Present: Cllrs L Bennett (Vice Chair), P Clark, D Coffin, I Houston and S Longdon.
In attendance: P Chapman (Clerk), County Cllr M Penfold, District Clls M Lawrence and R Legg, Mr S Parker (Dorset Council) and two members of the public.
- Apologies for Absence
Cllrs D Hayward and T Hunt
- Declaration of Interests
None.
- Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes were accepted by the Councillors in attendance and signed by the Vice Chair, Cllr L Bennett, as a true record of the meeting.
- Mr Simon Parker, Community Led Housing Enabler, Dorset Council Partnership
Mr Parker was invited to the meeting to discuss affordable housing through a Community Land Trust (CLT). He noted a CLT can also be used to support groups establishing community-owned businesses including shops, farms, workspaces or pubs.
Cllr I Houston informed Mr Parker of the work the Parish Council has put toward affordable housing so far. The Parish Council researched the need for affordable housing and is now looking to secure a site for the housing.
Mr Parker explained a CLT is owned by the community, the Parish Council can be a leader but it is a community led initiative. He suggested the first step is to establish a trust, look for land to develop and as a CLT the land can lie outside the existing development boundary or agricultural land (paying agricultural price). Funding is provided by Homes England in partnership with a housing association.
He suggested if the Parish Council wish to proceed, he would be the first point of contact alongside Wessex Community Assets, a privately owned company providing end to end technical advice specialising in legal documentation. The Parish Council would not need to fund Wessex Community Assets. A public meeting would be required in order to set up a steering group consisting of approximately 20 people. Many CLTs receive grants from the County Council for architects, initial reports etc. needed for planning.
From his experience the timeframe is 4 to 5 years from start to build. The CLT cannot be bought or sold. The trust members decide the criteria for the links to the community for the prospective tenants that are on the housing register.
Cllr L Bennett thanked Mr Parker for the useful and interesting information for the Parish Council to consider.
- West Dorset District Council Applications
- Planning Applications
WD/D/19/000169 SAXON MAYBANK, EAST FARM ACCESS LANE FROM UNDERDOWN HOLLOW, BRADFORD ABBAS, SHERBORNE, DT9 6JN Change of use from (B1) office to (C3) 2 no.dwellings with associated works to include raised decking; change of use from agricultural storage building to (B1) office with associated works; retention of existing temporary building to be used as site accommodation for the Client/Contractor whilst works are done. The Councillors did not raise any objections but are concerned WDDC is not aware of the Modification Order in process at East Farm. It was resolved the Parish Council has no objections and requested the Clerk provide the information of the Modification Order from the County in the comments. Action: Clerk
The Clerk received the application for WD/D/19/000293 29 AMBROSE CLOSE, BRADFORD ABBAS, SHERBORNE, DT9 6RL (Erect garage) yesterday. The Councillors in attendance did not feel this application was contentious. It was resolved to support this application.
- West Dorset District Council Planning Decisions
None to report.
- Telephone box on Churchwell Street
Nothing to report.
- Planning Applications
- County Councillor, District Councillor and Officer Reports
County Cllr M Penfold noted they are working together to bring the finances for six councils into one. She has not received any problems with roads in the area. Cllr I Houston reported he spoke to a resident of Back Lane concerning the large lorries that come down the lane has damaged the embankment and drain at the junction of Church Road and Back Lane. The Parish Council has been forced to move the grit bin as it was damaged twice by the lorries navigating the same junction. The street sign has been damaged as well. Cllr M Penfold will speak to Mr Thatcher concerning the matter.
The District Cllrs reported at the end of March the shadow planning department will use delegated authority for decisions until there is a new planning committee appointed, after the elections. The Councillors expressed their concerns the new committee representatives may not know the area well enough to fully understand the Parish Council’s objections.
Cllr I Houston asked for the District Cllrs concerns he should be aware of and could mention at the Shadow Dorset Council Engagement with Parish & Town Councils he is attending on the 14th March. Cllr R Legg noted it will be interesting how Weymouth will move from a borough to a town council with 29 councillors and the affect it will have on the councils.
Footpaths: Cllr S Longdon reported they were all passable. He noted the footpath near the Emlet is decreasing in size due to the leaning fence and overgrown evergreen/shrubs. Cllr D Coffin suggested number 11’s tree overhangs the pavement. The pedestrian bridge at the end of Mill Lane has been repaired.
Village Hall: no representatives present.
Trees: Cllr L Bennett had nothing to report.
- Affordable Housing
This item was discussed earlier in the meeting.
- Allotments
The meeting with the Winchester Collage Bursar is scheduled for the end of March.
- War Memorial
Nothing to report.
- Matters Arising
- Village Plan
Nothing to report.
- Website
Cllr I Houston reported the new safeguarding and equal opportunity polices are available on the website.
