Bothenhampton - Parish Council minutes for May 2006

MINUTES OF THE BOTHENHAMPTON & WALDITCH PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, BOTHENHAMPTON ON MONDAY 8th MAY 2006 AT 7 PM.

Present: Alan Stenning (Chair), Geoff Matthews (Vice Chairman), Mrs Dorothy England, Karl Wallace. In attendance: Chris Dobbs (Clerk).

1. APOLOGIES.

Apologies were received from David Stubbs and Bob Dennis.

2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting of Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council held on Monday 10th April, were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and duly signed.

3. MATTERS ARISING.

Geoff requested that the Clerk investigated the procedures for registering public land with the Land Registry. To report to next Meeting.

4. DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.

At 7.50 pm, the Meeting was adjourned to enable members of the public to air their views on matters of local interest. At 8.00 pm the meeting re-convened to complete the Council's agenda there being no further matters raised.

5. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR BOTHENHAMPTON,

Mark Roberts commented on the urgency for the Parish Council to register Common Land. Oliver Letwin, West Dorset MP, to address a Meeting regarding car parking in Bridport probably in June 2006. Views need to be forwarded to MP prior to event.

6. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR FOR WALDITCH.

Mark Roberts agreed to make further investigations regarding the tree planting in Walditch. Also reported that new guidelines regarding tree planting applications had now been introduced. Clerk to distribute guidelines to the next meeting in June.

7. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR.

Mr Coatsworth commented on the cost of bus passes for Dorset, which amounted to Ł400,000. If all eligible people applied the cost would be in the region of Ł2.5 million - an impossible situation for the County Council.

Mr Coatsworth pointed out that education budgets from the Government were ringfenced, and that DCC were determined to maintain services for old people and children. Expressed concern regarding proposed libraries closures, especially Burton Bradstock which is highly used with each resident borrowing 49 books a year. Also the cost of running the library was not high. West Dorset Waste Disposal Plan, which is due for publication soon. The new site is not likely to be on the Burton Road.

8. PLANNING.

a) Applications received from WDDC/DCC.

Blueberry Hill Farm )
Hyde Farmhouse ) response to concern re breach of planning.
1/W/06/000530 - 8 Nordons. Approval 2 May 06.
1/W/06/000509 - Links View - to approve - Peggy England
1/W/06/000673 - Cemetery Lodge - to approve - Geoff Matthews
Local Plan Review - responses 19 May 06.
Nb Councillors support plan - no responses recommended.

b) Decisions by WDDC/DCC etc.
1/W/05/000139 - Eastwood, Burton Road. Approved amendments.
1/W/06/000476 - Manor Farm. Approved
1/W/06/000471 - Manor Farm Approved
1/W/06/000530 - 8 Nordons Approved
1/W/06/000430 - 12 Elwell. Approved
1/W/06/000546 - 7 Green Lane. May now proceed.

PC Notification Hyde Barn Cottage,
Manor Fields - footpath - response letter reply received 5.5.06.

9. FINANCE

A] Finance Statement of Account as at 30 April 2006 - Total Ł15,368.36. (with account for payments paid).

B] Accounts for Payment.

786 Clerk's Salary Ł314.21 790 Bothenhampton Village Hall Ł12.00
787 Income Tax Ł88.62 791 Training Ł25.00
788 Office Expenses Ł97.50 792 CPRE Ł26.00
789 DAPTC. Ł441.52 793 Clerk's Expenses Ł49.08.

10. PARISH MATTERS.

i) Walditch Play Area - Geoff and Karl met with Lucy Chant and Helen on Tuesday 2nd May. Notes from Geoff.

Meeting with Lucy and Helen on Tuesday 3rd.
More contact with DCA.
DCA have a model constitution for small groups set up for a specific purpose - so their position to access charity funds and grants would not be compromised by their being affiliated to a bigger organisation i.e. Parish Council.
Playing fields friends have another meeting with DCA on 14th June, before which they will have adopted the constitution suggested.
Numerous other potential sources of funds have been suggested and they have already started fundraising Ł500 (in kitty).
Subject to approval by PC I have said PC will investigate street signs - triangle, 'finger posts', direction sign, and sign for attaching to entrance gate - ? source found?

From time to time they will approach the PC for contributions towards grants (It is sometimes a condition of grants being made that they have backing from Parish Council).

ii) Signs for Walditch Play Area have been requested via Doug Chambers, Team Leader, Traffic & Safety Management, Dorset C.C.

iii) The Clerk requested to obtain a copy of the latest edition Arnold Baker Local council Administration. Approved by PC.

iv) Registering of Council owned land. To be investigated by Clerk for next Meeting.

11.CORRESPONDENCE

i) Vodaphone Site Share Project - Pre Application Consultation.
The letter requesting Pre Application Consultation for additional aerial equipment to be attached to the present structure, was forwarded by Bridport Town Council. Clerk to write to the company (LCC UK), to request that information is sent directly to Bothenhampton and Walditch PC.

ii) CPRE GARDEN party - July 2006.
No Councillors wished to take up invitation - can be extended to Clerk.

iii) It was considered that Bob Dennis may agree to represent Bothenhampton and Walditch PC at the seminar on Highway Maintenance, Thursday 20 July 2006 at 2.15 in Committee Room 1 at County Hall. Need to confirm at next Meeting.

iv) Letter regarding audit of sports facilities in Parish to be completed by Geoff Matthews.

v) Letter from Robin Stapleton enclosing copy of tree report on Walditch - Sycamore Avenue sent to Graham Cox, Senior Tree and Woodland Officer WDDC. Concerns shared by Parish Councillors who requested that the Tree Officer was contacted by the Clerk prior to the next Meeting.

The next Meeting will be held in Walditch Village Hall on Monday 12 June commencing at 7.00 p.m.

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

MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.

Roger Ffooks asked about the progress re appointing a handyman. Explained that PC decision was to extend Grass Cutting Contract to cover maintenance of High Pavement area as employment of handyman would result in increased admin costs plus further Health and Safety and risk assessment issues.