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Parish Council Minutes March 2005

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The Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 9th March 2005 commencing at 7.30 pm.

The Vice Chairman, Cllr Mrs J Nudds presided; present were Cllrs K Bryan, M.Day, C Hill, Mrs M Metcalfe, C Sleigh and M Williams with G Russell in attendance. Also present for part of the meeting were three residents, Suzanne Willers from ORCC, County Cllr John Howell and District Cllr John Cotton.

1 Cllr Mike Smith

Cllr Mrs Nudds reported the death of The Chairman, Cllr Mike Smith, which had taken place at the Sue Ryder care home on Sunday 6th. March. Cllr Mrs Nudds paid tribute to Mike's work as Chairman and then led the Council in a minute of silent appreciation of all that he had done for Dorchester. The Council signed a card of condolence for Mrs Pat Smith and family.

2 Affordable Housing Survey

Suzanne Willers ORCC presented the analysis of the recent research, a copy of which will be circulated to all councillors. It was immediately apparent that there were residents of the village who have not yet registered their need for housing with the District Council. Mrs Willers stressed that this is an important requirement for any scheme and it was agreed to use Dorchester News to publicise this fact.

3 Declarations of Interest

None

4 Minutes of the Meeting held 9th February 2005

Cllr Hill asked the Clerk if the need for repairs to the surface of Bridge End had been included in the request for Highways maintenance. This was confirmed and the minutes were approved and signed as a correct record.

5 Matters Arising from the Minutes

Cllr Hill confirmed that he is on stand by to represent the Parish Council at the Planning Committee's consideration of the Hallidays applications, which is due for Wednesday 23rd March. Cllr Hill has prepared draft notes of his remarks which councillors have had an opportunity to review.

6 District Councillor's Report

Cllr Cotton said that the District Council's tax increase is to be 2.5%. More money is to be spent on affordable housing schemes and leisure centres including the Abbey Sports Centre in Berinsfield. He will discuss the Hallidays application with Cllr Hill.

7 County Councillor's Report

Cllr Howell said that the County has stepped in and will subsidise the present level of bus service until January 2006. This gives time for the transport needs of each parish served by the bus to be thoroughly researched. The Clerk had put him in touch with Dr Katherine Clarke of Malthouse Lane, who has said that she would like to help with the campaign. Through Dorchester News other residents will be asked to give details of their needs.

Cllr Howell has arranged a briefing meeting about the SEERA plan for 17th March at the Mount Farm Education Centre. All his parish councils had been invited to send a representative.

It was hoped that the Maintenance section of Highways would take action soon.

8 Correspondence and Other Business

i). Sports Club & Playground;

The Council approved the quotation from Paul Jenks to go-ahead with the second phase of the Recreation Ground trees maintenance. His quotation was approximately £300 less than that from Ringrose

David Joseph and Allan Smith have quoted approximately £200 for repairing the surface of the entrance to the play area and levelling it off. This was accepted.

ii). Footpaths;

The Council noted that Mr and Mrs Evans are promoting a petition about the cycle barriers outside their home in Rotten Row. The County Footpaths Officer has replaced the photo luminescent tape on these barriers.

The OALC has provided a Legal topic note about 'ownerless land'. This will be circulated and discussed after all councillors have had the opportunity to read it.

The Council noted that Dr Pritchard is looking at ways in which the footpath across the Hurst Water Meadow can be made safe from flooding.

iii). Cemetery;

Paul Jenks quotation for maintenance work to trees along the Drayton Road boundary would be circulated. Cllr Day said that the Forestry Officer of SODC had offered different advice when he had been consulted about these trees and the Council will have to decide which course of action it prefers to follow.

The Clerk confirmed that he has reminded Howard Chadwick that the Council would like to have more information about the wall-mounted monuments which would be suitable for the refurbished old cemetery buildings.

iv). Allotments;

The Clerk said that Mark Townson has agreed to provide a temporary tree 'nursery' where the Council's allocation of 'free trees' can be stored when delivered by SODC.

v). Parish Plan;

Those residents who expressed an interest in receiving IT training have been given the details of what is available.

Cllr Mrs Metcalfe reported that the tourism project with the DEFRA funded 'Hidden Britain' organisation is moving forward. More details will be available next month.

vi). Other letters to Chairman and Clerk

a).. Details about the proposed Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Bill have been received and will be circulated

b). Cllr Williams said that he will try to attend the County's meeting about the Youth Service which is due to be held on 29th March.

c) The Parish Council has been invited to be present at Rev. Sue Booys's Institution on 16th March

d). An invitation to send a representative to an OPFA 'Roadshow' in May will be discussed at the next Council meeting.

e). The review of the workings of the Code of Conduct will be put on the agenda for the next Council meeting.

