1 Apologies for Absence: Ms S Wallis and Mr K Ronaldson (District Councillor)

2 Declaration of Interests

a) R Beale declared an interest in the planning application for 64 Silver Street.

b) B Priddle declared an interest in the amended planning application for South Petherton Hospital.

3 Parish Council Vacancy

a) J Beale has resigned as a Parish Councillor. This post has been formally advertised and the PC can now co- opt.

b) A Ashdown has also resigned as a Parish Councillor due to his work commitments, but is happy to continue to manage the SP website. This vacancy has yet to be advertised. He will continue to come to the PC meetings until a replacement is appointed. S Dickie and N Greenleaf agreed to take over the IT at PC meetings.

c) It was noted that Mrs C Humphries has expressed an interested in possibly becoming a Parish Councillor and it was agreed that the Chairman should contact P Kidner to ask if he would consider being co-opted.

4 Youth Parish Council

a) A Ashdown reported that the Youth PC is working on the idea of a graffiti wall and lighting for South Street bridge. Somerset Lighting has indicated that they will not be able to work with the Youth PC but only with the Parish Council. This has now been resolved with all correspondence from Somerset Lighting to the Youth PC being copied to SP PC who supports this project.

b) J Sharpe presented a cheque for £700 from his Divisional Fund towards the cost of this lighting.

5 Late Correspondence

An amended plan for South Petherton hospital.

6 Agreement of Minutes

The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 9 May 2006 were approved and signed as a correct record.

7 Matters Arising

There were no matters arising

8 Planning Verdicts

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

9 New Planning Applications

a) 01606lbc Fit a handrail from the front door down steps at street level and grab rails up the steps into the kitchen at 31 St James Street. The Parish Council recommended approval.

b) 01501ful Alter existing permission 05/00697cou to provide a larger rear extension at 3 Market Square. The Parish Council recommended approaval.

c) 010480tpo Application to carry out tree works to trees, amendment. To dismantle T1beech tree to ground level instead of canopy reduction at The Rectory, Hele Lane. If this is considered necessary by the SSDC tree specialist, the Parish Council would support it but as he says the tree us not diseased, they do not wish to see it taken down to ground level and hence the Parish Council recommended refusal.

d) 01722tea Erect radio base comprising 1 15m monopole with 3no 2000mm high antennae at height 13m AGL, single 600mm transmission dish at 12.8m AGL plus associated equipment cabinets at Land OS1900, Corner Farm, Compton Hill, Careys Hollow. The Parish Council recommended approval.

e) 01771ful Erection of a timber framed extension to shop premises at The Trading Post, Lopenhead. The Parish Council recommended approval.

f) 01865ful Erection of a conservatory at 64 Silver Street. The Parish Council recommended approval.

g) 01253out Demolition of hospital buildings and construction of stoke/rehabilitation/community hospital and residential care home with new access road, staff/visitor car parking. Amended access road. B Priddle left the room. The Parish Council recommended approval.

10 County Councillor’s Report

a) J Sharpe and the SCC Highways Officers have carried out a survey of South Petherton so some improvements to the highways are anticipated.

b) The work on the bridge on the footpath to East Lambrook has been completed.

c) In May 2006 there was a new Highways Act regarding RUPPs. It is now an offence to drive any motorised vehicle on a RUPP, except the landowner adjoining the RUPP or anyone given specific permission by those adjoining the RUPP. The exception is postman who can use the RUPP but not general deliveries. Details of the RUPPs in the parish were requested for the next meeting.

d) School governors will be required from September 2006.

e) A cheque for £600 for a pull down screen was presented to the William Blake Memorial Hall from J Sharpe’s Divisional Fund.

f) There have been more than sixty cases of enforcement relating to waste and minerals on land ie the movement of topsoil, which now needs planning permission.

g) Wyvern Waste has been sold to a private company.

h) J Sharpe has asked for the Environment and Scrutiny Committee to consider the SCC policy relating to dropped kerbs ie there is no money in the budget for dropped kerbs this year. J Sharpe requested copies of the reports supporting the applications made by the Parish Council last year.

i) A request has been received that as pedestrians are not using the pavement opposite 58 and 60 West Street, it should be used to widen the road, but having checked, this land is privately owned.

11 District Councillors’ Report

a) The white paper for the Local Government Review, which was due in June, is now going to be October. A delay, which with the elections in May is likely to cause a problem. Decisions on Community Hospitals and the Police Bill have also been put back to October.

b) P Robathan is no longer leader of the Council but is now a member of the Scrutiny Committee, which deals with policy eg car parking evidence gathering before it goes to the District Executive.

c) The new Cleaner Neighbourhood Act means SSDC will actively be pursuing graffiti, dog fouling and fly posting. Enforcement Officers can now issue fixed penalty notices. The role of Dog Warden has now changed to that of Enforcement Officer. There are performance indicators about the amount of graffiti that needs to be cleaned that have to be met by SSDC, but there is not enough in South Somerset to meet the indicators!

d) Dog exclusion zones are to be introduced under a byelaw to stop dogs going on specific ground.

e) There is a consultation about the proposed development behind St Michaels Gardens and Lightgate Lane at 2.30pm on Wednesday 14 June 2006. The Parish Council has been invited to a pre-meeting.

f) The court case relating to the gates in Barcroft Lane is at 10am on 23 June 2006 at the Yeovil Magistrates Court in Petters Way.

g) There is now a new application to remove the agricultural tie on Barcroft Hall, the original having gone to appeal for non-determination. The second application will be considered by SSDC but has yet to be received by the Parish Council. If approved it would set a precedent in case law.

