Village Hall

Village Hall announcements

PCC HARVEST SUPPER Raises £653

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North Perrott Church

On Saturday 19th October, the Parochial Church Council for St. Martins Church organised a Harvest Supper in the Hoskyns Memorial Hall. The event was very well organised and as usual, packed to the rafters with hungry mouths to feed.

Not for the first time, the event was used to raise funds for The Farming Community Network.

Trevor Cligg, who farms at Pipplepen, represented The Farming Community Network and gave a brief explanation about what work the organisation carries out within the farming community. (You can find out more about this charity and make your own donation by following the link.)

The delicious supper consisted of a three course meal with choices for each course.

Such a culinary delight involves the active participation of many willing helpers and thanks was given to the organisers and their many youthful assistants.

Together with the raffle, the Treasure of the PCC is happy to announce that a grand total of £653 was raised and will be donated to The Farming Community Network.

The PCC would like to convey their sincere thanks to all who took part.

Extraordinary MEETING OF NORTH PERROTT PARISH COUNCIL

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This message is a reminder of the previously advertised notice that an Extraordinary meeting of North Perrott Parish Council will take place in the Hoskyns Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 22nd October 2024.

This meeting is specifically to discuss the planning application 24/01609/FUL for a proposed bungalow in Stonage Lane. More information is available on the Somerset Planning Portal https://ssdc.somerset.gov.uk/planningdocuments?ref_no=24/01609/FUL

Information about previous Parish Council meetings are available to view on the Parish Website.

Please remember to sign up for email alerts on the website if you have not already done so.

A MEETING OF NORTH PERROTT PARISH COUNCIL

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TONIGHT!

This message is a reminder that the Bi-Monthly meeting of North Perrott Parish Council will take place in the Hoskyns Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 2nd July 2024

The agenda and past minutes are available to vew on the Parish Website.

Please remember to sign up for email alerts on the website if you have not already done so.

In other news, the village Fete is this Sunday from 12pm to 4pm on the cricket ground.

Grand Draw tickets are available from the Farm Shop

D-DAY – 80th Anniversary. Balloon Glow 9.30pm Thursday 6th June

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North Perrott will commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings with a hot air balloon “glow” in Church Lane.

Meet on the Village Green at 9.30pm and walk to the field oposite the church for the “glow” at 9.45pm.

The Manor Arms will be open before the event.

The significance of the 80th anniversary is as huge as the event itself. The youngest to have been involved in the landings, and eyewitness to events of the 6th June 1944, are now at least 98 years old. This is the last major anniversary that eyewitnesses will be present and it is important that their recollections are recorded for prosterity. Without the sacrifice and success of the largest every combined army, naval and air operation ever to take place, our freedom could never have been won from the occupation of Europe by the Nazis.

d-day80anniversaryguidev153Download

CO-OPTION OF NEW COUNCILLORS

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NPPC is currently looking for 2 new members to co-opt as parish councillors.

PLEASE DO NOT BE SHY!

It does not matter if lots of people put their names forward because the term of this Council has only 2 years left to run and so there are plenty of chances to serve at a later date. Like other parishes, North Perrott struggles to convey the importance of community involvement but if we lose our own parish council, then local governance will be passed to Crewkerne Town Council, and our voice in local matters will be severely diluted.

If you think you want to know more, please read on and come to the meeting on Tuesday 7th May at 7.30pm at the Hoskyns Memorial Hall.

North Perrott Parish Council (NPPC) consists of 5 members, drawn from the people who either live or work in the parish. At the last meeting, two members offered their names for resignation and so there are currently two spaces available for co-option.

Being a parish councillor in North Perrott is not an onerous job but a new councillor would be expected to undertake a basic training course (paid for by NPPC) and attend bi-monthly meetings regularly. You must abide by the Council’s code of conduct and standing orders, both of which are published on the website. The amount of extra work would depend on current commitments and projects, but are normally split between councillors so that they amount to no more than a few hours each between meetings. There are currently a number of long running projects, including minor road improvements and new village gateways. Future projects include a 20mph zone around the village green and the hall. There will also be consultations about how the community money from the Solar Park will be applied for when it finally goes online in about 2 years time.

A Parish Council has three basic functions;

To communicate the needs of the Parish to the next tier of governement above, in this case the Somerset Unitary Council.

To respond to requests for consultation from Somerset Unitary Council on behalf of the Parish, the most frequent of these would be for planning applications.

To manage and develop community assets groups within the village, usually a community hall, sports of amenity areas and a cemetary.

For historic reasons, in North Perrott the village hall, cricket club and St.Martins churchyard are all managed by independent community groups, which leaves NPPC with less manditory work to do that most parish councils. This does not mean there are not important projects to be managed but it does mean that commitment as a councillor in North Perrott is not as onerous or time consuming as it might be in other parishes. We do however, communicate with the bodies that run these facilities, help with funding where we are allowed and assit them in grant applications, where funding is funnelled through normal goverment pipelines.

The last parish council elections were in 2023 (to co-encide with the start of the new Unitary Council) and elections are generally held every four years. An election only actually happens if there are more than 5 valid nominations, if there are less, then the applicants are deemed to be elected without oposition. Whenever there are less than 5 members, then the existing Councillors are empowered to co-opt new members up to a maximum of 5. A quorum for NPPC is 3, if we drop below 3 members then the process becomes rather complicated and we risk losing our status as a parish council. There are currently only 3 members!

