Present: Cllrs D Hayward (Chairman), L Bennett (Vice Chair), I Houston and S London.
In attendance: Mrs P Chapman (Clerk), District Councillor M Lawrence and County Councillor M Penfold.
- Apologies for Absence
Cllrs P Clark, D Coffin and T Hunt.
- Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes from the meeting held 7th November 2017 were approved by the Councillors in attendance and signed by the Chairman, Cllr D Hayward, as a true record of the meeting.
- Declaration of Interest
None.
- West Dorset District Council Applications
- Planning Application
No new planning applications received for consultation.
During December the Parish Council supported the following applications that were not deemed to be controversial: WD/D/17/002502 – 28 Ambrose Close, Bradford Abbas & WD/D/17/002489 – Mill Farm, Bradford Abbas
- West Dorset District Council Application Decision
WDDC approved WD/D/17/002502. The decision has not been made by WDDC concerning the application for Mill Farm, Bradford Abbas (WD/D/17/002489)
Cllr L Bennett queried District Cllr M Lawrence the reason WDDC Planning Committee did not proceed with a site visit and why she abstained from the vote concerning the application WD/D/17/001525. Cllr M Lawrence stated Cllr R Legg proposed a site visit before he had to leave the WDDC Planning Meeting, when the application was discussed no one seconded his proposal. She went on to state she felt she should abstain.
- Planning Application
- Dorset County Council Definitive Map Statement Modification Order 2017
It was resolved the Clerk will contact the resident from Saxon Maybank and let him know the Councillors are willing to meet with him to view the area for the proposed footpath but the Cllrs that had not previously walked the route are not available in January. Action: Clerk
The Clerk will contact the Regulation Team to verify the possibly two year delay. As the order has had objections the Regulation Team sends a report to Legal Services before it goes to the Secretary of State / Planning Inspectorate. The Council is unhappy with the additional time delays. Action: Clerk
The Clerk had not previously contacted the DAPTC since the last meeting due to the holidays.
- Affordable Housing
Nothing to report at this time. Cllr I Houston will produce a first draft of a flyer for Cllr D Hayward to review. Cllr D Hayward will speak to District Cllr R Legg concerning affordable housing and if he has had contact from Mr. N Dyke. Cllr D Hayward noted the bungalow owned by Magna Housing on Ambrose Close is still on the market. Action: Cllrs D Hayward and I Houston
- Matters Arising / Action Taken
- Design Statement
Cllr I Houston sent out a request for Councillors to request/ review and comment on the current design statement. Cllr L Bennett was having trouble logging in but it has been resolved.
- Defibrillator Update
The Clerk swapped the defibrillators (Village Hall and Sports Club) to determine if there is a problem with the defibrillator at the BA Sports and Social Club or if the problem is with the location on the Club building. After they were swapped the defibrillator located at the Club was not “rescue ready”. The Clerk will speak to Mr N Dyke to determine if it is an electrical problem with the cabinet. The Clerk is in the process of organising a training session at the Club in late Feb / early March. Action: Clerk
- Safe Cycle and Walking Route to Yeovil
Nothing to report at this time. Project ongoing.
In the past few days the Clerk walked along the hollow and noted there was not much litter since the BA Scout Group recently litter picked the area. The Clerk received an email concerning the Great British Spring Clean Weekend (2nd – 4th March) from Keep Britain Tidy. The Clerk suggested although this area is not problematic at the moment it should be litter picked annually to keep it tidy and carry on the good work from the Scout Groups. The Cllrs could also promote the possible safe cycle route. It was resolved an item will go in the Pennant requesting volunteers and suggestions for any other areas that need to be cleared. It was noted that all village road areas are regularly litter-picked by volunteers throughout the year. Action: Clerk
- Design Statement
- Community Transport
Cllr D Hayward stated the NORDCAT service ran a 6 week trial bus on Monday to Sherborne that The Bradford Abbas Parish Council donated £75. He has not heard if the service was taken up by the Bradford Abbas residents. Nordcat will also run day trips later in the year. There is a Wriggle Valley Transport Meeting scheduled in January although there has not been any further action/discussion concerning Southwest Coaches providing a bus.
There is a “Community Transport” area on the Parish Council website (bradford-abbas.uk) providing information concerning the Tesco bus, Nordcat and links to other options available to residents.
- County Councillors, District Councillor and Officer Reports
Footpath: Cllr S Longdon reported the footpaths are all ok. The padlock is missing on the gate directly across from the shop. It was assumed the resident of The Grange did this but the Clerk noted she had not yet contacted the owner of The Grange. No further action required.
Trees: Cllr L Bennett had nothing to report.
Village Hall: Cllr T Hunt was not present. Cllr D Hayward received a letter from the Secretary of the Gardeners Club stating their concerns with the village hall booking system. Cllr D Hayward spoke to the Chairman of the village hall noting he has been unwell for a few months and the issue has now been resolved. The Clerk stated the bookings she requested in November for the 2018 Parish Council Meetings are not online but she has resent the email to verify the hall is available. She also has been chasing an outstanding parish council cheque for £12.60 from the previous financial year.
