Minutes of the Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council Meeting held in the Village Hall, Bothenhampton on Monday 14 October 2002.

Those present for the monthly meeting were: - Mrs.Regan Chair person, Professor Eastham, Mr.Matthews, Mrs.Clements, in attendance M.C.Farnham [Clerk] Rear Admiral Pritchard and Mr.Coatsworth

1 APOLOGIES

Mrs.Sawyer, Mr.Harrison, Mrs.England

2 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 9thA September 2002 having been circulated to all members were accepted as a true record of the meeting and duly signed.

3 MATTERS ARISING

Nothing raised

4. REPORT BY DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REAR ADMIRAL PRITCHARD

Rear Admiral Pritchard confirmed that the District Council had just had a visit by Inspectors from the Improvement Agency. This was a weeklong look at how WDDC operated, both internally as well as externally. A MORI poll was carried out on 2,000 members of the public. The inspectors reported verbally at the end of the week, with written confirmation by the end of October 2002. It was reported that WDDC provide a good service, but with room for improvement internally particularly communications between officers of the Council. The budget process for 2003/04 is about to start and Council Tax will rise, not least because of the recently agreed 2 year pay award; along with the cost of kerbside collection of waste, plus recycling requirements by central government which will add £4, £6 and £4 to Council Tax over the next 3 years. He confirmed that for every £38,000 on the budget there is an addition of £1 on the Council Tax. The improvements to West Bay Coastal Defences will continue for the next 18 months.

5. REPORT BY COUNTY COUNCILLOR Mr.COATSWORTH

Mr.Coatsworth reported on the new partnership between the County Council and District Councils in relation to the provision of help and support to people in need. The committee overseeing this is made up of 12 Councillors 6 from the County Council and 6 representing the District Councils. While in the past WDDC provided support for people via housing benefit, in the future this support will be provided by DCC.

6. DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR

At this point the meeting was adjourned to enable members of the public to air their views on matters of local interest. The meeting then re-convened to complete the Council’s agenda.

7. FIRST CREDIT UNION – SMALL BUSINESS LOANS

The Clerk referred to the letter received from the First Dorset Credit Union Ltd. concerning small business loans, asking that the notice enclosed with the letter be displayed on a local notice board. Following a short discussion on the matter it was agreed that the notice should be displayed.

8. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

The Clerk referred to the papers received and it was agreed that these should be circulated to all Councillors before the matter was discussed further.

9. PARISH COUNCILLORS AREA OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Mrs.Regan informed the meeting that she considered that this information should be displayed on Parish notice boards . Following a short discussion on the matter, the Clerk was instructed to provide and put up the required information.

10. PLANNING

  1. Applications received from WDDC;
    Applications received from DCC; None

  2. Decisions by WDDC; Decisions by DCC; None

11. FINANCE

[a] The Clerk informed the meeting of the current situation, i.e. Capital Account £16,501.08 Current Account £6,644.32

[b] The following accounts were approved for payment.

    [1] M.C.Farnham Salary for October 2002, £203.54
    [2] Mrs.Regan towards expenses for September 2002 £12.31
    [3] Hire of Bothenhampton Village Hall on the 5 August & 9 September 2002 £20.00
    [4] Supply of Electric for Street Lighting 2nd quarter SWEB £303.03

Mr.Matthews proposed that these accounts be paid, this was seconded by Professor Eastham and agreed by all the other Councillors.

12. REQUESTS FOR GRANTS

The Clerk informed the meeting that 2 requests for grants had been received.

[1] Bothenhampton District Church Council has requested their second half-yearly instalment for the upkeep of the churchyard. This is covered by the Parish Council precept; the first payment had been made of £450. It was proposed by Mr.Matthews that the second payment of £450 is made, this was seconded by Mrs.Regan and agreed by all the other Councillors.

[2] Walditch Church has requested payment of their grant for the upkeep of their churchyard. This is covered by the Parish Council precept. It was proposed by Mr.Matthews that this payment of £550 is made, this was seconded by Mrs.Regan and agreed by all the other Councillors.

13. VITAL VILLAGES

Mrs.Regan reported that the committee has now the required bank account and that the grant money held by the Parish Council had now been transferred to this account. She also confirmed that the first of 2 open meetings had been held at Walditch on the 12 October 2002, which had been attended by Mr.Letwin MP. The second open meeting is to be held on the 19 October 2002 in Bothenhampton.

