MINUTES OF THE BOTHENHAMPTON & WALDITCH PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, WALDITCH ON MONDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2007 AT 7P.M.
Present: Geoff Matthews (Vice Chairman), Audrey Pearson, & Colin Sparkes.
In attendance: Chris Dobbs (Clerk).
1. APOLOGIES.
Apologies were received from David Stubbs, Karl Wallace, Bob Dennis and David Tett..
2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
The Minutes of the previous Meeting of Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council held
on Monday 13 August 2007, were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and duly signed by the Chairman.
3. MATTERS ARISING.
Prior to the Meeting starting, Chief Inspector Alan Jenkins spoke to the residents
attending, as a car had recently been set on fire in Walditch. The Officer reassured
those attending that extra Police patrols would be carried out in the next few days and
every effort would be made to arrest the offenders.
From July 2007 Minutes - Lucy Chant and Helen Sawyer, from the Friends of John Gundry
Play Area, attended to report on the progress of the new play equipment installation.
The Project has been completed and the Contractors are visiting the site with representatives
from The Friends to discuss any snags that may have occurred.
An opening ceremony has been set for Friday 5th October at 4.00 p.m., and The Friends
will make all arrangements and send out invitations.
The Chairman congratulated Lucy and Helen for leading such a challenging project
that has produced an excellent play facility for young children.
3.1 Adoption of a Child Protection & Equal Opportunities Policy has been scheduled for
10.1 (Parish Matters).
3.2 A letter has been sent to WDDC concerning the Parish Council's corporate response
to Bothenhampton & Walditch Draft Conservation Area Proposals.
Action - Clerk to write to Conservation Officer seeking advice on Parish Council
proposals for extending Bothenhampton Conservation Boundary.
To provide the Chair's of Bothenhampton & Walditch Residents Association with an
outline of the Parish Council's corporate response.
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3.3 Letter has been sent to DCC re Parish Street Lighting.
Action - Reply received which has reassured the Parish Council that improvements
to the condition to lighting stock does not include any additional lighting units
nor will they increase the brightness of existing lamps. Copies of the DCC letter
agreed to be sent to David Weston, Ray Gibbs and Roger Ffooks.
3.4 The Chairman has written to The Bridport News regarding the vacancies for 3 Walditch Councillors.
Action - Vacancy Notice has been displayed with nominations to be in place by 29th September.
4. DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.
At 7.15 pm, the Meeting was adjourned to enable members of the public to air their
view on matters of local interest. At 7.35 pm the Meeting re-convened to complete
the Council's agenda, there being no further matters raised.
5. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR BOTHENHAMPTON.
No Report
6. REPORT BY WDDC COUNCILLOR FOR WALDITCH.
Mark Roberts - quiet month in WDDC. He is presently on Scrutiny Committee -
considering land drainage and in depth waste disposal. Pointed out that a newly
published Enforcement Policy was now in place (Clerk has copy in Correspondence).
Commented that Simon Ludgate of WDDC is concerned about Sycamore Avenue. Mark is
also involved with scrutiny of strategic partnerships and their operation.
Colin Sparkes heard unconfirmed Report of flytipping in West Bay - need to follow up
7. REPORT BY DCC COUNCILLOR - RON COATSWORTH.
Mountjoy School Planning Permission going ahead. As the site is presently a playing
field, £50,000 has been donated by WDDC to refurbish St Mary's Playing Field changing
facilities. This was a requirement for Planning Permission set by the Sports Council.
There is presently a scrutiny of Day Centres for the elderly. Number attending throughout
Dorset (except Bridport), are decreasing. DCC are carrying out Inspection of recycling
procedures e.g. food waste disposal - high costs involved - 20% of average waste bin
contents is food waste.
8. PLANNING.
A) Applications received from WDDC/DCC.
1/W/07/001156 May Cottage - erect fence. * Approval 10.9.07
1/W/07/001433 7 Crock Lane. Development of Land.
CA/07/00295 23 Main Street. Fell 2 spruce.
B) Decisions by WDDC/DCC etc.
CA/07/00223 Remove cherry tree. No objections.
1/W/07/001064 The Hyde, Walditch. Approval.
1/D/07/001268 17 Gundry Road, Conservatory - Approval
1/D/07/001305 7 Nordons - Loft conversion. Approval.
