MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGHELD AT THE PAVILION ON 2 NOVEMBER 2010 PRESENT: Cllr M Burt (Chairman) Cllr T Horton (V.Chairman) Cllr B Fox Cllr M Paine Also present: – Mrs Sandra Deary (Clerk) and 3 members of the public. 1. APOLOGIES: Cllrs R Corben, S Corben and A Frampton2. THE MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 5 OCTOBER 2010 having been circulated to Cllrs and noticeboards were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr Fox and seconded by Cllr Paine that they be signed by the Chairman, this was agreed.3. POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC RELATING TO ITEM 5 ONLY. None4. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTCllrs Burt as member of the Village Hall Management Committee.Cllrs Burt & Horton as members of the DAPTC.Cllr Burt as member of CPEND and LDWG. Cllr Horton as member of NDDC Standards Committee. Cllr Horton declared a personal interest in minute 7.1. Application No.s: 2/2010/1051/PLNG, 2/2010/0996/PLNG and 2/2010/1012/PLNG as the applicants were known to him.5. District & County Councillors’ Reports: Cllr Burch reported that no figures were yet available with regard to the Comprehensive Spending Review. She hoped the figures would be available by the end of next week and she would report back to the next meeting on what impact the review would have locally. She informed the Council that there would be no increase in Council tax for the coming year. When asked if any information was available on Local Enterprise Partnerships she responded that Dorset may need to team up with other Authorities along the A27 corridor in order to create a big enough partnership. Cllr Burt felt that this would not be to the benefit of local parishes.6. MATTERS ARISING6.1 Recreation Ground/Pavilion: Cllr Burt reported that the soil at the top of the field had now been flattened and the old mowers have been scrapped. He also reported that two additional lights had been added to the timer to enable the length of the building and the car park to be lit on Monday nights for the youth club. The building work on the extension/garage may need to be carried out over weekends as the builder involved was extremely busy. This was agreed by council. A close eye will need to be kept on expenditure.6.2 Bowey Field: Cllr Paine informed the Council that he had received a response to say that the application for a lottery grant had been received and would be considered. It is hoped that a decision will be made in the next 2-3 weeks. He advised that he had approached Veolia Environmental, who offer grant for community projects. To meet the criteria for a grant would mean that the park would need to be within 10 miles of a landfill site, therefore the play park does not meet the criteria. He would look into making a request to the Sturminster Cheese Festival and the Hall & Woodhouse Community Chest. 6.3 Village Hall Extension and Car Park: Cllr Burt informed the Council that permission had now been granted for the removal of the tree, and building regulations were awaited before work can commence. A member of the public offered his services as a qualified tree surgeon. Cllr Burt thanked him and took his details for the future. Due to the number of projects being carried out in the village Mrs Deary was requested to write to the Chief Executive of NDDC asking how much developers’ contribution had been collected for Okeford Fitzpaine in the last 10 years and how this had been spent.6.4 Footway – Castle Lane: N.F.T.R.6.5 Community Planning: Sturquest are currently building a website which they hope to launch late November. Its aim is to act as a focus for enquiries about community projects and activities in the Sturminster area – although it will also have links to local businesses, sites of interest etc. It will list possible funding and enterprise opportunities, various societies and other community organisations. As such, it is important that the surrounding parishes feature on the site. Sturquest would like to create a link from this website to the Parish Council website. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Fox that this permission is given. Cllrs Fox and Horton had attended the recent meeting of the DT11 Forum, as impartial observers, which had been held in the village hall. It was reported that they were looking at the possibility of creating a community hub at the 3 Choughs in Blandford, with offices for a number of local groups and advice services.6.6 Belchalwell & Fiddleford Items: N.F.T.R.6.6 Actions Highlighted in the Parish Plan: Cllr Fox reported that she had spoken to the Vicar regarding the possibility of holding events in the Church, she had been advised that due to the lack of toilet facilities this would not be possible. Cllr Burch asked why toilets could not be build inside the church. Cllr Beth would discuss this option further with the Vicar or the rural Dean.6.7 Blandford PACT and Home Watch: Cllr Burt advised that he had now given permission for the Blandford PACT to use the pavilion for meetings, free of charge. The next meeting will be held on 25 November when the suitability of the pavilion as a venue would be discussed. 