Misterton PC Minutes 18.10.22
Minutes of the Meeting of Misterton Parish Council
Tuesday, 18th October 2022 at 6.30pm, @Sue’s Café, Station Road
Present:
Cllr Paul Bradly (Chair) Cllr Leo Bacigalupo Cllr Andrew Callow Cllr Viv Rowe
Cllr Graham White Cllr Abbie Rousell Cllr Paul Gillard
In attendance
Jane Thicknesse (Clerk), County Councillor Steve Ashton & three members of the public
Public Open Forum.
No items raised
22/235. Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Councillor (County) Mike Best.
22/236. Code of Conduct and Declarations of Interests
Cllr G White declared an interest in agenda item 6e. (see Minute 22/240e.i.)
22/237. Minutes of the meeting of 20th September 2022
The minutes of the meetings held on 20th September were resolved as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
Proposed: Cllr G White Seconded: Cllr A Callow RESOLVED
22/238. Matters Arising from Minutes
a. Gate for footpath at Turnpike Green – reported to Somerset County Council
b. Traffic Survey – Cllr S Ashton is pursuing and will report back.
Action: Cllr S Ashton
c. Air Quality Survey – not possible to borrow the monitor from Crewkerne Town Council. Other options to be considered.
d. Station Road Development – statement expressing concerns submitted to the public consultation
e. Noticeboard for Recreation Ground for displaying Bye Laws – ordered
f. WI Hall – an application to list as a Community Asset has been sent to SSDC and receipt has been acknowledged. The date for a decision is unknown. (The WI Hall is due to be sold at auction on 20 October 2022 at 2pm by Symonds and Sampso.)
g. Parish Council Post Box – relocated on the gate post at Knowle House, Middle Street
h. Bus Shelter Cleaning – Helliars offered contract but no response. Clerk to follow up.
Action: Clerk
i. MERT Banking – Chairman met with MERTs prior to meeting and suggested that MERTS should become a formal sub-committee of the PC. This would enable the PC to legally hold MERT funds and assist with banking. Phil Clifton and Peter Marshall volunteered to be co-opted on to the Parish Council to assist with this sub-committee and other work.
Proposed: Cllr G White Seconded Cllr A Callow RESOLVED
Action: Clerk
j. Printer – new printer purchased.
22/239. Reports
a. Report from County Councillors
Cllr Ashton reported that:
- Work on the Local Community Networks (LCN) was progressing. A conference had been held at Westlands, Yeovil and an online public consultation had been held. Initial responses indicate the desire for the LCNs to be as small as possible and to have a definite identity. Once they are formed they will become a sub-committee of Somerset County Council with each parish having a representative.
- Somerset County Council are continuing to appoint new executives and departments are gradually merging into central services.
- Cllr Ashton was asked a variety of questions about access to the Wool Gardens development and also about the proposed ring road along the eastern edge of the development (linking Station Road with the A30), which was in the initial planning detail but now appears will not be built until 200 houses are built and occupied. This means that for the foreseeable future the only access to this development will be from Station Road. This is likely to have a considerable effect on the amount of traffic through Misterton.
b. Report from Chairman of the Parish Council & Recreation Field Trust
- Post Office. Following a request from a resident the Chairman suggested that a regular visiting Post Office should be investigated.
Action: Clerk
- Grass Cutting. Length of existing contract to be established and if necessary new bids to be sought.
Action: Clerk
- Recreation Ground Emergency Signs. These are legally required and it was suggested that 8 were purchased for various locations.
Proposed: Cllr L Bacigalupo Seconded: Cllr A Rousell RESOLVED
Action: Clerk
- The CCTV equipment is currently located in the locked back room of the Village Hall. During a recent maintenance visit it was suggested that the equipment is moved to a better location, the lilac tree in front of one of the cameras is trimmed back and that consideration is given to removing the barbed wire from the post with the cameras (and lights) and replacing it with anti-climb paint.
Action: Chairman/Clerk
- Finance Working Group. Due to attend budget training on 21 October and set draft budget before the next full PC meeting.
