1 Apologies for Absence: Mr A Ashdown, Mr B Davis and Mr R Palmer.

2 Declaration of Interests

There were no declarations of interest.

3 Young People’s Parish Council

There were no members of the YP PC present.

4 Late Correspondence

a) David Laws surgeries for September 2005; these will go on the notice boards.

b) SSDC car parking charges and public conveniences to be discussed under the appropriate agenda item.

c) A list of highways problems from the Parish Council Highways Group.

d) Flooding Awareness Workshop information to be discussed under the appropriate agenda item.

5 Parish Council Vacancy

SSDC have confirmed that it will not be necessary to hold an election to fill the vacancy. Ms Nikki Greenleaf has expressed an interest in becoming a Parish Councillor and it was also suggested that Peter Kidner should be approached. A new Parish Councillor will be co-opted next month.

6 Agreement of Minutes

The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 12 July 2005 were signed as a correct record after amending 7e to read Compton Road not Palmer Street.

7 Matters Arising or Raised by Members

a) There have been motorised bikes using the recreation ground. Also motorbikes causing a noise nuisance at a property in North Street. This can be reported to SSDC Environmental Health Department and a record should be kept of the times and number of incidence.

b) For the resurfacing work at Hayes End, the plan indicates that the resurfacing will be for an area south of Coles Lane towards Hayes End roundabout and hence the current signage is misleading a sit indicates that Hayes End wil still be open. Somerset Highways wil be contacted again.

(J Sharpe arrived)

c) It was queried why the list of play area refurbishments in the SSDC Area North agenda did not include South Petherton. P Robathan responded that it was an historic list rather than recent.

d) It was confirmed that the SSDC Enforcement Officer has visited the site of the caravan in Lower Stratton and is dealing with the matter.

e) A letter will be sent to the owner of the hedges at the lower end of Knapp Hill and the junction of Coles Lane and Hayes End requesting that their hedges should be cut. The first is obstructing the pavement and the second is obscuring the road junction.

f) It was confirmed that verge cutting by Somerset Highways is now once per year.

g) There has been fly tipping on the path from Pitway to the hospital, Westbury Homes and the SSDC Footpath Officer will be contacted.

8 Planning Verdicts

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

9 New Planning Applications

a) 01360ful Amended plans for the erection of two detached dwellings with garages and new access on land adjacent to Wesley Cottage. The Parish Council recommended approval.

b) 01911rem Approval of reserved matters for detached dwelling with garage at 24 Lightgate Lane. The Parish Council recommended refusal as this is over development of the site; it is excessively large for the plot and not in keeping with the appearance of the other properties in Lightgate Lane. The outline planning permission was for a 3 bedroomed house with a separate garage, which would have been in keeping with the other properties. This is a four bedroom house with an integral garage and therefore much larger than the property for which outline planning permission was supported. From the measurement of the property and its appearance on the location plan this dwelling and the extension to 24 Lightgate Lane will use the total width of land available and would over power the neighbouring property; reducing their light and their privacy as there are windows on that side of the property. Any over flow from the proposed dwelling would be onto the neighbour's property and neither is there any provision for maintenance of the proposed dwelling.

c) 01910ful Erection of a single storey extension at 24 Lightgate Lane. The Parish Council recommend refusal as the proposed extension and the proposed 4 bedroomed dwelling in the same plot of land will use the total width of land available and not be in keeping with the appearance of the properties in Lightgate Lane.

d) 01903con and 01901cou Demolish both the existing buildings and demolish the adjoining wall and create a garden for Coke House on land and buildings behind and belonging to 8 St James Street. The Parish Council had no objection in principle, but they were concerned that the existing building to be demolished is built on top of the neighbouring wall, that is owned by number 12 St James Street. The demolition of the building should be carried out in consultation with the neighbour and that after demolition of the building the finish of the existing original wall should be consistent with the rest of the wall.

e) 01872ful Convert existing upper floors from one flat to three flats at28a St James Street. The Parish Council recommended refusal until off road car parking can be provided. On street parking is already a problem in South Petherton and being a rural area there are very few people who live in South Petherton without owning a car. An increase in the number of flats would increase the parking requirements for which no provision has been made in this application. Behind 28a St James Street there is a large garden, which could provide car parking for these flats if accessed from Prigg Lane. The Parish Council recommends that the developer should seek permission to use this garden to provide car parking. Until the off street car parking can be resolved the Parish Council recommend refusal.

f) 01994cou Change of agricultural buildings to polo clubhouse and install all weather polo pitch, manege, car parking and access track at Wigborough Farm. There was some concern expressed about the possible increase of heavy traffic ie horseboxes but the Parish Council recommended approval.

