1 Apologies for Absence: Mr Alan Ashdown, Mrs S Dickie, Mr C Hockey, Mr H Warden and

Mr P Robathan (District Councillor)

2 Election of Chairman

C Hockey was proposed by R Palmer, seconded by M Willy and duly elected as Chairman.

3 Election of Vice Chairman

C Willy, seconded by M Willy proposed R Palmer as Vice Chairman. He was duly elected as Vice Chairman.

4 Co-option of Parish Councillor

It was unanimously agreed to co-opt Bill Davis as a Parish Councillor.

5 Declaration of Interests

S Wallis declared an interest in the planning application for 2 Prigg Lane.

6 Young People’s Parish Council

Becky Chant gave a presentation about the International Youth Exchange to Ghana. There are 13 young people from South Somerset going and they have been fund raising for the past year. It is a cultural exchange and they will be teaching sports and an awareness of health issues to 6 – 7 year olds. A similar group from Ghana will visit Somerset next year. The total cost for the group is £24,000 and £20,000 has already been raised. Each individual has to raise £400. The Parish Council agreed a grant of £100 to support the project.

7 Late Correspondence

A request from South Petherton Carnival to use the Recreation Field for the fair and to have a banner erected in St James Street. Both were agreed. J Sharpe commented that many carnival groups are having problems with the new licensing laws.

8 Agreement of Minutes

The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 12 April 2005 were signed as a correct record.

9 Matters Arising or Raised by Members

a) The balance of the Recreational Maintenance Grant for 2003/2004 has not yet been received. Neither has the RMG for 2004/2005.

b) It was noted that the ‘no parking’ signs in Roundwell Street and Prigg Lane have been removed. Somerset Highways have said that it is a national campaign to remove all ‘no parking’ signs as the double yellow lines are sufficient for enforcement. A request has been made for the yellow lines in Roundwell Street to be reinstated.

10 2005 Annual Parish Meeting

The points raised during the question and answer session of the Annual Parish meeting were considered.

a) P Turner is still keen to improve the memorial garden at the recreation ground and he has been put in contact with T Burch from the Scouts. It was agreed that this year the stone would be cleaned; the area would be tidied with some new planting of flowerbeds.

b) Consideration was given to the pedestrian walk way opposite Balfours being made a pavement with a kerb. This will be discussed with Somerset Highways.

c) Somerset Highways have agreed in principle to a dropped kerb at the junction of St James Street and Prigg Lane by the car park.

d) C Willy will arrange for a new sign to be erected on the gate at Mere Linches.

11 Representatives to Village Committees

This was agreed as follows:

- Blake Hall - M Davidson and M Willy

- Green Fair - S Dickie and P Mottram

- South Petherton Arts Trust - A Ashdown

- South Petherton Relief in Need Charity (SPRINC) - R Churchill

- Stratton and District Village Hall - C Willy

- Youth Club - R Palmer

12 Membership of Parish Council Working Parties

This was agreed as follows, with the lead person’s name being highlighted. Contact details will be made available on the notice board and the website.

- Allotments - C Hockey and M Willy

- Cemetery - B Davis and L Port

- Churchyard - J Beale and R Beale

- Community Speed Watch - P Mottram

- Footpaths - B Priddle and S Wallis

- Highways - R Beale, B Davis and S Wallis

- Mere Lynches - B Priddle and M Willy

- Pavilion - M Davidson and P Mottram

- Recreation Field - S Dickie, P Mottram and C Willy

- Risk Assessment - C Hockey and R Palmer

- Village Plan - A Ashdown, C Hockey, L Port, S Wallis. They will work with B Herrick and the SP VP Team.

