DRAFT
ABBAS AND
TEMPLECOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the
Meeting held on
PRESENT Councillors I Speight (Chairman), Sarah
Webb (Vice Chair), R F B Saunders, P Andrew, I Middleton, C Hukins, G
Foers, G Wilson, C Brown
IN ATTENDANCE
PCSO Fiona Wilson, 3 Parishioners
Chairman welcomed everyone and commenced the open
session.
PCSO Fiona Wilson reported that there had been some
graffiti at the Railway Station, the tag had been recognised and reported to
the British Transport Police. The
waiting room was now being locked at night.
A wing mirror had been accidentally knocked off a car, a theft had taken
place from a house and there had been a small amount of unsocial behaviour.
Fiona had attended the Youth Panel and £12,000.00 had
been granted. She was going to meet with
Laura Johns – Linx Project and wondered if the proposed tennis lighting could
incorporate the youth shelter. The young
people were looking at designs for the shelter and G Foers felt that volunteers
could install the shelter and installation costs could be avoided. The funding would allow for one goal end and
it may be possible to approach William Wallace for further funding to purchase
a second goal end. The storage unit
would need to be moved and could be of use to someone.
It was noted that lead had been taken, from the
School, over the weekend. R Saunders
thanked Fiona Wilson for her efforts with the parking at Westcombe which had
improved.
Adrian Webb commented on the condition of the
Churchyard and volunteered to help with the grass cutting if a working party
was put together. Clerk would speak to
the Church.
1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
C James, W Wallace (County/District Councillor)
2 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
It was proposed by R Saunders and seconded by P Andrew
that the draft Minutes be agreed, as previously circulated.
3 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None.
4 CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence received since the last meeting was
discussed:-
1) South
Somerset Together – South Somerset Together’s AGM 18th June 2008
(17.30 to 19.30) – Long Sutton Golf Club, Long Load, Langport, Somerset. Chairman referred to the letter and
invitation and requested Members to let Clerk know if they wished to attend.
2) South
Somerset Together – South Somerset Together’s Sustainable Community Strategy
Stakeholder Events – 29th May 2008 (10.30 to 12.00 or 14.30 to
16.00) – Council Chambers, Yeovil.
Chairman referred to the letter and invitation and requested Members to
let Clerk know if they wished to attend.
3) Invitation
to the new Balsam Centre and Wincanton’s Children’s Centre – Friday 16th
May
5 PLANNING
1) The
following determinations were reported:-
Application No 08/00769/FUL – Demolition of existing
workshops and the erection of 2 no dwellinghouses with associated car parking –
Ken Doyle Motorcycles Ltd Throop Road Templecombe Somerset (Application
withdrawn)
Application No 08/00971/FUL – Erection of a two storey
rear extension to dwellinghouse –
Application No 08/01090/FUL – Erection of 2 Steel
framed buildings within the mast group compound area – Thales Underwater
Systems Throop Road Templecombe Somerset
Application No 08/00770/FUL – Erection of a two storey
extension and lean-to –
Application No 08/00496/FUL – Conversion of barns into
4 units of office accommodation – Newleaze Farm Bowden Road Templecombe Somerset
2) Clerk
reported that the Area East Meeting would take place on
3) South Somerset District Council – Consultation – Local
Development Framework Core Strategy – Issues and Options. Clerk reported on the workshop held on the 30th
April. Those present were placed into
groups and the following subjects were briefly discussed:-
Central Government will identify strategic sites to be
included in the core strategy and the general public will be invited to suggest
sites in approximately June. It was felt
that most of the dates would change.
Clerk would reply, where applicable, to the consultation.
Chairman reported that the following Planning
Application had been received since the Agenda was circulated and it was agreed
to discuss it at this meeting, due to the timescale set for replies:-
Application No 08/01938/FUL –
Erection of a two storey extension to dwellinghouse –
6 ACCOUNTING MATTERS
1) To approve accounts and sign
cheques.
