Meare Parish Council
Minutes of meeting held on Monday 19th January 2015, 7.30pm
Meare Village Primary School
A site meeting was held at 8 Church Path on Saturday 29th November 2014 to look at the proposed planning application
Present:Cllrs Bennetts, Turner-Welch, Cowell, Stacey, Westover, Bradley and Shaw
A site meeting was held at 37 Meareway to look at the proposed planning application on Saturday 6th December 2014.
Present:Cllrs Bennetts, Bradley, Neale, Cowell, Baker, Shaw and Mrs Brown The Clerk.
It was voted unanimously to recommend approval of this application.
Main Meeting
Present:Cllrs Bennetts, Baker, Stacey, Bradley, Cowell, Shaw, Foster, Turner-Welch and the Clerk Mrs Brown
1.Apologies:Cllrs Carter, Westover and Neale – Cllr Neale was away on business, Cllr Carter and Westover were ill. Their apologies were accepted.
2.Minutes of the last meeting – It was voted unanimously that they were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
3.Declaration of Interest – Cllrs Bennetts, Foster, Bradley and Baker declared an interest in Agenda item 6 d iii. – Harvest Fun Weekend Marquee.
4.Highways
i.No ‘U’ turns at the School – The Chairman read out an email from PCSO Tim Richard saying that ‘U’ turns at the school were not illegal. This email will be sent to the Village Agent, Julie, suggesting that she takes this matter up with the Headmistress as this does not fall within the remit of the Council.
ii.Solar Lights for Muddy Lane – Cllr Stacey reported to the Council that a small light would cost £229 including Vat and a large one £249 including Vat. Cllrs Stacey and Cowell will measure up the Lane and report back at the next meeting.
iii.Wooden sign for Playing Fields – Cllr Stacey had spoken to John Tucker. It was agreed that he will order a sign saying Playing Field Car Park.
iv.Water Pipes – Cllr Baker said that Wessex Water will reissue a quotation for moving the water pipe as they had quoted for the wrong field. Mrs Young will be informed that that water supply will be turned off but that there is another meter in the road.
v.Ashcott Road Building Site – Residents had complained about the state of the building site on the corner of Ashcott Road. It was agreed that this did not fall within the remit of the Council.
5.Planning
a.New Planning Applications
i.2014/2280/HSE – 8 Church Path Meare BA6 9 TH – Single storey extension on the side (east) elevation, two storey extensions on the front (north) elevation, and internal alterations.
At the site meeting held 29th November 2014 it was voted unanimously by those present to support this application.
ii)2014/2368/HSE – 37 Meareway Lane, Meare BA6 9TY – First floor extension on the side (south west) elevation.
At the site meeting held 6th December 2014 it was voted unanimously, by those present, to support this application.
b.Retrospective Planning
i.2014/2516/FUL – Double House Farm – construction of two carports, including a 3 bay carport and a 2 bay carport, and the addition of an earth bund and laurel hedge. – It was voted unanimously to recommend refusal of this application.
c.Approved Planning
i.2014/1585/FUL – Lilac Farm Main Road Westhay, Creation of new vehicular access
ii.2014/1262/REM – Land to rear of Avellana, Ashcott Road, Meare BA6 9ST
iii.2014/2280/HSE – 8 Church Path, Meare – Single storey extension on the side (east) elevation, two storey extension on the front (north) elevation and internal alterations.
iv.2014/2043/CNT – SCC response to application at New House Farm, Shapwick Road, Westhay, BA6 9TT – Raising ground level to expand farmyard – approved with conditions
d.Enforcement
i.ENF/2011/0073 – Land South East of Cold Harbour Farm, Meare, Road,
Ongoing complaint regarding untidy site.
e.Withdrawn Applications
i.2014/2528/AGB – Peacock Farm – application for prior notification for a replacement steel framed agricultural building.
f.Refused Application for Prior Approval
i.2014/2383/PAA – Old Stileway Farm, Stileway, Meare - to change the use from a barn to a single dwelling house with associated domestic curtilage.
g.Any Other Planning – There were no other planning matters.
