1 Apologies for Absence: R Beale, S Dickie, C Hockey, R Neve and L Port.

2 Declaration of Interests

a) J Broughton declared an interest in the planning application for The Esso Garage.

b) N Greenleaf declared an interest in the planning application for 40 Silver Street.

c) P Kidner declared an interest on the Barcroft Hall appeal.

3 Late Correspondence

a) A letter from B Herrick, which will be considered at the next meeting.

b) There are two late planning applications for consideration, but the planner has agreed that these could be deferred until the December meeting if necessary

c) The planning application for the Hayes End development will be considered at the SSDC Area North meeting on 22 November 2006.

4 Agreement of Minutes

a) The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 24 October 2006 were approved and signed as a correct record

5 Matters Arising

With the new Hospital Trust, the whole of Somerset is competing for limited funding, so it was agreed that the Parish Council would write to the new chairman of the Trust strongly supporting the need for a hospital in South Petherton.

6 Planning Verdicts

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

7 New Planning Applications

a) 03211ful and 03209ful Erection of two houses at Harding’s Court. The drawings are inconsistent with each other eg for plot 1, two aspects show a first floor and one aspect shows only the ground floor, and neither are they consistent with what has been built as there are no conservatories shown. The direction ie NSEW as shown on the plans is not correct. So until the plans can be understood the Parish Council recommended rejection.

b) 03844ful and 03845lbc Erection of three x two storey cottages on a terrace at 40 St James Street. This would be over development of the site, which is in a conservation area in the heart of what is the oldest part of South Petherton. There is a listed wall that would need to be demolished if this application was approved and this is not a brown field site but in a private garden. The proposed cottages front the road where as most dwellings in this part of Silver Street are at 90° to the road, so a change of style would not be in keeping. There is only a narrow pavement in this part of Silver Street, insufficient for the amount of pedestrian use and SP Parish Council have been in discussion with Somerset Highways about the provision of another pavement on the opposite side of this stretch of road to provide a safe walkway for pedestrians. (This was before the planning application was being considered) This area of South Petherton is known to flood and cottages in this part of Silver Street have been flooded in the past, so with less garden and more buildings the risk of flooding is likely to increase. Safety could be an issue with homes opening straight onto the narrow pavement of a busy one-way street. The relative levels of the land belonging to the neighbouring properties needs to be considered. These proposed cottages provide no off street parking, and it is not easy to live in SP and rely upon a public transport system. Parking is already a problem within South Petherton. There are currently over 100 new homes planned for South Petherton and it is questioned whether South Petherton can 'service' any more dwellings. After a vote the Parish Council recommended refusal

c) 03923ful Replacement windows and doors in whitewood, sliding sash window at 6 Bakers Court, West Street. The Parish Council recommended approval.

8 Planning Appeal, Removal of Agricultural Occupancy at Barcroft Hall

The Parish Council will repeat the response that they gave to the first appeal.

9 Recreation Ground

a) C Willy reported on the main points from the SPRUG meeting.

b) There are a number of issues relating to the building of the third tennis court which need to be resolved and it was agreed to arrange a separate meeting with the Parish Councillors who are part of the SPRUG committee to discuss this in detail and report back. There has been a drainage problem in the recreation ground since the car park was built, so C Willy will investigate the cost of additional drainage between the car park and Bridge Road.

b) The cricket club need to install some additional nets by the pavilion to help stop cricket balls landing outside the recreation ground. Initial quotes were in the region of £10,000 so the cricket club are proposing to do the work on a self-help basis at a cost of approximately £2,000. The Parish Council agreed to donate £250 towards this.

c) There is still a plan for a ‘pirate ship’ for the Under 5s; funding for this to be considered in 2007.

d) There are a number of stones coming through the BMX track and it now requires more maintenance than the Lengthsman is able to do and it is proving difficult to find a contractor willing to do the required work on the BMX track; only one company have been prepared to quote and their quote seems high, so a number of Parish Councillors offer to look at what was required with the view to doing the work themselves. The safety of this needs further investigation.

e) It was agreed to ask SSDC to carry out a recreation ground risk assessment in 2007.

10 Allotments

To provide both a wind brake and security the allotment holders have been investigating a fence or hedge around the allotments, funding is being sought and the Parish Council agreed to provide £250 towards these costs.

11 Approval of Cheque Payments

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

12 Highways

The hedge along Knapp Hill needs cutting back, which is the responsibility of the owner. Somerset Highways have agreed to carry out the work as it is now causing a danger and will charge this to the owner.

