Minutes	of the Meeting of Comeytrowe Parish Council held in the Community Hall on Monday 2 September 2013 at 7.30pm.

Present	Mr Brian Larcombe (Chairman), Mrs Jean Allgrove,  Mr Paul Grant, Mrs Christine Nicholls, Mr Simon Nicholls, Mrs Jill Paul, Mrs Jenny Robinson, Mr Keith Woodmason, Mrs Eileen Zoers and Mr Keith Zoers.  In attendance at the meeting were Mr Alan Wedderkopp County Councillor for Comeytrowe and Trull and Borough Councillor for Comeytrowe; Mr Habib Farbahi, Borough Councillor for Comeytrowe; Mr J W Jenkins, Clerk and 1 member of the public.

353	Minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 July 2013, having been circulated, were signed by the Chairman.

354	Apologies

Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Mrs Valerie Ball and Mrs Alison Peebles.

355	Declarations of Interest for Items on the Agenda

	None declared.

356	Update on Parish Issues from the Police

	The Clerk read out an email from PC Charlie Gear (657) giving his apologies  and informing the Council that there had recently been a theft from a shed in Statham Close and a greenhouse in Deane Drive and damage to a car in Galmington Road.  Residents are asked to be aware of an increase in the number of door to door sales persons in the area and elderly residents have been overcharged for gardening work.  The number of anti-social behaviour calls received remain small.

357	Proposed Development of Land at Trull/Comeytrowe

	1	With reference to Minute No 345 (4) the Council discussed the report 	of the meeting with members of Trull, Bishops Hull and Comeytrowe 	Parish Councils on 18 July 2013 at the Taunton Conference Centre, 	Somerset College, which had been prepared by Nick Webb, Meeting 	Place Communications and previously circulated.  A number of issues 	had been discussed at the meeting and various amendments made to 	the master infrastructure plan, although all three Parish Councils 	recognised that it was still work in progress.  A revised booklet had 	now been issued ‘Stakeholders Workshop 2 Summary’ following the 	second workshop held at the Taunton Conference Centre on 21 June 	2013. 

		RESOLVED:		to note the contents of the report.

	2	With reference to Minute No 345 (3) the Clerk reported that he had 	received a notification from Taunton Deane Borough Council 	confirming that the Council’s comments on the additional potential 	sites in the Comeytrowe area had been processed.

	3	The Clerk reported the receipt of a letter from Jeremy Browne MP 	informing the Council that he had met with the Chief Executive of 	Taunton Deane Borough Council and the Council Leader to register 	his interest in the concerns of the Parish Council with the proposed 	housing in the area and asked if the Parish Council would keep him 	informed of future developments.

358	Penny’s Field - Various

	1	With reference to Minute No 346 (1) the Clerk and Mrs Zoers reported 	that there were a number of small teething problems with the new play 	equipment and that he was arranging for Oscar Lorraine from Proludic 	to have a look at them.

	2	The Clerk reported that he had received a quotation from Aon 	Insurance for an additional premium of £170.34 for the new play 	equipment on Penny’s Field.

		RESOLVED:		to pay the additional premium of £170.34.

	3	With reference to Minute No 321 the Clerk reported that he had now 	received a cheque made out to the Parish Council for £416.69 from 	Mrs Ball, with a request that it would be put towards the cost of a path 	leading to the new play equipment.

	4	The Clerk reported the receipt of the Play Area Safety Inspection 	Report on Penny’s Field from RoSPA.  There were no items recorded 	as needing urgent action by the Parish Council

359	Report of the Planning Panel

1	Application No 52/13/0019 - Conversion of Garage to Form Ancillary Accommodation at 47 Denning Close, Taunton

		The Clerk reported that as the 21 days would have expired before the 		September 2013 meeting and TDBC wished to deal with the 				application, the Chairman and Mr Zoers had agreed to support the 			above application.

		RESOLVED:		to confirm the action taken.

2	Erection of Garage and Formation of Vehicular Access at Highcroft, Comeytrowe Lane, Taunton

		RESOLVED:		to oppose the formation of a new vehicular 						access on the grounds that it is just around the 						bend on a very narrow stretch of Comeytrowe 						Lane and would create a dangerous situation on 					the public highway for all other road users and a 					road safety problem.  When the application came 					in for the new bungalow on the same site it was 					the stated and agreed intention that the existing 					entrance, which in itself is in a dangerous position 					along Comeytrowe Lane, would be used for both 					properties.  This was acceptable because it was 					already there and in use.

					The Council support the erection of the garage, 					but feel strongly that the existing entrance should 					serve both properties in line with the original 						intension and previous planning permission.  To 					permit a further entrance in close proximity along 					this narrow stretch of road should not be 						permitted.

3	Application No 52/13/0020 - Erection of Two Storey Extension to the Rear of 13 Statham Close, Taunton (Amended Scheme to 52/13/0012)

	RESOLVED:		to support the above application.

4	Planning Approvals - Application No’s 52/13/0018 and 0019

The Clerk reported that the above applications had been granted permission by the Local Planning Authority.

360	Provision of Speed Indicator Devices (SID) along Comeytrowe Lane from Galmington Road to Claremont Drive

	With reference to Minute No 286 the Clerk read out an email from Mr D Grabham, Traffic Engineer, SCC informing the Council that the SID scheduled for installation along Comeytrowe Lane during the week commencing 24 June 2013 was not installed due to the current shortage.  The installation will now commence on the 11 November 2013.

