Minutes of Meeting held in the Memorial Hall, Cranmore on the
11th February 2008 at 7.30pm
Present
Mrs B Edwards Vice Chairman
Mr R Payne Parish Councillor
Mr A Price Parish Councillor
Mr M Edgar Parish Councillor
Mrs L Walker Parish Councillor
Miss K Gunby Parish Clerk
The Vice Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm
Item 1 – Apologies for absence.
The Chairman
Item 2 – Declaration of Interest.
None
Item 3 – Minutes from the Meeting held on the14th January 2008.
These were proposed by Richard Payne and seconded by Alan Price and accepted as a true record of the meeting.
Item 4 – Matters arising from the Minutes.
Sign posting and Roadside Verges (On going from May)
Following his most recent letter the Chairman has received an acknowledgement from Somerset County Council. He is awaiting a reply.
Action. The Chairman.
Footpath in Martins Paddock.
The matter of the footpath in Martins Paddock previously raised by Christine Smith is still in hand with Alan Price. Since his most recent letter to Somerset County Council a site visit has taken place and the matter is on going for the time being. Alan Price is still awaiting a response.
Action. Alan Price.
Safety Flooring
The Parish Clerk has received a reply from Gloria Cawood which was deemed unsatisfactory. The reply indicated that she had not offered a donation toward the Safety Flooring. Brenda Edwards supplied the Parish Clerk with correspondence to the contrary and the Council also referred to the minutes of the meeting held on 13 August 2007, where it is documented. The Parish Clerk will pursue this funding with Gloria Cawood and report back.
Action. Parish Clerk.
Dog Waste Bin
Addressed under Parish matters.
Action. Ongoing.
Jills Close
Following recent discussions and the suggestion to set up a Sub-Committee responsible for Jills Close to facilitate applications for future grants, Brenda Edwards has corresponded with Gloria Cawood. It was suggested that Brenda Edwards speaks to Wanstrow and Evercreech Parish Councils at the next neighbourhood forum meeting regarding this matter, which takes place on 12 February 2008.
Action. Brenda Edwards.
Parking at Crane Cottages and Cooks Lane
It was reported that vehicles are still parking within 15 yards of the end of the road. The Parish Clerk to raise this issue once more with Shelly Day and invite her to next months meeting to report on investigations into this matter again.
Action. Parish Clerk and Shelly Day.
Neighbourhood forum.
The Chairman has received notification that the next meeting will take place on 12 February 2008. The agenda was passed to Brenda Edwards and she will attend and report anything of relevance.
Action. Brenda Edwards.
Children and Youth Survey.
Further to previous discussions Mendip have organised several events in the Village Hall. The Chairman will continue to report any new developments.
Action. Ongoing.
Traffic cones in East Cranmore Lane
Lynn Walker reported that she is still awaiting a reply from the highways regarding the Cones in East Cranmore Lane. She also raised the issue of recent flooding. It has been confirmed that the highways require the submission of photographs of this flooding. This is still in hand with Lynn Walker.
Action. Lynn Walker.
Bin lids in Jills Close
There was an error in the minutes from previous meetings, suggesting that Gareth Stone had agreed to undertake work to the bin lids in Jills Close, which are often found open and are often moved by children. This was a misunderstanding. The matter was discussed once again and it was agreed that Richard Payne and Alan Price will visit the site and investigate possible ways to stop this happening. One suggestion was to strap the 2 bins where the problem occurs to something solid, another was to look at the way the lids are affixed.
Action. Alan Price and Richard Payne.
Health and Safety Inspections and nominal rents for the Tennis/Cricket Club
Health and Safety inspections to both Jills Close and the Tennis/Cricket grounds have previously been discussed, along with the issue of nominal rents. The Chairman has investigated the history of the nominal rents and it was reported that the Parish Council have a formal Tenancy agreement with the Tennis Club. This was drawn up by Tim Berry at no cost to the Parish Council. The Chairman has written to the Cricket Club to confirm that we need a formal Tenancy agreement with them. Before this is done it was decided that the appropriate Health and Safety and Duty of Care clauses are incorporated into the agreements and a revised version will also need to be issued to the Cricket Club. Richard Payne proposed that the Parish Council speak to Tim Berry regarding this matter and ask for his assistance in revising/producing new agreements. This was seconded by Alan Price. Brenda Edwards agreed to liaise with Tim Berry regarding this matter.
