MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S HULL PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE FRANK BOND CENTRE ON THURSDAY, 5th MARCH 2009

Present: Mr M Summers (in the Chair)

Mrs J Beaumont
Mr K Burgess
Mr G Everett
Mrs L Kelly
Mrs W Lewis
Mr R Porter
Mrs S Ravenhill
Mr N Roper
Mr E Rose

Cllrs Nigel Stuart Thorn (TDBC), Police Officers WPC Claire Griffiths, PC Charlie Gear and PCSO Jane Knight, were also in attendance.

E2032 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Bulbeck, Cllr Alan Paul (SCC) and the Clerk, Mrs Watts. Mr Porter had kindly agreed to take the notes of this meeting.

E2033 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd January 2009 were signed as a correct record, subject to changing the venue to the Frank Bond Centre, and amending Robins to Robin in line 13 of page 2.

E2034 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

E2022 - Core Strategy workshops - concerns had previously been expressed that no more had been heard from TDBC following the Core Strategy workshops held in November. A letter had now been received from Ann Rhodes, Senior Planner (Forward Plan) and this was read to the meeting. In brief, the consultants commissioned by TDBC had failed to meet reporting deadlines and were being 'chased'. As soon as there was any more information, the Council would be informed.

E2023 -re matters arising from minutes E2005 (parking in Heron Drive) and E2006 (dropped kerbs) the Clerk had made enquiries but had as yet received no response.

E2018 - bridge in Pigs Loose Lane - this was now in worse condition and the Clerk was asked to chase up Mrs Hartnell at TDBC to see whether any action to repair and/or list it was forthcoming.

E2027 - Planning - the following applications had been GRANTED:-

05/08/063 - Formation of access at Gliddon and Sons, Cornishway North;

05/08/064 - Two storey extension to side elevation, Sherlands, 54 Stonegallows.

E2031 - Landscaping of Bookers building. It was not known if the Clerk had made any progress with enquiries and she would be asked to chase this up.

Parish Plan - the review of this needed to be raised at a future meeting.

.E2035 PACT AND VILLAGE POLICING

(Formal business was temporarily suspended in order to allow all present to speak).

WPC Griffiths was pleased to report that, after a period of numerous changes, a decision had been reached on the make-up of the Bishop's Hull Neighbourhood Team. With Sergeant Tony Crowter taking on responsibility for the Taunton West Sector, WPC Griffiths would remain as the dedicated Beat Officer with two PCSOs - Debbie Perry (already in post) and Simon Parry starting on 19th March. Discussion then took place on deciding priority issues for the Police, and two items were identified:-

Fly tipping - WPC Griffiths was aware that this was on the increase and she had recently resolved a problem at Netherclay. Other problem areas included Frethey Lane, the electricity sub-station, Fideoak and the lay-by at Rumwell.

Children's play park - although there had been damage at the Church, no calls to the Police had been logged recently re the play park. However, Mr Jorgensen advised that there was a continuing problem with damage to the slide and there had been the first instance of painted graffiti. Two initiatives would now be taken:-

i) WPC Griffiths would ask for a camera to be placed near the play area

ii) A volunteer from the Playing Fields Trust would inspect the area on a daily basis.

The important message was that all problems should be reported to the Police as they occur, either by phone (0845 44567600) or by using the message facility on www.avonandsomerset.police.uk./

Jane Knight added that she would advise the Chairman of an e-mail address that could also be used for contacting the Neighborhood Team.

(The meeting was re-opened).

It was agreed that the current PACT priorities should be fly tipping and increased littering in the parish, and continuing vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the children's play park.

Mr Porter expressed his concern that insufficient publicity had been given to the PACT meeting by the Police, as the purpose was to encourage the general public to come along and voice their concerns. They could not do this if they were unaware that the meeting was taking place.

E2036 SPEED LIMIT ON SILK MILLS ROAD

(The meeting was temporarily suspended to allow a parishioner to speak).

A request had been received from a parishioner to consider asking for the speed limit on the Silk Mills Road (currently 30 mph) to be increased to 40 mph between the Heron Drive junction and the Staplegrove roundabout. Following discussion it was agreed that a) the current signage could be improved, b) many motorists were unaware of the speed limit which applied, and c) as the speed limits on Taunton roads were to be reviewed in the next 12 months, this was an opportune time to start gathering information about Silk Mills.

(The meeting was re-opened).

It was agreed to:-

i) ask the LAT to seek approval for Silk Mills Road to be a Speedwatch site on the understanding that this would be for the purpose of recording vehicle speeds only i.e. no 'caution letters' would arise

ii) ask WPC Griffiths to provide information on the number of accidents which have occurred along the Silk Mills road and also on the number of Police prosecutions.

E2037 VILLAGE WEBSITE

(The meeting was temporarily suspended to allow Mr Jorgensen to speak).

Mr Jorgensen explained that he had taken over management of the Website from Larry Fogg. The main points he wished to raise were as follows:-

i) the information held was increasingly out-of-date and the site was in real need of being re-energised;

ii) efforts had been made to get up-to-date contact details for local organisations but responses were either slow or not forthcoming at all;

iii) the Parish Council continued to act as banker for the Website and in broad terms, some £1200 had been drawn down to date from grant monies held of £1900.

iv) Advertising income should cover the site's running costs;

v) The last quarter of 2008 saw a drop in the number of hits on the site. A new monitoring package would now better identify the true number of hits. The site had recently been down for five days, but was now up and running.

Mr Jorgensen was thanked for his report.(The meeting was re-opened).