361	Appointment of Church and Community Worker at St Michael’s Church

	With reference to Minute No 214 the Clerk read out an email from the Revd Paul Irving informing the Council that the Church were going to re-advertise the post of Church and Community Worker and asking if the Council would provide the same financial contribution as originally agreed, ie £1,500 per annum for each year of the initial 3 years appointment.

	RESOLVED:		to support St Michael’s Church with a grant towards the 			funding of the Church and Community Worker on 				condition that the Church directly employs and manages 			the post.  This would be for a sum of £1,500 for each 				year of the initial 3 years appointment, with the sum 				being paid annually.

362	Somerset County Council - Introduction of New Charging Structure for Highway Licences

	The Clerk read out an email from Nichola Bown, Principal Engineering Resource Officer, Traffic and Transport Development Group, SCC informing the Council that with effect from the 1 September 2013 every party applying for a highway licence will be required to pay a £165 administration fee.  As SCC will no longer pay the costs of the legal fees, applicants will be required to provide an undertaking to SCC’s Legal Team to reimburse their legal costs associated with issuing the licence.  This would be in the region of £350, giving a total cost of approximately £515.  This charge will apply for any licences to erect structures on the highway, eg planters, noticeboards, shelters, nameboards, monuments, etc.

363	Review of Clerks Salary - 2013/2014 National Salary Awards

	Mr Larcombe informed the Council that the National Joint Council for Local Government Services had agreed a 1% Pay Award for the 2013/14 financial year.  This award had now been implemented by the National Association of Local Councils and Society of Local Council Clerks for all full-time and     part-time Clerks from the 1 April 2013.

	RESOLVED:		to pay the Clerk the agreed 1% pay award from 1 April 			2013, in accordance with his terms and conditions of 				service (the Clerk left the room during discussion on this 			item).

364	Somerset Association of Local Councils - Annual General Meeting and Area General Meetings on Saturday 28 September 2013 at Edgar Hall, Somerton  at 9.30am and Correspondence

	The Clerk reported the receipt of the Agenda for the above meeting.  Mrs Allgrove informed the Council that she would be attending and reported that Mr Justin Robinson had been appointed as the new County Executive Officer from the 5 August 2013; that Somerset Web Services were building a new SALC website and that the new SALC email address is info@somerset-alc.org.uk.

365	Community Council for Somerset - Annual General Meeting on Thursday 17 October 2013 at The Williams Hall, Stoke St Gregory at 2.00pm

	The Clerk reported the receipt of the Agenda for the above meeting.

	RESOLVED:		to ask Mrs Zoers to attend.

366	Changes to Bus Service Serving Comeytrowe 

	Members discussed the changes to the bus route from the end of July 2013.  The Comeytrowe service had been changed from Number 4 to Number 7 and now went from the Town Centre to Comeytrowe and return.  The bus now travelled along Wellington Road on the outward journey and again on the inward journey; did not go into the Bus Station at all and there were only 2 buses an hour instead of 3.  Unfortunately, this had put lengthy added time on the outward journey due to queuing all along Wellington Road before turning left in to the hospital, especially during the evenings and on some inward journeys.  As a result this was putting the timing of the buses out and users were waiting way beyond the time buses were meant to run.

	RESOLVED:		to write to First about the problems.

367	Receipt of Correspondence and Items of Interest

The Clerk reported on the following:-

1	A copy of Openness and transparency on personal interests - A guide for Councillors from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
2	With reference to Minute No 338 (1) a copy of The Somerset County Council (Footpath T29/10 (part) in the Parish of Comeytrowe) Public Path Extinguishment Order, 2013, which covers the extinguishment of part of the public footpath T29/10 starting from its junction with footpath T29/11 (point A on the order plan) and running in a generally east north easterly direction for approximately 200 metres to the footway on Jeffreys Way at point B.  The Order came into effect on the 26 July 2013.
3	A copy of the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting of Taunton & District Citizens Advice Bureau on Wednesday 4 September 2013 at 11.00am at the Albemarle Centre, Belvedere Road, Taunton.
4	A Copy of the Annual Report & Accounts - 2012/13 from the Somerset Playing Fields Association.
5	A copy of the guide for the 10parishesfestival - a celebration of visual and performing arts from 5 to 15 September 2013.

368	Accounts

RESOLVED:	to authorise the payment of the following accounts:-

	Parsons Landscapes Ltd - Grass Cutting on Penny’s Field
	 and the Rear of Langham Gardens 				-           £175.20
	BT Payment Services Ltd - Telephone				-             £84.37
	Playsafety Ltd - Annual Playground Inspection on
	 Penny’s Field							-             £78.00
	Mr J W Jenkins - Norton Internet Security Annual Premium	-             £44.99
	HM Revenue and Customs and Mr J W Jenkins - Income
 Tax, National Insurance and Clerks Salary July 2013		-        £1,012.99
	Parsons Landscapes Ltd - Grass Cutting on Penny’s Field	-           £230.40
	Aon UK Ltd - Additional Insurance Premium for New
	 Play Equipment on Penny’s Field					-           £170.34
	HM Revenue and Customs and Mr J W Jenkins - Income
 Tax, National Insurance and Clerks Salary August 2013	-        £1,012.99

369	Date of Next Meeting

RESOLVED:		to hold the next Meeting of the Parish Council on Monday 2 September 2013 at 7.30pm.

The meeting closed at 9.15pm.

Chairman........................................................................................................

Date..............................................................................................................