g) 02039ful Erection of a two bedroomed cottage in the garden of 7 George Lane. The Parish Council recommended refusal unless the land on the plot is brought to street level to avoid the two storey cottage being too dominant in this small street and the cottage should then be turned 90° on the plot so that it faces George Lane, not side on to George Lane with the back to Palmer Street.

h) 02037ful Alterations and first floor extension to 7 George Lane. The Parish Council recommended refusal. The increase in the height will create a dwelling that is too overpowering; the level of the land here is already higher than the rest of the street. In this small street of terraced cottages it will spoil the appearance of the street and is not in keeping with the design of the other properties on this side of the street.

i) 01889ful New garden room and link room additions to house and garage at 2 Whitehall Close. The parish Council recommend approval.

10 South Petherton Enterprise Park at Church Path, Over Stratton

There having been many comments on this during the public session, the Parish Council discussed the proposals that had been given to them at the last meeting. This was an initial consultation by the developers with the Parish Council; no planning application has been made. Comments included: -

- It would stop some of the heavier traffic that goes down through Yeabridge.

- Industrial units are already in the local plan for Lopen Head.

- A green field site should only be used where there is no brown field site available.

- This proposal is for B1 - business premises in a residential area and B2 - light industry.

- SSDC would have to apply a sequential test if a planning application was made ie is there anyway else that could be used first egg Martock, Lopen Crewkerne, Ilton.

- This proposed site is not in the local plan and is likely to come after any application from Lopen.

- South Petherton would have more natural screening than Over Stratton.

- South Petherton might favour light industrial use but Over Stratton is likely to object.

- Likely to favour local economy.

- The Lopen Head proposal is for 6 – 7,000 people in the area so is there a need for more.

- Would it grow and extend and what might that lead to.

- If it had been submitted for the local plan it may well have been favoured rather than Lopen.

- Can a site be substituted in the Local Plan? It was confirmed that it would need to go to a public enquiry and hence was unlikely at this late stage.

- Concern about light pollution.

- Could these same development proposal e included at Lopen which is further away form residential properties?

- It was suggested that the developers write to the strategic planners seeking their guidance.

Overall some merits but many concerns.

11 Revised Scheme of Delegation

Following the letter from SSDC, P Robathan explained the new system. One major change is that all planning applications will be available on the SSDC website and the clerk will receive an e-mail to say when an application is available. After discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council would write to P Robathan and

K Ronaldson explaining their concerns on the revised scheme and enlisting the support of the District Councillors.

12 County Councillor’s Report

a) There is a revised Nippy Bus Schedule with a new service in the afternoons and covering more of the parish. Leaflets are available. The Nippy Bus Co have been asked to visit each Parish Council to explain their service.

b) South Petherton had raised their own funds for the MUGA and SCC are erecting eleven MUGAS throughout Somerset, J Sharpe thought these were being funded by the Community Chest.

c) Salting and gritting for the coming winter is likely to be cut across the county.

d) Recycling in Somerset is the best in the country being excess of 80% in a number of the local Household Recycling Centres.

e) The yellow lines in Roundwell Street have yet to be reinstated.

13 District Councillors’ Report

a) K Ronaldson has met with Inspector Pitman to discuss Community Speed Watch. He is committed to the scheme but with eighteen villages now in the scheme, it has reached its maximum capacity. A CPSO is being brought in to help with the scheme. His aim is to always have a CPSO or policeman with the community Speed Watch team.

b) The SSDC footpath team have taken on cutting the footpaths rather than them be let out to contract and under local control there has been an improvement with some being cut five times this year. This is only on the footpaths that are the responsibility of SSDC not the landowner.

c) Problems can now be reported to SSDC on their website service line for litter, fly tipping, abandoned vehicles etc.

14 Car Parks and Public Conveniences

The SSDC Area North Car Parking report was read. This has been compiled after consultation with both the Parish Council and the SP Business Association. The recommendation of the report is that car parking charges should not be introduced in South Petherton but other uses of the Prigg Lane Car Park should be considered eg move the recycling bins to Prigg Lane and add a plastic recycling bin, more garages etc. The on going vandalism of the toilets has led to them being closed for much of the time and possible re-siting the public conveniences is being suggested.

15 Community Safety Action Panel Grant Applications

The idea from the South Petherton Village Plan group of a police/information post is to be investigated further for a possible grant application.

16 Flooding Awareness Workshop

Peter Stratford attended the workshop on behalf of the Parish Council. From the workshop each parish is being asked to have a Flood Warden, so consideration needs to be given on who might take on this role.

