MINUTES OF THE BOTHENHAMPTON & WALDITCH PARISH COUNCIL. MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, WALDITCH ON MONDAY 9TH MARCH 2009 AT 7 P.M. ,

Present: Karl Wallace(Chair),Bob Dennis (Vice Chair),Audrey Pearson, Colin Sparkes, David Stubbs, Peter Tobutt, Pennie Jones, & Elizabeth Welch. In attendance: Chris Dobbs (Clerk).

89. APOLOGIES.

89.1 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.
89.2 There were no apologies.

90. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting of Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council held on Monday 12 January 2009, were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and duly signed by the Chairman.

91. MATTERS ARISING.

91.1 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, November - 67 to 77, January 2009 - 78 to 88, March 89 to 99, April 100 - 110 etc. This is following the advice of the Internal Auditor, and creates a unique set of Minutes for each month in the year.

91.2 Walditch Ward - Action - reminder to Meeting of one vacancy.

92. 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.

93. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR BOTHENHAMPTON.

District Councillors David Tett's Report for March2009.

1.The Council Tax is to rise by 2.5%, which is less than had previously been envisaged.
2. A couple of Planning matters:

a) Firstly, the Appeal of C.G. Fry & Son for a Change of Use of agricultural building and silage clamps to touring caravan storage at Church Hayes Farm, Bothenhampton, was dismissed.

Such development would have a detrimental effect upon a conservation area and a harmful impact on the landscape quality of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

b) Secondly, and by way of information only, Mr David Bolton of 20 Mountjoy, Bridport made a complaint to the ombudsman against the District Council.

The Ombudsman ruled that he was satisfied there had been no maladministration on the part of the District Council over the due process, although he had no power to question decisions properly made.
However, if the offending roof tiles do not discolour within a matter of months from now, he is to take the matter up again with the Planning Authority.

Chairman of the Parish Council, Karl Wallace, commented that he was now a District Councillor and a member of WDDC Planning Committee, and would hand over the Chair for the Parish Council Planning Agenda only to the Vice Chair, Bob Dennis, at this and forthcoming monthly Meetings. This was understood and agreed by all Parish Councillors present.

David Tett gave apologies for the next Meeting on Monday 20 April 2009.

94. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR WALDITCH

District Councillor Mark Roberts - indicated that WDDC were looking for savings of £300000 on Community Housing Grants.

Mark mentioned a letter from WDDC on Energy Efficiency Improvements to private homes in West Dorset. The Clerk indicated that the letter would be tabled in Correspondence.

95. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR - RON COATSWORTH.

District & County Councillor Sandra Brown attended the Meeting as Ron Coatsworth had another commitment.

Alongside David Tett, Sandra is a member of the WDDC Scrutiny Committee.

Dorset County Council making a 3.5% Council Tax increase, and were hoping not to make a cut in services.

Waste Transfer Station in Bridport - a series of 4 Meetings with invites extended to 2 Parish Councillors.

Mountjoy School - decision on new School site to go to Public Consultation

96. PLANNING - Vice Chairman to lead Planning Agenda only as agreed in Minute 93, dated 9 March 2009.

96.1 Planning Applications - letter outlining Parish Council Procedures.

96.2 20 Mount Joy - letter from Ombudsman - Dave Bolton.

96.3 Letter from Chideock PC re planning.

96.4 Walditch Sycamore Avenue - letter forwarded to Mark Roberts.

a) Applications received from WDDC/DC :-

1/D/09/000299 - 7, Bowhayes - New Garage - to Audrey for Corporate View by 28/3/09

b) Decisions by WDDC/DCC etc.

Appeal Ref: APP/F1230/A/08/2088601 - Church Hayes Farm - change of use to touring caravan storage unit - Decision - I dismiss the appeal

1/D/08/002339 - 26 Uplands, Walditch - Approval.

1/D/08/001216 - 7 Nordons, Bridport - minor amendments.

CA/09/00020 - 8 South Lawns - authorization to carry out tree work

1/D/08/002094 - Vodaphone Mast, Walditch - confirm. of Approval ?

97. FINANCE.

i) Statement of Account as at 28 February 2009 - £7277.03
N.B. Informed Parish Council that Section 106 monies - £5,000 - paid into Parish Current Account - 20th January 2009.

ii) Accounts for Payment.

Less outstanding cheques:-

996 - Bothenhampton Village Hall - £12.00
997 - DAPTC - £15.00
998 - Clerk's Salary - Jan/Feb. - £704.00
999 - Clerk's Expenses - £45.65 Total £777.51
Balance £6499.52
Proposed for payment by Karl Wallace, seconded by Bob Dennis, and carried by all Parish Councillors present.

98. PARISH MATTERS

Agenda 98 - Parish Matters. - tabled to Parish Councillors present at Meeting on Monday 9 March 2009.

