Minutes of the Parish Council held on Thursday 11 March 2021

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on

Thursday 11 March 2021 at 7.30pm via Zoom

Public Forum

No members of the public joined the meeting; however, the Chairman mentioned the increase in dog mess in the area. Councillors made several suggestions but nothing conclusive. Chairman reported on an article from the Leveller regarding the refurbishment of the Planning Department. Chairman stated that nothing had improved withing the department, both Chairman and Councillors stated that people did not get the service they had paid for. Cllr Bastable said it was unfair to put it down to the planning department and blamed Covid for the situation they were in at present.  Chairman stated the lack of attention within the department was happening well before Covid arrived. Cllr Groskop suggested writing to Government and send a copy to the head of South Somerset District Council. 

Present

Cllrs: N Linsley (Chairman) M Grant (Vice Chairman), R Webb-Bowen, J Garrett, A Perry and L Rose-Walker. C/Councillor A Groskop, D/Councillor R Bastable.

1.Apologies – None

2.Declarations of Interest – Cllr Garrett on Planning Application.

3.Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 14 January 2021and on 12 November and 12 December 2020. Planning Meeting of 20/03028/S73A Hopkins, Devenish Lane and 20/03009/COU Unicorn Inn held electronically.

It was resolved to approve and sign the minutes as a true record

Proposed Cllr Grant                                        Seconded Cllr Webb-Bowen

4.Planning Matters

a.New Planning Matters

Application No:20/03245/S73A

Applicant: Mr & Mrs Scammell

Location: Oakfield Barn, riding Gate, Wincanton.

Proposal: To remove condition 7 (use of garage building) of approval 18/03668/FUL to allow commercial use.

Whilst Stoke Trister with Bayford Parish Council supports local business, this applicant already has an established business in Wincanton.

At his previous application for a residential dwelling the Parish Council raised concerns as the said barn appeared to be in use with commercial vehicles/equipment already, in a residential environment. The applicant stated that it was being used for storage and his main business was in Wincanton. This has now appeared to have changed.

Regardless of this in the last planning permission on the site, condition 7 clearly stated that the MOT station should cease when the conversion happened. The officers report with the previous application states that the applicant has indicated that the MOT business would cease by grant of this approval, turning the extant garage on the site into an ancillary outbuilding. This indicates acceptance by the applicant of the impending condition.

Running his business from this residential location would make an increase in traffic and noise in a, what is now, a very quiet hamlet.

Therefore, on the basis of a majority vote, we recommend refusal of this application.

Application No: 20/03731/HOU

Location: Tower View, Riding Gate

Proposal:  Alterations and the erection of a first floor extension to the east side of the dwelling.

Stoke Trister with Bayford Parish Council have no objections to this application.

b.Outcome of planning matters already considered

Planning Application No: 20/00638/FUL

Applicants: Mr & Mrs Garrett

Location: Highcroft, Stoke Trister, Wincanton.

Proposal: Erection of a dwelling (resubmission) – Awaiting decision.

Chairman asked Cllr Bastable again about Mr & Mrs Garrett’s longstanding application. Cllr Bastable said he would speak with David Kenyon again regarding an update but there was nothing else he could do about it.

Clerk to check on both Mr & Mrs Garret’s application and the land opposite Farmageddon. Cllr Groskop said that as the Chairman was not happy with the planning situation it would be a good idea to contact the newly appointed planning head Kirsty Larkin. Chairman to write to Kirsty Larkin.

5.Highways

Cllr Perry has now taken over as Highways Officer. Chairman reported that she had contacted Gary Warren again regarding the removal of the wrongly positioned Gateway at Riding Gate. His response was it should be done by 31 March 2021 but could be longer due to more pressing highway issues.

6.Footpaths

Cllr Webb-Bowen to follow up with a report.

7.Financial

a.Statement of account and Bank Reconciliation

b.Bank balances to 28 February 2021.

A resolution is sought to accept the financial statement as at 28 February 2021. Stoke Trister & Bayford PC Current A/C £8519.13 Stoke Trister&Bayford PC Reserve A/C £8716.00 Leigh Common Savings A/C £5106.15

Proposed: Cllr Garrett                                     Seconded: Cllr Perry

c A resolution is sought to agree the following payments.

BAC’sSALC Training  25.00
BAC’sSALC Training  25.00
BAC’sClerk Salary, expenses & council expenses.607.59

Proposed: Cllr Garrett                                     Seconded: Cllr Perry

8.Riding Gate & East View

No further information

9.Defibrillator

Cllr Garrett reported that she had designed the cards which everyone was happy with. Clerk to order cards for disbursement.

10.Website

Chairman stated that the website is still under construction. Chairman and Clerk have had to send a lot of paperwork to be installed on the website. All Councillors were happy with the homepage

11.Regulations

Regulations were unanimously agreed for adoption for a further year.

12.Emergency Plan

Emergency plan to be update and finalised.

Tender

After discussion regarding the applicants for the grass keep for this coming season it was unanimously agreed that it should go to Stuart Barfoot.

14.Date of next meetings will be on Thursday 13 May 2021



Meeting closed at 8-26pm

………………………………………                                ………………………………….. Chairman                                                                             Date