MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S HULL PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE FRANK BOND CENTRE ON THURSDAY, 25th FEBRUARY 2010

Present: Mr K Burgess (in the Chair)
Mrs J Beaumont
Mrs C Bulbeck
Mr G Everett
Mrs L Kelly
Mr R Porter
Mrs S Ravenhill
Mr N Roper
Mr M Summers

Cllr Alan Paul (SCC) and Cllr Ian Morrell (TDBC) were also in attendance.

E2146 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Lewis and Mr Rose, and Cllr Stuart Thorn (TDBC).

E2147 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14th January 2010 were signed as a correct record.

E2148 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

E2123 - Smells at Frethey House - the Clerk had finally got in touch with the Environment Agency who had referred her to the Environmental Health Department at Taunton Deane. The Clerk had been informed by them that Frethey House was 'not failing its permit'. Councillors were not happy with this response, and the Clerk was asked to enquire again on exactly what the permit levels were and how they were measured.

E2123 - Dropped kerb at Shutewater - the order for the work had been placed with Atkins, but there was no date yet.

E2123 - Bench at Haydon Close - Mr Summers was meeting with the DLO on site the next day to discuss the installation of the new bench.

E2123 - Footbridge over the River Tone - the Clerk reported that she had finally made contact with Ms Hartnell who had said that the bridge had 'fallen off her radar'. She was hoping to visit in the coming week.

E2131 - Members' e-mail addresses on Website - this had been done and the Clerk and the Chairman would undertake to forward emails to councillors on a regular basis.

E2141 - Review of Parish Plan - Mr Porter had not been present at the last meeting, and was concerned that an incomplete account had been given of what he had actually said about the review of the Parish Plan.

Mr. Porter had had a look at the Parish Plan. He had commented that much has been done and thanks were due to all those involved. However, the remaining unresolved issues were major ones - no local doctor or chemist, lack of youth activities, deciding on the need for a new village hall and the opposition to further housing development. The question was now how these issues should be progressed, whether or not the Parish Plan should be reviewed and, if so, to what level.
As all these issues were due to be re-addressed as TDBC's Core Strategy Consultation, Persimmon's Section 106 agreement and Jane Kilty's and the LAT's youth proposals progressed, Mr Porter was of the opinion that a separate review of the Parish Plan was not required at this point in time.

E2145 - Grit boxes - the Clerk reported that the cost of a grit box would be £85 + VAT. These would be filled by SCC once in position. It was agreed to put this matter onto the next agenda for fuller discussion.

Speed limit at bottom of Shutewater Hill - the Clerk had ascertained that there was no 30 mph speed limit on the Upcott Road - the national speed limit applied - and it was acknowledged that the sign was wrong and would be removed in the new financial year. Members still wanted the 30 mph limit to be extended to the Fideoak sub-station, and the Clerk was instructed to pursue this with SCC.

Trading estate at Norton Fitzwarren - Mrs Beaumont had been in touch with the relevant people regarding the lights being too bright and left on at night. They were making investigations and would get back to her.

E2149 FINANCIAL MATTERS

Re-formatted Estimates for 2010-11

The re-formatted estimates had been circulated to all, and it was agreed that they were much better than the old style. They could now go on the parish website.

Village Hall and Playing Fields Trust grant - it was agreed to grant £1,000 to the VHPFT. It was acknowledged that this was given in recognition of the contribution which the Trust made to the parish in general. It was not for any specific activity. However, the point was made that in the light of cuts in finances across the board in coming years, cash-rich organisations would need to be clear about their future plans in order to attract funding.

Membership of SALC - it was agreed not to take up membership of SALC, as it was expensive and there would be a degree of duplication with the services available from the Society of Local Council Clerks.

E2150 CHEQUES FOR AUTHORISATION AND SIGNATURE

The following cheques were presented and signed:-

S Watts - Clerk's salary and expenses for February £527.94
R Dezille - Street Cleaner's hours £424.74
Frank Bond Centre (room hire) £156.00
Village Hall and Playing Fields Trust £1,000.00

E2151 PERSIMMON HOMES APPLICATION

It was noted that the S106 agreement had been received by Taunton Deane and would shortly be signed. Cllr Morrell stated that he would be raising some points about what was set out in the agreement. The Parish Council was not invited to comment at this stage.

Mr Burgess with Mr Porter and Mr Summers had held a meeting with the Village Hall and Playing Fields Trust, Frank Bond Centre Trust and the Parochial Church Council about the S106 agreements and a possible Community Hall. The meeting also considered possible additional sports facilities. It had concluded that there would be complications in combining existing facilities into one hall. The preferred location would be near the church and central to the village. To a certain extent, further action was restricted by the outcome of the Core Strategy Consultation, including further housing and new primary school. The group had also considered possibly extending facilities at the Cricket Pavilion and the Frank Bond Centre.

