Milverton Parish Council

Report of Meeting on July 6^th 2015

The Parish Council Chairman, Dr Russell Jenkins welcomed the Council's new co-opted member Mr Derek Cutler. A resident of Creedwell Orchard Mr Cutler runs his own cycle business and is involved in education and safety projects.

The Chairman commented that with only 6 of the 12 Councillors present this was the lowest turn out for a Parish Council meeting in his experience. He also remarked that attendance at Planning Site visits was at a low level, which was a serious concern particularly as the Council had delegated powers to grant planning permission and needed to be able to demonstrate that Councillors were 'fully informed' when exercising this power.

Mr Chambers reported that he had attended a TDBC briefing on the new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which would be applied to all developments over 100 sq m (including extensions). In Milverton the rate would be £125 per sq m and the Parish Council would be entitled to receive 15% or £100 per dwelling whichever was the smaller. The money would be available for village projects to offset the impact of the development.

The Council's internal auditor Mr Nigel Morris gave a brief presentation about this years audit. He raised two issues of concern firstly that a clerical error meant that a VAT claim was £220 short. (This will be corrected in the next claim). Secondly, he was not sure that the Council adequately assessed the risks to itself as a business. He said that the Council needed to provided evidence that, for example, Councillors understand and are able to discharge their role and he was very concerned that there appeared to be an over reliance on the Clerk with no contingency plans or arrangements to cover his absence for any reason. In response the Chairman said that all Councillors do receive training in the role of Councillor and for the Planning function but acknowledged that this needed to be more explicit. Regarding the business risks around the Clerk he was grateful for the matter being raised and undertook that the Council would look into its arrangements as a matter of urgency.

Under Creedwell Councillors expressed frustration at Notaro's continued prevarication.

Mrs Pine reported that the stone bridge supporting the footpath near the sawmill had a crack in the parapet. She will report this to SCC but expressed concern that if the bridge was regarded as unsound it could be closed until repairs were be done, and in the present climate that could be some time.

Councillors debated TDBC's latest terms to transfer the freehold of the toilets. They were exasperated that TDBC was desperate to divest itself of the responsibility but equally desperate to maintain an influence over the building. The point was made that Milverton Parish Council had not sought to take on the toilets but had been coerced into doing so by the threat of closure. Councillors felt that they had made a reasonable offer to take them on and were not inclined to accept the latest TDBC terms. The Chairman will be responding to TDBC shortly with a view to bringing negotiations to a conclusion.

Mr Cotton was congratulated on his success in bringing a Community Defibrillator to the village. It has now been installed at the Victoria Rooms.

Following TDBC's refusal to replace it's bin which had disappeared from St Michaels Hill Councillors reluctantly voted to order a new one at a cost of £350 + VAT.

The Clerk reported that the a new notice board was being erected at the allotments. The Allotment Committee is carrying out its annual visit on 25^th July at 10am.

The Council approved payments for Insurance, Salaries, PAYE, Grasscutting, and Room Hire. The total expenditure for June was £2690.

Following the Vodaphone survey for suitable mobile phone signal boosters, Mr Chambers reported that he has signed to have one installed at the sawmill.

The next meeting will be a Planning Site visit on 30^th July and the next full Council meeting will be on 3^rd August.