Minutes of Yeovilton Parish Council held on Tuesday October 13th 2020 at St. Peter’s Church, Podimore at 7.30pm.
Present: Mrs. R. S. Jones, Chairman, Mr. P. Browncey, Mr. D. Board, Mr. A. Elliott, Mr. A. Hickman, Mr. R. Luck, Mr. A. Capozzoli, District Councillor, Rev. B. Faulkner and Mr. P. Horsington, Clerk.
Five members of the public attended.
Due to the Covid 19 epidemic, the meeting was held with strict social distancing, masks being worn & sanitiser being used. It was noted that several members were not able to be accommodated in the Church.
28. Apologies
Apologies were received from Mr. B. Barlow, Mr. M. Lewis, County Councillor, Mr. C. Hull, District Councillor, Mr. P. Rowsell, District Councillor, Mr. R. Graydon, CRO, RNAS, PC. Stefan Edwards & PCSO Thelma Mead.
Mrs. Jones asked if any members of the public, who wished to attend, to notify her or the Clerk prior to the meeting to allow for the necessary Covid 19 restrictions to be put in place.
Rev. Faulkner asked if this notification can be put on the Council’s website, to let members of the public be aware of the situation. This was agreed.
29. Minutes
The Minutes of the previous meeting held on September 8th, having been circulated, were signed as correct.
30. Declarations of Interest
Mrs. Jones declared both personal & prejudicial interests in application 20/02512/OUT on Land adjoining Pilgrims, Weir Lane Outline application with all matters reserved apart from access for the erection of 2 No. detached dwellings, due to family connections.
31. Open Session & County & District Councillors’ reports
In the absence of Mr. Lewis, County Councillor, Mrs. Jones read from his Email, informing the meeting that the County Council bid for Unitary status, has to be submitted to Central Government shortly.
Mr. Capozzoli, District Councillor, informed the meeting that the SSDC Planning department was in chaos, and the next meeting of SSDC Area East will be held via Zoom.
Mr. Capozzoli stated that he intends to ask that application 20/01996/S73 at Pilgrims, Weir Lane to remove planning condition 4 (agricultural tie) of approval 781603 is taken for consideration to SSDC Area East Committee. Mrs. Jones reported thanks from the Bennett family that the Police had been in Podimore with a Speed gun.
Mr. Holt stated that he was pleased that the Police had been in Podimore, but he had earlier in the day nearly been run over by a speeding vehicle. Mr. Holt asked for contact details of the County Council, and it was agreed to send to Mr. Holt the contact details of Mr. M. Lewis, County Councillor, who has access to County Highway officers.
Mr. Elliott stated that the chevrons and road markings need to be repainted from the A.303 through Podimore.
Mrs. Jones stated that the Parish Council have asked that the slip road from the A.303 east of Podimore village is closed, but this was unlikely to happen, until the Secretary of State had approved the dualling A.303 project Sparkford to Podimore. The decision may be made in November.
Mr. Board stated that speeding is an issue everywhere and unfortunately will always be a problem.
Mrs. Jones reported that the Shooting at Podimore has ceased and the farm is being sold.
The Council were informed that having contacted the Community Heartbeat Trust, reference the use of the
Telephone kiosk in Podimore, it was on their list of 1,000 for future use, but if in the meantime, any resident wished to refurbish it, then permission would be granted.
32. RNAS matters, Police, Community & Church matters
In the absence of Mr. Graydon, Mrs. Jones reported there was nothing to report except that works have been carried out by Ancala in the Stockwich area, within RNAS.
Rev. Faulkner informed the meeting that the Wheelbarrow as part of Harvest Festival had been a success, and there will be a short Remembrance service held outside, at St. Peter’s, Podimore on November 8th.
33. Planning matters
Mrs. Jones, reported that she & Mrs. Panter, Chair of Ilchester PC had met with Mr. R. Rhys, agent and owner Patrick Young to hear their ideas for future development on Land north of Dragon Fly Chase. They had outlined their proposals for the area beyond the present development, which would consist of a lake and Countryside park, this being a ten year project. There would be some 200 housing development as well. The Young family wished to have an informal meeting with all members of both Councils, with a proposed date of November 12th in St. Mary’s Church, Ilchester.
