Milverton Parish Council

Report on Meeting Held 4^th August 2014

The meeting was preceded by a minutes silence in memory of former Parish Councillor, Howard Davies.

The Parish Council had been keen to establish what arrangements had been made for street cleaning and litter bin emptying by TDBC following the retirement of Reg Sealy. It was reported that he would be replaced by a mobile area cleaner which was van based. TDBC had said that it would still litter pick and empty bins but however will not spend the time that Reg spent within the village. A member of the public said that the service was now much reduced as the van based operatives did not know where all the bins were. The Clerk was asked to provide TDBC with the locations of the bins in the village. The Clerk also reported that TDBC would be replacing the bin that mysteriously disappeared from the Fore Street car park.

Under planning Councillors commented on the consultation for Prior Approval to change the use of two agricultural buildings to dwelling houses at Week Moor Farm. This was a consultation under new regulations and the Parish Council Councillors expressed concern that the site, and particularly the adjacent road, was known to be prone to surface flooding and recommended that SCC Highways be consulted. There was also concern that the sites will need adequate protection from flooding from surface run off from the arable fields to the south. TDBC would need to ensure that any drainage arrangements would not increase the flood risk to the road. Councillors noted that the proposed dwellings would be close to a working farmyard and sought assurances that they would not encounter problems from noise, odours or agricultural chemicals. Councillors also noted that the buildings under consideration were in a poor state of repair and asked how much if any of the original buildings needed to be retained under a 'change of use'?

On the vexed question of the proposed closure of the public toilets Cllr Wren reported that there despite chasing there had been no progress. He expressed his extreme frustration and irritation at the situation saying that no one in TDBC seemed to know what was happening which was probably because no one in TDBC knew what ought to be happening.

The Crime report had a Milverton focus with incidents of burglary and vandalism. Unfortunately duties prevented a police presence at the meeting to discuss progress.

The Chairman will be attending the next meeting of the PCC on 20^th August to discuss the probable closure of the churchyard and establishment of a new burial ground in the village.

The Parish Council was hugely impressed by the achievement of resident Beth French who became the first person to swim from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly. Councillors discussed the most appropriate way to honour her and the Clerk will be drafting a letter of congratulation. The Council will also open discussions on the provision of a more permanent reminder.

The Council spent £2778 in July, mainly on grass cutting and gardening. Other expenditure included attendance of Planning Officers and salaries and expenses. Please direct any enquires about this to the Clerk.