Okeford Fitzpaine Parish
Home Page Parish Council Parish council minutes 3rd June 2008
3rd June 2008

3rd June 2008

MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT THE PAVILION ON 3rd JUNE 2008

PRESENT: Cllr M Burt (Chairman)
Cllr E Horton (Vice-Chairman)
Cllr T Burt
Cllr R Corben
Cllr S Corben
Cllr A Frampton

Also present:- PC Dave Mullins (Dorset Police), Mrs R Burrows (Clerk), four members of the public.

1. APOLOGIES: Cllr Mrs Audrey Burch (NDDC). Cllr Mrs Hilary Cox

2. THE MINUTES OF MAY 6TH having been circulated to Cllrs and notice boards, were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr E 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 M Burt as a 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 R Corben (item 5.14) on housing list
Cllrs R Corben & S Corben , Cllr A Frampton (item 5.1.6)as members of Okeford United Football Club

5. MATTERS ARISING
5.1 Recreation Ground/Pavilion
5.1.1 Pavilion doors: Chairman said that Newglaze would fit the new doors on Tuesday 10 June. It had been necessary to complete a NDDC Building Notice form and pay the appropriate fee to obtain approval for the new doors.
5.1.2 Pavilion Changing Rooms: Cllr S Corben said that the Football club would like to paint the two changing rooms on 21 June and this would be at no cost to the Parish.
5.1.3 Extension plans: Cllr S Corben asked if it would be possible for the new plans to include the covered canopy area being extended along the remainder of the side of the pavilion to allow for more spectators to be sheltered from bad weather when watching matches at the recreation ground. Chairman to ask the architect for a verandah to the added to the revised plans.
5.1.4 Land located south-east of recreation ground owned by Mr Tony Muir. The Clerk read out to the meeting the proposed draft which the Solicitor had been requested to send. Nothing further had been heard from Mr Alan Horne of Bailey and Co so it was unclear if this had been done or not. The clerk was asked to follow up and report back at the next meeting.
5.1.5 Dumping of other (not recycling) waste. I Manley (NDDC) had confirmed that the signs are in the final design stage and costs are being obtained; he will let the clerk know when there is anything further to report. I Manley had also advised the clerk that a chain linking the recycling bins had been stolen during the second week of May but no damage had been done.
5.1.6 Soccerpitch Football Leagues: a request had been received from this organisation (Chris Catling) for a 5 a side summer tournament on Sat 26 July to be held at the Pavilion. After much discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Horton, seconded by Cllr T Burt and a vote of 3 in favour that there would be no objection provided they are affiliated to the Dorset Football Association. Clerk to contact Mr Catling to ratify this point before proceeding with the finer details at which point it would also be made clear that if extremely bad weather were to occur on that day, the tournament would be cancelled or if the tournament went ahead, then at the very least, the pitches would be made good and left in the same condition as before the start of the day. .
5.2 Bowey Field
5.2.1. Chairman said that he had ordered the new gate for the north west end of the path which would incorporate a self-closing mechanism – as this was not available as an attachment. He is still investigating how the other gate can be fitted with a closing mechanism.
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5.2.2 The see-saw: the Chairman is hoping to speak with the RoSPA inspector when they make their annual visit to inspect the playground equipment re the health and safety issues connected with the see-saw.
5.2.3 Football posts: Cllr Frampton said he would try to look at these during the next few weeks. Chairman to check if Army volunteers can do work on the edging of the field.

5.3 Chicken Processing Factory site – N.F.T.R.

5.4 New Cross: N.F.T.R.

5.5 Footway – Castle Lane: N.F.T.R.

5.6 Transport Study: Item closed.

5.7 Community Planning: N.F.T.R.

5.8 Belchalwell & Fiddleford Items:
5.8.1 Grass cutting: Clerk read to the meeting the letter she had hand delivered to the residents in the vicinity of the area who might have been involved in the agreeing to take turns with the grass cutting. She had received one response and that was from a couple that said they had not been party to the decision to take turns and they were now too old to be able to help out.
5.8.2 BT Payphone: clerk had posted notices on the Belchalwell and Okeford Fitzpaine boards regarding BT’s proposal to disconnect and remove the payphone. It was proposed by Cllr Horton, seconded by Cllr T Burt and a vote taken with all in favour, that the clerk return the form to BT indicating that there was no objection.

