MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD AT THE PAVILION ON 4 JANUARY 2011

PRESENT: Cllr M Burt (Chairman)

 Cllr T Horton (V.Chairman)

Cllr R Corben

Cllr S Corben

Cllr B Fox

Cllr A Frampton

Cllr M Paine

Also present: - Mrs Sandra Deary (Clerk), Cllr A Burch and 10 members of the public.

1. APOLOGIES:

2. THE MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 7 DECEMBER 2010 having been circulated to Cllrs and noticeboards were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Fox 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

Cllrs 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 Club

Cllrs R & S Corben as members of Okeford Fitzpaine Allotment Society

Cllr Horton as member of NDDC Standards Committee.

Cllr Frampton declared a prejudicial interest in minute no. 12 as he is a relative of Mr Frampton who carried out repairs and service to the tractor.

5. District & County Councillors’ Reports: Cllr Cox, DCC emailed an update regarding winter maintenance. She stated that there were 26 vehicles in DCC gritting fleet and each gritting run treats approximately 677 miles of road. Between 9-12,000 tonnes of salt/grit are held in the DCC depot. Supplies are re-ordered before the Council reaches a base level of 4,500 tones. She added that road salting is carried out according to a network of routes that carry the vast majority of traffic around Dorset.

Cllr Burch, NDDC reported that the District Council had been able to balance its budget for the next year. Village Hall grants had not been cut.

6. MATTERS ARISING

6.1 Recreation Ground/Pavilion: Cllr S Corben advised the council that the recycling area had been tidied up and now looked much better.

Cllr Burt raised the subject of purchasing a new mower to enable the Council to carry out grass cutting around the village which at present costs the Council around £800. It was decided that a sub committee consisting of Cllrs Burt, Frampton and Fox would be set up to look into the costs and implications of owning a ride on lawn mower. This sub-committee will report back to the next meeting.

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   1. Bowey Field: Mrs Deary advised that she had received a letter from the Big Lottery Fund confirming that the bid for monies towards play equipment had been successful and that the grant money should be in the Parish Council’s bank account by 7 January 2011.

Cllr Paine had spoken to a number of people regarding further fund raising and will update the Council at the next meeting.

Cllr Burt raised the subject of Developer Contributions and quoted the last paragraph of a letter received from Stephen Hill, NDDC as follows: Planning Policy Panel recently considered future allocation of developer contributions arising from the implementation of the proposed Core Strategy once that is adopted. The scheme for the collection and allocation of such contributions is not therefore agreed and cannot be progressed until the Council receives guidance from the Government, eg relating to the proposed Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Town and Parish Councils will be included in a debate and decision making process. Cllr Burch, NDDC showed concern regarding this as she was under the impression that the decision had been taken and any developer contributions raised in the villages would now be spent in the villages. She will look into this further and report back to the next meeting.

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   1. Village Hall Extension and Car Park: Cllr Burt advised that work had not yet started as building regulations were still outstanding. With regard to the required removal of the tree it was felt that this work could be carried out by Council volunteers.

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   1. Footway – Castle Lane: N.F.T.R.

   2. Community Planning: Cllr Burt informed the Council that he would be attending a training event entitled The Big Society – Role of Parish & Town Councils on 10 March 2011. He asked if any other Councillor would be interested in attending, Cllr Fox advised that she would like to attend. Mrs Deary to book both Councillors on the event.

   3. Belchalwell & Fiddleford Items: N.F.T.R.

   4. Actions Highlighted in the Parish Plan: Cllr Fox informed the Council that two volunteers had come forward to put on film nights. She will keep the Council informed of any updates.

   5. Blandford PACT and Home Watch: N.F.T.R.

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   1. Okeford Hill – salting/gritting: Mrs Deary informed the Council that she had received a response from Mr A Ackerman, Head of Highways at DCC stating that Okeford Hill had not previously formed part of either the Priority 1 or Priority 2 network, it had been on the Priority 3 network which meant that it would be treated during extended bad weather. Following the winter network review this road had not been included in the new network and as with the previous arrangements there were no plans to include the road in future as there is a treated route via Blandford to the A354. Mrs Deary was asked to write to DCC requesting that signage be erected to inform the public that this is an untreated road. Cllr Burt informed the Council that he had ordered 3 grit bins as reported at the last meeting, these had not yet been received. He reported that a temporary grit bin had been provided and kept topped up by the parish council at the junction of Mary Gardens and Nethermead. Gritting had been carried out on the Castle Lane approach to Castle Avenue, outside the church on the slope to Greenhayes, at the top of the Hollow, and when possible on the junction of Lower St and Bowey. Also the Path through Greenhayes had been cleared on two occasions

   2. Traffic (volume and speed) using Back Lane: N.F.T.R.

   3. Village shop: N.F.T.R.

   4. Wooden Building in field adjacent to the Pavilion: Mrs Deary informed the Council that the following response had been received from Mrs Rogerson, Enforcement Officer at NDDC:- I can now inform you that following a site visit it has been identified that the structure has not been built as approved. From photographs taken it appears that the summerhouse / shed have three windows installed to the side of the structure instead of one window as on the approved plans, together with timber shutters which have locks attached to them.