9 Planning

a) Application:

P05/W0191 Peppers Cottage, 71 Watling Lane

Demolition of single storey extension and replacement with two storey extension to form kitchen and bedroom

Comments are required by 22nd March. It was agreed that Cllr Day will make a site visit. (Subsequently the Council advised the District Council that it was concerned about the lack of on-site car parking and the uncertain future of the chimney on the west end of the building.)

b) Report on planning decisions, amendments etc

The Council noted that Hutchison 3G UK is appealing against the District Council's refusal of permission to erect a telecommunications tower at Orchid Lakes. It did not wish to make any further representations concerning this project, which it has already opposed..

The Council has been notified of some changes to the design of the proposed flats above the Co-Op but has not been required to make any further comments.

10 Finance

a). The NatWest Bank balances are as follows:

Current Account at 28th February £1,000.39

Reserve Account as 28th January £41,767.35

The Clerk confirmed that SODC has offered Landscape Conservation grant of £473 for work done to the horse chestnut tree at the Abbey

b). The following accounts were approved for payment:

AV Audit (annual fee) £141.00

PC Keable (Recreation Ground hedge) £129.25

GGD Russell - salary £320.25

Geoff Willis (Handyman - 4 weeks - Feb. £154) £154.00

An appeal has been received from Home Start and has been circulated. The Council decided, however, that it did not wish to make any additional charitable donations in the current year.

The remuneration paid to the Village Handyman was considered and after some discussion it was decided by 6 votes in favour and 1 against to increase the hourly rate from £5.50 to £6.50.

c). Support for Ambulance Responder

The Council again considered the idea of making a grant to the local 'first responder' but decided that it would like to know more about what other Parish Councils are doing before making a decsion.

11 Dorchester Festival

The Council received a presentation from Stephanie Forman which described the present plans for events between 8th and 25th September. Cllr Sleigh said that he would find out about cricket fixtures during this period. The organisers agreed that visitors to the Festival events would be given advance warning of the parking arrangements that have been put in place for the function they are attending.

It appeared that the Council is being asked to provide full-scale park 'n ride facilities on four occasions during the Festival and it is estimated that the cost of doing so will be approximately £500.

The Council will discuss this matter again at its next meeting.

12 Arrangements for Annual Parish Meeting

Due to a clash with another Village Hall booking the meeting on 26th April will be held in the Guest House.

13 South East Plan - report on SEERA consultation meetings

The Clerk said that at the Didcot meeting which he had attended the public support had been for building homes in the green belt area around Oxford, including south of Grenoble Road, and against further expansion of Didcot beyond that already agreed. On the other hand the meeting in Oxford itself was understood to have reached no clear recommendation.

14 New Residents Evening

Arrangements are now confirmed for this event which will take place in the Village Hall on 7th April.

15 Date of Next Meeting

This was confirmed as Wednesday 13th April

16 Any Other Business

a. It was agreed that the Notice of vacancy for a Parish Councillor should be posted on boards 18th March. This meant that the period for calling for a by-election will conclude before the Council's April meeting.

b. The Clerk had attended the Wallingford Fringe Forum on 8th March at Berinsfield. The police had been invited to discuss local policing arrangements but had not turned up. Other topics covered included the District Council's measures against fly tipping, the new arrangements for Licensing village halls, churches etc and the SEERA Plan. Two residents of Dorchester had also attended but on the whole the attendance had been disappointing. The District Council's review of Forums will now take place.

c. General advice had been given at OALC's recent Clerks training day which suggested that e-mails should be used only for informal Council communications and never for formal notices, letters of appointment etc. It had also been suggested that Minutes should always give the reasons for any Apologies for Absence and describe the apology as having been accepted or otherwise. Councils are not obliged to accept an apology if the reason for is not considered satisfactory.

Information about the 'Powers & Duties' of Local Councils will be circulated along with information about two books about Allotments & Mobile Homes & Caravans

d. The question of a donation/memorial in honour of Mike Smith will be discussed at the next meeting.

e. Fred Cherrill will be asked to refurbish the signs at The Limes.

f. The concrete slab at John Pratt's premises will be investigated.

g. The District Council will be asked if it has any more anti dog-fouling publicity material available. This is a problem in areas including The Green at Bridge End.

The meeting closed at 9.40

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