Parish council minutes - 1st March 2005 - Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset, UK

1st March 2005

Published unapproved for ratification at the April 5th meeting.
456
MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT THE PAVILION ON MARCH 1ST 2005
Present:- Cllr M Burt (chairman)
Cllr E Horton (vice-chairman)
Cllr Mrs A Buckley
Cllr R Corben
Cllr S Corben
Cllr A Frampton
Cllr B Trowbridge
Also present: – Mrs D Burt (clerk), Cllr M Bignell (NDDC) and nine members of the public.

The chairman reported the deaths of long time villagers Mrs Nellie Ridout and Mrs Ena Crane.

1) APOLOGIES Cllr A Campbell (DCC)
2) THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 1ST meeting, having been circulated to councillors and notice boards, were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr Frampton and seconded by Cllr Horton that they be signed by the chairman, this was agreed.
3) POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC RELATING TO ITEM 5 ONLY none
4) DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Burt declared an interest in item 6a as a neighbour of applicant ï¿½ Froghole Farm.
Cllr Frampton declared an interest in item 6a as objector to application ï¿½ Land adjacent Royal Oak.
Cllrs S Corben, R Corben and A Frampton declared an interest in item 6a as members of OUFC which receives sponsorship from Wessex Park Homes.
Cllrs S Corben, R Corben and A Frampton declared an interest in item 5i as members of OUFC.
5) MATTERS ARISING
i) Recreation Ground
ï¿½ The clerk reported having circulated the gate rota for 2005/2006.
ï¿½ The annual review of the agreement between Okeford United Football Club and the Parish Council regarding the alcohol licence was discussed. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Trowbridge that the agreement should continue this was agreed.
ï¿½ Cllr Frampton reported that the Football Club had paid Mr Dave Frampton expenses incurred whilst laying the recreation hedge.
ï¿½ The new licencing laws and NDDCï¿½s interpretation of them particularly with regard to community buildings are still causing confusion with the requirement of a premises licence and a personal licence by a supervisor. Cllrs Burt and Horton will attend a seminar on March 14th to hopefully clarify the situation.
ï¿½ The chairman reported having replaced two emergency exit lamps.
ii) Bowey Field
It was reported that the grass will need to be cut and that the replaced turfs were now growing.
iii) Chicken Processing Factory
ï¿½ The next quarterly liaison meeting will be on March 15th. The clerk reported that both Mr Fagan and Mr Wainwright from NDDC had sent apologies. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Mrs Buckley that a letter be written to the Chief Executive informing her of the situation, this was agreed.
ï¿½ The noise complaint from the previous meeting was reported to have been a loose plate on the weighbridge which had now been fixed.
ï¿½ Cllr Horton reported having had three further reports of noise and said that he would inform Faccenda in time for the meeting on March 15th.

457
ï¿½ NDDC planning services were due to consider a recommendation concerning an Environmental Impact Study but this had been withdrawn due to some recently received legal information and deferred.
ï¿½ Cllr Horton reported having asked NDDC planning enforcement about operating hours and confirmed that there was a condition on the storage building which limited the start time to 7 am but that there were no other planning conditions restricting hours.
iv) Chicken Houses ï¿½ Shillingstone Lane
Smells were reported at the Village Hall and on The Cross at the previous weekend.
v) Extension of 30 mph speed limit
The signs have now been moved to include the entrance to the recreation ground, Castle Lane.
DCC have said that it has to prioritise the installation of speed indicator displays (SID) and its criteria are not met in this location. After some discussion it proposed by Cllr Burt and seconded by Cllr Mrs Buckley that a letter be written to DCC saying that the PC were considering the purchase and installation of its own SID, this was agreed.
There was concern from a parishioner about the other entrances to the village.
vi) New Cross
The chairman had spoken to DCC reporting a recent accident and enquiring why something was not being done to improve safety on this stretch of road. DCC said it was not a high priority but agreed to look at it again when the chairman informed them that it had been on the list since 1989.
vii) Community Planning
SturQuest minutes received and copied to Cllr Horton.
A meeting has been arranged for parishes not involved with partnerships at the Pavilion on March 17th, 13 have been invited.
viii) Travellers
Mr Evans (DCC) has been informed of the encampment at Conygar Copse.
ix) Belchalwell Payphone
A letter has been received from BT saying that the payphone will be retained for the time being.
x) Seat
The chairman reported not having had time to investigate fully the condition of the seat on Okeford Hill.
xi) Road Safety near School
The chairman had spoken to an officer in the traffic management section DCC who said that there was no action they could take to improve matters. The officer said that DCC had requested a travel plan from the school and were awaiting this. (Cllr Mrs Buckley to follow up). The clerk was asked to write to DCC again asking for written confirmation that it could do nothing.
xii) Housing Needs Survey
414 forms were sent out and 157 returned. The results had been received and a copy had been given to Cllr Horton however there was not sufficient detail in them to be useful to the PC. The chairman had spoken to the Housing Enabler for West Dorset who said that North Dorset should have done more with the results and be working out the details. It was proposed by Cllr Burt and seconded by Cllr Horton that a letter be written to Derek Hardy Housing Policy manager NDDC, this was agreed.
xiii) Orchard Close
It is the understanding of the PC that these bungalows were built specifically for older people and so are not suitable for young families. However Signpost Housing Association (SHA) is increasingly putting families and younger people into them. One result is an increase in vehicle numbers trying to park in limited space and disturbance to older residents. Cllr Trowbridge said that he knew of at least two older people who would like to move from their bigger houses but would not wish to transfer to Orchard Close unless all the bungalows were housing older people. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Trowbridge that a letter is written to SHA highlighting the problems, expressing concern and asking what its policy is, this was agreed.