It was proposed by I Middleton and seconded by C
Hukins that the following accounts be paid:-
Social Club 338.08
South Electric – 29.1.08 to 28.4.08 – Changing rooms 44.70
Allianz Insurance PLC – Renewal 1.6.08 2,760.33
PCC of St Mary’s Church – Grant for upkeep of
Churchyard 08/09 750.00
Mr J Pratt – Basic pay/hours 6.4.to10.5.08 182.88
Mrs T Chapman (Clerk) – Salary/Expenses May 08 297.21
Clerk reported that the following monies had been
received:-
South West Trains – Repayment for upkeep of Railway
Station
Oct 07 to Mar 08 225.00
Gartell and Son – Donation for 2 x water troughs 100.00
2) To approve end of year Accounts for
the year end
Dealt with in Annual Parish
Council Meeting. It was proposed by C Brown and
seconded by P Andrew that the accounts for the yr end 31.3.08, as circulated by
the Clerk, be approved.
3) To complete and sign Annual Return/Statement
of Assurance for year end
Chairman agreed and signed the Annual Return. The Statement of Assurance was read out to
the Members, completed and signed by the Chairman.
Councillor L Bennett joined the meeting at
4) No review of annual rents had been made but the
Chairman felt no change should be made to the Sports and Social Club rent, due
to the increase last year, in line with the conditions of the Lease. The
football Club were starting the next season with a new system of them meeting
the bills for water and electricity. Along with any additional grass cutting they felt was necessary.
The Templars Tennis Club had requested the 08/09 rent to be waived, as a
donation towards their plans to have flood lights. As no application details had been received
it was felt the rent should be paid and returned, as a donation, when the
planning application was submitted.
7 HIGHWAY MATTERS
1) Bus Shelter – High Street – update
Clerk reported that still no response had been
received from Mr Mark Pedlar, Somerset County Council. Clerk was making contact with Mr John Perrett
– South Somerset District Council who may be able to provide a grant. G Wilson had provided G Foers with a costing,
in Euros, for the proposed shelter designed by G Foers.
2) Traffic Calming/HGV’s
I Middleton reported the sunken triangular manhole
cover was still a problem; it was thought this was sewerage and therefore,
Wessex Water’s responsibility. Also a
cover at the top of Slades Hill with Church Hill had sunken, as a result of the
road being surface dressed. Clerk would
report both matters. It was also noted
no white lines had been reinstated at the junction with Blackmore Vale Close
and Slades Hill. Clerk would also report
this. Clerk would contact Mr Scott
Pollard, with regard to the Speedwatch Scheme and get the equipment returned.
3) Relocation of Stocks – update
An article would be included in the June edition of
the Newsletter asking for comments/opinions as to a proposed move of the
stocks.
4) Spring Bulbs offer – possible
planting locations
Locations were suggested as follows:-
5) South Somerset District Council (e
mail) –
It was noted that an inspection of Throop Road had
taken place by Mr Tony Leach, Somerset Highways, who felt there were no
potholes present that represented a safety defect but as it was wet when he
inspected he would re-inspect in dry weather.
6) Arrangements for maintenance/upkeep
of Railway Station
Mr J Pratt had indicated that he did not want to take
on this maintenance. Clerk had spoken with
the Allianz Insurance PLC who had indicated that the Council’s public liability
insurance cover would apply provided that the equipment being used belonged to
the Parish Council. R Saunders would
speak again to Mr Dunn to see if he would be able to take on this work and if
not somebody else would have to be found to carry out the maintenance. It was also noted the footbridge was in a bad
state, Clerk would write to the Rail Track.
7) Other
None.
8 FOOTPATHS
P Andrew had now received his Parish Paths Liaison
pack/Tool kit. A list of the contents of
the tool kit was given to the Clerk. If
there were problems, of a minor nature, on a footpath P Andrew should be
informed and if appropriate he may well be able to carry out the work
required. District and County Council
required a list of the owners of land that our footpaths cross, for record
purposes.