- Village Plan
- Highways
- Speed Limit along Underdown / Bradford Road
The Clerk thanked Cllr S Longdon for the suggested signage to warn vehicles the road is shared with cyclists and could be erected on the national speed limit sign posts. The Clerk left a message about the possibility of this for Mr P Thatcher, Dorset Highways. Cllr M Penfold offered to speak to Mr P Thatcher on the Parish Council’s behalf. Action: Clerk
- Drain & Gulley Maintenance Update
The Clerk is still chasing Mr Adam Frost to discuss where and when the maintenance will take place. Cllr M Penfold kindly offered to follow up on this. Action: Clerk
- Apply for official street name concerning Grants Hill
At the last Parish Council Meeting it was resolved to suggest the name Grants Hill is carried on from the Church Road junction to Smiths Bridge, staying within the boundary of Bradford Abbas. The Clerk forwarded an email from Mr Murray, Local Land and Gazetteer Custondian (DCC), to the Councillors stating if the Parish Council were to name the road from the junction of Church Road to Smith’s Bridge Grants Hill this may affect the postcode of the two houses currently on the unnamed road. Cllr P Clark noted, in his experience at previous councils, it should not affect their postcode.
It was concluded to firstly request a change of the misleading description from “Underdown Hollow Junction Bradford Abbas near Wyke Farm Lane to Junction Clifton” to Grants Hill to Smith’s Bridge/ Church Road junction to Clifton Road Junction and investigate further if the houses need to change their postcode in order to name the road Grants Hill. Action: Clerk
- Any other Highways Issues
The Clerk emailed the PCSO M Jones concerning the parking along Church Road, specifically outside the Old Rectory as it makes it difficult to see when navigating the narrow area between Grants Hill and Back Lane. No response was received. County Cllr kindly offered to speak to Mr Paul Thatcher.
The Clerk wrote to Mr French to cut the hedges along the Playing Fields on the Westbury boundary. Mr French is busy and unable to do the work. The Clerk contacted KM Dike Nurseries who currently cut the grass in the playing fields for an estimate. Their cost will be £85.00. The Councillors were happy to move forward with KM Dike Nurseries. Action: Clerk
- Speed Limit along Underdown / Bradford Road
- Playing Fields
- Inspection Report from Volunteers
Nothing new to report.
- Equipment
The Vippy See-Saw and Nexus Whizzer have now been installed. The Clerk requested and received a discount of £79.50 from HAGS toward the carriage cost to compensate for the delivery issues. The Clerk has emailed the final grant submission to WDDC.
The Clerk gave the non slip tape to Cllr S Longdon who kindly offered to put it on the zip wire platform. Action: Cllr S Longdon
- Inspection Report from Volunteers
- Financial Accounts
- Grants and Donations
No grant requests received.
- Accounts for Payment
The March payments (see below) were approved by the Councillors in attendance.Current Account:
£ 6,431.82 Account balance reported from the previous meeting
£ 361.04 Less Payments form the previous meeting
£ 6,070.78
Deposit Account:
£10,313.43 Account balance reported from the previous meeting
£ .47 February Interest
£ 544.46 VAT refunds
£10,858.36Payments presented for approval:
£ 209.34 Clerk’s wage
£ 152.00 KM Dike Nurseries 493
£1,431.90 HAGS (Nexus Whizzer)
£ 29.68 Clerk’s expenses
£ 983.40 M Hopkins installation
£2,806.32 March Payments
The Clerk presented a revised Fixed Asset Register that now totals £102,025.00 with the addition of the picnic tables, Vippy See-saw and Nexus Whizzer. The Clerk will upload the register to the parish council website. Action: Clerk
- Grants and Donations
- Correspondences
- Shadow Dorset Council Engagment with Parish & Town Councils. Cllr I Houston to attend
- The Clerk noted she received a request for St Mary’s Week & the Festival of Wheels to use the playing field as overflow/parking. The Councillors did not see any problems with this as it was properly cordoned off and marshalled previously. Action: Clerk
- The Clerk received a reply from the Peel Centre they will investigate the issues concerning litter coming from bins on their premises that are not covered properly.
- Shaping Dorset Newsletter was forwarded to the Councillors via email
- The Clerk received an email from Southwestern Ambulance concerning setting up a training session for the defibrillators. The Clerk will take care of this and book the village hall. Action: Clerk
- Items for the Pennant
New equipment in the playing fields. Thank Cllr D Hayward for his work toward the Leisure Fund Grant and the Festival of Wheels for their contribution.
- Any Other Information / Date of the Next Meeting
The next Ordinary meeting will be held on 2nd April 2019 in the Bradford Abbas Village Hall Committee Room at 7pm to be followed by the Annual Parish Meeting at 8pm in the main hall
Meeting end 9:45pm