1 Absent: Ms N Symes

2 Parish Council Vacancies

There is currently one vacancy on the Parish Council and a possible second as Nuala Symes has indicated that she will be resigning, but still nothing has been heard from her. There has been an expression of interest from one resident but he will not have lived in the village for the required qualifying time until May 2008

3 Declaration of Interests

There were no declarations of interest.

4 Late Correspondence

There was no late correspondence.

5 Youth Parish Council

There was no one from the Youth PC to make a report

6 PCSO Michelle Haimes

a) The new Community Beat Manger is Jonathan Watson and he will take up his post on 14 January 2008.

b) There has been a reduction in the number of complaints about Prigg Lane but an increase in problems at St James Street car park and Bridge Road steps. The was some damage to cars parked in St James street car park on New Year’s Eve, which is being checked on the CCTV.

c) The police now have a ‘mosquito’ that could be used in SP when required. M Haimes explained how it worked and will provide some more information for the next meeting.

7 Agreement of Minutes

The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 3 December 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record after an alteration to say that M Willy left the room when Hayes End Manor was discussed.

8 Mattes Arising

There were no matters arising.

9 New Planning Applications

a) 05581ful Replacement of existing single bay garage with two storey double bay garage/utility room/store/wc with room above (re submission) at Hamdon View, Over Stratton. SP Parish Council recommended approval.

b) 04987ful Erection of rear extension to 21 Summershard. SP Parish Council recommended approval.

c) 05631ful Erection of steel security gates at SP library. SP Parish Council recommended approval.

d) 05686ful Erection of a two storey side extension and single storey rear extension at Winterborne, Hele Lane. SP Parish Council recommended approval but they did have concerns about the size of the extension relative to the existing dwelling and queries about the building line in relation to the neighbouring properties

e) 05665ful Alterations to Bothy Cottage and construction of tennis court at Bothy Cottage, Parrett House, Martock. SP Parish Council had no comment to make.

10 District Councillors’ Report

a) Some libraries in neighbouring counties are closing, but SCC who lease the SP library building, have offered to pay for the new security gates.

b) The bulb planting at the entrances to SP has been carried out with bulbs suitable for naturalising.

c) There have been improvements in the planning department since Simon Gales was appointed to lead it. Six months ago they passed the national requirements and last month achieved 90%.

d) The South Somerset Local Plan runs out in 2011. The next stage will be the 2011 – 2026 South Somerset Local Development Framework. A draft document is currently being produced for consultation over a two month period. P Robathan recommends that when it arrives SP PC should appoint a small group to work on this to get the maximum input into this.

11 Precept

a) It was noted that the precept includes provision to have a minimum of £24,000 in the bank at the year end.

b) P Mottram queried the decision made at the precept meeting to end the support that SP PC introduced three years ago when SSDC removed the Recreation al Maintenance Grant. The clubs who benefitted from this were reminded each year that this would be reviewed annually. Instead SP PC has increased the budget for donations to give support to a wider group of clubs in the village. All groups and clubs will be able to make a case for a donation rather than support being directed to a small group. P Mottram put a case for the Bowling Club, but was reminded that as part of the SP PC meeting he should not be speaking on behalf of a specific club. A letter explaining this decision will be sent to the clubs affected.

c) A precept on £52,000, which is 3.9% was approved. This is an increase of £1,955 on last year and this will be used as a contingency.

12 Approval of Cheque Payments

Approval was given for cheques 3614- 3627 drawn as indicated on the list attached to these minutes.

13 Highway Matters

a) The cost to remove the telegraph poles and have underground cable sin St James Street car park and in Market Square would be £91,700. It was agreed that this would not be pursued

b) The damaged kerb stones in Palmer Street are to be reinstated when the development is complete.

c) A quote has been requested for a street light at the junction of Silver Street and Lightgate.

d) The residents of Elizabeth Way find the visibility at the junction with Harvey’s Road to be difficult and have requested a mirror on the Old Manse. The owners of the Old Manse have agreed to this and the matter has been referred to Somerset Highways.

e) The responsibility for the state of Doctors Walk was queried. J Johnson offered to discuss this with P Attwell from SSDC.

14 Footpaths

a) SPPC has no objections to the proposed diversion of Y24/22 and Y24/23 at Rydon Barn Compton Durville, but it strongly recommends that SSDC attempts to obtain agreement from the relevant landowners to move the new line of the path to the northern side the boundary indicated by line G-H-E on the plan. This would avoid the need for a gate at point H and also provide better, unrestricted views for walkers in a northerly direction.

b) Horses have been using footpath Y24/76 at Wigborough. SSDC and SCC have been asked for guidance about this but to date there has been no response.

c) Some footpath problems have been corrected recently but it is difficult to get a written response form the footpath officers.

15 Street Lighting

a) South Somerset Homes have requested a donation towards the cost of a proposed street light at the steps from Silver Street to Stoodham. Whilst appreciating that a new street light as proposed could benefit others in the community, SP PC has other street lighting priorities which have been under discussion for a while and have come from residents requests, including the junction of Silver Street and Lightgate, so will not be supporting this request.

b) Clarification and a plan will be sought from Somerset Lighting as it is not clear what they are asking in their recent letter about lighting in Lightgate Lane development.

c) There has still been no response about George Lane lights. Despite it being referred to the regulation committee, where Somerset Lighting just said they waiting for a response from SPPC. J Sharpe will be asked to speak to David Laws about the matter.

d) The new lighting on South Street Bridge is not working fully.

