Members of the public are welcome to attend all Parish Council meetings.

Minutes of Parish Council meetings since September 2014 are available in pdf format identified by date (yymmdd) from the menu on the left. Click on the link to download the pdf.

The 2020 Annual Parish Meeting was cancelled to avoid infringement of social distancing during the COVID-19 crisis.

Annual Parish Meeting 2021

The Chair of the Parsh Council welcomed the small number of attendees and gave her report (see below) on the previous year. No matters were raised.

The next Annual Parish Meetng, which is open to all residents of the parish, will take place in May 2022

Clatworthy Parish Council Review of Year 2020-21

The year has been dominated by the Coronavirus epidemic and associated lockdowns. These have impacted the Parish Council’s ability to meet and the local community from mixing safely. During the lockdown periods the community provided support to those who needed it and the parish council was able to report on this to local authorities.

Attempts were made to hold council meetings via ‘Zoom’ but unfortunately broadband strength was not good enough to support virtual meetings. Parish council work was managed by email, post and individual conversations, where required, with the outcomes and actions recorded against the meeting dates originally posted in May, November and February. The only attended meeting was held in August.

The Parish Council has been regularly updated on the proposals for reorganising Somerset’s council structure. District councillors have responded to direct questions promptly, for which the council is grateful.

It is with great sadness that this year the parish lost several of its current and past community. In our small parish each loss has been deeply felt. None of these were due to Covid-19.

The automatic heart defibrillator installed in the village phone box remains in good working order with weekly checks and monthly reports made to the NHS ambulance defibrillator accreditation scheme. The PC is concerned about the deteriorating state of the phone box which detracts from the view towards the church. Offers to the PC from volunteers to help repair and repaint it will be welcomed.

The PC continues to lead on opportunities to improve rural broadband via a local company laying fibre across private land. There was some delay to progress but it is expected that Clatworthy will be connected once appropriate permissions across Wessex Water land and wayleaves elsewhere have been granted.

The Parish Council responded in detail to the planning application to improve reservoir visitor facilities, raising concerns about the need to maintain and protect the natural feel of the surroundings and the impact of increased visitor numbers on local roads and residents. The PC advised on possible traffic management and signage to the reservoir and to avoid Clatworthy village. Wessex Water is taking relevant action and continues to liaise with the PC.

The issue of speeding through the village continues to be addressed by the PC, although the lockdowns have precluded further action at district and county council level. This issue will remain on the agenda.

Grants were made this year by the PC to support local charities/organisations including St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice, Wivey Link and Musgrove Park Hospital.

On moving away from Clatworthy, Lewis Baker relinquished the role of Parish Footpath Officer. The council thanks him for his years of work in ensuring footpaths and bridle paths remained usable and adequately signed. Peter Moran has taken on this role.

The PC is also grateful to hear that Ben Cowling has taken on Lewis’s responsibility for looking after the church bells.

From May, Norma Martin stands down as Parish Clerk. The Parish Council extends grateful thanks for her valuable contribution and work over many years supporting the council and the community. Her experience, advice and guidance will be much missed. The PC looks forward to working with her successor, Marcus Blackburn. Also standing down in May is Sophy Macintosh. The PC thanks her for her contributions and support as a council member over many years.

The Parish Council extends grateful thanks to everyone in the community during this difficult year. Without local support Clatworthy would not be the friendly and caring community it is – and lockdown might have been so much harder.

Sally Moran

Chair, Clatworthy Parish Council

Parish Council Meeting dates 2021/22

17 August 2021,

16 November 2021,

15 February 2022

24 May 2022

Meetings are held in Clatworthy Village Hall starting at 7.30 pm.

Dates and locations may be re-scheduled, in line with government advice.

For general enquiries please e-mail: clatworthyparish@gmail.com