MINUTES OF THE YEOVILTON AND DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY 09 JULY 2024, AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, LIMINGTON
Present: Mr S Hodgson (SH) (Chairman), Mr J Scott (JS), Mr R Moffatt (RM), Mr A Elliot (AE) Rev B Faulkner (BF)
Guest : Dr Bel Deering, Community Engagement Officer-Somerset Rivers Authority, Mrs C Hodgson (Acting Clerk)
- Apologies: Mr A Hickman (AH), Mr P Crang (PC). Mrs N Moore (NM) Clerk.
- Minutes of the Previous Meeting: The minutes of the previous meeting held on 14th May 2024 weresigned as an accurate record.
- Declarations of Interest: None
- Matters Arising: None
- Co-option of New Councillor.: In the absence of any response to the advertisements SH proposed Stuart Gordon to be co-opted on to the committee. This was seconded by RM
- Flooding Issues:
6.1 A303 Update: SH advised the committee that he and Paul Crang had organised a meeting with Hugo van Dorssen (Natural Flood Management Community Advisor) on 23rd July and he will report back to the committee at the next meeting. SH had received an email from Sam Landrigan in which he had been informed that the works are progressing well with another traffic switch planned for the end of July. The local link road is now open and Mr Landrigan had confirmed that the new earthwork that is currently taking place close to the Blue Camel restaurant is another attenuation pond.
7. Open Session:
7.1 Somerset Councillor’s Reports: None
7.2 RNAS Matters: It was noted by the committee that the occurrence of night flying had recently increased. The period classified as night flying was defined as being between between 23.00hrs and 03.00hrs. JS to contact RNAS regarding this issue.
7.3 Church Matters: None 8. Planning Matters:
22/00962/REM land adjoining Pilgrim’s, Weir Lane. Reserved Matters for appearance, landscape, layout and scale. Following outline approval 19/01996/OUT for the erection of a dwelling – awaiting decision.
23/01879/OUT. Moonwinds Quarantine and Boarding Kennels, Limington Road, Illchester. Outline application with all matters reserved save for access for the demolition of existing buildings, erection of 5 dwellings, creation of a new access and provision of associated infrastructure – awaiting decision.
23/03182/PAMB. Barn at Limington Road, Limington, BA22 8EJ. Prior approval notification for the change of use of an agricultural building to a dwelling house – awaiting decision.
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20/02512/OUT. Land adjoining Pilgrams, Weir Lane, Yeovilton BA22 8EU. Application refused; appeal lodged.
23/03070/FUL. Higher Farm, Higher Farm Lane, Yeovilton, BA22 8JQ. Proposed renovation and sub division of existing listed farmhouse, demolition of outbuildings, conversion of barns into dwellings and erection of 2 new buildings (8 dwellings on site in total), alterations to access, creation of new garden curtilages and other ancillary works – objection lodged.
23/03143/LBC. Higher Farm, Higher Farm Lane, Podimore. BA22 8JQ. Proposed renovation and sub division of existing listed farmhouse into 2 dwellings and the conversion of the coach house to the rear – objection lodged.
23/01011/PAMB. Higher Farm, Higher Farm Lane, Podimore. BA22 8JQ. An appeal has been lodged in respect of the application decision on changing agricultural buildings into 5 dwellings. Application refused; appeal lodged.
24/00557/FUL. Three Acres, Limington Rd, BA22 8XL. Change of use of the existing building to provide overnight dog boarding accommodation, along with staff accommodation above, in association with day care facility. External alterations to the existing building (retrospective) – Objection lodged. It was noted by the committee that the proposed escape route was into an area which floods regularly, therefore this would be an inappropriate evacuation route. It was agreed that the PC would lodge an objection.
It was noted that objections against planning applications by the PC did not seem to be considered in any depth by the council. AE to contact the planning officer to clarify the position of the PC
9. Financial Matters: Balances as at 09 July 2024: Current account: – £7592.70
Business savings account – £15317.27 (of which £5373.93 is Limington fund) JS informed the committee that there are plans in place to spend the Limington fund subject to approval from the Chair. Payments:
Hard drive, printer ink – £72.98, Council Insurance – £570.95, PAYE – 301.55, Clerk’s Salary (2 months) – £605.90, Councillor Training – £100.00
Receipts:
Bank interest – £57.07
9.1 Audit of 2023/24 Accounts: It was noted that this was the second external audit that the PC was legally required to have.
9.2 Banking Procedures: SH confirmed that all the documentation had been signed to allow the PC to convert to digital banking however this has not yet happened. Ongoing.
- Asset and Service Devolution: None
- Traffic Matters:
11.1 Bid to Avon and Somerset Police: The bid in respect of the gates for Podimore had been submitted by Julie Evans on 18th May. Ongoing.
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- Tree Matters: None
- Rights of Way:
13.1 Closed bridges and footpath issues: SH advised the committee that he had compiled a list of outstanding issues in connection with bridges and rights of way which he would submit to Rachael Pearce.
14. Other Correspondence: The committee was advised that correspondence had been received from West Camel Parish Council seeking our support against a planning application for a new service station, motel and farm shop. SH agreed to add our objection to this application
15. Any other Business:
15.1 Somerset Prepared Resilience Meeting, Queen Camel, 10 July 2024. Dr Deering advised the committee that, due to the issues experienced by residents in Podimore when houses were flooded by cars travelling at high speed along roads which should have been shut, an idea had been put forward to develop a pilot scheme which would empower flood wardens in Podimore to close roads if certain conditions are fulfilled. This pilot scheme would run for 18 months, before it started Highways would need to calculate diversions. JS pointed out that there was no point in having a diversion in place if it was merely sending cars to another flooded area. This was noted and it was agreed JS would liaise with Dr Deering regarding confirmation of low lying areas which were known to flood regularly. Dr Deering confirmed the training, given by Highways will be Chapter 8 training and that she is trying to arrange for it to be done FOC. The meeting on 10th July would consist of a flood warden workshop and demonstrations in the morning followed by a drop in session in the afternoon.
15.2 Section 19 Meeting, 25 July 2024, St Peter’s Church, Podimore 18.30hrs. (Seating limited, first come first served). This meeting will be attended by Dr. Anna Meares, the Section 19 Investigations Officer and Dr Paul Elliston. The primary objective is to present the S19 process and feedback to the community. It was noted that this meeting was not wildly known about and that the three communities do not communicate with each other. RM agreed to put the details of the meeting on Yeovilton’s social media website. BF suggested things to be put on all three social media sites SH agreed.
16. Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 10th September, at St Bartholomew’s Church, Yeovilton at 7.30pm. The meeting closed at 20.54hrs
Signed:
Date:
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