6.Finance
a.Summary of Account – It was voted unanimously that this was a correct record and the Vice Chairman agreed the bank reconciliation.
b.Invoices to be paid
Chq No / Payee / Amount434 / H.M. Revenue & Customs – Paye – December 2014 / 209.93
435 / Cancelled / 0.00
436 / Mrs S. Brown – Government Non Consolidation Payment / 100.00
437 / H.M. Revenue & Customs – Paye – January 2015 / 218.02
438 / Mr Malcolm Sweet – village maintenance / 140.00
439 / SLCC Membership Subscription / 149.00
440 / Mrs S. Brown – Admin for November and December 2014 / 110.74
d/d / ICO – Data Protection / 35.00
441 / M. Hickson / 1773.50
442 / Parochial Church Council – Grass Cutting at the Graveyard / 810.00
443 / Meare & Westhay Village Magazine / 500.00
Total / £4046.19
It was voted unanimously to pay the above invoices.
The Council asked for a letter to be written to Mr Malcolm Sweet saying how pleased they are with the work that he does around the village.
c.Money in
i.Vat Repayment
ii.Wellbeing Grant – Cllr Noel for an outdoor table tennis table - The Chairman thanked Cllr Noel for giving the grant.
iii.Website advert for Equine Touch
iv.Residue monies from the closed Village Hall and Playing Field’s account
d.Grants Applied for:
i.Grass Cutting in the Graveyard – it was voted unanimously to support this application.
ii.Meare & Westhay Magazine – It was voted unanimously to support this application.
iii.A new youth club has been set up in Meare and they would like to request grants, now and again, to bring in organisations to speak to the children. - It was voted unanimously to support their future requests.
iv.The Marquee Hire for the Harvest Fun Weekend – It was voted by those eligible to support this application.
7.Purchase of Table Tennis Table for Play Area - Cllrs Baker, Cowell and Stacey will look into this matter prior to ordering.
8.Allotment Ash Trees – It was agreed that advice should be sought from the Health and Safety Executive in Bristol to try and resolve this matter. Cllr Cowell will telephone the tree surgeon.
9.Defibrillator – Lockable Cabinets and Memorandum of Understanding
A Memorandum of Understanding had been signed by the Council and The South West Ambulance Service, who agreed to cover any loss of the defibrillator under their insurance. Unfortunately the telephone box in Meare has been vandalised delaying the defibrillator’s instillation. The Police are making enquiries.
10.Progress report on the Community Centre grant investigation/application - Cllr Foster had spoken with Cllr Westover who informed him that until a bank account had been set up, the new Community Centre could not be registered with the Charity Commission. Unfortunately Lloyds Bank had twice lost the documentation submitted to open an account. An account will now be set up at a different bank.
11.Help With Fund Raising - email from John Price – It was agreed that the email from John Price should be forwarded to Cllr Westover and Mrs Young as it was felt that Mr Price, a professional fund raiser, would be a very useful contact for help with the fundraising.
12.Purchase of Container update – Cllr Neale, being unable to attend the meeting, had informed the Clerk that the container had now gone down in price by £50 to £1,750 plus Vat and that the company was quite happy to hold on to it until the ground at the Playing Fields was fit to drive on.
13.Change in format to Annual Parish Assembly – The Clerk had suggested that instead of the present format for the Parish Assembly, the Council adopted a new approach. This would involve inviting local singers to entertain and instead of local organisations coming to give a report, they could set up stands and speak to residents on a one to one basis. The Council business could be conducted on a much reduced scale, with copies of minutes and account available, for those who wished to view them, on the front desk. The Villager of the Year Award would still be presented and refreshments would still be served.
It was voted unanimously to approve these changes. The Clerk will invite The Male Voice Choir, Dan Shaw, Jo Franks and her daughter, Georgina.
The meeting was closed at 8.58pm.
14.Matters to be held in camera - it was agreed to apply for a form of complaints procedure from Gould & Swayne Solicitors.
Signed ………………………………………Dated……………………………..