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Parish Council Minutes April 2006
Home > Parish Council > Minutes > Apr 2006
The Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on
Wednesday 12th April 2006 commencing at 7.30 pm. The Vice Chairman, Cllr Mrs
Margot Metcalfe presided; present were Cllrs. K Bryan, M Day, S Gibbons, C Hill,
Mrs J Nudds and M Williams with G Russell in attendance. Also present for part
of the meeting were County Cllr John Howell and one resident.
1 Chairman's opening remarks
Cllr Mrs Metcalfe explained that although the Chairman was present at the
meeting, he was recovering from a recent eye operation and had asked her to take
the chair. She thanked those who had been involved with the repairs programme at
the old buildings in the Cemetery and those who had attended the dedication
ceremony which had been conducted by the Rector, Rev. Sue Booys, on 8th April.
2 Apologies for absence
These had been received from District Cllr John Cotton. All members of the
Parish Council were present.
3 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Williams declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Planning
Applications PO6/W0317 18 Abingdon Road and PO5/W1081 Pippins, 22 Abingdon Road
(Amendment) as he lives next door to both properties.
4 Minutes of the Meeting held 8th March
The Minutes as circulated were approved and signed as a true record. The Council
noted that copies of the approved minutes are published on the Village website
and expressed the view that it was sufficient that the Minutes for the previous
12 monthly meetings should be made available via the website plus the minutes of
the most recent Annual Parish Meeting. Minutes of all past meetings are
available through the Clerk.
5 Matters Arising from the Minutes
a. The diseased tree in Tenpenny has been replaced with a walnut tree.
b. The County Council has now erected the new Village entry signs.
c. The Clerk reported that County Highways is unwilling to agree to a ‘slow’
sign in Manor Farm Road. Cllr Day has suggested letters to each household and,
possibly, some Parish Council slow signs. It was also pointed out that not
cutting the hedge on the verge also helps to slow traffic. Mr Devereux has told
the Chairman that he is willing to put up a slow sign on his own property. It
was agreed that a notice encouraging drivers to proceed more slowly should
appear in “Dorchester News”.
d. High Street garage site: the developer, Tim Bailey had told the Clerk on 10th
April that he is trying to progress the figures so that construction can start
but is still attempting to get reduced the quote of £130,000 for the
environmental works where currently the scheme does not break even. He was sure
that these matters will be resolved before too long.
The Parish Council agreed that it should have the opportunity to review any
planning application where work had not started within five years of approval.
e. The Clerk confirmed that the County is producing estimates for another light
in Drayton Road; two lights along the footpath by the Cemetery and one in
Malthouse Lane. It was suggested that payment for some or all of these lights
could be obtained from the Community Safety Budget of either SODC or OCC.
f.. The Clerk reported that the Village Neighbourhood Watch seems to be
functioning, although it appears to have two different factions. Linda Mead, the
Village co-ordinator will be asked to give a report about the scheme in
“Dorchester News” including details of any areas of the village where more
wardens are needed.
g. Dog waste bins: locations for new bins were identified as being on the
footpath near the end of Manor Farm and by the stile beyond Dorchester Bridge
leading into the field which goes down to the River Thames. The Clerk will
obtain the latest costs for the supply of these bins.
h. Rose Walk bus shelter: the County have been asked to advise what would be
suitable and whether any funding might be available.
i. Surface on pavement by gate to Rose Walk; Don Morrison has said that this is
his responsibility and he has promised to fill in the hollow where a puddle
forms.
6 County Councillor's Report
Although Cllr Howell was able to confirm that the County has committed a sum of
money to resolve the problem of Queen Street flooding, he was less certain about
the status of Bridge End. The County’s budget for road improvements is several
million pounds less than planned, with the Department of Transport, through the
Regional Transport Fund administered by the Government Office for the South East
in Guildford, taking control of all schemes with a budget of £5m or more. The
cutbacks had had an impact throughout the whole Highways operation, with the
local area traffic engineer having his budget cut from £150,000 to £30,000 per
year. Cllr Howell will continue to campaign for the project and to keep the
Council informed.
There will be a seminar about the recently published South East Plan document.
7 Correspondence and Other Business
i). Sports Club Pavilion & Playground;
The Cricket Club has reported problems with both plumbing and electrics;
Pipeline Direct had hopefully sorted out plumbing problems today.
Cllr Gibbons has held a meeting of people interested in working on the
development of the play area and the Parish Council agreed that the project
should be progressed as quickly as possible. It is recognised, however, that
this facility is for the benefit of younger children and that the Village
teenagers may be interested in having their own facilities: a meeting point or a
sports wall, for example.
The Council approved expenditure to repair the swings and the Clerk will contact
Wicksteed, the supplier, to organise this.
Repairs to the ruts in the ground by the Recreation Ground gateway are needed.
White Horse Turf has quoted and a written quotation from BCB with Paul Jenks is
awaited.
ii). Footpaths;
The Clerk reported that the County’s Countryside department has been made aware
of Mr Wastie’s proposed enclosure of part of the footpath leading from Drayton
Road to the Hurst. A site visit has already taken place and there is now the
possibility that the County will take action against other enclosures that have
taken place in previous years. This would be supported by the Parish Council.
The Council was disappointed, however, at the lack of progress at Overy and it
was agreed that County Cllr Howell be made aware of this matter.
iii). Cemetery;
Quotes to tidy the area near the old buildings, to place new boundary posts in
place of the old wire fence and to extend the berberis hedge had been received
from White Horse Turf and from Allan Smith and David Joseph. It was agreed to
accept the quote submitted by Allan Smith and David Joseph in the sum of £750.
