2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were none

3 APPROVAL OF LAST MONTH’S MINUTES
The Minutes were approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record of last month’s meeting

4 QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM PARISHIONERS
There were none.

5 COUNTY/DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
Mr Lewis reported that Simon Gale is willing to come out to Sparkford to do a training session and answer questions on planning issues. Councillors thought this was a good idea and this would be organised as a separate event to a Parish Council Meeting.

Mr Lewis also reported that there was a Regeneration Meeting on Wednesday evening at SSDC looking at what needs to be done for business and industrial sites to regenerate our villages. This is not a public meeting. Mr Crawford said this was a very important issue. He has spoken to Mike Allen who asked whether Mr Crawford could pass the views of our Councillors to him on this issue in time for the meeting. If we don’t nurture our commercial and business side in the parish we will find we do not have the jobs and community we had in the past. He suggested we put forward views of this nature and look after our businesses. Mr Crawford said this would be formalised under Item 10 Planning of the Agenda.

Mr Bourke asked Mr Lewis about the Area East Forum document regarding waste disposal services and the item about collection of plastic bottles and cardboard and queried how seriously were these proposals. Mr Lewis replied this came from a training session and the waste and recycling department and was a "wish list" if it could be afforded.

6 HIGHWAYS
The Clerk reported that the area of the High Street had now been resurfaced. The pole for the bus stop at the junction of Church Road and The Avenue had been removed but would be replaced as soon as a new pole had been ordered.

Mr Tuck said a stern letter should be sent to Scott Davies as the only area of Church Road that was jetted was from Sonlie in a southerly direction. Manor Close is still flooding as is the area from Grey Gables to the Village Hall. One or two gulleys are filled with silt to about 6" from the top. The outfall by Cam Cottages east along the A303 has not been cured. Mr Tuck also said that the drain from Grey Gables goes south towards Sonlie but from Orchard Close to Grey Gables it flows north. Mr Tuck reported that Norman Yeates reported the jetting lorry did not stop at the top of Church Road at all and the CCTV crew did not use their equipment either. He also reported that the 30mph sign on the High Street is not lit although the delimiter sign on the other side is lit. Also there is no sign of any work to light the 30mph signs on the Cary Road. It was agreed the Clerk would contact Highways about these issues.

Mr Lewis suggested emailing Scott Davies saying there were still ongoing issues and ask is he has it in mind to put into his capital budget for regeneration of Church Road. The Clerk agreed to do this.

It was also reported that the "bend" sign on the A359 opposite Haynes Publishing is not lit and that the "Sparkford" sign on the old A303 by Bridge Cottage is impossible to see as it is totally overgrown by the verge. The Clerk would let Highways know about these issues.

7 LOCAL PLAN/VILLAGE DESIGN
Mr Crawford reported that he had spoken to Mike Allen who is quite happy to have a meeting in January with the people who volunteered to sit on the Steering Group and that he would speak to the individuals about this.

Mr Crawford had received an email from Mark Dillon who reported they had found a solution of the drainage problem at the affordable housing site. The proposal is to split surface water drainage into three different components and deal with each separately:

· Surface water from the new road will be discharged into the existing highway drain which runs in the field at the back of the scheme.

· The new parking areas will be finished with a porous block paving and the surface water will percolate through the paving into the ground.

· Rainwater from the roofs of houses will be attenuated and slowly trickled into the main sewer with the permission of the water authority.

The other point is on the land purchase – the agent for the landowner has slightly changed the land being offered. A strip will be retained by them and offered for sale to the residents of Cedar Court to allow them to extend their gardens. Although it will slightly complicate the planning application and cause some temporary concern to the Architectural Liaison Office of the Police as far as Secured by Design is concerned, this is, on balance, welcome. Mark Dillon is not aware if the land owner has yet contacted the residents of Cedar Court regarding this issue.

8 CRIME/NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Apologies had been received from Bill Westcott and that there was nothing to report. He asked that a reminder be given about the Neighbourhood Watch Christmas event was on 12^th December in the Village Hall and all were welcome.

9 PLANNING DECISIONS
The following planning decisions had been received:

a) 07/02823/S73 – Application to vary/remove conditions of decision notices 860140, 97/01611/FUL and 02/02508/FUL ie to permit all year round tourism accommodation provider and caravan storage for touring caravans and motorhomes (GR360176/126277) Longhazel Caravan Park, High Street, Sparkford Mr & Mrs A & P Walton. APPROVED.

b) 07/037744/FUL – Alterations to openings and installation of 3 roof lights – Mill Farm, Weston Bampfylde Road, Weston Bampfylde. APPROVED

Mr Lewis reported he had received a long email from Mr Walton about item (a) who is not happy as this does not reflect in any way the discussions he had had with the Planning Officer. He is keeping to the old determination.

