Present: Cllr G. Stansfield, P.J. Lathey, I.Gay, M.A. Wrighton and D. Hitt. A. Alford (District Councillor), Adam Georgiou (Play Area Supervisor). Ms Susan Anders (Community Development Support Officer – Bridport Area Partnership). Valerie Staley & Justin Milward (from the Woodland Trust). 12 members of the public, the Photographer and Reporter from Western Gazette.The Clerk Mrs C V Stansfield took the Minutes.
The Chairman began the meeting by welcoming everyone and with permission of council put item 11 on the Agenda to join with item 5b of Public Participation to enable the meeting to flow quickly. ALL AGREED.
1.Apologies were received and duly registered from Cllrs T. Gruitt [previous engagement] and K Hitt [family bereavement]
2.Declarations of member’s interest. There were none to declare.
3.The Chairman asked if every councillor had received and read the minutes sent to them and, if so was it their wish he sign and date the minute book as a true and accurate record of the last meeting? ALL AGREED. The minute book was duly signed and dated.
4.Matters Arising Bridport Hospital & Woodland Trust had their own headings in public participation and item 11. Otherwise, the clerk had received no reply as to whether the gully had been repaired in Hospital Lane. [this to be investigated] The empty property in Cherry Tree was being vandalised even more and Magna had not been able to buy it back. The Chairman went on to explain the background to this long running scenario. Councillors asked if we could use the only other option open to us and to write to West Dorset District Council on health and safety grounds. It was agreed the clerk to write to the council and the police on this serious matter as there were children going in this building. With regards to the complaint received from 196 North Allington, the District Council was to contact the owners of the lelandi if the District Council felt the tree was dangerous. The many complaints regarding right of way over Allington Hill through Crepe Farm had been passed to the relevant authority. We had received the clerk told the council 5 maps and at last had one that was correct. This one showed the pathways and grid reference
5.Public Participation
[a] The Chairman explained to the body of the meeting the complaints we had received from the public over the lack of opening hours at the Minor Injuries Unit, he also read out the letter received from Paul Rennie the Matron. A long question and answer session ensued and many people voiced their anger and concern at this new hospital not being as advertised 24 hour nurse led. They felt with the holiday session and school holidays combined we needed this facility. Several queried it was the beginning of the end and that they would permanently close the facility. It was explained to the meeting that council had made it views and concerns of everyone known to the hospital and that sickness had taken its toll on the staff. A question on the criteria needed for it to be open out of hours was raised; also what constitutes a ‘minor ‘injury? The Chairman explained in detail what a minor injury was. Another question raised asked if a log was being kept of the number of times patients who went to Dorchester County Hospital could have been treated if Bridport had been open. The answer was yes. Dorchester Hospital were keeping a log of this another lengthy discussion ensued.
[b] Woodland Trust. Ms Staley and Mr Milward were thanked for coming to the meeting and the Chairman said the members of the public would first ask their questions. Several questions came from the floor regarding access to the paths and these being inaccessible also the state of the grass which was only cut prior to the meeting. The Woodland Trust explained the paths were overgrown but they were regularly being overgrown. Council explained that for over 6 years we had complained regularly to the W.T. that paths were not being kept accessible. Much discussion ensued and the query was constantly raised about the grass round the gates which made them virtually unable to open.
With regards to the legal play area lease Mr Milward was able he said to answer these questions. He felt we had got our wires crossed and the solicitors did take time answering but council assured him our solicitor answered promptly and it was the W.T. solicitor that always kept us waiting 4 weeks for reply. Mr Milward felt we had our wires crossed and he would try and explain. Ms Staley told council that when Allington Hill was purchased the money raised by children was not for a play area – members of the public were up in arms and it was explained to Ms Staley by people who attended that meeting that she chaired that this was how the land was sold to them - it would give the older children somewhere to play! A lot of angry residents explained what they thought. Chairman explained to the W.T. officials that the lease had been for a building and we had tried for many months to explain to Helen Billing there was and never had been a building. 4 months later she agreed, also the buy back clause and the length of land it involved again was in dispute.
