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Parish Council Minutes August 2006

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The Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 9th August 2006 commencing at 7.30 pm. The Chairman, Cllr Ken Bryan presided; present were Cllrs Mrs M Metcalfe (Vice-Chairman), M Day, S Gibbons, C Hill, Mrs J Nudds, M Stevenson and M Williams with G Russell in attendance. Also present for part of the meeting was District Cllr John Cotton.

1 Apologies for absence

Apologies were accepted from County Cllr John Howell who was on holiday.

2 Declarations of Interest

None.

3 Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 13th July

The Chairman said that with hindsight he regretted changing the date of this meeting from the normal day. In future if the Parish Council meeting coincided with a meeting at which it was important that the Council is represented, he would prefer that one member of the Council attend it and report back.

The Minutes were approved and signed as a true record after an addition in paragraph 7 (ii) dealing with Footpaths which said “The Council noted the excellent work done by Dr and Mrs Pritchard in clearing the path towards The Hurst and the Clerk was asked to write and thank them.” The Clerk confirmed that this letter had been sent and also acknowledged by Dr Pritchard.

4 Matters Arising from the Minutes

a. New street lights near by-pass bus stop

A report has been received from the ORCC Rural Transport Officer in which he recommended an investigation of the cost of providing adequate lighting. This may embrace solar powered lights in places.

b. Hallidays Planning condition 11

This matter is still on going

c Garage development site

A request that the contractors do not use the Bridge End car park for their service vehicles has been sent. Work is on track to start in September.

d Watling Lane & other repairs: the village schedule has been sent to John King and copied to Brian Purcell-Smith and Brian Short but there has been no response to date. The Council noted that some holes in Watling Lane have been marked for repair. John King, the County Highways Inspector, has commented that Watling Lane is “Bridleway Open to All Traffic and is not a high priority for maintenance by OCC Highways” but this has been taken to mean that the County does accept that it has a responsibility.

e. Kruzcko's yard; the planning application has not yet been determined.

f. The Clerk confirmed that the handyman has commenced the programme of repairs to the Council's wooden benches.

5 District Councillor's Report

District Cllr Cotton said that there was nothing to report that was not already being discussed as part of the agenda.

6 County Councillor's Report

County Cllr Howell is on holiday and has sent his apologies.

7 Correspondence and Other Business

i). Sports Club Pavilion & Playground;

Total Pest Control (UK) has submitted a verbal report on the rabbits. Many of them live on land not owned by the Parish Council and gassing the burrows would require the consent of the neighbouring landowners. The rabbits could, however, be shot while on the Recreation Ground. The company does have the necessary insurance. Cllr Hill said that, on behalf of the Sports Club, he would like to speak to the company's representative direct.

The Council noted that Wicksteed Leisure has completed the repairs to the swings.

The Crime Reduction Officer has visited the Pavilion and recommended what security measures should be taken. Contractors have been invited to submit their quotations for carrying out both this work and the repairs following vandalism.

The Grant application for improvements to the Play Area has been submitted.

ii). Footpaths;

The County Council has published a new definitive rights of way map which replaces all previous editions. Cllr Mrs Nudds took the documents away for further study.

The Footpaths officer has provided more information about the proposed gates at Overy Mill, which he hopes will be installed soon.

The new supply of dog bins (3) and warning signs (5) has been received. Dorchester News will be used to advertise the location of the new bins.

iii). Cemetery;

Mr Harvey Cullimore of 8 Belcher Court has responded to the appeal for someone to care for graves where surviving family members live outside the district and the Clerk will contact him to arrange to discuss the work in more detail.

The Chairman has completed the wall layout for commemorative plaques.

iv). Allotments;

Nothing to report

v). Hidden Britain;

Cllr Mrs Metcalfe confirmed that work on the orientation boards has now started.

vi). Other letters to Chairman and Clerk

a). The Parish Council agreed that it has no objection to the storage of around 30 spare village hall chairs in the Pavilion provided that the Sports Club also has no objection.

b). A request has been received from the local Primary Care Trust asking if a representative could attend a meeting of the Parish Council to discuss developments in the provision of local health services. It was agreed that the October meeting would be a suitable opportunity.

c) The Clerk said that the Council has received an invitation to attend the Thames Valley Police meeting at Drayton Golf Club at 18.45 on 21 st September to discuss ‘collaboration opportunities' in support of Police Community Support Officers. It was agreed that the Council should be represented

8 Planning

a) Applications:

PO6/W0842; 6 Samian Way, Dorchester-on-Thames

First floor extension at rear.

The Council agreed that it had no strong views about this application.

PO6/W0787; 5A Malthouse Lane, Dorchester-on-Thames; Replacement of existing obscure glass in upstairs front elevation window with clear glass and change of use of first floor room from en-suite/dressing room to child's nursery.

The Council agreed that it had no strong views about this application but there were concerns about the flat roof and windows overlooking neighbours/

PO6/W0707; 54 & 54a High Street, Dorchester-on-Thames; Erection of a double car-port for use by the owners of both 54 & 54a High Street.

The Council agreed that it had no strong views about this application.

PO6/W0684/T; Deacons Field, Near Berinsfield Roundabout Berinsfield
Installation of a 22.5 metre high lattice mast, 3No. antennas, 2No. dish antenna, cabinets, enclosure, ancillary development and landscape planting.

The Council agreed that it had no strong views about this application.