10 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
One planning application had been received:

07/05244/FUL - Demolition of conservatory and erection of garden room and replacement garage. The Coach House, Ainstey Drive, Sparkford. Mr & Mrs Nurse

Mr Crawford reported on the refusal of the application for the coal yard and station development. The applicant, Zephyr Developments, have appealed to the Planning Inspector on the decision. The Planning Inspector looks at the written evidence and decides whether to uphold the decision or refuse it and is normally a senior planner or judge. All of the comments we originally made will be forwarded as part of the evidence and the District Council Planning Officer will be putting forward their comments for refusing the application. Mr Crawford has sent by email a follow up to our original comments to emphasise three particular points saying we particularly wish to re-enforce:

· Our Parish Council has said for many years that this site should be it’s site of first choice for commercial/business development, because of its inherent suitability for such use, and relative unsuitability for residential use. We feel strongly that the voice of local people and their Parish Council should be heard in making decisions on long term land use.

· Our Parish Council is concerned by the robustness of the marketing campaign by the applicant to find a commercial buyer or tenant. We believe that the demand does exist, and that recent investigations by the South Somerset District Council Regeneration Officer show this to be the case.

· Our Parish Council is most concerned at the critical upset to the commercial/residential balance within the parish if this site were to be used for housing. Sparkford has already seen an increase of nearly 25% in the number of houses in the last ten years, with very little pro rate increase in employment opportunities. We believe that this site should be available for employment and that the imbalance should not be exacerbated by more houses being added to it. It is our responsibility to maintain the viability of our rural community with jobs and businesses and we hope that you will support us in our duty and our vision.

11 MATTERS ARISING=
There were none.

The Clerk’s salary of £121.07 and expenses of £7.50 were approved.

Mr Tuck proposed we keep the precept at the same level we had last year because we do not know what is going to happen with footpaths and footbridge and we may be asked to contribute towards them. There is also the question of the fence around the cricket field which will have to be renewed at some stage and we need to look at building up reserves to pay out for these types of things. Mr Bourke said he certainly did not think we could drop the precept down to the old level which means we have to rush to the District Council to get contingency funds. Mr Piper asked if it could be increased in line with inflation. Mr Tuck said is we kept it at the present level and then have a major outlay in the parish we will have the funds in place. After some further discussion Mr Tuck proposed the precept be kept at its present level of £4,650.00, Mr Bourke seconded and all Councillors were in favour. The resolution was passed and the Clerk would inform SSDC.

A letter had been received from the above organisation (formerly known as Yeovil & District CVS) requesting funding. It was agreed the Clerk would send a cheque for £30.

A letter had been received from Age Concern requesting funding. After some discussion it was agreed we were unable to support this cause. The Clerk will reply to their letter and ask, in future requests, if they could define how many parishioners benefit from their services.

This letter had only been received on Friday and it was too late notice for any Councillors to attend. The Clerk will reply and ask for more notice in future.

A letter had been received from the Chairman of Somerset County Council asking for an annual grant of £500 per year over the next 4 years or a one-off payment of £2,000 to assist in training youngsters in Somerset for the 2012 Olympics. After some discussion it was agreed we were unable to support this cause.

An invitation to a briefing on Monday 14^th January at 9.30 am in the Council Offices at Churchfield, Wincanton, had been received to discuss the bringing together of the Neighbourhood Policing and District Council Services under one roof.

Mr Crawford said that the Regeneration Workshop Meeting is taking place on Wednesday and it is very important that the residential/commercial plans in our parish is fully looked at and preserved otherwise if everything goes to housing we will become a dormitory town. He asked if Councillors agreed he will send an email to Mike Allen and ask him to take our comments along to the meeting. Mr Lewis said it would be helpful if something was sent from the Parish Council as priority will go to the larger towns and smaller parishes will be overlooked. It was agreed that Mr Crawford send the comments to Mike Allen.

Mr Crawford reported that he had seen a TV programme recently on planning which stated that gardens are now considered brownfield sites. Mr Bourke said this is why they got planning permission for Ainstey Drive.

Mr Tuck reported that no maintenance of the water courses in Ainstey Drive has taken place. The Clerk agreed to contact Greatworth Properties about this.

Mr Bourke reported that he had attended the Somerset Waste Partnership meeting last month. Unfortunately for Somerset we seem to be some way behind everyone else in waste management. The policy seems to be to try to recycle as much as possible even if it is not necessary. Mr Bourke was given a questionnaire to fill in either as an individual or as part of a Council. It was agreed he would complete the questionnaire and email it to other Councillors for their comments before it is returned.

There were none.

Mr Lewis mentioned the need for a Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Wincanton at the Moor Lane Sports Ground. The County Council have purchased the land but won’t put in a footpath and currently residents have to drive either to Dimmer or Sherborne.

There were none.

Monday, 7^th January 2008.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.25pm.

KB/6.12.07