Summaries of Parish Council business

1940-1944
(RPI Index-37-see Introduction)

1940

Spring 1940

On 15 February the Council met with Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. It was reported that nothing had been done about the leaking standpipes. The Clerk was asked to write to the Council again urging action to be taken. It was decided to buy a new piano for the Jubilee Hall from Messrs Godfrey and Co of Yeovil value £27:10 :0d for £21 allowing the Council £6:10:0d for the old one in part payment.

 The Statutory Annual Meeting was held on 28 March. Revd Richardson was re-elected as Chairman with Mr J Warren Vice Chairman. Members present were Messrs Appleby, Phillips, Perry and the Clerk. Complaints about the stiles between Ammerham and the Church were discussed and Mr Phillips agreed to see what could be done. The Clerk reported that the Auditors had ordered that a Register of Graves and Internment forms be kept and that a Fidelity Bond for the Clerk was needed. It was agreed to raise the Clerks salary by £1. A precept for £50 and various other cheques were signed.

Summer 1940

The Council met on 23 May, Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. It was agreed to raise the charge for the digging of a grave from £0:15:0d to £1:0:0d.Mr Phillips reported that the complaints about the footpath stiles was in hand and the Council agreed that the Jubilee Hall should be used by the school to accommodate evacuated children. Various cheques were signed. 

On 25 June the Council met with Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. The main business concerned the use of the Jubilee Hall as a school for evacuated children following an application from the L.C.C. Education Authorities. After discussion it was agreed to let the Hall for this purpose for £54 per annum, this charge to include payment for the Caretaker, cleaning and lighting. The School Authorities were to pay for heating and for the Urban District Rate. It was also agreed that the salary of the Jubilee Hall Caretaker should be raised to eight shillings per week with extra for scrubbing the Hall. Routine cheques were signed. 

A Special Meeting was held on 15 July to decide what action to take to prevent enemy aircraft landing on open fields in the Parish. A second meeting took place on 17 July attended by many local farmers. They agreed to help by creating obstructions where necessary. A resolution was carried to seek some professional advice from a suitably experienced R.A.F. officer. Revd Richardson chaired these meetings.

Autumn 1940

On 25 September the Council met, Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. A letter was read from Mr Homer, the Schoolmaster for the evacuee children, thanking the Parish Council and the residents of the village for their reception and kindness to the children. Routine cheques were signed. 

On 30 December the Council met with Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. There was little business of note. The state of the wells in Fore Street and of the Cemetery footpath were discussed and the Clerk was asked to write to Mr Partridge to stop allowing his fowls to trespass into the Cemetery! Routine cheques were signed.

Spring 1941

The Statutory Meeting was held on 19 March in the Jubilee Hall. Revd Richardson was re-elected as Chairman with Mr J Warren Vice Chairman. Other members were Messrs Appleby, Pym, Flory and the Clerk. It was decided to charge the Young Men's Club £1 for lighting in the Jubilee Hall and the Home Guard £0:10:0d.The Clerk reported that Mr Partridge had promised to try to stop his fowls getting into the Cemetery. The Clerk also reported that Mr Chick Churchill would be taking over the duties of Cemetery Caretaker from Mr Grabham with effect from 25 March at a salary of £12 per annum with the usual fees for grave digging. Various cheques were signed.

Summer 1941

On 30 June the Council met, Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. It was decided that due to the small attendance the business on the agenda would be left until the next meeting. Some cheques were signed.

Autumn 1941

The Council met on 5 September. Revd Richardson acted as Chairman. A letter was read from the Cemetery Caretaker Mr Churchill asking for an increase in salary from £12 a year to £16 and an increase for grave digging. The Council decided to increase his salary to £14 but not to alter the grave digging rate. The Chairman and Mr Phillips were appointed to represent the Council at a meeting in Chard to discuss salvage collection. The Clerk was asked to write to Mr Wheaton about a horse rake obstructing the footpath to Ammerham. Mr Homer, attending the meeting, reported that 82 evacuee children were attending the school out of the total of 143 who had come to the village. He said that 61 had gone home. Various cheques were signed. 