The structure when measured is 1 metre longer in length than approved, this includes that veranda. It is also 2.75 metres in height instead of 2.57 metres as approved and, 4 metres further away from the boundary.

As a result of these findings, I will be writing to the owner informing them that this structure is unauthorised and has not been built as approved with a request that steps must be put in place to remedy this matter.

When I have received a response to my letter, I will duly inform you of my findings.

7. PLANNING MATTERS:

Mr Tony Brimble of Brimble, Lea & Partners attended the meeting along with Mrs Alner, in relation to planning application No. 2/2010/0823/PLNG to erect 1 single dwelling, 1 mobile home and 4 parking spaces, erect stables to house 30 horses and re clad existing barn. Although this application, which the Parish Council had objected to, had been withdrawn a new appliation had been submitted. Mr Brimble spoke to the Council stating that they were aware of the narrow lane to the site but besides vet and blacksmiths visits only 1 small horse box would be used 1 – 3 times per week to transport the horses to races. The horses would be walked up the hill to the gallops, exercised and then walked back to the stables. A section 106 agreement had been put in place to ensure that care is taken to minimise traffic to the site.

Following discussions the Parish Council raised the following concerns:

• Increase in traffic using Back Lane. Owners would wish to visit their horses.

• Narrow lane not suitable for heavy traffic which would be required for the construction of the proposed site.

• Underestimated number of vehicle movements to get horses to and from races.

• The application was for the land not the applicant and in the course of time its ownership may change and traffic levels may increase.

Members of the public were invited to speak and along with the concerns raised by the Parish Council the following concerns were raised:

• Day to day traffic, ie, refuse collection, postman, logs, fuel etc. Would increase traffic further.

• Lane is crrently part stoned, chalk and mud. Increase in traffic would spoil the lane.

• Pedestrian/horse rider Safety, especially near the top where the road narrows significantly.

• Staff getting to and from work would further increase traffic.

• The development is situated in a AONB.

Mr Brimble informed the Council that a neighbour of the site would be prepared to use part of his land for vehicles during the construction of the site, therefore easing traffic on the upper part of the road.

A member of the public spoke in favour of the application. She felt that the road could be made wider by owners of properties cutting back their hedges.

Mr Burt informed Mr Brimble that no opinion on the new application could be given until it had been seen and discussed by the Parish Council.

Cllr Burt reported that planning application 2/2010/0533/PLNG for two dwellings on land at Back Lane had been granted at the development control committee meeting on 23 November 20010 subject to there being no new information that the head of planning and the chairman of the development control committee felt relevant. Subsequent to that meeting, which was attended by the Parish in support, one of the district councillors who spoke against it at the meeting raised the issue of the 106 agreement with the district solicitor which resulted in the applicant being asked to withdraw the application in its present format. This has not been formally communicated to the Parish Council.

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   1. Applications: None

7.2 Decisions: 2/2010/1091/PLNG - Angers Farm, Angers Lane, Fiddleford, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2BY - Erect two storey extension and resite vehicular access (block up existing access) – GRANTED

2/2010/0736/PLNG - Land At Gorse Farm, Crate Hill, Fifehead St Quintin, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2AW - Erect 1 No. agricultural workers dwelling and form vehicular and pedestrian access - GRANTED

8. CORRESPONDENCE FOR 4 JANUARY 2011 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

 DAPTC – Chief Executive’s Circular 14/10

 NALC – Policy & Parliamentary Briefing – The Localism Bill

9. REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS:

Rights of Way/Footpaths: N.F.T.R.

Football Club: N.F.T.R.

Village Hall: N.F.T.R

1. POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None

11. FINANCIAL MATTERS

11.1 Accounts paid since last meeting:

Mr M Burt – 3 x Grit Bins

£528.71 Chq No 574

11.2 Accounts to pay:

 Mrs Deary – December Salary

£361.57 Chq No 575

Southern Electric – Bus Shelter

£16.80 Chq No 576

G D Myers – Gill of All Trades

£362.50 Chq No 577

Mr K Frampton – Repair/Service of Tractor

£250 Chq No 579

It was proposed by Cllr R Corben and seconded by Cllr S Corben that these be paid. This was agreed by Council.

11.4 Income: £20 donation from the Three Okefords Preservation Society.

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   1. Precept 2011-2012: As there were no further changes to the draft precept it was proposed by Cllr Paine and seconded by Cllr Frampton that the draft be accepted. Mrs Deary to make the claim to NDDC.

1. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Cllr Burt advised that the light in the bus shelter was not working, he will look into the problem.

13. THE NEXT MEETING will be held on Tuesday 1 February 2011 at the Pavilion, Castle Lane at 7.30 pm. The Chairman thanked all present and closed the meeting at 9.10 pm.