1 Apologies for Absence: K Ronaldson, District Councillor

2 Parish Council Vacancy

This vacancy has been formally advertised and there has been no request for an election. P Kidner introduced himself and his co-option was agreed by all.

3 Declaration of Interests

a) J Broughton and C Hockey declared an interest in The Mobile Home at South Harp Farm, Over Stratton.

b) R Neve expressed an interest in Old Harp House.

c) R Shutler declared an interest the last time The Mobile Home at South Harp Farm was discussed by the Parish Council, but has decided that it is not necessary to declare an interest on this occasion.

4 Late Correspondence

a) There are three late planning applications for consideration, but the planner has agreed that these could be deferred until the November meeting if necessary

b) Pitt Bros have requested permission to install an underground water pipe under the Pitt Way allotments, land that they currently farm. Agreed providing it complies with all current legislation.

5 Agreement of Minutes

a) The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 12 September 2006 were approved and signed as a correct record after:

- Adding J Broughton as being in attendance

- Item 11, to be altered to read ‘R Shutler was asked through the chair to comment on his own planning application’.

- P Robathan asked that item 12b should be altered to read ‘P Robathan originally said he would not participate in the application relating to Barcroft Hall if it was considered by District Councillors because he believed it might be considered that he had an interest. After taking advice and guidance from the District Monitoring Officer and the Chair of the Area North Committee Mr Robathan has decided that he is able to speak on the matter at the Area North Committee’

b) It was reported that the Parish Council minutes had not appeared on the SP website since July 2006. The reason for this will be investigated.

6 Matters Arising

a) No information had been received about the meeting on 14 September 2006 to discuss footpaths in South Petherton. J Sharpe will be asked for an update at the next meeting.

b) P Robathan has discussed the view of R Shutler that the SSDC Enforcement Officer would not be taking enforcement action in his case. Because enforcement action had not yet been taken did not mean it would not be taken.

c) There have continued to be disturbances in the car park at the recreation ground on Saturday nights and the police have been too busy to attend. This will be reported to the PCSO. The report on this from the police is still awaited, despite reminders.

d) Revised quotes are still awaited for the lights in George Lane. A request has been made that the second light in George Lane, which is a bulkhead style light, should also be changed to a lantern.

e) The appeal to remove the TPO on the tree in South Street has been refused but the state of the retaining wall appears to have deteriorated, so SSDC Building Control will be contacted as a matter of urgency.

7 Parish Council Working Parties and Committees

Some changes to the responsibilities of Parish Councillors were made as per the sheet attached to these minutes. P Kidner - Footpaths, Recreation Ground

M Willy - Mere Lynches

M Wakely - Allotments, Community Woodland Initiative.

K Parkin, the Parish Tree Warden gave a report on what he has been working on. He has met with the schools to encourage an interest in tree planting, with the cricket club to discuss trees as a shelter, with the scouts to discuss tree planting to mark their centenary next year. It is possible that the Woodland Trust will provide some trees for this in 2007. He has also met with L Port to discuss memorial tree planting in the cemetery. P Kidner offered to help and K Parkin would also like to encourage some one younger to help him to take over the role in the future.

8 Planning Verdicts

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

9 New Planning Applications

a) 03366ful First floor extension at Applewood, Over Stratton. The Parish Council recommended approval.

b) 03016lbc Installation of exterior lights at Old Harp House, Over Stratton. The Parish Council recommended approval.

c) 03181ful Construction of first floor extension above utility room on north elevation of Chatley, South Street. The Parish Council recommended approval.

d) 03273cou Construction of a ménage at Little Hayes, Over Stratton. The Parish Council recommended approval.

e) 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. After a vote of 11 in favour and 2 abstentions, the Parish Council recommended approval, repeating the comments they made when this application was last considered. That this should be on a temporary, not permanent basis, solely for the use of the applicant and not for the site itself.

(J Sharpe arrived)

f) 03421ful Construction of a conservatory to the rear of plot 2, 23 Silver Street. The Parish Council recommended approval.

g) 03259ful Erection of a single storey extension to the front of 30 Summershard. The Parish Council recommended approval.

h) 03482ful Low impact timber framed agricultural dwelling at The Trading Post, Lopen Head. After a vote of 9 in favour, 4 against and 2 abstentions, the Parish Council recommended approval provided it could be demonstrated that there is an agricultural need for this dwelling and that the dwelling will have an agricultural tie.

i) 03682ful Erection of a conservatory at 6 Yeabridge. The Parish Council recommended approval.

j) 03211ful and 03209ful Harding’s Court. Deferred until next meeting.