- Young People’s Parish Council - R Palmer

13 Planning Verdicts

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

14 New Planning Applications

a) 01078ful Erection of a two storey extension, porch and new window openings at Windermere, Over Stratton. The Parish Council recommended approval.

b) 01042tca Pruning of overhanging branches only from holm oak, 2 bird cherries and several yew trees at Burnworthy House. The Parish Council recommended approval.

c) 01056tca Remove two leylandii trees and two dead trees at Willowbrook, North Street. The Parish Council recommended approval.

d) 01000tca Carry out trees works to one Lawson Cypress tree at 2 Prigg Lane. The Parish Council recommended approval.

e) 00997tca fell one Lawson Cypress tree at Cedar Lodge, 9 West Street. The Parish Council recommended approval.

f) 00648tca Fell one laburnum bush and one apple tree at Lynton, Hele Lane. The Parish Council recommended approval.

g) Westdown Orchard It was felt that it was essential to have a site manager for a touring caravan site and the approval should continue to be temporary for the maximum period eg 5 Years. The Parish Council recommended approval.

15 County Councillor’s Report

a) Following the County Council elections there were now 30 Liberal Democrats, 24 Conservative and 4 Labour on SCC. This being one gain to Liberal Democrats and one loss to Labour, but two-thirds of the seats have changed through retirement or those not being elected this time.

b) All the portfolios will change; there will now be two portfolio holders plus deputies. As a government directive all children’s services will come under one portfolio.

c) English Heritage and the WI have a campaign for the removal of signage ‘clutter’.

d) J Sharpe asked that the Parish Council should respond to the consultation on the Review of the Tendered Bus Services. It was noted that the Nippy bus service does not include Merriott and Dinnington and is not being well used.

e) Item 29 on the agenda should read ‘Divisional Community Fund’ not J Sharpe’.

f) 5 June 2005 is Environment Day and there should be some leaflets and pledge forms available.

g) Concern was expressed about the number of lorry drivers who are coming down Mill Lane, South Petherton at all times of the day looking for Mill Lane Lopen. The businesses will be contacted to suggest that clearer directions would be helpful to all involved.

h) DIARY is now called ACRE. The money they receive from SCC is now under review and it is likely that they will have to bid for any future money.

i) The markings indicating where repairs are necessary in Crown Lane have washed away and the work is still outstanding. J Sharpe offered to discus this with Somerset Highways.

j) Large pieces of hamstone have been put on the pavement at Lower Stratton by a local resident to prevent vehicles driving in the pavement. Somerset Highways should have sent a letter with a copy to the Parish Council, so J Sharpe will follow up.

16 District Councillors’ Report

At the April Area North meeting, M Williams, the Development Control Manager gave a report on a proposed scheme of delegation for planning applications in order that they should meet their targets. Proposed that 90% of planning applications should be delegated and there would no longer be an automatic referral to the Area North Committee when the Parish Council and the Planning Officer have a different view, may be a referral to the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Area North rejected the recommended proposal, although this has been wrongly reported in the Western Gazette. The Parish Council very extremely concerned by this proposal and may wish to comment further when they have seen the minutes of the Area North meeting.

17 South Petherton Village Plan

a) C Hockey will discuss with B Herrick the progress and timescale to complete the SP VP.

b) With a deadline for submitting grant applications, Stable Print will be asked to send their invoice for printing the summary with immediate effect.

18 Somerset Village of the Year Competition

S Wallis summarised what is required. Thee are different sections to be completed prior to meeting with the judges during week commencing 13 June 2005. M Willy offered to complete the section on Older People and Karen Stroud will be asked to complete the section on Young People.

19 Recreation Ground

a) The Lengthsman has cleared the Recreation Ground steps and planted the juniper bushes; some grass seed is now needed.

b) The MUGA should be fitted next week. Site still needs to be marked out.

c) The overhanging trees on the south side have now been cut, so grass cutting is now easier.

d) The rubber matting is being pulled up in places. Half was repaired last year; C Willy will now get quotes for the remainder to be done.

e) Having received confirmation from Customs and Excise, it was agreed that the Parish Council would act as paymaster for the Busy Bees Pre-school.

20 Lengthsman

a) Despite reminders, three of the parishes have not paid the first tranch of their contribution, which was due in April 2005 and there is one who has still not signed the contract.

b) No response yet from SSDC regarding funding of the scheme.

c) It was confirmed that clearing the steps to the war memorial at the church remains part of the village caretaker’s job description.

21 Poop Scoop Bins

a) It was decided that the first two sites for poop scoop bins would be in Hele Lane and in Summershard. A notice will be displayed so that neighbours can be aware of what is proposed.

b) SSDC has agreed that they will empty the bins weekly.

