Parish Council

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. Somerset County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as

Parish Council

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.

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Parish Council Meeting 5th July, 2017 Public Question Time: Cllrs were informed that a meeting had been arranged for the 17th July at the Community Centre to discuss speeding in the parish. The area chairman of the South Somerset Community Speedwatch would give a talk on it with a view to resurrecting Community Speedwatch in the Parish. Clerk had been asked to bring to the council’s attention the potential hazard from Power Gliders and other low flying machines. These machines are sometimes flown very low near livestock which makes them run, which could cause injury to the animals and possibly humans in the vicinity. Clerk would put and advisory note in the Parrett Talk and Cllr Dowdeswell would report back at the next meeting where and how these machines can be flown according to Civil Aviation. Present: Mr D Wakely(Chairman), Miss A Cox, Mrs J Pearce, Mrs L Langford, Mrs P Warren, Messrs K Cox and R Dowdeswell and Cllr D Yeomans. 1. Apologies for absence: Mrs C Aparicio, Miss S Brooks, Messrs C Aplin and M Johnson. 2. Declarations of Interest: Cllr Wakely regarding planning application at Barton Cottage, Silver Street, Kingsbury Episcopi. 3. Confirmation of previous minutes: Minutes for the 7th June 2017 were agreed and duly signed. 4. Cheques: The following cheques were approved and duly signed. Information Commissioners - £35.00 – Registration renewal fee. K.E.I.A.C. - £600.00 – Grant for Portaloos for PBTP. 5. Planning: Cllrs resolved to approve the following planning applications. 17/02308/Ful -Erection of single storey and two storey extension at Popes Cottage, Sunnyside, Silver Street, Kingsbury Episcopi. 17/02516/COL -Application for a Lawful Development Certificate for use of land as residential garden at Barton Cottage, Silver Street, Kingsbury Episcopi. 17/02469/FUL- Demolition of existing lean to and erection of new single storey lean to extension to the rear of the property with internal alterations at The Retreat, Silver Street, Kingsbury Episcopi. 6. Thank you letter: A letter was received from The Parrett Talk for the grant of £400. 7. Langport River Project: A letter had been received from Langport Town Council asking for support from the Parish Council regarding their bid for funding from the European Leader fund to facilitate greater use of the river between Muchelney and Langport. Cllrs agreed to write a letter of support. 8. Midelney Pumping Station Picnic Table: Cllrs resolved to approve and pay the following invoices for the new picnic table at the pumping station. Rutland County - £210.00 – Picnic Bench. Memorial Benches - £49.95 – Hard ground fixing anchors.

9. Community Licence: The PTA is happy to apply for a Temporary Event Notice for any events they may hold. The church would respond by the next meeting. Clerk would place item on agenda in September. 10.Amenities and Community Shop update. The Community Centre and Shop are both ticking away nicely. The café has a new manager from next month. There was worry however that Paypoint may be taken away from the shop. It is used by approximately 6 people a day, many of whom are vulnerable, but because Paypoint now want to increase their fees it may not be feasible for the shop to continue to offer the service. The knock on affect will be that these people will shop elsewhere if there is no paypoint. The Party by the Parrett was another brilliant day and enjoyed by all. The Community Centre was being well used, SCC have made several bookings for the meeting room. A few finishing off jobs were being dealt with and they are pleased to say that they are hitting targets as a good community building. They are also discussing the possibility of a putting in a sensory garden The football team is doing well and it is hoping to have a cricket team next year as well. The Amenities Committee is investigating the way forward regarding the layby. 11.Footpaths and bridleways: The footpath to the side of Chestnuts, Stembridge is overgrown with brambles and overhanging bushes and the footpath from Deadlands towards Blue Stone Lane is also overgrown. Clerk would report to rights of way at SCC. Clerk would also report again, that the handrail on Coombe Bridge had still not been repaired and is still unsafe. 12.Highway Matters: An invitation was received from SCC regarding carrying out a condition survey on all finger post signs, even though we have had already commissioned the repainting of them they would still like a survey carried out within the parish as to the condition of them all. Clerk would attend the workshop in order to carry out this survey. Notification that Deadlands would be closed for a week so that BT can carry out work in the road had been received, it was suggested that perhaps they could delay the work until the school broke up for summer, clerk would contact them. It was asked whether Hill Drove, Stembridge could be resurfaced and also whether something could be done about some motorists who drive at excessive speed on Hill Drove. A disappointing response has now been received regarding the request for a permanent ‘Vehicle Activated Sign’ to be placed on the approach to the recreation ground. Apparently after a site visit by SCC they do not feel there is a problem there with speeding vehicles as they maintain that no vehicles drove over 25mph during their visit! Clerk will therefore contact them to arrange for a further site visit armed with a speed gun. It was also asked whether under the Small Improvement Scheme a pavement could be built from The Avenue to Threadneedle Close, which at present is a grass verge. 15.Date and time of next meeting: The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 6th of September at 8.00pm.