The Council met on 30 September. Revd Richardson was Chairman. It was reported that Mr Wheaton had moved his horse rake! The Chairman and Mr Phillips were appointed to represent the Council at a meeting in Chard Town Hall to discuss the best way of increasing the Village War Effort. Cheques were signed for:

(a) Mr Paul £7:4:0d
(b) Mr Churchill £5:10:0d
(a) Chard R.D.C. Allotment Rent £2:2:0d
(b) Clerks Salary £4:10:0d

On 29 December the Council met. Revd Richardson was Chairman. A letter from Chard R.D.C. was read out. It came in response to a request from the Parish Council for the village pump to be repaired. It queried the necessity for such a pump. The Clerk was asked to write saying that the Council considered the pump essential as in winter the mains water taps often were frozen. Another letter from Chard R.D.C. was discussed which complained of a gate on the pathway leading from Ammerham to Chard road being blocked. The Clerk was asked to reply saying that this gate was blocked by order of the police owing to a bomb being dropped in the field .It had now been removed. It was reported that the Cemetery Caretaker had stated that he may have difficulty getting time off work to dig graves. The Chairman agreed to seek the cooperation of his employers, Chard R.D.C. Various cheques were signed.

Spring 1942

On 12 January the Council met, Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. Mr Homer attended the Meeting to complain that the Hall was only scrubbed twice a year. After discussion it was decided to ask Mrs Paul, the Caretaker, to join the meeting. She did so and after hearing the complaint said she would scrub the Hall more frequently if she were paid accordingly. It was agreed to add £1 to her salary for the extra work. The Council agreed to join the Parish Council Association with Mr Phillips being chosen to represent Winsham. Various cheques were signed. 

The Statutory Meeting was held on 30 March in the Jubilee Hall. Revd Richardson was re-elected as Chairman with Mr J H Phillips Vice Chairman. Others present were Messrs Appleby, Perry, Pym and the Clerk. It was agreed to charge the Young Men’s Club £1 for electricity. Some routine cheques were signed.

Summer 1942

On 29 June the Council met in the Jubilee Hall, Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. Mr Phillips gave a short report on the meeting he attended of the Parish Council Association .It was decided to let Mr Partridge have the grass in the Recreation Field. Various cheques were signed.

Autumn 1942

On 28 September the Council met with Mr Phillips acting as Chairman. A letter from Chard R.D.C. was read saying that the Education Officer had informed him that the Education Authority is only responsible for the additional rates during the time the Hall is used as a school. The Clerk was asked to inform the Education Authority that the agreement is that the rent charged of £54 per annum included payment for the Caretaker and cleaning, the use of furniture and lighting. The School Authorities are required to provide heating and to pay the Urban District Rates. An application from the Caretaker for an increase in salary was agreed. The Young Men’s Club was granted the use of the Hall for the winter months for £5, which would include lighting but not heating. The Home Guard was granted use of the Hall for one night a week for six months, the charge to be £4.Various routine cheques were signed.

On 28 December the Council met in the Jubilee Hall, Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. It was agreed to increase the Caretakers salary to eight shillings a week from September to March and to three shillings a week for the rest of the year. It was decided to authorise the Chairman to examine the contents of the tin box belonging to the Parish Council held in the Westminster Bank, Chard. He was asked to examine the shares of the Royal Agricultural Society in particular. The Council discussed the large number of complaints they had received about Mr Partridge’s fowls damaging the Cemetery. The Clerk was asked to write to Mr Partridge telling him that the Council would claim for the cost of repairing the damage if the fowls continue to get into the Cemetery. Mr J H Phillips was appointed Schools Manager in place of Mr Warren who had left the Parish. The Clerk was asked to write to the Minister Of Health about grave digging charges as the Council was having difficulty getting the work done at the present rates. Routine cheques were signed.

Spring 1943

On 22 February the Council met in the Jubilee Hall. Revd Richardson acted as Chairman. The Clerk reported the Cemetery Caretaker had given three months notice to terminate his employment. It was agreed to advertise for a replacement in the Chard and Ilminster News. A letter from the Ministry of Health told the Council that it could raise grave digging charges by showing a further charge for wages but that this must not be shown on the table of charges as a fixed sum. The Clerk was asked to get Mr Loaring to repair the Jubilee Hall roof and to paint white lines on the steps at the entrance. A Precept of £25 was signed .

On 24 March the Council met in the Jubilee Hall for the Statutory Meeting. Revd Richardson was re-elected as Chairman with Mr J H Phillips Vice Chairman. Members present were Messrs Pym, Flory, Perry and the Clerk. The Clerk reported that no applications had been received for the post of Caretaker of the Cemetery. The Clerk was asked to speak to Mr Partridge about damage to the Cemetery railings .It was reported that the tin box containing Parish Council documents held at the Westminster Bank had been opened and its contents found to be correct. It was decided to have Winsham Parish Council painted on the front of the box. Various routine cheques were signed.