District Councillor M Lawrence discussed the site visit to Bishops Lane and the WDDC Committees approval of the retrospective planning application. She congratulated the Parish Council on the wonderful refurbished fingerposts. The next WDDC meeting is a full council meeting to discuss the unitary council.
Country Councillor M Penfold did not have any reports on the roads at the moment but is happy to pass on any potholes reports or other issues if needed. She is happy to visit any village organisations / groups to discuss what a county councillor does.
Cllr L Bennett asked Cllr M Lawrence if she knew of any retrospective applications that have been refused in the area. Cllr M Lawrence noted the majority of retrospective applications are approved. She can only recall one that was rejected and has yet to be rectified due to lack of manpower to enforce the decision.
- Highways
Cllr D Hayward reported blocked drains on Back Lane between Cross Road and Old Compton Lane. A resident reported to the Parish Council there is a blocked drain on The Cross. The Clerk will email Paul Thatcher, DCC. Action: Clerk
A few months ago the Clerk reported the weight restricted sign on the A30 near Old Compton Lane is twisted. Recently she received an email stating the enquiry is now closed. The sign has not been put right. The Clerk contacted Paul Thatcher (DCC) to ask why the enquiry was closed. She received an email from highways noting it will cost too much to repair/straighten the sign as it would require a cherrypicker and the closure of the A30. The Clerk pointed out although she is disappointed she felt the closed enquiry email was misleading and highways should have contacted her to provide the reason it was not completed. Cllr M Penfold will pass along this information to request better communication when closing enquiries if they are not repaired.
(Cllrs M Penfold and M Lawrence left the meeting)
The Clerk asked if the Parish Council could discuss the War Memorial quote emailed to the Councillors in December before the budget is resolved. The quote received to provide maintenance to the War Memorial before the upcoming WW1 centenary is £630.00. Cllr D Hayward noted he and Cllr T Hunt could possibly apply for a grant to cover the costs but this could delay the repairs/maintenance and grants cannot be applied for retrospectively. It was resolved to keep the £630 in the 2nd draft budget for 2017-18 to ensure it is completed by November 2018, the centenary of WW1. Cllr D Hayward will meet with Mr Bide in order to discuss the stonework in the front and discuss the estimated cost in further detail. Action: Cllr D Hayward
- Playing Field
- Inspection reports from Volunteers
Nothing new to report.
- Grass Cutting Estimates for 2018
The Clerk has three estimates for the playing field grass cutting. One estimate is £110 per cut and he will take away the cut grass. The current contractor will charge approximately £110 per cut but the contractor does not have the equipment to take away the cut grass and lastly a quote for £1,520.00 that will include at least 16 cuts with a cylinder gang mower during the growing season. The grass will be kept shorter and cuttings will not need to be taken away.
It was resolved to move forward with the £1520 quote. The Clerk will contact the other tenderers to let them know. Action: Clerk
- Repairs Needed to the Equipment
The Clerk spoke to Mr Hopkins and the post replacements needed for the climbing framed next to the basket swing and the zip wire should be completed by end of next week. Cllr D Hayward will investigate sourcing a plastic coated chain for the zipwire. Action: Cllr D Hayward
The Clerk will contact Mr Hopkins to move forward with the seats/bench refurbishments he has quoted for. She will also discuss the cost of installing and securing a picnic bench. It was agreed to purchase a wooden picnic table for £99 as suggested by Cllr D Hayward. Location is TBD. Action: Clerk
Cllr D Hayward noted the hut door and frame need to be either replaced or refurbished.
- Inspection reports from Volunteers
- Financial Accounts
- Grants & Donation
None received.
- Accounts for Payment
The Clerk request approval for two payments:
£ 209.34 – Clerk’s wage month 10
£ 79.94 – Clerk’s expenses
Cllr I Houston noted he had some maintenance to do on the website in January. It will increase the January monthly cost for the webservices but should return to the normal cost in February/March. Action: Cllr I Houston
- Budget
The Clerk distributed a revised budget of £9,630 that includes the war memorial maintenance/repairs needed and agreed earlier in the meeting. This will increase the Band D cost per household from £24.06 to £26.48. The DCC no longer provides a tax grant. It was unanimously resolved to increase the budget to £9,630. Action: Clerk
- Grants & Donation
- Correspondences
- The Great British Spring Clean 2018
- an email from Cllr L Bennett on behalf of the BAAHA (Allotments) to find out what the position is regarding the allotments as Mr Loxton’s tenancy is up at the end of 2018. Cllr D Hayward expected it will be up to the new tenant to make that decision. It is in Parish Council’s best interest that the land continues to provide allotments for the parish.
- a letter to Cllr D Hayward, Chairman Bradford Abbas Parish Council from the Gardeners’ Club noting concerns with the village hall bookings (discussed earlier in the meeting).
- Police Precept asking for views on contributions to funding the Dorset Police
- Items for the Pennant
- Nordcat service schedule
- Keep Britain Tidy weekend 2018
- Community Defibrillator training at the club
- Date of Next Meeting – Tuesday 6th February 2018
7:30pm Bradford Abbas Village Hall
Cllr D Hayward requested the potential listing of the telephone box is on the next agenda.