MINUTES OF THE BOTHENHAMPTON & WALDITCH PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, BOTHENHAMPTON ON MONDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2004.

Present: Mrs Regan (Chair), Mrs England MBE, Mr Dennis.
In attendance: D. R. Barnes (Clerk)

1. APOLOGIES.

Mr Matthews, Mr Harrison, Mr Tett.

2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 11th October 2004 having been circulated to all members were accepted as a true record of the meeting and duly signed.

3. MATTERS ARISING.

Item 12- Traffic congestion in Crock Lane, especially affecting buses. The Clerk was instructed to chase the matter up with DCC.
Item 12- Bus stop(s) along Sea Road South. It has been suggested that buses might divert into Maple Gardens and Pasture Way, stopping there instead of on Sea Road South. The Clerk was instructed to reiterate the council's general support for a bus stop, by writing a letter to DCC, copied to Mr Coatsworth. Mr Dennis stated that there is likely to be a two-year wait for such a stop.

4. DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.

At 7.16pm the meeting was adjourned to enable members of the public to air their views on matters of local interest. At 7.19pm the meeting re-convened to complete the council's agenda, there being no further matters raised.

5. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLORS FOR BOTHENHAMPTON.

In response to a matter raised in the Democratic Half Hour, Rear Admiral Pritchard recounted the circumstances which led to WDDC taking responsibility for the Jellyfields area, i.e. "by default", as neither the County nor the Parish Council were prepared to do so, due to the costs involved. The cash sum given by the developer is held by WDDC, interest accrued on it to be used for maintenance purposes. The Admiral pointed out that such interest is insufficient to cover the maintenance costs but WDDC is still obliged to maintain the area suitably. He suggested the parish council should request from WDDC a proper program of work to raise the area to the required standard. This was formally proposed by Mr Dennis and seconded by Mrs Regan; agreed by Mrs England.

6. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR WALDITCH, MR ROBERTS.

Mr Roberts made reference to the Dorchester transport plan, about which, the clerk confirmed, a questionnaire had been received.

7. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR, MR COATSWORTH.

As Mr Coatsworth was absent no report was given.

8. CO-OPTION OF PARISH COUNCILLORS.

A Resolution to fill all vacancies on the council by co-option was proposed by Mrs England, seconded by Mr Dennis and Mrs Regan voted in favour. Mrs Regan had welcomed Mr David Stubbs to the meeting earlier and now invited him to say a few words regarding his intention to put himself forward for co-option at the next meeting. Mr Stubbs articulated his reasons for standing and Mrs Regan then asked him whether he would formally represent Walditch, which he agreed to do. All Councillors looked forward to his co-option at the next meeting. In addition, a Mr Alan Stenning from Walditch has expressed an interest in putting himself forward for co-option, also a Mrs Kilpatrick from Bothenhampton. It was hoped that these individuals might be co-opted at the next meeting as well; Mrs Regan to confirm.

9. PLANNING.

A] Applications received from WDDC/DCC:
WDDC:
1/W/04/001241 - Willowmead, Lansdowne Road: Erect 3 dwellings, new vehicular access (as amended) and garage for existing dwelling. As agreed at the last meeting, Mr Matthews attended the planning committee meeting to withdraw most of the council's objections to the proposed development. Mrs Regan said he spoke well and the development is expected to be granted planning permission. Regarding the badger setts, these may not be in use near the development and the flooding issue should not affect the development, as it occupies higher ground.
1/W/04/001973 - 8 Nordons: Erect extensions: passed to Mrs Regan for comment.
1/W/04/001930 - 30 Pasture Way: Erect extension: passed to Mr Dennis for comment.
1/W/04/001961 - Renewal of 1/W/2002/0103: 7 Crock Lane: develop land by the demolition of the existing building and the erection of 2 dwellings: passed to Mrs Regan for comment.
1/W/04/001898 - Eastwood, Burton Road: Demolish existing bungalow and erect replacement bungalow and double garage: passed to Mrs England for comment.
1/W/04/001680 - 18 North Hill Way: Erect extension and conservatory: passed to Mr Harrison for comment. DCC: None
B] Decisions by WDDC/DCC:
WDDC:
1/W/04/001625 - 5 Chestnut Road: Erect front porch and rear conservatory: Approval granted.
1/W/04/001577 - 8 Glebe Close: Erect front and rear extension to garage and erect rear conservatory and front porch:
Approval granted.
1/W/04/001656 - 24 pasture Way: Demolish existing porch and erect single storey extension: Approval granted.
1/W/04/001595 & 1/W/04/01596 - Manor Cottage, Walditch Road: Demolish existing single storey rear extension and erect single storey garden room extension with dormer windows; carry out internal and external alterations: Approval granted.
1/W/04/001672 - 12 Elwell: Convert loft into living accommodation and erect extension: Application withdrawn.
DCC: None.

