MINUTES OF THE BOTHENHAMPTON & WALDITCH PARISH COUNCIL. MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, BOTHENHAMPTON ON MONDAY 11TH AUGUST 2008 AT 7 P.M.
,
Present: Karl Wallace (Chair), David Stubbs, Audrey Pearson, Pennie Jones, & Colin Sparkes.
In attendance: Chris Dobbs (Clerk).
34. APOLOGIES.
34.1 To remind Parish Councillors of the need to make a Declaration of Interest on any Agenda items where personal or prejudicial interest may arise. E.g. A Grant request for a Village Hall Project, or a Planning Application adjacent to a Parish Councillors home.
34.2 Apologies were received from Peter Tobutt, Ron Coatsworth, Elizabeth Welch, & Bob Dennis.
35. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
The Minutes of the previous Meeting of Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council held on Monday 14 July 2008, were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and duly signed by the Chairman.
36 MATTERS ARISING.
36.1 Numbering of Minutes from May 2008. Minutes to be numbered sequentially i.e. May - 1 to 11, June - 12 to 22, July - 23 to 33, August - 34 to44, September - 45 to 55, October - 56 to 66, etc. This is following the advice of the Internal Auditor, and creates a unique set of Minutes for each month in the year.
36.2 Planning Application, July 2008 - Church Hayes House - 1/D/08/000816 has been amended to read - Church Hayes Farm - 1/D/08/000816.
37. DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.
At 7.05 p.m. the Meeting was adjourned to enable members of the public to air their view on matters of local interest. At 7.15 p.m. the Meeting re-convened to complete the Council's agenda, there being no further matters raised.
38. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR BOTHENHAMPTON.
Report from District Councillor David Tett, Ward Member for Bridport South & Bothenhampton.
Anti Social Behaviour problems have been experienced in and around West Bay and, in particular, the West Bay Road Car Park by Road Racers late at night and in the early hours. The problems have got to a pitch where it has been necessary for a Section 30 Dispersal Order to be applied for.
The Order has been signed on behalf of both the West Dorset District Council and the Police and, following publication in the local press, will be implemented in about two weeks' time.
This will empower the Police to disperse groups of troublemakers and, if they persist in re-offending, they will be arrested.
To date the Police have limited powers and disturbances at West Bay and the Bridport Town centre have been dealt with on a velvet glove approach. In future they will also have the iron fist at their disposal!
If residents of Bothenhampton have any problems they should, in the first instance, be dealt with by the Ward Members. This is what we have been elected to do.
39. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR WALDITCH
Mark Roberts reported that some Refuse Collection Days had been changed in the Walditch and Loders Area. All residents will be informed by individual letter.
40. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR - RON COATSWORTH.
No Report.
41. PLANNING
Applications received from WDDC/DC
1/D/08/001216 - 7 Nordons - Erect dwelling - to Committee - David Stubbs to attend.
1/D/08/001227 - 16 Maple Gardens - Erect conservatory - to David.
Decisions by WDDC/DCC etc.
1/D/08/000918 - 9 Main Street, Bothenhampton - Approval.
1/D/08/000919 - 9 Main Street, Bothenhampton - Approval.
1/D/08/000933 - Land to rear of May Cottage - Approval
1/D/08/001002 - Bay View, Burton Road - Approval.
CA/08/00172 - Trees in Walditch Conservation Area - Authorisation.
TP/08/00170 - Tree Preservation Order - To fell 2 Sycamore trees and plant replacements - Granted. To fell 3 Scots Pine trees and plant replacements - Refused.
42. FINANCE
A) Statement of Account as at 31 July 2008 - £5470.64
B) Accounts for Payment.
000965 Clerk's Expenses £31.58
000965 Clerk's Salary £314.21
000966 David Landscapes £865.39
Approved for payment by David Stubbs, and seconded by Karl Wallace - carried by PC.
43. PARISH MATTERS
43.1 Amendments to the Annual Return - Action - Clerk.
Audit for the year ended 31 March 2008 - Clerk reported that amendments to the Annual Return were necessary, and these were authorized by the Parish Council, as requested by the Auditors letter dated 30 July 2008. Letter placed in 'Annual Return 2008 File - Audit Notes'.
43.2 - Parish Councillors Areas of Responsibility - Action - Parish Councillors.
As three Parish Councillors were absent from the August Meeting ,it was not possible to complete the Areas of Responsibility document. It is intended to print the document in September. Parish Councillors present agreed that Areas of Responsibility could be placed on the Bothenhampton website.
