November Parish Council Meeting

The next monthly meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Wednesday 5th November at 7.30pm in the Old School.  Please note the earlier start time during the winter.  The Agenda can be downloaded from the Minutes and Agendas page and members of the public are welcome to attend.  

Community Review Survey

Thank you to the 149 adults and 27 young people who completed the Community Review Survey.  The response rate was 42% - well above the average response to such surveys of 25-30%.  The findings of the survey will be published later in the Autumn.  The survey has been funded by a grant administered by the Somerset Association of Local Councils from the Somerset Council's Community Health and Wellbeing Programme. 

Barn on Cockpit Lane - Application for Prior Approval

The Parish Council has been informed of an application for Prior Approval under Class Q of the General Permitted Development Order 2015 to convert the Dutch barn on Cockpit Lane into a four bedroom residential dwelling.  The Parish Council is not consulted on applications for Prior Approval under the GPDO 2015.  

Gilcombe Farm Licensing Application

The Parish Council has been informed of a licensing application for a new annual Festival at Gilcombe Farm to be called the Show of Hands festival and to be held on the second bank holiday weekend in May.  Given the noise from previous festivals at Gilcombe Farm, the Parish Council will be making a representation to the Licensing Authority about this application.   The application states that live music will be played until 1.00am and recorded music until 3.00am across the weekend, Thursday evening to Monday morning.  

Internal Auditor Required

After 12 years’ service as the Parish Council’s Internal Auditor, Griff Williams has decided to stand down – with the grateful thanks of the Parish Council.  This means that the Parish Council needs to find a new Internal Auditor.  The Internal Auditor needs to have basic book-keeping skills, an understanding of the workings of the Parish Council (guidance is available) and be independent of the Parish Council (i.e. should not be a close relation of any of the Parish Councillors).  If you or anyone you know would be interested in taking on this important role for the community, please contact the Clerk.  

The role is not onerous and involves checking the Parish Council’s accounts and associated records once a year to ensure a total of 14 objectives have been properly completed.  Once familiar with the workings of the Parish Council it is probably a day’s work that needs to be done in May so the Internal Audit report can be presented to the Parish Council’s June meeting.  The role is currently voluntary but the Parish Council may consider a small remuneration for a suitable Internal Auditor.  

Draft Recommendations for Division Boundaries in Somerset

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has consulted on draft recommendations for division boundaries in Somerset.  At the next election there will be 96 divisions with one Councillor each instead of the current 55 divisions with two Councillors each.  It is proposed that Batcombe should be part of a new Evercreech Division along with Doulting, Cranmore, Wanstrow, Nunney, Trudoxhill and Upton Noble. 

Allotments

There are currently three vacant allotments in the allotment field at Eastcombe available for a rent of £35 a year each.  If anyone in Batcombe or the surrounding villages would like to rent an allotment please contact the Clerk.  Annual rents are due in November and the vacant allotments can taken for the summer at a reduced rent.  Given the likely number of vacancies next year, the Parish Council will be considering the future of the allotments at its October meeting.  If the Parish Council decides not to continue with the allotments existing allotment holders will be given 12 months' notice.

Beeches Farm Development

Planning permission has been granted for a new build proposal for 6 single storey, environmentally friendly dwellings with sedum roofs in place of the Prior Approval granted for the Class Q conversion of seven agricultural buildings at Beeches Farm to nine residential dwellings.

Community Review

Annual Parish Council Meeting

At the Annual Parish Council Meeting in May Janet Jones was re-elected as the Parish Council Chair for the coming year, Peter Glaisher was re-elected Vice Chairman and  Jayne Cox was re-appointed the Parish Council’s representative on the Village Hall Trust. 

Closure of the Footpath to Spargrove

Please note that the Somerset Council Rights of Way Department have temporarily closed the footpath from Batcombe to Spargrove along the river.  This will allow a six month closure to be put in place.  This is necessary because in the recent storms a large tree fell across the footpath taking the footbridges across the river near the bottom of Bailey's Lane.  This has left one bridge pointing vertically into the air and the Council have become aware that children are playing on this bridge.  With the recent dry weather the tree and bridge are becoming increasingly unstable as the ground dries out as so the Rights of Way Department have no choice but to close the footpath and cordon off the tree.  Parents should keep their children away from the tree to keep them safe.  Unfortunately, the footpath cannot be reopened until the tree is removed and this is the responsibility of the landowner.  

Annual Parish Meeting

The Annual Parish Meeting took place at 7.30pm on Wednesday April 2nd in the Jubilee Hall with a short Parish Council meeting taking place beforehand at 6.45pm.  Around 50 parishioners took the opportunity to hearing what had happened in the parish over the previous year and to ask any questions of the Parish Council.  They then saw edited highlights of a film about the building of the Jubilee Hall and the Royal Visit to open it; followed by a presentation on the possibility of a community review to establish the way forward for our community and a voluntary levy to raise funds for community projects.  See the Annual Parish Meetings page for further details.

Parish Council Precept

At its January meeting the Parish Council agreed to increase its precept for 2025/26 to £11,000.  This is an increase of £925 or 9.18% on the current year’s precept.  Because Batcombe’s tax base has increased, the increase in the precept will result in a 7.31% increase the Council Tax resulting from the precept.  For a Band D property this will be an increase of £3.46 in the Council Tax resulting from the precept. 

