1 Apologies for Absence: Mr L Port, Ms S Wallis and Mr J Sharpe (County Councillor)

2 Co-option of Parish Councillor

Mr Robert Shutler was co-opted as a Parish Councillor to replace R Palmer.

3 Election of Chairman

C Hockey was proposed as Chairman by R Beale, seconded by M Davidson and duly elected as Chairman.

4 Election of Vice Chairman

There were two nominations for Vice Chairman, P Mottram and S Wallis. After a ballot P Mottram was duly elected as Vice Chairman.

5 Declaration of Interests

a) C Hockey declared an interest in the planning application for 18 Lightgate Villas.

b) B Priddle declared an interest in the planning applications for Joylers Mill and South Petherton Hospital.

6 Young People’s Parish Council

a) Matthew Scott-Davis is now the Chairman of the YP PC and there are two new members, Adam and Zara.

b) The YP PC spoke at the assemblies for Years 7,8,9,10 to explain the work they have been doing and how others can become involved. There was lots of interest.

c) They are currently investigating the possibility of a light on either side of South Street Bridge to improve the safety for those who walk home. They plan to apply for some funding and hold another cake stall. It was noted that the problem of poor lighting in West Street was resolved when a new design of light fitting was installed so an additional light became unnecessary.

d) Also being investigated is a graffiti wall for which they are applying for funding to have an artist help them with the initial project. There is evidence of less graffiti in towns/villages that have a graffiti wall so they are now researching a suitable place in the village.

e) It was suggested that the new newspaper that Piers Morgan has launched might be interested in a feature about the YP PC.

7 Late Correspondence

a) Outline planning application for South Petherton hospital.

b) The SSDC planner’s recommendation on South Petherton Fruit Farm, prior to it being considered by Area North Committee. It was noted that P Robathan would be declaring an interest when this was discussed at the SSDC Area North meeting.

8 Agreement of Minutes

The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 11 April 2006 were approved and signed as a correct record.

9 Matters Arising

There were no matters arising

10 Review of Annual Parish Meeting

a) The Almanac was well received.

b) The Nippy Bus presentation was excellent and the service should be a big asset to the parish but the service available needs further promotion.

11 Representatives to Village Committees

This was agreed as follows:

- Blake Hall - J Beale and M Davidson

- Green Fair - P Mottram

- Hospital Reference Group - S Dickie and M Willy

- South Petherton Arts Trust - R Neve

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

- Stratton and District Village Hall - C Willy

- Youth Club - A Ashdown

- YP PC - A Ashdown

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 - R Beale and L Port

- Churchyard - J Beale

- Community Speed Watch - P Mottram, working towards one of the group becoming the co-ordinator

- Footpaths - B Priddle, R Shutler and S Wallis

- Highways - S Dickie and S Wallis

- Mere Lynches - B Priddle

- Pavilion - P Mottram and R Shutler

- Police Post - N Greenleaf

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

- Risk Assessment - C Hockey and L Port

- Village Plan - N Greenleaf and R Neve. They will be working with D Lingham and the SP PP team.

13 Planning Verdicts

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

b) 01872ful The Parish Council were disappointed to note that the conversion of the upper floors above 28a St James Street (Nat West Bank) to form three self contained flats had been approved when their recommendation

was to refuse because there was no provision for off road parking. It was agreed that a letter should be sent to the developers to ask them to consider using the ‘garden’ behind Nat West as a car park with access via Prigg Lane car park. Also to B Tufton from SSDC to ask if permission was likely to be given for access across the SSDC car park to this area, which could provide parking for approximately twenty cars with possible pedestrian access from St James Street.

14 New Planning Applications

a) 010911lbc and 01099ful Conversion of existing barn into residential annexe with extension at South Lea Farmhouse, Lower Stratton. The Parish Council recommended approval.

b) 01147ful Erection of a first floor side extension and erection of a conservatory to the rear of The Mistral, Over Stratton. The Parish Council recommended approval.

c) 01200ful Erection of a general purpose agricultural building at Yeabridge Farm. The Parish Council recommended approval.

d) 01220ful Erection of a garage at The Wines, Over Stratton. The Parish Council recommended approval.

e) 01127ful Retention of a mobile home at Joylers Mill. B Priddle left the room. The Parish Council would support a temporary extension of 3 - 5 years, as they have in the past, the situation having not changed.

f) 00618ful Erection of a conservatory at 18 Lightgate Villas. 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. B Priddle left the room. The Parish Council recommended approval.

15 PCSO, Michelle Haimes Report

During the past month there have been two reports of criminal damage and one of a burglary at an old persons bungalow. There has been an increase in graffiti at the recreation ground so the PCSO is visiting there regularly in the evenings and is in discussion with Zara Scott-Davis, the Youth Worker about this.

16 Police Post

a) Michelle Haimes will be training the volunteers on 18 May 2006.

b) N Greenleaf reported on the meeting last week with the volunteers and the David Hall Trustees. The room is ready but there are still some details to be resolved. eg alarms, access, the agreement etc. One thing to be resolved is the value of the donation towards the utility costs. PAT had some concerns about insurance cover but it has now been confirmed that their insurance company proposes no increase.

c) The police post will open week commencing 22 May with an official opening later in June, 28 June being the likely date. The PSCO will be at the police post every Thursday morning and one Saturday each month.

d) One of the SSDC solicitors has looked at the agreement with PAT on behalf of the Parish Council. N Greenleaf and C Hockey will sign the agreement on behalf of the Parish Council.

e) A rota for the Parish Councillors’ surgeries was circulated. The onus is on the Parish Councillor to arrange a replacement or swap if they cannot make their nominated date.