22 Highways

a) It was decided that there was no need to replace the litterbin by the car park in Prigg Lane.

b) The Dog Warden has been requested to put up some ‘dog fouling’ signs in West Street.

23 Footpaths

a) C Hockey will be asked to meet with B Priddle and S Wallis to discuss the SSDC Stewardship Scheme. It was noted that SSDC could provide funding towards insurance costs for this.

b) It was agreed that the application forms for including the section of Islemoor Lane on the definitive map should be passed to Mr Lucas, who first brought this to the attention of the Parish Council, and ask him to submit an application.

c) It was agreed that P Attwell, C Hockey and the footpath working party would discus the options on how the grant from the Divisional Community Fund should be spent with the landowners and H Brunton.

d) The correspondence from P Kidner was discussed and it was agreed that a reply should be sent referring him to the Parish Council minutes.

e) The clerk was asked to contract B Herrick for the return of the footpath maps.

24 Cemetery

a) A letter complimenting the Parish Council on the recent work to improve the cemetery was read.

b) The grass has not been cut properly since the start of the new contract on 1 April 2005. A letter will be sent to the contractor inviting him to withdraw from the contract, as it seems that the work is too much for him.

c) A notice will be erected at the cemetery entrance requesting that all flowers and models etc should be removed from the graves with immediate effect. This being in line with the rules of the cemetery.

d) S Doble has offered to cover for when the clerk is away and a grave space needs to be marked out.

e) The cemetery fees will be reviewed at the precept meeting later in the year.

25 Churchyard

For the second month since the new contract started, R Beale was asked to chase the new contractor to get the grass in the churchyard cut.

26 Pavilion

Nothing specific to report.

27 Consultation Documents

a) SSDC Sport and Leisure Strategic Framework - The Parish Council decided not to respond as there appeared to be no benefit to South Petherton.

b) Review of Tendered Bus Services - The only changes that may affect South Petherton were the possibility of the bus from Crewkerne being taken off and the Yeovil service via Odcombe being stopped. The Nippy Bus is continuing but many people are not using it. It was suggested that the need should have been established before the introduction of this new service.

c) Local Transport Plan Summary - B Davis was asked to respond on behalf of the Parish Council and to include comment on the buses, as above.

28 South Petherton Website

It was agreed that A Ashdown should purchase some new software to improve the photos on the South Petherton Website.

29 Annual Review of Clerk and Caretaker’s Salary

The clerk and R Beale left whilst this was discussed.

a) Having been informed that the minimum wage was increasing to £5.35 in October 2005 it was agreed that the caretaker’s salary should be increased to this level. There was also some confusion over how many hours the caretaker should be working.

b) The clerks’ salary was increased to £400 per month.

30 Donations and Grants

a) It was agreed that the priority should continue to be to village groups or those that benefit the village. Grants were agreed as:

Junior School Lollipop Person £300

St Margaret’s Hospice Yeovil £250

South Petherton Youth Club £200

South Petherton Arts Trust £200

Air Ambulance £100

South Petherton Scouts £200

PCC Newsletter £50

South Petherton Infants School £100

Brownies £100

Rainbows £100

William Blake Memorial Hall - fire doors £500

b) The GP Surgery project has finished, so CAB will be asked to provide a copy of their accounts before a decision is made about a donation to them for the coming year.

31 New Bank Mandates

a) The signatures for the Bath Building Society will be C Hockey, L Port, C Willy and M Willy.

b) The signatures for the Nat West bank account will be M Davidson, B Davis, C Hockey, P Mottram,

L Port, C Willy and M Willy. The clerk will also be on the bank mandate.

c) The new signatories were requested to take the required ID into the Bath Building Society and the Nat West Bank during the coming month.

32 Approval of Cheque Payments

Approval was given for cheques drawn as indicated on the list attached to these minutes, plus £246.89 to Beale Heating and Building for the caretaker, £30.50 to B Gummer for work at the allotments and £100 to Becky Chant.

The meeting closed 10.16pm

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

Date………………………..