5.9 Parish Plan: Cllr Horton reported that the first results are going to be available in graph form to be displayed at the Fippenny Fair on Sunday 15 June. Cllr Audrey Burch had expressed the wish to accompany Cllr Horton at the Fair and it was hoped more feedback might be forthcoming from the public on that day.

5.10 Bus Shelter/Museum
Mr D Corben has the key and will be painting the bus shelter. Cllr Frampton said that some of the roof tiles had broken and needed to be replaced. After discussion it was agreed that the Chairman would find out if the Army volunteers could help in this respect.

5.11 Travellers: Nothing further had been heard about the eviction notice and if it had gone to court. Clerk was asked to contact Cllr Cox to find out current position.

5.12 Ridouts Development: Clerk had been in touch with Mr Pinkney of Signpost Housing Assoc. who said that her letter of 11 April requesting financial assistance with the cost of re-surfacing the path had not been received. She had then emailed it to him and he had replied, asking for an amount the Parish Council was looking for. It was proposed by Cllr S Corben and seconded by Cllr Frampton that the sum of £500.00 be requested.

5.14 NDDC – Housing Allocation Policy: Clerk had written another letter to NDDC (Ms Dowsett) requesting clarification as to the allocation policy. It was felt by all present that the reply from NDDC was disappointing. The Clerk was asked to write to Ms Janet Rees referring to her letter of 8th February and her promise at the March Parish Council meeting that future allocations of exception sites and vacancies created by transfers to exception sites, would aim to meet all local need from within the Parish before nominating those living and working outside the Parish even if this resulted in “under occupation”.

Choice-Based Lettings: a draft Allocations Policy had been emailed to the Clerk from Housing and Community Services at the Borough of Pool. The PC was asked to respond by 6 June. After much discussion, the Clerk was asked to reply to the effect that in general the document addresses many of the problems the Parish has experienced in the past but there were specific concerns regarding section 14. Allocation of Rural Properties. There is a need to know how “local connection” will be defined and for transparency in identifying that an allocation has been made to a local person. Also how will priorities be catered for people

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with a local connection and possible under occupation. The Clerk to draft an email and for Chairman to check before it is sent.

5.15 War Memorial: Item closed.

5.16 Post of Clerk: Mrs Burrows’ contract not yet discussed and signed but it was hoped to do this before the July meeting.

5.17 Road Gritting: Item closed..

5.18 Missing 30mph sign at Castle Lane: DCC reported back to the Clerk that they are unsure of exactly where the missing post was sited. She had relayed this to the Chairman and he had ‘phoned Mike Hansford’s office and left a message giving all the details. Clerk to chase up and find out when we can expect a new sign.

5.19 Post Office closures: An announcement regarding the Post Office in Okeford Fitzpaine is expected on July 8th.

6. PLANNING MATTERS
6.1 Applications: None
6.2 Decisions:
2/2008/0307 Mr & Mrs P Davis, 7 Netherway Cottages. Erect a self-contained annex. GRANTED
2/2008/0243 Miss E West, Westoke Farm. Extend existing barn. GRANTED

7. LOCAL DELIVERY OF SERVICES
7.1 SID’s: Sturminster Newton (SNTC) scheme – Clerk awaiting reply from Sturminster Newton TC. She had telephoned Mrs Derricott but they are still sorting it out and will reply to us in due course.