17 Recreation Ground

a) South Petherton football team have won the Premiership Division of the Perry Street League without loosing a match and three knock out competitions. A letter of congratulations will be sent.

b) The invitation to the Bowling Club on 21 May 2006, there were twelve who would like to accept the invitation and another possible six who could not confirm until later.

c) P Mottram met with P Bussell and wrote a private letter to clarify the points discussed. P Bussell has now produced a standard sheet to report faults with the building. Those reported to date are a damaged window, a broken attachment on the main door and the need for a replacement kitchen to meet the hygenie/Environmental Health Regulations. A quote has been requested for the damaged window, the broken attachment on the door is to be queried with the supplier as this is new and a copy of the Food Hygiene report will be requested but a fully equipped kitchen is not seen as integral to football and cricket. It was noted that there is no agreement in place and therefore no obligation to provide a new kitchen, as the existing one was installed by the pavilion committee, not the Parish Council and the provision of facilities to prepare food is not the Parish Council’s responsibility. The Parish Council will draw up a draft agreement for discussion with the pavilion committee. SSDC will be asked to advice on the licensing requirements and agreements. P Mottram and R Shutler will meet with P Bussell to establish what he would expect to find included in such an agreement.

d) The installation of an extractor fan in the changing rooms was agreed previously.

e) The report from the SPRUG meeting was that everything is working well.

18 Highway Lighting

It was agreed that the proposed site for a streetlight in Over Stratton would be between Stratton Farm and Wheathill.

19 Highway Matters

R Beale had nothing to report on Highways

20 Footpaths

a) It was reported that the verges need to be cut back.

b) The adopt a footpath scheme was queried, but it was explained that the level of involvement could be as much as the individual wished it to be eg reporting problems through to cutting back overgrown vegetation.

21 Cemetery

a) The weeds in the grass at the cemetery will be sprayed this coming month

b) In response to the concern that there were no watering cans, it was noted that plastic milk bottle containers have been used for many years as both the watering cans and the milk containers disappear.

22 Churchyard

The SSDC Dog Warden has written to the dog owner who is allowing their dog to roam freely and foul in the churchyard.

23 To Consider

a) E-mail contacts for Parish Councils - It was agreed that SSDC would be asked to make all e-mail contact through the clerk.

b) South Petherton Twinning - This request was agreed in principle and some funding might be available to support the group that are going to investigate this. N Greenleaf offered to join the group.

c) St James Street car park, recycling bins, fencing and the perimeter buildings - It was agreed that a litter bins should be purchased to be situated by the recycling bins, a panel fence would be installed at the back of the car park, but still allowing the buddleia to be seen over the top. The owner of the neighbouring property will be approached for permission to paint the wall of the adjoining building and repair the panels behind the recycling bins. It was noted that SSDC are investigating the ham stone barn at the back of the car park as they have a duty to ensure that buildings of character within a conservation area are conserved.

d) The purchase of two additional poop scoop bins was approved, one by Whitfield Lane allotments and one in Lopen Lane, Over Stratton. SSDC have to approve the proposed sites prior to installation.

e) The David Hall light. A quote has been received for the electrics but the trenching and purchase of the light fitting would be additional costs. As it has been difficult to get any response from SCC Heritage Group to source a suitable light, R Beale will contact a blacksmith to obtain a quote for a light fitting to match the original.

f) Expenditure of £60 to the David Hall was approved for the distribution of Health Related Services and Footpaths leaflets.

24 Approval of Cheque Payments

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

25 Bank Mandates

It was agreed that M Davidson, C Hockey, R Neve, P Mottram, L Port, C Willy and M Willy would be the signatories on the Nat West Bank account.

26 Internal Audit

C Hockey, P Mottram and R Neve will form a small working party to implement the Internal Audit report.

27 Annual review of Clerk and Caretaker’s Salary

Increases in line with the recommendations of the precept committee were approved; a 3% increase for the caretaker and the clerk hours to be increased from 10 to 12 per week with a salary increase of 8% to reflect the increased level of tasks undertaken. Both to be effective from 1 June 2006.

28 County Councillor’s Report

There was no report from the County Councillor.

29 District Councillors’ Report

a) The SSDC Licensing Committee met to consider an application for a sex shop in Yeovil, but voted against it due to the effect on the local community, the shared entrance with the local butcher and that it was only fifty feet away from a children’s’ nursery.

b) SSDC has entered a competition to potentially win £7 million to ‘digitise’ the community. They have been short listed from the seven bids made in south west England, so could now win £100,000 to build up a formal bid.

c) There is to be an increase in PCSOs in Somerset from 12 to 43, but they will apparently only be fully funded by the government for one year, after that a request for 25% of the funding is expected, the funds to come from other local funding sources (District, County, Local Strategic Partnership, Town and Parish Councils) and this would cost South Somerset in the region of £400,000 per annum.

d) It was noted that after two years as Leader of SSDC, P Robathan was standing down, although he will continue as a District Councillor for South Petherton Ward.

e) Asked to comment on the future of the green recycling bins. It was reported that these would continue in communities with over 1,000 inhabitants so it was likely to continue in South Petherton village but not in the surrounding small villages.

30 Questionnaires to be Completed

a) Somerset Highways, Survey of Related Services will be completed by R Beale.

b) SSDC, Accounts Summary will be completed by S Dickie.

c) SSDC, Community Involvement will be completed by N Greenleaf.

d) SDDC, Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan, S Wallis will be asked to complete.

e) SSDC, Scheme of Delegation, the clerk will be asked to complete.

31 Meetings

a) SCC, Rights of Way Improvement Plan on 26 September 2006 will be attended by R Shutler, and S Wallis if she available to attend.

b) SSDC, Planning Service Workshop on 8 June 2006 will be attended by S Dickie, R Shutler and the clerk.

The meeting closed 10.08pm

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