Minutes for Ordinary Parish Council Meeting on Tuesday, 6 September 2016

1. Apologies for Absence
   Cllrs D Coffin and P Clark.
    
2. Minutes from the Last Meeting
   The draft minutes from the meeting held on 12th July 2016 were approved by the Councillors in attendance and signed by the Chairman, Cllr D Hayward, as a true record of the meeting.
    
3. Declarations of Interest
   None.
    
4. Report from the Planning Committee
   1. Planning Applications:
      WD/D/16/001406 Peel Centre Retail Park, Babylon Hill, Bradford Abbas.  Amended plans (Landscaping). 
      No objections to the amended plans although the Parish Council objects to the application.  Cllr D Hayward submitted the Parish Council’s objections to this application:
      -  Access - Poor visibility into the Dreams and Pets at Home car park
      -  Increase congestion and traffic
      -  Parking in the Dreams and Pets at Home area is already limited
      -  Dangerous for pedestrians crossing over to other shops
      -  Not needed, many drinks and food areas already in the retail park
      
      WD/D/16/001442 Mill Farm, Bradford Abbas.  Demolition & rebuild front boundary wall, change of use from agricultural to use as a residential curtilage.  Cllr D Hayward received an extension to the deadline until Friday 9 September. It was resolved to object to the application due to the demolition of the boundary wall there were no objections to the small extension of residential curtilage.  The objections noted were:
      -  Reference point of the measurements
      -  The proposed combination of materials used
      -  Negative impact to the surroundings and site heritage value
       - The wall does not need to be demolished
      
      Cllr D Hayward will prepare a statement for the councillors to review and comment before the Clerk submits the objection on Friday 9 September.  Action:  Cllr D Hayward
      
      It was noted Mill Farm has complied with the environmental issues as requested in earlier applications.  The applicant has also applied to use horizontal feather edge boards for cladding of the new building which is a minor change as the original application noted vertical cladding would be used.
       
   2. West Dorset District Council Planning Notifications
      WDDC approved the applications:
      WD/D/16/001320 Peel Centre Retail Park, Babylon Hill, Bradford Abbas. 1no set of individual illuminated letter fitted to new glazed shopfront. Re-positioning of sign.
      WD/D/16/000853 Peel Centre Retail Park, Babylon Hill, Bradford Abbas. External alterations to shop front.
      
      The Churchwell Street Wall was not discussed as Cllr P Clark was not present. This item will carry forward to the next meeting.
       
   3. Tree Applications
      No new applications.
       
   4. Affordable Housing
      Cllr D Hayward has not yet contacted the owner of the land for the proposed affordable housing.
       
5. Matters Arising / Actions Taken
   1. Website
      Nothing new to report.  The History Society will contact Cllr I Houston with a few queries.
       
   2. Design Statement
      Nothing to report.
       
   3. Defibrillators:  The Clerk received a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from South Western Ambulance stating the South Western Ambulance will supply the external cabinets.  The Councillors agreed the Clerk can now sign the amended MOU.  The Clerk has prepared a cheque for £3,360.00 to post with the agreement.
      
      The Clerk contacted both Mr T Jacklin and the treasurer of the Village Hall Committee requesting a letter noting the money the Parish Council received is a grant for the defibrillators on behalf of the residents of the village fundraising team.
      
      The Councillors mentioned a few members of the public have asked when the defibrillators will be installed.  The Clerk noted there was a three-week delay waiting for the new MOU and she will contact Allen Fall and Trevor Jacklin to let him know once the signed agreement and cheque is sent  .Action:  Clerk 
       
6. County Councillor, District Councillor and Officer Reports
   Trees: Cllr L Bennett had nothing to report.
   
   Footpaths: Cllr S Longdon reported:
   Mill Lane – The footpath signpost is broken and laid down. Gap between Kissing Gate frame and fence very tight and would restrict access for larger framed people.The kissing Gate frame is inoperative and could be removed to improve access. Some over-hanging brambles near bridge.  Action:  Clerk
   
   Churchwell Street to Higher Westbury - Low hanging brambles over the gate north of railway line would catch anyone over 175cm tall.
   Mill Farm - Gap between fence and contractor’s barrier at start of out buildings is narrow.
   
   A councilor noted the footpath between the Grange and Tudor Cottage is unpleasant.  Someone has sprayed weed-killer but the dead weeds/shrubs are still in view.  The Clerk noted it was most likely not Dorset County Council as they normally do not maintain the footpaths unless requested by a member of the public or the Parish Council.  Cllr M Hall informed the councilors if the county uses weed killer they must close for the path for a period of time and apply for the path to be closed prior to this.
   
