OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE HELD ON TUESDAY 3rd APRIL 2012
Present: – Cllr M Burt (Chairman) Cllr B Fox (Vice Chairman)
Cllr R Corben Cllr S Corben
Cllr M Paine Cllr M Wood
In attendance: Cllr Mrs A Burch (NDDC), Mrs S Deary (Clerk) and 13 members of the public.
1) APOLOGIES: NONE
2) THE MINUTES OF 5 APRIL 2011 having been circulated to Cllrs and notice boards were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr Fox and seconded by Cllr S Corben that the Chairman sign them, this was agreed.
3) MATTERS ARISING
None.
4) CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
As I write this report it does not seem like a year ago that I was typing the 2011 report.
Since that time some progress has been made on the hall extension, the site area has been cleared and the cherry tree has been removed, and at present funding is being sought to progress the extension itself.
Fund-raising continues in order that the hall committee can show it is contributing to the project.
The village hall AGM is due to take place on Monday 16 April at 7.30 pm at the hall and everyone is welcome to attend. The Hall committee would welcome new members willing to help out at functions &become Trustees of the hall. I would like on behalf of the Parish to extend our thanks to the management committee for the excellent work they do on a completely voluntary basis in keeping the hall going and in such good condition many favourable comments are made by visitors to the hall.
Last year we were hoping that the parish would receive some land to provide more allotments and ensure the parishes long term ability to continue to provide allotment facilities, but this did not materialise as a result of the District Council first of all passing the planning application that would have made this possible then convincing the applicant to withdraw the application for two houses and the transfer of the land to the parish on a technicality and then when it was resubmitted in line with their advice turning it down.
I make no apology for once again mentioning the village shop, they provide an excellent service to the parish both with the shop the post office and the prescription collection service we owe it to them to give them our support, I often see house sale adverts quoting a village shop/post office, school &pub, they can all only exist if we give them our support. I am told that a village shop adds £6000 to house prices.
The extension to the pavilion is progressing and hopefully will soon be completed. Much of the work has been done by volunteers with professional paid help when required.
The new play equipment has been provided in Bowey Field and seems to have been well received. Our thanks must go to Beth Fox and the team of residents who fund raised and organised the project. They are now fund-raising for phase two.
On the parishes behalf I would like to extend thanks to Dave & Allan Frampton & Robert Corben for the work they have carried out throughout the year to keep our grass areas in such excellent condition, the Recreation Ground prompts numerous comments from visitors as to how well it is Kept and what a credit it is to the Parish. I feel the same can be said for Bowey Field and the other grass areas. The residents of Belchalwell continue to look after the green at the entrance to Church Walk. All do this work on a voluntary basis and we owe them a debt of gratitude
I would like to thank all those involved in Okeford United Football Club for the work they do in working with young people providing them with the opportunity to play sport in a safe environment with proper coaching. Working together we can continue to provide the facilities required to achieve this and provide healthy exercise for both footballers and those who use the recreation ground for other sport& recreational purposes.
If we are to continue to provide parish facilities in an economic way then we need to find more younger volunteers to keep up the parish tradition.
5) OPEN SESSION/PUBLIC MATTERS
The Chairman invited other members of the public to ask questions but none were put forward and he closed the meeting at 7.40 pm.
The Parish Council meeting followed immediately.
