Minutes of Yeovilton Parish Council held on Tuesday September 14th 2021 at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yeovilton at 7.00pm.
Present: Chairman, Mr. A. Elliott, Mr. P. Browncey, Mrs. R. S. Jones, Mr. B. Barlow, Mr. A. Hickman,
Mr. R. Luck, Mr. M. Lewis, County Councillor, Mr. A. Capozzoli, District Councillor, Mr. J. Scott & Mr. F. Stotesbury from Limington, Rev. B. Faulkner, Mr. C. Hill, Gulliford Try and Mr. P. Horsington, Clerk.
Twelve members of the public also attended
42. Apologies
Apologies were received from Mr. D. Board, Mr. C. Hull, District Councillor, Mr. P. Rowsell, District Councillor, Mr. R. Graydon, CRO, RNAS, PC. Stefan Edwards and PCSO Tim Russell.
43. Minutes
The Minutes of the previous meeting held on July 13th 2021, having been circulated, were signed as correct.
44. Presentation on the A.303 dualling scheme Podimore to Sparkford
The Chairman welcomed Mr. Chris Hill, Project Manager, Gulliford Try, who presented an overview of the projected works. These had started on schedule, on September 6th and will be a three year programme.
900,000 cubic metres of earth will be excavated and moved, there will be two bridges at Steart Hill, as part of the works. It is expected to open the new dual carriageway at the end of 2023. There is now a dedicated website.
Questions were asked, including the request to close the slip road from the A.303 into Podimore as soon as possible, flood attenuation ponds and the need to protect Podimore from flooding, where is the site of their Office, and when will there be road closures. Mr. Hill agreed to look at the slip road closure, as this had been requested to be closed prior to the works commencing. There will be new drains as part of the scheme, the total cost of the scheme is £135 million and when necessary, the road closures will be overnight to reduce the impact on the local residents.
Mr. Elliott thanked Mr. Hill for his presentation.
45. Declarations of Interest
There were no Declarations of Interest.
46. Open Session & County & District Councillors’ reports
Mr. Capozzoli, District Councillor reported that the Phosphate issues re. planning are still unresolved.
Mr. Lewis, County Councillor, informed the meeting that the Secretary of State had determined that there will be a new single Unitary Authority, replacing the existing District Councils, with elections being held in May 2022 and there will be 80 elected members. The actual number of proposed members is under discussion.
Mr. Lewis stated that it is being proposed that Parish Council elections due in 2023, may well be brought forward one year to 2022.
Mr. Lewis also highlighted that the new Parliamentary Boundary proposals have been published.
The Council noted that the Queen will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee next year, and after discussion, it was agreed to leave this as an agenda item.
Mrs. Hickman highlighted that the hedge in Bineham Lane was overgrown, and that no action regarding the bridges’ repairs to date, and that the closure signs have been pulled down.
Mrs. Jones reported that there had been a Baptism ceremony at the Yeovilton Weir.
Members attending from Podimore highlighted speed issues within Podimore, stating that the slip road from the A.303 into Podimore needs to be closed immediately. It was strongly suggested that there ought to be physical barriers to reduce speeding. Mr. Elliott stated that all the data taken from the VAS had been forwarded to the Police.
The Clerk reported that he had given all the data & comments received, to the SCC Traffic Engineer, who has visited the whole Parish. A written report on the issues raised, is to be received from him for the Council.
Mr. Lewis informed the meeting that SIS schemes even when approved take up to five years to put in place.
It was noted that two residents of Ilchester have undertaken Chapter 8 training, which officially permits working on the Highway.
47. RNAS matters, Police, Community & Church matters
In the absence of Mr. Graydon, RNAS, there were no RNAS issues raised.
The Council noted the Newsletter received from the Police.
Rev. Faulkner informed the meeting that Harvest Festival will held at St. Peter’s, Podimore on next Sunday
September 19th.
The Council noted that the Mayor of Yeovil Town Council had requested permission to attend an event within the
Parish. This had been granted.
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The Chairman welcomed Mr. J. Scott, Chair of the Parish meeting & Mr. F. Stotesbury from Limington, who expressed that they would like the legal process to join with Yeovilton Parish Council agreed formally so that SSDC can do the necessary consultation with all residents of both Parishes. After discussion, the Parish Council agreed that SSDC are informed that Yeovilton Parish Council agreed to proceed with the consultation. It was noted that if the date of the Parish Council elections are brought forward to 2022, then the new Council, if supported by residents will be put in place at that point. Mr. Elliott thanked Mr. J. Scott, Chair of the Parish meeting & Mr. F. Stotesbury for attending.
Rev. Faulkner thanked the Parish Council for all the work that is carried out on behalf of the whole Parish.
48. Planning matters
The Council noted that there was no decision for 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.
The Council considered and supported application 21/02745/COL at Stockwitch Court, Stockwitch Lane,
Yeovilton for the existing use of land and buildings as an independent dwelling house with associated access, parking and garden areas. It was agreed that the Council are as a matter of principle, not happy with retrospective applications.
49. Financial matters
The Council noted that the balances as at 31/07/21 were in the Current A/c £2,830.55p and £5,006.81p in the B/P Account.
Payments received – nil Payments made –
14/09/21 100448 £324.98p P. Horsington salary & expenses
The cheque was approved and signed.
The Clerk reported that the Audit has been closed, with no fees to pay.
50. Highway matters
Mr. Luck stated that the next installation of the VAS device would be put in in Podimore taking data into Podimore from the west to east direction.
The Clerk was instructed to contact the SCC Senior Traffic Engineer.
The Council were informed by Mr. Browncey that the pothole at Bridgehampton between Bridge House and the bridge over the river Cam had been patched, but water was still leaking around it.
Despite the SCC Highways reporting that all the requests from the last meeting had been sorted, Mr. Barlow stated that there is a broken drain cover in Weir Lane, Yeovilton and blocked drains in Bineham Lane, Yeovilton.
The Council agreed after discussion, to support a request for ‘Horse signs’ for Yeovilton village.
The Council were informed that reference the request for a Dog bin at the Weir area in Yeovilton village, the Clerk had met with the SSDC Street Scene Officer, who had suggested that the bin place by the Yeovilton village sign could be moved to the Weir area. As it is sited technically within Limington, approval had been given to move it.
After comments that this bin was regularly used, the Council agreed that it should not be moved, but a further request is made to get approval for new one in the Weir area. Subject to SSDC agreeing to empty it, the Parish Council would purchase a new bin.
51. Flooding issues
There were no issues raised.
52. Tree matters
There were no issues reported.
53. Rights of Way.
The Council noted that the two bridges on Rights of Way are still closed, it was agreed to ask the Rights of Way Officer again, for an update as to when these repairs are to be carried out.
54. Correspondence
The Council noted the Somerset Waste Partnership newsletter.
55. Items for report, or for the agenda of the next meeting
Mr. Elliott stated that he will be standing down as Chairman after the December meeting.
The date of the next meeting was agreed to be held on Tuesday October 12th 2021 at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yeovilton, at 7.30pm.
There being no further business, the Chairman thanked all present for attending and declared the meeting closed at 9.20pm.