MINUTES OF THE BOTHENHAMPTON & WALDITCH PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, BOTHENHAMPTON ON MONDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2003.
Present: Mrs Regan (Chairperson), Mr Matthews (Vice-Chairman), Mrs England MBE, Mr Harrison, Mrs Warburton, Mr Dennis. In attendance:
D. R. Barnes (Clerk)
1. APOLOGIES.
Rear Admiral Pritchard, Mr Tett, Miss Brown, Mr Coatsworth.
2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13th October 2003 having been circulated to all members were accepted as a true record of the meeting and duly signed.
3. MATTERS ARISING.
Item 5: WDDC's Council Tax rates are among the lowest in the country as well as the county.
Item 7: Pedestrian crossing on Sea Road South (A35). Mrs Regan informed the meeting that Dorset County Council will only reply to Oliver Letwin M.P. in respect of this, therefore she requested he send a letter, which he did and which Mrs Regan read out. Its contents are stated in item 8 below.
4. DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.
At 7.10pm the meeting was adjourned to enable members of the public to air their views on matters of local interest. At 7.25pm 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.
As Admiral Pritchard was absent from the meeting, no report was given.
6. REPORTS BY OTHER WDDC COUNCILLORS PRESENT.
As none of the District councillors was present, no reports were given. In his letter of apology for absence from the meeting, Mr Tett advised the clerk that he is awaiting further information from a WDDC planning enforcement officer regarding the temporary mast erected in Walditch.
7. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR, MR COATSWORTH.
As Mr Coatsworth was absent from the meeting, no report was given.
8. A35 PEDESTRIAN CROSSING [Sea Road South].
Mrs Regan again referred to the letter sent by Oliver Letwin which requests progress on this matter. She asked him to send the letter following the parish council's earlier unanimous decision to apply for a crossing. Regarding its precise location, Mrs England expressed concern that traffic might 'back-up' along Sea Road South as it halted at any crossing and Mr Matthews stated that the Highways Agency may not consider placing a crossing so near to an accident 'black spot', i.e. near to the traffic island at the western end of the road. It was agreed that further discussions will take place when Mr Letwin informs the council of any reply to his letter.
9. PARISH ROOM.
Nothing to report.
10. PARKING IN SLADES GREEN/CROCK LANE.
Mrs England reported that she had received a number of complaints from the local bus company regarding the obstructive parking of vehicles in Crock Lane. Mr Matthews reminded the meeting that a 'staggered parking' scheme had been introduced in an attempt to eliminate this problem, but it was not working and is not legally enforceable. Mr Harrison reported that Mr Proctor, a resident of Slades Green had written to him about damage to the road surface, which Bridport Police will monitor. Mr Warburton also expressed concern over the amount of congestion along Crock Lane. Applying for double yellow lines along one side of the road was put forward as a possible course of action but it all of the councillors agreed to discuss the problem further when Admiral Pritchard is present. Mr Dennis proposed that Mr Laurie from Dorset County Council Highways Department is invited to the next meeting to debate the subject. This was seconded by Mrs Regan and agreed by all of the other councillors.
11. SEWAGE WORKS & PUBLIC MEETING.
Mrs Regan confirmed that Mr Cleeves Palmer, Mr Peter Riddler (from Bridport & West Dorset Golf Club), Mr Ted Yates, former Town Surveyor, and Mrs England will speak at the meeting. Numbers are restricted to 100 at the Town Hall. The Clerk was instructed to formally invite the above representatives to the meeting and formally request the presence of the local press, as proposed by Mrs Regan, seconded by Mr Matthews and agreed by all of the other councillors. The Clerk confirmed that a member of the WDDC Environmental Health department will be in attendance and that the Environment Agency has advised him that the matter is outside its remit, which is restricted to the quality of effluent discharge, which they consider to be satisfactory.
12. ROAD SAFETY IN BOTHENHAMPTON VILLAGE.
Mr Dennis requested a debate on how to slow traffic down as it passes through the village, especially along Hollow Way and Main Street. He suggested the council considers the instigation of a 20mph speed limit, installation of speed cameras, yellow lines to restrict parking and making the joining of Hollow Way to Main Street a junction rather than a continuation, thus Crock Lane and Hollow Way becoming the continuous road instead, with a speed-reducing sharp turn in it. Mr Matthews pointed out that public
consultation would be required for certain schemes. After a discussion, the councillors decided to continue the debate with Mr Laurie of DCC, when he attends a future meeting.
13. PLANNING.
A] Applications received from WDDC/DCC:
WDDC:
1/W/2003/1891: Blueberry Hill Farm, Walditch - original plan was given 'No Comment' by Mrs Warburton by 24th October but she was passed an amended plan for her urgent consideration for which the clerk informed her that district planners were already chasing.
