Minutes published unapproved for ratification at the meeting on 3 January 2011

MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT THE PAVILION ON 6 DECEMBER 2011

PRESENT:      Cllr M Burt (Chairman)
 Cllr Fox (Vice-Chairman)
 Cllr R Corben
 Cllr S Corben
 Cllr A Frampton
 Cllr M Paine
 Cllr M Wood
Also present: - Mrs Sandra Deary (Clerk) Cllr Burch, NDDC and 16 member of the public.
1. APOLOGIES: 
2. THE MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 1 NOVEMBER 2011:  having been circulated to Cllrs and noticeboards were taken as read. It was proposed by Cllr Fox and seconded by Cllr S Corben they be signed by the Chairman, this was agreed.
3. POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC RELATING TO ITEM 6 ONLY.    None
4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Burt as member of the Village Hall Management Committee
Cllrs Burt & Wood 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 member of Okeford Fitzpaine Allotment Society
5. District & County Councillors’ Report:  Cllr Burch reported that a letter had been received from Mr Shapps, Minister for Housing and Local Government, regarding the mutual house exchange at Ridouts, this is reported at minute 6.12.
 The Chairman made the point that once again a local family needed larger accommodation  within the village, he was aware that a property was available and both he and the Council  would be most disappointed if that need was not fulfilled.
6. MATTERS ARISING
6.1  Recreation Ground/Pavilion:  Cllr Burt reported that the lining of the porch had been started and that he had ordered the paint for the outside of the building.  The electrical work would hopefully be completed over the Christmas period ready for the electric company to connect in the New Year.  The ceiling insulation could be done at a later date.
6.2.1 Bowey Field:  Cllr Burt reported that the broken fence as reported at the last meeting had now been repaired.  Mrs Deary reported that the order for the new play equipment had been placed.  Once the equipment has been received by the supplier a start date will be provided.
Cllr Paine advised that the Bowey Fields Group had received a donation of £500 from the Blandford Lions and that a further donation from the Sturminster Cheese Festival had been granted although he was not sure how much.  The group were also looking at the D.C.C. Community Fund to see if any grants were available.
6.2.2 Skatepark request: N.F.T.R.
6.3  Village Hall Extension and Car Park: Cllr Burt advised that a £500 donation had been received from a local resident, a £250 donation had been received from the Three Okefords Preservation Group and a further £100 donation had been received, therefore the Village Hall did not require a grant from the Parish Council at this point, however this may be required in the future.
6.4  Community Planning: The next DT11 meeting was due to take place on 4 December 2011.
6.5  Belchalwell & Fiddleford Items:  None
6.6 Actions Highlighted in the Parish Plan:  The Council discussed the issue of the 20 mph speed limit requested in the Parish Plan, however DCC had advised that it was highly unlikely that this would be followed up as the Police would not enforce the speed limit.
6.7 Blandford PACT and Home Watch:  Cllr Wood advised that the next homewatch meeting would take place on 8 December, unfortunately the Fire Brigade were unable to attend but hoped to attend a future meeting.
6.8  Parish Grit Bins:  Mrs Deary confirmed that the three new grit bins had been filled and that  they were now on the DCC data base for future filling.  Council agreed to discharge this item from the agenda.
6.9  Land at top of Back Lane:  N.F.T.R
6.10 Land at bottom of Okeford Hill: N.F.T.R.
6.11 Grass cutting around the village:  Mrs Deary had again written to signpost to ascertain their responsibilities with regard to grass cutting.  No response had yet been received.
6.12 Ridouts – Proposed Mutual House Exchange: Mrs Deary read a letter from Grant Shapps MP as follows:
Local Authorities are already able to make use of so-called ‘local lettings policies’ to give more priority for social housing to local people.  Local lettings policies allow councils to set aside specific properties for people of a particular description.  The can be use to achieve a wide variety of policy objective, including dealing sensitively with lettings in rural town and villages by giving priority to those with a local connection to the parish – for example, through residence, work or family connection there.
There are provisions for the Community Right to Build which are contained in the Localism Bill.  These proposals will give community organisations the right to bring forward a Community Right to Build Order allowing certain small-scale development on a specific site to take place without the need for planning permission, providing it meets prescribed criteria, has been subject to independent testing and has received majority support in a community referendum.  Such developments can include affordable housing or other developments that the community want.  The Community Right to Build represents an excellent opportunity for rural communities to take forward development that is suitable to their needs.
I remain committed to making it easier for social housing tenants to move as their circumstances change, whether to take up work to be closer to family or any other reason.  I want to change the situation where tenants have been trapped in homes that no longer meet their needs.  This is why on 27 October I launched Homeswap Direct, the national home swap scheme.  Homeswap Direct will, for the first time, allow tenants looking for a swap to see every possible property nationwide.
6.13 The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge:  Cllr Burt reported that a site visit had taken place with Mr J Chapman for the Fields in Trust.  Mrs Deary was now in the process of completing the paperwork for this to go ahead.  Mrs Deary to circulate the Deed of Declaration to Councillors for consideration.
6.16 Okeford Fitzpaine Housing Survey Results:  Mrs Deary reported that she had received an email from Ms Jo Rickman, NDDC stating that the Council Tax system will not provide list of properties empty for less than 6 months, she confirmed that there were currently 2 properties that have been empty for more than 6 months in the village.
7. PLANNING MATTERS:
7.1 Applications: 2/2011/1333/PLNG – Mill Farm, Shillingstone Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, DT11 0RB – Erect Conservatory (Demolish existing conservatory)
 2/2011/1383/PLNG - Mill Farm, Shillingstone Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, DT11 0RB – Demolish existing Conservatory and erect replacement conservatory. 