17 Recreation Ground

a) A meeting with BASE Leisure, K Ronaldson and A Moore form SSDC, has been held to discuss the problems with the MUGA. It will have to be taken down completely and put up again but the date for this has not yet been confirmed.

b) The YP PC has not come back with their ideas for the BMX track improvements so the holes will be filled and some more grit put down but no improvements at this stage.

c) C Willy is making arrangements for the hedge along Bridge Road to be cut.

d) P Turner is incapacitated so will not be able to continue with his ideas for the Memorial Garden. C Willy and N Glendinning will do some spraying there and the Lengthsman will be asked to do some work here during the winter months.

e) D Allen has been contacted for a quote to repair the rest of the tiles in the play area.

f) The Bowling Club have asked if the Parish Council could act as the Paymaster for the proposed improvements to the watering system for the bowling green. The Parish Council agreed in principle providing it came within the terms of Customs and Excise and they would impose their own terms relating to maintenance, insurance etc.

g) Concern was expressed about the new lighting for the football pitch, which appears to have exposed cabling. The clerk will ask for this to be disconnected and re installed by a qualified electrician.

h) The Brewers Arms Football Club has now paid for 2004/2005 seasons.

18 Lengthsman

a) The scheme is working well.

b) To date nothing has been heard form SSDC about their promised contribution to the scheme. A letter will be sent to P Robathan asking when this will be resolved and the payment of £5,000 received. P Robathan reported that he had already contacted the Chair of SCC asking what progress there had been on the promised report.

c) M Willy requested the opportunity to discuss the management of the scheme.

d) The Lengthsman has cleared the landing at Lightgate/Silver Street and Somerset Highways will be collecting the pile of rubbish this created.

19 Highway Matters

a) The Hospital Lane residents find it difficult to use Pitway Hill as the traffic is fast and there is no pavement. Improvements to the footpath going form Hospital Lane to Lightgate were recommended. This could possibly be included in the Community Access Grant application.

b) Concern was expressed about the speed of traffic as it goes down Pitway Hill to East Lambrook Road past Atkins Gate, there have been a number of accidents. Somerset Highways will be contacted.

c) The Highways Agency is responsible for clearing the Ragwort on the A303. The Lengthsman has spent time clearing the ragwort in public areas and Somerset Highways will be asked to write to the landowners in the village where ragwort continues to be a problem.

20 Christmas Lights

J Beale recommended a banner across the road as you come into St James Street. These cost £995 for Merry Christmas with bells or £495 for Merry Christmas. She was asked to check the available budget, approach the landowners for permission for the fixings on their property and Knights Electrical for the cost of installation and report back to the next meeting for a decision.

21 Allotments

Most of the allotments are now being well cared for but there have been some incidents of vandalism, which will be reported, to the police. It appears to be children sized footprints and bike tracks.

22 Footpaths

a) S Wallis attended a SSDC Footpath Stewardship Scheme meeting and from that recommended working towards a liaison scheme with local landowners.

b) The applications for the Community Access Grant are being prepared and will include some footpath maps.

c) There is now agreement from the landowner for a gate, design still to be decided, to replace the stile on footpath Y24/13 for the disabled access improvements funded by £400 received last year from J Sharpe’s Divisional Fund.

d) The additional information from SCC Right of Way team on the gates at footpath Y24/24 at Compton Durville was considered. After consideration the Parish Council recommend that the gate should not be authorised.

23 Cemetery

a) The grass now looks good but the hedges need to be cut. A decision on the contract was again deferred.

b) P Vaux has offered to cut the hedge on the roadside of the cemetery as he has in the past. He will be asked to cut the roadside and top of the hedge.

c) A decision on any action on the moles was deferred.

24 Churchyard

It was confirmed that the caretaker will be employed one hour per week, being ½ hour on Mondays and Fridays to clear glass and litter from the churchyard. The need for this to be reviewed in October 2005.

25 Pavilion

a) There are two tiles on the roof that need to be repaired/replaced and the down pipe is damaged.

b) A grant towards the cost of the licence for the recreation ground will be made when more details of the costs involved are known.

26 Tsunami Appeal Donation

A decision on whether to make a donation was deferred earlier in the year. K Stroud and her family are supporting a specific local family and it was suggested that the Parish Council might support this appeal. More information with a specific recommendation will be considered at the next meeting.

27 Approval of Cheque Payments

Approval was given for cheques drawn as indicated on the list attached to these minutes, plus an additional cheque was signed for D Muir who is paid every four weeks, so thirteen times each year.

28 September 2005 Parish Council Meeting

Consideration was given to changing the date of the September meeting, as four Parish Councillors know already that they will be sending their apologies for the next meting. After discussion, it was agreed not to change the date so the meeting will be on 13 September 2005.

The meeting closed 10.12pm

Minutes Approved by: Chairman……………………… Date…………….