8. CORRESPONDENCE
8.1 PC Dave Mullins, invitation to Blandford Rural PACT Seminar on 5 June – Cllr T Horton will attend.
8.2 Email from Alan Packham of “allaboutgoingout” – asking if we will give them an external link from our website. Clerk to reply in the negative.
8.3 One day conference at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton on 18 June – “Coping with Growth” - £30 booking fee.
8.4 Email re Dorset POPP Conference (Partnership for Older People Project) – conference on 14 July in Dorchester.
8.5 3 ringmaster emails for Home Watch
8.6 DATPC – email dated 7 May re Volunteer Open Days (for 3 Parish notice boards)
8.7 DATPC – Circular 06/08 – distributed to all Parish Councillors
8.8 Dorset Countryside – invitation to SN Shillingston Trailway Launch on 1 June
8.9 DPA – letter and notice re appointment of 4 independent members of the Dorset Police Authority – notice placed on Okeford Fitzpaine board
8.10 Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership – letter and brochure outlining the management plan review currently taking place – passed to Chairman.
8.11 DART – new community transport directory for Dorset
8.12. DCC – Dorset Waste Forum – next meeting Fri 20 June
8.13. Review of Dorset Municipal Waste Management Strategy
8.14 DCA – Community News magazine issue 108
8.15 Letter from NDDC – letter re Code of Conduct – copy placed on Okeford Fitzpaine notice board
8.16 letter from Vitalise – asking for donation – they provide holidays for disabled people in Dorset.
8.17. Email from Dorset Primary Health Care Trust - invitation to Seminar on 11 June at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton re “Your Health, Your Say – Shaping Your Local Health Services”
8.18 Clerks & Councils Direct Magazine – issue 57 May 2008





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9. REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS
9.1 Home Watch: A Parish coordinator still needs to be found and PC Mullins agreed to provide some “Home Watch” posters for display at the Fippenny Fair; to try to encourage local people to become involved. PC Mullins reported that there had been nine calls to the police from within the Parish boundaries during May, seven of these had been in connection with anti social behaviour and two of burglary to property. In Dorset, there had been several reports of bogus Wessex Water board officials trying to gain unauthorized entry into people’s homes.
9.2 Village Hall: A drinks cooler had been donated to the Village Hall by the closing down Faccenda factory.

10. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORT - None

11. POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC
11.1 The fingerpost sign on the Cross pointing to Shillingstone and Blandford is broken. B Trowbridge is in possession of the “Shillingstone” broken section. Clerk to contact DCC and request repair or replacement.
11.2 A member of the public pointed out that scrubs were overhanging the public footpath on Corner Cottage and that cars from that property were frequently being parked illegally in the road. The Clerk was requested to write an appropriate letter to Dorset Lettings as they rent out this property on behalf of the owners.

12. FINANCIAL MATTERS
12.1 Accounts to pay:
Mrs R Burrows – clerk’s salary May £268.44, expenses £20.36 cheque no. 379 £ 288.80
M Burt expenses (mower parts) “ 380 £ 86.39
NDDC Building regulations (Pavilion doors) “ 382 £ 176.25

The annual grant for St Andrew’s Parish Church towards churchyard maintenance and production of the Parish magazine, Fippenny News, is due during June and the Clerk was requested to send cheque no. 381 £550.00 to Mr Robert James, Vice Chairman Parochial Church Council with a covering letter.

All items proposed by Cllr Frampton and seconded by Cllr R Corben that these be paid, this was agreed.

12.2 Monies received: Donations from The Three Okefords had been received amounting to £30.

12.3 Financial other: Following the retirement of Cllr BTrowbridge, a replacement signatory for cheques etc is required. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr S Corben that Cllr R Corben be added. The appropriate forms would be completed and returned to the NatWest bank.

13. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
13.1 Casual Vacancy on Parish Council: the notice to advertise the vacancy had been placed on the three n/boards on Monday 12 May. Clerk had not yet heard from NDDC but should do so within the next day or so and it will then be known if there needed to be an election.

14. THE NEXT MEETING will be held on Tuesday, 1 July 2008 at the Pavilion, Castle Lane at 7.30pm. The Chairman thanked all present and closed the meeting at 9:55pm.