5th June 2007

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5th June 2007

Published unapproved for ratification at the July 3rd meeting
554
MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT THE PAVILION ON JUNE 5th 2007

Present:- Cllr M Burt (chairman)
Cllr E Horton (vice chairman)
Cllr T Burt
Cllr R Corben
Cllr S Corben
Cllr A Frampton

Also present:- Mrs D Burt (clerk) and 3 members of the public.

1) APOLOGIES Cllr B Trowbridge (sick)

2) THE MINUTES of the AGM having been circulated to councillors and notice boards were taken as read. A clerkï¿½s note had been added re: NDDC COC1 forms in that they had to be renewed. It was proposed by Cllr R Corben and seconded by Cllr Horton that they be signed by the chairman, this was agreed.
2) THE MINUTES OF JUNE 5th having been circulated to councillors and notice boards were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr R Corben that they be signed by the chairman, this was agreed.
The chairman welcomed new councillor Tim Burt and in his absence returning councillor Bernard Trowbridge.
4) POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC RELATING TO ITEM 6 ONLY None

5) DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None

6) MATTERS ARISING
i) Recreation Ground
o It was reported that a huge branch had broken from an oak tree on the eastern boundary, it was still attached to the tree and too big for volunteers to handle. A tree surgeon was called in to do emergency remedial work and volunteers then removed the wood and smaller branches. The clerk asked for authorisation to pay the tree surgeon when the bill came in before the next meeting. It was proposed by Cllr R Corben and seconded by Cllr Horton that authorisation be given, this was agreed.
o The chairman reported that an attempt to remove the roundabout will be on Thursday.
o Work on the ramp is awaited.
o The new hot boiler in the kitchen needs to be individually wired, an electrician to be approached.
ii) Bowey Field
o Cllr Horton was thanked for organising the workers from HMP. He said that one of them wants to come back and do some work on the bank of the stream. After some discussion it was thought that reseeding with grass was probably the best option to be deferred until the Autumn.
o 2 new seats have been purchased for the swings ï¿½ to be fitted.
o It was agreed to buy paint to cover the graffiti on the climbing frame and ask via the parish magazine for a volunteer to paint it.
o One part of the fence has been repaired but there is more to do.
o The clerk has not been able to contact the safety surface specialists yet.
iii) Chicken Processing Factory
A meeting has been arranged with Robert Walter MP and representatives from NDDC and DCC for June 19th at 9:30am at the Village Hall. Clerk to provide refreshments. Hilary Cox (DCC) and Audrey Burch (NDDC) to be invited.
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iv) New Cross DCC has apologised for the delay in responding and asks for a meeting date. This item to be deferred until after the June 19th meeting as it will be discussed there.
v) Community Planning
o From NDDC ï¿½ information on the status of parish plans in Dorset. (passed to Cllr Horton)
o From NDDC - A consultation document on Core Strategy: Issues and Alternative Options responses needed by July 13th. (passed to Cllr Horton, then chairman to read)
o Cllr Horton reported on a meeting he attended with a consultant present, there was concern that SturQuest would not have funds to take over services from NDDC.
o Cllr Burt had attended an ï¿½awaydayï¿½ as a member of the North Dorset Community Partnership Steering Group. Having been asked the question ï¿½what lessons could be learnedï¿½ he had responded that a lot of the Parish and Town Councils were obviously not doing their jobs.
vi) Belchalwell Items The grass on the green area near to the notice board continues to be cut. It was proposed by Cllr S Corben and seconded by Cllr R Corben that this item include Fiddleford items, this was agreed.
vii) Parish Plan
Cllr Horton reported that the first draft of the questionnaire is ready to circulate to steering group members, this will be followed by a meeting to finalise it. It was suggested that one of more of the group have a table with information about the plan at the ï¿½Fippenny Fayreï¿½.
viii) Pavement by museum ï¿½ wheelchair access
Awaiting DCC ï¿½ clerk to follow up. A member of the public asked if the dropped kerb outside of the shop could be paint marked.
ix) Code of Conduct
The clerk reported that all declarations of acceptance of office had now been signed and sent to NDDC as had the COC 1 forms registering financial and other interests. The new Code of Conduct had been copied to all councillors. A guide and pocket guide from the Standards Board had also been circulated. Cllr Horton said that NDDC are adopting the code. We await advice from the DAPTC.
x) Any Other Matters Arising None

6) PLANNING MATTERS
a) applications 2/2007/0480 ï¿½ Mrs H Miles, 9 Mary Gardens. Erect 2 storey extension to rear of property. It was proposed by Cllr R Corben and seconded by Cllr Frampton that there be no objection, the vote was 4 in favour with 2 abstentions, the proposition was therefore carried.
2/2007/0556 ï¿½ Mr J Bryant, Hill View House, The Common, O/F. Erect conservatory. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr R Corben that there be no objection, this was agreed.
b) decisions 2/2007/0338 ï¿½ Brambles, Back Lane. Erect rear conservatory. GRANTED
c) other None

7) TOUGH CHOICES AT NDDC
The service level agreement had been returned to NDDC and there has been no response to date. The chairman said that no further meetings had been scheduled to discuss the District Councilï¿½s 2008/2009 budget. There was a need to clarify what will happen to those councils which chose not to support NDDC this year and how services would be delivered in future.