Action: Finance Working Group/Clerk
- Cemetery Working Group. Due to meet before the next full PC meeting.
Action: Cemetery Working Group
- Asset Register/Insurance. Asset Register to be updated and checked against insurance policy. Location of strimmer to be sought.
Action: Chairman/Clerk
- Village Questionnaire. The Chairman reported a reasonable return with a number of new activities being identified. Currently there is a shortage of suitable locations for these activities as the Village Hall is almost fully booked, the community room in Turnpike Green is unavailable and the WI Hall due be sold at a forthcoming auction and therefore future availability unknown. Work will continue to try to resolve.
b. Working Group Reports
Cemetery Working Group
- A cleaning roster for the Chapel needs to be set up.
Action: Cemetery Working Group
- The seat at the back of the Chapel is unrepairable and it was suggested that a budget of £500 was set to purchase one similar to the existing one in the cemetery.
Proposed Cllr G White Seconded: Cllr V Rowe RESOLVED
Action: Clerk
- The hedge around the cemetery is being left to grow in order to produce a fuller boundary.
Road Working Group
- A Road Working Group Meeting is to be held before the next full PC meeting.
Action: Road Working Group
22/240. Planning including applications currently in circulation/determinations
a. Applications handled since last meeting
None
b. Determinations notified by SSDC since last meeting
22/02218/S73A at Catra House 8 Broughtons Drive Misterton – approved
c. New applications to be considered
None
d. Tree Applications
None
e. Other Planning Matters
i. 22/02750/PAMB – Mill Farm Lane – Application to determine if prior approval is required for proposed change of use from agricultural to dwelling house(s).
Noted.
22/241. Amenities
a. Misterton Village School
The Clerk reported that she had received no offers of homes for the piano and church pew that were being removed from the school. It was suggested that they could be advertised in the next edition of the Misterton Magazine.
Action: Clerk
22/242. Highways and Footpaths
Nothing to report
22/243. Remembrance
a. Tommy Statue
No further action.
b. Remembrance Sunday
No details available
22/244. Finance
a. To agree invoices
| Voucher | Description | Supplier | Net | VAT | Gross | |
| 63 | Payroll | Cox and Co | 17.50 | 3.50 | 21.00 | |
| 59 | Mobile (Aug) | Tesco Mobile | 17.99 | 17.99 | ||
| 71 | Bank Fees | HSBC | 5.80 | 5.80 | ||
| 61 | Postage | Clerk | 10.39 | 10.39 | ||
| 64 | Clerk’s Salary | Clerk | 618.16 | 618.16 | ||
| 65 | Grant | Village Hall | 500.00 | 500.00 | ||
| 66 | Memberships | SALC | 278.45 | 278.45 | ||
| 70 | Grass Cutting (Aug) | KM Dike | 221.00 | 44.20 | 265.20 | |
| 67 | Training | SALC | 25.00 | 25.00 | ||
| 68 | Printer | Cartridge People | 111.56 | 22.31 | 133.87 | |
| 69 | External Audit | PKF Litttlejohn | 200.00 | 40 | 240.00 | |
| Total | £2115.86 |
Proposed: Cllr A Rousell Seconded: Cllr V Rowe RESOLVED
b. MUGA
A discussion about the state of the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) took place. It is now approximately 10 years old and may need resurfacing. Consideration should also be given to the lighting, including a better timing system and the use of more energy efficient bulbs.
Grants are possibly available and should be investigated.
Action: All
22/245. AOB
Cllr White reported that he had attended the recent Village Hall meeting. The pre-school numbers have fallen significantly and the resulting financial situation is causing concern for the future of the group. Any support that the Parish Council could provide to the Committee would be greatly appreciated. Immediate suggestions included setting up a website and providing an online calendar for bookings. The Chairman reported that he is scheduled to meet with the Chairman of the Village Hall Committee for further discussions about closely working together for the benefit of the village.
22/246. Items for the next meeting
Any other items to be advised to the Clerk at least seven days ahead of the meeting.
22/247. Date and time of next meeting
Tuesday 15th November at 6.30pm – Location: Village Hall, Misterton.