DORCHESTER ON THAMES
Home
|
Contents |
Search |
Parish Council Minutes October 2006
Home > Parish Council > Minutes > Oct 2006
The Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 11th October 2006 commencing at 7.00 p.m.
The Chairman, Cllr Ken Bryan presided; present were Cllrs M. Day, S Gibbons, C Hill, Mrs J Nudds, and M Stevenson and M Williams with G Russell in attendance. Also present for part of the meeting were County Cllr John Howell, District Cllr John Cotton and eleven residents.
1 A pologies for absence
Apologies for absence were accepted from Cllr Mrs M Metcalfe who was on holiday.
2 Presentation by Primary Health Care Trust
Alison Brumfitt and Mark Bristow explained that the Trust considers that the provision of existing services is getting more and more expensive and out of date. When the proposed changes are implemented the buildings may have fewer beds in them but they will offer more services. The ‘whole care package' has the objective of saving management costs but 24 hours medical nursing care on demand will continue to be met by the National Health Service.
The speakers answered several questions from residents and the Clerk provided contact details for Dorchester News so that further information could be published.
3 Public Participation
Residents made representations about several matters which were taken into account when these items were discussed later in the meeting.
4 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Mark Williams said that he had a possible interest in the discussion of Item 15; alternative car parking arrangements and will withdraw if the discussion started to debate the merits of potential contractors.
5 Minutes of the Meeting held 13th September
The Minutes as circulated were approved and signed as a true record.
6 Matters Arising from the Minutes
All matters were covered by the agenda.
7 District Councillor's Report
Cllr Cotton said that the Kruczko's Yard application is still pending. He understands that the planners are awaiting further information from the applicants.
Cllr Cotton said that the consultation period about the location of the planned new homes at Didcot would begin on 30 th October. The debate about the direction in which Didcot should expand will be re-opened. He advised that the Parish Council should take a view on this, possibly after consultation with neighbouring Parish Councils.
The District Council has been successful in persuading some parishes to take over day to day responsibility for managing public conveniences from the District while others, like Dorchester-on- Thames, have declined. In such cases the District Council may eventually decide that the facilities should close.
8 County Councillor's Report
County Cllr Howell said that the proposed new soak away to solve the Queen Street flooding problem will be discussed between the management of The White Hart and representatives from the Councils on 26 th October.
Cllr Howell said that the reported increase in passengers using the X39 service is good news but the long-term future of services through the village itself is uncertain.
He is conducting a survey of the residents in his division to discover the strength of feeling about the motor bike nuisance.
Cllr Howell said that he received complaints from some residents about some of the merchandise on sale at the newly-opened shop at the Berinsfield roundabout.
9 Correspondence and Other Business
i). Sports Club Pavilion & Playground;
Scion Estates quotation for the s upply, delivery and fitting of push up/pull down roller shutter doors in galvanized steel complete with hood and pinion guide locks is £1,092.50 per shutter – more expensive than the quote already received.
It was agreed however that Scion's quote of 12 th September should be accepted as this would secure the building for the winter months and the installation of the new shutter doors, which requires special permission from the planners, could be done at a later stage.
The security lights have been quoted by Bruce Ferriman as costing £820. These would be installed only after all other measures have been taken and so other prices can be obtained for comparison.
BCB will review its price for strengthening the ground at the entrance to the Recreation Ground. White Horse Turf submitted a lower price than BCB but have since retracted saying that the material specified has failed in other locations.
Cllr Gibbons confirmed that the Play Area project has now submitted grant applications to SODC, TOE and WREN.
The Chairman and Cllr Hill will talk to neighbours around the perimeter of the Recreation Ground seeking approval for the Council's contractor to enter their land with the objective of gassing the rabbit warrens.
ii). Footpaths;
Several are in need of attention. Green Lane is partially blocked by a fallen tree, Malt House Lane and paths across the Allotments need a new supply of gravel laid, part of Albert Place is overgrown and there has still been no action, nor even a promise of action by the County in the matter in repairing the surface between Dorchester Bridge and Meadside.
iii). Cemetery;
Cllr Day had prepared a schedule of work that needed doing, several small items of a housekeeping nature and others which would require contractors. BCB were given the go ahead to tidy up the boundary hedge.