Mr Milward asked if we could furnish him with the details in an email and also what we proposed to pay as rent on the land in lieu of litter clearance. The first offer from them of £25 one off was not a rent it was the litter clearance in lieu of rent that was causing the problem. Chairman and Clerk explained council’s position on this and also explained we were thinking ahead for future councils and the expenditure they would have to incur. We explained we would like 3 year lease as we were spending public money and for that to be taken away from us within 20 days of putting fence/goal posts up etc., was not feasible nor would the electorate or our auditor allow it. A member of the public asked how long the former owner of the land had a buy back option on this small section of land reply 25 years. Mr Milward and Ms Staley left after the public participation on the Woodland Trust [8 40pm]
6. Financial Report
[a] Account balance ordinary accounts stands at £3.025.50p £1,000 from Countryside Agency for Parish Plan included in this account. Savings A/c £6,555.13p. Interest in ordinary account £2.61p [b] A cheque was presented for £20 [Twenty Pounds]to pay for the hire of St Swithun’s Vestry Exten for the Parish Plan meeting on July23rd 2004. This was countersigned by Cllrs Lathey and Wrighton. [c] The audit notices had been displayed as requested and the clerk informed council she was photocopying the bank statements so the originals could go to the auditor before the due audit date of August 20th. As councillors had requested previously they wished the accounts to be to the exact penny however, the auditors wanted them to the nearest pound. In order to satisfy both two sets of accounts were produced. The significant difference was that the clerk received no salary, and the recent council acquisitions had been noted in the assets register. The Internal Auditor had checked and confirmed all was in order
7.Financial Regulations
The Chairman asked if all had read the draft regulations given to them last month, all said they had and all councillors agreed with the following. Section 1 was alright. Section 2 items 2.1 2 .2 and 2.3 need adjusting to councils needs. Section 2.5 to read “for the life of the council” Section 9 9.4 should be excluded and 9.9 is not applicable. The other sections that were not applicable it was agreed to omit them.
8.Parish Plan Meeting
The clerk explained how well attended this had been and that we need another councillor in addition to Councillor Stansfield on the Way Ahead Group. Cllr Lathey volunteered. Dates suggested for the next meeting to go out as soon as possible so we could formulate the next stage. Another offer of support had been received today from Douglass Austin the Chairman of the Society of Local Council Clerks. This offer was gratefully received
9.Web page
The clerk read out the quotation received from Logomotion to do our webpage. The Chairman replied he knew someone who could also give us a quote. The Clerk to email Chairman with the details of what was required on our webpage and we would defer decision until next meeting ALL AGREED
10.Planning Applications We had received a Tree Preservation Order for the Hospital this had been duly noted and letter kept on file. Also we had received a letter saying the residents of 13 Morbae Grove Pymore wanted their house to be known as 12a not 13 this also was duly noted.
11.Discussed under 5b
12.Cherry Tree Play Area Report
The Play area supervisor reported that the brushes had been replaced and that there only remained the outlining of the safety surface to be carried out. As per ROSPA report.
13.Funding for above The clerk read out the cost of replacing the slide and also safety surface and addition of a springy toy. It was felt that these should ordered and then we would by October have the remainder of the precept and also our savings so we could pay for these items and not require funding.
14.Bournemouth and Poole Structure Plan and West Dorset Local Review
The Chairman explained these items and said anyone who wished to take them home and read them could do so.
15.Corespondence
The Police and Crown Prosecution Service booklet was again offered to anyone who wished to read it, the clerk pointed out to members of the public that all the books were here including bank statements and they could be viewed if anyone wished to do so.
16.The date of the next meeting was given out 21st September 2004 and the councillors were given a list of the meeting dates for the next year i.e. 2005-6 - these were as near as possible the second Tuesday of each month
The Chairman thanked every one for coming and apologised that the meeting took so long. The meeting closed at 9.17pm
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