6.8 Okeford Hill – salting/gritting: Mrs Deary informed the Council that she had written to the Highways Department of DCC enquiring if the review had taken place. A reply had been received stating that there is a treated route from the A357, Shillingstone to the village, and returning to A357 at New Gate Cross. Okeford Hill is not on the treated network. Mrs Deary had written again to DCC to request if the review as mentioned in their letter dated 25 March 2010 had been carried out and if so what was the outcome. A further reply had been received from Mr Alan Muncaster of DCC stating that he could not locate the letter dated 25 March 2010 and that the current situation is that the routes have been finalised and that work has started on the review of the former Priority 3 network. The objective of this part of the review is to connect the smaller villages and hamlets to the nearest section of treated network rather than the current cross country routes. Mrs Deary has written again to DCC enclosing a copy of their letter dated 25 March 2010 and requesting that the Council be informed once the review of the Priority 3 network has been completed. Mrs Deary was asked to write to the Chief Executive of DCC explaining that a number of accidents had occurred last year resulting in the Police, Fire Service and Air Ambulance attending.6.9 Traffic (volume and speed) using Back Lane: Mrs Deary advised that a letter had been received informing the Council that an appeal against the enforcement notice has been lodged stating the following ground:· That there is not a breach of planning control· The steps required to comply with the requirements of the notice are excessive and lesser steps would overcome the objectives· The time given to comply with the notice is too short.If the Council wishes its views to be known in respect of this appeal then comments must be made in writing to be received no later than 9 November 2010. Mrs Deary was asked to write to the Planning Inspectorate giving the views of the Council as follows:· The number and nature of structures on the site have a detrimental effect on this area of outstanding natural beauty.· There has been a significant increase in traffic due to multiple occupancy of the site.· At a Development Control Committee site visit to look at the application for the barn on the site the Chairman of the Committee stated that all other temporary buildings would be removed once the barn was erected. This is not the case, the number of temporary structures has increased.· It is the Council’s view that the site is not being used for the agricultural purposes that gave ground for the provision of the approved barn. We do not have the authority to enter the site and therefore cannot investigate this. We rely on North Dorset District Council’s enforcement team to carry out this work.6.10 Village Shop: N.F.T.R.7. PLANNING MATTERS:7.1 Application: 2/2010/1051/PLNG – Thornhill Farmhouse, High Street, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0RQ – Remove and replace soffit board on east elevation and carry out external alterations in association with this. Following discussion it was agreed that the proposed works would improve the appearance of the listed building. Cllr Horton proposed supporting this application, this was seconded by Cllr Paine and agreed by Council. 2. 2/2010/0996/PLNG – Thornhill Farmhouse, High Street, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0RQ – Install new eaves guard, over-fascia ventilation, rafter ventilation, fascia board, guttering and downpipe and carry out external alterations in association with this. Following discussion it was agreed that the proposed works would preserve the fabric of the listed building. Cllr Burt proposed supporting this application, this was seconded by Cllr Horton and agreed by Council.2/2010/1012/PLNG – Thornhill Farmhouse, High Street, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0RQ – Remove and relocate flue and carry out internal and external alterations in association with this. Following discussion it was agreed that the proposed works would preserve the fabric of the listed building. Cllr Horton proposed supporting this application, this was seconded by Cllr Burt and agreed by Council.2/2010/0322/PLNG – Former Faccenda Factory, High Street, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0RQ – Minor amendment to highway layout. Cllr Horton explained that he had looked at the plans and that it appeared that not only was there a minor amendment to the highway layout but there were a number of building missing which were on the original plan. Mrs Deary was asked to clarify this point with Mrs H Smith, Development Control Officer.2/2010/1091/PLNG – Angers Farm, Angers Lane, Fiddleford, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2BY – Erect two storey extension and resite vehicular access (block up existing access). Cllr Horton informed the Council that this was a working farm and that it was not overlooked. The new access was better positioned to offer improved visibility. Cllr Horton proposed that the Council had no objection to the application, this was seconded by Cllr Paine and agreed by Council.7.2 Decisions: 2/2010/0871/PLNG – Thornhill Farmhouse, High Street, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0RQ – Install loft insulation – GRANTED2/2010/0939 – The Cottage, High Street, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0RQ – Modify condition No. 2 of planning permission No. 2/210/0476, to allow a window in the end gable wall – GRANTED2/2010/0823/PLNG – Land at Okeford Hill, Back Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset – Erect 1 single storey dwelling, 1 mobile home and 4 x parking spaces. Erect stables to house 30 horses, re-clad existing barn to be used for storage of hay, bedding, veterinary requisites and hard feed – WITHDRAWN8. CORRESPONDENCE FOR 2 NOVEMBER 2010 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Rural G Homewatch Newsletter – Blandford Rural – Sept 2010 Homewatch Newsletter – Blandford South – Sept 2010 DAPTC – Chief Executive’s Circular 11/109. REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS:Rights of Way/Footpaths: Cllr Paine reported that there was a damaged stile on one of the footpaths which needed to be repaired.Football Club: N.F.T.R.Village Hall: N.F.T.R10. POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC: A member of the public raised concerns regarding the number of rats evident for the last 3 years. They appeared to be coming from the bank of land situated behind his house. He enquired if there was anything the Parish Council could do to help alleviate the problem. He was advised that the owner of the land had a duty of care to deal with any rats on the land. The Parish Council felt that they were not in a position to help as they have a limited budget.11. FINANCIAL MATTERS 11.1 Half Year Accounts: Mrs Deary provided the half yearly accounts which were distributed to Councillors. Cllr Paine proposed they be signed as a correct record, this was seconded by Cllr Fox and agreed by Council. 11.2 Accounts paid since last meeting: NONE11.3 Accounts to pay: Mrs Deary – September Salary £361.57 Chq No 563 Goddard Landscapes Ltd – Work at Recreation Ground £798.80 Chq No 564 North Dorset Citizens Advice Bureau – Donation £100 Chq No 565 NDDC – RoSPA Inspections £111.63 Chq No 566 DAPTC- Chairman’s Seminar 12 October 2010 £15.00 Chq No 567 Wessex Water – Water & Sewerage £110.20 Chq No 568 Mike Burt – Various building materials for extension/garage £875.78 Chq No 569 Wessex Water – Water for Allotments £118.33 Chq No 570 It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Fox that these be paid. This was agreed by Council.11.4 Income: £10 from the DT11 Forum11.5 Precept 2011-2012: The 2011-2012 precept was discussed at length and a number of amendments made. This will now be placed on noticeboards and a final decision will be taken at the next meeting.12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Mrs Deary reported that she had written to Mr S Graeser, enforcement Officer at NDDC with regard to the wooden building erected in a field adjacent to the pavilion. She had received a response stating that the matter had been passed to Mrs C Rogerson for investigation and an update should be available within 21 days. A letter of thanks had been received from the Church with regard to the Parish Council donation as reported at the last meeting. A member of the public enquired whether a number of grit bins could be purchased for locations around the village. Members felt that villagers would not use them as had been the case with the grit bin situated in Belchawell. However, the member of the public assured the council that if a grit bin was situated near to his house then he and other villagers would use it to keep the pathways safe in freezing weather. Cllr Burt agreed to look into the viability of this and report back to the next meeting. 13. THE NEXT MEETING will be held on Tuesday 7 December 2010 at the Pavilion, Castle Lane at 7.30 pm. The Chairman thanked all present and closed the meeting at 10:20 pm
