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Minutes
of a meeting of the Parish Council held on 26th January 2011
following There were present Roger Powell Chairman Jenny Becker Patrick Palmer In attendance I.M. Andrews Parish Clerk 118/10 Apologies for absence Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor John Bailey. 119/10 Declarations of interest Andy Rogers declared an interest in agenda item 6.3. 120/10 Casual vacancies The Parish Clerk reported that four people, Peter Barnard, Stuart Briggs, Steve Hook and John Wickham, were interested in filling the three casual vacancies on the Parish Council. The Chairman invited each one to make a statement as to his suitability to become a member of the Parish Council. After the statements had been made the Chairman thanked the four candidates for attending the meeting and announced that he would arrange with the Parish Clerk for members to choose their preferences by a ballot. The decision would be announced at the next meeting at which 3 new members would be co-opted. Action 110126/1: Chairman & Parish Clerk 121/10 Police matters PCSO Phimister spoke to his report which had already been circulated. Members of the public questioned PCSO Phimister and the Parish Council concerning the gypsies who were living in a lay-by at Bearley Bridge Road/Foldhill Lane and whose behaviour was considered to be a public nuisance. PCSO Phimister reported that the police had visited the gypsies and that he would visit them again. The County Highways Authority had also been informed. Patrick Palmer reported that SSDC was working to move on the gypsies and that he would contact the Environmental Health Department immediately for a report on the situation. Action 110126/2: Patrick Palmer PCSO Phimister undertook to report the public views expressed and the situation to his senior officers. 123/10 Parishioner participation A member of the public requested that bollards should be placed in the lay-by to prevent gypsies camping there in the future. A member of the public complained about parked vehicles adjacent to the building site for a dementia home in Bearley Bridge Road which were parked on the grass verge. PCSO Phimister undertook to visit the site and to speak to the contractors about the parked vehicles. 124/10 Planning Committee The Chairman of the Committee, David Parris, presented the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 12th January 2011 which members accepted. He then reported on the following planning applications: 1. 10/05085/FUL completion of a multi-use games area to include existing goal-end and 4 floodlights on 7m columns. Kingsbury Episcopi Recreation Ground, Thorney Road, Kingsbury Episcopi. Members had no comment to make on the application. At this point Andy Rogers left the room. 2. 10/05198/FUL & 10/05199/LBC: Bunny Construction Ltd. Alterations and conversion of existing building to three dwellings. The Railway Hotel, Coat Road, Martock. Members agreed to recommend the application for approval. At this point Andy Rogers rejoined the meeting. 125/10 Minutes The Minutes of the meeting held on 24th November 2010 were approved as being a correct record. 126/10 Confirmation of actions from previous Minutes Action 101124/1: Vacancies on the Parish Council: The action had been completed. Action 100825/1: Development of gardens:
The action had been completed. Patrick Palmer reported that he
had been advised by the SSDC Planning
Department that there had been two key changes in the document
which provides policy advice on housing – PPS3. Gardens are
no longer treated as previously developed land (brownfield sites)
and the national minimum of thirty dwellings per hectare has been
deleted. However, the guidance still says that every application
should be treated on its own merits and that all of the same conditions
are in place that have always been there, e.g. highway safety,
overlooking, design etc.. Action 090930/5: Chris Griffiths (ongoing) Action 100728/4: Policies: The policies would be again circulated and brought for approval to the next meeting. Action 100728/4: Parish Clerk (ongoing) Action 100924/3: Parish Hall roof insulation: The action had been completed. Action 101020/3: Plaque for the trough: The action was ongoing. Action 101020/3 Patrick Palmer (ongoing) Action 100929/9: Planting in the Precinct border: The Parish Clerk reported he had not received a quotation from Lufton Nurseries despite a reminder and recommended members accept the quotation received from K.M. Dike Nurseries amounting to £241.83. Members agreed to accept the quotation. Action 100929/12: Hire costs for facilities on the Recreation
Ground: Chris Griffiths reported that this action had been taken
on by the Recreation Ground Users Group, to include the raising
of leases or agreements with the sports clubs as required. Action 100929/17: Chairman of the Council (ongoing) Action 101020/7: Precinct raised borders: The action was ongoing. Action 101020/7: Parish Clerk (ongoing) Action 101020/8: Pavilion boiler room: The matter would be dealt with under agenda item 14. Action 101020/9: Rugby Club goal posts: The action had been completed. Action 101020/13: Road signs for Martock: The action had been completed and Patrick Palmer reported the old signs were stored in a barn on his farm. Action 101124/2: Young Volunteer of the Year: The action had been completed. Action 101124/3: Finance Committee: The action had been completed, but the Chairman reported a further meeting would be held with other parishes concerning the proposed cuts in funding youth work. Action 101124/3: Felling of three conifers: The action was ongoing. Action 101124/3: David Parris (ongoing) 127/10 Other matters arising from the Minutes There were none. 128/10 County & District Councillors’ Reports In the absence of John Bailey, the Chairman tabled his report which had