Draft minutes subject to acceptance at the next meeting.

PRIDDY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 6th AUGUST 2014

VENUE AND TIME OF THE MEETING: VILLAGE HALL @ 7.30pm

Present: Cllrs Alan Hutfield (Chair), Rachel Thompson, Kate Greet, Richard White, Barry Wilkinson, Chris Dyke; also in attendance Simon Eastham, Tom Killen and Alan Butcher (Clerk)

1 Apologies for absence. None

2 Co-option of new member to fill casual vacancy. i) Co-option process: Simon Eastham gave a brief introduction and was unanimously co-opted onto the council. ii) Co-opted member to sign declaration: Simon Eastham signed the declaration and took his place on the council.

3 Public Forum: The Chairman adjourned the meeting for a maximum of 15 minutes to allow public participation.

Robin Main (in attendance) raised the matter of the recent works carried out around the village green to improve drainage which he felt were unnecessary whilst the other areas in the village (Church Farm and Sunnycroft) remained a problem after heavy rain.

He also raised the issue of restricted visibility at Blue Doors junction due to overgrown verge and hedge rows. This was also noted as a problem at Townsend.

4 Declarations of Interest: Kate declared an interest in 1tem 13 where she would be seeking reimbursement for the newsletter expenses. Rachel declared an interest in item 13, the replacement battery for the defibrillator. 5 Resolutions relating to the conduct of the Meeting. None.

6 Acceptance of the Minutes of previous meetings: Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd July 2014 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Priddy Parish Council – Minutes of the Meeting held on 6th August 2014

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Draft minutes subject to acceptance at the next meeting.

7 Matters Arising from the Minutes of the previous meetings: a: Fly tipping: The clerk had spoken to Mendips contractors about the removal of the materials at Pelting but this had not been done; he would arrange for their removal.

b: Adoption of roads to Top Green: There was discussion about the name of the “main road” from the green up toward Nine Barrows Lane and it was generally agreed that this was called “Green Hill” (i.e Greenhill Cottage) although some maps held by Mendip DC stated School Hill. It was agreed that this discrepancy would be raised with Mendip and that the names for the newly adopted roads would be Vicar’s Path (across the top of the green) and School Hill. Clerk to speak to Mendip. c: Fingerpost signs at Nordrach and Townsend: The clerk was seeking quotations for the works to the Nordrach sign. The Townsend sign had been secured with new bolts, thanks were recorded to Barry Payne for this work. d: Nine Barrows Triangle and damaged finger post sign: The clerk had spoken to Ben Selway who was now going to endeavour to weld the sign in situ. e: Flooding near Church Farm and St Cuthberts Farm: Awaiting highways action on Church Farm and Sunnycroft although the St Cuthberts Farm problem had been resolved with the installation of a new soakaway. Clerk to contact highways again. f: Trees on Wells Road, beyond “Sunnycroft”: Awaiting response from the land owner. g: Illegal use of by-way at Ubley Drove: This remained a problem; Richard as PPLO to look into matter and pressure to be put on to the AONB and SCC. Rachel and Richard to visit Heather Swift to discuss the problem.

8 Report.: No report.

9 Council Reports: a: County Council: No report. b: Council: Tom Killen advised that superfast broadband would cover about 95% of the area including most of Priddy and that Mendip had invested £400,000 to ensure this would happen. Car parking could now be paid for via the telephone. The local plan would be ratified within two months and it had been determined that the 5 year requirement for housing had now been satisfied. Some Mendip DC parishes were applying for neighbourhood plans. There was only one current licence for “fracking” which was around Ston Easton, area.

Priddy Parish Council – Minutes of the Meeting held on 6th August 2014

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Draft minutes subject to acceptance at the next meeting.

10 Parish Council Matters: a: The New Inn: i) Future actions: awaiting outcome of planning applications. b: Parish Plan update: i) Report from working group: Details were now on the website and work continued to look at updates to the Parish Plan and Village Design statement and possibly moving forward to a conservation area appraisal. Funding for the works were being sought from the lottery Awards for All scheme with support from the Community Council for Somerset who have expertise in Community Led Planning Initiatives and it was suggested that the project might require professional input of between £3000 and £5000. Details of works to date to be exhibited at the History Group exhibition at the end of September and a questionnaire was to be circulated.

c: Other matters: i) Improving communications between council and Parishioners: Kate to obtain up to date information from Mendip DC and Kate, Rachel and the clerk to liaise on updating the list.

11 Committee Business: a: PARC Committee- the committee recommends: i) That Judith Coles and Glenda Collier be co-opted onto the PARC Committee. This was agreed unanimously.

ii) That funds be allocated for the purchase of a flagpole to be located outside Manor House and that match funding be sought from other bodies. After discussion it was agreed to proceed with the project and to seek quotations for a 10 and 12 metre flagpole. It was also noted that a supply of flags would be required.

12 Planning: Applications will be available for inspection for fifteen minutes before the meeting commences.

Application 2014/0829/FUL. Proposed conversion of existing stables into dependant relatives annexe and erection of new replacement stables. Ubley Hill Farm House, Ubley Drove, Charterhouse for Mr and Mrs M Davis: This was approved nem con.

Priddy Parish Council – Minutes of the Meeting held on 6th August 2014

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Draft minutes subject to acceptance at the next meeting.

Application 2014/1360/FUL. Conversion of a range of barns to create two dwellings. Higher Eastwater Farm, Priddy BA5 3AX for Mr D Nicholls. This was approved with the comment that part of the access to the dwellings was over a restricted by-way.

13 Financial: a: Clerks salary and expenses for July £326.04. This was agreed and a cheque raised. b: Invoice from R.P & S Main dated 8th July for cutting the village greens £288.00. This was agreed and a cheque raised with thanks to Robin for the excellent state of the greens. c: Defibrillator battery purchased by Rachel Thompson £238.80. This was agreed and a cheque raised. d: Newsletter expenses from Kate Greet £84.69. This was agreed and a cheque raised.

14 Correspondence: all email correspondence received has been circulated to councillors, any further correspondence will be available at the meeting.

Kate advised that she had circulated information to join Locality’s Power to Change network. It was agreed that Kate should complete the paperwork.

15 Matters of Report: It was noted that English Heritage was consulting on making parts of The Mineries site a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The clerk had received details on behalf of the Caving Club. Rachel requested a copy of the papers for consideration.

16 Date and Time of Next Meeting: The next scheduled meeting is on Wednesday 3rd September 2014, 7.30 Priddy Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.05pm

Alan Butcher, Parish Clerk, 21st August 2014 01749 870358; [email protected]

Priddy Parish Council – Minutes of the Meeting held on 6th August 2014

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