458
xiv) Parish Boundary Review
Democratic Services NDDC are giving a further 2 months consultation period but the working party recommendation on both cases is to oppose the proposals. It was proposed by Cllr Burt and seconded by Cllr Horton that all parishioners of Belchalwell be written to again asking for any further comments and also the parishioners concerned in the Fifehead area this was agreed.
An email had also been received (copied to councillors) from democratic services asking for the results of the void ballot papers which had arrived late. The clerk was unwilling to give this information to anyone as it would be detrimental to the democratic voting process. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Trowbridge that details of the void papers should not be released to NDDC, this was agreed unanimously.
xv) Fiddleford ï¿½ speed limit
DCC have said that assuming there are no objections work could be carried out by May. Requests for speed restrictions take a minimum of 8 months to complete.
xvi) Any Other Matters Arising None
6) PLANNING MATTERS
a) applications 2/2005/0052 (outline to determine siting and access) ï¿½ Wessex Park Homes ï¿½ develop land by erection of replacement factory with ancillary offices, storage, parking and external storage on land adjoining existing operation.
A tree preservation order has been put on the whole site.
Shillingstone Parish Council (SPC) had now been informed about the application. A letter from SPC has been received voicing concern about increased traffic. (A representative from SPC was present), he felt that the proposal was out of proportion with the site.
A letter had been received from Mrs Marshall who lives in Shillingstone Lane also a copy of her letter of objection to NDDC.
The chairman and vice chairman had met with the director of Wessex Park Homes who was concerned about losing his skilled local staff and preferred not to want to relocate.
Cllr Horton felt that more could be done to stop noise to nearby properties and improvements could be made to the proposed entrance. The traffic plan says no big increase in traffic would result.
The chairman said that more information was needed from NDDC, DCC and the Police and that a decision should be deferred until this was obtained. It was proposed by Cllr Burt and seconded by Cllr Horton that a meeting of all parties should take place before any decision is made, this was agreed unanimously.
Cllr Bignell said he would investigate if an alternative site was available and what use might be made of the current site if relocation was arranged.
2/2005/0121 (outline to determine siting, design and appearance) ï¿½ Mr & Mrs Cocklin, Verwood. Land adjacent Royal Oak pub ï¿½ develop by erection of dwelling and garage.
Cllr Frampton declared an interest and left the room.
There was some discussion and points made were that access would be through the pub car park which would mean an increase in street parking by patrons of the Royal Oak, the beer garden would be lost, neighbours would be overlooked and there would be a loss of light to some properties. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Buckley and seconded by Cllr Trowbridge that the council objects to the application stating the reasons above, this was agreed unanimously.
Cllr Frampton returned.
2/2005/0139 ï¿½ Miss Guggenheim (T/A Airborne Morgans) Froghole Farm ï¿½ erect lean to extension for machinery store, erect extension to barn for storage and staff facilities.
Cllr Burt declared an interest and left the room.
Cllr Horton took the chair and pointed out that one of the proposed extensions was on someone elseï¿½s land but that the council should only consider planning matters.