8) CORRESPONDENCE
o CAB ï¿½ notice of annual public meeting on June 7th at Hall & Woodhouse visitor centre.
o DAPTC ï¿½ circular 07/07 ï¿½ *clerks pay negotiations in progress. * Connecting Dorset service level agreement ï¿½ Cllr T Burt had looked at the paperwork and after a discussion on its merits it was thought that it could offer nothing we had not already got. Also with the likelihood of a change of clerk it would be better to defer any decision. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr R Corben that the Parish Council does not take up the offer at this time, this was agreed.

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o AONB ï¿½ Consultation draft on Landscape Character Assessment & Management Guidance available on AONB website comments needed by August 1st.
o DCC ï¿½ changes to highway services.

9) REPRESENTATIVEï¿½S REPORTS
Football Club ï¿½ Cllr S Corben reported on the very successful 6 aside tournament at the weekend involving hundreds of children. The chairman congratulated the FC on the event and thanked them for keeping the field in such good condition.
Village Hall ï¿½ Cllr Burt reported that between 60 and 70 people had attended the opening of the extension on May 26th. There is however still work to be completed not least the porch and handrails for the ramp. Also some more drainage work. The regulations regarding numbers using the hall and fire precautions have been changed and this will be discussed at the next management committee meeting.
ROW Liaison Officer ï¿½ Cllr Horton reported having received a copy of an objection to the diversion of FP 40 by S/N Town Council. He would also follow up on some items with DCC ROW.

10) DISTRICT COUNCILLORï¿½S REPORT None

11) POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC
o A member of the public new to the village asked if the council would like a willow tree which was currently growing in his garden but was not suitable. The council declined.
o Mr Gillingham reported having put information regarding train services in the parish magazine and in the shop. He also reported on changes to some bus times.
o Via the clerk ï¿½ a member of the public was concerned about old fence panels left on the green area near to Orchard Close. The clerk had reported the matter to personnel at Signpost Housing Association who had agreed to look into it.
12) FINANCIAL MATTERS
Accounts to pay:-
Goddard Landscapes ï¿½ work on Village Hall car park chq no 326 257.91
N D Young ï¿½ materials for Village Hall car park chq no 327 110.22
Hags Play Ltd ï¿½ 2 swing seats for Bowey chq no 328 201.82
Mrs D Burt ï¿½ salary for May 379.60, expenses 97.97 chq no 329 477.57
P O Ltd ï¿½ Gas chq no 330 157.18
It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Frampton that these be paid, this was agreed.
o The clerk reported having had a letter of termination of the gas supply for non payment of the bill, the letter had been sent to the previous clerk. Having telephoned British Gas to complain (this took several days) she was told that there had been a mistake and termination notices instead of bills had been sent out, the proper bill would be sent shortly. She was also assured that the address details would be changed. The bill had arrived a few days later addressed properly.
o It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Frampton that the 2006/2007 accounts be adopted, this was agreed.
o Section 2, the Annual Governance Statement, of the annual return had been copied to Cllrs. The questions were answered by the council and the statement was signed by the chairman and clerk.
o Donations had been received from T.O.P.S. (ï¿½10), Dorset Mediation (ï¿½10) and band practice (ï¿½20). Mr Read had held an auction at the Recreation Ground and instead of a donation to the Pavilion he had given services of providing music at the Village Hall opening, the council were happy with this.
o The clerk had reclaimed VAT to the value of ï¿½198.27.
o The clerk read a letter from Okeford United Football Club (Cllrs Frampton and S Corben declared an interest) stating that having purchased a replacement tractor it was now transferring ownership and responsibility of the tractor (YAH 448S) to the Parish Council. The letter was signed by OUFC chairman S Corben and OUFC treasurer A Frampton.

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The chairman thanked the Football Club for the donation and their continued efforts keeping both the Recreation Ground and Bowey Field in good condition.

13) A.O.B.
o Wording for a replacement car parking notice at the Village Hall was circulated to Cllrs. It was amended and now reads.
PRIVATE
NO UNAUTHORISED PARKING
VILLAGE HALL PATRONS
AND AUTHORISED RESIDENTS ONLY
THE PARISH COUNCIL
DOES NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY
FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE
TO VEHICLES PARKING IN THIS AREA
HOWSOEVER CAUSED
By order of the Parish Council,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Clerk to get a price.
o A new PC photograph will need to be taken, date to be fixed.
o Cllr R Corben asked about the bus shelter/museum as he thought it needed to be painted and that its maintenance was included in the lease. Clerk to check the lease for this and how long it runs.
o Cllr Frampton said that the drains which continually cause problems can block overnight with gravel washing down the hill.

14) THE NEXT MEETING will take place on July 3rd at the Pavilion, Castle Lane at 7:30 pm.
There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 9:46 pm.