Allington Parish Council

Present. Cllrs PJ Lathey, M.A.Wrighton, G. Stansfield & D. Hitt. Adam Georgiou Play Area Supervisor and one member of the public. The Clerk Mrs C Stansfield took the minutes.

Councillor Lathey – Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. As we had a quorum the meeting could continue

1 Apologies. Barry Thomas

2 Declarations of Members Interest. Cllr Hitt declared an interest in item 10.

3. The Chairman asked if councillors present had read the minutes sent to them and was it their wish he sign the record book as a true copy. ALL AGREED.

2 Matters Arising. The Clerk said a letter had gone to the Dorset County Council regarding our complaint about Claire Pinder the Archaeologist and we await reply. Councillor Lathey said he had received a letter confirming his appointment; however, the map was very vague that he had been sent. We had heard regarding our query on the payments of allotments from Bridport town Council, and at their suggestion would pay the allotment rental under the S137 for the two holders we had at present, however future prospective allotment holders would be looked at in a separate light. Proposed by Cllr Lathey and seconded by M. Wrighton. Letter to go to Bridport Town Council. ALL AGREED.

3 Public Participation. A query arose as to whether Magna had a policy now of not picking up the grass cuttings as the drains are getting blocked. Council to send letter to Magna. A request for the pot holes in Hospital Lane to be filled in was also raised. Clarence to be informed. Also the gully drain by the entrance to Hospital is raised.

4 New Councillor Update. A member of the public had expressed an interest in being co-opted as councillor. A decision to be made at the next council meeting.

5 FINANCIAL REPORT. [1] The clerk read out the audit forms we had received and both clerk and Chairman signed them. It was minuted that the council had agreed to the amounts having previously been given a breakdown of same. [2]The clerk read out the accounts to be paid and cheques were duly signed for S 137 payments. Axe Valley & West Dorset Ring and Ride. £200. Air Ambulance. £300 W.R.V.S. Bridport Branch. £250 Bridport Youth Centre £250. S142 payment to Citizens Advice Bureau £250. Cheques to DAPTC for our subscriptions £118.27 and Cornhill Insurance for £367.98. Cheques were also signed for the update on Working with your Council [for the clerk] and for the update on the Clerks Manual. All cheques signed by Cllrs Lathey & Wrighton. It was agreed by councillors that in light of the recent new legislation these updates were essential. [3] The balances at the bank were read out as follows ordinary account £3504.97 – play area account £6555.13p this latter figure includes a figure of £1,000.00 which council agreed at a previous meeting to be deducted every six months from ordinary account. The clerk reminded councillors that from the ordinary account figure we had the cheques to be deducted that had just been presented. The Insurance has been paid and we are fully insured and insurance up to date.

6. Planning. The Clerk informed council that we had received notification of our objection to the car parking spaces going to the Development Committee on Thursday this week. The clerk agreed to attend and put forward council’s objection to the way the spaces were facing and why. A meeting with Patrick Rimmer of the Design Practice had been unable to resolve this problem. Clerk to report back to council.

7. Parish Plan. The Clerk explained to council that at last with help from the Development officer of the Bridport Area Partnership we had the plan ready for submission. Simon Thompson of the Dorset Community Action had been so busy with parish plans that Susan Anders had agreed to take his place. Many hours work by clerk and MS Anders had resulted in an excellent plan. With the Countryside Agency suddenly closing dates and with the deadline for getting the plan in being only weeks away, that in addition to the clerk being away 2 weeks meant it was giving us very little lee way. We had received in answer to our enquiries for letters of support, letters from District Cllr Alford, both the Town Clerk and Mayor of Bridport, The Police, The Youth Service, Magna Housing Association amongst many others. The offers of contribution in kind from Bridport Town Council had been gratefully accepted. The £50 given by the Area Partnership was also accepted. Now the hard work begins and a steering group needs to be formed. We will hear soon whether or not we have the funding we have asked for.

8. Woodland Trust. Cllr Hitt took no part in the following discussions. Councillor Lathey explained to the council the problems our solicitor was having with Woodland Trust. I.e. no reply. We had received an account to date of over £770 for legal work in sorting out the lease. The children feel we have let them down and they do not understand why it is taking over 18 months to get a lease. Originally we were told by Valerie Staley of The Woodland Trust that we had to have the fencing up by February. Unfortunately after we had received quotations and accepted one of them we were then informed about the need for a lease. The fencing could not be installed till the lease was agreed. The incorrect lease was signed by Cllr Lathey and we instruction Richard Salt of Austin Whetham & Guest to clarify one or two points on the lease as the clerk was not happy with the wording and she had taken advice. The lease was for buildings and not a plot of land. We are still unable to get that concept through to Woodland Trust. The amount they wanted in lieu of £25 one off payment of rent and litter picking regularly on the Hill was £250 per year this was not the council felt a pepper corn rent, which is what we had agreed with Valerie Staley 18 months ago. Cllr Lathey suggested that we ask TMH Fencing to use the fencing he has and for which we have paid a deposit of £1,000 on the other play area at Cherry Tree as those slats need replacing. TMH Fencing to put up all new fencing on the play area at Cherry Tree. The play area supervisor requested the maintenance gate be moved nearer to the pedestrian gate. Cllr Lathey asked if this was the way forward, as we could always get the other play area fenced off if we get the lease through. Cllr Lathey proposed and Cllr Stansfield seconded the fencing be used at Cherry Tree. Clllr Wrighton agreed. The question was raised about the land adjacent from boundary of hedge on W.T.land to the verge on the roadside of Hospital Lane. County Council to be asked. The land is 5m from roadside according to Valerie Staley. Adam to measure the land.

9. Cherry Tree Play Area. The clerk asked if ROSPA had been and inspected the play area. Answer no.

10. Flaxhayes Paddock/Affordable Housing Survey. The Chairman read out the results sent in by Andy Lloyd. It was suggested we write and ask for another meeting with W.D.D.C. and Andy Lloyd. Chairman gave dates when he would be available.

11. Again the subject of Adam Georgiou’s expenses for the items he uses on the playing are be submitted. Adam said he wished it to be considered a donation from him to the council. He was duly thanked.

12. CORRESPONDENCE. we had not received any reply to our letter to Wellers Scaffolding regarding the speed of the Lorries down North Allington. Neither had we heard anything regarding the houses built on the site of Allington Stores. A list of correspondence received was read out and the clerk brought to the attention of everyone the Clerks and Councils Direct magazine, the DCA magazine The Clerk and the local Update Plus. The Clerk told everyone that the course she is undertaking for the council to be a Quality Parish Council was still on going.

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