10 Tree Preservation Order

The Parish Council recommended approval of the request for a tree preservation order on the oak tree towards the back of the building plot in Hayes End.

11 Approval of Cheque Payments

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

12 County Councillor’s Report

a) SCC has been debating renewable energy issues, waste into energy, and ethanol from wheat in being produced in Henstridge as car fuel. There are restrictions from the military on having wind farms in Somerset. It was noted that the government have asked farmers to grow wheat but with a set price for the next five years, which does not encourage farmers to grow wheat for fuel. There was a combined heat and power project in Somerset using wood waste but the government did not support this.

b) J Sharpe’s Community Fund paid for children’s entertainment at the David Hall last Saturday.

c) SCC have set up what they are calling a ‘Speed Date with your County Councillor’ to involve the youth in Somerset.

d) Gritting of the road from Lopen to Merriott is to be reintroduced this winter following the serious problems on this road last year.

e) J Sharpe was not able to comment on the meeting held on 14 September 2006 to discuss footpath issues in South Petherton, as many are being dealt with by the SCC Legal Department. R Smith in SCC Rights of Way will be asked for an update on aspects that affect South Petherton.

13 District Councillor’s Report

a) The SSDC Corporate Plan has a budget for tree planting. Deborah Elton, the Ecology Officer should be contacted.

b) Under the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Act, there are now spot fines for dumping rubbish.

c) Information on affordable warmth has been published; this was in the correspondence box.

d) There are development grants available for small businesses, which all business should be made aware of.

e) The report on the car parking strategy for South Somerset will be presented on 14 December 2006 and the recommendation in not to charge for parking in South Petherton. The enforcement of street parking will be in phase three of the implementation.

f) Plans for the new SP hospital are now on hold with the reorganisation of the NHS Trusts. D Laws will be meeting with new Acting Chief Executive of the Somerset Trust and will then be meeting with Mary Robinson. M Willy and S Dickie as the Parish Council representatives to the previous reference group would wish to continue to be involved in the consultation.

g) It is expected that the government will publish a White Paper on 26 October 2006 on Local Government Reorganisation. Issues such as Unitary Authorities replacing District and Counties, devolved powers from

Government to Local Authorities and from Local Authorities to communities are expected to be mentioned along with an increased role for councillors, both district and parish, in local decision making and management.

h) Costs relating to the elections in May 2007 have already been received.

i) P Robathan is now the Chairman of the Local Strategy Partnership, which tries to ensure that all sectors are working together.

j) In response to a question about conservation areas, SSDC has no enforcement power over replanting of trees when permission is given for a tree to be removed, they can only advise on replanting.

k) There are four car tyres in the brook near Silver Street and P Robathan offered to arrange for these to be removed.

14 Freedom of Information Act

A request has been received from B Herrick for the Parish Council to supply copies of any information that they have relating to him or his property. The method of retrieving this information was discussed and it was agreed that this would be very time consuming and the clerk could not be asked to do this as part of her normal role so would be paid the necessary hours to achieve this. S Doble will be asked if he can help to spread the workload to try to meet the deadline. N Greenleaf also offered to help.

15 Highways

a) The kerb outside Fleurtation is regularly damaged by traffic driving across it and Somerset Highways are proposing to place a bollard on that corner. It was thought that this might be a problem for the carnival floats but J Purefoy has confirmed that this will not be the case, but there is concern about the narrowness of the footpath if a bollard was to be installed, so the parish council’s preference would be no bollard.

b) Concern was expressed about the length of time the skip has been in Crown Lane car park, but it was recognised that this was still needed during Provender’s alterations.

c) Somerset Highways have indicated that a surface treatment on the pavements in St James Street will be included in their budget for 2007. The Parish Council will write strongly supporting this.

d) The proposed exhibition about dualling the Ilminster by-pass has been postponed until the New Year.

e) The footpath at the junction of Palmer Street and Harding’s Court has been temporarily repaired and will be repaired by the builder when the work on the houses in complete.