It was agreed to:-

i) send a formal letter of thanks to Larry Fogg for his previous involvement;

ii) actively publicise the website at the Annual Parish Meeting;

iii) the Clerk be asked to provide information about how website funding was shown in the accounts;

iv) the Parish Council confirmed its continued commitment to the village website, and would include it as an agenda item for the June meeting.

E2038 CHANGE TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION SCHEME

Mr Porter, Mr Everett and the Clerk had met and prepared a final draft of the Freedom of Information scheme. This had been circulated to members for their comments. As none had been forthcoming, it was agreed to formally adopt the second draft as the new scheme. It would be publicised on the village website and on the noticeboards.

E2039 SOCIETY OF LOCAL COUNCIL CLERKS

Mr Porter explained the value of this Society to the Clerk, in the light of the increasing complexity of, and changes to, the role. Membership of the SLCC would provide valuable technical assistance, and the Clerk shared that view.

It was agreed to re-join the SLCC at a cost of £105 for annual membership plus a one-off rejoining fee of £10.

E2040 VENUE AND DATES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS

Members had received the reply to the Clerk's letter from Mrs Jorgensen, Chairman of the Frank Bond Trust, offering to let the Parish Council use the Centre for £8 per hour, with a minimum let of 2 hours. It was agreed that meetings should remain there on this basis.

The Centre was not available for the 10th December meeting and it was agreed to change the December date to Wednesday 9th.

E2041 PLANNING

The following planning applications had been considered and no objections raised:-

05/09/001 - erection of freestanding flag pole and aerial mast on land at proposed cadet centre at Longrun Farm;

05/09/003 - alterations, recladding and refurbishment of building at Bradfords Building Supplies, Wellington New Road;

05/09/004 - erection of two storey extension to provide larger garage, garden room and additional bedroom at 59 Stonegallows - there were some concerns about loss of light to a neighbour's upstairs window but this was not thought sufficient to constitute an objection. (The application has subsequently been withdrawn).

05/09/005 - variation of condition 15 of planning permission 05/2005/015 (occupation condition) conversion of barn to a holiday let on land east of Rumwell Manor Hotel.

Advice had been received from TDBC that an appeal had been lodged against the decision to refuse outline planning permission for the erection of two dwellings at The Croft, Stonegallows. TDBC had confirmed that all comments made at the application stage had been sent to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol and the date of the hearing would be advised as soon as it was known.

E2042 STREET CLEANER

No new areas were identified which needed cleaning.

Mr Porter said that monitoring the street cleaner's performance would have to be done by way of 'spot checks' - those carried out so far had all been satisfactory. TDBC had agreed to extend their weekly collection of bagged litter to include collection of bags of fallen leaves. Mr Porter was currently seeking details of TDBC's cleansing services in Bishop's Hull and would report back when he knew these.

The Clerk was in the process of composing a formal statement of Terms and Conditions of employment for Mr Dezille.

No information was available about the missing bin outside the Chinese takeaway, in the absence of the Clerk.

(Clerk's note - one of the proprietors of the Chinese takeaway (the lady) had responded very promptly and politely to the Clerk's letter by saying that people were leaving bags of domestic rubbish in and beside the bin so they had decided to remove it. They had an agreement with their customers that, if they consumed their food outside the shop, they would be happy to dispose of the resulting litter if customers brought it back inside).

E2043 REPORTS FROM OTHER BODIES

Local Action Team - Mr Burgess reported that the last meeting of the LAT had received a very full report from WPC Claire Griffiths and it was good to hear that crime levels anti-social behaviour in the village remained low.

Speedwatch Team members remained active and, now that the new speed gun had been received, they were hoping to put out two teams each week. Heron Drive would be revisited and a request submitted to the Police that Bishop's Hull Hill become an approved Speedwatch site.

There was an open invitation from the Police to anyone who wanted to attend their Taboo course, which powerfully illustrated the dangers and effects of excessive vehicle speed.

LAT members were also assisting Jane Kilty by setting up and putting away equipment on Youth Club evenings. In line with the Parish Council, the LAT had given its support in principle to a proposed application for a part time youth worker, and was awaiting further information from Jane Kilty.

The Paintball project was in some disarray as the volunteer who was almost the sole organiser was now no longer involved. The Police had referred matters to TDBC to determine the best way forward.

VEG - the bands were being booked for the Summer Sizzler event on the playing field on 11th July. Funding appeared to be adequate. The Group was arranging its own insurance for the event.

Footpaths Group - the annual meeting would be held on March 25th at 7.30 p.m. at the Frank Bond Centre. Mr Burgess was arranging three working parties for the Community Woodland on 17th, 24th and 31st March

Village Hall and Playing Fields Trust - Mr Rose reported that the pavilion doors and gates had been repaired. Catering facilities were inadequate and were the subject of ongoing discussions. A review of the Trust's insurance cover was under way following some accidental damage to fittings within the School, for which the Trust had to meet the full repair cost.

E2044 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday, 23rd April 2009, following on from the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.00 p.m.

E2045 ITEMS OF REPORT

Correspondence - copies of outgoing correspondence should be sent to the Chairman in future.

Draft minutes - should be circulated to all members within two weeks of the meeting, along with an action list detailing who should be doing what.

Stone wall by School - in need of repair. The Clerk was to be asked to enquire whether restoration was planned.

Mountway Road - in need of resurfacing. Clerk to make enquiries of SCC.

Haydon Close - the 'Keep Clear sign was removed when the traffic lights were installed. The Clerk was to ask for the markings to be reinstated as there were frequent vehicle obstructions.

CHAIRMAN