2nd June 2009

MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT THE PAVILION ON 2 JUNE 2009

PRESENT: Cllr M Burt (Chairman)
Cllr R Corben
Cllr S Corben
Cllr A Frampton
Cllr Mrs B Fox
Cllr E Horton
Cllr M J Paine

Also present: - Mrs. R Burrows (Clerk), PC Dave Mullins (PACT) and 2 members of the public.

1. APOLOGIES: Cllr Mrs Audrey Burch, Cllr Mrs Hilary Cox.

2. THE MINUTES OF AGM 5 MAY having been circulated to Cllrs and notice boards, were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Paine that they be signed by the Chairman, this was agreed.

3. THE MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 5 MAY having been circulated to Cllrs and notice boards, were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Frampton that they be signed by the Chairman, this was agreed.

4. POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC RELATING TO ITEM 7 ONLY. None

5. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllrs Burt & Frampton as members of the Village Hall Management Committee.
Cllrs Burt & E Horton as members of the DAPTC.
Cllr Burt as member of CPEND and LDWG.
Cllrs R & S Corben & Frampton as members of Okeford United Football Club
Cllrs R & S Corben as members of Okeford Fitzpaine Allotment Society
Cllr E Horton as member of NDDC Standards Committee

6. PRESENTATION BY N. FAZAKERLY ON BEHALF OF BLCAG (Blandford Leisure Centre Action Group). Prior to the start of the meeting proper, Nathan Fazakerly of NDDC made a
presentation to the Parish Council in relation to progress being made to secure the future funding of the Blandford Leisure Centre (see item 9.1)

7. MATTERS ARISING
7.1 Recreation Ground/Pavilion
*Extension: the Chairman said that he has signed the agreement for an engineer’s structural report. Building quote not yet received but should be available for next meeting.
*Windows: Nigel Sheen has been asked to go ahead with the repair to the windows.
*Recycle bins: Clerk reported on e-mails received from NDDC who are now looking at costs for the sign and will get back to us. Clerk to contact C Hillyer who is dealing with this item.
*Rabbits: the chairman said he had been contacted by a parishioner regarding the shooting of rabbits at the recreation ground. A discussion followed and it appears that permission has been given for this activity (a cull) however, there are special procedures in place when firearms are involved and PC Mullins said that beforehand a call to the usual contact police telephone number (01202 222222) should be made in order for the details to be logged onto the system.
7.2 Bowey Field
*the Chairman and Cllr Frampton have fitted the new gate. Thanks had been received from several mothers.
*a phone call had been received from a parishioner this morning concerned about the damage to the protective guards around the swing. The Chairman had visited the site and cut away the damaged bolts and made safe the site until new posts and a rail can be fitted.
7.3 New Cross: NFTR.

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7.4 Footway – Castle Lane: the clerk said that she has received details of the landowners that DCC had written to concerning the footway and she will now prepare a draft mailing for the Chairman to approve before it is sent.
7.5 Community Planning: the Chairman said he had noticed that an advert had been placed in the Western Gazette calling for volunteers to join the Sowing Seeds initiative but that he does not intend to join other than to attend when possible the Local Action Group meetings.
7.6 Belchalwell & Fiddleford Items:
*footpath in Fiddleford: there was some confusion as to who owned this footpath and whether it is on private land. Cllr Paine was asked to contact Dave Ackerley (DCC) for clarification and Clerk to check in the file as Chairman thinks there may be old correspondence on this.
7.7 Parish Plan: Cllr Horton said a consultative draft and written statement should be ready and available at the Fippenny Fayre where a stand will be taken. He thanked the new members of the steering group in particular who had helped to bring the project back to life.
7.8 Bus Shelter/Museum: painting has started.
7.9 NDDC – Housing Allocation Policy: the Chairman said he had been contacted by a person who is trying to return to a housing association property in the village and he has written to NDDC regarding this. There seems to be different rules for similar cases and a lot of confusion as to what the policy is. The chairman is asking District Councillor Mrs Audrey Burch to take this up again with the Housing department so that they are aware this Parish Council does not believe matters are being handled correctly.

