Allington Parish Council

Present: District Councillor A. Alford, Cllrs M.Wrighton [Vice Chair] G.Stansfield, I.Gay, D. &K Hitt. Paul Rennie Matron of Bridport Community Hospital plus Sister from Minor Injuries Unit. 7 members of the public. Mrs C.V.Stansfield took the minutes.

The meeting commenced with Cllr. Marion Wrighton – Vice Chair welcoming everyone to the meeting. In the absence of the Chairman Cllr Wrighton explained she would be chairing the meeting.

1. Apologies. Cllr P.J.Lathey [on training course] Cllr Gay asked if apologises had been received from Cllr Gruitt. We had received none. Cllr Gay said he would apologise on his behalf as he knew Cllr Gruitt would not be attending.

2. Declarations of Members Interest. Cllrs Hitt & Stansfield in item 5.

2. The Chair Cllr Wrighton asked the councillors if they had all received and read the minutes, and if they were a true record of the last meeting? If so, was it their decision that she should sign and date the minutes as such? ALL AGREED

3. Matters Arising. These matters arising are those which have not got a separate heading on the agenda. We have heard from the Environmental Health Department West Dorset District Council they are looking into the possibility of being able to contact the owner of 57 Cherry Tree whose property has been abandoned for many years, with a view to making it habitable and eventually renting it out. Still no confirmation as to whose responsibility it is to repair the gully at the end of Hospital Lane where it adjoins the Hospital grounds. The Clerk contacted Clarence but they say it is on private land, we have as yet not heard from the Hospital authorities. Paul Rennie said he would check out and reply to council as soon as possible. The Tree within the Hospital Grounds is now in the process of being cut down, we had received notification of this.

4. BRIDPORT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. Cllr Wrighton introduced Paul Rennie Matron of Bridport Community Hospital. Council had already sent Mr Rennie a list of the questions we had been asked over the previous year. Mr Rennie told the council that he had been told it would house at the Hospital 1 ambulance and 2 crew members, standing by to assist in Minor Injuries Unit, however it became apparent that this information was misleading and the intention was to close the Ambulance Station at Park Road Bridport and relocate the entire fleet plus staff and ancillary equipment needed to Bridport Community Hospital. Mr Rennie explained to the PCT and the Ambulance Trust that there was no way that [a] the entire ambulance fleet could be housed at the Hospital, nor, was it practical with the exit from the Hospital onto the busy B3162. He urged them to re-think this situation and apparently this is on going at present. Many questions were asked including one of whether anti venom serum was kept at the hospital as it always was. The answer was they did not know but would find out. Cllr Stansfield explained that in light of the Woodland Trust carrying out extensive repairs/alterations on the Hill this was necessary as adders had been sighted. It was explained by the Sister accompanying Mr Rennie that they only had one trained staff member in Minor Injuries Sister Lesley Hardwicke, hence the unit being closed. Now Hospital staff are trained for specific tasks and a nurse practitioner has to be on duty when the Minor Injuries Unit is open. Although all the general public are aware of this and Mr Rennie thought perhaps he should highlight this. Cllr Wrighton asked where we go forward. The reply was that the Hospital was actively recruiting staff. 100 hours of nursing time was needed and we had 37 hours of nursing time. Now only specialist nurses are allowed to work in Minor Injuries Units. Mr Rennie agreed that morale was low as staff did not like the Minor Injuries Unit being closed. . Emergency Care Practitioner training was on going and the Hospital were not thinking of closing the unit. From October 1st the G.P. out of hour’s service would alter. A discussion ensued and various questions were answered. Mr Rennie was thanked by Cllr Wrighton for coming. Mr Rennie and the Sister left the meeting at 8.20pm

5. There was nothing discussed during the public participation it already had been answered during Mr Rennie’s question and answer session.

6. FINANCE.
[a] The following cheques arrived before this meeting and retrospective permission to pay them was granted. C.N. RICHARDS £250.25 [grass cutting] DIGICARE £95.00 maintenance on councils multifunction machine [this is for 2 years] XCALIBRE £9.95 for 2 years email accounts. £52.86 for hosting the web page this is an annual account. VAT reclaimable on all the above amounts. We had also the clerk informed council an invoice for the Appraisal Questionnaire for the Parish Plan; this had been budgeted for in the Parish Plan account. The amount was for £75 [vat free] from the University of Gloucester. It was agreed to pay this via the BACS system.
[b] Account Balances: Ordinary Account £3,006.73p out of this amount there has to be deducted the cheques just mentioned. Also included in this figure is the Parish Plan Grant from the Countryside Agency. We receive £1.23 interest. The Play Area Account stands at £6,555.13. We are due our final half of the precept £4,250 at the end of September.
[c] Insurance. We have been asked by the Woodland Trust that they require public liability insurance on the play area of £10 million pounds, at present, the Cherry Tree Play area is £5 million. The increase would add another £100 to our insurance bill but as we are in a society were suing is the norm it is prudent to increase the public liability, ALL AGREED Clerk to contact Insurers as soon as possible.
[d] The clerk explained about the new auditors we have and that she has received a letter wanting detailed explanation of the reasons why we had not received as much income last year as year before and why our receipts were different. Also, the Auditors asked for details of the Insurance Value of our assets not the assets with depreciation as we had been doing. The clerk wanted permission that she could alter the amount from £1,694 to £11,020. ALL AGREED. This had to be minuted and initialled on the annual return. The Auditors do not see any receipts or ledgers we just fill in an annual return. Our Internal Auditor is to come down and ensure the signature is genuine and initial also.