Action. Brenda Edwards.
Ongoing liaison between the PCSO and the Parish Council
Display literature
The display literature provided by Shelly Day has been placed on the 3 Parish notice boards by the Parish Clerk. It was agreed further pieces should also be put on display in the Village Hall and on the Church Notice Board. The Parish Clerk to undertake.
Action. Parish Clerk.
Nieghbourhood watch
Following Shelly Day’s confirmation that the best first step is to get questionnaires completed by the areas not currently covered. The Chairman has not yet received the 300 questionnaires she said she would provide in due course. The Parish Clerk will chase the matter and ask her to bring the questionnaires to the next Parish Council meeting when inviting her to attend.
Action. Parish Clerk and Shelly Day.
Breaches of operating hours
Ken Wagg raised the issue of breaches of operating hours by Stotts Transport at Waterlip. Breaches were reported by residents on Saturdays and Sundays. Other potential breaches are currently disputable due to errors regarding permissible operating hours contained in the notice served in respect of this.
It was decided that the first step to resolving this matter would be to get Mendip to clarify in writing the terms of the notice and the permissible operating hours. The Chairman has done written to them accordingly and has received a reply from acknowledging receipt of his letter and confirming that they will respond to it by 29 February 2008.
The next step remains the organisation of liaison groups between Stotts, Brittons and the Parish Council.
Action. The Chairman.
Item 5. Open Meeting.
None.
Item 7. Planning
a. New Applications – None
b. Notified Results
Application number: 043189/011
Location: Southill House, West Cranmore
Appeal number: 106444/003
Location: Land Adjacent to 1 Crane Cottages
ii. It was acknowledged the Parish Plan should be reviewed prior to the next AGM where the Chairman will need to report on this. Review date yet to be set.
Item 8. Correspondence
Correspondence received this month included;
The Playing Field
Parishes Information Bulletin
Flood Risk Study and Flood Risk Fair
Invitation to visit Police HQ
Calendar of Public meetings (MDC) 2008/9 - Parish Clerk to pass copies of this to Brenda Edwards and to Jane Hooker to publish on the Cranmore Website
Item 9. SALC
Correspondence has been received regarding the Certificate in Local Council Administration. It was decided that the Parish Clerk should liaise with Peter Lacey regarding the Certificate and arrange when it can be undertaken.
Action. Parish Clerk.
The issue of special status for the Parish Council was also discussed. It was decided that this is not something that is applicable to Cranmore Parish Council at this time. Due to the small size of the Parish, Precept and administration of the Parish Council. It was acknowledged that this may need to be addressed in the future if the situation changes.
Action. Complete.
Item 10. Finance.
None.
Item 11. Parish Matters.
Liaisons are continuing regarding the 150 years of the Railway celebrations. The Parish Clerk and the Chairman will report further at the next meeting.
Action. Ongoing.
Dog Waste Bin
The installed dog waste bin will be emptied weekly by Connaught. Connaught are going to closely monitor the usage of the bin for the first 2 months and will empty it twice weekly if deemed necessary. Brenda Edwards has requested a report of this monitoring which Connaught have agreed to send her.
It was reported that Dog Fouling remains an issue by the Railway Line and that bags of dog waste are also being dumped by the re-cycling bins in the Railway Car Park. Brenda Edwards will monitor the usage of the existing bin, in conjunction with Connaught to establish whether additional dog waste bins can be justified. Proposed sites for additional bins were agreed as the Railway site and the Churchyard.
Action. Brenda Edwards.
