Parish of Kingsbury Episcopi
The Parish Council
© kingsburyepiscopi.com
The parish council has
responsibility for local
issues, including setting an
annual precept (local rate)
to cover the council’s
operating costs and
producing annual accounts
for public scrutiny.
The parish council
evaluates local planning
applications and works with
the local police, district
council officers, and
neighbourhood watch
groups on matters f crime,
security, and traffic.
The parish council's role also includes
initiating projects for the maintenance and
repair of parish facilities, as well as
consulting with the district council on the
maintenance, repair, and improvement of
highways, drainage, footpaths, public
transport, and street cleaning.
Conservation matters (including trees and
listed buildings) and environmental issues
are also the responsibility of the council.
The village falls within the Non-metropolitan
district of South Somerset, which was formed
on April 1, 1974 under the Local Government
Act 1972, having previously been part of
Langport Rural District.[2].
The district council is responsible for local
planning and building control, local roads,
council housing, environmental health, markets
and fairs, refuse collection and recycling,
cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services,
parks, and tourism.
Parish Council
Somerset County Council
is responsible for running
the largest and most
expensive local services
such as education, social
services, libraries, main
roads, public transport,
policing and fire services,
trading standards, waste
disposal and strategic
planning.
It is also part of the
Somerton and Frome
county constituency
represented in the House
of Commons of the
Parliament of the United
Kingdom.
It elects one Member of
Parliament (MP) by the
first past the post system
of election, and part of the
South West England
constituency of the
European Parliament
which elects seven MEPs using the
d'Hondt method of party-list proportional
representation.
Parish Council Meeting 6
th
March 2019.
Public Question Time It was asked when work would be starting
on Townsend Cottage and the possible problems around that area
with construction workers vehicles and where they would all park.
Clerk to ask planning/architect when any work was likely to start.
Cllrs were reminded of the upcoming Parish Litter Pick over the
weekend of the 23
rd
and 24
th
March.
Present: Mrs J Pearce(Vice-Chair), Miss S Brooks, Mrs L
Langford, Mrs C Paul, Mrs P Warren, Messrs K Cox, R
Dowdeswell and Cllr Yeoman.
1. Apologies for Absence: Miss A Cox and Mr D Wakely.
2. Declarations of Interests: None.
3. Confirmation of previous minutes: Minutes for the 6
th
February were agreed and duly signed.
4. Cheques: Cllrs approved the following cheques.
SSDC - £506.16 – Parish Ranger fees for three months.
Mrs S Potepa - £1475.00 – Three month’s salary.
SALC - £30.00 – Preparing for External Audit Training Seminar.
5. Cemetery: Cllrs having been forwarded a copy of proposed
Rules and Regulations for Cemetery prior to the meeting, approved
them with the added proviso that ‘No Refunds’ would be granted
for graves purchased previously.
Cllrs then agreed to increase the cemetery fees, as these had not
been increased since 2014.
Internment - £120.
Purchase of burial grave - £300.
Purchase of ashes grave -£150.
Headstone - £150.
Tablet or Book - £85.
Vase - £60.
Additional Inscription - £60.
These fees are for Parishioners in other cases for people outside of
the Parish the fees will be double.
A request had also been received from SSDC regarding Burial Plot
Capacity and Muslim Funerals. Clerk to respond that there is
approximately 6 years capacity left at the Cemetery and as the
policy is that all coffins have to be made of wood or wood
materials, Muslim burials, who are buried in shrouds would not be
permitted.
Cllrs were also informed that the Parish Council should now be
looking for another plot of land for future burials.
6. Allocation of 2019/20 Precept to sub accounts.
Cllrs resolved to apportion the precept of £35K as follows.
Cemetery - £4074.80.
General - £13925.20.
Recreation Ground - £7500.
Community Enterprise(Shop) - £7500.
Grants - £2000.
7. Grants. Cllrs approved the following grants.
St Martins Church, K Episcopi - £325 – Grass cutting of
churchyard.
St James Church, East Lambrook - £200 – Grasscutting of
churchyard.
St Martins Churchrooms - £400 – Upkeep of car park for last two
years.
A request had also been received towards the restoration of The
Kingsbury Friendly Society banner. As it was unsure whether it
was the original banner in question or the replacement banner
purchased quite a few years ago. Cllr Langford having been the
secretary of The Friendly Society before it disbanded would
make some enquiries.
8. Amenities and Community Shop Update: Shop celebrated
its 2 year anniversary today with cake. Still going well although
they will now be looking to appoint a new café manager as Alice
has stepped down due to ill health, we wish her well.
The PCSO is going to set up a clinic in the café on Fridays
between 2pm and 3pm, as they have now been issued with lap
tops they will working out in the communities more.
The solar panels are producing approximately 60KW a day at
present.
The Community Centre is still being well used, another wedding
has been booked for 2021. There are now new Yoga and Insanity
classes as well.
9. SSDC. Notification that this year’s Play day would be held on
the 23
rd
August and cllrs agreed to give £250 towards the event.
10.Footpaths and bridleways: Footpath L17/1 from West End
to Pulpittsway in one gateway is very wet and muddy, scalping’s
would be useful there and there is also a stile that needs
replacing. Bob Warren will take a look. The footpath from
Pulpittsway to Stembridge is still being used by horses and the
surface is now very heavily trodden. Clerk to contact Rights of
Way, as there is an appeal on this path to change it to a
Bridleway, but it’s felt that as the appeal will take several years to
reach a conclusion, a Bristol Gate would be the solution to the
problem.
11.Highway Matters: The new finger post sign on Dudmoor
corner has a spelling mistake in Petherton, clerk has already
reported this to Highways. The surface of New Cross Hill was
brought up. Apparently the water main trench that runs under the
road is sinking and that leaves the uneven surface in the road
which is where the water runs and is therefore causing the surface
to break down time and time again. Patching is not really the
answer. Clerk to contact Highways.
Cllrs were informed that the road closure and one-way order on
Owl Street East Lambrook would not now be taking place.
Basically the current arrangement will stay in place.
Following on from the District Council replacing some of the
street name signs, we now have an extra sign for New Cross.
Cllrs agreed to ask the Parish Ranger to place it on the verge on
the approach to New Cross from West Lambrook.
14.Date and time of next meeting: The next Parish Council
meeting will be held on Wednesday 3
rd
April, 2019 at 8.00pm.
Also a reminder that the Annual Parish meeting will be held on
the 19
th
March 2019 at 8pm at The Community Centre to
encourage more parishioners to stand for Parish Council.
Public questions/comments.
Agenda
1.
Apologies for absence.
2.
Declarations of Interest.
3
.
Confirmation of minutes of previous meeting held on the 6
th
February 2018.
4.
Cheques: SSDC - £506.16 - Parish Ranger Fees.
Mrs S Potepa - £1475.00 - Three month’s salary.
1.
Cemetery: Approve Rules and Regulations for Cemetery.
Approve increase in Cemetery fees.
1.
To allocate the 2019/20 Precept to sub accounts.
2.
Grant requests.
3.
Amenities and Community Shop Update.
4.
SSDC: Playdays 2019.
5.
Footpaths and bridleways: Footpath L17/1 from Wyndham Arms to Pulpittsway.
6.
Highway Matters: Update on temporary Lane closure and a One-Way order at Owl
Street and Silver Street, East Lambrook.
New Cross street name sign.
1.
Date and time of next meeting.
Sarah Potepa
Parish Clerk
MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL FOR KINGSBURY EPISCOPI
ON WEDNESDAY 6th MARCH 2019
AT 8.00pm
KINGSBURY EPISCOPI PRIMARY SCHOOL