459
After some discussion it was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Frampton that there be no objections but that a suggested condition should be that the extra caravan should be removed, this was agreed.
Cllr Burt returned and retook the chair.
b) decisions 2/2004/1306 & LB 2/2004/9002 – Downs Cottage ï¿½ demolish garage and replace with double garage, erect 2 storey rear extension. REFUSED
c) other
From the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ï¿½ ï¿½an overview of the evaluation of planning standards authorities 2003/04ï¿½ ï¿½ copied to Cllr Horton.
7) CORRESPONDENCE
From February meeting:-
ï¿½ Calor Village of the Year application forms.
ï¿½ NDDC ï¿½ ï¿½Local Development Framework Raising Awarenessï¿½ leaflets ï¿½ left at Post Office.
ï¿½ SHA & NDDC ï¿½ introducing Melanie Osborne ï¿½ anti social behaviour reduction officer.
ï¿½ DAPTC ï¿½ AGM minutes, circulars 1 & 2 on travellers and clerks salary scales.
ï¿½ NDDC ï¿½ survey relating to safety etc (returned Feb 4th)
New:-
ï¿½ Learning & skills council ï¿½ strategic area review ï¿½ summary of findings and report.
ï¿½ Defra ï¿½ Allun Michael ï¿½ clean neighbourhoods & environment bill.
ï¿½ ODPM ï¿½ ï¿½Vibrant local leadershipï¿½ & ï¿½Why neighbourhoods matterï¿½
ï¿½ DAPTC ï¿½ newsletter (circulated to Cllrs) also details of training partnership.
ï¿½ DCC ï¿½ mobile library service routes for 2005/06 (on NBï¿½s).
ï¿½ Standards Board ï¿½ ï¿½A code for the futureï¿½ consultation paper, comments by June 17th ï¿½ leaflet ï¿½introducing the consultation (given to Cllrs)
ï¿½ S/N Statue project ï¿½ public viewing of 4 models March 4th at Sturminster Hall.
ï¿½ Dorsetforyou.com ï¿½ launched Feb 21st was Dorset Portal ï¿½ notice for NB.
ï¿½ Eastern Division Police ï¿½ recruiting special constables ï¿½ for parish magazine.
ï¿½ Eastern Division Police ï¿½ support unit rota 2005.
ï¿½ Standards Board ï¿½ newsletter (copied to Cllrs)
8) REPRESENTATIVEï¿½S REPORTS
Village Hall Management Committee ï¿½ Cllr Burt reported that the committee have applied for a grant for the extension. He said that it was possible that they had sufficient funds to start on a self build scheme but they would need help from the village, a leaflet was being put together for distribution parish-wide outlining what was needed and asking people to attend the AGM on April 29th.
Okeford United Football Club ï¿½ Cllr S Corben gave an optimistic progress report on the various teams including the youth teams and veterans.
Poor Lands Charity Committee ï¿½ Cllr Frampton reported that the committee had given out 14 lots of ï¿½10 and that the rent for the land had been increased to ï¿½200.
9) DISTRICT COUNCILLORï¿½S REPORT
Cllr Bignell reported on the budget and the proposed increase of 24.1% which he had opposed as he felt that it should stop wasting money. It was possible that the council would be capped. The Liveability Fund is still giving out money and a list of successful bids is published. There is little progress being made at Rolls Mill regarding the vehicle depot.
10) POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Via the clerk:-
There had been an accident on the Belchalwell road caused by a dead elm falling onto a passing car in the recent high winds ï¿½ no-one was hurt. There are a number of dead elms still in the hedge. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Frampton that a letter be written to the land owners concerned and ask if they could make them safe, this was agreed.
460
11) FINANCIAL MATTERS
To pay:-
Mrs D Burt clerkï¿½s salary (two months) 514.46}
Expenses 94.77} 609.23
It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr S Corben that this be paid, this was agreed.
The clerk reported having received a donation of ï¿½40 from the Village Hall Management Committee to assist with fire extinguisher maintenance costs, ï¿½20 from Mr Casebourne for a licence to park and access over Greenhayes and ï¿½10 from Mr & Mrs Bright for access over Greenhayes.
12) A.O.B.
The chairman reported that the museum light had been out of order. The electricity supply had been damaged when drainage work was recently carried out for the School. After many phone calls the supply has now been reconnected.
Cllr Trowbridge said that walkers would like to use the car park, there was no objection to this.
Cllr Horton had attended the AONB seminar and said that little can be done about the developments on Okeford Hill but we should make sure that NDDC enforcements are carried out.
13) THE NEXT MEETING will be the on Tuesday April 5th following the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30 pm.
There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 10.23 pm.