MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S HULL PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE FRANK BOND CENTRE ON THURSDAY, 8th APRIL 2010

Present: Mr K Burgess (in the Chair)
Mrs C Bulbeck
Mr G Everett
Mrs L Kelly
Mrs W Lewis
Mr R Porter

Cllr Nigel Stuart-Thorn (TDBC) was also in attendance.

E2159 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Mr Rose, Mrs Beaumont, Mr Roper, Mrs Ravenhill, Mr Summers and Cllr Ian Morrell (TDBC).

E2160 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25th February 2010 were signed as a correct record, subject to the amendment of minute 2151, para three - the sentence commencing 'There was some discussion' to be deleted and replaced by the wording 'The Parish Council was not able to respond as a body'.

E2161 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

E2123 - Smells at Frethey House - it appeared that this matter had now been resolved.

E2123 - Bench at Haydon Close - this was now in place.

Speed limit at bottom of Shutewater Hill - the Clerk had contacted Ian Titcombe who had said that this matter could not be looked at until the 2010/2011 financial year.

E2151 - it was noted that it had been subsequently agreed that the word 'personally' need not be inserted in the Residents' Association letter to the Ombudsman.

E2152 - Planning - the following applications has been granted:-

05/09/035 - provision of scooter store within the existing scheme manager's flat at 22 Malthouse Court;

05/10/03 - new planning permission to replace extant permission at 65 Stonegallows;

05/10/04 - single storey rear extension with balcony and privacy screen at 38 Stonegallows.

E2154 - Clerk's duties - it was noted that this meeting had not yet taken place.

E2162 PACT

PCSO Simon Parry was welcomed to the meeting. He reported that his priorities since the last meeting had been anti-social behaviour, parking opposite the shops, and dog fouling on the playing field. He felt that some progress had been made in all these areas. The number of calls relating to Bishop's Hull since January was 142, and 59 crimes had been recorded. Since the figures for previous quarters were not available, it was not possible to make any meaningful comparisons.

Better weather may lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour so that would continue to be monitored. A site meeting had been held about the parking problems, and some road markings agreed. With regard to dog fouling, he felt that the signs were situated rather high up, and the wording could be more succinct. There was also a lack of dog bins on the school side, and no signage from Gillards.

It was agreed to put PACT on the July agenda, and PCSO Parry was thanked for his attendance.

E2163 FINANCIAL MATTERS

Draft accounts for 2009/10

These were noted. The Clerk said that they were in draft form as they had not yet been audited and she had not received final bank statements. Mr Porter made two observations:-

(i) he thought that VAT should be shown separately and not included in the cost of items

(ii) that National Insurance employers' contributions for the street cleaner should be shown as an Establishment cost and not included in the salary.

Requests for financial assistance - it was agreed to grant £50 to Victim Support, and to renew membership of the Somerset Community Council and the Society of Local Council Clerks.

E2164 CHEQUES FOR AUTHORISATION AND SIGNATURE

The following cheques were noted:-

S Watts - Clerk's salary and expenses for March £585.69
R Dezille - Street Cleaner's hours £288.00
Inland Revenue (4th quarter) £285.71
D Jorgensen (website hosting) £60.28
Deane DLO (new bench) £699.13
K Burgess (snowdrops) £19.99
SLCC membership £106.00
Victim Support £50.00
Somerset Community Council £30.00

E2165 GRIT BOXES

There was some discussion about the possible placing of grit boxes in the village. It was agreed that Mrs Kelly would see whether the Meryan House Hotel was prepared to site a box which could be used to grit Shutewater Hill. If she could secure a site, further consideration would be given to the purchase of one box to see how it went.

E2166 PERSIMMON HOMES - S106

Mr Burgess reported that he had held a meeting with interested local parties about a possible new village hall. They would be meeting again soon with Scott Weetch (TDBC) and Eileen Zoers (Somerset Community Council). The preferred option was for a central site, but there were various difficulties to be overcome, including considering the interests of other local community organisations.

