Report on Milverton Parish Council 9^th May 2016

Milverton Parish Council held its Annual Meeting on 9^th May in the Victoria Rooms. The first item on the agenda was the election of a new Chairman. The current Chairman, Dr Russell Jenkins stood down after four years and Dr Julie Richardson was elected in his place. Dr Jenkins was then nominated and elected to the Office of Vice Chairman.

Councillors asked for a progress report on the transfer of the toilets from TDBC. The Clerk reported that since agreeing the heads of Terms and passing on details of the Council's solicitor there had been no contact whatsoever. Given that TDBC was so keen to get rid of the toilets that it had imposed a 30^th June deadline for the transfer, there was widespread astonishment at the lack of progress. The Clerk reported that Wiveliscombe was experiencing a similar issue and reported that the Town Council had set up a meeting on 18^th May to which both Wellington and Milverton had been invited. It was agreed that the responsibility for the toilets should fall to the Amenity Committee and members will attend this meeting. Councillor Wren was asked to chase TDBC to see what was happening.

Under planning Councillors approved an extension to the Old Police House in Butts Way and supported an application for a large Corn and feed Store at Farthings Farm.

The Crime Report for April showed an unwelcome upward trend with several shed break-ins, criminal damage, domestic assaults and the discovery of a cannabis factory.

Mr Baldry of the Speed Watch group attended the meeting to request financial assistance with purchasing a smaller and more compact 'speed gun'. This will increase the capability of the Group and allow detection of speeds in two directions. The Council was pleased to offer a grant £160 towards the purchase cost.

On the issue of roads the Clerk reported a request that SCC had received for deer warning signs on the B3187 road to Wellington. SCC wanted to know if deer were regarded as a hazard on this road in order to gather evidence to support the sighting of signs. Councillors had no information except that deer had not been raised as a road safety issue before. They were also sceptical that, unless there was a known crossing point, signs were unlikely to be that effective at night when any risk would be greatest and of course they would not deter deer from crossing. The Parish Council will however seek information about deer collisions and 'near misses' and feed them back to SCC.

Councillors discussed the Annual Parish meeting which had been well attended. Councillor Wren however, reflected that events like this and indeed many other village events seemed to have depended on the same people for many years and that there seemed to be a lack of new people coming forward. Councillors agreed that this was an issue and there was a lively discussion about the reasons and actually whether anything could be done about it. Councillor Wren proposed that the Council could perhaps organise a 'summit meeting' of all the village organisations to see if lack of new people coming forward was a common issue and, if so. perhaps agree a parish wide initiative to seek more support. Councillors thought that this was a good idea although there was some scepticism as to whether it would make any difference.

The Clerk confirmed that the Council had engaged a new gardener to look after the Jubilee Gardens. Lucy Reynolds Gardening was appointed following a tender exercise in March.

The Council spent £1100 in April on salaries, PAYE, gardening, emptying dog bins, and subscriptions.