Milverton Parish Council
Report of Meeting Held on 6th November 2017

Councillors were pleased to hear that the new planter had been installed outside the Fore Street toilets and had been planted with daffodils and tulips by the Gardening Club. Mr Hutchinson of the Club would also like to improve the small area behind the noticeboards and asked if the Parish Council could seek the permission of TDBC to re-locate the salt bin into the car park.

Madam Chairman reported the outcome of the Somerset Partnership consultation into the future of the surgery. Regrettably the Partnership was going to ask NHS England for permission to close the Milverton Branch. This was mainly because the Wiveliscombe Surgery had been set up to deal with an 8000 patient practice meaning that the Milverton branch represented an over capacity which the NHS was not prepared to fund. Added to this was the fact that the previous GP partners wanted to sell the building. However the Partnership was exploring ways to assist transport and also deliver some services such as minor clinics and prescription collection in Milverton. Noting that there was a continuing desire to deliver some services in Milverton, the Parish Council resolved to contact the former GP partners to ascertain their plans for the future of the building.

Under planning Councillors approved an application for extensions at Marconnelle, Spring Grove subject to appropriate provision being made for roosting bats. They were also supportive of Listed Building applications at Cardscroft and Mansell House. Councillors were also informed that a planning application for four houses in High Street that was refused earlier this year was being appealed. Councillors reviewed their original reasons for objection and will send a short update sheet to the Planning Inspector.

Cllr Mrs Hoyle reported that the Government was offering more money to help communities draw up Neighbourhood Plans. Although this has been considered in Milverton in the past she felt that as there were several small scale applications coming forward around the village, it might be time to re-consider. After some discussion about the pros and cons of Neighbourhood Planning it was agreed to discuss the matter in greater depth at the next meeting. In parallel Councillors asked TDBC Councillor Gwil Wren to see if TDBC would conduct a Housing Needs Assessment in the parish.

Cllr Mrs Hoyle reported that there had been a serious car accident on the bypass with the vehicle colliding with a large rock on the roundabout. She wondered whether SCC should be asked to remove it. On balance Councillors felt that there was no obvious way to reduce the risk of speeding drivers to themselves and other road users. If the rock had not been there the vehicle would either have hit a tree or gone straight across into oncoming traffic or over a 4m drop into the garden beyond.

Following the resignation of Mr Cutler as a Councillor the Parish Council put out a call for a volunteer to be co-opted onto the Council. Mr Jodie Norris attended the meeting and offered to be co-opted. He gave a short presentation about why he was interested in the role and what he could bring to the Parish Council. After a short question and answer session Councillors unanimously agreed to co-opt Mr Norris to the Parish Council at the December meeting.

The Parish Council spend £1699 in October on TDBC Planning Officers, salaries, PAYE, grasscutting, the new planter and toilet cleaning.