Public question time. The neighbour to Tuppence House spoke of his concerns regarding the planning application and the ownership of the land on which the shelter would be placed. He was also very concerned that the shelter, which is meant to be moved in the spring and summer, would not be moved at all once it was placed there, as he needs to be able to maintain his boundary. Mike Beech a District cllr for 6 years then clarified that although the base had already been put in place, this does not make any difference, the application should be treated as a new application. Cllr Warren informed cllrs that the electricity supply for the Defibrillator needs to be moved and a new trench dug for it to be supplied from the new Community building. The cost of this work would cost approximately £500. It was agreed that the Parish Council would pay up to £600 for this work, in order to keep the defibrillator in a visible location. Present: Mr D Wakely(Chairman), Mrs C Aparicio, Miss S Brooks, Miss A Cox, Mrs J Pearce, Mrs L Langford, Mrs P Warren, Messrs K Cox, R Dowdeswell and M Johnson. 1.Apologies for absence: Mr C Aplin. 2.Declarations of interest: Cllr C Aparicio and Miss A Cox regarding the planning application at Tuppence House. 3.Confirmation of previous minutes: Minutes for the 2nd November were agreed and duly signed. Cllr Aparicio left the room for the following application. 4.Planning: 16/04421/Ful – Change of use and laying of concrete base for temporary siting of pony shelter on orchard land at Tuppence House, Stembridge. After a full and frank discussion

where the issues of whether it was in fact a temporary shelter, as it appears it can’t easily be moved. Also that the base had already been put down before any permission had been granted. Cllr Wakely stated that this application needs to be looked at from a planning perspective and that personal/moral issues can’t be taken into account. The neighbour was allowed to speak again. He feels that the public in general don’t appear to have any rights. He still feels that the shelter will never be moved once it is sited on the concrete base. At this point cllr Aparicio was invited back into the room to clarify the temporary siting of the shelter and the moving of it. She confirmed that it will be moved in the Spring and moved back onto the base for the Winter. She explained how it can be moved with a telehandler and stated that her neighbour would still be able to maintain his fence. The application is strictly for the ‘change of use’ from equestrian land to a concrete base. Cllr Dowdeswell felt the application should not be approved and would resign if cllrs resolved to approve it. Cllr Cox stated that cllr Dowdeswell should not say such a thing. Cllr Langford then proposed to refuse it duly seconded by cllr Dowdeswell. Cllr Cox then proposed to approve it, duly seconded by cllr Brooks. The amended proposal to approve the application was then put to the vote, 5 in favour and 3 against, the application was approved with an observation that the shelter is moved at the stated times of the year and that the perceived land ownership query should be pursued through the Land Registry. 5.Date and time of next meeting: The next Parish Council meeting would be held on Wednesday 7th December at 8pm.

Extraordinary meeting of the Parish Council for Kingsbury Episcopi. on the 21st November 2016.