PARISH COUCIL MEETING

DECEMBER 2012 AGENDA

The meeting will be preceded at 7.00pm by a presentation about the proposed Solar Farm at Grange Farm.

Questions from the Public.

Members of the public are welcome to attend and address the Parish Council to provide information and raise matters of concern.

1. Apologies

Members will be expected to provide reasons for absence. Members are reminded that absence for 6 consecutive meetings without approval could lead to disqualification.

2. Declarations of Interest

The Code of Conduct requires that Members disclose interests of a personal, prejudicial and pecuniary nature that may be pertinent to tonight's business. A prejudicial or pecuniary interest will require the member to leave the room during the discussion of the relevant item.

In cases of uncertainty members are recommended to consult the Clerk.

3. Minutes and Matters Arising from minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5^th November were circulated with the summons to this meeting. Members will be asked to consider them for accuracy and if satisfied pass a resolution of approval that they be signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record.

4. Planning

Taunton Deane has passed on three applications for the Parish Council to consider.

a) TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990

Planning Applications for Parish Council Decision

1.23/12/0033 ERECTION OF EXTENSION TO THE SIDE AT BAGHAY FARM, MILVERTON

This is an application for the Parish Council to decide on under the terms of the Delegated Planning Agreement with TDBC. The Planning report has been circulated and the resolution before the Council will be to support the Planning Officers recommendation.

b) TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990

Planning Applications for Parish Council Comment

2. 23/12/0032 INSTALLATION OF 19,640 No. GROUND MOUNTED PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANELS TO PROVIDE A 5MW INSTALLATION WITH POWER INVERTER SYSTEMS, TRANSFORMER STATIONS, SUB-STATIONS, SECURITY FENCING AND ACCESS GATES IN A FIELD NORTH OF GRANGE FARM, NYNEHEAD

PLANNING OFFICER COMMENTS: Need to assess impact on ecology, flood risk etc

Councillors will be invited to make comments on this application. NB The Clerk has been in contact with the applicant requesting a formal presentation which has yet to be agreed.

3. 27/12/0023 ERECTION OF NEW CATTLE ACCOMMODATION BUILDING WITH BELOW

GROUND SLURRY STORAGE CELLAR, CONSTRUCTION OF SILAGE CLAMPS, FEED STORE, ATTENUATION POND, HIGHWAY ACCESS AND FARM DRIVE, DIVERSION OF PUBLIC FOOTPATH AND ASSOCIATED LANDSCAPING AT BLAGROVES FARM, HILLCOMMON

Councillors will be invited to make comments on this application

c) Neighbourhood Plan

The Chairman will provide a report on progress.

d) Other Planning Matters

The Clerk will provide a report and suggest a date for the next planning site visit.

5. Creedwell

The Chairman will provide a verbal update.

6. Easement across Burgage Viewing Area Update

The Clerk will provide a verbal report, request comments on the Draft Heads of Terms and, if acceptable, request a resolution to adopt them.

7. Appointment to Personnel Sub Committee

Following Mrs Hoyles appointment as Vice Chairman there is a vacancy on this committee. It would be helpful if members could please pass nominations to the Clerk before the meeting.

8. Preston Bowyer Phone Box

The purchase from BT is now complete and Councillors need to agree how to proceed including appointing a sub committee to look at potential relocation and disconnection of services.

9. Crime

The Police Report for November will be presented.

10. Roads and Footpaths

a) Monthly Report

Mrs Lumby will report on the footpaths.

Mr Phelps will provide an update on the Turnpike path.

c) Monthly Road Report and Village Inspection

The Chairman will report on the village inspection held on 15^tNovember.

11. Correspondence

a) For Information

• Hinkley Point Monthly Update from EDF.
• War memorials Trust Bulletin

b) For action/Resolution

• Letter from a Mr Richards requesting information about a Colonel Sandford.
• Letter from Mr Clifford surrendering his allotment.

12. The New Code of Conduct

Following the introduction of the Code several members have expressed concerns about the level of personal information required and its degree of availability to public scrutiny. This item is for discussion and clarification only.

At present 3 members have not submitted a Code of Conduct declaration form and will need to do so at this meeting.

13. Finance

a) Monthly report

This months report will request payments for Salaries, PAYE, Legal fees, grasscutting and PCC grant with an indicative total of £1300.

b) Q2 Financial Report

The Clerk will report on progress against budget as at 30^th September. NB This item was held over from November due to lack of time.

c) Estimates for 2013/14

The Clerk will provide an estimated budget for discussion prior to a final decision on next years budget and the Precept at the January meeting.

14. Matters to Report

Members are invited to report matters of interest and raise matters of concern for future consideration by the Council.

Milverton Parish Council Meeting
5th November 2012

Councillors discussed a variety of issues.
The meeting opened with Public Questions. The first was about the damage being caused to the fabric of the village by large articulated lorries. Discussions have taken place with operators who have agreed to use smaller lorries for deliveries in the village but there is an increasing problem of larger lorries being guided by sat-navs. The Parish Council will be contacting Somerset County Council to see what can be done.

The second question was whether superfast broadband was dud to come to Milverton. The Council will ask Somerset County Council.

Most Councillors have received training about the new Code of Conduct. However, there was a lot of concern expressed about the level of disclosure of information to the public. It was agreed to discuss the matter more fully at the December meeting.

The Council considered a planning application to install nearly 20,000 solar panels on 26 acres in the south east of the Parish. After some discussion Councillors did not feel well enough informed about the subject and agreed to ask the developer to give the parish a presentation. In particular Councillors are seeking more clarity on access routes for construction, loss of prime agricultural land, wildlife, the amount of power to be generated and the low level of local consultation. The 13th and 20th of November are to be offered as possible dates.

Councillors had a long debate about the merits of a Neighbourhood Plan. The Chairman reported from a recent workshop which had set out clearly the huge commitment required by those involved. The general consensus was that this needed careful thought and evaluation of what the village wanted to achieve before committing to proceed. The Council sub Committee will meet in the next few weeks to scope out a way forward.

Councillors resolved to send the Queen a copy of the Milverton Jubilee Photo Book from the Royal Manor of Milverton to mark Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.

Mrs Hoyle, the vice Chairman reported that the Runnington housing planning appeal had finally been concluded. On behalf of the village she thanked Mr Howard Davies for his contributions about the history of the area.

Councillors discussed the notices that had asked people not to walk by the Hillfarrance Brook to the west of the village. Mr Phelps and the Clerk had met the farmer who had said he no longer wanted people to walk along his fields. Since this was a popular walk several parishioners are investigating the possibility of getting the route made into an official registered footpath by the County Council.

Councillors discussed the Somerset County Council proposal for Community Wardens shared between 4 parishes. Apart from the concerns about the County abdicating its responsibilities Councillors felt that such an arrangement would inevitably create a direct employment situation and not a contractual one as claimed by the County Council literature. As this would increase the Parish Council overhead and on-costs significantly Councillors felt that the best way forward would be to recruit volunteers.

Councillors were please to hear that the local Highways manager was prepared to join the village tour of inspection to look at road drainage, potholes and overgrowing vegetation. The tour will take place on 15th November.

Councillors agreed to a request to buy a wheely grit bin for Turnpike.

The Chairman is to accept an invitation to join the Board of the Wiveliscombe Area Partnership.