already been circulated. Ann Campbell reported that in view of the proposed cut in services funded by Somerset County Council, South Somerset District Council would be unable to pay for such services but would offer help and advice to those Town and Parish Councils which might wish to take on any or all of such services. Ann Campbell further reported that Long Load and Ash Parish Councils were prepared to make a donation to Martock Parish Council toward the cost of maintaining the public library, if this was necessary. She continued by reporting that SSDC Area North Committee had agreed to continue its support to youth work in Martock with a grant of £3000 as the final payment under a three year Service Level Agreement. However, this grant could not continue indefinitely. Patrick Palmer reported that the Area North office had left Old Kelways in Langport making a saving of £60,000 pa. 129/10 Martock Public Library The Chairman reported there had been a significant development in that Somerset County Council’s Cabinet was now expected to recommend a reprieve for the library which would remain open but with reduced hours. There following a considerable discussion on the future of the library at the end of which Philip Jackson proposed that “The Parish Council will do its utmost to maintain a full library service in Martock”. The motion was seconded by Andrew Clarke. Jenny Becker then proposed an amendment to the motion omitting the word “full”. The amendment was seconded by Douglas Campbell. The Chairman then invited members to vote on the amendment. Six members were in favour and one member was against the amendment. The Chairman declared the amendment was carried. The Chairman then invited members to vote on the amended motion, “The Parish Council will do its utmost to maintain a library service in Martock”. Eight members were in favour and there were no votes against the motion. The Chairman declared the motion as amended was carried. 130/10 Finance Committee The Chairman of the Committee, Richard Walsh, presented the Minutes of a meeting of the Finance Committee held on 12th January 2011 which were accepted by members. He then recommended for acceptance: 1. The accounts for November and December 2010 which he had checked. After discussion concerning the Parish Council’s funding of the Youth Centre, the Chairman of the Committee asked the Parish Clerk to obtain a copy of the Youth Centre’s accounts. Action 110126/3: Parish Clerk 2. The budget sheets for November and December 2010. Members approved the documents. 3. 2011/12 Precept: The Chairman of the Committee presented a budget forecast for 2011/2012 showing a zero increase in the precept. He then invited the Chairman of the Council to speak on the proposed precept in view of probable cuts in services funded by Somerset County Council. After considerable discussion, it was agreed to set aside a £40,000 contingency reserve which would be ring fenced to cover only the provision of any service previously funded by the County Council. Members considered the amended budget forecast showing a 15% increase in the Parish precept as required to take into account the contingency reserve. After discussion, Andrew Clarke proposed the acceptance of a 15% increase in the Parish precept, bringing it to £249,204. This was seconded by Jenny Becker. Eleven members were in favour of the amended budget forecast and there were no members against it. The Chairman declared the motion carried unanimously. The Chairman of the Council reported that, in the event of the Parish Council requiring funds to support the litigation against the contractor for Phase 1 of the Market House refurbishment, SSDC would make a loan available at the same interest rates as offered by the Public Works Loan Board. The Chairman of the Committee reported on the offer from the SSDC Market Towns Investment Group amounting to £18,000 for two brown tourist road signs on the A303 for Martock. If accepted, the Parish Council would be responsible for an annual payment of £300 for ten years to cover the maintenance of the two signs. After considerable discussion about the cost of the signs, it was agreed to accept the offer subject to the Chairman of the Council writing to the District Council urging them to renegotiate the cost. Action 110126/4: Chairman of the Council Members agreed to fund the cost of maintaining the two signs at £300 per annum for a period of ten years. After further discussion concerning work to be carried out in All Saints’ churchyard, it was agreed that the cost of any such work should be included in the 2012/2013 precept. 4: Appointment of an internal auditor: It was agreed to consider the matter at the next meeting of the Parish Council. 131/10 Village Committee The Parish Clerk reported on the flooding of the Parish Hall due to burst pipes in the upper room after Christmas. The Parish Clerk was asked to pursue an insurance claim for the cost of the repair work involved. Action 110126/5: Parish Clerk 132/10 Recreation Committee The Parish Clerk reported on the quotations received for work to create a boiler room in the Pavilion. He recommended acceptance of the quotation received from J.H. Lloyd. Members accepted the quotation. 133/10 Public participation There was none. 134/10 Correspondence The Parish Clerk reported on correspondence received from 1. National Westminster Bank concerning the partial closure of
the branch in Martock. Action 110126/6: Parish Clerk 4. The Royal British Legion concerning a Poppy Party to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Legion. It was agreed to pass the letter onto the Chairman of the M3CP Action 110126/7: Parish Clerk 135/10 Date of next meeting It was agreed to meet again on Thursday 3rd March 2011. There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.40pm.
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