Table of Contents
April Agenda
SHEPTON BEAUCHAMP PARISH COUNCIL
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on Monday 28 April at the Village Hall at 7 pm followed by the Parish Council Meeting.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING AGENDA
1 Apologies for absence – Keith Ronaldson
2 Minutes of last year’s meeting
3 Chairman’s Report
4 Reports from village organisations
5 Matters raised by parishioners
PARISH COUNCIL AGENDA
1 Apologies for absence
2 Public Participation
3 Approval of minutes of last meeting
4 Declarations of Interest
5 Reports from DC/CC
6 Planning – Revised plans for alterations and extensions to existing dwelling and demolition of garage and alterations to parking/turning area at Trinity Cottage Littlefields Lane
7 Parish Plan
8 Lengthman
9 Highways
10 Footpaths
11 Accounts
12 Date of next meeting
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Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting was held on Monday 28 April 2008 at the Village Hall at 7 pm.
PRESENT Cllrs Humphreys (Chair), Cripps, Hallett, Walshe, Messrs P Robathan (District Councillor), J Sharpe (County Councillor) and 4 parishioners.
APOLOGIES Cllrs England, Hawkins, Rowswell, Mr K Ronaldson (District Councillor), Mrs B Allen (Shepton Seniors), Mrs S Bacon (Playgroup), Ms L Onn (Art Group).
MINUTES The minutes of the previous Parish Meeting were read and signed as a true record.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Cllr Humphreys welcomed everyone and said it had been a busy year, with various events and new projects drawing the village together, and he thanked all who had been involved in making the village such a lovely place to live.
PARISH PLAN
Sharon Humphreys had sent a report outlining the year’s events, including the Village Markets, Fun Run, Bonfire Party, and St Petroc’s Day Street Party, which were all very successful. A microwave and coffee machine had been given to the Village Hall, fundraising help will be given to the new Recreation Committee and to the Church, and a gift such as a bench will be given to the Watermeadow Project. The two gazebos purchased last year are available for hire or can be borrowed by village fundraising groups.
RECREATION FIELD
Cllr Walshe spoke of plans for a new football pitch and revamping of the pavilion and said an ‘It’s a Knockout’ event is to take place on 28 June.
WATERMEADOW PROJECT
Debbie Welch spoke of the work which is taking place to clear the area and said the Cowleaze Meadow sign has been erected and a new gate will be hung. The site has been entered for a makeover in a competition organised by the Western Gazette and Debbie said the judges would be visiting it the next day.
TREE WARDEN
Debbie Welch said that Mr Hallett had donated five beech trees and she is looking for the best sites for these. She will include the Tree Preservation Orders on the village website. Debbie does not feel that she is giving enough time to her role as Tree Warden but will carry on unless someone comes forward to share the post.
CHARITIES
Cllr Hallett gave the report on behalf of Cllr Rowswell, noting that the Trustees had received resignations from June Welch, who had been a trustee for many years, and from Joan Kennedy who had acted as Clerk since 2000. Grants had been paid to two students, totalling £300, and to the Village School for a laptop computer and the Playgroup for a video camera. Approximately £450 had been paid to the over 70s as their Christmas Bonus.
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SCHOOL
A report was received from Jane Rippon, Community Governor. There are three new members of staff, who are Karen Brooker (Headteacher shared with Barrington and Ilton), Sheena Coate (Class 2 Teacher) and Alison Drayton (Secretary). The School is grateful to local businesses and the Village Charities, whose financial support has enabled the purchase of laptop computers and interactive white boards. The village is very fortunate to have such an excellent and thriving school at which the children can start their educational journey.
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
Cllr Hawkins was unable to attend the Annual Parish Meeting, but arrived later and gave the PCC report. He spoke of the Accounts and said the biggest expense is the Common Fund, which has to be found for the Diocese, and is in the region of £10,000 - £11,000 per annum.
VILLAGE HALL
In the absence of the Hall representative, Cllr Hawkins advised that the Committee is planning a Flower Show in September and a Race Night in June or July. He thanked the Parish Plan Committee for their assistance and donations.
ST MICHAEL’S GUILD
It was reported that the Guild meets on the third Friday of each month, usually at the home of Ian and Norma Hawkins. There are 24 members, who enjoy a programme of speakers, films, quiz, tea party, outings and Christmas Party. New members would be welcome.
SHEPTON SENIORS
Mrs Allen sent a report on behalf of the Shepton Seniors 60 Club, which is celebrating its 40th year. An average of 25 members meet once a month and enjoy outings, speakers, films, bingo, and Christmas Lunch at the Duke of York.
