Agenda

Before the meeting there will be a public session to enable the people of Stoke St Mary to ask
questions of the Parish Council and make comments (in accordance with Standing order 1 (e)). This
session shall not exceed 15 minutes (Standing Order 1f) and, in accordance with Standing Order 1(g),
a member of the public shall not speak for more than 5 minutes. Questions not answered at this
meeting will be answered in writing to the person asking the question or may appear as an Agenda Item
for the next meeting.
Unitary Councillors are invited to give written or oral reports on matters affecting Stoke St Mary.
24.23 Attendance and Apologies
24.24 Declarations of Interest
24.25 Minutes of Last Meeting –
to receive and approve the Minutes of the last Parish Council meeting held on 16th May 2024, a
draft has been circulated with the summons to this meeting
24.26 Finance
a) Balances (as at 12/07/24):
Current a/c: £5095.13
Deposit a/c: £45,361.66
The bank reconciliation has been circulated with the summons to this meeting.
b) Expenditure approval:
i.
Parsons Landscapes (17431 & 17486)
ii. Somerset Assn Local Councils (SALC) training
‘Cllr Refresh/Update’)
iii. SALC training ‘Cllr Essentials’
iv. Sainsburys, refreshments for APM
(spent under LGA 1972 S111(1))
v. Parish Online – new website/emails
vi. Shoreditch speed limit reduction
24.27 Clerk’s report/action list from previous meeting:
a) Website development/gov.uk Cllr emails – update
b) Removed litter bin (opposite village hall) – update
£
291.69
120.00
28.00
22.70
216.00
3200.00 est
c) Register of Interest Forms – to receive updated forms from Cllrs
d) SALC training – “no shows”
e) Overhanging shrubs opposite Church End
f) Risk Strategy – update
24.28 Play Area maintenance/inspections – to allocate Cllr responsibility
24.29 To discuss The Half Moon Inn
24.30 To adopt new Financial Regulations – a draft copy has been circulated with the summons to
this meeting.
24.31 To consider whether to adopt a Biodiversity Policy for Stoke St Mary – a background paper
has been circulated with the summons to this meeting
24.32 To consider whether to adopt a Volunteer Policy
Page 1 of 2
24.33 To receive reports from Parish Council Portfolios:
A358/Taylor Wimpey/Nexus/Local Plan – Cllr Rob Hossell
LCNs – Chair
Higher Broughton Farm Barns – Chair/Cllr Rob Hossell
Rights of Way – Cllr Pat Fallance and Cllr Graeme Watt
Traffic & Highways inc road audit – Chair/Cllr Graeme Watt
Village hall/police – Cllr Dan Fallance
Play area project – Cllr Tania Watt
Play area maintenance/inspection – vacant
23.34 Planning – Cllr Rob Hossell
Application no 37/24/0007T – Application to fell one maple and one rowan tree and to carry out
management works to two hornbeams, one oak and one damson tree included in Taunton
Deane Borough (Stoke St. Mary No.1) Tree Preservation Order 2001 at Greystones, Stoke St.
Mary (TD911) AMENDMENT
Application no 37/24/0008 – Conversion of garage into ancillary accommodation and erection
of 3 No. single storey extensions to the front and both sides of Ballacraine, Ash Road, Stoke St
Mary
Application no 37/24/0009 – Erection of a single storey link extension between house and barn
at Tuckers, Stoke Road, Stoke St Mary
Application no 37/24/0010/LB – Erection of a single storey link extension between house and
barn at Tuckers, Stoke Road, Stoke St Mary
24.35 Clerks hours – report
24.36 Date of next meeting: Thursday, 19th September 2024 at 7.30pm
Attachments:
Draft Minutes from meeting on Thurs 16th May 2024
Bank reconciliation
Draft Financial Regulations
Biodiversity Policy – paper

Minutes (Draft)

