will be sought on the legality of this.

15 Allotments

C Hockey gave a report on the recent Allotment Holders meeting; these are now being held every three months. A skip will be provided so that the allotment holders can clear the rubbish from their plots. Quotes will be obtained for a water supply and for four feet high fencing between the track and the allotments.

16 County Councillor’s Report

a) Under a new initiative, highways are to be treated as an asset and a new manager appointed to this role. A Ackerman, who is currently the Head of Maintenance, will be taking on this additional task. All roads will be assessed as to their potential and their present state. SCC will then have until 2016 to bring the roads up to 85% of quality. The asset needs to be utilised and to do that will need an Utilisation Manager and this will also be A Ackerman. SCC and the Highways Authority can be fined for not achieving these targets.

b) It was noted that Crown Lane had been marked for repairs but these markings have now worn away and will need to be marked again for the work to be carried out.

17 District Councillors’ Report

a) There is a change to planning policy, with priority to previously developed properties and avoiding housing developments, which make twelve per acre inefficient use of the land; greater intensity will be sought where there is good transport.

b) SSDC has been awarded Beacon status for ‘getting closer to the community’ and received an additional £67,000.

c) An independent research group has reviewed SSDC and assessed:

79% interviewed said doing well against a national average of 56%, Octagon Theatre 82%, Area North and South Petherton 58% for street cleaning. 88% said that this was a good place to live, South Somerset was 7^th on the national list and South Petherton was 1^st on the South Somerset list. Hence priorities can be identified.

d) Where there is no rear access or there are steps down from the house, these homes will not have to have wheelie bins.

18 DEFRA, Quality Parish Council Grants

Having recognised that Quality Parish Councils are receiving more grants, after discussion the Parish Council decided not to pursue this at present

19 South Petherton Village Plan

The inputting of the information on the survey forms is proving to be a laborious task and hence the delay in production of the SP VP summary. B Herrick will continue to manage the SP VP until complete.

20 Village of the Year Competition

It was suggested that South Petherton should enter the Village of the Year Competition; so more information will be sought.

21 Community Council for Somerset.

As both the Blake Hall and Over Stratton Village Hall already belong to the Community Council for Somerset, it was decided to be duplication for the Parish Council to also subscribe.

22 Approval of Cheque Payments

Approval was given for cheques drawn as indicated on the list attached to these minutes. The cheque from the last meeting for the Consortium was cancelled as the invoice had been sent to the wrong recipient. The cheque for Allianz Cornhill was also cancelled as a more competitive insurance quote was received.

23 Annual Parish Meeting

The Annual Parish meeting will be at 7.30pm on Monday 25 April 2005 at the Blake Hall.

S Dickie and M Willy offered their apologies.

24 Parish Council Vacancy

Following the resignation of B Herrick, a vacancy for the Parish Council has been advertised. If no election is requested, the Parish Council agreed to co-opt W Davis.

The meeting closed 9.45pm

Minutes Approved by: Chairman………………………

Date………………………..