1 Apologies for Absence: Mr R Beale, Mr C Hockey, Mr L Port and Mr P Robathan (District Councillor)

2 Presentation by Inspector Neil Pitman

Inspector Neil Pitman covers the Somerton Sector, which is the whole of South Somerset with the exception of Yeovil. This is 360 square miles and has a population of 11,000 people. Last year there were 5,500 crimes reported in this sector. It is planned that neighbour hood policing will increase over the next two years and South Petherton Ward will have its own dedicated beat manager. This is due to commence in South Petherton in August 2006. There will also be an increase in the number of PCSOs.

Questions included:

- Why it is taking so long to get the phone line and police computer for the police post. It have now been decided that the police need a licence from the PC before these can be installed.

- Will there be a more local phone number? Phone calls will continue to go through to Portishead, which opened at the end of January 2006. With the postcode and address it will always be possible to access a record of recently reported incidents. There is an audit trail in place to ensure the longest response time is seven days.

- 70% of residents say they are happy with the current service offered.

- What does a dedicated beat officer mean? The new beat manager will be for SP and Edgewood Wards and will cover sixty square miles. Under the new policy he can only be taken for emergencies not to cover other staff shortages. The Neighbourhood Policing policy is due to be in place by mid 2007, so SP will be one of the first to have a dedicated beat officer. The Parish Council will be given a copy of this new policy.

- Operational officers respond to the daily calls and crime investigations, whilst the beat manager deals with crimes in the community eg vandalism and anti social behaviour. He will identify the issues within the area and who should deal with it.

- What help could be given in relation to anti social behaviour in a private home? The police can work with SSDC on this; being a private home does not mean that the police cannot help.

3 District Councillor’s Report

a) SSDC arte offering summer holiday activities for 4 - 16 year olds. Leaflets about this will be available in the library.

b) K Ronaldson highlighted the main points from the recent SSDC planning meeting with Parish Councils. The notes for this meeting will be in the correspondence box for the next PC meeting.

(J Sharpe arrived)

4 Declaration of Interests

R Shutler declared an interest in the footpath diversion and the planning application for the siting of a mobile home at South Harp Farm, Lower Stratton.

5 Parish Council Vacancy

Two residents had expressed a possible interest in becoming a parish councillor but both have decided not to pursue this at the present time.

6 Youth Parish Council

a) There are three new members of the Youth Parish Council.

b) The Youth Club celebrated its 50^th anniversary last Sunday and the PC was thanked for their help in obtaining a grant to pay for this event.

c) The Youth PC are currently working on two projects, a graffiti wall and street lighting for South Street Bridge.

d) The proposed site for a graffiti wall that has been agreed by the Youth Club Management Committee is by the Youth Club building facing the pavilion. The Youth PC will consult with local residents and the clerk was asked to check whether planning permission would be necessary. Some funding for this project has been secured and permission now needs to be sought from the PC as the owners of the recreation ground.

e) The second project is for a light on either side of South Street Bridge to make it safer. This will benefit the whole community not just the young people. The estimated cost is £3,000 and to date a donation of £700 has been received so some more fund raising is necessary. The Community Safety Panel might be a possible source of funding. Somerset Lighting has agreed to liaise with both the PC and the Youth PC on the siting and installation of these lights.

f) A Ashdown has resigned from the PC but will continue to work with the Youth PC. C Hockey has offered to become the PC link with the Youth PC.

7 Late Correspondence

There was no late correspondence.

8 Agreement of Minutes

The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 13 June 2006 were approved and signed as a correct record.

9 Matters Arising

a) There has been no response from R Hagley from SCC Heritage Department about the lights in George Lane and the David Hall, despite J Sharpe speaking with his superior. It was agreed that a letter would be sent to S Grant-Davies, the head of SCC Environment Department and if no response make an official complaint to the Chief Executive of SCC.

b) C Willy reported on the Market Towns meeting. The other towns have been involved for some time, so he felt there was little benefit to SP joining them as the first seven selected had already progressed the project and this work did not include SP, so it was unclear whether SP would be invited to join the group anyway.

10 Planning Verdicts

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

11 New Planning Applications

a) 02057ful Retrospective permission for the temporary siting of a mobile home for residential occupation, agricultural holding and erection of a field shelter for cattle at The Mobile Home, South Harp Farm, Lower Stratton. (R Shutler left the room) After a vote of 5 in favour and 4 abstentions, the Parish Council recommended approval on a temporary, not permanent, basis solely for this applicant not the site itself.

b) 01973/s73 Removal of condition 4 of planning permission 852704 agricultural occupancy at Barcroft Hall. This is the second application for this; the first having gone to appeal for non-determination. The Parish Council recommended refusal and will repeat their comments made on the first application.

c) 02202ful A single storey extension at 4 Church Path, Over Stratton. The Parish Council recommended approval.