7.10 Blandford PACT and Home Watch:
*Home Watch Parish co-coordinator report: Mike Wood had sent in a report to the chairman/clerk indicating that it is intended to re-launch Home Watch at the Fippenny Fayre and he has documentation from the CRC publications department to assist with this. He is hoping to recruit sufficient assistance from specified locations around the village complex in order to set up a complete coverage for Home Watch.
*Ringmaster e-mails will now be forwarded to Mike Wood who will place them on the special notice board by the bus shelter. Cllr Horton agreed to the check the situation with regard to a key for this.
*Dorset Police - funding of laser speed devices. The clerk has written again to PS Woodward pointing out that if their original letter had indicated that they were looking for a donation of £50 they might have received a much more positive response. PC Mullins said another laser had been acquired for use around the villages.
*PC Mullins said that they hoped to start village drop-in on a Saturday morning outside the shop; he was informed that the first Friday lunch on the 5th June was cancelled.
7.11 Allotments:
*old shed: Mr Miller has had a quick look at the shed whilst he was passing through the village and he now wants to explore the potential for either repairing or replacing it before making any recommendation to the landowners to demolish it. In the meantime, he agrees that the surrounding fence should be reinstated with appropriate signs being placed, as agreed at the May meeting. However, he also asks if the Council has any thought about possible re-use or replacement of the old shed and if there is any need in the village for such. This was discussed and it was proposed by Cllr Frampton and seconded by Cllr Corben that there is no interest or need for such a shed and in the Council’s view it should be demolished; this was agreed. The clerk was asked to contact Mr Miller and advise him accordingly. The Chairman had produced the appropriate “Danger – Keep Out” signs and these were handed to Mr Loving who agreed to have them placed on the fence surrounding the shed once it has been reinstated.
*the chairman read to the meeting the response he had given to the resident who had complained that insufficient debate had taken place on the leased site.
*a member of the public (Mr R Loving) handed to the chairman a copy of the draft agreement between the PC and the Allotment Group which has been drawn up for consideration together with draft rules of the Allotments Group for PC’s consideration. These were passed to the clerk who was requested to copy them to all councillors for consideration at the July meeting.
7.12 Prison Door: N.F.T.R.
7.13 Okeford Hill – salting/gritting: N.F.T.R.
7.14 Okeford Fitzpaine CE VA Primary School: N.F.T.R.
7.15 Orchard Plot, Mary Gardens: N.F.T.R.
7.16 Scrambler bikes in the vicinity of Castle Lane – the clerk read out a reply received from NDDC (Mr Cousens). It would appear that the use of scrambler bikes is within the conditions and limitations of Town and Country Planning Order 1995 although there are certain conditions imposed which means that the bikes can use the land for a maximum of 14 days in any calendar year without planning permission. Evidence would need to
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be obtained to show that the land had been used for more than 14 days for this purpose and also evidence shown when the calendar year actually started before any planning enforcement could be considered. A log would therefore need to be obtained with this information. The clerk was asked to provide a copy of the NDDC letter to the resident who had complained; meantime we will try to find out who owns the land in question before anything else is done.

8. PLANNING MATTERS
8.1 Applications:
2/2009/0388/PLNG - Mayfield Farm, New Road, Broad Oak: form a manege and erect a 1.4metre high fence. It was proposed by Cllr Frampton and seconded by Cllr R Corben that there be no objection, this was agreed.
8.2 Decisions:
2/2009/0318 &0319/PLNG Mr Hayward, Little Brook, Fiddleford – to raise roof on existing summerhouse to form additional accommodation and erect single storey extension to form double garage; to carry out external and internal alterations. WITHDRAWN
2/2009/0231 & 0233/PLNG Highbench Cottage, Lower Street – to erect a conservatory and carry out internal and external alterations. GRANTED.

