Council Members:- 

                          
                    Linus Surguy        Vice Chairman
                          
                    Ray Sebright        Clerk
                           
                    Gill Bromley
                           
                     Keith Every
                          
                     Linda Doble
                           
                     Alan Rose
                           
                     Helen Willey

It was a very full meeting that took place in the Village Hall on 1 July 2010. There were six councillors present as well as the district councillor and the chairman opened the meeting at 8p.m.

The district councillor gave the monthly update and was in a position to deal with appropriate information as the meeting progressed.

The situation with regard to bus timetables and bus movement is an ongoing situation and will be a matter of continual discussion.

The request for road signs on Castlemain is also yet to be resolved.

There was a request from the County Council to enquire if the parish was interested in taking over the now unwanted site called “Beech Clump”. The parish council, after much discussion, decided that they did not wish to commit to this scheme and suggest that the County Council investigate the sale of the site to any local residents who may be interested.

The parish now have four grit bins and are discussing with the highways authority the most suitable site to place these for the benefit of the whole parish. When agreement has been reached, arrangements will be made to fill the bins in preparation for any bad winter road problems.

The parish council is investigating the possibility of providing parish maps to all new residents, which will include road names and designation of roads.

A request from a paddock user that they trim overhanging trees was approved with advice that the utility company having overhead cables in the area be approached to make such areas safe.

A new gateway stone has been commissioned and parishioners will be advised of the development of this stone in future reports.

The seat back on the bench in Fairend lane has been removed as it was in poor condition, this will be replaced with a new anniversary plaque placed on it.

It was good to note that, at last, the rubbish bin has been replaced, by the bus stop.
All financial matters were cleared and these included: approval for the clerk’s monthly expenses, payment of the annual insurance renewal notice and approval of the monthly budget account.

Three planning applications were considered in great detail: Alterations at Otterwood, Alterations at Newtown farm and New Milking Parlour at Colley Farm. All were approved without objection and one councillor, having declared an interest, left the meeting during that discussion.

The parish still hold a number of historical ledgers and it was agreed that when the county archive office moves to its new office, at Norton Fitzwarren, later this year, the last batch of documents will be deposited with them.

It is worth pointing out that parish documents held in the county archive are always available for viewing, by any parishioner, upon request, but note the office is currently moving and will not be in use until the end of this year.

Traditionally there is no meeting in August so the next full parish meeting will be on Thursday 2 September 2010.