Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 10th March 2021 at 7.30 pm. Virtual Meeting held by Zoom.
Present; Cllr. Jonathan Baker, Cllr David Lines, Cllr Balavant Barber, Cllr Yvonne Harris
In Attendance: Jane Thicknesse, Clerk, and 12 members of the public.
| Item No. | Action | |||||
| Public discussion of items on agenda a. Planning Application P/FUL/2021/00505 Dairy Cottage, Pipplepen Farm – 4 x Shepherd Huts The Chairman welcomed Lydia Dunne from Clive Miller Partnership, the agent for this application, who was attending to answer questions. She said that the application was for up to 4 shepherds huts but initially there would only be a single structure. The huts only accommodate 1 or 2 people and are aimed at holidaymakers looking for a rural escape. Parking for the huts would be provided by a site to the NE (in South Somerset for which permission had been granted) and access would be by foot through a new pedestrian gate at the front of Dairy Cottage. The huts would be connected to mains services for water and power and sewerage managed by a package treatment plant. It is thought that the huts would primarily be used during the high tourist season. b. Lengthsman A resident said that he believed there were a number of people who would be prepared to get involved (on a rota system) with some of the jobs that required doing in the village and that this avenue should be explored before employing a Lengthsman. |
|
|||||
| 2021/11 | Apologies / Declarations of interest / grant of dispensations Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Yvonne Harris and Alex Bishop (PCSO) |
|||||
| 2021/12 | Approval of Minutes of the meeting held on 11th November 2020 The minutes of the last meeting were approved and will be signed by the Chairman. Proposed by Cllr Baker and seconded by Cllr Barber. |
|||||
| 2021/13 |
Matters arising from Minutes of the meeting held on 13th January 2021 d. Highways Road Narrows Sign – in position and to date undamaged Picket Lane/A356 Junction – extra markings had been requested but work delayed due to winter weather and backlog of work for Dorset Council. 30 mph signs at end of Lecher Lane – repaired SIDs – slight delay due to COVID but a visit to mark up the exact locations for posts is due on 17th March. Following that, a quote for the installation will be sent and SIDs can be ordered. A traffic survey is no longer required due to sufficient historical information. The Clerk will continue to liaise on these matters as required. e. Litter Bins Two litter bins have been ordered and are due for installation imminently. |
Clerk
Clerk
|
||||
| 2021/14 |
Co-option of Parish Councillor to fill Casual Vacancy Only one application had been received. The applicant, Mrs Gill Denny, was present at the meeting and having given a brief outline of her background and aspirations for the post, was unanimously elected as Councillor. Cllr Denny joined the Council for the remainder of the meeting. |
|||||
| 2021/15 | Reports | |||||
| a) | Dorset Councillor Apologies and a short report were received. The report itemised:
Help and support is available and residents are encouraged to contact Cllr Knox, the Clerk or Parish Councillors if required. |
|||||
| b) |
Police. |
|||||
| c) |
River Warden |
|||||
| d) |
Footpaths Officer |
|||||
| 2021/16 | Planning Matters a. Applications handled since the last meeting WD/D/20/001708 Coach and Horses WD/D/20/001708 Coach and Horses Councillor Harris declared an interest and left the meeting for the duration of this item. The Chairman gave a detailed report on progress since the last meeting. The Council had been active in contacting senior officers and elected councillors, including the Chief Executive, Mr. Matt Prosser and the Leader, Cllr Spencer Flower, as well as the local MP, Mr. Chris Loder. An official complaint had been lodged regarding the time taken to deal with this planning issue. In response, a letter from Ann Collins, Area Manager for Western and Southern Planning and Community Services had been received. Unfortunately, it contained a number of factual errors, errors which had been repeated in emails and letters received by concerned members of the village from both the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council. These errors have been pointed out in the Parish Council’s reply to Ann Collins, but no response has yet been received. It was noted that a Planning Application Notice had been posted at the Coach and Horses. The lack of such a notice had been pointed out to the County Council last year, but the Council was told that it was not needed. Now that the notice has been displayed, interested parties have until March 14, 2021 to comment. The Council welcomed the appointment of Ross Leal, Senior Planning Officer, on a temporary basis to help clear the Planning Application backlog. It is understood that an Enforcement Officer has also been recruited on the same basis. Mr. Leal has been active in communicating with the Clerk in both a timely and constructive manner since his appointment, for which the Council is most grateful. b. Decisions notified by DC since last meeting – None c. New application to be considered – P/FUL/2021/00505 Dairy Cottage, Pipplepen Farm – 4 x Shepherd Huts – Approved WD/D/21/000064 Rowan Tree Cottage – Replacement single storey extension – Approved d. Tree applications since the last meeting – WD/D/21/000054 Mohun House – Approved e. Other Planning Matters i. WD/D/21/000040 Picket Lane Farm – Prior application for formation of agricultural tracks ii. Development alongside A356 at western end of village. The Chairman said as several residents had expressed concern at the work that was being carried out at this location, he had spoken to the owner of the field, Mr. Zac Anderson. Mr. Anderson had explained that he was using the area for restoring old tractors and that the skeleton building was to be used as a storage area, while the new roadway was to improve access. He was mindful of the residents’ concerns and would try to keep noise to a minimum. Councillors were concerned, particularly about the building being designated as for agricultural use and possibly not requiring planning permission. It was suggested that advice was sought from Dorset Council. |
Clerk and Chairman Clerk |
||||
| 2021/17 | Noticeboard Noticeboard After discussion it was decided to delay a final decision on the header for the noticeboard until further research and opinion had been sought. | Cllr Baker/ Clerk |
||||
