Bothenhampton - Parish Council minutes for February 2004

MINUTES OF THE BOTHENHAMPTON & WALDITCH PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, BOTHENHAMPTON ON MONDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2004.

Present: Mrs Regan (Chairperson), Mr Matthews, Mrs England MBE, Mr Harrison, Mrs Warburton, Mr Dennis. In attendance: D. R. Barnes (Clerk)

1. APOLOGIES.

Mr Coatsworth, Mr Tett.

2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 12th January 2004 having been circulated to all members were corrected in respect of items 6 and 15, then accepted as a true record of the meeting and duly signed.

3. MATTERS ARISING.

Item 3 - Road safety. It was confirmed that speed restrictions and applicable signage are a matter for the County Council.

4. DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.

Mrs Regan introduced Susan Anders, Bridport Town Council's Community Partnership Development Officer, who informed the meeting that she was attending in order to familiarise herself with current matters within the parish. This would improve the community planning support she will provide.
At 7.12pm the meeting was adjourned to enable members of the public to air their views on matters of local interest. At 7.22pm the meeting re-convened to complete the council's agenda, there being no further matters raised.

5. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR, REAR ADMIRAL G. PRITCHARD CB.

In respect of the setting of the Council Tax for 2004-5, there is a meeting of the executive of WDDC this week and 19th February is the day upon which a decision will be made on the rate to be applied. The Admiral stated that the publicised 'capping' of local authorities by central government should not be decided on by applying a maximum permissible fixed percentage increase onto last year's Council Tax rate, e.g. 5%. Actual legislation uses a different formula, which, when applied to WDDC, excludes the authority from those which are due to be capped. He pointed out that, since 1974, WDDC has charged rates below the national average.
Admiral Pritchard said he expected the application for planning permission for the waste transfer station on Burton Road to be refused and if not, the matter would be "called-in" by the Secretary of State.

6. REPORTS BY OTHER WDDC COUNCILLORS PRESENT.

Mr Tett sent a report by post which Mrs Regan read out. He suggested that a Council Tax rise of г15 is likely to be "capped" but he imagined Admiral Pritchard would inform the meeting of the situation in more detail. He advised that Vodafone has lodged an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a permanent mast at The Hyde. {Mrs Regan informed the meeting that Oliver Letwin M.P. is negotiating with Vodafone over the height of any proposed mast}.
Mr Roberts complained that, as Walditch's representative on the district council, he did not receive an invitation to attend a site meeting in respect of the Vodafone mast, which was attended by Oliver Letwin, Mrs Regan and other interested parties. Mrs Regan informed him that it was arranged hurriedly by Mr Letwin's secretary, to whom his complaint should be made.
Mr Roberts requested that, on future agendas, his report should be separated, as, of the four district councillors invited to the parish council meetings, he is the only one representing Walditch. The parish councillors raised no objection to this.

7. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR, MR COATSWORTH.

Mr Coatsworth had telephoned the clerk with the following comments:
An Order was made by DCC to change Footpath 25 to a Byway. Objections must be lodged by 26th March; he will be objecting. {The Clerk advised that no documentation had yet been received on the matter, which will be added to the agenda for the next meeting}.
Proposed waste management facility, Burton Road: DCC will make a decision on the planning application at 10am on 5th March at County Hall, Dorchester. He would be grateful for the attendance and support of any parishioners at the meeting, although none can speak publicly. {Mrs Regan informed the meeting that she will be contacting the Chief Executive of DCC to insist that she is allowed to speak on behalf of the parish council, which unanimously objects to the planning application}.
Proposed revisions to county electoral boundaries: Mr Coatsworth recommends support for them, especially as Bothenhampton will be kept out of the Bridport area as far as county elections are concerned.

8. PROPOSED WASTE TRANSFER STATION, BURTON ROAD.

Mrs Regan thanked Mr Tett and Miss Brown for speaking so well at the WDDC planning committee consultation meeting held on 5th February, at which the planning application was unanimously rejected. Mrs Regan asked the other parish councillors to send letters of protest to DCC Environmental Services. {The deadline for this is 4th March}. Through the Chair, Mr Dennis asked Admiral Pritchard to explain why Gore Cross is not being considered for the site. The Admiral informed the meeting that conditions were set on the capital investment which took place there, which limit its use to a business park, rather than an industrial estate, thereby preventing any facility such as a waste management centre from being built. Mrs Regan confirmed that the parish council has not yet received any plans from DCC or been formally consulted on the planning application. She pointed out that the proposed building is one third higher than the Wessex Water sewage works and would occupy an area twice as large, as well as damaging the 'Jurassic Coast' area. Mrs Regan read out a letter from a concerned resident and it was agreed that a full discussion on the waste management centre will take place at the next meeting of the parish council.

