3rd July 2007

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3rd July 2007

Published unapproved for ratification at the July 31st meeting.
558
MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT THE PAVILION ON JULY 3rd 2007

Present:- Cllr M Burt ï¿½ chairman
Cllr E Horton ï¿½ vice chairman
Cllr T Burt
Cllr R Corben
Cllr B Trowbridge

Also present:- Mrs D Burt (clerk), Cllr Mrs Burch (NDDC) and one member of the public.

1) APOLOGIES Cllr S Corben (on holiday), Cllr Frampton (working).

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 T Burt 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 T Burt declared an interest in item 5 xi) as being a director of Muddyweb Ltd.
Cllr M Burt declared an interest in item 5 xi) as being related to Cllr T Burt.

5) MATTERS ARISING
i) Recreation Ground
o Another branch had fallen from the oak tree on the eastern boundary and has been cleared.
o Work on the boiler has been completed at no charge, thanks to the FC for organising this.
o The roundabout proved to be unrepairable and has been removed, the hole has been filled in and a decision needs to be made as to whether it will be replaced.
o No smoking signs had been placed in the Pavilion in line with the new law which came into force on July 1st.
ii) Bowey Field
o Cllr Horton reported that the brambles and weeds have grown back around the field, it was thought that the only solution would be to use a weed killer that would not affect the stream.
o The chairman reported that the swings will need to be removed so that the new seats can be fitted.
o Paint has been purchased for the climbing frame and an appeal for volunteers has been put in the parish magazine. There had been a report that some children had been playing with paint at the site and had made a mess on the ground and on the equipment.
o It was reported that the matting has deteriorated. The clerk had contacted the safety surface specialists from Newbury who had said that it would be expensive for them to come to do a small repair but they would keep us in mind if any other work comes up in this area. Another option is that they could supply us with the materials for us to do the repair.
o The seesaw needs to be installed and it may be that if we do the groundwork the specialists could come in to do wet pour safety surface for both the seesaw and the climbing frame. Cllrs M Burt and R Corben to make inspection before a decision is made.
o The clerk reported that the Outdoor Basketball Initiative has written to say that the free maintenance period is now over and the posts were now the responsibility of the PC.

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iii) Chicken Processing Factory
A meeting has taken place with Cllrs M Burt, E Horton, A Frampton and B Trowbridge, Robert Walter MP, Cllr Mrs Hilary Cox, Cllr Mrs Audrey Burch, representatives from Dorset County Council and North Dorset District Council. The meeting was called to discuss the possible implications of the closure of the chicken processing factory in Higher Street and the future of employment prospects in the area including highway issues. At present it is not clear how the site is to be disposed of so it is not possible to come to any firm decisions but the PC felt that the meeting was necessary to make its views known and in the hope that it will be kept informed and be involved as much as possible with the future of this and all employment sites in the area.
North Dorset planners regard the Higher Street site as an employment site.
Robert Walter will try to talk to the factory owner for a clearer picture of the future of the site.
It is unlikely that there will be a new road built from Shillingstone Lane to Castle Lane as suggested in the District Wide Plan.
Cllr Mrs Burch had done a small survey of villagers asking what they thought should be done with the Higher Street site if it were to close. She said that the results showed that generally they would like to see a mixture of housing and an opportunity for jobs. She said that the results in no way represented the whole of the parish.
iv) New Cross
As nothing relevant came from the meeting above it was agreed to arrange a meeting with DCC to discuss the problems at New Cross.
v) Community Planning
Cllr Horton had attended a SturQuest meeting where the Manston Parish Plan was presented.
Cllr M Burt had attended a workshop relating to the consultation on Issues and Alternative Options, responses to be made by July 13th.
He said that there is a fear that the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) will stop development in smaller parishes. He asked for direction to respond to the consultation and the general feeling was that there is a need for housing to keep villages alive and schools and services open. It is possible that the settlement boundaries will need to be moved in the future. It was proposed by Cllr R Corben and seconded by Cllr Horton that Cllr M Burt responds to the consultation expressing the councils concern for the future, this was agreed.
The DAPTC is setting up a meeting of parishes on July 12th where it is hoped that it will formulate a policy on these issues.
vi) Belchalwell & Fiddleford Items None
vii) Parish Plan
The clerk passed a NDDC booklet on planning guidance notes to Cllr Horton.
Cllr Horton circulated a draft questionnaire which he said was based on the issues raised at the open day. The council went through the questions and some suggestions were made.
viii) Pavement by museum ï¿½ wheelchair access
The clerk had written to DCC again and had received the response that an order would be raised shortly, the work is now almost complete.
ix) Code of Conduct
All the original copies of COC1 and acceptance of office forms have been returned to the clerk for the council files.
x) Fence Panels ï¿½ Orchard Close
Signpost Housing Association was again informed and the panels have now been removed from the green area.
xi) Village Hall car park sign
Muddyweb Ltd had offered to do the lettering free so only a board and posts need to be found. The council thanked Cllr T Burt and it was proposed by Cllr R Corben and seconded by Cllr Horton that the offer be accepted, this was agreed, Cllrs T and M Burt abstained as they had declared an interest.