Mr. Capozzoli stated that he has also had discussions with the Young family.
2
The Council noted the comment made earlier, that Mr. Capozzoli intends to take the application 20/01996/S73 at Pilgrims, Weir Lane to remove planning condition 4 (agricultural tie) of approval 781603.to SSDC Area East Committee for determination.
The Council noted that application 20/02127/HOU at Beaton House, Weir Lane for the erection of double garage has been granted.
Mrs. Jones having declared both personal & prejudicial interests in application 20/02512/OUT on Land adjoining Pilgrims, Weir Lane Outline application with all matters reserved apart from access for the erection of 2 No. detached dwellings, due to family connections, left the meeting and Mr. Browncey took the Chair.
The Council, after full discussion, including the comments made via Email received from Mr. Barlow, agreed to oppose the applications for the following reasons these being – whilst accepting that one single storey dwelling on the site although not ideal, had been granted, the new proposals for two dwellings, not being single storey in each case & extending the site ground area from what had been approved, are not acceptable. The site is higher than the surrounding area and two dwellings would change the Street scene and have serious impact on the privacy of adjacent properties by virtue of overlooking on them from above. The issues of access to two properties in that area causes concern and the design provided, indicates that the two properties would be extremely close to each other and tight to the adjacent existing dwelling.
Mrs. Jones returned to the meeting.
34. Financial matters
The Council noted that the balances as at 30/09/20 were in the Current A/c £384.17p and £5,806.42p in the B/P Account.
Payments received – £0.78 Bank interest Payments made
13/10/20 100432 £66 13/10/20 100433 £66
The above payments were authorised and the cheques signed.
35. Highway matters
HMRC paye tax
Vision ICT domain registration
The Council were informed that the VAS device bought by Ilchester PC has had issues with the batteries not lasting as long as they were supposed to, and it is to be swapped for a new device. Due to this, the Council agreed to ask the Chair of Martock, Mr. Neil Bloomfield, if one could be hired by the Council from them. Mr. Luck agreed to be the contact on behalf of the Council, with view of its use in Podimore initially.
Mr. Elliott stated that existing lines in Podimore need to be repainted & felt that rumble strips from the Services’ area would highlight safety issues.
The Council noted that the Police have attended and monitored speed within Podimore. It was agreed to thank the Police for doing this.
Mr. Luck reported that County Highways have done some drainage clearing work on the gullies in Yeovilton village, but stated these in Weir Lane need to be jetted, as water does not go away. It was agreed to contact County Highways.
36. Flooding issues
The Council were pleased to note that the Flood warning signs have been put in place by County Highways.
The Council noted in an Email received that some works have been done on the road from Bridgehampton to Chilton Cantelo, and also noted the Email from Mr. Graydon RNAS, which indicated that works have been carried out by Ancala in the Stockwich area within RNAS Yeovilton, to improve the flooding issue. It was agreed to contact Wessex Water reference the gullies on the left from Stockwich Cross towards Bridgehampton, as it was understood this to be their responsibility.
37. Tree matters
It was noted that the willow trees on the river bank in Bineham Lane, Yeovilton had been reported to the Environment Agency.
38. Rights of Way.
Mr. Luck informed the meeting that some work has been carried out on the Rights of Way in Limington Parish.
39. Correspondence
The Council noted the Somerset Waste Partnership updates, which have been circulated to all members.
40. Items for report, or for the agenda of the next meeting
It was agreed to discuss donations and precept at the next meeting.
After some discussion, the Council agreed, due to the Covid 19 situation, to hold the next Parish Council meeting on Tuesday December 8th 2020 at 7.30pm at St. Peter’s Church Podimore, with a view of holding bi-monthly meetings, whilst the pandemic continues.
Thanks were expressed to Rev. Faulkner for making the necessary arrangements for holding a safe meeting. There being no further business, the Chairman thanked all present, and declared the meeting closed at 8.20pm.