1 Apologies for absence

2 Public Participation

3 Approval of minutes of last meeting

4 Declarations of Interest – Review of Members’ Interests

5 Reports from DC/CC

6 Accounts

7 Planning –

• Conversion and extension of pair of cottages to form single dwelling, the erection of dwelling and 2 garages at Ferndale, Buttle Lane.

• The erection of a general purpose agricultural store at Home Farm, Lambrook Road.

8 Correspondence

9 Parish Plan – Review (IH to report)

10 Lengthman

11 Highways

12 Footpaths

13 Allotments

The Planning Application can be viewed at the Post Office.

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Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council, which took place on Monday 27 July 2009.

PRESENT Cllrs Humphreys (Chair), Cripps, England, Hallett, Hawkins, Rowswell, Sarker, Wakely, Walshe, Messrs P Robathan & K Ronaldson (District Councillors), Mrs A Larpent (County Councillor) and 10 parishioners.

APOLOGIES The Police Community Support Officer sent apologies for absence.

A parishioner expressed concern about the proposed plans for Ferndale, Buttle Lane, due to extra traffic using the narrow lane leading to the site and the lack of visibility caused by parked cars in Middle Street. The Clerk will request white lines on the road near the Buttle Lane/Middle Street junction prohibiting parking there.

Two letters had been received from allotment holders and concern was expressed about access to the remaining part of the field.

MINUTES The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and signed.

Cllr Rowswell declared an interest, as applicant, in a planning application to convert and extend pair of cottages to form single dwelling and erect dwelling and two garages at Ferndale, Buttle Lane.

The Parish Councillors reviewed and signed their Members’ Interests Forms.

Mr Ronaldson spoke of Seavington Parish Council’s proposals for a community shop and café as a central hub of the two villages. Concern had been expressed by the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators about the lack of police presence and thefts from vehicles in Shepton Beauchamp. The District Councillors have been invited to Somerton Police Station and Mr Robathan is investigating the possibility of a Police Post in South Petherton, where the PCSOs could start their day instead of having to report to Somerton at the beginning and end of each day, and he will invite Andy Pritchard to the next meeting. The District Council is attempting to save £2,000,000 and will be handing back to the County Council all responsibility for rights of way and will be removing two corporate directors and their support staff. Mr Robathan spoke about the Sustainable Communities Act, which gives individuals the opportunity to put suggestions forward to Central Government.

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Mrs Larpent confirmed that she has now completed her County Council training and found the Officers at the County Council really helpful. She has given priority to the condition of the roads and future plans for local schools. Mrs Larpent will hold a surgery in the Duke of York for half an hour before each Parish Council meeting. The Councillors are grateful to her for finding a strimmer for use in the village.

Cheques were drawn for:

Cllr Rowswell left the room while the Parish Council considered the application for conversion and extension of pair of cottages to form single dwelling, erection of dwelling and two garages at Ferndale, Buttle Lane. There were no objections to the application provided that natural stone is used for the conversion of the cottages. No objections were raised to an application to erect general purpose agricultural store at Home Farm, Lambrook Road.

Permission has been granted for the removal of toilet block extension to provide space for extension to the west of existing school building to provide an office area, access toilet, male toilets and new entrance at Shepton Beauchamp First School.

Cllrs Hawkins and Rowswell had met Charlotte Jones of the District Council to discuss rural housing and suggested carrying out a survey to determine need.

Some of the allotment holders attended the meeting to express their concern that access to the remaining piece of land had not been considered when their allotments were allocated last year. This resulted in machinery being driven over three of the allotments to gain access to spray the oats, and access will also be needed to harvest the crop. The Parish Council regrets this oversight and any inconvenience caused to the allotment holders, to whom the Councillors are grateful for cultivating the land, and will pay compensation for any damage caused and set up a plan for the future management of the field.

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The Cowleaze Meadow Project Group had heard from Wessex Water that they cannot guarantee they will never need to use the ‘set aside’ area of land, so it has been decided not to plant trees in the seating area and that any seating, fencing and path laying will be of a type which can be relocated if necessary. The Lab costs for processing the soil samples will be approximately £500. More volunteers to help clear the site would be most welcome.

The Events Team held a very successful Street Party, with the Church Fete, which was attended by over 70% of the inhabitants. All those who helped were congratulated on their efforts.

The Fun Run will take place on Sunday 6 September and the Clerk will arrange the insurance cover.

Cllr Hawkins circulated copies of the Parish Plan Review, carried out by Roger Cripps, Phillip Gibbons, Ian Hawkins, Jackie Priddle, Fiona Rowswell and Edward Wakely, and was thanked for arranging this.

It was confirmed that the removal of the ivy had been carried out.

Mrs Larpent will check when the gullies are to be cleaned out.

A new footpath sign is being erected at Cowleaze. Dog fouling has become a problem at Cowleaze and the Clerk will request signs prohibiting this and a supply of bags.

The meeting closed at 10.30 pm.