16 Recreation Ground

a) Bridge Road hedge ahs been cut.

b) The link fencing by the car park has been repaired.

c) C Willy will write an article about the Garden of Remembrance for TA13.

d) When Bridge Road steps are repaired it was suggested that there should be a concrete rather than a stone coping stone. It was noted that there has been similar damage to the stone work at Creedy Bridge

e) The pavilion committee have met and Charlotte Pearce is now their treasurer. It was noted that there is an outstanding invoice of £836 which the pavilion committee owe to SPPC.

17 Cemetery

K Parkin, the Tree Warden, explained that as so many plots in the cemetery have been purchased it makes additional tree planting difficult. So additional tree planting is proposed on the land owned by SP PC east of the cemetery as a memorial wood. To plant native trees, possibly silver birch, with wide spacing so that ashes can be spread around a specific tree, with a small memorial plaque. Possibility of a family leasing a tree to be considered. The recommendation is for planting in November 2008, with 100 x five feet high trees. Grants for such projects are available and a grant application needs to be made in the next couple of months.

Various concerns were expressed including choice of silver birch and leaves dropping in the autumn. K Parkin was asked to come the next SP PC meeting with prices and a specific grant proposal.

18 Churchyard

Nothing to report.

19 County Councillor’s Report

a) J Sharpe is giving £700 from his Divisional Fund to wards the cost of having the Time out Bus in SP for another three months.

b) The ‘Your Somerset’ newsletter has been circulated

c) SW1 which is out sourcing the SCC administration is saving SCC the equivalent of 1 -2% on Council Tax.

d) SCC now knows how much government funding they will have for the next three years.

e) Proposed capital expenditure is on the new Record Office, Taunton Museum and urban schools.

f) The SP PC letter on the A303/A358 proposed development went before the County Executive. There is a query as to whether this will now go ahead now that the Stonehenge tunnel has been abandoned.

g) The bus service timetable is out of date. There should be a new one to coincide with the introduction of free nationwide bus passes.

20 To Consider

a) The Annual Parish Meeting – will be at 7.30pm on Monday 21 April 2008 at the Blake Hall.

b) Police Priorities – Response to say that SP PC agrees with priorities but would put Anti Social Behaviour as the first priority.

c) Christmas Lights – The costs of purchasing new lights or repairing the existing was discussed. It was agreed to purchase new rope lights with sufficient for new sites and repair the old lights. Knights Electrical will carry out a survey of what is required. C Hockey will be asked if he would work with Knight Electrical on this.

d) Confirmation of Appointment of Internal Auditor – It was agreed that Henry Lovegrove should be asked to carry out this role for 2007/2008.

e) Doctors Surgery – Any possible move will be the decision of the doctors and would have to be subject of a public consultation.

f) Donations Policy – It was agreed that SP PC should have a policy of only supporting requests that are of benefit to the parish, or those connected to the parish and its residents . Hence SP PC will not be supporting the SCC request for a contribution to their Olympic Fund.

g) Grass Cutting Specification – This was agreed without any changes.

h) Local Action Group – The Time Out Bus has worked well. Local residents and young people met together on the last visit of 2007. Paull Robathan and John Sharpe, through their respective funds, have agreed to fund the bus for a further twelve weeks. Some visitors to the Time Out Bus have now joined the Youth Club. Yeovil Foyer will be offering seven weeks of media taster sessions in the David Hall on Wednesday evenings

i) Market Towns Initiative – Temporary CCTV which is easier to monitor, and to use as and when required is being considered. The larger towns also want a radio link system. Two of the three interpretation boards have been erected but not in the positions agreed on the plan. The paint is already peeling off and SP PC will not accept responsibility for maintenance until this is resolved.

j) May SP Parish Council Meeting – The first Monday is a public holiday , so the meeting will be moved to 7.45pm on Tuesday 6 May 2008, after the Brownies. The venue is still the Blake Hall.

k) Parish Council Allowances – This was agreed but SP PC will continue with their policy of not charging.

l) Parking Problems – SSDC have a strategy to work with SCC as parking is a civil not criminal offence, so as a policy the police do not give much time to this. SSDC policy is to monitor parking with their own staff and that will be introduced in eighteen months time. Agreed it was for residents to be more considerate of others when and where they park. Large vehicles with Sat- Nav continue to be a problem.

m) Petherton projects – R Neve will talk with D Lingham about the best way to consult with residents through TA13 to develop a ‘wish list’.

n) Safer Somerset Awards- Michelle Haines and Mark Edgington to be nominated

o) South Petherton Bridge Sign – Neither SSDC or SCC think they own the sign which is now damaged. The cost to replace would be £60 so SP PC agreed to get his done.

p) SPRINC – It was agreed that Barbara Sweet would be one of the SP PC representative on SPRINC, to replace John Llewellyn who has resigned

q) War Memorial - R Neve agreed to look into what is required. Who should carry out Risk Assessments was queried.

r) Youth Shelter – a second youth shelter was agreed in principle subject to more information being available at the next meeting.

21 Meetings

a) Kingsbury Episcopi PC - planning meeting with Simon Gale. J Broughton and R Shutler will attend.

b) K Hine will be invited to the next SP PC meeting. His report will be circulated prior to the meeting. Gleesons, the developer for Hayes End, will also be at the February SP PC meeting to explain their plans for Hayed End.

The meeting closed at 9.30pm

Chairman……………………… Date…………….