04/05/69 PRESENT: Cllrs R Westmaas (in the Chair), P Mackay, E Chilcott, J Hamblyn
04/05/70 ALSO PRESENT: 11 members of the public
04/05/71 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: were confirmed and signed.
04/05/72 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON AGENDA ITEMS: none declared.
04/05/73 PRESENT: Cllr R Fraser arrived during the following item.
04/05/74 HIGHWAYS:
- Any urgent problems arising and updates - Cllr Mackay and the Clerk outlined concerns that had recently been
put to Liam Gill, SCC Highways. No response received to date. It was agreed that the matters should also be
forwarded to CCllr Huxtable. Cllr Fraser arrived. The Clerk confirmed that she had contacted Highways about
the problems in Langlands Lane.
- Questionnaire for completion - The questionnaire from SCC Highways was completed by Council.
- Use of droves - Cllr Westmaas explained a problem brought to his attention by a parishioner. It was confirmed
that there is nothing the parish council can do about people taking cars into droves in order to walk their dogs.
Other than that the legal situation is not known.
04/05/75 PLANNING:
- 14/04/00010/CG - Erection of conservatory to front elevation at Westleigh, Brook Lane - this applications was
considered and it was agreed that there is no objection as although the conservatory is at the front it will be at
the far end and behind the hedge.
- 14/04/00005/HEP - Change of use and conversion of part of workshop to granny annex at 6 Little Leaze Lane -
permission granted.
- 14/04/00009/CJM - Erection of two storey extension to East elevation and single storey extension to North
elevation partly on site of existing at 9 King William Road - permission granted.
04/05/76 FINANCE:
- Requests for grants -
- CATTS Club - The Clerk had copied a reply from the CATTS Club to all councillors. Following
discussion it was agreed to make a grant of £25 to the Club.
- Chilton Polden Guides - A request for a grant had been received and copied to all councillors. The Clerk
was instructed to obtain further details with regard to Catcott residents participation prior to full
consideration.
- Any others received - The Clerk reminded Council that it had, in the past, made a grant to Catcott School
in recognition of the use of the Hall. It was agreed that the same payment be made again with an increase
of 2% to the nearest round figure.
- Cheques for signature - the Clerk reported that a withdrawal from the National Savings Account needed to be
made to meet expenses. It was agreed to make a transfer of £4000 and the form was completed and signed.
Cheques were also approved for signature as follows: Chq.532 J A Marshall (repayment of temporary loan)
£100.00; Chq.533 J A Marshall (Clerk's pay and expenses June) £315.45; Chq.534 D Gardner (Village
trimming) £94.00; Chq.535 J A Marshall (Clerk's pay July) £204.56; Chq.536 E G Aggar (Internal Audit)
£55.00; Chq.537 CPRE (subscription) £25.00 and all these cheques were duly signed. It was agreed that the
grants to CATTS Club and Catcott School be paid as soon as the Clerk is able to establish to whom the cheques
should be made out. An invoice had also been passed on from the Jubilee Committee to the Parish Council from
Wells Cathedral Stonemasons. It was agreed that before payment the Clerk should obtain an invoice correctly
made out to the Parish Council. At the same time the Clerk would ask for clarification as to what had been done
and express concern over the fact that the gravel at the base had not been scraped clear prior to the plinth being
treated, leading to the bottom of the plinth remaining bare. Council was also unhappy about some of the joints
which had not be filled in satisfactorily. In addition, the firm had agreed to re-place the Jubilee Stone and this
had not yet been done.
- Internal Audit report - The Clerk had copied this to all councillors and now read it to the meeting. Council then
discussed the points raised. With regard to the insurance cover re fidelity guarantee it was agreed that the sum
of £4000 would be appropriate most years, there having been extra funds in the account to allow for the Jubilee
expenses. It was therefore agreed that no changes be made at this time and to reconsider the matter when the
insurance next becomes due for renewal. With regard to payroll controls the Clerk assured the Council that she
declared her income to the Inland Revenue by way of her self assessment forms. The only way she could think
of to help the auditor would be for her to get a letter from her accountant stating that her parish council salary
is included in the declaration each year. Council felt this should not really be necessary and were happy that the
Inland Revenue is happy. The Clerk explained that her financial year ends at a different time of year to the
Council's and that any letter from her accountant regarding inclusion in her accounts would only cover part of
the Council's year in any case.
