Executive Summary West Monkton Parish Council Meeting: 25th November 2025

Present: Cllrs Besley, Cavill, Chapman, Gage, Haskins.
Apologies: Cllrs C. Cronshaw, D. Cronshaw, Ellis, Munson.

Key Decisions & Updates
1. Administration
 Previous minutes (11 Nov 2025) approved.
 No changes to declarations of interest or DPI register.

2. Planning
 48/25/0062 – Canine Training Facility: Supported.
 48/25/0064 – Barn Conversion at Hyde Farmhouse: Supported with requests for
rainwater capture, downlit LED lighting, and wildlife features.
 14/21/0047 – Walford Cross Large Development: No new comments; previous
comments stand.
 Gladman’s planning application (Cheddon Fitzpaine) to be added to the next agenda.

3. Community
General Updates
 Community Café quiet until after school; promoting volunteering.
 Bereavement Café needs support on 3 Dec.
 Repair Café progressing; working on new impact recording system.
 Increased Companion Volunteers activity; new litter-picking volunteers (DofE
participants).
 Bingo sessions increasing in popularity—bi-monthly for 2026.
Events
 Festive Volunteer Evening (2 Dec): Music organised; awards to be presented by
councillors.
 Trailer/Tractor Christmas Event (18 Dec): Route agreed; 30 minutes at each stop.

 Events 2026:
o Easter Egg Hunt (4 Apr): £300 budget approved.
o Clothes Swap, Farm Walk, Share Event, and Funfest planning underway.
o Somerset Day/Shindig (9 May): Bands, compere and logistics booked;
considering celebrity opener; event to include dog show, opening of MCP,
food vendors, entertainment, activities, and guided walks.
o New Produce/Flower Show proposed for 1 Aug; additional seasonal shows
being explored.
o Exploring options for purchasing a fridge trailer.

Other Community Items

 35 of 60 haybales sold; reimburse supplier.
 Youth provision strong: Youth Café well attended; positive feedback from young
people. Funding discussions for 2026/27 ongoing.
 Approved payment for heating improvements at CSM Recreation Park (£466.68)
through HYPE funding.

4. Highways & Footpaths
 Potholes on Red Hill and Noah’s Hill to be re-reported.
 Updates given on SIDs installation.
 Persimmon to relocate Hartnells bin.

5. Environment
 Verge damage on Monkton Heathfield Road by Hinkley bus—Clerk to contact
operator.
 Brambles at Bridgwater Road pitch being controlled.
 Layby improvements at Thornash Close: residents' consultation feedback to be
reviewed next meeting.

6. Assets
MH1 POS
 Positive meeting with ManCo directors; alignment of financial years being explored.
 Platinum Walk signage design revised; A2 size on two posts; final design and quotes
to follow.

Country Park & Somerset Wood
 Extensive updates from Volunteer Coordinator on repairs, planting, equipment,
signage, and ongoing maintenance.
 Negotiations to acquire land between Maidenbrook Lane and Northwalls approved.
 Clerk authorised to pay final electrical connection bill.

BACH
 Coomber Security to repair automatic door button.
 Warm Hub equipment delivered.
 Solar panel progress pending.

Community Fridge
 Roof drainage fixed; exploring crate canopy and resurfacing with gravel.

Community Garden
 Bulbs planted; pumpkin-growing area reserved for Youth Café.

7. Projects
 Poppy of Honour – deferred.

 Hyde Park Sports Ground: Planning consent confirmed as imminent; pump track
and floodlight tenders live.
 MH2: Ongoing discussions with CSM PC; WMPC to restate preference for S106 over
CIL.

8. Future Items
 SALC training events noted.
 Boundary Commission consultation to be added to next agenda.
 Verge/knee-high fencing for MH1 to be installed by Parish Lengthsman.

9. Dates
Full list of 2025–26 council, committee, and working group meeting dates noted.

Note: This summary was produced by AI using the DRAFT minutes of the Parish Council
Meeting on the 25th November. The full minutes will be available on the parish council
website once they are approved at the next parish council meeting.