12 Recreation Ground

a) Concern has been expressed by some residents of Lightgate Lane about safety when cricket is being played. The cricket club are seeking advice from their national body, improvements to the safety netting are being investigated and a site meeting with local residents will be arranged.

b) The aerating and fertilising of the football pitch by Evans and Pearce was agreed.

c) Additional work on clearing the memorial garden area and grassing it was agreed at a cost of £584.

d) The matting under the play equipment is in urgent need f repair. The cost being £650. This was agreed and wet pour will only be considered for new play units.

e) A junior football pitch could be fitted in between the pavilion and the full size pitch, which would give time for the main pitch to ‘rest’. C Willy will liaise with the football club to investigate this.

f) The pavilion committee have sent another cheque for £200 towards the electricity costs and have noted that they are using 4,000 units per month.

g) The gutter of the pavilion requires some attention, as does some of the outside rendering. The Lengthsman will be asked to look at the work required.

h) C Willy has met with SSDC to discuss the possibility of toilets at the recreation ground. The site suggested is attached to the recreation ground between Busy Bees building and the pavilion. The cost is likely to be in excess of £20,000 so after a vote it was agreed that any decision should be deferred until the parish receives a ‘windfall’ to fund it.

i) The clock repair is still outstanding.

13 Highway Matters

The grass verge by the high wall on the way to Martock still needs cutting. P Robathan had offered to bring this to the attention of SSDC, so he will be asked to remind them. .

14 Footpaths

a) Diversion of footpath Y24/16. (R Shutler left the room). It was considered that there were two separate issues to be considered in relation to this diversion. The Parish Council supported the proposed diversion of footpath Y24/16 but did not support the blocking up of Y24/18. As a separate issue, information about the SSDC policy relating to the cost of diversions would be requested.

b) J Sharpe indicated that some funding might be available in connection with the hospital development to improve the surface of part of Y24/54, which links Hospital Lane with the Pitway housing scheme.

15 Cemetery

SSDC has provided advise on controlling rabbits, which will be passed to L Port and R Beale for consideration at the next PC meeting.

16 Churchyard

The churchyard looks neat and tidy, but there was graffiti on the new seat.

17 County Councillor’s Report

a) There is currently a two and three tier schooling system in Somerset and some reorganisation of this is being considered. Comments on this would be appreciated.

b) SCC is looking at the concept of ‘area working’ similar to the district councils and would welcome views on this.

c) There is a new website for inputting concerns about footpaths etc. It also includes a copy of the definitive map.

d) The local government reorganisation seems to be receding and so elections are still likely to take place in May 2007.

e) The Dinnington site will be open from 2 -7pm on 12 July 2006.

f) SCC Social Services has been given a three star rating and is considered to be the best in the southwest.

g) In response to the request for the green bin recycling service to continue throughout the parish, J Sharpe explained that recycling targets had now been changed by the government and had been reduced form 41% to 30% and hence the need to provide recycling had reduced. The Parish Council were of the view that recycling was to protect the environment not just achieve government targets and those living in the more rural areas of SSDC paid the same council tax as those living on the more urban areas and hence both should be offered a similar level of service and they supported the request for the green wheelie bin service to be continued throughout the parish.

18 To Consider

a) Cardboard Recycling - This will be on the first weekend f every month commencing in August with a recycling bin in Prigg Lane car park from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. The parish will be paid for the cardboard and these funds will be ring fenced to support local groups within the village.

b) SSDC Car Park Survey - The clerk was asked to respond.

c) Beacon Meeting - no one will be attending from SP.

d) Youth Art Survey - C Hockey will be asked to work with the Youth Parish Council to complete this.

e) Recreation Facilities in SSDC - this will be passed to SPRUG for comment.

f) SP Hamstone Sign - It was agreed that this would be moved to a more prominent site. P Stratford is meeting with Somerset Highways to seek confirmation that the proposed site is acceptable. There is a time capsule under the sign, which will also need to be moved at the same time.

g) Police Post Rota - There was a reminder about the rota and the need to pass over the keys to the next person. R Beale will be at the Police Post for the PC surgery on 5 August 2006.

h) Fireworks - It was noted that some residents have been having firework parties until 12.30am and it is illegal to have fireworks after 11am except for those celebrations that are legally recognised eg New Year.

i) It was noted that it was possible for SP to employ their own beat officer at a cost of £38,000 including on costs, or to follow this route and share the beat officer with another village.

j) Hayes End development - It was agreed that an informal meeting would be arranged prior to a presentation

K Duffield at the August PC meeting.

k) SP Bowls Club asked if the Parish Council would act as paymaster for their new doors and windows. This was agreed subject to the advise of Customs and Excise.

19 Accounts for 2005/2006

a) The increase in stationery costs was queried. The reason could not be given immediately and the clerk was asked to provide an answer to this question.

b) The two costs for the Lengthsman Scheme were explained, one being the SP contribution to the scheme and the other is because SP manage the South Petherton Area Lengthsman Scheme and hence pay the salary and associated bills.

c) The accounts for 2005/2006 were approved.

20 Approval of Cheque Payments

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

The meeting closed 10.00pm

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