MINUTES OF THE BOTHENHAMPTON & WALDITCH PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, BOTHENHAMPTON ON MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2008 AT 7P.M.

Present: Geoff Matthews (Vice Chairman), Bob Dennis, Colin Sparkes.. David Stubbs, Peter Tobutt, Audrey Pearson, & Elizabeth Welch. In attendance: Chris Dobbs (Clerk).

1. APOLOGIES.

Apologies were received from Ron Coatsworth, Karl Wallace.

2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting of Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council held on Monday 14th January 2008, were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and duly signed by the Chairman.

3. MATTERS ARISING.

3.1 Traffic speeding in Crock Lane - 30 m.p.h. roundels painted at various intervals along the length of Crock Lane, and remarking of junction at Pasture Way and Main Street.

3.2 Fingerpost Sign in Hollow Way - John Bright Fencing agreed to carry out work. Roger Ffooks to carve lettering before sign is erected by contractor.

4. DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.

At 7.07 pm, the Meeting was adjourned to enable members of the public to air their view on matters of local interest. At 7.30 pm, the Meeting re-convened to complete the Council's agenda, there being no further matters raised.

5. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR BOTHENHAMPTON.

David Tett gave February Report.

As regard The Parish Polls Campaign, this was briefly touched upon at your last Meeting since when events have overtaken and there is to be a Village Meeting on the 19th February.

As far as your Council is concerned, I have corresponded with your Clerk and the Monitoring Officer of the District Council in the interim. The advice I have is:-

1. The matter not being a local issue, it need not necessarily be discussed by the Parish Council, and
2. District Council will conduct the Poll, but the costs (in the region of £1,000.00 and £1,500.00), will have to be met by the Parish Council. However, it is possible The Campaign Alliance for Referendums in Parishes may pay the costs, but there is no guarantee. Regarding the Application for the Land adjacent to 9 Mountjoy: Again, I have been in touch with both your Clerk and the District Council.

I can now confirm that the Application has been Refused on the ground that the proposed development would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the locality.

6. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR WALDITCH.

Mark Roberts had nothing to Report.

7. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR - RON COATSWORTH.

Ron Coatsworth had given apologies for the Meeting.

8. PLANNING.

A) Applications received from WDDC/DCC.

8A1-1/D/07/002057 Land adjacent to 9 Mountjoy. *Received e-mail from David Tett.
8A2-1/0/07/002172 Dwelling adjacent to 18 Uplands. * Objection sent 3/1/08.
8A3-CA/08/0019 Prune tree 4 The Green Walditch. * comments by 15/2/08.
8A4-1/0/08/000164 20 Pasture Way, to David 11/2/08.

B) Decisions by WDDC/DCC etc.

8B-1 CA/07/00419 Reduce crown, Beech Tree, Highfield, Walditch, - authorisation to complete work.
8B-2 Email from Graham Cox re tree inspection in Walditch.
8B-3 1/D/07/002057 Refusal. See details in previous notes 8A.
8B-4 1/D/07/002057 - refusal " " " "

9. FINANCE.

Finance a) Statement of Account as at 31 January 2008 - £6,292.09.
b) Accounts for Payment

Less Outstanding Cheques:
922 Allianz Insurance £101.55
923 Clerk's Salary £314.21
924 Clerk's Expenses £59.59
925 EDF Energy £3,884.65
926 First Dorset Credit Union £200.00
927 Ralph Probert (Allotment) £8.00

All accounts listed were proposed for payment by Audrey Pearson and seconded by Colin Sparkes, carried by Parish Council.

10. PARISH MATTERS.

10.1. Parish Polls Campaign - Action - debate re proposed Parish Meeting. Advice from DAPTC & NALC - does not constitute a 'Parish Affair'. Audit Commission may consider payment for Poll to be unlawful. Action - Chairman to acknowledge letter from Mr Finch, and comment that contents about a Parish Poll have been shared and noted by PC.

10.2 Grant for Village Halls - PC were reminded that Budget Statement for 2008/09 had allocated £1500.

10.3 John Gundry Play Area, Walditch - Friends have been asked to delay report to March Meeting. Mark Roberts informed Meeting that PC were entitled to purchase discounted Litter Bin for Play Area. Action - Clerk to arrange purchase of Litter Bin (Need to arrange emptying of bin by local residents).

10.4 Street Cleaning Schedule. Action - Have verbally requested for Hollow Way and Main Street to be extended to Marrowbone lane and Crock Lane by Church.

10.5 Road Safety Meeting - Action - Playground sign to be relocated.

10.6 Bus Stops in Sea Road South + A35 Crown Roundabout. Action - Reported to A35 Action Group.

10.7 Planning Seminars - Clerk given consent to attend Training Meeting on 2.4.08 Parish Councillors informed of Planning Seminar dates on 12th and 19th March.

10.8 The Parish Council were informed of the appointment by the Audit Commission of Auditors for Bothenhampton & Walditch, - BDO Stoy Hayward LLP. The appointment is for a five year period from the 2007/08 accounts.

10.9 New Fingerpost sign for Hollow Way - DCC have agreed to pay for replacement - Action - Clerk to obtain fair estimates

10.10 Connecting Dorset - Action - Clerk to encourage PC to offer an annual Internet grant to Village Hall Committees. No Action agreed - to table for future meeting.

10.11 WATAG - Parish Councillors Bob Dennis and Elizabeth Welch have agreed for their interest in transport matters to be forwarded to WATAG. Action - Clerk to forward email addresses to WATAG Secretary.

10.12 Mrs Castle, 60 Howard Road - concerned about broken fencing and overgrown area in lane behind 60 Howard Road. Action - Clerk to investigate.

10.13 Peter Tobutt, Walditch - Concerned about the conditions of roads in Walditch. Presented photographs showing examples. Gave plan of drain sites that were blocked, and iron fencing damage on land alongside Walditch Road. Also requested Street Cleaning Schedule for Walditch. Action - Clerk to investigate.

11. CORRESPONDENCE

To be tabled as listed:-

11.1 Planning - Application for dispensation. Action for Parish Matters, March Meeting.
11.2 WATAG AGM.
11.3 BLAP - Funding Opportunities.
11.4 BLAP - Steering Group Agenda.
11.5 BLAP - Affordable Housing.
11.6 A30/35 Update.
11.7 West Dorset Spring Clean. Action - Bothenhampton and Walditch to take part.

The next Meeting will be held in Walditch Village Hall on Monday 10 March 2008, commencing at 7.00 pm.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9.00 p.m.

MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.

David Rickard - concerned about blocked drains in Hollow Way. Aggressive cutting of Hollow Way Bank - suggested hand cut 2 x a year. Asked if Parish Poll was included in Parish Matters.

Roger Ffooks - Street Cleaning - was still concerned about frequency of cleaning in Long Lane. Has re-bedded the Notice Board in Pasture Way. Was thanked by Chairman, Geoff Matthews.

Elizabeth Garlick - concerned about traffic flow in Walditch village. Could 30 mph signs be considered or SID. Mark Roberts requested that DCC Councillor to be informed of any progress.

Robert Stapleton - Demolished road sign in Shute Hays bend has not been replaced.

Homewatch News - Walditch is next on list for Pilot Cold Calling Control Zone after Burton Bradstock.
Enquired about Police involvement in Parish Council Meetings.