The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Monday 22 June at the Village Hall at 7.30 pm.

1 Apologies for absence

2 Public Participation

3 Approval of minutes of last meeting

4 Declarations of Interest

5 Reports from DC/CC

6 Accounts

7 Planning

• Planning – Removal of toilet block extension to provide space for extension to west of existing school building to provide an office area, access Toilet, male toilets and new entrance at Shepton Beauchamp School.

• Part demolition of existing buildings and conversion of existing building into two flats and erection of four dwellings at Hawkins Bakery

8 Parish Plan

9 Lengthman

10 Highways

11 Footpaths

The Planning Applications can be viewed at the Post Office.

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Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council, which took place on Monday 22 June 2009.

PRESENT Cllrs Humphreys (Chair), Cripps, England, Hawkins, Rowswell, Walshe, 5 parishioners and Mr J Clements (Agent). Mrs A Larpent (County Councillor) apologised for her late arrival due to a County Council training session.

APOLOGIES Cllrs J Hallett & E Wakely, Messrs P Robathan & K Ronaldson (District Councillors).

Two letters had been received from parishioners on the subject of the proposed development of Hawkins Bakery, expressing concerns about parking, drainage and overlooking of neighbouring properties, and stating that they would have liked more time to study the plans.

The Chairman read a statement from the applicant in support of the proposals, stating that his Agent, Mr Clements, was present to answer any queries.

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

Cllr Hawkins declared an interest, as applicant, in a planning application for part demolition of existing buildings and conversion of existing building into two flats and erection of four dwellings at Hawkins Bakery.

Mrs Larpent was welcomed to her first meeting in her official capacity. She is part of the Children & Young People’s Directorate team with responsibility for Strategic Services for Children, which involves the Youth Offending Team, Youth Service, Early Years, Connexions, Children’s Centres and Sports Partnerships. She hopes that, as part of this team, she will be able to forward the interests of small village schools like Shepton Beauchamp.

Mrs Larpent is keen to follow up any outstanding road repairs and was advised of areas where problems exist.

She is willing to be available on a regular basis and is considering a half hour surgery prior to Parish Council meetings.

On the subject of education, she had spoken to Judith Richardson and the School has done all it needs to at present but funds are to become tight. The County Council has loans of over £300,000,000 (not including the £25,000,000 in Icelandic Banks).

Mrs Larpent will be pleased to consider an application for funding for a particular project.

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Cheques were drawn for: Pinnacle Accountancy Services – Internal Audit of 2008/09 Accounts £82.80 D Clarke – Clerk’s expenses 197.44

An application to remove 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 School had the full support of the Parish Council.

Cllr Hawkins left the room while the Parish Council considered his application for part demolition of existing buildings and conversion of existing building into two flats and erection of four dwellings at Hawkins Bakery.

Whilst the Councillors did not object to the site being developed, they understood the concerns of neighbours about overlooking from dormer windows of the houses and windows of the upstairs flat and suggested obscured glass is considered. The Councillors also felt it is important to retain the character of the frontage and requested a condition that the ‘HOVIS’ sign is retained.

Permission has been granted for the following:

• Demolition of existing open shed and erection of building comprising office/store and a replacement open shed at Shepton House, Higher Road.

• Renewal of permission to erect dwelling on land adjacent to Brimgrove Cottage, Brimgrove Lane.
• Conversion and change of use from offices to form flat with additional retail space on ground floor at The Old Garage, North Street.

Charlotte Jones of the District Council would like to meet representatives from the Parish Council to discuss rural housing and arrangements will be made for Cllrs Hawkins and Rowswell to meet her.

Cllr Cripps reported on Cowleaze Meadow and said an ecological study had been carried out, with the exception of soil samples. There was evidence of water voles, grass snakes and slowworms. Cllr Wakely will mow the grass as soon as he can.

A new footpath sign has been requested from the District Council.

Plans are well in hand for the Street Party on 18 July.

Cllr Hawkins said a meeting is to take place shortly on the review of the Parish Plan and he will update the Parish Council next month.

Cllr Walshe reported that Adrian Moore is arranging for designs to be drawn up for recreation from the cradle to the grave and the first instalment of the £12,500 grant will be available in September. A survey will be carried out to ascertain the needs of the parishioners.

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The Lengthman will be asked to remove ivy from a road sign and from the Fives Wall. Cllr Humphreys spoke of the clean and tidy appearance at the approaches to the village due to the Lengthman keeping the signs clear.

The County Councillor was asked to take up the matter of trees which need trimming back on Barrington Main, also various potholes.

It was reported that vegetation needs trimming and the surface has washed away at the top of Ash Lane. Mrs Larpent knows of a large strimmer which may be available. The Dog Warden will be advised of fouling of the footpaths and the Churchyard and of the fact that some dog owners are depositing large quantities of dog waste in the bins provided for dog walkers instead of double wrapping it and putting it in their own bins.

The Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators have expressed concern about the lack of Police presence in the village.

The meeting closed at 10 pm.