Minutes of Lympsham Parish Council Meeting, 15 October 2007

Councillors Present: Mr. J. Hinton (Chairman), Mrs. P. Guess, Mr. K. Hart, Mrs. E. Male & Mr. G. Tuttiett.
Also in attendance: Mr. A. Gilling, District Councillor & for part of the meeting:
PC A. Alsford & PCSO S. Haydon.
Minutes were taken by the Clerk.

85/07 Apologies: Mr. B. Gooding & Mr. A. Ham.

86/07 Minutes of Previous Meeting (17.9.07): were confirmed and signed.

87/07 Matters Arising / for report from previous meetings:

• Lympsham School: Clerk had received notification of Conditional Planning Permission (notice to Tennis Club included); School sign now more legible.
• Lympsham Pre-school: Grants not forthcoming.
• Parish Plan: Still awaiting questionnaire.
• Highways report: Following call, Clerk had reported collapse of road between Grange & Millfield Cottages: Highways Dept. responded quickly; speed restriction sign also reported. K. Hart still liasing re flooding issue along Lympsham Road by The Boundaries.
• Playground report: Up to standard, but rubbish after week-end still a problem. Clerk seeking quotes re surfacing & new equipment – need to produce a total cost to apply for funds / grants; B. Gooding still checking on tree protection.
• General Maintenance Issues: Quotes re new notice board being sought.
• Footpaths: Clerk attending Rights of Way meeting; advice sought re locked gate near Crescent.
• Manor Hall Report: Chair attended last Manor Hall meeting: various interesting items: Concern re cloakroom arrangements when School building takes place; Replacement of lamps / lighting system; sound system – demo available; Keyholders the same; new contract for letting.
• Churchyard: Chair, Clerk & landowner met with representative from Highways: positive discussion re likely access details to proposed extension – pedestrian access has to be considered in the light of visibility & safety; vehicular access via existing one opposite tower, perhaps moving gate to limit visibility from Manor. There will be an archaeological dig soon under the yew tree. Clerk to contact agent for advice.
• Grounds Maintenance: Clerk awaiting response re Church Lane; Clerk to add reseeded area to grass cutting contract.
• Neighbourhood Watch: Clerk now receiving email alerts; no response from Lympsham News article, so Councillors to ask for volunteers; Police confirmed that Co-ordinators did not need to be CRB checked; Clerk to distribute variety of leaflets to EM / KH. (Two Co-ordinators volunteered so far.)
Speeding prioritised in local area, plus concern re distraction burglary & theft of plant i.e. tractors, trailer & tools inc. horse-boxes.
• Village Events: The Pavilion Firework Evening is now Friday 2nd. November; the WI will provide an event in 2008; the Chair suggested that the PC should contribute a cup in 2008 for the 40th. Flower Show – this was approved.
• Clerk: Wessex Water was contacting solicitors. Clerk attended presentation for Parish Councillors in Bridgwater re Development Control on 19.9.07 (Presentation distributed) and SLCC meeting on 28.9.07 in Yeovil re ‘Bullying & Burials.’ SLCC Conference: Clerk & any Councillors wishing to attend to be funded.
• Cluster Meeting: Mrs. Guess kindly attended – various topics discussed inc. sandbank extraction licence, Waterlinks project, NHS summary re Sedgemoor, playing pitches strategies & Parish Charter. [Mrs. Guess left meeting at 8.30 p.m.]
• District Councillor: A. Gilling mentioned that the traditional role of ‘lengthsman’ is being looked at by some areas as a way of coping with minor maintenance issues; Sedgemoor no longer responsible for waste collection: now Somerset and different contractor.

88/07 Planning Applications:
676 Whitbread Group PLC: Hobbs Boat Inn, Bridgewater Road – Erection of nine 5 metre high lighting columns.
Contravention of original conditions & proposed lighting would have a detrimental effect on both the neighbouring residences and the local environment: therefore opposed. (Proposed: J. Hinton, seconded: Mrs. E. Male; all agreed.)
[Other later applications to be discussed at meeting on 26th. October.]
[K. Hart left meeting at 8.45 p.m.]

89/07 Correspondence of note: Previously circulated and noted. Also noted that the Lympsham News was commended in recent Village Communications Competition.

90/07 Finance Report:
C/A: £8,108-97 (inc. payment of cheques itemised below & credit of £5,658-73 Precept) S/A: £4,173-68
Player-Mason A/C: £2,185-81 Petty Cash: £11-23 [£5,000 to be ‘moved’ to Savings A/C]

91/07 Cheques issued this meeting:
100702 Moore Stephens (Audit) £158-62; 100703 K. Kelson (Lympsham News) £50;
100704 Maxwell House Printers £318; 100705 Clerk’s pay & expenses £333-32; 100706 Postage £34;
100707 Manor Hall £20.

Audit successfully completed: notices to be posted.

Items for discussion / Report at next meeting: Play Area Project (New feature & resurfacing); possible reprint of Lympsham history books.

The meeting ended at 9.18 p.m.