Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council, which took place on Tuesday 10 May 2011 in the Function Room at Buttle Close.

PRESENT
Cllrs Fowler, Hallett, Rowswell, Mr P Thompson (District Councillor), Mrs A Larpent (County Councillor) and 6 parishioners.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllrs Cripps. England, Mr B Walker (District Councillor).

CO-OPTION OF NEW MEMBERS
To fill the four vacancies, Jane Bishop, Toby Lewis, Malcolm Rivers and Ed Wakely were co-opted onto the Council.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The Officers were elected as follows:

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and signed.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Wakely declared an interest in planning applications at Meadowlea Farm, Compton Durville, as owner, and Carrick, Lambrook Road, as neighbour.

DC REPORT
Mr Thompson was welcomed to the meeting and he said he has started his training as District Councillor. Cllr Hallett asked him to keep the Parish Council informed of future changes to the planning laws.

CC REPORT
Mrs Larpent spoke of a bid for Government funding to improve Broadband speeds throughout the county. She has asked for the Winter Maintenance Programme to be altered to include Shepton Beauchamp on the gritting route. As part of the financial cutbacks, 560 posts have been lost from County Hall.

ACCOUNTS
Since the last meeting, a cheque had been drawn for £4,000 for the Cowleaze Meadow Project. Cheques were drawn for:

PLANNING
Cllr Wakely had declared an interest and left the room while the other
councillors considered the planning applications. There were no objections to applications to:
Install rear dormer and internal alterations at Carrick, Lambrook Road.
Erect building for storage of agricultural machinery at Meadowlea Farm, Compton Durville.

PARISH PLAN
The work on the new play equipment at the Recreation Field is due to start later this month and should be completed by the end of June. The official opening of Cowleaze Meadow will take place on 21 May and gratitude was expressed to the small number of people who have put in a lot of time and effort on the project. A notice will be erected on the site so that people are aware that his has been totally funded by the National Lottery.

A mower is being purchased to keep the paths trimmed, which the Lengthsman will be able to use, and Cllr Wakely will help with mowing when he can.

The dog fouling problem seems to have improved since displaying the children’s posters.

ALLOTMENTS
It had been noted that some of the Allotments are looking untidy and the Clerk was asked to send a general letter to all Allotment Holders reminding them of the rules.

HIGHWAYS
Mrs Larpent advised that drains will now only be cleaned every other year. She was asked to report potholes in Great Lane and at the Robins/Love Lane junction, a missing drain cover near the Branstons entrance and the need for verge trimming.

Parking on pavements continues to be a problem and the PCSO will be informed.

The meeting closed at 8.30 pm.