The Parish Council has increased the precept because the financial difficulties of the Somerset Council means that in future the Parish Council is likely to have to pay for non-statutory items provided by the Somerset Council, particularly for additional work on the highways such as clearing gulleys or providing grit and grit bins.  

Winter Roads

Residents should be aware that the roads in Batcombe will not be gritted during icy weather and so great care should be taken when driving on our roads in such conditions.  Walkers are advised to wear light coloured clothing when walking on the roads in gloomy weather or on dark evenings and dog walkers need to keep their dogs under control at all times but especially when emerging onto our roads from footpaths.

Speeding in Batcombe

Following recent concerns about speeding in the parish and especially in Kale Street the Parish Council asked the Traffic Engineer at Somerset Council for speed data for Millards Hill, Kale Street and by the Playing Field.  This information can now be obtained from SatNavs and GPS trackers in vehicles.  The data showed average speeds of 19.6mph at Millards Hill, 18.6mph in Kale Street and 12.6mph by the Playing Field.  The 85th percentile (i.e. 85% of vehicle speeds are at or below this speed) were 24.7mph at Millards Hill, 25mph in Kale Street and 21.9mph by the Playing Field.

It is interesting to compare this data with the survey the Parish Council requested in 2008.  This showed average speeds of 22-24mph at Millards Hill (the survey was taken over nine days) and 17-20mph by the Playing Field.  In 2008 the 85th percentile was between 28 and 30mph at Millards Hill and 22-25mph by the Playing Field.  Thus, it would seem that, despite a perception of increasing vehicle speeds, speeds have actually fallen over the last 16 years.

The Parish Council feels that the real issue is poor driving rather than speeding and would remind drivers of the need to drive according to the road conditions, especially important where there are no pavements, where children and animals can move unexpectedly into the road and where ice and mud can make roads treacherous for emergency braking.

The Parish Council recognises the difficulty of parking in a village that was not designed for modern vehicles, but would ask residents and visitors to park considerately to allow access for deliveries and emergency vehicles and to ensure the safety of pedestrians and other road users.

Playing Field Litter Bin

This bin is intended for those using the Playing Field to dispose of their rubbish so that the Playing Field can be kept clean and tidy.  Please don’t use it as a dog poo bin - dog poo should be taken home and placed in your own wheelie bin.  And, without stating the obvious, please don’t put waste in the bin when it is full or leave waste on the ground by the bin.  If the bin is full, please take your waste home as it is important to keep the entrance to the children’s play are clean and free of dog poo.  The litter bin should be emptied once a week by Somerset Council.    

Problems on the Roads

Problems on the roads can be reported directly on the County Council website at www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/#problems-on-the-road This includes issues such as potholes, blocked gullies, overhanging hedges and other safety issues.  The County Council can be contacted by phone on 0300 123 2224.  Out of normal working hours, an immediate safety issue on the roads can be reported to the police on 101.

Parish Council & Unitary Council Election Results

The following seven people were elected to Batcombe Parish Council in May 2022: Jayne Cox, Peter Glaisher, Bryony Harling, Janet Jones, Clare Kingston, Tom Price and Ian Sage.  

Claire Sully and Alex Wiltshire (both Liberal Democrats) were elected to the two seats on Somerset County Council for the Mendip South Division and are now our Councillors on the new unitary Somerset Council.  Following Alex Wiltshire's resignation from the Council, Rob Reed (also Liberal Democrat) was elected to replace him in a by-election. 

New Play Equipment - Playing Field Re-Opened

Thanks to the grant of £58,976 from the Viridor Credits Environmental Company (from the Landfill Communities Fund), the Parish Council was able to place an order with Sutcliffe Play South West for new play equipment and installation of the new equipment took place in April 2021.   

The Parish Council would like to thank those children who entered the competition to design two plaques to go in the Playing Field, one asking people to "Please look after our Playing Field" and the other reminding people that no dogs are allowed in the Playing Field.  The winning designs for each sign have been installed in the Playing Field.

Church Tower Broadband Transmitting Mast

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) have agreed to the installation of a temporary wireless transmitting mast on the church tower to redirect the wifi broadband signal provided by Voneus more widely around the village.  The PCC note that this is a very low powered signal - weaker than a normal mobile phone signal.  A full statement from the PCC can be downloaded by clicking on the icon below.

Priority Services Register

Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution have a Priority Services Register for anyone who needs electricity for home medical equipment, or who is disabled, has a young baby or receives a state pension.  Those on the Register are promised support during a power cut.  To register call 0800 294 3259 from a landline or 0345 072 1900 from a mobile or see the webpage for more details of the Register: www.ssepd.co.uk/PriorityServices/

Planning Applications

Details of all applications the Council considers can be found by following the link to the Somerset Council's planning search page from the Planning Applications page.

Guide to Information Available from the Parish Council

The Freedom of Information Act requires the Parish Council to publish "A Guide to the Information Available from the Parish Council."  Now that the Council has a website, this guide is available to download from the Parish Council Documents page along with the Parish Council's Standing Orders and other policies and papers that the Parish Council is required to publish.