16 Footpaths

S Wallis has started work on the second footpath leaflet and requested help to complete it. P Kidner offered to work with her to complete it as a matter of urgency as the funds are already in place.

(R Shutler left the meeting)

17 Recreational Ground

a) The Play Inspection reports as still showing the same faults even after considerable maintenance and safety work has been carried out by Wicksteed. The programme for the next four weeks visits will be requested from SSDC and C Willy will liaise with them.

b) A decision on the 2007 Risk Assessment was deferred until the next meeting.

c) The Astro turf has been laid to create a goalmouth on one side of the MUGA. And it is hoped to have a ¾ size goalmouth.

d) The recreation ground will need to be sprayed again in the spring to stop the weed growth.

e) The work to repair the matting under the climbing frame has been completed.

f) A bag of daffodils has been donated by a parishioner and the scouts will be planting these in the area around the memorial garden.

g) The rubbish bin at the MUGA has been seriously vandalised.

h) The cost of the cricket netting is still being investigated and the cricket club will be submitting a planning application for this.

i) The work on the coping stones on the steps to Bridge Lane in still outstanding.

(P Robathan, J Sharpe and P Kidner left the meeting and R Shutler returned)

j) P Mottram has now joined a Bowls Development Group, which was set up following a meeting that he attended with SSDC, with the view to sharing ideas and funding sources. 45 clubs were invited to the first meeting and 15 attended.

k) South Petherton Tennis Club has requested the opportunity to speak at the next Parish Council meeting to explain their proposals.

l) The paper work for a grant application has been provided for the Pavilion Committee to consider applying for a grant for a new kitchen.

18 William Blake Memorial Hall

R Beale and M Davidson reported that some members of the Blake Hall Committee had met with the Sports and Social Club to discuss the arrears in rent. A further two months rent has now been paid leaving approximately £2,000 owed but the club say that they have no funds to pay any more at present, but did agree to set up a monthly standing order but that has not yet been done. The details of the contract were queried and this will be on the agenda next month.

(P Kidner returned)

19 Cemetery

a) 35 rabbits have been caught at the cemetery by Mr Hawkins’ ferrets.

b) As part of the Risk Assessment, the head stones at the cemetery have been spot checked for safety. If any are found to be damaged or unsafe, attempts will be made to contact the relatives of the deceased so that they can organise a repair.

(R Shutler left the meeting).

20 Churchyard

a) It was agreed that the quote from S Moghan to replace the concrete base of the war memorial with hamstone should be accepted providing the 50% grant previously offered was still available.

b) Permission has not yet been given by the vicar to remove the branches of the Christmas tree in the churchyard. R Beale offered to try to contact him.

21 Christmas Lights

a) It was agreed that if permission could be obtained from the homeowners, one of the banners of lights would be put up across St James Street by the car park. No additional lights would be purchased this year but there would be some costs for hire of the equipment needed to put up the lights and a one off cost of fittings to the properties in St James Street permission was given.

22 Market Towns Initiative

a) P Male attended the SSDC meeting, as J Broughton was unable to attend. It is not too late for South Petherton to become involved but they have missed out on the opportunity to be part of the first £100,000 of funding allocated for security issues. South Petherton has been invited to join the second stage of the initiative, which will be for signage to promote local services. J Broughton and N Greenleaf will attend the next meeting on 7 December 2006 and need ideas for what is required in South Petherton.

b) The application to the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative for funding was unsuccessful.

c) J Broughton will respond to C Jones request for a meeting with her and Gillespie.

23 Post Offices

South Petherton PC will write supporting the need for a post office in the village.

24 External Auditor’s Report

It was agreed that the clerk would continue to be self employed and she was asked to write to the Parish Council confirming that having taken advise, which was to the contrary, she as happy to continue as self employed.

b) A new quote for increased Fidelity Insurance has been requested.

25 Meetings

a) Community Safety Workshop - None of the Parish Councillors are able to attend on this date.

b) Stanchester Night of Achievement - It was suggested that one of the Youth Club Management Committee might like to represent South Petherton.

c) State of the District Meeting - A decision on this was deferred until the next meeting.

Chairman……………………… Date…………….