Minutes of a meeting of Stoke St Mary Parish Council held on Thursday, 18th
July 2024, at Stoke St Mary Village Hall at 7.30pm
24.23 Attendance and Apologies
Councillors Present :
Cllrs Colin Fisher (Chair), Dan Fallance, Patricia Fallance (Vice Chair),
Cllr Rob Hossell, Cllr Graeme Watt, Cllr Tania Watt.
Apologies:
In attendance:
Cllr Sarah Wakefield, Somerset Council (SC)
Sarah Fisher (Clerk)
There were no Members of Public (MOP) present
24.24 Declarations of Interest – none
24.25 Minutes of Last Meeting
The minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held on 16th May 2024, were circulated in
advance of the meeting and these were approved and signed by the Chair.
24.26 Finance
a) Balances (as at 12/07/24):
Current a/c: £5095.13
Deposit a/c: £45,361.66
Cllr Watt confirmed these balances as correct.
The In Year Finance Report for 1st Quarter 2024/25 was received and reviewed.
b) Expenditure approval:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
Parsons Landscapes (17431 & 17486)
Somerset Assn Local Councils (SALC) training
‘Cllr Refresh/Update’)
SALC training ‘Cllr Essentials’
Sainsburys, refreshments for APM
(spent under LGA 1972 S111(1))
Parish Online – new website/emails
Shoreditch speed limit reduction
291.69 APPROVED
120.00 APPROVED
28.00 APPROVED
22.70 APPROVED
216.00 APPROVED
3200.00 est; APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE,
to be negotiated by Cllrs Hossell and Graeme Watt. From allocated reserves.
24.27 Clerk’s report/action list from previous meeting:
a)
Website development/gov.uk Cllr emails – development of website by Parish Online
complete, but requires some further work by Clerk, hoping to go live early September. Log
in details for new email addresses circulated to Cllrs.
b)
c)
d)
e)
Removed litter bin (opposite village hall) – Somerset Council will replace but there may be
some delay and it is unlikely to be like-for-like
Register of Interest forms – Clerk now holds forms for all Cllrs
SALC training – Clerk reported that three Cllrs were unable to attend booked training
sessions (24.26ii above) so an element of fees wasted. Those Cllrs will seek to complete
training on future dates.
Overhanging Shrubs Church End/opposite Horse Chestnuts Riding School – MOP has
contacted the Clerk about overhanging shrubs opposite drive to Horse Chestnuts Riding
School (larger vehicles pulling out to avoid, presenting risk to oncoming traffic). The land is
1
f)
g)
believed to be Highways responsibility (not privately owned). Cllr Graeme Watt will liaise
with MOP about setting up a working party to tackle (and see 24.32 below)
Risk Strategy – held over from last meeting. Cllr Graeme Watt is reviewing this document, in
conjunction with 24.32 below. Agenda item for September meeting.
Clerk to email Cllr Wakefield (SC) for update on ex Taunton Deane Nursery
24.28 Play Area Maintenance/Inspection – Cllr Dan Fallance volunteered to take on maintenance
of play area, post development, with, potentially, involvement from a third party – Cllrs Tania
Watt and Dan Fallance to liaise. Clerk to ask SALC re next training sessions on playground
maintenance.
24.29 To discuss the Half Moon Inn – agreed to monitor and review at next meeting
24.30 To adopt new Financial Regulations – adopted. Will be published on website.
24.31 To consider whether to adopt a Biodiversity Policy – PC considers current safeguards in
planning policy sufficient, but Chair will appeal to MOPs with a view to forming Biodiversity
Group for the village.
24.32 To consider whether to adopt a Volunteer policy – Volunteer policy considered necessary
given upcoming devolution of services from SC to PC. Cllr Graeme Watt presented draft policy
/framework, which was approved, and this will be trialled and developed further using shrub
clearance work near Church End, see 24.27 e) above. Draft version of framework will be
posted on website. PC approved provisional budget of £500 towards Volunteer activities, to
come from earmarked Devolution reserves. Volunteer activity to be standing agenda item.
24.33 To receive reports from Parish Council Portfolios
A358/Taylor Wimpey/Local plan – Cllr Hossell reported no further updates
Nexus 25 – Clerk to confirm with Cllr Wakefield (SC) that Local Development Order has been
extended.
LCNs – next LCN meeting Mon 22nd July. Cllr Graeme Watt has joined Transport & Highways
Group
Higher Broughton Farm Barns – Chair and Cllr Hossell met with Savills and Crown Estate earlier
in July to hear about new proposals for the site – 2 x 2 bed dwellings, 2 x 3 bed dwellings and 2
x bungalows, with potential transfer of some land to PC. PC welcomes the proposals and looks
forward to receiving more detail, at which point a Parish meeting will be called.
Rights of Way – complaint received from MOP about footpath between Watery Lane and
Cherry Grove. SC due to clear in next few weeks (as part of annual maintenance programme).
Traffic & Highways incl road audit – Cllr Graeme Watt reported potholes in all SSM roads now
repaired by SC, except section of Stoke Road between church and Haydon junction. Cllr
Graeme Watt to follow up with SC on outstanding repairs. Cllr Dan Fallance volunteered to
digitise the recently produced road audit.
Village hall – Cllr Dan Fallance reported the Village Hall Committee disputes that the Jubilee
Garden is owned by Village Hall as there is no record of transfer, and suggests that
maintenance should be jointly shared by Village Hall and PC.
Police – Cllr Dan Fallance reported some criminal activity, mostly agricultural crimes.
Play Area Redevelopment – Cllr Tania Watt confirmed first phase (main tower and swing set)
due to be installed early August (assuming no problems with customs etc)
Play Area maintenance/inspection – see 24.28 above. ROSPA annual inspection completed
but report not yet received.
2
24.34 Planning
Application no 37/24/0007T – Application to fell one maple and one rowan tree and to carry
out management works to two hornbeams, one oak and one damson tree included in
Taunton Deane Borough (Stoke St. Mary No.1) Tree Preservation Order 2001 at Greystones,
Stoke St. Mary (TD911) AMENDMENT – SUPPORTED
Application no 37/24/0008 – Conversion of garage into ancillary accommodation and
erection of 3 No. single storey extensions to the front and both sides of Ballacraine, Ash
Road, Stoke St Mary – SUPPORTED
Application no 37/24/0009 – Erection of a single storey link extension between house and
barn at Tuckers, Stoke Road, Stoke St Mary – SUPPORTED
Application no 37/24/0010/LB – Erection of a single storey link extension between house
and barn at Tuckers, Stoke Road, Stoke St Mary – SUPPORTED
24.35 Clerk’s hours
Nothing to report
24.36 Date of next meeting:
Thursday, 19TH September 2024 at 7.30pm
The meeting closed at 9.20pm