   Village Hall:  A meeting will take place next week. Nothing new to report.
   
   County Councillor M Hall reported many of the roads in the area have been patched but there are plans to tar and resurface many of the main roads to Thornford, Stoford and to the A30 (Underdown) next spring/summer.  He encouraged the Parish Councillors to take part in the review/consultation concerning reshaping of the council.  The Clerk forwarded the information provided by Cllr M Hall to the Parish Councillors today (6/9) as requested.(Cllrs R Legg and M Hall left the meeting)
   
   District Councillor M Lawrence reiterated Cllr M Hall’s request to take part in the consultation and suggested we put a link on our website directly to the survey on dorsetforyou.com.   The possible changes and options were discussed.  The survey seeks views concerning proposals to reduce the number of councils in the county from 9 to 2.  Information can be found on dorsetforyou.com. (reshaping your councils – consultation on unitary proposals for Dorset)
7. Highways
   1. Fingerposts
      Cllr D Hayward reported work has begun on the fingerpost at the junction of Westbury and Bishops Lane by a few councillors and volunteers.  There have been severe problems removing some of the metalwork and some items are broken and others too heavily corroded to reuse.  Cllr D Hayward is in contact with AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) for advise and parts needed. The posts will be painted and, at the moment, it is estimated to the total cost to repair the fingerpost will be under £200.  The Parish Council thanked the councillors and volunteers for their hard work to repair the signs.
      
      The blue custom made sign on the A30 noting the weight restrictions in the village is twisted. The Clerk will report this to highways. Action:  Clerk
       
   2. Any other Highways Matters
      Cllr L Bennett noticed the Bradford Abbas stone millennium signs are covered by weeds and in need of cleaning.  The Clerk will request Mr Bide submits and estimate for the cost to clean the three stones. Action:  Clerk
      
      Cllr D Hayward discussed the communications with a resident of Emlet concerning Dorset County Council cutting the hedges.  Previously Magna Housing would cut the hedges along Westbury and Emlet but last year Magna’s legal department stated they did not have responsibility for the hedges and do not own the land up to the highway.  Dorset County Council will now take responsibility for keeping the hedges tidy.  DCC does not cut the hedges of private landowners but in this case as the hedges are on a tight corner and dangerous for the landowner to cut Cllr D Hayward will contact DCC to request when they are in the area they trim up to and including the corner. Action:  Cllr D Hayward​​​​​​​
       
8. Report from Playing Field Committee
   1. Playing Field Inspection Reports
      Nothing new to report.  Cllr D Hayward thanked Cllr S Longdon for organising repairs to the new entrance gate spring as it was not working properly.
       
   2. Repairs
      The Clerk has contacted Mr Hopkins concerning the repairs needed to the climbing frame support, toddler unit panel and zip wire platform.​​​​​​​
       
9. Grants & Donations
   The Clerk received a bank account statement confirming the deposit of £2,800.00 from the Village Hall accounts on behalf of the village residents for two defibrillators. The Clerk will request a letter confirming this is a donation for the defibrillators.Action:  Clerk
    
10. Financial Accounts to include accounts for payment
    The Clerk distributed a bank reconciliation and a spreadsheet indicating budget spend this far this financial year.  The 5 cheques presented were approved for payment. (details of these cheques are attached to the minutes)
     
11. Correspondences
    -  Travel & Transport Newsletter (forwarded via email)
    -  Reshaping the County Council Consultation – general information including the Local Roadshow Date – 21/10; 3 – 7pm
    -  Dog Related Public Space Protection Order WDDC is considering an order for local council owned land to be considered as dog restriction areas. (No decision made.)
    -  AGM – DAPTC information and timetable
    -  Working Together Document from Andrew Martin, Service Director Highways
    -  DAPTC information concerning the free session for Workshops on Local Government Reorganisation – 7th September 2016 - Reshaping your Councils consultation.  Cllr I Houston will attend.
     
12. Items for the Pennant
    - Thank the volunteers that have recently taken over the Pennant.
    - Fingerpost ongoing repairs a parish council led community effort
    - Have your Say reshaping the county – roadshow 21st Oct in Sainsbury, Sherborne 
    - Congratulation to St Mary’s Primary School re: new classroom
    - Safe cycle route to Yeovil – interest in renovating a cycle route to Yeovil?
     
13. Any Other Information/Items for October Agenda
    Safe cycle route to Yeovil

​​​​​​​Date of Next Meeting –  Tuesday 4th October 2016
​​​​​​​7:30pm Bradford Abbas Village Hall Committee Room.

The meeting closed at 9:55pm.

Summary of transactions for the period 15.07.2016 to 15.09.2016

Resolved: To approve the accounts for payment.