MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGHELD AT THE PAVILION ON 2 FEBRUARY 2010 PRESENT:           

Cllr M Burt (Chairman)                              

Cllr T Horton (V.Chairman)                  

Cllr S Corben                  

Cllr R Corben                  

Cllr B Fox                              

Cllr M J Paine                  

Also present: - Mrs Sandra Deary (Clerk), Mrs J  Bolson (Dorset POPP), Cllr A Burch     (NDDC) and 2 members of the public. 

1.         APOLOGIES:  Cllr A Frampton and Cllr H Cox (DCC)

2.         THE MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 5 JANUARY having been circulated to Cllrs and noticeboards, were taken as read.  It was proposed by Cllr Paine and seconded by Cllr Horton that they be signed by the Chairman, this was agreed.

3.         POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC RELATING TO ITEM 5 ONLY.     None

4.         DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTCllrs Burt & Frampton as members of the Village Hall Management Committee.Cllrs Burt &  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 ClubCllrs R & S Corben as members of Okeford Fitzpaine Allotment Society            Cllr  Horton as member of NDDC Standards Committee.

5.         MATTERS ARISING

5.1       Recreation Ground/Pavilion: Building work at the youth club is due to start on 15 February 2010.  Cllr Burt informed the Council that he had purchased a new ball valve and both toilets had now been repaired.

5.2       Bowey Field including triangle of land adjacent to Chapel Cottage:  Councillor Burt stated that he had received an estimate of between £150 and £200 for removal of the big trees.  Due to bad weather Goddard Landscapes were available to carry out the works immediately and Cllr Burt gave them permission.  The other Councillors were happy with this decision.                

Playground Sign:  Cllr S Corben and Cllr Frampton will cut back the hedge to clear the sign in the near future.

Playground Equipment:  Cllr Paine informed the Council that a quote for the complete works to the playground had been received for the sum of £21,465.  This includes a discount of £1,700.  If all works were carried out at once tools and equipment would need to be left on site, incurring additional costs for security, so having the equipment installed individually or all at once would cost approximately the same.

5.3       Footway – Castle Lane:  Mrs Deary informed the Council that an email had been received from Mr Brown at DCC saying the matter had been passed to Mr Tim Spivey to deal with. No further correspondence had been received so Mrs Deary would follow this up. 

5.4       Community Planning: Following discussions on whether the Council should join the various partnerships or not it was decided that Cllrs Burt and Horton should report back to the Council at the meeting in March following the meeting with the DAPTC on 9 February.

5.5       Belchalwell & Fiddleford Items:  Cllr Burt confirmed that the water leak had been repaired and the grit bin had been refilled.

5.6       Parish Plan: Cllr Horton stated that the Parish Plan was due to be published and distributed in the very near future.  Discussions would take place at the next meeting on how to move forward the recommendations highlighted in the plan.

5.7       Blandford PACT and Home Watch:  A notice titled ‘No Excuse’ would be displayed on the   noticeboards.  No excuse is a year long project combining extra police and safety camera enforcement in an effort to reduce the suffering caused by bad and careless driving in the county.

5.8       Allotments: Agreement with Allotment Group:  Members agreed that this item had reached a satisfactory conclusion and could therefore be discharged from future agendas.

5.9       Okeford Hill – salting/gritting: Mrs Deary informed the Council that an email had been received from Cllr Cox at DCC explaining that this matter would be discussed at the next divisional meeting taking place at 7.00 pm on 24 February 2010 at Milton Abbas.

5.10     Okeford Fitzpaine CE VA Primary School:  Mrs Deary informed the Council that a letter of thanks had been received from Mr Acreman, Headteacher regarding the donation of £500 towards the cost of the new front door.

5.11     Traffic (volume and speed) using Back Lane:  Mrs Deary had received an email from Mr S Graeser of NDDC explaining that a site visit had taken place on 5 January 2010.  He expressed concern at the vast number of lorry bodies, structures, buildings and vehicles, especially as it was evident that many of the lorry bodies/structures have been on the land for 2-3 years which may result in some of the structures being immune from enforcement action. He explained that the previous investigations undertaken by Deanne Laban were closed following the granting of planning permission for buildings. A further site visit was planned for 19 January when additional photographs would be taken to show what was stored on the land.  Appropriate action could then be taken although due to the number of structures etc, this matter is likely to be protracted.  No further correspondence had been received in respect of this site visit.  Following discussions Council felt that Mr Graeser’s response was unacceptable and thought that the cut off point for immunity from enforcement action was 4 years.  Mrs Deary to write a letter to Mr Graeser clarifying the situation on enforcement and making known the Council’s views.

5.12     62 Greenhayes:  Cllr Burt had produced a draft letter to Mr Stavrou of 62 Greenhayes.  This was slightly amended by the Solicitor and sent to the address.  No response had yet been received.  The Solicitor would chase if no reply was received in the next week.

5.13     Any Other Matters Arising:           

Cherry Tree – Greenhayes: Following discussions by the Village Hall Management Committee it was decided that planning application would be put to NDDC to remove the bank at the west end of the car park and install a retainer wall. This would provide more space for parking and the application would incorporate removal of the cherry tree.

6.         PLANNING MATTERS

6.1.      Applications: 2/2010/0025/PLNG - Maple Cottage, Shillingstone Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset – Erect single storey extension – NO OBJECTION

Works to protected trees – To fell 1 x Cypress at 18 Nether Mead, Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset. – NO OBJECTION

2/2010/0079/PLNG – Conygar, Shillingstone Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset – Create new vehicular access and turning area, erect fencing and gates – PASSED TO THE PLANNING SUB COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION.

