Monday 10th March 2025 7:30 pm in Othery Village Hal

Cllr Betty: Cllr V Jones has resigned from the Parish Council:

Cllrs Tizzard: Jennings: Selway: Atherton: Wright: Cllr Matt Martin

These will always be declared at the agenda item when appropriate.

Agreed as a true record.

Somerset Council are raising their precept by 7.5% but Cllr Martin was reminded that Othery only raised their precept by 3%. This was because they were not taking on any extra services as they already run the Cemetery and playing field as well as paying a contractor to do some work on public rights of way. Cllr Martin said that the raising of parking charges and ensuring that all car parks charge the same was still being debated. He was reminded that putting the charges up will drive shoppers to out of town complexes where parking is free thus closing down the town centres. Cllr Atherton said that public records show that when the new administration took over they had a half a million pound surplus but now they were putting up the precept and selling the silver. Cllr Atherton said that again on public record the Somerset Council had sold off assets with a value of £104 million for £74 million and then used it on running costs not cutting the debt in any way. Mattt explained that the mandatory services are increasing alarmingly with diminishing funds coming to them from central government and that the money was used as running costs rather than increasing the debt and interest costs.

Village signs: This work will be undertaken when the weather improves but a good sanding down and a coat of varnish will certainly improve the two signs.

Update: There is a donation of £230 waiting to go into the bank once Cllr Betty has the bank details from the Clerk. Cllr Selway did not get the link for the inspection report and has asked the Clerk to resend the link. Cllr Selway is still waiting for formal quotes which it was agreed could be agreed by email to speed up the process if necessary. The work can now start more easily as the children are at school.

Cemetery wall damage: The clerk had written to the two Towens directors but he had not had a reply as yet but he would be surprised if anyone responded

The Parish Council are still very concerned about the standard of work resurfacing the main road and that the remedial work done was not addressing all their concerns. The Parish Council still do not have a named officer to communicate with as no-one seems to want to take ownership of the project. Cllr Martin requested and email which he will follow up.

Cllr Atherton is unable to download from the SIDs as they will not talk to Apple machines but he will look to get the data. The community speed watch had a disgruntled driver who eventually went away when he realised that they could not issue fines.

1: Planning application number: 38/24/00011/EAM: Proposal: Installation of 16 No. solar panels to the south facing roof with installation of 2 No. large storage batteries (retention of park works already undertaken): Location: Kingston Barn, Fore Street, Othery, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 0QS: The property is listed by association and it is standard practice to have a heritage statement. It is only the effect on a listed building that has to be considered and as this is minimal the Parish Council had the proposal to support the application duly proposed and seconded.

All agreed the charity is Blood Bikes

• Salary £ 268.24
• Salary administration £ 14.40
• Air Ambulance £ 25.00
• Slashdotdash £ 8.00
• Cemetery waste bin £ 53.10

• Fine Memorials £ 75.00
• Memorial Pimm £ 150.00

The clerk, even though he had suggested to all charities that a letter was not required after a donation, had received a letter from the air ambulance.

Already circulated by email:

Cllr Tizzard is concerned that the 20mph scheme seems to have stalled and wishes to know that the money is ring fenced for agreed schemes. Cllr Martin asked for a email from the clerk that he can follow up.

VE day at the school is 8th May and any material that anyone has would be appreciated by the school. Cllr Tizzard informed Cllr Jennings that he had material that the school could borrow.

The clerk is going to receive training to upload files to the website. Cllr Tizzard said that it is not easy with WordPress and would help if Ed is busy.

Cllr V Jones has resigned because the pressure of running her business which is expanding and doing justice to be a councillor is not working. Her resignation was reluctantly accepted by the members but because of an error on the Somerset Council Web Site his notification had not reached the monitoring officer. Now he has the correct email address he is hopeful of getting the statutory notice soon.

CLOSE

Date and time of the next meeting: Monday 14 th April 2025 7:30 Parish Council Meeting.