12 Recreation Ground

a) Following complaints about the distance cricket balls are being hit, it was thought that the current cricket netting was unlikely to be completely safe unless doubled in height, but that the gap between the metal fence and the cricket netting could be improved. It was noted that the fence at Ilton is forty feet high. During matches the cricket club position someone in both the car park and the children’s play area. Their insurance will be checked and a risk assessment will be competed by the cricket club to ensure that they are taking reasonable care. This matter will be kept under review and the cricket club will be asked to seek advice from their national body.

b) Marked parking bays have been requested by some users of the car park, where there is a level of inconsiderate parking ie parking at 90° and five cars taking up twenty spaces. A quote will be obtained.

c) Parish Councillors are invited to the 50^th anniversary of the SP Youth Club on 9 July 2006.

d) Parish Councillors are invited to the Bowling Club on 16 July 2006.

e) The cost of ‘wet pour’ to replace the matting in the play area is approximately £130 per square metre. The total cost needs to be calculated. Consideration needs to be given to what new play equipment is planned.

f) The weeds have been sprayed on the football pitches but the grass is looking tired and needs aerating and fertilising. It was agreed that Evans and Pearce should be asked to do this. Consideration should be given to extending the recreation ground so that the football pitches can be moved.

g) The Garden of Remembrance needs levelling before seeding and it was agreed that this should be done.

h) B Tufton from SSDC has not yet contacted C Willy with advice about toilets at the recreation ground.

i) The Astro turf for the MUGA was due to be supplied through Yeovil Football Club, but there is difficulty in obtaining this.

j) A cheque for £200 has been received from the Pavilion Committee towards the electricity costs.

k) The guttering and the clock face at the pavilion need attention.

13 Highway Lighting

a) M Willy reported on the consultation for the proposed new street lighting in Hayes End and proposed that there should be four lights instead of five, leaving out the one nearest to Hayes End roundabout.

b) It was confirmed that Somerset Lighting should be dealing with the street light in George Lane, not a local electrician and that this had now been referred by Somerset Lighting to R Hagley in SCC Heritage Group. This is the same person from whom a response about the David Hall light is awaited.

14 Highway Matters

a) The grass verge by the high wall on the way to Martock needs cutting. P Robathan offered to bring this to the attention of SSDC.

b) Somerset Highways have consulted the Parish Council about the provision of disabled parking bays in St James Street. The Parish Council was not in favour of designated bays for disabled parking which would reduce the amount of general parking available. Those with a disabled badge are able to park anywhere that is reasonable and that should be the recommendation.

15 Footpaths

There was nothing to report on footpaths.

(J Sharpe left the meeting)

16 Cemetery

a) The number of rabbits at the cemetery is increasing and becoming a problem. The Parish Council were not in favour of shooting the rabbits. SSDC Environmental Health Department are sending a pack with advise on how to deal with rabbits.

b) It was noted that there is a badger set in the field next to the cemetery, which in owned by the Parish Council.

c) Evans and Pearce have advised that it would take three annual sprays to bring the weeds down to an acceptable level, so it was agreed to just keep cutting the grass regularly.

17 Churchyard

a) The work on the war memorial has been completed by M Kempf. The replacement of the concrete base with hamstone was again considered. English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation have verbally offered a grant of 50%, to a maximum of £3,000, towards this, subject to receiving a formal request. A quote has been received from M Kempf and it was agree to obtain two more quotes, with each being asked to meet on site with C Hockey.

b) The possible cutting of the lower branches of the Christmas tree was considered. P Kidner will be asked for his advise.

18 To Consider

a) British Legion Veterans Awareness Day. Some Over Stratton residents had expressed concern about the access, which is via footpaths and the possible inadequacy of car parking. PCSO Michelle Haimes has been asked if she can be available to attend on the day and that Field Lane should be closed for all traffic. The Mayor of Yeovil and the Town Crier are attending by way of support for Yeovil British Legion.

b) Invitation to Join South Somerset Market Towns Investment Group, Meeting on 29 June 2006. C Willy offered to attend.

c) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Local Authority Byelaws. With no byelaws in this area, no response was considered necessary to this.

d) Campaign for Modern and Fair Democracy, Sustainable Communities Bill. It was decided not to respond to this.

e) Prize for the Best Kept Allotment. Prizes of £20, £10 and £5 were agreed.

f) A Name Sign for Lower Stratton in Hamstone. The decision on this was deferred until a later meeting.

g) Moving the South Petherton Hamstone Village Name. This was deferred until the next meeting and P Stratford from the SP PP group would be asked to comment on this.

h) A rubbish bin with a lid has been requested for opposite the post office.

19 Donations and Grants

The following grants and donations were agreed: -

Air Ambulance 100 Busy Bees Pre-school 200

CAB 100 Out Of School Hours Club 100

SP Arts Trust 200 SP Brownies 100

SP Infants School 100 SP Junior School, Crossing Patrol 300

SP Over Sixties Club 100 SP PCC, Newsletter 50

SP Rainbows 100 SP Scouts 200

SP Tennis Club, third court 500 SP Youth Club 200

St Margaret’s Hospice 250 Sunshine Nursery, Over Stratton 200

The Tucker Fund 100 William Blake Memorial Hall 200

20 Approval of Cheque Payments

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

21 Questionnaires to be Completed

SW Regional Assembly

22 Meetings

a) Consencus, Briefing on the Proposals for Lightgate Lane/St Michaels Gardens Development on 14 June 2006. All Parish Councillors were encouraged to attend.

b) Community Council for Somerset Funding Fair. No one was able to attend.

c) SCC, Voluntary Sector Views.

The meeting closed 10.00pm

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