The Clerk reported on the Development Control Consultation he attended on 27 October. He referred to the recent recategorisation of planning applications, (as explained in WDDC's letter of 29 September, copied to all councillors on 11th October). A parish council's objection to an application categorised as 'Other' will no longer be referred to the Development Control Committee automatically - the Officer will be delegated to make this decision. A parish council's objection to 'Major' and 'Minor' applications will refer the decision to the Committee in consultation with the Director and Chairman of the Committee. The Local Plan is being replaced. Parish Councils' comments were sought via a consultation exercise already underway regarding the SWRA's Regional Spatial Strategy, as this body will be empowered to impose allocation of housing numbers directly onto WDDC, without reference to DCC in future. Lastly, Public Inquiries will be replaced by Public Consultations, reports by its inspectors being binding on district councils with no appeal allowed.

10. FINANCE

A] Statement of Account as at 31 October 2004.
The Clerk informed the meeting of the current position.
B] Accounts for Payment.
Clerk's salary (October)…...……………..……..……..£242.33
Clerk's quarterly expenses (July to September)…...…..£120.26
Bothenhampton Village Hall (hire)……………………..£15.00
David Landscapes (grass cutting)…………………...…£310.49
Mystic Signs (signage for Play Area)……………...……£89.08

Mrs Regan proposed these accounts should be paid. This was seconded by Mrs England and approved by Mr Dennis.

11. REQUESTS FOR GRANTS.

Bridport & District Citizens Advice Bureau. Following a brief discussion, it was proposed by Mrs Regan that the same grant should be given as most recently, believed to be £50. This was seconded by Mrs England and agreed by Mr Dennis.

12. PARISH MATTERS.

Footpaths & Roads - Bridleway 36. The Clerk read out a letter in which DCC suggested correcting the Definitive Map to show the correct route of this bridleway to match the actual route being taken. No objection was raised, as the existing route on the map seemed clearly incorrect.
Street Lighting - The Clerk read out a reply from DCC regarding the lighting columns in Manor Fields. In it, DCC confirmed that, on completion of the works, the new columns will be adopted by the county for future ownership and maintenance, subject to the road being an adopted highway. DCC advised that the shortest height used for residential columns is 5m. In accordance with the decisions taken at the last meeting, Mrs Regan proposed that replacement lanterns be purchased and fitted, then passed into the ownership of DCC for future maintenance/replacement. This was seconded by Mr Dennis and agreed by Mrs England.
Play Areas - Mrs Regan will investigate the apparent parking of a vehicle on the John Holt Play Area car park.
Neighbourhood Watch - It was reported that WPC Taylor has resigned as the Homewatch co-ordinator at Bridport Police.
DAPTC - Chief Executive's Circular 19/04 was referred to by the clerk, also the increase in subscription rates for 2005-6. Also received is the Annual Report for 2003-4. Mrs England confirmed her intention to attend the next meeting of DAPTC on 24 November.
Other - Mrs England and Mrs Regan had smelled foul odours earlier in the week, which they believed had emitted from the Wessex Water sewage treatment works on Burton Road. Mrs Regan will report these to DCC.

13. CORRESPONDENCE.

WDDC: Code of Conduct - Requirements for registering membership of Freemasonry; Sports Newsletter; agenda for Standards Committee meeting; Dorchester Transport & Environment Plan - notice of consultative meeting;
DCC: None.
BTC: Minutes of the September meeting of the Bridport Area Partnership Committee, now to be known as Bridport Local Area Partnership.
Magna Housing : Invitation to annual conference.

The next meeting will be held in Walditch Village Hall at 7.00pm on Monday, December 13th at 7.00pm.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 8.10pm.

MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR:

1. Jellyfields proposed Nature Reserve.