Allington Parish Council

Present Cllrs. PJ Lathey [Chairman] M.A. Wrighton [Vice Chairman] G. Stansfield. D. Hitt, I. Gay. Lynn Gooch Dorset County Council [Nature Reserve Officer] Adam Georgiou Play Area Supervisor, Mrs C Stansfield [Clerk [. Plus 8 members of the public.

The meeting began with the Chairman welcoming everyone to the meeting.

1. Apologies Cllr Karen Hitt [illness] Cllr T. Gruitt.[on a course]

2. Declarations of Members Interest Interest in kind Cllr Hitt on item 11

3. To approve the Minutes The Chairman asked councillors if they had both received and read the minutes. Were they a true record if so was it their wish he sign the minute book as such? ALL AGREED.

4. Matters Arising The gulley drain at the Hospital has now been repaired. After requesting since June 2004 the street light outside of No. 9 Cherry Tree is repaired finally it was done on December 2nd. Within two days of our requesting Mr Hatch look at the light. The dropped kerbs at Cherry Tree were on going and had been referred to Ken Bodycombe at Magna Housing Association. The complaint regarding a resident of the sheltered housing scheme continually putting food out for seagulls and also feeding a stray cat outside was reported to Magna and now this has now been referred to their legal team. With regards to Broadmead Avenue Bridport and the overhanging branches – Highways are now taking this matter over. Clerk’s Gratuity. After consulting with the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils on this matter the clerk can only receive a gratuity if she has been paid. As it is this clerk’s wish not to be paid there is no gratuity to be saved for.

5. Public Participation The Chairman introduced Lynn Gooch from the Nature Reserve section of Dorset County Council. She enlightened council that we have a site of natural conservation information at Pymore with a reed bed of 1 hectare which is home to a rare species of bird the Reed Bunting A question and answer session ensued. It transpired that Gladedale were not at present fulfilling their obligations with regards to this reed bed. A letter from Council may help. Several trees had been seen to be unsafe. A lot of Elm needs to come out. The Ranger Julian Cooper from Thorncombe is to monitor the situation this is an important wildlife site, Gladedale at time of this meeting had not fulfilled their contractual obligations. The Nature Reserve Section of Dorset County Council awaits the legal agreement with the Environment Agency and Gladedale. Several other questions were asked but they have been given their own heading. Those questions would, therefore, be answered then.

6. FINANCIAL REPORT The Balance in the ordinary account is £2,292.75p we have received £1.25p interest on this last month. The Play Area Savings Account now stands at £10,569.91. Cheques were presented for payment for Bridport Town Council [allotments excess rent under S137] St. Saviour’s Church Dottery [under S215] £315.00. Logomotion [final half of the web set up fee] £150.00. C.N.Richards [Section 111] The Clerk explained that a labeller was needed for both the questionnaire envelopes and normal mailing. Prices range from £79.99to £140.00 the middle range if suitable was opted for plus labels. V.A.T. has been reclaimed.

7. PLANNING The clerk read out the approval of planning permission for 50 Cherry Tree Bridport. Once again we had received planning approval for plans we had not seen. These relate to a Tanning Studio on West Road. 1/W/04/0001746 Grove Works West Road Bridport. The Chairman explained the on going problems we have with the District Council Planning Department. Letter of complaint with resolution was agreed by members should go to West Dorset District Council Head of Planning cc to Chief Executive Officer. With the proviso that if within 8 weeks from receipt of letter there were any more planning correspondence that either came and should not have or did not arrive and should then the Council as a body feel that the Ombudsman should be informed. A copy of resolution to be kept with these minutes. ALL AGREED. Approval also for Seymour Farm 1/W/02/001876. The clerk went on to explain this was another example as a notice saying the plan had been withdrawn from Land Registry in December 2003 was received by Council. Council has received apologies from Glo Towner at Planning for the latest error

8. Extra to Planning Pymore residents who had attended the meeting spoke of their disquiet with the roads outside Morbae Grove speeding traffic and also the chicane is the wrong way to slow traffic down. Another problem was the lamp posts. Several residents asked about the original plans and the lampposts as different type of lampposts were being fitted different to plans. The present lampposts residents felt were NOT in keeping with the character of the village. Clerk to investigate. Both the County and District Councils the residents felt were not listening to them regarding the speed along Morbae Group, or the lamp post. Their was no turning circle and the people felt vulnerable in case of a fire, more discussions on this subject and the sleeping policemen took place.

9. Clerk’s Report The clerk read out the list of publications received by council which any one was welcome to peruse. These included West Dorset District Council Performance Report, Floodline, and Dorset Community Action. Clerk & Councils Direct and Local Council Review. The Clerk had attended as Allington’s representative the Bridport Area Partnership Steering Group and updated everyone on its progress. We had written to Magna Housing and await their reply regarding housing officer’s attendance at meetings.