| 2021/18 | Lengthsman Noticeboard Following up from the comments at the Public Discussion and the discussion at the previous meeting it was decided to try to involve more volunteers from within the community to do some of the smaller jobs. Dorset Council or contractors would be approached for more significant work. It was suggested that a flyer be distributed to every household asking for volunteers to join a ‘working party’ list and to seek an organiser. | Cllr Denny/ Clerk |
||||
| 2021/19 | Highways Issues The Chairman reported that Blair Turner, Community Safety Officer, had been approached about the heavy farm traffic in Picket Lane which was causing damage to the road, hedgerows and possibly the small bridge over the River Parrett. He had replied that he would visit to inspect and undertake repairs involving top soil and seeding where required. He confirmed that the farmers were entitled to exercise their highway rights and that the bridge was able to carry heavy farm traffic. |
|||||
| 2021/20 | Correspondence Emails have been received/sent reference Highways (various), Coach and Horses, Clerk and Councils Direct. |
|||||
| 2021/21 |
Finance a. Financial Status for South Perrott Parish Council as at 10th March 2021 Income since the last meeting
Payments made since the last meeting
Bank balance as at 10th March 2021: £7389.65 The Clerk said that the precept request had been submitted and the first payment should be received in April. |
|||||
| 2021/22 | Matters of report and items for the next meeting |
|||||
| 2021/23 | Dates of Future Meetings | |||||
| Public Session to raise items for future agendas Sue Coutanche reminded the meeting that the next edition of the Pump and Pound (No58) would be published at the end of March. Any items for inclusion should be sent to the editors by 22nd March 2021. |
||||||
| Police Report from PCSO Alex Bishop – March 2021 Whilst not in the South Perrott Parish, there was a theft of a tractor from an isolated barn in the Mosterton area, last Monday. I urge anyone with plant/machinery, especially if left in isolated areas, to review their security and contact me if they would like any advice. Please be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us on 101, or 999 if you believe a crime is in progress. We had some information from a resident, that young people were congregating on a track at the edge of the village on Pipplepen Lane. This is just outside of Dorset, but colleagues from Crewkerne attended and spoke with 5 occupants of 2 vehicles about Covid breaches. Alex Bishop PCSO 5404 |
||||||
| River Warden’s Report – March 2021 Storm Christoph, on 19/20th January, passed without major incident, although I had to remove a small tree that had come down across the river at the entrance to the ford in Bailey’s Lane. On 6th February I received a report of an oil spillage into the river in the centre of the village. Kerosene heating oil had leaked from a damaged oil supply pipe, and had permeated through the subsoil, and possibly through a drain under the road, into the river. There was a strong smell of oil, and evidence of an oil slick moving down river. After discussing the matter with the property owner, I reported the oil spillage on the Environment Agency Incident Hotline. Subsequently, the property owner also reported the oil spillage. I understand that the Environment Agency concluded that, as there were no sensitive areas downstream, no further action was required. On 15th February a local resident reported a possible contamination of the river with liquid manure. There had been an increase in slurry tanker traffic through the village at about this time, and there was possibly a connection. However, following heavy rain at the time, it was likely that any pollution of the river would have been dispersed. I am advised that the resident reported his concern direct to the Environment Agency. I have received from the Environment Agency details of the proposed maintenance and improvement works to be undertaken at South Perrott Reservoir, starting in May and likely to last until September/October this year. The work includes laying a new land drain parallel to the hedge at the Millennium Green and constructing a new headwall on the River Parrett, levelling the spillway crest area using a concrete kerb, laying open concrete erosion protection blocks over the top third of the spillway, constructing steps on either side of the embankment at the top of the spillway, providing extra nesting/bat boxes and planting new trees/hedges on site or off site in appropriate nature reserves to offset carbon. Access to the site will be along the ‘Engineer’s Road’ and then across the field at the end and over the river on a temporary bridge. Temporary bridleway and footpath diversions will be in operation for the minimum possible period, with no weekend working proposed. Martyn Gillingham Tel: 891931, email: mcvgillingham@btinternet.com |
||||||
| Footpath Officer’s Report – March 2021 As many of you know that following an accident, currently and for the last month, I have not been able to get out and about to assess and comment upon the state of our local footpaths. However, I am pleased to report that I have been receiving updates from the villagers who regularly walk all the local bridleways and footpaths. The feedback has been very positive and despite the mud, (the consequence of the British weather particularly here in the west!), no problems have been reported. In January I was advised that branches and foliage, cuttings from a field boundary, were blocking the upper part of Langmoor Lane. As I have not had any complaints in the last 6 weeks, I assume these have now been cleared. Whilst I have been hobbling around the village on my crutches, I have spoken to a number of dog walkers who are regularly enjoying our fields and paths. I know that many of our newest residents are discovering local paths and enjoying our lovely countryside. I am also pleased to report that there have been no recent complaints of dog fouling and everyone I’ve met has been armed with the necessary equipment for dealing with their dog’s deposits. Hopefully it won’t be too many months (latest estimate mid-May) before I’ll be joining you again on our local highways and byways. In the meantime continue to follow the Countryside Code, leaving gates as you find them, taking the necessary precautions around livestock, taking litter home with you and generally being considerate to others and the environment. Pleased continue to report and issues to me and I will deal with them appropriately AND …KEEP WALKING Sue Coutanche |