Summary of Minutes – West Monkton Parish Council Meeting (9 June 2026)

Governance
 Apologies received from Cllr David Fothergill and Bathpool Flood Warden Kevin
Perry.
 No changes to declarations of interest or DPI register.
 Minutes of 26 May 2026 approved.

Clerk & Assistant Clerk Reports
Clerk’s Report – Key Activity
 Reviewed AIgenerated summaries of minutes before publication.
 Managed insurance renewals, cyber/professional indemnity quotes.
 Liaised with Lengthsman on hedge cutting, strimming, and maintenance tasks.
 Ongoing work with Environment Agency on Bathpool pumps; Section 19
investigation progressing.
 Highways: letters issued regarding parking issues.
 Finance: payments, payroll, audit queries, Scribe updates, debit card application.
 Planning: log updates, presentation prep, responses submitted.
 Country Park: byelaw enquiries, lottery reporting, container delivery.
 Sports Pitches: signage, padlocks, CCTV, utilities escalation, sponsorship, booking
system, inspections, grand opening publicity.
 MH2: meeting with planning officer; actions agreed re traffic calming and bus
service.
 MH1: baby swing installation scheduled; land registry queries.
 BACH: invoices, accounts, solar panel grant MOU.
 Extensive list of meetings attended in May/June.

Assistant Clerk Community – Key Activity
 Communications, volunteer recruitment, hall bookings, and community group
support.
 Pain Café setup (launch 15 June).
 NeuroConnect planning for summer sessions and Forest School use.
 Successful grant applications for HYPE and Awards for All.
 Youth work coordination across LCN; detached youth work plan finalised.
 Youth Café volunteer recruitment and programme delivery.
 Events: Funfest cancellation admin, Flower Show planning, Shindig delivery, Artisan
Market support.
 Ongoing community café, wellbeing sessions, bereavement and repair cafés.

Somerset Council Report (Cllr Cavill)
 Somerset Council received a onestar CIPFA rating for financial management.
 £18.9m spent on consultants since 2023.
 Significant planning enforcement backlog acknowledged.
 Crossparty support for SEND assessment improvements; major investment
proposed.
 £318k outstanding in Section 106 contributions.
 Public Health surveys open on vaping and alcohol support.
 A361 resurfacing repeated due to poor-quality initial work.

Reports & Public Questions
Bathpool Flood Warden
 EA progressing design and build quotes for pump upgrades.
 Likely expansion of project to re-engineer bund.
 Parish Council supports land access/purchase in principle.
 Clerk to liaise with SRA on £50m Flood Resilience Fund.

Communications
 Strong growth across all PC social media channels.
 Reminder issued on appropriate use of personal accounts.

Village Hall
 Noticeboards nearly ready; Cllr Haskins to collect.
 CCTV and digital lock quotes being gathered.
 AGM on 20 July.

Public Questions
 Issues raised: unauthorised advertising board, uncut verges, ragwort, brambles at
junior pitch.
 Clerk and Cllrs to follow up with SC/Persimmon and Lengthsman.
Planning
 No new applications.
 Care home application still pending; highways have raised concerns.

Finance – Quotes & Decisions
 Sports pitch fencing (125m Vmesh): £7,567 + VAT approved.
 Cyber insurance: J Gallagher quote (£375.92) accepted.
 Professional indemnity insurance not required.

Payments & Transfers
 Receipts/payments for May approved.
 Transfers approved:
o £45.34 from BACH to PC
o £2,606.97 to Poppy of Honour
o £50,000 from CCLA to Treasurer Account

Grant Funding
 £500 climate resilience grant approved.

Audit (AGAR)
 Internal audit findings reviewed; actions agreed (bank statement initialling, expense
policy enforcement, recurring payment cancellation, password reminders, etc.).
 Annual Governance Statement approved.
 Accounting Statements approved.
 Public rights period: 12 June – 23 July 2026.

Projects
Hyde Park Sports Ground
 Car park and drainage progressing well.
 Emergency access track being widened; grit topcoat approved.
 Obstructive post at pump track entrance to be removed.
 Safety fencing to be installed on bund; benches anchored; bin positioned.
 Gravel surface to be added beside pump track.
 New door for cricket container approved (£1,070).
 Height restriction bar being replaced at contractor’s expense.
 MOU with Rugby Club: electricity cost issue to be clarified.

Poppy of Honour
 Pavilion position agreed in principle: behind WW1 memorial stone, ground built up
rather than dug.
 Design: three solid walls, shutters, facing west.
 Position to be discussed with POH Committee on 11 June.

MH2
 Application delayed up to 6 months; resubmission required.
 S106 Heads of Terms discussed; further meeting in 3 weeks.
 Traffic calming and CIL boundary issues raised again.
Community

Detached Youth Work
 Policy and risk assessment approved.
Pump Track Container Painting Project
 £2,900 needed; GoFundMe campaign approved.

Assets
Country Park & Somerset Wood
 Wildflowers progressing; pond survey positive.
 Dog dipping station proposed.
 Flytipping removed; ragwort being cleared.
 Mower quotes being gathered; brushcutter to be considered.
 CCTV installation pending scaffolding poles.
 Wildlife code signage in development.
 Containers to be painted when weather allows.
 New noticeboard installed at Waterleaze.
 Royal Engineers request memorial bench.
 Anti-social behaviour: CCTV and reporting encouraged; PSPO not required for
underage drinking.

Heathfield Gardens POS
 Maintenance ongoing; second warning letters issued.
 Carousel swing repair ordered; baby swing installation due 24 June.

Environment
 No update on 20mph extension.

Other Matters

 Mower jack needed; rotten bollards to be replaced; footpath cutting required; drainage
improvements on Blundells Lane; brambles to be cut; damaged sign re-reported.

Next Meetings
 Business meetings: 14 Jul, 11 Aug, 8 Sept, 13 Oct, 10 Nov, 8 Dec.
 Community/project meetings: 23 Jun, 28 Jul, 22 Sept, 27 Oct, 24 Nov.
 Audit Working Party: 24 July.
 BACH Committee: 16 Oct.

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