10. WAY AHEAD GROUP We now had on board a consultant, her fees were originally budgeted for, and this is not an extra expense. Her comments regarding the software being out of date and a recommendation that we give feedback to the University of Gloucester from whom the software was purchased, this has been done and to date no reply from the University has been forth coming. The newsletters are in process of being delivered in time for Christmas. The questions for the questionnaire were being sorted and it was agreed that the group wanted the results to reflect the areas in which the people live. I.e. Pymore, Dottery. West Road etc., a good feed back response from the website for the Parish Council has been received. Both Cllr Stansfield and Susan Anders the Community Support Development Officer for the Bridport Area Partnership had heard of two areas where questionnaires were sent out with a prize draw being held for all questionnaires returned. Clerk to look into this for Allington.

11. CHERRY TREE PLAY AREA REPORT The slide and springy were now in situ and well used, unfortunately some children had vandalised the slide by filling the bowl of the slide with mud and grass pulled from underneath the slide. This was report to the Clerk by a mother from Mead Fields who although delighted at the refurbishment was upset to see this occur. Mr Georgiou [Play Area Supervisor] had also seen the debris and had had a word with some of the children and parents. The fencing is bowed and we await TMH Fencing to carry out full renewal of the fencing, the pedestrian gates after much discussion to be moved. TMH Fencing to contact Mr Georgiou for information on this as the maintenance gate also to be moved.

12. Woodland Trust Play Area Update The clerk had received the quotation for the site on the site of this football area. The new total of the legal bill was read out and the Chairman updated everyone on what had happened in the past 2 years and why we are waiting for the lease to be returned and agreement, can, then go ahead. If the lease comes back before the next council meeting then an extraordinary meeting would be convened and the lease signed. It was not the Chairman said an ideal situation but one which was out of our control.

13. WESTERN AREA REPRESENTATIVE FOR D.A.P.T.C The Clerk explained that Allington had only one representative on the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils and we should have two. The meetings the Clerk explained were held quarterly at different venues in the evening throughout the area. After discussion Cllr. P J Lathey agreed to be the representative along with the Clerk. His name and details to be forwarded to David Webb of the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils.

14. CORRESPONDENCE AND DATE OF NEXT MEETING A list of all letters received by council were read out, the next meeting was as agreed January 11th 2005.

Next Meeting

Letter of complaint from Allington Parish Council to The Chief Executive Officer of West Dorset District Council.

December 9th 2004.

West Dorset District Council
Stratton House
58/60 High West Street,
DORCHESTER
Dorset.
DT1 1 UZ

FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

Sir,

West Dorset District Council Planning Department.

I am instructed by my Council to give you copy of resolution that was passed at the Parish Council Meeting on Tuesday December 7th 2004. Item 7 ss1.

“Allington Parish Council gives formal notice to West Dorset District Council that the parish council is dismayed at the continuing series of errors in administration by West Dorset District Council Planning Department referring planning applications, sending incorrect information to the parish council.
Below is listed a number of examples from the past two years alone.

March /02. 3 Middle Green Beaminster [sent onto Beaminster Town Council]

April 2002 3 Diments Square Bridport [taken to Bridport Town Council]

November 02 1/E/2002 Beechfield Alton Pancras [two items sent onto clerk at Alton Pancras after telephoning her to ascertain address]
Again received yet more plans/correspondence for the above sent them onto clerk.

January 03. 1/W/2003/0131 taken to Bridport Town Council.

July 03 1/W/2003/1220 5 West Mead PARK [no such address exists]
A site visit confirmed this, when the notice was found on a red door not in West Mead Park which as we confirm does not exist. After many phone calls and emails it was found that the true address should have been 8 LODGE LANE. [Nothing like West Mead and a totally different builder]

APPROVAL OF PLANNING PERMISSIONS RECEIVED.

1/W/04/000103 Pippins Lyme Regis

1/W/04/000185 Hucknets Bridport

1/W/04/000213 Plotttingham Playing Fields Bridport.

1/W/04/000280 Hope & Anchor Bridport

all of the above taken to Bridport Town Council.

December 04 this council received approval for a tanning studio on West Road Bridport – we had not seen the plans for this. Council did receive an apology from Glo Towner for omission.
PLANNING CONSULTATION Over the past couple of years various plans for Seymour Farm North Allington has been to this council several times. In December 2003 this council received notification that the plans, for change of use from Class 3 had been withdrawn. November 2004. Council received a letter notifying them that the above was going to committee. After more phone calls Andrew Jordan admitted we should NOT have received the first letter as it had NOT been withdrawn. The plans were shown to be factually in correct, a matter of great concern to this council and one which was stated many times. When shown to committee the plans were for dormer windows when in fact velux were being submitted. Andrew Jordan never at any stage told committee members they were the wrong plans.

These errors have created a situation in which it is impossible for this parish council to carry out its duty correctly under government guidelines/targets.

Allington Parish Council, therefore, gives West Dorset District Council EIGHT WEEKS notice from the date of the resolution given above that unless this situation is rectified the matter will be referred to the local government ombudsman for consideration of West Dorset District Council Planning Department maladministration”

End of resolution

The next Council meeting is January 11th 2005. Any urgent letter for council between Dec. 12th-19th to be addressed to P.J.Lathey Chairman
5 Allington Mead, Bridport, Dorset

Yours faithfully
Clerk to the Council