MINUTES OF-LEIGH-ON-MENDIP ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON
13 MAY 1992 IN THE HALL
Apologies were recorded from A Merrick.
Mr Yelland welcomed 13 parishioners to the APM which was their
opportunity to speak. Those taking advantage of this were the
RFMC, the Hall, the Halecombe Support Group & the Leigh-Halecombe
Residents Association.
The minutes of the APM of 10 May 1991 were accepted as a true
record & signed.
THE MEMORIAL HALL - Clive Featherstone, Chairman.
The financial targets set last year had been met and a surplus
was now being generated. Unfortunately local industry support
had been lost but the shortfall was being made up by Bingo.
Grants from MDC & SCC had been made enabling the work on toilet
improvements to start in August, minimum disturbance would occur
during the work enabling the use of the Hall to continue. It was
hoped to improve the windows in the future for which all the
money would probably have to be raised and then the problem of
the car park and the kitchen roof would be addressed as part of a
7 year plan.
Mr Featherstone answered questions concerning the surface of the
car park, the diminution of storage space and the fact that
Saturday night Bingo meant that the Hall was not available for
general hire. This latter fact had been noted but the committee
had decided to encourage the Bingo because of its reliability,
it would not be viable if it was re-scheduled frequently although
occassionally this had been done. It was an activity in which
many residents as well as outsiders took part.
Mr Yelland reminded those present that the actual running of the
Hall & policy decisions were the business of the Committee.
He thanked Clive for his report & the committee for all their
hard work.
RECREATION FIELD MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Steve Fear & Jan Robson.
The field was run by a committee of 5 elected members and 10
representatives from interest groups. Funds amounted to £815.
Insurance for all aspects of the field and club were up to date
and all the machinery had been serviced. The field did not have
much ability to generate money & relied on the cricket & football
for funds. Since it had been re-constituted in January the
committee had been identifying income sources & maintenance
arrangements with regular users. Their long term plans were to
construct a new play area for children, re-vitalise the
building, to improve parking & perhaps acquire more land for a
football pitch, and find someone to cut the perimeter grass.
Mr Featherstone stressed the grant aid available which the new
committee were eager to pursue.
Mr Yelland thanked Steve & Jan & their committee for their hard
work in the short time they had been administering the field.
HALECOMBE SUPPORT GROUP read by June Featherstone on behalf of V
Gray.
The group had continued in existance after planning permission
had been granted to monitor Wimpey Hobbs adherance to the
schedule agreed, to liaise with the Parish Council by attending
PC meetings and to further good Community Relations as laid down
in the BACMI Environmental Code.
Mr Yelland thanked June for her statement.
LEIGH-HALECOMBE RESIDENTS GROUP Chairman R Dixon.
Membership of the group was confined to those around Halecombe.
Mr Dixon congratulated the PC for their stand over the past year
concerning local quarries. The group had joined in the
submission made by Somerset Friends of the Earth to the Inquiry
into Whatley Quarry's proposed expansion. They were concerned
about open cast aggregate extraction & the fact that Somerset did
not have a Minerals Plan.
A questioner from the floor asked for the PC's views on the lack
of a county minerals plan and what influence the PC had in this
matter, this will be discussed at a future meeting. (CLERK)
Mr Yelland thanked Mr Dixon for his report.
PARISH COUNCIL D Yelland, Chairman.
In the past year 11 meetings, including the AGM, had been held &
2 guest speakers had attended to discuss housing and minerals. 7
planning applications had been dealt with, (Changes meant that
these now had to be discussed at a full meeting within 14 days of
receipt) and there had been 8 issues bordering on
planning/complaints. A Housing Survey was being undertaken to
ascertain village need for low cost housing. The PC noted with
some dismay that their forcast that the proposed Bulls Green Link
would open up the Mendip spine road to HGV's looked like becoming
Somerset policy although no application to build the BGL had yet
been made. The various members of the PC had represented the
Parish on different committees and were thanked for their
involvement. With PC help a Neighbourhood Watch had been
established. Regret was expressed that after an initial meeting
in November held by MDC to discuss planning guidelines their had
been little action.
During the year the PC had basically spent their precept and had
a years money in hand as was their policy. In the next year the
PC was to work with the Hall over the management of their
building project. Margaret Loten was thanked for her work on
the accounts.
It was suggested from the floor that a map showing footpaths
around the village be put on display. (CLERK)
A request from the floor for a safety barrier at the entrance to
the Rec Field's pedestrian gate will be pursued by the Clerk.
(CLERK)
Parishioners were thanked for their support in attending the
meeting which closed at 2135h.
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