To qualify to stand as a parish councillor, you must be:

*British or a citizen of the Commonwealth. You may also be eligible as a citizen of the European Union, however the criteria has changed now that the UK has left the European Union. Please check on the gov.uk website for advice about EU citizens’ voting and candidacy rights in local elections.
*At least 18 years old.
*Registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked, or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election.

*If you have a criminal record or are in bankruptcy, you may be banned from serving.

This is not a long term commitment and now is an ideal time to dip your toe into the experience of serving on a parish council. At the end of the 4 year term (2026), the Council has to be re-elected, and although some Councillors choose to continue to serve, it is healthy to have a regular change to keep the Council fresh and effective.

Pat Elson RIP

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Pat Elson

It is sad to report the passing of another well known resident of North Perrott.

Pat passed away on 2nd January, just over a year following a severe stroke while walking in the fields beside the village.

Both Pat and her husband’s families have a long, multi-generational association with North Perrott, as witnessed on the Roll Of Honour in St.Martins.

Pat and Martin raised their family at Wood Dairy, before moving to Hinton St.George for a number of years. When an opportunity arose to purchase part of the Old Bakery, they returned to the village along with their daughter April and her husband Julian.

For many years, Pat worked for the North Perrott Estate, fitting in where her skills were most appropriate. She ran the weekly market stall in Crewkerne but also helped in the nursery gardens and later on the fruit farm. Whenever there was a driving job, Pat would volunteer, delivering plants around Somerset, Dorset and Bristol. When she retired, she continued her love of walking and knitting. Many hundreds of hats, pairs of gloves and brightly decorated toys have been produced from her needles and sold in the farm shop. Her knitted egg cosies, complete with a creme egg, were a perennial favourite. Close to 100 of these flew off her red hot needles every Easter.

Pat will be greatly missed by her husband Martin, her children April and Leyland, her two grandchildren and everyone who knows her.

Pat’s funeral will be on 23rd January, 2.40pm at Yeovil Crematorium.

Following the service, the family invites anyone who knew Pat to celebrate her life at the Hoskyns Memorial Hall, North Perrott.

LOCAL TAXES SET FOR A STEEP RISE!

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TUESDAY 2nd JANUARY –

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This message is a reminder that the Bi-Monthly meeting of North Perrott Parish Council will take place in the Hoskyns Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 2nd January

The agenda and past minutes are available to vew on the Parish Website.

At the meeting, we hope to be joined by representatives from WESSEX INTERNET, to discuss their plans to connect North Perrott to the internet super-highway this year………….

The main agenda item is to set a budget and precept for the coming year. Most will be aware of the gaping hole in the Unitary Council’s budget of £81m. This represents 16% of their total budget and with no Government help forthcoming, this will have to be met by cuts and rises in local taxes.

The Leader of Somerset Council has written to all Parish and Town Councils to announce that they are considering cutting significantly, all non essential services, including “village maintenainance” (street sweeping, verge cutting, gulley cleaning etc) as part of a comprehensive public survey of what Somerset Residents wish to see happen to Council services to in the County. You can have your say in their 2024/25 budget Survey on their website.

In short, it looks as if all Town and Parish Councils will be asked to raise their precepts with the view to take control of a range of services, previously supplied by the Unitary Council. In response, Somerset Councillors are urging Town and Parish Councils to take this matter very seriously and already, Taunton Town Council has voted to raise its precept for an average band D property from £110 to £233 p.a. Precepts in Somerset vary widely, but North Perrott is currently £48 for the eqivilent band and the cheapest in our local area.

This meeting is a chance to discuss the current problems and possible solutions and there will be information available to make it easier to understand why this situation has arisen and an opportunity for you to guide the Parish Council with your wants and want nots.

Please remember to sign up for email alerts on the website if you have not already done so.

UPDATE on the PIPPLEPEN Solar Farm

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For those not following the Parish Council minutes, a few years ago, Elgin Energy began a process of applying for permission to build a large Solar Park at Pipplepen Farm. During the consultation phase, North Perrott Parish Council (NPPC) pushed for environmental improvements to the plan and in the first instance, Councillors were split in their support and declined the plan on the grounds of size and archaeological investigations, that had not then been completed. Almost two years later, permision has now been granted and Elgin Energy have sold the rights to construction and management to Scottish Power Renewables (SPR). SPR specialise in renewable energy and own many hydro-electric and wind farms. Pipplepen will be among the first of their solar installations and the first environmentally managed site. SPR sent a team to the last NPPC meeting and attached is the first of their periodic newsletters, to keep the community updated about their plans and progress.

Scottish Power are keen to emphasise that while there maybe a few tweeks to the plan, they have undertaken to honour everything that Elgin had agreed, including the community fund. Despite what the newsletter says, the community fund was agreed between Elgin Energy and Somerset District Council. Neither NPPC or South Perrott were consulted other than to agree that the fund would be split equally between the two villages. The value of the fund is calculated on the output of the site and is estimated to be about £128k in total. This fund, of which North Perrott will be entitled to half, will be released when power is finally switched on and energy is being supplied to the National Grid.

According to the plan in the newsletter, this is some time in the future and the NPPC will be organising one to two village consultations about how the money can be invested in our community. Ideas can be sent into the NPPC at any time. At this point it can only be explained that we will not be given the money, there will be a community fund that projects can apply for funding from via the NPPC. The funds can be used for a single large project, lots of small ones or a combination. They must be community based and jointly agreed between NPPC and the Community Liason team from SPR and any co-signatories of the original agreement. Presumably, as South Somerset District Council no longer exist, this part will be managed by Somerset Council.

Bellow

PIPPLEPEN SOLAR FARM finalDownload