DCC: None
B] Decisions by WDDC/DCC:
WDDC:
1/W/2003/0954: Antennae at Hyde Plantation, Near Walditch Road, Walditch - Permission refused.
1/W/2003/1838: 67 Gundry Road, Lower Walditch - Permission granted.
DCC: None.
14. FINANCE
A] Statement of Account as at 31 October 2003.
The Clerk informed the meeting of the current position.
B] Accounts for Payment.
Bridport Town Council, rent on allotments
For year ending 30/09/04………….£44.80
Clerk's salary (October)…………...242.33
Mr Matthews proposed these accounts should be paid. This was seconded by Mr Dennis and agreed by all of the other councillors.
15. RESOLUTION RE: SETTING OF BUDGET/PRECEPT FOR 2004/5 & FORECAST 2005-7.
The Clerk presented various information to the meeting, including year-to-date expenditure as at 31/10/03 and made comments about potential changes to the budget for next year, as well as requesting the councillors to declare any interests in the organisations to which S137 grants may be given next year. He informed the meeting that WDDC has requested the submission of Precept applications by 12th December 2003, therefore it was agreed that the councillors would consider what budgets should be for next year and the subsequent two years by and at the next meeting on 8th December. By then, the clerk will investigate DAPTC's recommendation that a 5% "inflationary" increase is applied to budgets with a 20% increase for insurance premiums. Mrs Regan proposed that Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance is awarded a grant of £200 in 2004-5; this was seconded by Mr Matthews and agreed by all of the other councillors.
16. REQUESTS FOR GRANTS.
None.
17. VITAL VILLAGES.
Mr Harrison informed the meeting of the current financial position. Mrs Regan reported that there is a meeting of the Vital Villages committee on Thursday 13th November to progress the Bothenhampton project, which may require some amendment.
18. PARISH MATTERS.
Footpaths & Roads - The Clerk was instructed to write to DCC again in respect of the refilling of the yellow grit bins. Mr Harrison reported that he might attend the training day on Parish Rights of Way on 26th November. He will be discussing an issue with Footpath W5/7 in Walditch with DCC shortly. The Clerk was instructed to request that the dog fouling notices ordered from WDDC be sent to him for distribution to councillors at the next meeting.
Street Lighting - Lamp no. 112 on Sea Road South is not working.
Play Areas - The clerk informed the meeting that he had just received the final Lease document from the solicitor which will facilitate the transfer of responsibility for the 'Cemetery Field' from Bridport Town Council to the parish council. When he has read it, ensuring it contains no deviations from the terms previously agreed by the parish council, he will pass it to Mrs Regan for signature. Once signed by the Town Council, the area will become a Play Area, (once appropriate insurance cover has been confirmed).
The clerk informed the meeting that he had been advised by WDDC that the safety inspection of the play equipment in the John Holt Play Area will be completed on Tuesday 11th November.
Bridport Regeneration Area Partnership - Mrs England reported that this organisation is considering amalgamating with Bridport Community Initiative. All of the other councillors agreed that Mrs England should become the parish council's representative on this body should the merger take place.
DAPTC - Mr Matthews reported that the next quarterly meeting of DAPTC is to be held on December 4th, which he will attend with Mrs England.
It was noted that the Chief Executive's Circular 22/03 had been received.
19. CORRESPONDENCE.
WDDC: Details of refuse collection days over the Christmas period; copy of letter to Mr A. Norman regarding the condition of the sycamore trees on land adjoining Walditch Lane; copy of questionnaire for completion by the public ref the first draft Community Plan.
DCC: Bus and train timetables for Bridport and Lyme Regis for the winter period.
Other -
Bridport Town Council: Advice of appointment of Community Partnership Development Officer and next meeting on 18th December at 2.15pm.
Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership: invitation to attend its Annual Forum (passed to Mr Matthews on 27th October).
CPRE: TCG newsletter; Countryside Voice magazine.
Open Spaces Society: Open Space newsletter.
NALC: Annual Review & Accounts 2002-2003.
Sport England: Survey of community sports facilities in small rural communities.
Mailshots from skateboard ramp and log cabin/products suppliers.
The next meeting will be held in Walditch Village Hall at 7.00pm on Monday, December 8th.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 8.35pm.
MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.
1. Vodafone mast in Walditch.
2. Growth of weeds along Main Street, Bothenhampton.
3. Congestion along Crock Lane.
4. Traffic cones not collected since completion of roadworks.
5. Maintenance of Jellyfields area.
6. Website for Walditch.