Minutes of the 943rd Meeting of the Stratton-on-the-Fosse Parish Council
Held in the Village Hall on 20 July 2015
PRESENT: / Councillors: Mr John Padfield (chairman), Mrs J Davies (Vice-Chair),Mr D Stock, Mr E Hall, Mr G Downes, Mrs H Murtagh,
Mr M Daniels,
IN ATTENDANCE: / Dist Cllr Rachel Carter, Dist Cllr John Carter, Clerk, 3 members of the public.
PUBLIC FORUM: / Action
APOLOGIES: Cllr Mr A Norris, Mr K Fosdike, Mr Jeremy Padfield, CC Harvey Siggs.
MINUTES:
2.1The Minutes of the previous Meeting held on 22 June were approved and signed.
2.2The Clerk had now received the Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 March 2015, and they were approved and signed.
DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
There were none.
DECLARATION OF OFFICE:
4.1Cllr Murtagh signed the Declaration of Office.
4.2It was noted that Cllr Jeremy Padfield has yet to sign the Declaration of Office. / Jeremy
MATTERS ARISING:
CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLOR:
The Chairman stated that the Parish Council was looking to co-opt Councillors to fill the two vacancies.
COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT:
No Report received
DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT:
Both Rachel and John Carter were in attendance and raised the question of why bollards were installed I Bath View, as a parishioner was concerned about lorries not be able to turn; for example refuse lorries. Councillors were of the opinion that they were erected to stop vehicles using it as a race track.
POLICE MATTERS:
There had been no report received of any incidents, although there had been notification of the police mobile surgery at the old Post Office held today.
PLANNING MATTERS:
10.1Applications:
Ref: 2015/1206/FUL
Proposal: Change of use from agricultural to equestrian use & the construction of
stables.
Location: Field bounded by A367 Green Lane & Nettlebridge Lane, SOF
Mrs Jane Langford addressed the Meeting to state that this planning application made a small change of use to equestrian and that for the most part would stay as agricultural for hay and grazing. It would also make access to the road at the side rather than straight onto the main road.
It was decided by all Councilors present that the Parish Council should recommend planning permission and that the Clerk should report the following comments to MDC .
Councillors had inspected the site, and also heard from the applicant at the Meeting, and saw no objection to the proposal.
At the Parish Council Meeting of 20 July 2015 it was agreed to recommend approval of the above application
Ref: 2015/1426/FUL
Proposal: Demolition of dilapidated garage & store shed & erection of a 4 bed
detached dwelling detached single garage
Location: Bainsbury View, Fosse Way, SOF, BA3 4XR
The above planning application was discussed fully by Councillors present, along with comments made by an adjacent neighbour. The site had already been inspected by Councillors on the Planning Committee and, after thorough inspection of the plans and taking into account information received from the neighbour, it was decided to recommend refusal of permission. The Clerk was to notify MDC of this and the reasons for the Parish Council’s decision as detailed below:
It was discussed at full Council at the PC Meeting held on 20 July 2015.
Councillors had visited the site and also spoken to the adjacent neighbour to the
proposed development. Councillors raised several concerns (listed below) and
therefore were reluctant to approve this application.
Councillors are concerned about drainage between 1-6 properties in Bainsbury View, as drains are communal. The main sewer may run diagonally across the proposed building site.
The water pressure is very low at present and this large development would make it worse.
The facility for parking 3 vehicles is not made clear on the Plans.
The size of the proposed dwelling is inappropriate for this development.
Concern was raised about the 2 remaining trees as the Plans indicate only 1 tree. There originally were three trees on the site and one has already been felled.
The Clerk to forward the above concerns to MDC
10.2Permission granted by MDC:
None.
Two members of the public left the meeting at this point. / Clerk
Clerk
FINANCIAL MATTERS:
The Clerk’s expenses for Petty Cash amounting to £21.52 and BT/Broadband amounting to £126.55 were agreed by all Councillors present to be paid. Cheque No. 001042 and 001043
An Invoice from Mr W Palmer for Lengthsman duties amounting to £225 was agreed by all Councillors to be paid. Cheque No.001041
The Insurance Excess of £50 for the stolen strimmer was agreed to be paid to JD Padfield. Cheque No 001044
In the absence of Cllr Norris, the agreed donation of £250 to Bath’s RUH could not be delivered. The Clerk to contact Cllr Norris to ascertain to whom the cheque should be written to and sent. Cheque No 001045
The Bank Statements were reconciled and signed.
The purchase of a dog waste bin amounting to £157 plus VAT, to be sited outside Fosse House in South Street, was agreed by all Councillors present.
NOTICE BOARD:
The purchase of a new Notice Board, to be positioned at the Village Hall entrance, was agreed by all Councillors present and Cllr Daniels volunteered to look on-line for costings to present to the September meeting. / Cllr Daniels
BENCH:
The request for a bench at the entrance to the football field was discussed. It was agreed that the Chairman would make enquiries of Charltons to see if they would sponsor a seat. / Chair
BUS ROUTE:
14.1The bus route through Stratton, number 184, will be axed on 23 August 2015. This is a commercial decision by the bus company First Bus. The Clerk has been informed by Somerset County Council that other alternatives were being investigated by them and information regarding this would be forwarded to Clerks in due course.
14.2Councillors reported that the 174 would run between Bath and Shepton Mallet on a regular basis and this was thought to be of benefit for Stratton, as it would be a straight run rather than visiting the surrounding villages.
14.3The Slinky Bus was also an option although it was thought that the pre-booking of this service was a disadvantage.
14.4Car sharing was also discussed, with a view to further investigation in the future.
Dist Cllrs Rachel & John Carter left the meeting at this point.
