MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON
3rd NOVEMBER 2015
MARK PARISH COUNCIL
A Meeting of Mark Parish Council was held in the Village Hall, Mark on Tuesday, 3rd November 2015 at 7.30 p.m.
Present:- Councillors N. van der Bijl (Chairman), D. Champion, Mrs E. Corkish, Mrs S. Flack, G. Francis, Mrs A. Hanlon, W. Human and Mrs J. Weekes with the Clerk and County Councillor D. Huxtable.
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51. Declarations of Interest
Councillors Mrs E. Corkish, Mrs S. Flack and Mrs J. Weekes declared personal interests in matters relating to Mark Village Hall. Councillor Francis declared a personal interest in issues relating to National Grid as a shareholder. Councillor Mrs S. Flack declared a personal interest in issues relating to Mark Cricket Club as a Committee Member, Councillors Mrs S. Flack and G. Francis declared personal interests in Mark Community Land Trust Ltd as members of the organisation and Councillor W. Human declared a personal interest as a member of the Drainage Board.
52. Minutes
The Minutes of the Meetings of the Council held on 8th September and 5th October 2015 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as correct records.
53. Report of the Police
PCSO Matt Hawker reported on crime statistics and police priorities for the area and answered questions raised by Members. It was agreed to invite the Police and Crime Commissioner to speak at the 2016 Annual Parish Meeting.
54. Report of the County Councillor
County Councillor Huxtable reported upon budgetary and highway issues together with the availability of grants from his Health and Well-Being budget.
55. Play Area
GB Sport and Leisure had carried out the annual safety check on the play equipment and sports facilities adjacent to the Village Hall. There were no urgent maintenance items but a recommendation to monitor various low risk issues. It was also reported that Mike Schollar had recently received a County Council Chairman’s Award for looking after the play area over many years.
56. Finance
a) Balance of Accounts
It was reported that the balance of accounts at 1st October were as follows - Current £13,064.58, Reserve £16,936.92
b) Bank Reconciliation
A bank reconciliation for the period 1st April to 30th September 2015 was checked with the original bank statements and signed by the Members who did not sign cheques as part of the Council’s financial controls.
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c) Authorisation for Payment
It was agreed that the following payments be made:-
000807 GWB Services grass cutting & work in cemetery £1,239.00
000808 Parish Clerk expenses £178.52
57. School Parking/Mark Cricket Club New Ground Development
It was noted that there was no new information to consider on this matter.
58. Public Areas Portfolio
a) Highway Matters
Members were requested to e-mail the Clerk with details of highway defects for reporting to County Highways. The work to the surface of the pull in at Jubilee Green had been completed, the commemorative seat and dog waste bin had been installed and the memorial board had been refurbished. It was agreed to thank Paul Boobyer for installing the seat and bollards at Jubilee Green. Wessex Water had now closed Mark Causeway to carry out sewer work. Daily bulletins were being received from Wessex Water and a discussion ensued on ways of disseminating this and other information to parishioners. There was no further information regarding the issue taken up by Wedmore Parish Council regarding HGVs taking a short cut through local villages. It was noted that no further accidents had occurred at the Harp Road bends. It was agreed to follow up an approach to County Highways for an extension of the 30 mph speed limit at Blackford Road and/or other measures to enable children to wait for/dismount safely from school transport near the Perry Road junction. Councillor Human reported that a culvert was to be constructed in Northwick Road to the rear of the White Horse Inn.
b) Cemetery Fence
Councillor Mrs Corkish reported that Gary Bickers had cleared undergrowth from the fence line but Mr. Lapage had not yet undertaken the fencing work.
c) Public Rights of Way
Councillor Champion reported upon issues related to bridleway 23/15.
e) Village Hall /Football Pitch Area
It was agreed to request Gary Bickers to deposit green waste from within the curtilage of the Village Hall site along the northern boundary of the pitch rather than along the southern boundary of the car park.
59. Planning Portfolio
The following applications were considered:-
044 Erection of extension, Perry Cottage, Perry Lane – Mrs S. Winter – recommend permission;
045 Removal of specified hedgerows, Vole Road area – G. George – no observations;
046 Erection of tractor/plant storage shed, north of Larches, Mark Causeway – Mr and Mrs R. May – recommend permission.
It was agreed to hold a Special Meeting of the Parish Council on Monday, 30th November to give detailed consideration to forming a response to the 5 year review of the Sedgemoor Local Plan (Core Strategy).
60. Special Projects - National Grid
Councillor Mrs Corkish reported upon a petition currently being organised by the MP.
61. Web-site Portfolio/Superfast Broadband
Councillor Mrs Weekes reported upon work relating to the web-site. Councillor Human reported upon a meeting he had attended regarding superfast broadband. It had been made available in further areas on 15th October but people needed to contact to contact their internet provider. Further work to connect additional areas would take place in 2016.
62. Cheddar Valley Cluster Meeting
The Chairman reported upon discussions which had taken place at a recent Cluster Meeting including a presentation on Mendip Community Transport and a District Council budget consultation.
63. Next Meeting
It was agreed that the next Ordinary Meeting be held in the Village Hall on 5th January 2016 at 7.30 p.m.
The Meeting closed at 8.45 p.m. Chairman
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