MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP’S HULL PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE FRANK BOND CENTRE ON THURSDAY, 19th MAY 2011

Present: Mr R Porter (Elected Chair)
Mrs J Beaumont
Mr T Catherall
Mrs M Jorgensen
Mrs L Kelly
Mr N Stuart-Thorn
Mr M Summers

Mr Ken Burgess, the outgoing Chairman, was also present, and started the meeting.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr David Jorgensen read a short statement concerning the survey about the Post Office:-
“The Community of Bishop’s Hull has endorsed the view of the Parish Council and others in ensuring the Post Office remains an integral part of the village. Local residents have strongly indicated their views. 1,188 households were surveyed and 42% responded. Over 75% stated that the Post Office and shop are very important to the community and 90% would use the facilities. This research has given local residents the mandate to make sure that the Post Office and shop remain in Bishop’s Hull in one form or other”.
Lynne Gottlieb expressed concern on behalf of the Residents’ Group that the Parish Council appeared to support the show home on the new development on Bishop’s Hull Road in comments sent to the Planning Officer about the flint finish. Mr Burgess made it clear that the Parish Council objected to the flint finish and, to avoid any possible misunderstanding, the Clerk would again contact the Planning Department to emphasise this.
Mr Lenthall said that kerbing was needed both sides of Bishop’s Hull Road where the new footways were. He also thought that the slope on the footway was too steep for wheelchairs, etc. In his view the works had not been properly finished off. His comments were noted and would be considered.

E2302 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Mr Roper, and Cllrs Morrell and Baker (Taunton Deane), and Cllr Paul (SCC).

E2303 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
On the nomination of Mr Summers seconded by Mr Stuart-Thorn, Mr Rod Porter was elected Chairman for the coming year. Mr Porter thanked Mr Burgess, the outgoing Chairman, for his tireless work on behalf of the Council and the wider community.

E2304 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
On the nomination of Mrs Kelly seconded by Mr Summers, Mrs Jo Beaumont was elected Vice-Chairman for the coming year.

E2305 WELCOME TO NEW COUNCILLORS
The Chairman welcomed new members to the meeting, and the necessary paperwork was then completed or taken for completion later.

E2306 CO-OPTION TO FILL VACANCIES
There were three unfilled vacancies on the Council, and four people had expressed an interest in being co-opted. It was agreed that they should be invited to submit a short paragraph to the Clerk by the end of May, setting out their reasons for wanting to join the Council and what experience they could bring. The next meeting would start early, so that a decision could be taken as to who would be co-opted, based on the information they provided.

E2307 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The Minutes of the meeting held on 14th April 2011 were signed as a correct record.

E2308 MATTERS ARISING
E2271 - Footbridge at Norton Fitwarren – this was still closed. Mr Summers was keeping a watching brief.
E2297 – Leaking water at Netherclay – this appeared to have been fixed, as the area was no longer smelling in the continuing hot weather.
E2300 – Increased fly tipping – the Clerk had written to the Chief Executive of Taunton Deane, but had to date received no reply.

E2309 CORRESPONDENCE
The following correspondence had been received and was noted: -
1) Letter from TDBC re protected trees.
2) Good Councillors Guide
3) Clerk Magazine
4) Email from SALC regarding training for new councillors and chairmen
5) Emails from Gordon Everett regarding Superfast Broadband.
6) Letter from SCC re temporary road closure at Netherclay – from 31st May for three weeks to allow for bridge repairs.
7) Email from David Greig (Parish Liaison Officer) re The Big Society.

E2310 FINANCIAL MATTERS
Overpayment and liability for NI – the Chairman reported that he had that day received a cheque from HMRC refunding over-payment of the Street Cleaner’s NI, in the sum of £1330.94. He had not yet received a response from HMRC re the Clerk’s under-payment of NI.
Bank Mandate – it was agreed to add Mr Porter to the list of signatories and to remove those who were no longer councillors – Mr Rose, Mrs Bulbeck and Mr Burgess.