Dog fouling
Following discussions about the dog waste bins, the issue of dog fouling and responsible dog ownership were discussed. It was agreed there is a need to highlight these matters to Parishioners as fouling is an issue in the Parish. Brenda Edwards agreed to request further signs from the dog warden for the Parish, to highlight the issues of fouling to those walking their dogs and show that the Parish Council are taking action regarding this matter.
Alongside this it was decided it would be prudent to address the issue on the front of the next edition of the Cranmore Grapevine for the very same reasons. This address should confirm the existence of the new dog bin and invite everyone to use it. It should also mention clearly that fouling is an offence, that it carries health risks and the penalties are heavy fines. Brenda Edwards will liaise with the dog warden and/or use their literature as a crib to produce this address and arrange for it to be published in the next edition of the Cranmore Grapevine.
Action. Brenda Edwards.
Recycling bins in the Railway Carpark
It was reported that there is often excess recycling, alongside other rubbish being dumped by the recycling bins in the Railway Carpark. It was decided that this should be addressed once again in the Cranmore Grapevine (it was last posted in Novembers edition). This will be done in a future edition to give due prominence to the dog fouling address, due to appear in the next edition. The matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the Parish Council to decide on the wording which will appear.
Action. Ongoing.
Village Clean-up day
Following the discussions about the rubbish in the Railway Carpark Richard Payne highlighted the general state of the village and suggested another Clean-up day be held following the success of the last one. This was well received and it was decided to put the matter on the agenda for next months Parish Council meeting, with a view to setting a date. April was suggested as the weather and daylight conditions will be more suitable then. This will also allow plenty of time for the event to be publicised in the Cranmore Grapevine.
Action. Ongoing.
Annual inspections of Jills Close
The annual inspection is due. It was proposed by Richard Payne that this go ahead. This was seconded by Alan Price. The appropriate paperwork was passed to the Parish Clerk who will arrange for this to be completed.
Action. Parish Clerk.
Public Rights of Way
Alan Price reported that he has a book to complete which names the relevant landowners. He will undertake it’s completion in conjunction with Brian Pike. It was also reported that Tony Collins has already undertaken 9 of the agreed 15 hours work on the Public Rights of Way in the Parish. The Parish Council expect to agree his payment for this work very shortly, possibly at the next meeting and should write a letter of thanks at this time.
Action. Ongoing.
Public Liability Insurance and other matters regarding work undertaken for the Parish Council
The discussions regarding the work undertaken by Tony Collins lead to a further discussion regarding;
whether it is necessary to specify his task in writing
what arrangements are in place in terms of Public Liability Insurance and Employee Liability Insurance and are these sufficient. (It was reported that there is possible a requirement to have minimum cover levels and a figure of £5 million was quoted).
The Parish Clerk will investigate these issues and report the findings at the next meeting so that any necessary action can be discussed, agreed and undertaken.
Action. Parish Clerk.
Cupboards in the Village Hall
Alan Price reported that Morris Stubbs is shortly going to undertake the construction of the cupboards. The cost will then be shared between the Parish Council, Cranmore Commuinty Group and the Village Hall Committee as previously agreed.
Action. Ongoing.
Meetings with Doulting and Wanstrow Parish Councils
Following previous discussions regarding liaising with these Councils, it was decided that an initial meeting be held between Doulting Parish Council and Cranmore Parish Council on one of the following dates; 19 February,
20 February, 26 February, 27 February. It was agreed that the meeting will be held with as many representatives as possible for both Councils in attendance. The Parish Clerk will pass these dates to the Clerk of Doulting and confirm an agreed date, time and venue in due course.
A meeting with Wanstrow Parish Council will be discussed and arrangements made as appropriate, during a review of the meeting with Doulting Parish Council.
Action. Parish Clerk.
Village Shop
It was noted that the correspondence included notice of assistance for village shop. A discussion thereby ensued and it was considered at the present moment there would be insufficient interest in this venture. However it was agreed look at this again when compiling the Village Plan.
Action. To be re-addressed.
Item 12. Chairman’s urgent matters for consideration
None
Item 13. Date of Next Meeting.
Monday 10th March 2008.
The meeting closed at 8.30 pm.