PO6/W0721; Former Mount Farm Filling Station, Deacons Garage, A4074 Dorchester-on-Thames; Change of use to A1 retail.

The Council agreed that it had no strong views about this application

PO6/W0775/CC Shillingford Bridge, Shillingford

Removal of existing road surface, waterproofing of relieving slabs, construction of two new footways, narrowing of carriageway and erection of three-way signals to control traffic.

Although it was not one of the councils being consulted about this project the Parish Council, on behalf of the many residents who frequently use Shillingford Bridge, has serious misgivings about the wisdom of using three-way traffic lights to make the bridge one way at a time.

b) The following planning decision was noted:

P06/W0623/LB Bridge House, 1 Bridge End; Repair and alterations to defective bay window, insertion of new access point onto main pitched roof area, roof and chimney repairs, re-roofing lead porch roof, overhaul existing bay window joinery and shutters.

Listed Building consent granted 28 th July

9. Finance

a). Bank balances

NatWest Current Account on 28 th July £6,347.17

NatWest Reserve Account on 30 th June £33,011.75

b). The following accounts were approved for payment:

Scion Estates (grass cutting) £273.73

Earth Anchors Ltd (dog bins & signs) £753.82

Lister Wilder (strimmer service) £90.21

Total Pest Control UK Ltd )wasp nest by Play Area £47.00

GGD Russell – Clerk's salary £361.86

Geoff Willis Handyman – 4 weeks - (July £285.48) £208.25

SODC (Planning application fee – Pavilion) £67.50

The Clerk's pay adjustment in line with the new rates agreed between the Society of Local Council Clerks and the National Association of Local Councils was approved. This takes the Clerk to a monthly salary of £401.82 and it will remain at that figure until March 2007. Back pay of £186.75 is due this month to catch up with the increases of March and April 2006.

10 Parish Council/Police liaison

The Chairman reported on the meeting that took place at Benson Parish Hall on 31 st July. Several other residents from the village had attended this ‘pre-NAG' meeting at which the Police had tried to identify the matters that are of most concern to local people. Together with the Clerk, Cllr Bryan had spoken to the Neighbourhood Watch administrator for this area and it was hoped that further action could be taken to improve the scheme within Dorchester. Ninety residents had expressed interest in this scheme during the Parish Plan consultation process.

The Chairman has written a piece for the next issue of Dorchester News which encourages people to report all incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour to the Police. The wording of this notice was approved.

11 Cemetery prices and regulations

A few further amendments suggested by Cllr Day have now been included. The Council approved the circulation of the revised document by e-mail as it runs to eight pages in length. A shorter version will be produced for those recently bereaved and those enquiring about memorial plaques.

12. Bus shelters – repairs to by pass and proposed new shelter in High Street

The Council agreed to add the cost of replacing the bus shelters to its annual insurance. This will result in an additional premium of £152.40 plus 5% tax in a full year. The County Council is now expected to pay for the repairs of the shelters using polycarbonate to replace the glass panels.

Any new shelter at the Bridge End/High St. junction would not require planning permission but the opinion of the Conservation Officer on the merits of the scheme is awaited. It is known that Mr and Mrs Morrison are very much opposed to the idea.

13. Bridge End Car Park & other Highways maintenance.

There is no further news about a start date for the resurfacing work but early in July Brian Purcell-Smith from OCC described the start date as being “after the summer to avoid the tourist season”. The Clerk has had a meeting with Veronica Taylor. SODC Assistant Grants Officer, who has made clear that there is no possibility of the District Council making more than a £3,000 Environmental Improvement grant.

The District Council is keen to delegate responsibility for managing public lavatories to Town and Parish Councils. It would give a capital grant and pay annual running costs but the Parish Council is very much against taking on this task, feeling that it is an inappropriate activity for the Parish Council to undertake since it involves accepting an active responsibility for public health – something in which it has no experience or qualification.

14. Minerals & Gravel consultation process

It was agreed to accept Cllr Howell's twelve page model response to the Consultation paper and to adapt it where necessary to act as the Dorchester response. This must be returned by Friday 11 th August.

15. Charter 88

Cllr Mark Stevenson explained that this is a campaign in support of the Sustainable Communities Bill which is aimed at giving parish councils and other local organisations more control and influence about matters affecting their local communities. The Council agreed that in principle it is in favour of this idea and that it would like to be kept informed about this issue. The Clerk will write to Boris Johnson MP to explain that this is the Council's view.

16 Queen Street flooding

Negotiations with The White Hart are continuing and a site meeting will be arranged between the owners and the County Council as soon as possible after the holidays.

17. Any Other Business

i. Cllr Day and Cllr Hill raised various maintenance issues including damage done to granite paving blocks by careless drivers, the need for cutting back bushes and tidying the area approaching the village from the bus stops, and graffiti in several areas.

ii. Cllr Stevenson said that he would be interested in setting up a sub-group of the Council to draw up a Planning Policy Document for the village. It was suggested that in the first instance he could obtain some advice and comment from Professor Malcolm Airs and, possibly, the Dorchester Society.

iii. Cllr Mrs Nudds raised the nuisance of the large number of motor bike riders who gather regularly at the Berinsfield roundabout before driving noisily up and down the bypass and around the area in general. The Chairman said that this was a matter which had been raised at the Benson ‘pre-NAG' meeting and it had also been discussed with the local police inspector, who said that he had the matter in hand.

The Meeting closed at 10.10 pm

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