Search
| 5th February 2008 |
|
5th February 2008 Published unapproved for ratification at the March 4th meeting585 MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE PAVILION ON FEBRUARY 5th 2008 Present:- Cllr M Burt (chairman) Cllr E Horton (vice-chairman) Cllr T Burt Cllr B Trowbridge Also present:- Mrs D Burt (clerk), Cllr Mrs A Burch (NDDC) and two members of the public. 1) APOLOGIES Cllr A Frampton (attending other meeting), Cllr R Corben (attending other meeting), Cllr S Corben (on welfare course). 2) THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 8th having been circulated to Cllrs and notice boards, were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Trowbridge 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 M Burt as member of the Village Hall Management Committee. Cllrs M Burt and E Horton as members of the DAPTC. Cllr M Burt as member of CPEND and LDWG. Cllr E Horton as member of NDDC Standards Committee. Cllr M Burt – item 6a as neighbour of planning applicant Cllr T Burt – item 6a as neighbour of planning applicant 5) MATTERS ARISING i) Recreation Ground * Still awaiting plans from architect. * The chairman reported having repaired the boiler room doors. * He had also fitted a grab rail to the disabled toilet door. * The chairman and clerk had cleared out and painted the old shower room, shelving and locks etc had been purchased. * Cllr R Corben had obtained a contact number for the Scooter Club and a meeting will be arranged with them. * The clerk suggested that she write to NDDC to request a plastics recycling bank, this was agreed. ii) Bowey Field Cllr Horton reported that the Lower St gate was in an unsafe state and in need of replacement. The chairman said that we have the new gate ready and would ask contractors to install it. The clerk said that the signs may also need replacing. iii) Chicken Processing Factory Site The chairman reported that equipment is still being recovered but the site would be going on the market soon. iv) New Cross NFTR clerk to follow up. v) Footway – Castle Lane NFTR clerk to follow up. vi) Transport Study The consultants have said that the consultation is taking longer to organise than expected. vii) Community Planning The chairman had attended a committee meeting under its new name of Community Partnerships Executive North Dorset (CPEND) and had reiterated that affordable housing was an issue which still needed to be talked about. viii) Belchalwell & Fiddleford Items 586 The grass area at Lower Belchalwell continues to be cut by one resident. ix) Parish Plan Cllr Horton reported that the analysis of the questionnaires was now taking place and a meeting would be held shortly. The chairman reported that a resident had said that he had lost his prize ticket but was sure it was his number, he had intended to split the prize between the Church and the Village Hall. Cllr Horton said that he would put another message in the parish magazine with a claim by date. x) Bus Shelter/Museum The painter and decorator had still to be contacted. It was reported that paint had been sprayed on the post box and telephone kiosk but most of it had now been cleaned off. xi) Travellers NFTR xii) Mary Gardens Sign The clerk was awaiting a response from NDDC. xiii) Ridouts Development The clerk was awaiting a response from the land owner regarding the continuation of the footpath to the recreation ground. Also awaiting response from the Housing Association about the hedge. xiv) NDDC Housing Allocations Policy A letter received from Joyce Guest, general manager NDDC was read, she agreed that the council’s allocation policy needed to be reviewed to allow ‘under occupation’ on exception sites e.g. give a 3 bedroomed house to a couple with 1 child. Her officers have started to re-draft the policy and hoped to be able to discuss this in late February or early March. After a lengthy discussion it was proposed by Cllr T Burt and seconded by Cllr Horton that Mrs Guest be invited to the April meeting, this proposition failed. It was then proposed by Cllr T Burt and seconded by Cllr Horton that Mrs Guest be invited to a meeting on a mutually convenient date to discuss this one subject, a vote was taken and 3 were in favour with 1 abstention, the proposition was therefore carried. Cllr Horton reported that he had been in contact with NDDC and Western Challenge Housing Association about an empty two bedroom property and was told that it had been offered to three families but had been refused, it had now been offered to a couple so it appeared that the District Council and Housing Associations will do ‘under occupy’ allocations. He had also found a Government website dealing with sustainable communities. The Prime Minister has asked Matthew Taylor MP to conduct a review on how land use and planning can better support rural businesses and deliver affordable housing, it was agreed that we should take part in this review. The chairman suggested that a survey of the parish be undertaken to establish whether there is still a housing need. Cllr T Burt said that parishioners could not be identified because of the Data Protection Act, after a long discussion it was agreed to do an anonymous survey, Cllr T Burt offered to analyse the results. xv) War Memorial The clerk had now got two quotes to clean the memorial and after a short discussion it was agreed to accept Mr Louth’s quote of £573. xvi) Post of Clerk The chairman, vice-chairman and clerk had interviewed 3 candidates and had offered the post to one of them, the successful candidate lives outside of the parish and we await her acceptance. xvii) Road Gritting A response had been received from DCC saying that Okeford Hill was not on the pre salting route but a review would be taking place soon and there would be consultation with parishes. It was agreed to write saying that the Hill had been on the list and asking when it was taken off. Cllr Burch asked for a copy of the letter. xviii) Any Other Matters Arising None 6) PLANNING MATTERS a) applications 2/2008/0018 – Ms Guggenheim, Froghole Farm, The Hollow. Station mobile home for equestrian worker. 