Summer 1943

The Council met on 29 June in the Jubilee Hall with Revd Richardson acting as Chairman .The Clerk reported that Mr J Singleton had undertaken the work of Caretaker of the Cemetery but could not do any grave digging .The Council agreed to confirm this appointment. A letter from Chard R.D.C. was read asking how many houses the Parish wanted to have built under the new housing scheme. A figure of twenty was agreed. An application for an increase in pay from the Caretaker of the Jubilee Hall was considered. It was decided to offer a flat rate of six shillings a week throughout the year. Cheques were signed for:

(a) Mrs Paul £3:18:0d
(b) War Damage Insurance £1:10:0d
(c) District Rate £3:3:2d
(a) The Clerk £7:5:10d to cover Mr Singleton £3:10:0d,Electric Light Co £1:15:4d,Insurance £0:15:0d,Grave Digging (one grave) £1,Ministers Fees £0:3:0d,Sextons Fees £0:2:6d

Autumn 1943

On 21 September the Council met in the Jubilee Hall with Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. It was decided to charge the Home Guard £8 for the use of the Jubilee Hall for the six months from October 1943 until March 1944 if used twice a week and £4 if once a week. The rate for the Young Men’s Club was fixed at £4 for the season running from October till March. Other charges for the hire of the Hall were to remain the same. The Clerk was asked to write to Chard R.D.C. and to the Chairman of the Water Committee about the leaking tap in Back Street. It was agreed to ask Mr Churchill to repair the swings in the Recreation Ground and for Mr Loaring to paint white lines on the steps of the Jubilee Hall. Various routine cheques were signed.

On 29 December the Council met in the Jubilee Hall .Mr J H Phillips acted as Chairman. The Clerk reported that the Home Guard had agreed to hire the Jubilee Hall on one evening a week during the winter. The Council was told of a complaint that the Home Guard was chalking notices on the doors in the Jubilee Hall. The Clerk was asked to ensure they stopped doing so. It was decided to advertise the Annual Meeting in the Chard and Ilminster News. Some routine cheques were signed.

Spring 1944

The Statutory Meeting of the Parish Council took place on 28 March. Revd Richardson was re-elected as Chairman with Mr J H Phillips Vice Chairman. Others present were Messrs Flory, Pym and the Clerk. The Clerk was asked to write to Chard R.D.C. to clarify their advice on the need to boil drinking water. This issue had been raised at the Annual Parish Meeting following a notice published by them .It was decided to ask Mr Churchill to repair the gates in the fields leading to Ammerham. Various routine cheques were signed.

On 28 April the Council met, Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. The question of allowing the Youth Club to hire the Jubilee Hall was discussed in the presence of Miss Harding. She explained that the Club had been using the school but as building work was now going on there it was no longer suitable. The Council agreed to her request and set a rent of one shilling and six pence per night for the first three months after which it would be reviewed. It was agreed that the charge for the use of the Hall for Salute the Soldier Week would be £2:10:0d. A Precept for £50 was signed.

Summer 1944

On 27 June the Council met with Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. Present were Messrs Flory, Pym, Appleby and the Clerk. It was reported that Mr Singleton had resigned as Caretaker of the Cemetery owing to the death of his wife. “He had found it impossible to carry on.” The Clerk informed the Council that Mr Mildon was willing to become a Parish Councillor .The Chairman proposed and Mr Flory seconded a motion that he be co-opted. This was carried unanimously. The Clerk was asked to invite Mr Mildon to the next meeting. Routine cheques were signed.

Autumn 1944

On 28 September the Council met. Revd Richardson was Chairman. Others present were Messrs Appleby, Flory, Pym, Phillips, Mildon and the Clerk. Mr Mildon signed the Declaration on Acceptance of Office of Parish Councillor. It was agreed to send a petition signed by parishioners, with a letter from the Parish Council, to the Southern Bus Company asking for a better service. The Clerk was asked to write to Mr Wheaton about the stiles in the fields leading to Ammerham. He was also asked to write to the police about the damage done to the War Memorial. The Council heard of “ complaints of damage done to windows by lads throwing stones and asking that the constable stationed at Winsham should put more time in at Winsham instead of Chard”. It was decided to ask Mr Churchill to put new chains on the swings in the Recreation Ground. The question of the water supply was discussed again and the Chairman promised to bring the matter before the next meeting of Chard R.D.C. Some routine cheques were signed.

The final meeting of the year was on 28 December. Revd Richardson was Chairman. A letter from the Southern Bus Company was read promising to try to improve the service. Another letter, this time from the Secretary of the War Agricultural Committee, was in response to one from the Parish Council asking whether a prisoner of war could be used to work in the Cemetery. This stated that the Committee could not release one for this purpose. Routine cheques were signed.

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