9 TREE WARDEN’S REPORT
I Middleton reported that he had sprayed around the
oaks in
10 PROVISION OF CEMETERY
Chairman read out correspondence received from the
Planning Officer, South Somerset District Council, Somerset County Council and
Environmental Agency. The application
was presently invalid pending submission of supporting details required by the
Environmental Agency. South Somerset
District Council had received comments from the County Highways Authority who
had raised objections to the unsustainable rural location of the site. They also had concerns as to the distance of
the proposed site from the Village centre and the need of the use of vehicles
to access the site, as the highway is classed as a ‘C’ road and the parking of
vehicles would lead to the obstruction of the free flow of traffic. It appeared even if more parking was provided
within the location of the site; Somerset County Council would feel this would
not provide adequate parking in a satisfactory manner. Also the site would constitute development
within the countryside and they had no option but to recommend refusal.
The Environmental Agency would require a consultant to
carry out a survey but it was not worth carrying this out if the application
was likely to be refused. The Planning
Officer considered alternative sites should be sought within or next to the
Village and the current application should be withdrawn pending this
action.
Members felt that some of the comments were not
appropriate to the site/application and it was agreed that the Planning Officer
should be asked to come to the Village and point out any sites they thought
suitable. Also Members felt letters
should be written to our MP and the press.
Initially, it was agreed that copy correspondence should be sent to
William Wallace (District/County Councillor) to see if there was any help he
could given to the matter. If no
location was ultimately found the option of pursuing a Compulsory Purchase
Order or handing the matter over to the District Council may have to be
considered.
11 NEWSLETTER
C Brown circulated a copy of the proposed June edition
of the newsletter. Members were happy with it and Chairman thanked Chris. The following articles were suggested for the
next edition:-
12 RECREATION GROUND MATTERS/CHILDRENS
PLAY AREA
A) Play Area – Weekly Play Area
Inspection Reports/South
Chairman and I Middleton would aim to repair the wet pour
when the weather was suitable, under the junior swings. G Foers had repaired the maintenance gate to
the BMX track and it was now padlocked.
The latch had come off the pedestrian gate and G Foers would look at
replacing it with locking bolts. It was
reported that children were using electric cars in the Play Area and it was
felt as no cycling was allowed in this area, these should also not be
permitted.
B) Social Club
C Hukins reported a bank balance of £4,500.00, which
included a rebate of £800.00 from Southern Electric. Maintenance was in hand and at the
Committee’s next meeting they planned to discuss possible changes they wished
to make to the Constitution. They would
then discuss it further with the Parish Council.
C) Football Club – Agreement of
Usage/Changes to Water Meter – Changing Rooms – update
The Footballl Club had now signed the Agreement of
Usage. Clerk would complete it on behalf
of the Parish Council and let them have a copy of the completed Agreement. They had also written a letter handing over
the ownership of the goal posts to the Parish Council, for insurance purposes.
D) Tennis Club – Update on planning
application for installation of floodlights
Nothing further to report.
E) Other
G Foers had looked into costs of concrete bollards
(3ft) to replace the wooden posts, at the Recreation Ground. 20 replacements would be needed at a cost of
£56.90 each, available from Travis Perkins.
Details were passed to the Chairman as may be able to secure a
discount. It was also suggested that
sleepers could be used. At present the
matter was not urgent and further quotes could be obtained in due course.
R Saunders reported that there were areas of the Recreation
Ground that required strimming. Clerk would ask Jeremy to give this work
priority.
13 ANY OTHER BUSINESS/ITEMS FOR THE
AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING TO BE HELD ON
It was noted that the residents of the green lane,
Chairman thanked G Wilson for levelling the soil, for
the flower bed, at the Village sign, Combe Hill. G Wilson would get a further sleeper to
retain the soil.
Clerk reported that an e-mail had been received from
Heather Crewe in respect of the Activ8 project.
They were asking for any projects that could be incorporated into the
plan and it was their intention to have a programme ready for the next Parish
Council meeting. They had approached the
Social Club to discuss the practicalities for the events to be held at the
Recreation Ground. Any help would be
welcomed.
The Meeting
closed at 9.15 pm
signed…………………………….