6.2       Decisions: NONE

7.         CORRESPONDENCE FOR 2 FEBRUARY 2010 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING                       

Draft Housing Strategy Letter from NDDC (circulated to all Councillors)            Ringmaster email dated 5 January 2010 (circulated to all Councillors)           

Email from Dorchester Town Council Re: Roboflail (circulated to all Councillors)            Email from Alan Horne (Solicitor) Re V H Car Park (circulated to all Councillors)            Email from Alan Horne – Draft Letter to 62 Greenhayes (circulated to all Councillors)            Proceeds of Crime circular (circulated to all Councillors)

Homewatch Newsletter – Blandford South Dec 09 (circulated to all Councillors)           

The Rural G (circulated to all Councillors)           

Ringmaster email dated 11 January 2010 (circulated to all Councillors)           

Email regarding free driving refresher courses (circulated to all Councillors)           

Dorset Countryside News (circulated to all Councillors)           

DAPTC Circular 01/10 (circulated to all Councillors)           

Pact newsletter No. 5 (circulated to all Councillors)           

Email from NALC regarding Leadership Academies for Parish Councillors (emailed to      Chairman)           

DAPTC Circular 02/10 (Circulated to all Councillors at Meeting)           

A303 Willoughby Hedge to Mere – Scheme Update (Circulated to all Councillors)            Email from NDDC regarding the deer farm at Iwerne Courtney (Distributed at meeting)           

Email from BT regarding adoption of phone box in Belchalwell (Distributed at meeting)8.         REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS:

Rights of Way/Footpaths:  The overgrown hedge on the footpath behind the school. Cllr Paine reported that he had spoken to the owner of the property but the hedge had not been cut back yet.  He would speak to the owners again.

Football Club: N.F.T.R.Village Hall:   N.F.T.R.

9.         COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS: Cllr Burch from NDDC gave an update on the Blandford Leisure Centre.  The Leisure Centre had now secured funding of £100,000 from DCC as well as monies from NDDC and Parishes.  This had enabled them to make a successful bid to Sport England and money received from them would enable work to start on the dry side shortly, including new lockers and a revamp of the existing gym.  This will hopefully bring in more revenue which will support the swimming pool.            In partnership with DCC and the PCT North Dorset District Council are working on a new initiative called Total Place with North Dorset opting for elderly care.  The initiative would look at ways of keeping the elderly population healthier and to improve the quality of life, thus enabling better value.

10.              POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC:  A member of the public informed the Council that the 330 Yeovil bus service will extend to Street starting on 9 February.

11.       FINANCIAL MATTERS

11.1     Bank Signatory Changes:  Cllr R Corben signed the form from the bank to enable him to be a signatory.

11.2     Fidelity Guarantee:  Following discussion it was decided to increase the Fidelity Guarantee.  Mrs Deary will action this.

11.3     Clerk to declare taking care of own tax affairs:  Mrs Deary confirmed that she would take care of her own tax affairs and confirmed that she had registered as self employed with regard to the job of Parish Clerk.

11.4     60 Greenhayes, Parking and access:  Mrs Deary to inform the residents that the agreement will continue with the same terms as last year.

11.5     Grass Cutting Tenders:  Mrs Deary informed the Council that a notice had been placed on the noticeboards and in the Fippenny News asking for tenders for grass cutting for this year.

11.6     Accounts paid since last meeting: NONE                           

11.7     Accounts to pay:                                                                              

Mrs Deary – January salary £361.57                                                                                      £361.57                                                                                                Chq 501                    

Muddywebb Ltd – Wed Hosting 2010                                     £60.00                                                                                                  Chq 502

Goddard Landscapes Ltd – Village Hall Car Park Works                                             £722.80                                                                                                Chq 503            Goddard Landscapes Ltd – Clear dead trees at Bowey Field                       £97.75                                                                                                  Chq 504                      British Gas Business – Pavilion                                                                                                    £198.87                                                                                                 Chq 505           

Gill of all Trades            £355.50                                                                                                 Chq 506           

Mike Burt (part to repair toilet at the Pavilion)             £38.16                                                                                                    Chq 507                     

It was proposed by Cllr S Corben and seconded Cllr Paine that these be paid, this was     agreed by Council.

11.8     Income: £10.00 from Three Okefords Preservation Society

11.9     Precept 2010-2011: Mr Deary confirmed that she had submitted the claim for the precept to NDDC.

12        Annual Risk Assessment: The only risk highlighted was the cherry tree at the Village Hall. This matter is being dealt with (please see minute 5.13).

13.       Annual Internal Audit Review:  All Councillors agreed that they were content to use the same Auditor as last year.     

14.       ANY OTHER BUSINESS:  The Chairman welcomed Mrs Bolson to the meeting.  Mrs Bolson gave a short introduction of the working of POPP (Dorset Partnership for Older People Project).  POPP is funded by central Government to improve the quality of life for older people by ensuring that opportunities are put in place locally to promote healthy lifestyles, independence and preventative services and activities. She explained that she had been visiting parishes to establish if there were any concerns regarding the health/lifestyles of the people over 50.  Following discussions the Council felt that there was enough clubs/activities on offer in Okeford Fitzpaine, all of which were open to all age groups, although there were none specifically for the over 50’s.  The Council were always open to new ideas regarding activities within the parish.       .

13.       THE NEXT MEETING will be the Tuesday 2 March 2010 at the Pavilion, Castle Lane at   7.30pm.  The Chairman thanked all present and closed the meeting at 9.35 pm.