13 Footpaths

There is a new gate across a footpath in Over Stratton. Although it has been put up with the authorisation of SCC, it is not clear why SCC agreed to the requirement of the gate, which does not replace a previous gate or retain livestock. Neither is it clear why they did not consult with the Parish Council or the ward member when there needs to be a consistency of approach within the parish. The Parish Council will write to SCC Rights of Way.

14 William Blake Memorial Hall

There was nothing further to report as the next meeting is not until 22 November 2006.

15 Cemetery

K Parkin, the Tree Warden has met with L Port to discuss tree planting in the cemetery. His report, which included recommendations for the existing trees and for future tree planting, including memorial trees, was approved in principle. Funding of this will be discussed at the precept meeting.

16 Churchyard

The seat in the cemetery is being so well used that the grass below it is wearing away. Either paving slabs or ham stone will be installed to the area below people’s feet. A decision on which will be made at the next meeting when costs will be available.

17 County Councillor’s Report

a) John Sharpe reported that the SLINKY bus service, which has no specific route, just phone to be picked up from your home if you can demonstrate that you have no other means of transport is to be extended to include South Petherton. It operates mainly to the west of South Petherton. There was no literature available. There are also changes proposed to the Safeway bus service.

b) Food Standards throughout the county are the responsibility of SCC, who will be making 600 visits this coming year to check standards.

c) The Government White Paper on ‘Strong, Prosperous Communities, will potentially give more powers at a Parish Council level. There are a number of models to choose from; broadly having just one tier above the Parish Council but the paper gives no information on implementation. The Parish Council are hoping to be able to invite someone from SSDC to the Parish Council meeting on 12 December 2006 to explain the proposed changes.

d) A report on the meeting held on 14 September 2006 was circulated by the clerk after the last meeting.

18 District Councillor’s Report

a) South Somerset and Mendip District Councils are now working together to get economies of scale on purchases and services.

b) There has been concern expressed about the safety of the wall in Elizabeth Way, South Street. This is now being measured monthly by SSDC Building Control to check for any changes.

c) At the exhibition held by the developers of the land behind Lightgate Lane and St Michael’s Gardens, the developer is still choosing to use one entrance to the development, which is not what was agreed on the SSDC Local Plan, which is for two access roads. A footpath to Silver Street is included in the proposal.

d) SSDC and SCC have won a ‘Green Apple’ award for the best waste partnership.

e) In the SSDC survey of street cleaning and grounds maintenance, South Petherton came out well.

f) The police are holding a road show on Community Policing but the Parish Council has not yet received an invitation to attend.

g) Crewkerne aqua Centre is organising 15 minute guided walks on Tuesdays at 9.45am.

19 Market Towns Initiative

a) There is a meeting of the SSDC Market Towns Initiative group in December to discuss possible signage requirements for South Petherton, but to date it has not been possible to get any feedback from the Business Association on signage requirements.

b) C Jones, the SSDC Area North Development Manager is trying to create a link between Martock and Ilminster.

20 Police Support

a) A new police beat officer has been appointed for South Petherton and Crewkerne. He is Mark Edgington. He will be in the village for a few days between now and Christmas and takes up his post fully in the New Year. He has been invited to future Parish Council meetings. This is not what Inspector Neil Pitman promised back at the July 2006 pc meeting, when he said there would be one beat officer covering just Edgewood and South Petherton. Also the new role is to be more administrative than that described by Inspector Pitman. An extract was read from the letter sent by the new Chef Superintendent explaining the role of a beat officer.

b) Michelle Haimes the PCSO reported that underage drinking in the village is becoming a particular problem at the moment, and she needs to know who is buying or supplying the drink for the young people as none of the shops in South Petherton are serving alcohol to those who are under age.

21 To Consider

a) A Tree Fund in the Village. Following the suggestion made during the public session, P Kidner, R Shutler and M Wakely will met with Ted Woodruffe-Peacock to discuss the possibilities.

b) Precept Meeting. This will be at 7pm on Monday 4 December 2006 at Over Stratton Village Hall.

c) SSDC Local Council Survey. There were no volunteers to complete this.

d) Tree Nursery. K Parkin explained his proposal for a tree nursery in the Junior School playing field. The Lengthsman will help with the preparation and there is the possibility of some funding from Wessex Water.

e) Seats. The purchase of three more seats was agreed in principle but no decision was made on the specific sites.

f) SSDC State of the District Meeting. P Mottram offered to attend.

The meeting closed at 9.40pm

Chairman……………………… Date…………….