March 1st 2011

 

MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD AT THE PAVILION ON 1 MARCH 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 8 members of the public.

 

The chairman indicated that he would like to make a statement before the meeting got underway.
The Chairman said that as everyone was present and as this was the last time we may all be together, as this is election year, he wished to thank everyone for the work they had carried out for the parish and for the support that he had been given during his term of office. Whilst there had been differences these were invariably resolved and this is democracy in action at the closest point to the electorate. 

 

1. APOLOGIES: NONE

2. THE MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 1 FEBRUARY 2011 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 6 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.

5. District & County Councillors’ Reports: Mrs Deary reported that the next divisional meeting would take place on Wednesday 30 March. Items to be discussed include how the winter service from DCC highways can be improved and the Parish Maintenance Units.

Cllr Burch advised that 1 of the 2 enforcement notices served with regard to Back Lane had been appealed against. A site visit had been planned with the Planning Inspector for 14 February 2011. The Planning Inspector had been unable to attend this meeting, therefore the meeting had been re scheduled for mid March. Both enforcement issues will be dealt with at the same time following the site visit.

6. MATTERS ARISING

6.1 Recreation Ground/Pavilion: Cllr Burt reported that he had now received a quote for the roof trusses for the garage/store at £408.12. A further charge of £100 would be made if a site visit was required. Following discussion in was proposed by Cllr Paine and seconded by Cllr Horton that a site visit should take place to ensure the measurements were correct. This was agreed by Council.

Cllr Burt had obtained a rough price of £1200 for tiles for the Garage/store.  There were some reclaimed tiles from the village hall of a slightly different profile but the same colour if the planners would accept this.

 Cllr Burt had obtained a Quote for an industrial roller shutter door of approx £1041.

6.2 Bowey Field: Cllr Paine advised that a group of volunteers had come forward and were now in the process of thinking up way to fund raise for more money for the new play equipment. Cllr Fox advised that she was helping the volunteers and had written draft bids to 3 funding bodies.

1.  

   1. Village Hall Extension and Car Park: N.F.T.R..

   2. Footway – Castle Lane: Mrs Deary advised that she had written to Mr Spivey the Project Manager. No response had yet been received.

   3. Community Planning: Cllr Burt advised that the next meeting of the DAPTC will take place on 10 March 2011.

1.  

   1. Belchalwell & Fiddleford Items: Mrs Deary advised that Mr Parsons of the Environment Agency was unable to attend the March meeting as discussed. He has agreed to attend the April meeting.

An email had been received from Wessex Water advising that works to replace the existing water supply starting from the Cross, Belchalwell to a field north of Stroud Farm will start on 30 may 2011 and is planned for 24 weeks. To carry out the works safely a road closure and diversion will be put in place.

1.  

   1. Actions Highlighted in the Parish Plan: Cllr Burt had received a phone call regarding holding movies locally, he had passed the details of Cllr Fox to the caller. Cllr Fox advised that 45 people would be needed for each sitting to make it worthwhile. She will try to ascertain if there would be enough interest.

6.8 Blandford PACT and Home Watch: PCSO Luke Goddard informed the Council that 2 crimes had taken place recently and both were thefts from outbuildings.

6.9 Parish Grit Bins: Cllr Paine offered to donate 6 ground anchors to secure the grit bins once the location had been confirmed. A member of the public asked if a grit bin could be placed at the bottom of Back Lane. He was informed that the three grit bins were a trial to see if they served a useful purpose, if more grit bins were required a decision would be taken at a later meeting.

1.  

   1. Traffic using Back Lane (including hedges a corner of Back Land & Pound Lane)

Mrs Deary reported that she had emailed Wessex Water enquiring when the delayed site visit would be taking place. No response had yet been received.

1.  

   1. Land at top of Back Lane: Mrs Deary advised that an email had been received from Mr Graeser stating that the site visit for the appeal against the enforcement notice would be held on 14 February. Cllr Burch advised that this site visit had been postponed and would now take place mid March.

6.12 Land at bottom of Okeford Hill: Cllr Burch had pointed out in her report that both this enforcement notice and the enforcement notice for the top of Back Lane would be dealt with once the appeal process had taken place.

6.13 Wooden Building in field adjacent to the Pavilion: No further update has been received.

7. PLANNING MATTERS:

7.1 Applications: 2/2011/0074/PLNG – Land at Okeford Hill, Back Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine,

Dorset – Erect 1 x single storey dwelling, 1 x mobile home and stables to house 30 x horses, create 5 x parking spaces, re-clad existing barn to be used for storage of hay, bedding, veterinary requisites and hard feed.

Cllr Horton presented the application to the Council. He advised that the Council had objected to the last application on the grounds of access and increase in traffic using Back Lane. He could see no reason to alter that decision. Emails from local residents had been received and members of the public spoke against the application on the following grounds:

• Would affect a public footpath and bridleway

• Would have a detrimental effect on an AONB

• Significant increase in traffic on Back Lane

• Would change the character of the area

• Difficulties in emergency/utility services accessing the site

• Increase in traffic would be a danger to walkers/horse riders using Back Lane

• Damage to trees/hedgerows

• Increased animal usage and grazing will adversely impact the chalk ecology – endangering the wild orchids and cowslips which are currently a key feature of the area, and the nesting skylarks.

