Minutes
Monday 11th November 2024 7:30 pm in Othery Village Hall
1 – Apologies:
Cllrs Jones and Betty:
2 – Present:
Cllrs Tizzard: Jennings: Selway: Atherton: Wright: Cllr Matt Martin:
3 – Declarations of Interest:
These will always be declared at the agenda item when appropriate.
4 – Certifying the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 14th & 21st October 2024.
Proposed by Cllr Jennings and seconded by Cllr Atherton that both sets of minutes are accepted was agreed by all present.
5 – Public question time and Neighbourhood Watch/Crime report and an update from Cllr Matthew Martin:
The clerk reported that he had met with the new PCSO for the village and that he had attended a coffee morning in the church room and asked to be informed if there were any planned neighbourhood watch meetings. Cllr Martin was pleased that his intervention had resulted in the missing sign at Townsend now being in place. He is also following up the sale of assets and specifically the Parish Council’s request to buy the playing field. It would seem that the council are dealing with larger assets first. There is a plan to standardise the planning across the county but he is not sure when this will be implemented but there is a shortage of planning officers and enforcement staff.
6 – Matters Arising:
Village signs: To next meeting but in the interim Cllr Atherton will have a look at both and report to the next meeting. The Clerk will ask Mr Pring to cut around them when he is working in the village.
Emergency Plan: To next meeting.
Cemetery Complaint: Cllr Atherton had gone to the cemetery and taken a photo of the grave in question which shows that the mud has been cleaned off and all left tidy so the complaint can be closed.
7 – Playing Field:
Cllr’s Selway & Tizzard Inspection Update; Cllr Selway reported that she had the certificate and a cheque for the clerk which she would give him at the next meeting. The internal inspection found more minor issues than the official inspection. One part of the safety surface needs attention and quotes need to be obtained. The bench with the long feet has been pulled up by persons unknown so the clerk will ask Martin Pring to concrete it in place. One of the hedges needs either cutting back or removing and once a decision has been reached Martin Pring will be asked to do the necessary work.
8 – Cemetery:
Cemetery wall damage: The clerk has received an email saying that Towens are undertaking the work and that Cllr Betty knows the details and he will let the Parish Council know at the next meeting. New access through car park to ext. area; Details again at the next meeting.
9 – Highways:
The clerk has had an assurance from clean surroundings that the pavements will be swept. The drain/manhole covers which need attention have been reported to Wessex Water.
10 – Community Speedwatch:
Our new PSCO Tom arrived during a speed watch session and was spoken to about the speed gun. In most sessions around 400 vehicles are monitored with about 1% exceeding the speed limit.
11 – Planning notice:
None
12 – Financial Matters:
The setting of the precept must be undertaken at the December meeting as we are not meeting in January, but we are still waiting for advice from the Somerset Council. Cllr Martin will see what he can do to speed up the process.
Expenditure:
- Salary £ 268.24
- Salary administration £ 14.40
- St Margaret’s Hospice £ 25.00
- Cemetery Waste Bin £ 52.10
- Village Hall hire £ 40.50
- SlashdotDash £ 15.90
Income
All financial matters agreed by the members present.
13 – Correspondence:
No new correspondence
14 – Correspondence for Circulation:
Already circulated by email:
15 – Urgent Matters at the discretion of the Chairman:
No urgent matters. Charity for this month Royal British Legion and next month Crisis at Christmas.
CLOSE
Date and time of the next meeting: Monday 9th December 2024 7:30 Parish Council Meeting.