7. BUDGET PROPOSAL. Cllr Wrighton asked if everyone had read the enclosures with their minutes regarding the proposed amounts. ALL AGREED The Clerk read through the list and explained that we really did need a cushion for emergencies and that the amounts given were approximations as we had no means of knowing how much of an increase the Insurance premiums or subscriptions would be. The grass cutting amount would remain the same for the life of this Council. Cllr Wrighton asked if everyone was agreed at £9,000 and if this would give us a small cushion ALL AGREED the budget of £9,000 was accepted.

8. PLANNING.
[a] 1/W/04/001653 50 Cherry Tree erect a single storey extension. The plan was viewed and there was no objection – clerk to notify West Dorset District Council at the earliest opportunity.
[b] Councillor Alford explained about the new rule coming in whereby the 21 day turn around would in effect be approximately 14 days. It would appear a planning sub committee may have to look at any plans that came in just immediately after a meeting and that required a decision before the next meeting. This proposal will have to be debated by Council when we receive notification of same. If necessary an emergency planning committee will have to be formed.
[c] Woodland Trust had applied to WDDC to alter existing access on Allington Hill. No map was sent with application; clerk obtained one and gave the details to council of the alterations to existing pathways and making of new steps for greater safety on Hospital Lane side of Allington Hill.

9. WAY AHEAD GROUP. The clerk gave out an up date on the Way Ahead Group and also the date of the next meeting. At this meeting we would have to discuss the questions required on the questionnaire and also the content of the first edition of the newsletter.

10. CHERRY TREE PLAY AREA UPDATE. The equipment is due for delivery around October 18th 2004.Mr Georgiou Play Area Supervisor reported the appearance of a large block of concrete that had appeared in the play area also a couple of holes had been dug near the swings and a piece of concrete was there also that is buried under ground. Mr Georgiou said he would dig out the concrete and fill in the holes a.s.a.p. [this action has been recorded in the play area record book] Mr Alner from the body of the meeting said he could get hold of some soil. The Clerk said she would leave it with Mr Georgiou to attend to this as soon as possible.

11. WOODLAND TRUST PLAY AREA UPDATE. The Clerk read out the attachment to the lease from the Woodland Trust, also the ‘letter of comfort’ sent by Mr Justin Milward of the Woodland Trust Which stated that whilst they could not guarantee renewing the lease after 3 years, if there was no damage etc., then they would look to renewing with new terms.. Council all agreed this was the best we could get, and the lease to be signed. The Clerk to sign the lease and send to the solicitors. The quote from Wick steeds for the goal posts were read out and councillors felt that this quotation for 2 goal posts plus installation and carried was too high. Another firm was suggested who had been contacted but said they could not supply and install the goal posts. However the Clerk would again contact them with a view to obtaining another quotation. Councillor Gay said the 5 side goal posts were too small and suggested a larger size one possible ¾ size of a full goal post.

12. LOGOMOTION. As the two other contacts for website construction and maintenance had been unable to fulfil the commitments we required Logomotion had proved to be the best value for money. The web site is at present being constructed. It will contain photos of Allington. Councillor’s names and contact numbers. Copies of minutes of the last year. Planning Applications and results for the year and also items of interest in the parish of Allington with links to West Dorset District Council, Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils and Dorset County Councils websites.

13. LICIENSING ACT 2003 POLICY DOCUMENT. The Clerk read out the questions sent to us the document was there for anyone to view. The council answered the questions which would be sent off as soon as possible.

14. CORRESPONDENCE/CLEKS REPORT. We had received the Clerks and Councils Direct/The Local Council Review/Local Council Update Rights of ‘Way Info [Councillor Gay to give to Councillor Gruitt] the Seminar invitation from The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England on the new Planning Act which the clerk could not attend as it was up stairs. No lift in the building this despite the Disability Discrimination Act coming into force 18 days before this meeting. District Councillor Alford said he would look into this situation. The Local Government Employees code of conduct had been received and the Village Design Statement letter had also been received. A letter from Geoff. Joy about affordable housing had been received and as Allington already had only the ground of Flaxhayes Paddock available for low cost affordable housing Mr Joy already knew about this and clerk replied accordingly.

15. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA. None were proposed.

16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING. 9th November 2004 same venue.

The Chairman thanked everyone for coming to the meeting the meeting ended at 9.30pm

Next Meeting