9. FINANCE
a) Finance Statement of Account as at 31 August 2007 - £7,519.17.
b) Accounts for Payment:-
892 Friends of John Gundry Play Area (Paid 18.8.07). £618.00
893 Connecting Dorset (paid 28.8.07) £980.01
894 Open Spaces Society £30.00
895 Bothenhampton Village Hall £12.00
896 Dorset County Training Partnership £30.00
897 St Mary's, Walditch £750.00
898 Clerk's Salary £314.21
899 Clerk's Expenses £24.11
900 Walditch Village Hall £15.00
901 DCC Homewatch Sign £17.53
All accounts listed were proposed for payment by Audrey Pearson and seconded by
Colin Sparkes carried by Parish Council.
10. PARISH MATTERS.
10.1 Child Protection & Equal Opportunities Policies presented to the Parish
Council and agreed for adoption as proposal by Colin Sparkes, seconded by Audrey
Pearson, and agreed by all present.
10.2 Revised Code of Conduct.
Confirmation that all Councillors had signed the new Declaration of Acceptance,
and, established in the Registration of Interests, that they had not received
any gifts of £25 or above. All newly appointed Councillors to sign the reviewed
Registration of Interests form.
10.3 Nominations for DAPTC Committees.
Action - to be carried forward to next Meeting.
10.4 Road Safety - Both Geoff Matthews and Audrey Pearson have agreed to meet
with Doug Chalmers, DCC Senior Road Safety Officer, on Tuesday 25th September at
10 am outside the Village Hall - to consider 30 mph roundel for outgoing traffic
and possible re-siting of road signs (Main Street/Hollow Way).
Action - Councillors to be informed of Meeting Date. Reschedule consideration of
speed limit signs in Walditch to the next Meeting.
10.5 Survey of Highway Maintenance.
Action - Colin Sparkes agreed to be designated member for Highways.
Clerk needs to complete survey.
10.6 Flood Risk Management - Paper to Colin Sparkes to be considered at next Meeting.
10.7 Corrugated iron supporting bank of footpath adjacent to Crock Lane and going
past No 76. Bank/Land adjacent to footpath is responsibility of owner (Not DCC).
10.8 Garages adjacent to footpath in Crock Lane - are privately owned and not responsibility of DCC.
10.9 BLAP - Notification of Steering Group Meeting on Thursday 13 September 07.
Action - Representation from Parish Council is Colin Sparkes and Karl Wallace.
10.10 Approval of Virgin Wireless Internet for use by Clerk when he receives Connecting
Dorset IT Equipment. It was proposed by Geoff Matthews and seconded by Colin Sparkes,
that the Parish Council would meet half (ie presently £10 a month), of the cost of
Wireless Internet for all Parish Electronic usage. Carried by all Councillors present.
10.11 First Direct Credit Union - request for supporting financial grant - Action -
Geoff to raise at next Meeting.
10.12 Chairman's Seminar dates - no Action.
11. CORRESPONDENCE
To be tabled as listed:-
11.1 Chainsaw Course
11.2 Planning Enforcement Policy & Procedures - Action to Geoff Matthews.
11.3 DAPTC Newsletter nb Audit for 2008 - 31.7.08. Action Audrey Pearson.
11.4 Connecting Dorset Newsletter.
11.5 WDDC Housing Strategy - Consultation Day 12.10.07.
11.6 CPRE Magazine Fieldwork. Action to Audrey Pearson.
11.7 LCR Magazine September 07. Action to Colin Sparkes.
11.8 Charles Street Project. No Action
11.9 WDDC - Dog Control Orders. Action - to Geoff Matthews.
11.10 Clerks & Council Direct - September 2007. No Action.
11.11 Christmas Refuse Collections. Action - for Notice Boards October 097.
The next Meeting will be held in Bothenhampton Village Hall on Monday 8 October 2007, commencing at 7.00 pm.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9.15 p.m.
MATTERS RAISED IN THE DEMOCRATIC HALF HOUR.
1. Del Davies referred to email from Graham Cox, Senior Tree Officer DCC, giving
permission for reduction of the lower canopy of the Horse Chestnut on Walditch Village Green.
Action - Clerk to arrange removal of debris by Friday 14th September.
NB. Village Barbecue on Walditch Village Green on Sunday 16th September.
2. Del Davies requested Parish Council's response to Draft Conservation Area Appraisal document.
3. Robin Stapleton verbally outlined his recently completed assessment of Sycamore
Trees Avenue adjacent to Walditch Road. Will produce written report soon. Commented
that mature trees are in a reasonable state although one is poor and in need of pollarding.
2 replacement trees are dead - all choked with weeds. Site needs urgent attention -
need to contact Tree Officer.
4. A villager who arrived late expressed her appreciation of the new Play Area.
She wonders whether a sign may be necessary to specify age group of users e.g. Young
children between 3 and 12. Action - PC to consider guidelines notice for using equipment
in John Gundry Play Area.