MARK PARISH COUNCIL
The 2025 Annual Meeting of Mark Parish Council was held in the Church Hall, Vicarage Road, Mark on Tuesday, 6th May 2025 at 7.00 p.m.
Present:- Councillors Mrs A. Bennett, D. Champion, G. Francis, W. Human, J. Iddles, D. Kehoe, C. Taylor and Mrs J. Weekes with the Clerk and Somerset Councillor H. Munt.
Apology for absence received from Somerset Councillor M. Martin.
1. Election of Chairman
Proposed Councillor Human, seconded Councillor Mrs Bennett and unanimously agreed that Councillor D. Kehoe be elected Chairman for 2025/26. The Chairman signed a declaration of acceptance of office.
2. Election of Vice-Chairman
Proposed Councillor Human, seconded Councillor Champion and unanimously agreed that Councillor G. Francis be elected Vice-Chairman for 2025/26.
3. Declarations of Interest
The Chairman and Councillor Mrs Weekes declared personal interests in matters relating to Mark Village Hall and Councillor Taylor declared an interest in the proposed village show.
4. Minutes
The Minutes of the Meeting held on 4th March 2025 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
5. 2024/25 Financial Statement
The financial statement for 2024/25 was formally approved.
6. Annual Governance Statement
The Council agreed the Annual Governance Statement for 2024/25 as required by the External Auditors.
7. 2024/25 Accounting Statement
The 2024/25 Accounting Statement required by the External Auditors was formally approved.
8. Exempt Authority
It was agreed to declare that Mark Parish Council was an exempt authority within the Local Audit (Smaller Authorities) Regulations 2015.
9. Review of Insurance Cover
The Council reviewed their insurance cover and deemed that no changes in cover were necessary.
10. Finance
a) Balance of Accounts
It was reported that the balance of accounts at 31st March were as follows - Current £8,326.01, Reserve £31,372.76.
b) Authorisation for Payment
It was agreed that the following payments be approved
001015 Parish Clerk payroll & sundry payment reimbursement £1,048.03
001016 GWB Services grass cutting & maintenance £1,750.20
001017 Zurich Municipal premium £565.35
It was also agreed not to renew the Council’s membership of SALC due to the large increase in affiliation fee.
11. Planning Portfolio
It was agreed to confirm recommendations of permission made since the last Meeting in respect of 006 (Extension, The Homestead), 009 (Camping pitches, Daisy Farm), 011 (Extensions, Sedgemoor Manor School), 012 (Extensions, 2 The Wall) and 013 (Self build dwelling, The Causeway) No objection raised in connection with 24/031 (Glamping pods, Southwick Road), 24/032 (Variation of condition, Ashtrees and 014 (Barn conversion, Hart House) also refusal in respect of 24/028 (Agricultural building, Northwick Road).
12. Public Areas Portfolio
a) Highway Matters
It was agreed to request the repainting of road markings at the Kingsway/Church Street junction. It was noted that Somerset Council planned to carry out improvements along the B3139 during 2025/26 but a 40mph buffer speed limit on the approach to Blackford could not be supported due inter alia to it not meeting DfT guidance. Councillor Taylor was thanked for repairing bollards at Jubilee Green.
b) Play Area
Councillor Taylor would undertake some minor repair work, which had been identified in the last annual inspection.
c) Public Rights of Way
It was agreed to report a defective surface along footpath AX 23/1. Councillor Iddles reported that six fires had occurred along Bridleway AX23/15 adjacent to the Village Hall and had been reported to the police and Somerset Council. The matter would need to be monitored.
d) Village Hall
The Chairman reported that there were issues of dog fouling and instances of vandalism at the village hall.
e) Somerset Bus Partnership
Councillor Mrs Bennett reported upon the work of the Partnership. New timetables had been placed in the village bus shelters.
f) Noticeboards
Chris Taylor would shortly refurbish one of the former noticeboards for use as a general parish noticeboard at Jubilee Green. Damp penetration in the new noticeboards would also be rectified.
g) Environment Agency
Issues of possible pollution of a rhyne to the south of the Causeway and a large pile of refuse on land off Harp Road had been reported to the Environment Agency for investigation.
h) Mark Village Show
A request had been received for a grant from the Show Committee towards the cost of holding a Mark Village Show in 2025. Details of the estimate of costs and potential income was outlined. The Committee were endeavouring to set up a bank account. It was agreed to make a grant of £100 when the bank account had been established.
i)Legacy
Further details of the land in question including any restrictions would be available after the grant of probate.
13. Parish Website
Members discussed issues relating to the operation of the current website. It was agreed to obtain an estimate of the cost of a new modern web-site through Parish-on-line with information on the current web-site being transferred to any new web-site.
14. Next Meeting
It was agreed that the next Meeting be held on 1st July 2025 starting at 7.00 p.m.
The Meeting closed at 8.10 p.m.
Chairman
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