Present: G. Willcox, J. Gane, D. Creed, A. Oakerbee, T. Holley and Somerset Councillor C. Sully.
Apologies: M. Heal and A. Creed.
Election of Chair:
It was proposed by T. Holley, seconded by J. Gane and passed G. Willcox be re-elected as Chair.
G. Willcox signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office Book and took the Chair.
Minutes of the last AP and PC Meeting were Approved and signed.
Chair's Report 2024-5:
From January 2024 to April 2025 West Pennard Parish Council have debated 17 Planning Applications.
At the end of 2024 the parish council received £29,000 from Glastonbury Festivals Ltd 'to be spent on infrastructure and repairs works to benefit the whole community' - as stipulated in GFL's letter. It was under those terms the money was donated to West Pennard Parish Council.
A formal application has been formulated and can be found at westpennard.org.uk. Thus far there have been no applicants.
Road closures are posted on our website and noticeboard (Village Hall) - as are Notices of Meetings, Agendas and Minutes.
At our March meeting Andrew Oakerbee was co-opted on to the parish council.
Flooding Issues:
West Pennard, Baltonsborough, Butleigh and Barton St. David have come together to discuss and liase to provide a 'template' of flooding issues to collectively address and hopefully resolve the issues with representatives from Somerset Rivers Authority and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and to also engage where appropriate with Highways and the Environment Agency.
We continue to report problems on our roads (predominantly potholes and erosion) and are looking into ways to improve road safety for walkers using the footpaths along the A361 to access our village school and social amenities.
Finance - The Accounts are presented at each meeting. The Annual Governance and Accountability Return is presented for inspection and signed following approval from our internal auditor by the Chair and Clerk.
We donate annually to West Pennard Village Hall and West Pennard parochaial Church Council (Upkeep of the Churchyard).
War memorial - This is looked after and maintained by P. Gurl, for which we would like to thank him.
I would like to thank my fellow parish councillors and clerk for their unstinting attendance and output at parish council meetings throughout the year.
As always our work remains 'for the good of the village'.
Members of the public are actively encouraged to attend our monthly meetings held on the second Monday of the month. You will see from the Agenda there is a section for members of the public to speak should they wish to.
Please brouse our website westpennard.org.uk and the noticeboard at the village hall.
G. Willcox (Chair).
Somerset Councillor Claire Sully gave a brief report.
Claire has been involved in meetings with the above villages re flooding, has attended another site meeting with M.P. and householder at Priory Corner (end property has flooded repeatedly) and also with residents affected by Planning Ref 2024/2315/FUL - Demolition of and Erection of Replacement Buildings and Associated Infrastructure/Chapel Farm/Bradley Way.
Claire will also be looking into the issue of speed reduction on the A361 (possibly with partial funding from West Pennard Parish Council) and issues with traffic at school start and finish times.
Finance: The Accounts and AGAR were presented for inspection, approved and signed by Chair and Clerk.
Precept 2025/6 has been received, £9,000.
There being no further business the meeting was closed.