BROOMFIELD PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of meeting
4th May 2010, 7.30pm, Village Hall
Persons present: Cllrs Hall (Chair), Odgers (Vice Chair), Bachelor, Pearson, Aras
In attendance: 2 Parish residents, 2 Goathurst residents
1/5 Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Mrs. Rousseau (Clerk)
2/5 Declaration of members’ interests on agenda items
Cllr Aras declared a personal interest in planning application 10/10/00001. Cllr Hall declared a personal interest in planning applications 10/10/00002 and 00003. Cllr Bachelor declared a personal interest in planning application 10/10/00004.
3/5 To approve the minutes of the meeting of 25th February 2009
Having been previously circulated, the minutes were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting.
4/5 Matters arising from the minutes
4/3 Moto-cross dates for 2010 have been received but a two day meeting was held on 2nd/3rd May which was not on the list. Clerk to follow up with club representative.
4/3 Clerk sourcing quotations for grass/hedge cutting in Village Hall car park.
10/3 Clerk has been in contact with Nigel Garnsworthy regarding conditions on the use of the Village Hall car park. The matter has been passed to their rural surveyor, Sophie Radnor. Clerk to report progress at next meeting
16/3 Vacancy for Parish Councillor filled by co-option of Alicia Aras at AGM
5/5 Public comments on agenda items
2 Goathurst residents and 1 Broomfield resident expressed strong concerns about the planning application 10/10/00003 for a 12000 bird free range egg production unit at Cobbs Cross Farm. Concerns included smell, noise, water pollution and conservation policy.
A comment was also made regarding the Moto X event an 2/3 May which had not been notified.
6/5 Planning applications
10/10/00001 – Erection of two storey extension and three storey extension, including conversion of part of living accommodation to NW elevation, Rosehill, Broomfield.
This application was an amendment to a previous one and was received between meetings. The PC had no observations and the application has been approved by Sedgemoor.
Councillor Hall left the meeting at this point and Cllr Odgers took over as Chairman.
10/10/00002 – Use of land to site an agricultural workers mobile home, Cobbs Cross Farm, Goathurst Hill.
This application to be considered alongside 10/10/00003 as it is dependent on approval of the latter.
10/10/00003 – Erection of 12000 bird free range egg production unit, Cobbs Cross Farm, Goathurst Hill.
In view of the concerns expressed by local residents it was agreed that Councillors Bachelor and Aras would arrange to visit the site and provide comments back to Sedgemoor as appropriate. It was felt that given the scale of the unit, the application should be considered by the full planning committee.
Councillor Hall returned to the meeting and took over as Chairman
10/10/00004 – Conversion of loft to living accommodation, The Bothy, Manor Farm, Waterpits, Merridge.
Sedgemoor to be informed that the PC had no observations to offer on this application.
10/10/00005 – Retention of agricultural workshop building, Higher Heathcombe Farm, Enmore.
Sedgemoor to be informed that the PC had no observations to offer on this application.
7/5 Village Hall – update
Cllr Pearson gave a report on the AGM and recent Big Breakfast event, which had been very successful with over 100 breakfasts served and a healthy profit made for Hall funds.
8/5 Discussion on conditions of use of Village Hall car park
This item was held over until the next meeting, in view of the absence of the Clerk.
9/5 Update on Parish Questionnaire
The Chairman gave an analysis of the recent exercise. Questionnaires had been sent out to 81 households in the Parish and 35 returned, a rate of 43%. 83% of responses were aware of PC meetings and 51% claimed to have attended one. 60% looked at the Parish noticeboard and 97% received Link-up. 37% had looked at the Parish website. 34% had attended an Annual Parish meeting and 34% intended to come to the forthcoming one on 20th May. General concerns included fly tipping, litter and the state of the roads. 16 new email addresses had been obtained, making a total of 46 individual addresses. It was agreed that the exercise had been a useful one and would have increased the profile of the Council.
10/5 Discussion on Commoners’ rights
Two recent incidents of individuals collecting wood on Broomfield Common had been notified to Council as well as a possible attempt to fence part of the Common. The Chairman had reviewed the PC files on the Commons and ascertained that householders had a right of cut 50 three inch stakes annually on Broomfield/Broomfield Hill Commons. Clearly most residents do not use this right and the PC agreed it was relaxed about current custom and practice, provided it was not abused. PC members would keep an eye open for any unusual events.
11/5 Discussion on Fyne Court overflow car park
The Chairman had been contacted by the National Trust. They were concerned that on busy days cars were being parked on the verges along The Avenue. They wished to make the overflow car park opposite the entrance all weather. The PC agreed to support this, provided gravel was used and the NT encouraged visitors to use it.
12/5 Finance
Payments for the Quarter were held over to the next meeting, due to the absence of the Clerk
13/5 Urgent matters for report only
It was noted that a previous Chairman of the PC, David Rickards, had recently died suddenly. The PC expressed its condolences and agreed to make a £25 contribution to a charity nominated by his family.
14/3 Public Forum
No issues were raised.
16/3 Items for next meeting
As detailed above, plus approval of the annual accounts.
17/3 Date of next meeting
To be notified
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.00pm
Signed: ________________________________________ Date: ________________