98.1 - Conservation Area Approval + comments on Hollow Way Footpath.
Action - Parish Councillors approved a letter of thanks be sent to DCC regarding the maintenance of Hollow Way Footpath - Action - Clerk

98.2 - BLAP Annual Assembly.
Action - Parish Councillors, Karl Wallace & Colin Sparkes to attend.
Colin commented on the successful setting up of Allotments in Symondsbury and Bradpole, mentioned at the recent Steering Group he attended. He also commented on a proposed collective Parish Councils funded 'Lengthsman,' scheme to deal with such issues as pathclearing and blocked drains etc. Peter Tobutt asked why should Parish Councils pay when a Council Tax levy has already been paid by residents.
A database of organization is in preparation by BLAP.

98.3 - Executive Advisory Panel on Waste Management Centre, Bridport.
Action - Karl to attend as representative from Bothenhampton & Walditch Parish Council

98.4 - Internal Audit 2008/09 & 2009/10.
Action - Agreed for Henry Lovegrove of Accounts & Audit Services Ltd, to be Internal Auditor for PC in 2008/09 & 2009/10.
Parish Councillor Elizabeth Welch agreed to monitor Audit arrangements with Clerk/RFO - Action - Clerk to prepare Accounts for 20/4/09.

98.5 - Safer Neighbourhoods - Police visits to local area.
Action - Clerk to place posters on Notice Board.

98.6 - West Dorset Spring Clean 2009.
Action - Agreed to take part at Bothenhampton & Walditch on Saturday 4 April from 10 a.m. to noon. Posters to be displayed at Village Halls, with black sacks to be delivered on previous day. Clerk has checked Insurance cover, and Insurers require all those taking part to wear a luminous tabard if collecting on roads. PC advised Clerk to enquire with Bridport Town Council to see if tabards can be loaned for the occasion.

98.7 - Home Choice Stakeholder Training
Action - Papers given to Elizabeth Welch for consideration.

98.8 - Friends of John Holt Play Area - £1000 Grant to be used by June2009. Action - Clerk to enquire if Grant can be used to purchase a storage shed for the Play Area small games equipment.


98.9 - Walditch Sycamore Avenue - update from Clerk.
Graham Cox is planning a meeting with the landowners to establish their obligations for management of the Sycamore Avenue. * Noted Jan. 2009
Action - Mark Roberts to follow up concerns with WDDC, and has been given update prepared by Robin Stapleton.
98.10 - John Lodder's Research Documentation. * From previous Meetings 2008
No Action - Bridport Museum thanked Parish Council for help.

Parish Councillors Agenda from floor :-
98.11 - Colin Sparkes enquired about Jellyfields streamside attenuation scheme.
Action - Clerk to contact WDDC regarding section 106 monies which may be available for such a scheme.
98.12 - Colin has concern about blocked drains in Hollow Way.
Action - District Councillor Karl Wallace to contact WDDC with concerns.
98.13 - Peter Tobutt noted that DCC Highways had not responded with any action since he submitted his list of Highways problems in Walditch to Malcom Osman at County Hall. His list included the poor state of the iron fencing in the Walditch Road, drainage problems, and general road conditions.
Action - County Councillor Sandra Brown offered to contact Malcom Osman at DCC Highways.

99.CORRESPONDENCE - to be tabled at Meeting.

99.1 - Helping West Dorset during the recession - to be distributed
99.2 - Dorset Bus and Train Times - January 2009 Supplement - Action - to Colin Sparkes.
99.3 - Energy Efficiency Improvements to private homes in West Dorset - Action - to Karl Wallace.
99.4 - Volunteer Centre - lunch, Monday 23 March - Action - no Parish Councillors available.

The next Meeting will be held in Walditch Village Hall on Monday 20 April 2009 commencing at 7 pm.
N.B. The 2nd Monday in April is Easter Monday - Monday 13th April 2009.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 8.15 p.m.

MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.

Robin Stapleton expressed concern about the lack of action as regards the Sycamore Avenue alongside Walditch Road. The history of concerns go back to 2002, with very little being done. Presently 1 tree is 90% dead, of the 6 replacements 2 are now dead, and 4 other trees are damaged. There is a need for the landowner to take action as the health and safety issue is acute.

Roger Ffookes mentioned the work which has been progressed on the ancient footpath alongside Hollow Way. The footpath had become overgrown over the years, and DWO have now cut back to expose the original path width throughout its length. The cutting back of the overhanging brambles still needs completion, and the application of selective weedkiller to control growth in the spaces between flagstones. Roger intends to write a letter of thanks to DCC in the near future.

A Walditch resident asked if the Parish Council Minutes were on a website. The Clerk informed the Meeting that Minutes had been placed on the Bothenhampton website for some years.