9. QUIET LANES INITIATIVE.

Mr Harrison was unable to attend the meeting in Bridport in January, hosted by CPRE, as he was at another meeting on behalf of the parish council. After a brief discussion in which the suitability of Lower Walditch Lane for designation as a 'Quiet Lane' was questioned, due to its being a busy link road to the A35, it was agreed to defer any final decisions or recommendations until the next meeting.

10. ALLOWANCES FOR PARISH COUNCILLORS.

The clerk passed to Mrs Regan details of changes to allowances payable to parish councillors, for distribution by her to the other councillors. It was agreed that a decision on this matter would be taken at a later meeting.

11. WEST DORSET SPRING CLEAN.

The clerk read out a letter from WDDC which appealed for volunteers to assist in this event in April. Having discussed at the last meeting the lack of insurance cover for the council in respect of its volunteers, it was agreed that the council will take no part in the event.

12. PLANNING.

A] Applications received from WDDC/DCC:
WDDC:
1/W/2003/2381: Fosse Way, 11 Bowhayes - Increase height of roof to proposed extension: No Comments.
1/W/2003/2492: 1 Beverley, Walditch Road -Conversion of existing dwelling into two self-contained flats: No Comments.
1/W/03/002460 - 87 Gundry Road, Bridport - install two dormer windows & convert roof: No Comment.
1/W/04/000177: 6 Bowhayes - Erection of Conservatory: passed to Mrs Regan for comment.
1/W/04/00090: Corner Cottage, Walditch Road, Walditch - Erection of rear single storey extension & internal alterations: passed to Mrs Warburton for comment.
DCC: None
B] Decisions by WDDC/DCC:
WDDC:
1/W/03/002225: 22 Uplands, Walditch - erection of extension, dormer window, two roof lights: permission granted.
1/W/03/002094: 4 Hyde Cottages, Walditch - erection of two storey extension and alterations to first floor windows: listed building consent approved.
1/W/03/001857: 65 Gundry Road - erection of single storey extension: permission granted.
1/W/03/002281: 23 Bowhayes - erection of single storey extension: permission granted.
1/W/03/002124: 14 Manor Fields - erection of conservatory: permission granted.
DCC: None.

13. FINANCE

A] Statement of Account as at 31 January 2004.
The Clerk informed the meeting of the current position.
B] Accounts for Payment.
Mrs Regan (expenses)ЕЕЕЕЕЕЕЕЕЕ. г14.33
Bothenhampton Village Hall (hire)Е.Е.....ЕЕ.г15.00
Clerk's salary (December)ЕЕЕЕЕ..ЕЕ.....г242.33
Clerk's office expenses (quarter)ЕЕЕЕЕЕ.г139.51

Mrs Regan proposed these accounts should be paid. This was seconded by Mr Matthews and agreed by all of the other councillors.

14. REQUESTS FOR GRANTS.

The clerk read out a letter from the West Bay Sea Angling Jetty Partnership, which appealed for the parish council's endorsement of its campaign for the building of an angling jetty at West Bay and financial support. The letter was passed to Mrs Regan for circulation to all councillors with a view to making a decision at a later meeting.
The clerk read out a letter from Bridport House Club, a Bridport youth group reliant upon fund-raising and grants for its income. Children belonging to the club take part in games, sports, arts & crafts, discos and visits. Mr Matthews proposed that the council award the club a grant of г100; this was seconded by Mr Harrison and agreed by all of the other councillors.

15. VITAL VILLAGES.

Mrs Regan (had) circulated copies of the Bothenhampton Village Statement and Parish Plan to all parish and district councillors present. The Vital Villages committee had protested to DCA and WDDC that the brochure should proceed to print, which it did, but awaits official approval by WDDC. The following was agreed in respect of distribution of the publication:
Valley Road: Mr Harrison
Lansdowne Road: Mr Dennis
Mountjoy/Wych Hill/Marsh Gate: Mrs England
Crock Lane (from Bowhayes inc. Elwell): Mrs Warburton
Hollow Way, Crock Lane (inc. Bowhayes, Slades Green, Maple Gardens, Glebe Close & Pasture Way): Mrs Regan
It was agreed that letters of thanks should be sent to parishioners David Young and Geoff Deakin for their major contribution to the project and, following receipt of the balance of grant funding, a letter of thanks to Simon Thompson of DCA.
The Village Statement and Parish Plan brochure for Walditch will be discussed at the next meeting.

MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.

1. Vital Villages.
2. Parking at Old Church Road & Long Lane junction, Bothenhampton
3. Precept 2004-5.