Following discussion Cllr Horton proposed and Cllr Fox 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. This was agreed by Council. Mrs Deary to respond to NDDC raising the objections as stated.

2/2011/0139/PLNG – Sweetwell, Fiddleford, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2BX – Erect 1 x 3 bay garage/log store with hobby room over (demolish existing garage/store)

2/2011/0139/PLNG – Sweetwell, Fiddleford, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2BX – Demolish existing garage/store. Erect 1 x 3 bay garage/log store with hobby room over and carry out external alterations in association with this.

Cllr Horton presented the application explaining it was similar to one previously discussed for a neighbouring property, where no objections had been raised. Following discussion it was agreed the Cllr Horton should visit the site to assess the impact on other properties. If he felt that the impact was minimal then the Council agreed that they had no objection to the application. Cllr Horton would inform Mrs Deary of his findings in order for her to respond to NDDC.

7.2 Decisions: NONE

8. CORRESPONDENCE FOR 1 MARCH 2011 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The Rural ‘G’ – Homewatch Newsletter Blandford Rural – February 2011

Homewatch newsletter – Blandford South – January 2011

Statement from Cllr Angus Campbell, Leader DCC. Budget 2011-12 and Medium Term Financial Strategy

Somerset, Devon & Dorset Community Land Trust Project – Free Seminar details and booking form

DAPTC – Chief Executive’s Circular 02/11

DAPTC – Chief Executive’s Circular 03/11

DAPTC – Chief Executive’s Circular 04/11

Dorset Countryside News – March/April 2011

9. REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS:

Rights of Way/Footpaths: Mrs Deary reported that she had received a letter from the Planning Inspectorate with regard to the modification of the definitive map to include part of footpath 41 at High Bench. Following discussion it was proposed by Cllr Fox that the Council support this order, this was seconded by Cllr Horton and agreed by Council. Mrs Deary to write to the Inspectorate to advise of this support.

Football Club: N.F.T.R.

Village Hall: N.F.T.R.

1. POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC: Mrs Deary advised that she had sent an email to Mr Harris, Tree Preservation Officer at NDDC informing him that tree in the orchard in Pound Lane had been chopped down and asking for his advice. No response had yet been received. Cllr Paine advised that no trees had been chopped down, the orchard had been cleared of undergrowth and tidied up. Mrs Deary to advise Mr Harris of this misunderstanding.

2. FINANCIAL MATTERS:

11.1 60 Greenhayes, Parking & Access. Mrs Deary report that the signed Licenses had been received back from Mr Casebourne, together with a cheque for £20 to cover parking and access to Greenhayes. Access to 62 Greenhayes had been paid last year to cover a five year period.

11.2 Grass cutting tenders: Cllr Burt advised that following the discussion last month regarding the purchase of a ride on mower, he and Cllr Frampton had viewed a number of pre-owned mowers and after consulting Cllrs Horton and Fox a decision was taken to purchase a John Deere X740 for £5,400 plus VAT. Cllr Horton proposed that the money to pay for the new mower should be taken from reserves, this was seconded by Cllr Fox and agreed by Council. Mrs Deary was asked to write to Gill of all Trades advising that her services would no longer be required and to thank her for the excellent job she had done in previous years keeping the grassed area of the village neat and tidy.

11.3 Accounts paid since last meeting: None

11.4 Accounts to be paid:

 Mrs S Deary – Salary

£361.57 Chq No 587

Mrs S Deary – Office Stationary (Printer Ink)

£42.77 Chq No 587

Goddard Landscapes – Pavilion Extension Concrete Blocks

£876.00 Chq No 588

British Gas Business – Pavilion Gas

£359.07 Chq No 589

Symonds & Sampson – Allotment Rent (Fidei Holdings)

£150.00 Chq No 590

Symonds & Sampson – Allotment Rent (Hinton St Mary Estate)

£50.00 Chq No 591

Total Energy Services – Service & Parts for Pavilion Boilers

£194.64 Chq No 592

Rochford Garden Machinery (Ride on Mower)

£6480.00 Chq No 593

Fireline Limited – Service Firefighting equipment and parts

£208.85 Chq No. 594  

It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Frampton that these be paid. This was agreed by Council.

1.  

   1. Receipts: £400 donation from Mrs Calcott. £20 from Mr Casebourne for parking and access re 60 Greenhayes. £10 from the Three Okefords Preservation Society.

1. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: The election meeting to be held on 16 March was discussed and it was agreed that an agenda should be posted on the noticeboards to advise the public what would be discussed. Mrs Deary to produce the agenda.

13. THE NEXT MEETING will be held on Tuesday 5 April 2011 at the Pavilion, Castle Lane at 7.30 pm. The Chairman thanked all present and closed the meeting at 9.45 pm