Present: G. Willcox (Chair), J. Gane, A. Oakerbee and A. Creed.
Apologies: M. Heal and T. Holley.
There were Nil Declarations of Interest.
Minutes of the last meeting were approved and signed.
Matters arising:
Application from GFL Fund from West Pennard School for a trim trail.
Clerk to request the school provides a quote. To be further discussed at next meeting.
Clerk reported having received a request for monies from Cameley Church and that having presented their request to the meeting they had been advised by email funding is intended for the parish of West Pennard.
The recent Glastonbury festival - as raised by Councillor Claire Sully in her report - the issue of helicopters being used to ferry festival goers to and from the site from glamping sites was raised.
Clerk and a councillor reported the helicoper company using land in close proximity to their farm as a landing site, flying over without regard for livestock in the fields or consultation and the fact they blocked off a footpath. Same has been reported to Somerset Council.
Clerk also reported unbearable increase in volume of noise on the sunday night from the festival which started 8.30pm and was still going on at 5am and the fact she has received whatsapp messages from residents in Butleigh who could plainly hear it.
Correspondence:
Unlicenced Van parked at the entrance to The Groves was reported to Somerset Council and is no longer there.
Poppy Wreath for this year.
Notification price for Type B, £20 remains the same for third year running and same has been re-ordered.
Letter from Somerset Council Traffic Management to ask if there are any areas requiring white-lining to be re-done.
Clerk to request white lining on the A361 through West Pennard and Havyatt and all junctions including Coxbridge.
Notice of Somerset Festival of Remembrance 2025, Wells Cathedral, 1st November.
ACRE/NALC Survey on Planning for Flood Resilience and Somerset Council's City, Town and Parish Preparedness Survey were completed.
Notice of Flood Warden Lunch and Learn Thurs 17th July (Online).
Avalon and Marshes LCN Highways Working Groups notes 25th June 2025 and Information sheets for Parishes - Volunteer Highway Maintenance for parish, town and city councils - how does it work? - read through and discussed.
Volunteers would require training in basic highway safety awareness.
Works they could carry out would be minor sign maintenance, clearing weeds, grass cutting, hedge cutting, clearing gullies of detritus, general cleaning and sweeping and litter picking..
Parish councils would be required to register for training.
Volunteers would need to read the volunteer training handbook.
Parish Councils would then need to apply for a licence (a Section 171)for themselves to undertake highways works on or near the road.
There would be a charge for licences, duration one month.
If roads need to be closed a separate application would need to be made to Somerset Council.
N.B. Authorisation for the connection of new drainage to existing highway drainage system would not be granted.
Furthermore there would need to be three months notice given and an extra fee incurred for Somerset Council's costs to provide, erect, maintain and remove diversion signs.
The Applicant (in this case the parish council) would also be responsible for notification to all residents and affected properties.
Lastly all this work and expense would at the end of the day be done by unpaid volunteers.
After discussion it was felt this was not something West Pennard parish Council should take up.
Letter from Somerset Council to 'Nominate your local hero'.
N.B. Deadline July 18th.
Circulated was:-
Somerset Council's Plan It Somerset - Planning Policy News and the latest training dates (all on-line), SALC's July Newsletter and Monthly Report from Councillor Claire Sully.
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE ttro058594E - Edgarley Road, Glastonbury from 28th JULY for 24 DAYS BUT TO RE-OPEN 9TH AND 10TH AUGUST TO ACCOMMODATE AN EVENT to enable KIER to carry out drainage works.
Finance:
Balance at 16.06.25 £40,106.06.
Charges incurred to maintain account, 10th May - 9th June £4.75.
Clerks Wage £3,000.00.
Planning:
Proposed Conversion of existing Grade ll curtilage listed barn to form residential annexe and enlargement of existing garden room/The Old Manor/Kennard Moor Drove/Coxbridge/2025/1012/HSE and 2025/1013/LBC.
It was proposed, seconded and passed Recommend Approval.
Planning Approved - Change of use of agricultural Land to residential (C3) to extend residential garden to create access track and a three car garage with garden store/Coxbridge House/Coxbridge/Planning Ref 2024/1092/FUL.
Highways matters to be reported:
- Moggs Hole - no road surface left.
- Road subsidence outside of Old farm, Page Lane.
There being no further business the meeting was closed.