TRANSPARENCY CODE:
15.1 To conform to the new Transparency Code, certain documents have to be published
on the Parish Council Web-site by the end of July and annually thereafter. The
Clerk gave copies of the documents – listed below - to Cllr Daniels who would
place them on Stratton’s Web-site.
- End of Year Accounts as per the Annual Return
- Annual Governance Statement as per the Annual Return
- Internal Audit Report as per the Annual Return
- Bank Reconciliation Statement
- Explanation of Variances
- Details of each item spent of £100 or more (exclusive of VAT)
- Asset Register (land & buildings)
- Name of Councillors, their responsibilities &which committees/outside bodies they are put onto by the PC
accordance with the Code.
15.2 Also the Parish Council will have to adopt the Transparency Code – this to be placed
on the next Agenda. / Cllr Daniels
Agenda
BURIAL GROUND:
16.1Cllr Daniels was in possession of the Government Guidance on managing burial grounds and would read-up on it and report his findings at the next meeting in September.
16.2Cllr Stock stated that the Burial Ground was overgrown, but the Chairman assured him that it had been cut recently by Brian Bailey. It was thought that the lengthsman could include the cutting as part of his duties. The Chairman would confirm with Jeremy. / Cllr Daniels
Cllr
JP
WAR MEMORIAL:
17.1The Chairman stated that there had been discrepancies between the 2 quotes with one totaling £5070.80 from Rocket Masonry and the other £2,680 from Rowland Masonry.
17.2On contacting Rowland Masonry, it transpired that the cheaper quote did not calculate for scaffolding of £996, therefore this was requoted at £3,676 plus VAT.
17.3The Parish Council would write to accept the quote from Rowland Masonry.
17.4The Chairman stated that the War Memorial Trust had accepted the revised costings and the Parish Council was successful in its bid for a grant of 75% of net costs of £2,757 Therefore the Parish Council would only need to find £920 plus VAT.
17.5The Chairman stated that he had approached the Sperring Trust, but had been informed that, if the Parish Council were already receiving a Grant, it would not be eligible for funding from them. The Chairman would now pursue the Duchy for funding.
17.6Councillors congratulated the Chairman on his work to receive funding so far. / Clerk
Chair
Chair
COMMUNITY GARDENS:
18.1Cllr Stock gave the Clerk the monthly Report of the Community Gardens play-park. Everything was okay with nothing to report, other than litter.
18.2It was reported that the dog waste bin at the Middlemead entrance to the play-park had not been emptied recently. The Clerk to contact Mendip.
18.3It was noted that the play-park had been cleared by Jeremy and now it should be on the Lengthsman’s list of duties. / File
Clerk
L/man
STREET CLEANING/LENGTHSMAN SCHEME:
19.1There was nothing to report as Cllr Jeremy Padfield was not in attendance.
19.2Cllr Daniels reported that Barry now has a mower and will continue to cut the football field. Cllr Daniels will arrange to supply him with petrol and submit the Invoice to the Parish Council in due course.
HIGHWAYS:
20.1The Clerk was in receipt of a reply to the email sent to Chris Betty regarding the Parish Council’s options with traffic calming.
20.2The information contained reasons for not being able to adopt any of the measures suggested by Councillors ie 30mph painted on road, 40mph signs on approach to village, small white gates on the side of the road.
20.3Also Chris Betty declined to attend a Parish Council meeting and ignored the request for a site meeting.
20.4The Clerk was also asked to direct any future requests through Highways, although Highways had previously confirmed that Chris Betty was the person to contact regarding such matters.
20.5The Clerk was instructed to forward the above response from Chris Betty to Harvey Siggs (cc Cllr Hall).
20.6Cllr Hall would try and organize a site meeting with Highways and CC Harvey Siggs to discuss the above traffic calming measures. Cllr Hall would like to change the traffic calming within the village as he felt that the present measures were not working and that the main road through the village is dangerous.
20.7The Chairman would contact Dave Grabham to inquire why the scheduled SID’s had not been put in place.
20.8The Clerk was to report to Highways that signs at the North side of the village were obscured by trees. / Clerk
Cllr Hall
Chair
Clerk
FOOTPATH:
Nothing to report.
PLANTERS:
22.1Cllr Hall reported that the pub landlord Derek’s suggestion of sponsored planters would mean the Parish Council paying for the planters and Derek paying for and maintaining the plants.
22.2Councillors did not think this was a viable idea, as the Parish Council had requested the original planters to be removed, as they were thought to be a hazard to pedestrians and vehicles alike.
WEB-SITE:
23.1Cllr Daniels stated that the information on the proposed changes of the bus routes through Stratton are on the Web-site.
23.2Also, although on holiday, Cllr Daniels confirmed that the Agenda and Minutes had been placed on the Web-site.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Planning Application:
Ref:2015/1206/FUL Field bounded by A367 Green Lane & Nettlebridge Lane SOF
Change of use from agricultural to equestrian use & the construction of
stables.
Ref:2015/1426/FUL Bainsbury View ,SOF
Demolition of dilapidated garage & store & erection of a 4 bed detached
dwelling & detached single garage.
Permission granted: None
Bank Statements: Business Reserve A/C 23,837.36 less u/p cheques £23,701.98
Current A/C 50.00
Letters sent: Occupier, Downside View – re overgrown vegetation
Emails sent: Highways re vegetation obscuring motorists’ view
Cheques: Valerie Attwood (BT/Broadband 126.55 Petty Cash 21.52)
Wayne Palmer 225
Jeremy Padfield 50
Bath RUH 250
Glasdon 157 +VAT
MATTERS OF REPORTS & ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
There was nothing to report.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
26.1The date of the next Meeting will be on Monday 21 September 2015 at 7.45 pm
Note there is not Meeting in August.
26.2There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.26 p.m.
CHAIRMAN______DATE______
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