43.3 The adequacy and effectiveness of Internal Audit - Action - Elizabeth Welch.
To be placed on the September 'Parish Matters' Agenda.
43.4 - Clerk's Salary Review - Action - Chair to comment on present arrangements.
Parish Councillors agreed to increase the Clerk's Salary from the January 2006 hourly rate of £8.45( point 19 of the NALC & SLCC pay scale), to £9.242 an hour, being point 20 of the April 2007, NALCC & SLCC pay scales. There are currently no further agreed pay recommendations for April 2008. This increase is to take effect from 1st September 2008, as proposed by Karl Wallace, and seconded by David Stubbs.
43.5 Consultation on proposed extension to Bothenhampton Conservation Area and K6 Payphone.
See Minute 32.6, July 2008.
43.6 Bothenhampton & Walditch Parish Council monies held by WDDC.
The Clerk has now received guidance from WDDC regarding Section 106 monies held on behalf of Bothenhampton & Walditch Parish Council. As the sum of £20,000 may be spent on the 'maintenance of the open space', i.e. sites in the Lower Walditch area, past invoices will reveal any monies to be claimed in retrospect of maintenance schedules carried out since the Section 106 deposit was made.
43.7 Bridport Police - Contact with Parish Council - Action - Update by Clerk.
Clerk indicated that he hoped to arrange a liaison meeting by October 2008.
43.8 Provision of Allotments in Bothenhampton - Action - Comments re liaison with Bridport Town Council.
Bridport Town Council have kindly supplied a list of Bothenhampton residents who would like an Allotment. Strategies to investigate possible sites to be discussed at September Meeting, and Colin Sparkes agreed to become Allotments Officer.
43.9 John Holt Play Area - Action - David Stubbs.
David Stubbs has investigated the purchase of goal posts and nets for John Holt Play Area and requested to go ahead with the arrangements. The purchase price of £230 less VAT, was approved by Parish Councillors present, with some erection on site charges to follow. The old metal posts are to be scrapped at the earliest opportunity.
43.10 John Gundry Play Area, Walditch - Action - to be considered at September Meeting.
To include - reporting positive feedback, weekly visual inspections, raking of site.
The Annual Inspection of both John Gundry Play Area, and John Holt Play Area to be investigated by Pennie Jones.
43.11 Parish Owned Street Lighting - Action - Clerk.
Conversion to DCC ownership has been completed from 22 July 2008. All future responsibility for maintenance and energy supplies of street lighting in Bothenhampton is with the County Council. Clerk needs to inform EDF Energy, who are the Parish Council's present energy supplier.
43.12 Connecting Dorset - Broadband to a public building other than the Village Hall.
The Clerk indicated that the Connecting Dorset Project had now been extended to include public buildings other than the Village Hall.
43.13 Footpath in Hollow Way - Clerk to arrange for immediate cutting, and to investigate detailed maintenance with DCC Highways.
44 CORRESPONDENCE - to be tabled at Meeting.
44.1 DCC Sport Consultation.
44.2 Dorset Waste Forum.
44.3 Plans for Mound Car Park, West Bay.
44.4 Charles Street Project, Dorchester.
44.5 DAPTC Circular 10/08.
44.6 DAPTC Newsletter, Summer 2008( Copy to each PC).
44.7 Refuse and Recycling Rounds - changes to be made( every resident affected will receive a personal letter of advice).
The next Meeting will be held in Walditch Village Hall on Monday 8thSeptember 2008 commencing at 7 pm.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9.00 p.m.
MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.
David Bolton attended and spoke about his concerns regarding the bright red tiles that are being used for the roof of the new bungalow adjacent to 9 Mount Joy. He has written to the Planning Officer, Andrew Jordan, but not as yet received a reply. David asked for Parish Council support regarding this issue.
Action - to be considered at 41 - Planning.
Roger Ffooks, Chairman of Bothenhampton Residents Association will discuss the matter with David Bolton.
Roger Ffooks expressed concern regarding the neglected state of the Medieval Path in Hollow Way. There is a loose paving stone near the bottom, and parts of the path are very overgrown.
Action - (1) Clerk to contact Contractor re cutting back.
(2) DCC to be contacted regarding remedial maintenance of the Pathway.
Robin Stapleton - Telephone Report to Clerk, re tree on Walditch Village Green - showing further signs of deterioration and monitoring needs to continue,