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Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council, which took place on Monday 14 June 2010.

Cllrs Humphreys (Chair), Cripps, England, Hallett, Hawkins, Rowswell, Sarker, Wakely, Walshe, Mr P Robathan (District Councillor), Mrs A Larpent (County Councillor), PCSO Melanie Austin and 3 parishioners.

Mr K Ronaldson (District Councillor).

PCSO Melanie Austin attended the meeting on Charlotte Rogers’ behalf. She said that federation of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes had been suggested. Cllr Wakely said the Farm Watch Scheme is now more successful as text messages are coming through quicker.

Jackie Priddle expressed concern that notices advertising village events are being removed. Mr Robathan had been assured that the District Council is not doing this and the Clerk will ask if the County Council knows anything about it.

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and signed, after adding under the heading Washcross Lane/Littlefields Lane “A number of Councillors maintained the desire to keep Washcross Lane”

No interests were declared.

The Standing Orders produced by the Association of Local Councils were adopted and signed by the Chairman.

Mr Robathan spoke of proposed changes to planning law, with more community say and less density. The Somerset Strategic Partnership has been scrapped, and the integration with East Devon should save £1 - £2m next year. The AGM of South Somerset Together will take place at Long Sutton Golf Club on 16 June, and Mr Robathan is chairing a meeting at the Blake Hall, South Petherton, on 15 June on Partners and Communities Together.

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Mrs Larpent spoke of a County Council review of roadside signs, and repeater speed camera signs are to be removed. With so many parishes affected by Bovine TB, the whole of Somerset is now on an annual testing cycle. The County Council will have to make £4.5m cuts this financial year, which will mean £3m cuts in funds to support projects in a range of areas from children’s social care to road safety and £1.5m cuts in capital budgets in transport. Mrs Larpent will follow up the suggestion of the adoption of Piece Lane and Brimgrove Lane.

Cheques had been drawn for:

A further cheque for £6,881.49 was drawn for English Garden for signs, fencing and track at Cowleaze and the cheque will be released when the Architect has approved the work.

No objections were raised to an application to demolish existing garage and porch and erect extension to The Jays, Lambrook Road. Permission has been granted for the erection of agricultural grain store at Home Farm, Lambrook Road. The application for a new vehicular access and erection of dwelling on land south of Pendower has been withdrawn, following objections about overlooking neighbouring properties, and a revised application is to be submitted.

Peter Sanderson, Vice Chairman of the Recreation Committee, said a Management Plan is being produced for the future of the Recreation Ground, which will enable funding to be applied for.

The Lease from the Parish Council has 22 years left to run and the Recreation Committee would like this extended to allow a more secure tenure. The Parish Council could not see any objection to this, but would need time to consider it, and Mr Robathan suggested asking the advice of the District Council Solicitor. Cllr Walshe will pass a copy of the Lease to Mr Robathan.

Cllr Hawkins suggested that the Events Committee might like to think about an event to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Tea at the Ritz was a huge success, enjoyed by all who attended, and DVDs of the occasion are available.

Application forms for the Whacky Olympics on 26 June are available at the Post Office and the Fun Run will be on 12 September. Page 342

A letter of thanks was received from David Muir, thanking the parishes for his retirement gifts. He will be back working in the parish while David Ogilvie has some time off.

Following cuts in footpath maintenance, the Lengthsman may be asked to carry out some path trimming for which a grass cutting machine may need to be purchased between the parishes.

The Highway Authority has added the crossroads with Barrington Main to the list of sites for dumpy bags of salt for next winter. If this does not appear in October, contact should be made with Mike Fear, who will arrange it. Lambrook Road is programmed for surfacing on 1 December and will take three days to complete. Existing potholes will be repaired within the next 28 days. Mike Fear is aware of the condition of Barrington Main but needs to improve the drainage there before any new surface is laid and this work will be considered for 2011 – 2012.

It is noted that the standard of work carried out recently is not of such a high standard as that carried out two years ago and the Clerk will query this.

Some footpath clearance has been carried out, but there is a reduction in the amount the County Council will be doing and the frequency. Cllr Cripps will ask other parishes if they have such severe cuts.

In cases where allotments are not being tended, it was felt that the Parish Council should have the option to reallocate.

Mr Robathan is looking into the possibility of a noticeboard on the garage at the Post Office, bearing in mind the conservation area.

The meeting closed at 9.40 pm.