9. LOCAL DELIVERY OF SERVICES:
9.1 Blandford Leisure Action Group (BLCAG): It was agreed by all that Nathan Fazakerley had given a very informative presentation, updating the PC on the current situation with regard to future funding of the Blandford Leisure Centre. The clerk was requested to contact him to say that in principle the PC would like to try to make a contribution to help to keep it running beyond March 2010 and how this can be achieved will be discussed at the next meeting. The use of a survey (forms delivered to every household) was discussed. A decision needs to be made no later than the October Parish Council meeting. This item to remain on the future meeting agendas.

10. CORRESPONDENCE
*NDDC – European and County Council elections – posters displayed on notice boards
*NDDC – Notice of Poll – election of County Councillor - notice displayed on boards
*DAPTC – circular no. 07/09, Councillor update dated May 09, Spring Newsletter – all copied to councillors
*DAPTC – email dated 22 May re BBC and Big Lottery Fund new initiative – copied to all councillors
*DAPTC – email dated 19 May re Funding available – Dorset AONB – copied to all councillors
*Dorset AONB – letter dated 18 May together with brochure re Golden Day 50th anniversary – handed to Chairman
*Highways Agency – letter dated 19 May regarding A303 road works Willoughby Head to Mere
*Victim Support – letter dated 7 May thanking Parish for donation
*Natwest – circular with leaflet re changes to business bank account
*Andrew Monson, SMP Playgrounds– email advertising products and services
*Minster Stone Memorials – letter dated 29 May advising of cleaning services
*Glasdon – products for local council brochures
*Bagitup – email from Wendy Eldridge re Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance – new initiatives – request a meeting. The clerk was asked to arrange for someone from this organisation to attend the July PC meeting.
*Chips Ahoy – a mobile fish and chip business had contacted the chairman regarding parking in the village hall car park every Friday between the hours of 5pm to 7.30 pm. This was discussed and it was decided that the village car park would not be a suitable place for such a van. The chairman will respond.
* Dorset County Council – letter dated 18 May re Structural Maintenance Programme for 2009-10. There is nothing on the list which appears to affect the Parish of Okeford Fitzpaine.

11. REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS:
*Village Hall: the chairman said that the stonework for the garden at the village hall had been completed and it had been agreed to place cigarette butt bins outside. It was considered appropriate for the same type of bins to be ordered at the same time for the Pavilion and it was proposed by Cllr Frampton and seconded by Cllr Paine that the chairman goes ahead, this was agreed.
12. DISTRICT/COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS: None


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13. POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC
*A member of the public complained about the pot holes in Castle Lane which were a danger to him and anyone else walking along the road from the village centre to the Pavilion or recreation ground. The chairman said he would telephone “Clarence” at DCC to report and obtain a reference enquiry number.

14. FINANCIAL MATTERS
14.1 Section 2 of the Annual Governance Statement of the Annual Return has been copied to Cllrs. The questions were answered by the council. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr R Corben and agreed by all that the statement be signed by the Chairman and the Clerk.

14.2 Accounts paid since last meeting:
Wessex Water Services (allotments) chq# 458 £392.15

14.3 Accounts to pay:
Muddyweb Ltd (web hosting May-Dec 09) chq# 459 £40.00
Mrs V Jackson (collection of prescriptions)[1] chq# 460 £200.00
St Andrews Parish Church (annual grant) chq# 461 £550.00
Mrs R Burrows (May salary £356.98 & expenses £24.40) chq# 462 £381.38
Goddard Landscapes (allotments) chq# 463 £49.45
All items proposed by Cllr Burt and seconded Cllr Horton that these be paid, this was agreed.
[1] It was proposed by Cllr Paine and seconded by Cllr Frampton that this annual payment to Mrs Jackson be increased to £200 and this was agreed by all.
The clerk was asked to look out the St Andrews Parish Church annual accounts and circulate them to all councillors.
14.4 Monies received
*£10.00 received from Cllr S Corben for donations for the use of Pavilion (handed to Clerk at meeting).

15. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
*Gate rota: the chairman said there was no need to update the Pavilion gate rota at present but it can be looked at again in the autumn.

16. THE NEXT MEETING will be the Tuesday, 7 July at the Pavilion, Castle Lane at 7.30pm The Chairman thanked all present and closed the meeting at 10.25pm.