Cllr Day said that the graves will need ‘topple testing' since it is several years since this was last done.
iv). Allotments;
The Chairman confirmed that he had met with Richard Anderson and the location for the proposed turning circle has been agreed. It was also agreed that The Anderson could remove the old sheds located in the corner of the Allotments and tidy that whole area. The Council noted the Allotment Society AGM will be held on 17 th October.
v). Hidden Britain Project;
The late Brian Oliver was a key member of this team and his sudden and tragic death would be a great loss. Cllr Mrs Metcalfe is currently away and an assessment of how to rearrange matters following Brian's death will have to be made when she returns.
The Council noted that the June quarter's grant has been received in the sum of £3,607.23. Payments are to be made to Dorchester Abbey PCC, Carrie-Louise Webb, designer of the Orientation Boards, and to the Hidden Britain Centre. The September quarter's grant will be made as soon as possible; it was hoped that it would be possible to arrange for the reprinting of the Village Brochure using Hidden Britain project money that had been saved by under-spending on other items.
vi). Other letters to Chairman and Clerk
a. An appeal for a donation to the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust will be circulated along with a letter from Boris Johnson MP in reply to the Council's letter about Charter 88 and the Sustainable Communities Bill
b Anna Kennedy, the new Rural Housing Enabler at ORCC, has written to introduce herself and to offer assistance if the Council wishes to pursue any Affordable Housing issues.
c. Cllr Hill will attend the meeting of the River Users Group to be held in Benson on 19 th October.
d. Cllr Stevenson will attend the Oxford Green Belt AGM but no-one is available to attend the AGM of the ORCC nor that of the OPFA.
e. The County Council has written to say that although the objections of the Parish Council were noted the proposal to set out a Disabled Person's parking bay in High Street has been accepted.
f. The Council noted a report from the County Council concerning the increase in the number of passengers using the X39 bus service since its upgrade.
10 Planning
a) Applications:
PO6/W0994; 6 Monks Close
Proposed single storey side & rear extensions & alterations.
The Council agreed that it had no strong views on this application
PO6/W1008; Land adjoining The Chequers, Bridge End
Demolition of existing garage and construction of a new 4 bedroom house.
The Council noted letters of objection from Terry Fisher and Kim Langton and comments made earlier in the meeting by Mr Fisher and Nick Clarke
The general view of the Council was that the application should be recommended for refusal. Reasons included the adverse impact of this development upon the neighbours at 18 Bridge End, whose property is incorrectly shown on the site map, and the quality of the proposed design - which in the Council's view is inappropriate in the Conservation Area.
The Council will ask the Planning Officer whether it is legitimate for an objection also to be made on the basis that by selling off part of the garden and the car park presently within the property of The Chequers, the impact of the proposal is such that the commercial future of The Chequers is made less viable.
PO6/W1010; Sunnyridges, 81 Abingdon Road Dorchester-on-Thames
Single storey pitched roof extension, new dormer windows and pitched roof front entrance canopy.
The Council discussed this application in detail with Mark Cooper, one of the applicants. The Council agreed that it wished to help Mr and Mrs Cooper to gain approval for their application and Cllr Stevenson said that he would draft a suitable response for the Clerk to use in the official reply.
b) Report on planning decisions, amendments etc
PO6/W0901 59 Abingdon Road; Demolition of existing outbuildings. Erection of single storey rear extension to include integral garaging to existing dwelling.
The Council noted that planning permission was granted 2 nd October
P06/W0535 Land between 32 and 36 High Street amendment
The Council noted letters of objection from Devon J Holubowicz and Greg Stores.
This application is still being considered.
Work at Lantern Cottage, Bridge End
The Council expressed surprise that so much work has been undertaken without a planning application. The Clerk will raise this matter with the planning department.
The new building work on the old garage site in the High Street has commenced and telephone connections to neighbouring properties have been damaged. There has been a suggestion that the Telecoms pole on the corner of 3 High St may be moved and the Conservation office at SODC has said that BT has significant permitted development rights to place poles wherever it wishes. The Clerk will try to contact the BT wayleave department to see what the intentions are.
11 Finance
a). Bank balances
Current Account at 30 th September £19,876.28
Reserve Account at 30 th September £33,185.85
VAT Refund received 3/10 £5,922.75 Precept £13,600
A Hidden Britain claim is pending for £1,000 approximately plus work by Brian Oliver which has so far not been quantified.
b). The following accounts were approved for payment:
Dorchester Abbey (Hidden Britain project) £100.00
Carrie-Louise Webb (Hidden Britain project) £240.00
The Hidden Britain Centre (Hidden Britain project) £600.00
Dorchester Playground Fund (float) £500.00
Thames Water (Allotments & Pavilion) £271.11
Scion Estates Ltd (grass cutting) £547.46
Berinsfield Community Business (grass cutting – August) £237.93
Berinsfield Community Business (grass cutting – Sept.) £158.62
Access 24 (Pavilion security) £75.00
GGD Russell – Clerk's salary £401.82
Geoff Willis Handyman – 4 weeks - (September £266.50) £136.50
John Davis (stand in for Geoff Willis while GW on holiday £91.00
12 SODC Site Allocations Development Plan
The Clerk had attended the Public Exhibition of site allocation which had been held at Berinsfield earlier in the week. There are no development sites shown within Dorchester although there are several in Berinsfield including one on the boating lake.