Letter to the Ombudsman - the Residents Association had drafted a letter to the Local Government Ombudsman about the way the planning application had been dealt with by Taunton Deane BC. The Chairman had agreed to include his name, and his title. There was some discussion about this, as some thought this implied that the Parish Council was supporting the letter. It was agreed that the word 'personally' should be inserted in the appropriate place to clarify that the Chairman was acting in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the Parish Council.

E2152 PLANNING

The Clerk reported that the following applications had been GRANTED:-

05/09/032 - Conversion of barn to three bedroom dwelling opposite Parsonage Farmhouse;

05/09/034 - Two dwellings at land to rear of 50 Stonegallows.

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

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.

The following applications had been received and there were objections:-

05/10/06 - Shed at 6 Mountway Road - this was a retrospective application, the shed already having been built. It was very large and intrusive, and the rainwater from the roof fell into the neighbour's garden.

05/10/05 - Two storey rear extension and garden landscaping at Frethey House - while the House was in an isolated position, and the proposed development could take place on their own land, the loss of garden was lamented. More importantly, the increased pressure on their already smelly sewage system needed to be properly considered, also the increase in daily traffic movements.

E2153 CORE STRATEGY CONSULTATION

The Chairman had circulated the details to members, and had considered the various elements of the Strategy himself, but he had not received any comments from anyone. He said that members should comment as individuals as there was to be no co-ordinated Parish Council response.
The Clerk mentioned a letter she had received from Taunton Transition Town, which was an organisation wanting to hold meetings in the area to discuss issues such as Peak Oil and how to better support local businesses in the interests of sustainability. They wanted to hold a workshop in order to help elected members 'vision' a resilient, sustainable Taunton Deane in 20 years time. There was no interest expressed in pursuing this.

E2154 PARISH COUNCIL CLERK'S DUTIES ETC.

The Chairman said that it had been many years since the Clerk's duties had been reviewed, and they needed bringing up-to-date in order to better reflect present day requirements. It was agreed that a group comprising himself, Mr Summers, Mr Porter and the Clerk should get together to discuss this.

The Clerk mentioned that she had not yet availed herself of the 2009 pay rise for local government staff, as it had been agreed very late in the year. The rise for last year was 1%, backdated to 1st April 2009. With members' agreement, she would add this to her March pay. She added that salaries for 2010 were to be frozen and therefore there would be no pay award.

E2155 FOOTPATHS

Mr Burgess said that the Footpaths Group was to meet on 17th March.

T3/6 - the badly eroded footpath by the river - it was hoped that an alternative route further north would soon be available. A change of use of land between French Weir and St Margaret's Hospice was proposed and it was hoped to join up with T3/5 - three footbridges were planned along the route.

E2156 REPORTS FROM OTHER BODIES

LAT - the LAT had met on 26th January. PCSO Parry had tried out a questionnaire on Bishop's Hull pupils at Castle School, but had not had a great response. However, he was still keen to do something for local youth, and Stefan Foster, a national coach, was taking 15 young people to Exeter the coming weekend for activities. He was prepared to do 6 events per year and Cllr Paul had kindly offered to help with funding. Jane Kilty was still hoping to progress her idea about a dedicated Youth Worker. The TA Centre may be able to help out too. It seemed unlikely that paintballing would be resurrected, for various reasons. Speedwatch was continuing.

VEG - were meeting on Monday 1st March at the Old Inn and all were welcome. The main village event next year would be held on 12th June.
Frank Bond Centre - were producing a new publicity leaflet advertising activities in the house and in the garden where a summer house was to be built.
Somerset County Council - Cllr Paul said that he had spent his community budget and would not be getting any more, due to the savage cuts. Everything was going to be reduced - there would be a small grant available for youth work, but everyone would be after it. Cuts were also planned in Village Hall budgets and care homes, among others. The Park and Ride at Silk Mills would not be expanded, and there would be no further progress on addressing parking issues until the outcome of the second Park and Ride was known.

E2157 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday, 8th April 2010, at 7.30 p.m. It was noted that this would NOT be the Annual Parish Meeting, which would be held on 20th May. Mr Everett said he would announce this on the Website in an effort to get more people to come.

E2158 ITEMS OF REPORT

Bishop's Hull sign - the sign at the exit to the village on the road to Upcott had gone again. It was agreed not to replace it at this stage as this was the second time it had gone.

Litter in Birdland - there was a lot of litter, mainly cans and bottles, around Linnet and Chaffinch Close and on the path behind the Frank Bond Centre. Mr Dezille would be asked to clear it up.

Bus Stop - plans for a yellow Bus Stop road marking and a white access protection marking on the corner near the Old Inn had been drawn up and it was agreed this should proceed early in the new financial year.

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

Dispensations - the Clerk drew members' attention to a letter about gaining dispensations so that certain matters could be discussed where a lot of members had declared an interest. She said she would circulate it to members by email for their information. It could be useful for this Council, given the number of members interested in the Frank Bond Centre and the Playing Fields Trust, for example.

CHAIRMAN