MINUTES OF THE BOTHENHAMPTON & WALDITCH PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, BOTHENHAMPTON ON MONDAY 13th FEBRUARY 06 AT 7 PM.
Present: Alan Stenning (Chairman), Geoff Matthews, (Vice Chairman) Mrs Dorothy England, David Stubbs, Rob Dennis. In attendance: Chris Dobbs (Clerk).
1. APOLOGIES.
Apologies were received from DCC Councillor Ron Coatsworth.
2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 9th January, were accepted as a true record of the meeting and duly signed.
3. MATTERS ARISING.
Letter had been written to Bridport Town Council and a reply received acknowledging Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council's support for the proposed refurbishment of the Crown and East Road Roundabouts.
4. DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.
At 7.10 pm the meeting was adjourned to enable members of the public to air their views on matters of local interest. At 7.25 pm the meeting re-convened to complete the council's agenda, there being no further matters raised.
5. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLORS FOR BOTHENHAMPTON.
David Tett - Thanks were expressed re support for Crown and East Road Roundabouts.
6. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR WALDITCH.
Mark Roberts - West Dorset District Local Plan Review - The Inspector's Report.
Comments were made regarding the lack of proposed development for all Dorset villages, the suggested reduction of car parking in Bridport to encourage a greater use of public transport and bicycles, and pedestrians use of the Town. It was noted that public transport is minimal and there was a consensus view that car parking should be extended.
In response to Bob Dennis' question re silting and the sand bar which has formed outside the harbour, Mark Roberts indicated that consultation was going out to fishermen/boat owners shortly and mentioned a forthcoming Environmental Committee. Suggestions were made that dredging was urgently needed in the harbour and on the newly formed sand bar.
7. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR, RON COATSWORTH.
Apologies given by Ron Coatsworth - no report.
8. PLANNING
A) Applications received from WDDC/DCC - as listed in the Monday 9th January Minutes - plus:-
6/2/06 1/W/06/000130 13 Crock Lane
9/2/06 1/W/06/000048 The Oaks, Walditch Road
16/2/06 1/W/06/000215 58 Gundry Road, Bridport
B) Decisions by WDDC/DCC
13 Crock Lane
4 Manor Fields.
9. FINANCE
A] Finance Statement of Account as at 31st January 2006.. The Clerk informed the meeting of the current position.
B] Accounts for Payment.
David Landscapes (for Grass Cutting and Hedging) £1,077. 42.
n.b. Agreed for payment at previous Meeting.
10. BUDGET/PRECEPT 2006-07.
Account sheets were given to Councillors.
WDDC have acknowledged the Precept for 2006-7, and 2 new spreadsheets with detailed expenditure against Budget for 2005-6 as at 1 December 2005, a projection of expenditure between 1/1/06 and 31/3/06, and an agreed Precept for 2006-07.
11. HANDYMAN
Letter from Council for Protection of Rural England requested information about the employment of Parish Orderly.
Dorset Association of Parish and Town Council consulted re employment of Handyman. Employers i.e. Parish Council, would have to comply with PAYE rules, pay and conditions, public liability, insurance, and carry out risk assessment of employee.
Councillors agreed to defer consideration of Handyman and to include the maintenance of the High Pavement and Hollow Way Footpath in the Tender for Grass Cutting which is presently being prepared.
12. TENDER FOR GRASS CUTTING SERVICES.
Copies of the Quotation letter were distributed to each Councillor and formally approved in detail. It was agreed to advertise for quotations in the Bridport News with a closing date for applications to be Friday 10th March.
13. PARISH MATTERS.
Complaints by residents in Asker Mead re double yellow lines in Walditch Lane. After some discussion it was recommended that DCC Highways Agency should be consulted directly by the residents concerned.
The RNID brochure about portable hearing loops was given to Mrs England for her consideration.
Geoff Matthews will present the Risk Assessment Report required by External Audit at the next Meeting.
Alan Stenning agreed to follow up mandate arrangement with NatWest.
Street Lighting PFI Project Consultation deferred to March Meeting.
14. CORRESPONDENCE
Rights of Way Liaison Officer - email )
Courses for Chairman ) to Alan Stenning
Garden Party Letter )
Clerk's Training Bursary of £75 received.
Walditch Play Area - noted email to Alan Stenning from Lucy Chant. Clerk has written reply by email but no response to date.
Casual Vacancies - Councillors may now co-opt to fill vacancies x 3.
Clerk agreed to write letter to be placed on the six Notice Boards in the Parish to seek volunteers.
Letter from Village Hall Committee indicating that scaffolding erected around an adjacent property was restricting the emergency exit. I am aware when writing up these minutes of a resolve to the matter and the hall now complies with fire regulations.
Local Plan Review letter re The Inspectors Report was noted that councillors did not consider it necessary to obtain separate copy of the Report. Is available on website www.dorsetforyou.com or at the District Council Office, Bridport.
Area Partnership Correspondence to Mrs England.
Document on archiving Parish Records given to Geoff Matthews.
Have replied by email to Roger Stribling's (Highways Agency), email on the need for direction markings on Burton Road/Crown roundabout access.
15. CONFIDENTIAL ITEM - CLERK'S PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
A Confidential Minute will be handed directly to Councillors.
The next Meeting will be held in Walditch Village Hall on Monday 13th March 2006 at 7.00 pm.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9.00 pm.
MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.
Recycling Scheme to start 20th March 2006.
Parked Vehicles - Old Church Lane/Long Lane - Roger Ffooks requested copy of response letter from DCC.
Representatives of Residents Associations given copies of Dorset Village of the Year Award 2006.
and West Dorset Spring Clean 1 to 30th April 2006.