 Cllr Wood presented the application and following discussion Cllr R Corben proposed no objection, this was seconded by Cllr Wood and agreed by Council.
 2/2011/1336/PLNG – Land at Wessex Park Homes, Shillingstone Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset, DT11 0RB – Extension of time for implementation of Planning Permission 2/2009/0672 to erect 1 x replacement factory with ancillary offices, storage and parking.
Cllr Wood presented the application and following discussion he proposed no objection, this was seconded by Cllr Fox and agreed by Council.
2/2011/1258/PLNG – Former Primitive Methodist Chapel, Pound Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset – Change of use from B8 storage to 1 x dwelling (Class C3).  Erect detached garage and create 2 x parking spaces. Cllr Wood advised that concerns regarding the chimney causing a hazard to local properties had been addressed and the chimney would now be higher than originally planned.  A local resident advised that this was the case and that they were happy with the proposal. Following discussion Cllr Wood proposed no objection, this was seconded by Cllr Fox and agreed by Council.
2/2011/1265/PLNG – Land at Okeford Hill, Back Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset – Erect 1 x single storey dwelling, 1 x mobile home, stable to house 26 horses and create 5 x parking spaces. Cllr Wood presented the application to the Council, he explained that the proposed development was now further down the hill than the previous application.  The stable would now consist of a chalk floor covered with straw not concrete as previously stated, this should cut down on the amount of traffic during the development works.  Also traffic would not increase a great deal from present as the horses would be housed there.
During discussions it was agreed that the application had not altered a great deal and that there were still concerns with the access to the site and the increase in traffic.  Members of the public spoke in support of the application stating that there would be hardly any increase in traffic as the staff would be in situ not travelling back and forth to work and that now the development was proposed for lower down the hill access would be improved.  They went on to state that the applicants were good people who supported the village.  Cllr A Frampton commented that he did not think they would be so keen if a gypsy’s family had put in this application, a member of the public asked Cllr Frampton to retract that comment and Cllr Frampton agreed.  Following discussions Cllr Frampton proposed and Cllr Paine seconded that the application be objected to on the grounds of poor access to the site using a narrow unmade road with a blind bend which would be churned up by the extra traffic causing water to run down it and increased traffic in Back Lane. The Council voted 5 in favour of this objection with 2 abstentions.
 2/2011/1339/PLNG – Drove Cottage, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0RR – Erect two storey front extension and porch.
 Cllr Wood presented the application and following discussion Cllr R Corben proposed no objection, this was seconded by Cllr Wood and agreed by Council.
7.2 Decisions: NONE
7.3 Any other planning matters:  NONE 
7.4 Updates: NONE
8.  CORRESPONDENCE FOR 6 DECEMBER 2011 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
 The Rural ‘G’ – Homewatch newsletter Blandford Rural Nov 2011
 Homewatch Newsletter – Blandford South Oct 2011
 Temporary Closure Notice – A357 at Durweston & Fiddleford
 Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations Joint Development Plan – Consultation  Stage Briefing Note
 Dorset Countryside News
 DT11 Funding Bulletin
 Wide Open Spaces Seminar Details
 DAPTC – Chief Executive’s Circular 14/11
 DCC Highways Survey – Following discussion Cllr Burt was asked to complete the  on line survey on behalf of the Council
9. REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS:
Rights of Way/Footpaths:  N.F.T.R.
Football Club: Cllr Burt advised that the County Youth Organisation had asked if they could open on a couple of occasions during football matches and run a barbeque, he felt sure that they could work closely with the football club to ensure minimum disruption.  Both the Council and the football club felt this would not be a problem.  The Chairman agreed to advise the youth leader.
Village Hall: N.F.T.R.
10.  POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC:  Cllr Burt reported that he had received a letter proposing a sign be erected to direct traffic coming down Okeford Hill to keep left at the ‘island’ to enable traffic turning right towards the village to have visibility both ways, denied if they take the right route at the island.  Following discussion it was agreed that too many signs would be required to ensure traffic from all directions could see them, this would cause confusion, also this would make it very difficult for larger vehicle to negotiate and could cause accidents.  Therefore it was agreed that no action should be taken on this matter.  Mrs Deary was asked to write to Mr Woods to explain the decision of the Council
11.  FINANCIAL MATTERS:
11.1 Accounts paid since last meeting:  NONE
11.2 Accounts to be paid:      
 Mrs Sandra Deary – Salary & Office sundries
 £308.99        Chq No 650
 DAPTC
 £20.00         Chq No 651
 BWBSL Wessex Water – Pavilion Water    
 £118.67        Chq No 652
 Cllr Frampton

 £65.77 – Concrete Blocks, Petrol and Spare Keys   Chq No 653
 Cllr M Burt
 £79.88 – Extension Sundries      Chq No 654
It was proposed by Cllr Fox and seconded by Cllr S Corben that these be paid. This was agreed by Council.
11.3 Precept 2012/2013:  The 2012/2013 precept was discussed and agreed.  Mrs Deary to place the final document on the noticeboards. 
12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:   Mrs Deary advised that she had received a document titled ‘Taking forward growth in the towns and villages of North Dorset’.  The Localism bill gives local communities new rights and powers to prepare neighbourhood plans and their associated housing targets to be abolished.  Mrs Deary was asked to distribute the document to Councillors for discussion at the next meeting.
Cllr Burt agreed to look into the cost of purchasing a projector and screen to enable planning applications to be viewed electronically in the future and report back to the next meeting.
13. THE NEXT MEETING will be held on Tuesday 3 January 2012 at the Pavilion, Castle Lane at 7.30 pm.  The Chairman thanked all present and closed the meeting at 9.20 pm.