13 New bus shelter in High Street
The Council has received representations from Mr Don Morrison, both in writing and at the beginning of this meeting, which expressed his opposition to the idea of installing a shelter by the southbound stop at the junction with Bridge End.
The Clerk said that there had been no letters of support for the idea from other residents although there have been verbal representations of support on behalf of four people. He had also spoken to the managing director of Thames Travel. The company does not issue passenger figures as these are considered commercially sensitive information but Mr Wright had said that he was not himself in favour of a bus shelter at this stop.
The Council agreed that the project should be dropped.
14. Bridge End Car Park & other Highways maintenance
The Parish Council unanimously agreed its commitment of £10,000 as its contribution towards the cost of achieving the Bridge End Car Park improvements. It was noted that SODC has agreed to contribute £3,000 as an environmental improvement grant. This means at the moment there is a funding shortfall of £7,000. The work is scheduled to commence on 11 th December and to last for three weeks. It will include surface dressing the whole of Bridge End up to the green.
15 Alternative car parking arrangements
An area of land behind Belcher Court has been identified as a possible site for an overflow car park. The site is owned by Miss Bowditch, who has given her approval in principle, subject to contract, and accessed from Martin's Lane via the track which runs along the edge of the Burial ground. An estimate of the costs involved in creating two entrances, along with fencing and some landscaping comes to approximately £1,000 and there would be on-going mowing costs of some £70 per month.
All parking would be controlled and allowed only by arrangement with the Council. When the field is not in use the access would be locked. It is estimated that approximately 40 to 50 cars could be accommodated.
It was agreed that the Clerk should write to Miss Bowditch confirming the outline of the arrangements and that the Council should consult with the immediate neighbours of this land. The Council felt that a five year agreement with Miss Bowditch would be ideal and that legal advice is needed which covered such matters as insurance and whether the land can be used for parking cars on a temporary basis.
16. Cemetery regulations
It was agreed that the charge made when an existing memorial is removed in order for an additional inscription to be carved upon it or, indeed, when an existing memorial is removed and replaced by one with an extra inscription should be increased to £25.
The Council noted that the current price of the memorial plaques with gold leaf lettering is £82.61 plus £5.50 postage and packing. The enamel painted plaque is £6 less expensive but it was agreed that to have one price makes matters simpler.
The design and wording of the sample plaque supplied by Town & Country Memorials was approved for use in the leaflet.
17 Police Liaison & Neighbourhood Watch
Carol Rudd, Regional Watch Administrator, has proposed that to develop NHW further in Dorchester a meeting should be held in the village for all Co-ordinators & Deputies. This should be followed by an advertising campaign, via parish newsletters, church notice boards, local shops, etc to arrange a second public meeting, inviting all local residents to attend and join the scheme.
Carol Rudd said that we need to increase coverage and arrange regular meetings to keep everyone involved. Better communication between the police and local residents via NHW can help to improve community safety.
Ken Bryan and Chris Hill had attended a meeting about Thames Valley Police plans to recruit more PCSOs. The allocation of these Community Support Officers is two for every group of nine parishes. Parishes can combine together to fund the recruitment of such officers at a cost of £30,000 per officer/year.
18 Any Other Business.
a. Cllr Day asked about access to the by-pass bus stops for cars dropping off or collecting passengers. This will be assessed.
b. Cllr Day asked if the cost of providing water at the Burial Ground would be reduced if a meter is installed; he went on to ask if the District Council would do something about blocked drainage ditches. He said that it appeared that some children have built a tree house in the Burial Ground.
c. Cllr Williams said that members of his staff have been criticised for cutting so much of the area at Waterloo. The occupants of 13 Bridge End were the people concerned and it is unpleasant for his staff to have this confrontation. He asked the Council to take action.
The Meeting closed at 10.20 pm.
Revised 20/02/2005 © 2006 DOTWeb