04/05/77 SALC: The Clerk had attended the last meeting of SALC. One of the items discussed had been the Parish
Wardens - now Community Support Officers. The Clerk said she would cover this later in the meeting.
04/05/78 HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY: It was agreed that all councillors should look at the SDC website for its
affordable housing section prior to considering this further.
04/05/79 VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT: The Clerk had received this back from Rob Shuttleworth and had passed
it on to Cllr Mackay who had looked at it and passed it on to Mr S Jones who is currently away. Cllr Westmaas
would obtain it from Mr Jones on his return.
04/05/80 CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU AGM: Nobody is available to attend the AGM.
04/05/81 COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS/PARISH WARDENS SCHEME: The Clerk had corresponded with
Nicola Slawski at SDC regarding the non appearance of these people. Apparently the Police had raised
problems, cash from one source had not been forthcoming and only one of the parish wardens previously selected
to cover our area had been appointed as a Community Support Officer. The police wanted the other one to
operate as a Community Support Officer in Bridgwater so there was currently nobody to cover our area
regardless of funding problems. Possibilities for the future included SDC funding all the parishes with no
additional input from parishes or parishes paying more to cover the withdrawn funding. No charges were
currently being made to parishes.
04/05/82 COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN: Clerk to check on what should happen to the completed document.
04/05/83 PROVISION OF SEAT IN BUS SHELTER: Cllr Mackay apologised for not having examined this so far.
He would do so but thought it unlikely there would be a problem in fixing a simple seat. Council agreed that
this should be sorted prior to the next meeting if possible and would meet any reasonable expense in doing so.
04/05/84 JUBILEE STONE AND WAR MEMORIAL: With regard to the Jubilee Stone, this still needed to be re-set
in the ground, which Wells Cathedral Stone Masons had previously agreed to do. AJS Memorials were making
a new plaque and would fix and coat the same. People found the lettering on the war memorial difficult to read
since its renovation and it was thought that it might be easier to read once it has weathered a bit. As the Clerk
had to contact Wells Cathedral Stonemasons it was agreed that she should also ask if there is some was to
improve legibility of the lettering. It was also noted that insulator wraps are still around the overhead lines and
these will need removing.
04/05/85 LAMP: The regular leaflets had been distributed to all councillors and there were some spare for members of
the public. The Clerk had just received a letter from Sandra King informing the Council that she will be leaving
her position as LAMP Parish Assistant at the end of the week. This was a surprise and the Clerk was asked to
write and thank her for the help she had given in the past. Rights of Way maps had been received but it was
thought one might be missing for the NW section.
04/05/86 ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISH COUNCILS AND SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL: The Clerk
was asked to include the A39 and its numerous serious accidents near the Moorlinch junction on the list of
matters to be discussed.
04/05/87 DRAFT SOMERSET COMPACT: had been copied to all councillors. No action to be taken.
04/05/88 DOWN TO EARTH: Everyone was made aware of the contents of this leaflet and the forthcoming meeting.
04/05/89 RIGHTS OF WAY/FOOTPATHS:
- Footpath Diversion BW6/7 - Diversion order has now been confirmed
- Footpath BW6/6 Deviation from definitive map - it was agreed that amending the definitive map would be the
best option.
- Catcott School Footpath - letter from Carol Bond had clearly stated that the maintenance crew were instructed
to see to this. However, they had been at the School a few days previously and still nothing had happened. Cllr
Mackay had again spoken to Mrs Bond's department and they have assured us that the matter will be attended
to.
04/05/90 SOMERSET & EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK JOINT STRUCTURE PLAN ALTERATION 1996-2016: document in circulation.
04/05/91 RURAL FOCUS: Newsletter for rural decision-makers (copy of issue 3 received for circulation).
04/05/92 SCC LETTER RE PREVENTION OF JUNK MAIL: The Clerk would try to get something in the
newsletters about this as there must be many people who suffer from unwanted junk mail.
04/05/93 OTHER REPORTS OR ITEMS FOR INFORMATION, CIRCULATION, DISTRIBUTION - incl.
Local Council Review; Clerks & Councils Direct; Somerset Arts Festival; Strategies for Sedgemoor; Sedgemoor
News; Somerset Gateway; Wyvern Environmental Trust booklet; Community Update; Thatch
04/05/94 URGENT CORRESPONDENCE AND ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: None
04/05/95 DATE OF NEXT MEETING: - Tuesday, 14th September, 2004