It was noted that the Residents' Association's letter to the Ombudsman had been sent.

Persimmon had organised an exhibition at the School, and had suggested a meeting with the Parish Council. This offer had not been taken up, as it was thought that it might be better to hold a meeting with TDBC and the Residents Group at the same time. It was thought that Cllr Morrell might be in the process of organising this.

E2167 PLANNING

The following application had been received and there were no objections:-

05/10/09 - Two storey extension at 33 Great Mead.

05/10/08LB - Porch at The Firs - the Clerk had told TDBC that this Council could not comment on this application as it was by a member of the Council
05/10/07 LP - a certificate of proposed lawful use or development for a proposed conservatory at 60 Jarmyns had been received.

E2168 DISPENSATIONS FROM DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

It was agreed that there would be little benefit in proceeding with this a this time but that it should be kept 'pending' until it might be of use.

E2169 FOOTPATHS

Mr Burgess said that the Footpaths Group had met on 17th March and that there was little to report. A few missing fingerposts had been replaced - some had already been mended.

T3/6 - it was noted that SCC had now entered into a permissive path agreement with the landowner, and this eroded path was now walkable. The agreement was in place for one year but it was hoped that it would lead to a longer term solution.

A parish footpaths map was available (and would be put on the website) - people should be asked to keep to the footpaths and not trample over farmers' crops or allow their dogs to do so.

E2170 REPORTS FROM OTHER BODIES

LAT - a mountain biking event had been held for the young people at Halden Hill near Exeter which had been very successful - it was planned to hold more. PCSO Parry had organised it. Speedwatch was continuing. SCC were supposed to be carrying out a review of all major road speed limits, but nothing appeared to have happened yet.

VEG - a quiz night was to be held on 23rd April to raise some funds. The main village event, a family Fun Day, would be held on 12th June.
Frank Bond Centre - were producing a new publicity leaflet advertising activities in the house and the new summer house was having a grand opening on 9th May with jazz and a curry supper.

E2171 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday, 20th May 2010, at 7.00 p.m. This would be the Annual Parish Meeting, followed by the annual Council meeting.

E2172 ITEMS OF REPORT

Memorial pole in community woodland - a pole had been erected to 'Ricky' but it was not known who he was. It was not practical to allow people to put up memorials as it could lead to a lot more appearing. Mr Burgess was meeting the Somerset Wildlife Trust and TDBC on 12th April to discuss this.

Leaves from oaks on Bishops Hull Road - as cars were parked there most of the time, these were accumulating. Mr Dezille would be asked to clear them.

Citizenship Award - Mrs Bulbeck reported that she, in her capacity as Chairman, had received an award for the work of the Frank Bond Centre. She understood that these are awarded annually by the Chairman of SCC based on proposals from Parish Councils and wondered why we had not been asked to participate. The Clerk was asked to make enquiries.

Park and Ride lights - the lights were being left on all night again, which was wasteful and un-necessary.

Insurance renewal - the Clerk reported that the insurance company had changed and they had sent a lot of information through, although it did not look as if it contained anything new.

Grass area along Silk Mills Road - Mr Rose had asked the Chairman to raise the matter of the grass and tree area on the left side of Silk Mills Road between the corner with Mountway Road and the rear of the houses in Badgers Close. This area was poorly maintained, with a lot of rubbish being dumped there, and he felt that it reflected badly on the village. He suggested that the area needed a radical clean up, some screening erected to hide the back gardens and a planting programme

Community Woodland - the Chairman said that he had been in correspondence with the Wildlife Trust about the £1000 which this Council had earmarked for wildflower planting. It appeared that the SWT wanted to use a large part of this money for staff costs and he did not think that this was what it was intended for, and had said so.

Letter from Bob Parker - the Chairman reported receipt of a letter from Bob Parker of Bishops Hull Road about the possible construction of a new village hall, to which he would reply.

CHAIRMAN