YOUTH GROUP
Youth Group numbers are still very good, with around 35 attending on Tuesday evenings, 18 of whom are from Barrington and Puckington. Jackie Priddle has reliable help from within the village and has arranged trips to paintballing, cinema and bowling. Young Somerset is no longer in existence so there is no longer any support from there.
PLAYGROUP
Shelley Bacon, Supervisor of the Playgroup for over 20 years, sent a report. The year has been busy and enjoyable and the children are learning Somerset Total Communication, which is based on British Sign Language. Events over the year included Sports Day, a Beach Party send off for the children leaving, Sponsored Marathon Slide, Walks to Barrington Court, the Christmas Play and seeing the horses and hounds at the Hunt Meet. The Group has strong links with the School, which helps the children settle in there.
RAMBLERS
Cllr Cripps said it is now 15 years since Pat Pearse started the Ramblers Group and there are 40 members and a small waiting list. Walks take place two or three times a month and are very enjoyable.
ART GROUP
The Group meets on Friday evenings from 7.30 – 9.30 pm and there are usually 10 – 15 members. A show is held most years in November and new members would be welcome.
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GOLF SOCIETY
Cllr Humphreys said membership of the Golf Society had remained at a healthy level. They play from March – October and would welcome new membership The Chairman concluded the meeting by thanking all the organisations for the enormous amount of effort which they put into organising the various events for the village.
Parish Council
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Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council, which took place on Monday 28 April 2008 following the Annual Parish Meeting.
PRESENT Cllrs Humphreys (Chair), Cripps, Hallett, Hawkins, Sarker, Walshe, Messrs P Robathan (District Councillor), J Sharpe (County Councillor) and 4 parishioners.
APOLOGIES Cllrs England, Rowswell, Mr K Ronaldson (District Councillor).
MINUTES The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and signed.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No interests were declared.
DC REPORT
Mr Robathan advised that it is unlikely that funds will continue to be available under the Frontline Councillor Awards Scheme, but that it will be spent via committees instead. Mr Robathan spoke about the Tour of Britain Cycle Race from Chard to Burnham-on-Sea, which last year attracted the largest audience a cycle race has ever had. He suggested that when the Cowleaze Project is finished, it may be worth entering it for a Green Flag Award for community run green spaces.
CC REPORT
Mr Sharpe spoke of proposed changes to Area Panel funding. The Panels will disappear and an amount of money will be allocated to each division to be spent on up to five projects. More information will be available in June and the funds are to be allocated by November.
PLANNING
An amendment was received to the application to alter and extend Trinity Cottage, Littlefields Lane, demolish the garage and alter the parking/turning areas. The councillors’ opinion was divided, some wishing their original comments to stand, whilst others felt the amendments were an improvement.
Cllr Hawkins attended the District Council’s meeting on the Core Strategy of the Development Framework and he felt the Parish Council should hold a brief meeting on the subject. This was arranged for Thursday 8 May and Mr Robathan was invited to give guidance.
DISTRICT COUNCIL’S ANNUAL MEETING WITH PARISHES
This will take place at Long Sutton Village Hall on 22 May and Cllr Cripps will attend.
LENGTHMAN
Mr Rippon reported that the Lengthman is doing a good job and Mr Sharpe confirmed that funding is in place for the scheme for the next two years
HIGHWAYS
Cllr Hawkins had noted that, although BT had carried out some tree surgery work, there are still branches touching the overhead wires in Great Lane and Barrington Main and the Clerk will inform them of this. Mr Rippon asked if the cats’ eyes would be replaced on the Ilminster road and it was thought that they will be. Cllr Cripps confirmed that a classical style pump trough has been purchased and that Miss Pearse has kindly offered to pay half the cost, for which the Parish Councillors are most grateful.
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FOOTPATHS
Cllr Cripps said he will be meeting George Montague to discuss the maintenance of the path to the south of the Recreation Field.
ACCOUNTS
Cheques were drawn for: Steve Hodge – pavilion repairs £293.99 South Petherton Parish Council – Lengthman’s salary 250.00 Miss P Pearse – half cost of pump trough 19.00 Baker & Duke – Cowleaze Meadow Lease 257.50
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
As the fourth Monday of May is a Bank Holiday, the next meeting will take place on Wednesday 28th.
Cllr Sarker advised that he may not be able to devote as much time to the Parish Council due to work commitments, but the Councillors would like him to continue and come to meetings when he can.
The meeting closed at 9.15 pm.