14. FOOTPATHS & ROADS

[1]The Clerk informed the meeting that he had received verbal confirmation that the footpath between Westown and Lake Lane will be resurfaced in the next few months. The amount of resurfacing will be restricted to a width of about 1.5 metres.

[2] The Clerk referred to a letter dated 12 October 2002 to DDC for a number of residents in Bothenhampton concerning Footpath No14 and its change to a Byway. Following a short discussion on this matter it was agreed by all Councillors that the Clerk should write to DCC in support of this letter.

[3] It was reported that a kerb was missing at the junction of Crock Lane and Hollow Way.

Action; Clerk to write to DDC on item2 14[2] & 14[3]

15. STREET LIGHTING

Nothing to report.

16. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Mrs.Clements reported on the meeting she had attended in relation to the Police Partnership Trust and it was agreed that the papers should be circulated to all other Councillors.

17. CONSERVATION & OPEN SPACES.

The Clerk informed the meeting that he had received the proposed transfer documentation in relation to the Open Space at Lower Walditch, which needed to be signed by the Chair and Vice Chairpersons. Once this document had been signed it would need to be returned to the Parish Council’s Solicitors for counter signing by the developer at which time the money relating to the maintenance of the area would be forwarded to the Parish Council to invest, the sum now stands a just over £23,000. Following a discussion on this matter, it was agreed by all Parish Councillors that the Chair and Vice Chairperson should sign this document. The Clerk also confirmed that a bill had been received from the Parish Solicitors amounting to £651.90 in relation to this matter, it was proposed by Mrs.Regan that this bill should be paid, this was seconded by Mr.Matthews and agreed by all the other Councillors. Mrs.Regan also pointed out that the area is again in need of a further cut and it was agreed to include this requirement in the letter to the Parish Solicitor. Action Clerk to return the signed document to Parish Solicitor

18. PLAY AREAS

[1] John Holt Play Area; Mrs.Regan reported that the new surfacing in had now been laid along with the new item of play equipment. The grass would now need one final cut before winter. The Ivy on the walls still needs to be removed and it was agreed that the grass cutting contractor should be asked to carry this out when he cuts the grass. Mrs.Regan was thanked for all her work in relation to the provision of the new surfacing.

[2] Play Area Walditch; Mr.Matthews reported that he was awaiting details of the depth of trench and its reinstatement from the electricity company Western Power Distribution [WPD] before he could get an up to date costing for this work. It was agreed that a site meeting was required to determine what other measures were required for this area. It was agreed that Mr.Matthews, Mrs.Regan and Mrs. Clements should meet when the details had been received from WPD.

[3] Possible Play Area Lower Walditch; The Clerk reported that he had now received confirmation for the Diocesan of Salisbury Advisory Committee had at their September meeting agreed to recommend this change of use. The papers received had already been passed to Professor Eastham to consider the next step. Professor Eastham reported that a “Petition for Faculty” set of forms had to be completed and returned to Salisbury. Public Notices have also to be displayed near the area concerned for a period of 28 days to allow time for people to object. Following a discussion on this matter it was agreed that the Clerk and Professor Eastham should meet to complete and return the necessary forms along with a cheque for £126.83 to Salisbury. The Clerk also reported that he had received a letter from the Valley View Residents Society concerning the provision of “No Dogs Allowed” notices for this area. This request was noted.

Action the Clerk & Professor Eastham to meet to complete forms

19. BRIDPORT REGENERATION AREA PARTNERSHIP MEETINGS

As the proposed meeting to be held on the 11 September 2002 had been cancelled there was nothing to Report on this occasion. Also received were a copy of the minutes of Western Area Transport Action Group meeting held on the 19 September 2002.

20. DORSET ASSOCIATION OF PARISH AND TOWN COUNCILS

The Clerk informed the meeting that the AGM Meeting is to be held in October 2002 and gave the papers to Mr.Matthews, as one of the Parish representatives.

21. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

[a] From DCC; None
[b] From WDDC; Letter dated 19 September 2002 concerning the cutting back of an ash tree at 7 Bowhayes, Bothenhampton.
[c] From; Letter dated 30 September 2002 from J.C.&R.H.Palmer Ltd. confirming that they could not help in the provision of a Parish Council Office. Copies of notices concerning Dorset Food Week were received

There being no further business for discussion the meeting closed at 9.30m.

MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR

Open space Lower Walditch Development.
Play area Lower Walditch Development
Footpath No14 possible change from footpath to Byway
Vital Villages
Waste Disposal site
Seat at Bothenhampton Church
Provision for fishing at West Bay