BROOMFIELD PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 22 November 2011
7.30 pm Village Hall, Broomfield
Present: Peter Hall (Chairman); Alicia Aras, Carol Pearson, James Odgers, Ann Manders (Clerk), Cllr Anne Fraser, Cllr John Edney, one member of the public.
1. Apologies for absence: Jamie Bachelor
2. Declaration of members’ interests on agenda items: Alicia Aras declared an interest in item 13.
3. To approve the minutes of the meeting of 6 September 2011: these had been circulated prior to the meeting and were agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
4. Matters arising from the minutes: a lock has now been put on the Broomfield Hill Common gate, the Clerk was given a key. Keys have also been retained by Robert Rowe and Geoff White. Alicia Aras reported that the rubbish has not been removed from the bridleway, she offered to remove it herself with the help of her partner. The Clerk reported that she had contacted John Edney and the Highways department regarding the gritting of Buncombe Hill. She had been informed that the road was gritted as a ‘secondary’ route when icy conditions had prevailed for more than 24 hours. Alicia Aras agreed to raise the issue at the Cluster Meeting. John Edney said that he would continue to pursue the matter. The Clerk reported that she had received one verbal quote of approximately £360 plus VAT from Alan Vickery for the replacement of the Village Hall Car Park gates and was waiting for another from Mark Thorpe.
5. Public comments on agenda items: none.
6. Planning application updates:
• 10/11/00008 Barn at Owls Hill Farm. Change of use and conversion of barn to dwelling. Erection of garage and formation of access. Approved.
7. Finance:
2012-2013 Precept: a budget had been produced (copy attached) and the precept was agreed at £2700 with no increase on the previous year’s amount.
Payments for the quarter: none.
8. Cluster Meeting update: Alicia Aras reported that she had attended a Hinkley Point update meeting and will raise the BOAT issue at the next meeting. Anne Fraser raised the issue of the Hinkley Point IPC and asked Councillors to register an interest and comment on any items they felt strongly about, details would be circulated via e-mail. The issue of the increase in traffic caused by the HP development was raised, particularly an increase along the Enmore Road and down Buncombe Hill. John Edney suggested linking this to the salting request.
9. Village Hall update: there had been an Art and Garden Sale in the Hall on the previous Sunday, this had been a new event and had not been particularly successful. The Pumpkin competition had been cancelled, but a number of events were planned during the following year. A key safe has now been installed for regular members of the Hall. It was agreed that in the future the Village Hall would take over responsibility for the cutting of the grass at the Hall in exchange for a grant from the Parish Council.
10. Maintenance of Broomfield Commons update: Peter Hall reported that he had met with Tim Russell of the AONB, who had been supportive of a policy of non-intervention on the Commons with just some minor things being done to encourage wildlife habitats. He had felt that there could be better bracken management, however there was currently no funding available for this. Peter Hall had agreed with Tim Russell to draft a Management Policy. Cllr Anne Fraser reported that the Hinkley Point 106 agreement will provide money to be spent on the AONB. Tim Russell had also asked Peter Hall if AONB village signs could be erected at either end of the village, this was agreed in principle subject to agreeing location and cost.
11. Maintenance of the Village Hall car park update: see above.
12. Broomfield Jubilee Party update: it is hoped to hold a photography competition/display with recent photos and photos from 60 years ago of life in the parish.
13. Restricted Byways – BOAT applications: notice of applications to upgrade the restricted byways BW 4/29 and BW 4/28 to BOATS had been received. There have been 220 similar applications across the County and John Edney reported that further information will be provided by Somerset County Council to affected parishes shortly. In the meantime the Clerk was asked to write to PC Rob Jacobs asking him to confirm in writing that it is illegal to drive motor vehicles on these paths until the matter is resolved. Cllr John Edney offered to help with this matter in whatever way he could.
14. Urgent matters for report only: it was reported that the Manager of the Rooks Castle Children’s Home had passed away unexpectedly and an interim Manager had been appointed. Peter Hall reported that a further Boundary Review was taking place and that it was proposed that Broomfield would be moved from the Cannington Ward to the North Petherton Ward on a County level as it had happened at District level. No objections were raised to this.
15. Public forum: nothing to report.
16. Items for next meeting: none.
17. Dates of next year’s meetings: Peter Hall proposed the following dates: 21 February, 8 May, 4 September and 20 November. The Clerk was asked to e-mail these dates to Councillors asking for agreement.
The meeting closed at 8.30 pm.