E2311 CHEQUES AUTHORISED
S Watts – Clerk’s salary and expenses for May £456.28
R Dezille – Street Cleaner’s hours for April £312.00
R Coombs (internal audit) £38.50
AON Insurance £490.75

E2312 FUTURE PROCEDURES AND REPRESENTATION
Mr Burgess would continue as SCC’s Parish Path Liaison Officer for Bishop’s Hull and would like to continue his involvement with the Community Woodland, including maintenance, planting and liaison with the Somerset Wildlife Trust and TDBC. He would report back to the Parish Council on a regular basis and this was agreed. Mr Burgess requested that consideration be given to including funding for more planting of wild flowers and bulbs when the estimates were prepared later in the year. His request was noted.
Mr Burgess also stated that he had been heavily involved with the Persimmon development from the outset and before. He intended to continue this as a private individual and realised that he could not act on the Council’s behalf. He did however suggest the establishment of an Advisory Group of which he would be happy to be a member. He did not consider that there were many more major issues concerning the development which needed to be resolved, apart from the Safety Audit on the crossroads.
A decision on setting up an Advisory Group would be made at the next meeting when, following co-option, the Parish Council would be at full strength.
Mr Burgess also suggested that the Council might consider acquiring the area of land adjoining and to the south of the Persimmon development for allotments.
Regarding other representation, Mr Catherall agreed to report on the LAT and Mr Summers on the Frank Bond Centre.

E2313 PARISH WEBSITE
Mr Jorgensen was invited to speak about this. He said that the website had had a good year, with many improvements being made and favourably commented upon. The Community News was now on. He had received £160 in advertising revenue, and the cost of running the site for the year was only £60, which was very economical. There may be a need to update some software in due course but they were running at a small profit. The team was still himself, Jill Coldicott, Gordon Everett and Steve King.
The Parish Council had agreed to underwrite the site to the tune of £200 per year, if required. The site operated under the Parish Council’s authority and responsibility for the editorial content remained with the Council, although Mr Jorgensen was currently exercising this on the Council’s behalf

E2314 PERSIMMON UPDATE
The next planning meeting was to be held on 25th May – Mr Summers said he would attend. A variation on the show home (05/11/0010) was due to be decided and the planning officer was recommending approval. There was also an application re variations to Phase 1, plots 1 to 54, (05/11/0016) on which the planning officer recommends refusal
The highways works were still a bone of contention. The Safety Audit had been carried out, but the results were not yet publicly available.
Taunton Deane were unlikely to proceed with legal action on two of the three counts for non-compliance with planning conditions – starting work before the highway works were completed and the hedgerow issues. The out-of-hours working issue would be pursued.
As regards the spending of the S106 money, this would need full discussion at a future Parish Council meeting.

E2315 PLANNING
The following application had been RECEIVED and there were no objections: -
05/11/016 – Extension at the Trident Centre, Galmington.

The following application had been RECEIVED and there were objections: -
05/11/018 – Erection of shed at Old Oak, 6 Mountway Road (Retention of works already undertaken; amended scheme to 05/10/0006) –It was considered that the roof was still too high and that the scheme did not comply with remarks contained in the Planning Inspector’s Appeal decision.

E2316 DOG BIN AT NETHERCLAY
Strong representations were made for another dog bin, to be funded by this Council, near the entrance to the footpath beside Netherclay House. This was agreed subject to Taunton Deane agreeing the suitability of the proposed site..

E2317 REPORTS FROM OTHER BODIES
LAT – ten young people were lined up to take part in a Tall Ships event in September and were busy fund-raising to finance this. PCSO Parry was continuing to do a sterling job.
VEG – the Party in the Park was scheduled to take place on 12th June and plans were well advanced. It would finish at 9 pm and there would be live music but no bar. Everything would be taken off site the same day, to avoid previous issues of vandalism.

E2318 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 30th June 2011, at 7.30 p.m.

E2319 ITEMS OF REPORT
Leaves on Bishop’s Hull Road – due to the ongoing drought, more leaves than usual were in the gutters etc. It was requested that our Street Cleaner clears them.
Stile at entrance to Venn’s field, Longaller – this was now very rickety and was used by a lot of walkers. Could a kissing gate be put in its place? Agreed to put on next agenda.
Fideoak Mill – what was happening about the enforcement action which was supposed to be taking place?
Parish map – Mr Catherall requested a copy of the parish map showing the boundaries.
Drains – Mr Catherall asked when the DLO was due to clear the drains.
Trees in River Tone – these had still not been cleared. Mr Burgess said that he had contacted the Somerset Wildlife Trust who were going to meet with the Environment Agency.

CHAIRMAN