The Council gave its approval for the interment of the ashes of the late Mr
Colin Walter Rowley, who had been married to a member of Dorchester’s Selwood
family. Space for his widow’s ashes has been reserved.
iv). Allotments;
The Council approved the request from Karen Hadley and Roger Seabrook for a shed
measuring 6’ x 4’ to be erected on their allotment garden.
v). Hidden Britain project;
The Clerk reported that the first quarter’s claim has been lodged with the Rural
Payments Agency and that he would attend a grants seminar at DEFRA in Reading
the next day. The digital copying of the Millennium Album will start after
Easter.
vi). Other letters to Chairman and Clerk
a. Proposal about the new Neighbourhood Policing Proposals had been received and
would be circulated. Cllr Hill and the Clerk had attended a briefing meeting at
Crowmarsh on the previous day, when it had been explained that Dorchester is
included in the pilot scheme to be launched this summer.
b. Information about the District Council’s new garden waste service, the new
bus pass and travel token scheme and consultation about a draft Youth Strategy
has been received and will be circulated.
c. Mobile Library Service; the Council noted that from 5th June the service will
be fortnightly.
8 Planning
a) Applications:
PO6/W0211 91 Abingdon Road
Single storey carport extension to sides, porch and bay window to front
The Council had no strong views about this application.
(Cllr Williams left the room while the two following applications were
discussed).
PO6/W0317 18 Abingdon Road
Erection of conservatory to rear. Revision to planning permission PO5/W0334
amended
The Council had no strong views about this application.
PO5/W1081 Pippins, 22 Abingdon Road - Amendment
Demolition of existing kitchen and garage. Erection of replacement two storey
extension. Erection of front porch (as amended by drawing accompanying letter
from agent dated 14th November)
The Council had no strong observations to make on this amendment.
b) Report on planning decisions, amendments etc
PO6/W0174 New entrance at Cheshire Home
Planning permission granted 7th April
Hallidays development
The Clerk reported that neighbours have raised questions about the specification
of the new windows on the Queen St. elevation. He has raised this with the
Planning Officer who had assured him that the matter had been dealt with by the
Conservation Officer. The Clerk has also asked whether the condition about the
capacity of the existing connections to the public sewerage system has been
satisfied. The Planning Officer had not known the answer to this question which
would be followed up.
9 Finance
a). The Council’s bank balances were as follows:
Current Account 30th March £12,307.27
Reserve Account 28th February £32,675.44
The current account balance includes the receipt of the Parish Plan grant of
£1,377.20 but excludes the VAT refund for 2005 of £2,601.29 received on 4th
April.
The Council noted with thanks the donation of £100 from Mrs Joan Welch of 56
Watling Lane which had been made ‘In memory of my Grandfather, John Kirby, who
built the original cemetery edifice in 1892 for £239.’ A notice thanking Mrs
Welch would be placed in “Dorchester News”.
b). The following accounts were approved for payment:
P C Keable (hedge cutting at Recreation Ground) £135.12
Fred Cherrill (sign refurbishment) £100.00
Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (sub.) £20.00
South Oxfordshire District Councils (Cemetery rates) £113.79
Thames Water (Allotments & Pavilion) £50.28
Town and Country Memorials Ltd (new plaque) £180.95
GGD Russell – Clerk’s salary £361.86
Geoff Willis Handyman – 5 weeks - (March £182.00) £244.00
Allan Smith - Cemetery plaque £38.42
10 Parish Council vacancy
No electors have asked for an election so, as there is still more than one year
to go before the next elections, the Parish Council must co-opt a replacement.
Mark Stevenson of 28 High Street had expressed an interest in being co-opted to
the Council and was now invited to answer questions put to him by members of the
Council.
Mark said that he had a business in Warborough and intended to remain a resident
of Dorchester for the foreseeable future. He has an interest in local people
running their own communities and, when resident in Eynsham, had been involved
in preparing the local design statement. After this period of questioning ended
Mark Stevenson was asked to leave the room while his candidature was discussed.
The Council agreed that he should be invited to become a member of the Parish
Council with effect from the May meeting and the Clerk was asked to communicate
with Mark regarding the Council’s Code of Conduct and the declaration forms that
he would need to sign in due course.
11 Proposals for new doors at Pavilion
The Council wishes to improve the security of the storeroom at the Pavilion,
especially since access to the Pavilion as a whole can be gained via this route.
The best available quotation for steel doors was £1,325 and for a roller shutter
£1,088. The Council agreed that it would like to proceed with the installation
of a roller shutter as long as this was acceptable to the District Council and
the Sports Club.
12. Cemetery prices and regulations
It was agreed that the Chairman and the Clerk should revise the draft and
circulate it to the Council so that it could be discussed at the May meeting.
13. Annual Parish Meeting 3rd May
The normal reports will be made and questions invited. Additional speakers would
be invited, including Dr Peter Pritchard on the Hurst Water Meadow Trust and
Mark Townson on the Allotments. Neighbourhood Watch would also be asked.
14. Any Other Business
a. The Clerk was asked to contact Mr and Mrs Broadbent about cutting their hedge
by the footpath outside The Manor and also Marsh Pratley about the debris that
had been left behind after the hedge-laying at the top of Abingdon Road.
b. Cllr Hill commented on the damaged signs at Overy and said that there are
still some trees that need to be cleared from Waterloo.
The Meeting closed at 10.38 pm
Revised 20/02/2005 © 2006 DOTWeb