587 Cllrs M and T Burt had declared an interest (DoI) and Cllr Horton reported that this was an application for a continuation of a previous permission granted by NDDC to which this council had objected on road safety issues. Cllr Horton suggested that a reply be sent to NDDC saying that due to the DoI this council was inquorate and would draw attention to this council’s decision on the previous application, Cllr Trowbridge agreed. 2/2008/0035 – Mr & Mrs Ellis, 21 Nether Mead. Erect two storey extension. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Trowbridge that there be no objection, this was agreed. b) decisions None c) other 2/2007/1313 – Drove Cottage. NDDC Development Control will make its decision on February 12th Cllr Horton agreed to attend to state the PC’s case assuming that the Code of Conduct allowed if this was a problem the chairman who had abstained from the vote on the council’s decision on the application, would attend. 7) LOCAL DELIVERY OF SERVICES NFTR 8) CORRESPONDENCE  DCC – Structural maintenance programme 2008/09  Wildlife Trust – Community Action on climate change workshop March 1st  Parish referendum for Dorset – round robin on PM’s refusal to hold referendum on European constitution.  NALC – advising that parish polls for such as above are almost certainly unlawful  DAPTC – circ. 1/08 – amnesty for old cars free collection for recycling (for parish magazine), planning seminar February 26th (chair to attend)  Okeford Fitzpaine CEVA School – School strategy (copied to Cllrs)  Dorset Countryside – trailway clearing Fiddleford Feb 10th volunteers wanted (on notice boards)  Community.com – magazine  NDDC – mythodrama development event Feb 16th (vice chair to attend)  Life Education Dorset – request for grant (follow up with School first)  Environment Agency – Floodwatch notice (on notice boards)  NDDC – Safer neighbourhoods in North Dorset  SNATCH – objecting to proposed car park charges in Sturminster Newton (no action taken) 9) REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORTS Footpaths Liaison Officer – the clerk gave Cllr Horton a copy of a report about a missing fingerpost for a bridleway near to the Beacon. He said he would follow this up. Also he reported that a fence which had been constructed on the edge of Footpath 55 during the building of a house in Castle Lane still had not been removed, he had contacted DCC ROW department and suggested that as the house was now sold there could be a legal problem. 10) DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT Cllr Mrs Burch followed on from the housing policy issue saying that changes have been made to staffing and the District Council will soon be using software from Poole Borough Council which should make allocations easier and more cost effective. NDDC are still looking for potential sites for housing not necessarily rural exception sites. 11) POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC A parishioner outlined some changes to the bus times and routes. 12) FINANCIAL MATTERS *Account paid since the January meeting:- 15/01/08 – Post Office Ltd for gas at The Pavilion Chq no 357 158.24 588 *Accounts to pay:- Fireline Ltd – maintenance/renewal fire fighting equipment at The Pavilion and The Village Hall Chq no 361 338.97 M C Stainer – repairs to exit door at The Pavilion Chq no 359 141.00 Mrs D Burt – Clerk’s salary for Jan. 379.60, expenses 172.77 incl. shelving, locks etc for store/office space. Also B & Q receipt 12.98 grab rail for disabled toilet. Chq no 360 565.35 It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr T Burt that these be paid, this was agreed. *A letter of thanks had been received from a recipient of money from the Poor Lands Charity Committee. *A donation of £220 had been received from the Village Hall Management Committee. *The Audit Commission wish to appoint BDO Hoy for a further 5 year period to audit this Council’s account, there was no objection to this. *The clerk asked if the Council wished to continue its arrangement at 60 Greenhayes re: parking and access, this was agreed. Also a request for payment for access to the garage at 62 Greenhayes is to be sent. *There had been one tender offered for grass cutting which was considerably higher than we have been paying. After much discussion it was agreed to ask the tenderer to reduce the amount of cuts and thereby reduce the amount of the tender. *Annual Risk Assessment – Several items had come up since the last assessment some had been dealt with such as signage, an increase in fidelity guarantee and items from the RoSPA play equipment inspections. The pedestrian gate at Bowey Field has been identified as in need of attention and further items from the RoSPA inspection are to be completed. Review of effectiveness of internal audit – the council is satisfied that an effective and adequate system of internal audit is in place and that the auditor used is independent, extremely competent and able to carry out the work required. 13) ANY OTHER BUSINESS None 14) THE NEXT MEETING was arranged for March 4th at 7:30pm and will take place as The Pavilion, Castle Lane. There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 10:05pm. |