560
xii) Parish Council Photograph
It was agreed that the photo be taken on July 31st before the start of the meeting assuming no absentees.
xiii) Bus Shelter/Museum
The clerk had checked the lease and found that the PC had undertaken to decorate the building inside every 4 years and outside every 7 years so it was proposed by Cllr R Corben and seconded by Cllr Horton that tenders be invited for the work this was agreed.
The lease comes up for renewal in 2018.
No smoking sign to be put up in the museum.
xiv) Any Other Matters Arising None

6) PLANNING MATTERS
a) Applications 2/2007/0627 ï¿½ Mr C Jarvis, 12 Nether Mead. Erect 2 storey extension. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr R Corben that there be no objections, this was agreed.
2/2007/0672 ï¿½ Mr R Lewis, Church Walk Cottage, Belchalwell. Erect single storey extension to garage block to form studio. Cllr Horton said that the only difference in the new application appeared to be the absence of roof lights. It was proposed by Cllr Trowbridge and seconded by Cllr R Corben that there be no objection, this was agreed.
2/2007/0688 ï¿½ Mr K Snook, Garlands Farm. Form new access drive to existing dwelling. After some discussion it was proposed by Cllr T Burt and seconded by Cllr R Corben that there be no objection, the vote was 2 for the proposition 1 against with 2 abstentions. The proposition was therefore carried.
b) Decisions 2/2007/0352 ï¿½ 12 Mary Gardens ï¿½ 2 storey extension, form carport & first floor accommodation, 1 dormer window. Demolish existing carport. GRANTED
2/2007/0405 ï¿½ Mayfield Farm, Broad Oak ï¿½ certificate of lawfulness to continue to use as swimming pool & enclosure. REFUSED
2/2007/0480 ï¿½ 9 Mary Gardens ï¿½ Erect two storey extension to the rear. REFUSED
2/2007/0418 ï¿½ Church Walk Cottage, Belchalwell. APPLICATION WITHDRAWN. (see above for new application).
c) Other None

7) TOUGH CHOICES at NDDC
Received from NDDC copy of local delivery phase 2 to Sturminster Newton Town Council.
A meeting will be held on July 24th with the District and Parish Councils. The chairman asked what discretionary services the council would like to retain.
He had attended a meeting earlier where the argument had been about parishes paying or not and receiving services. He and the vice chairman were to attend a DAPTC meeting on July 12th and the views of the council were needed. It was generally felt that all parishes needed to work together if we are to retain all the services currently supplied. It was difficult to make a definitive decision without the figures to back it up but the situation where some parishes pay and some donï¿½t is not acceptable. The chairman had at the earlier meeting suggested that parishes carry on paying for the discretionary services via their precepts to NDDC.
It was proposed by Cllr R Corben and seconded by Cllr Horton that in principle it would be better to let NDDC run the services, this was agreed.

8) CORRESPONDENCE
o DCC ï¿½ Ancient Monuments Liaison Officer needed. Request to go in parish magazine.
o DCC ï¿½ Advance notice of closure of C20 at Glue Hill 200m from junction with A357 on September for 3 weeks. To go in parish magazine.
o CAB ï¿½ annual report.
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o DCC ï¿½ programme of maintenance work 2007/2008.
o DAPTC ï¿½ circular 08/07 ï¿½ consultations online on:-
Nuclear power (http://www.direct.gov.uk/nuclearpower2007) &
ROW (http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/row-rights/index.htm ). COC training seminar July 10th. Confirmation sent that Cllrs M Burt and Horton will be PC reps to DAPTC.
o NDDC - Child Okeford design statement consultation, any responses needed by July 20th, passed to Cllr Horton.

9) REPRESENTATIVEï¿½S REPORTS None
10) DISTRICT COUNCILLORï¿½S REPORT None
11) POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC None

12) FINANCIAL MATTERS
Account paid since last meeting:-
Westree (approved at June meeting) chq no 331 99.87
Accounts to pay:-
St Andrews PCC ï¿½ assistance with parish magazine production and Churchyard maintenance.
chq no 332 450.00
Mrs D Burt (clerkï¿½s salary June) - 379.60}
Plus receipts:-
Ashley Power ï¿½ mower parts 126.54}
B & Q ï¿½ paint & brushes ï¿½ Bowey Field 26.94}
B & Q ï¿½ fixings for swing seats - Bowey Field 10.26}
Screwfix ï¿½ No smoking signs 20.97}
Refreshments for meeting 5.50} chq no 334 569.81
It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr R Corben that these be paid, this was agreed.
After some discussion it was proposed by Cllr M Burt and seconded by Cllr Horton that the clerk writes to the PCC treasurer to ask for a breakdown of Churchyard maintenance costs, this was agreed.
The clerk reported having received donations of ï¿½20 from band practice, ï¿½10 from TOPS and ï¿½10 from a parishioner.

13) A.O.B.
o Travellers had again broken into Conygar Copse tip site on, it is believed, June 9th. The Police and Mr Evans at DCC had been informed also Cllr Mrs Hilary Cox (DCC). Mr Evans said that the Gypsy Liaison Officer was on the case but he thought that the long process of eviction would have to be gone through again.
o Clerk ï¿½ Cllr Horton reported that Mrs Burt had offered, with the councilï¿½s agreement, to carry on in the post until the end of the financial year to give the council time to advertise for a replacement. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr R Corben that the council accepts the offer, this was agreed. Cllr Trowbridge proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Burt this was seconded by Cllr T Burt and agreed.

14) THE NEXT MEETING will take place on July 31st at the Pavilion, Castle Lane at 7:30pm.
There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 10:10pm.