Allington Parish Council

Present. Cllrs. G. Stansfield, D. C.Hitt, M.A.Wrighton T. Gruitt. Mrs C V Stansfield Clerk. Adam Georgiou Play Area Supervisor, 6 members of the public, Mrs Jane Dibden

The meeting began with the Vice Chairman Mrs M A Wrighton announcing that one minute silence would be held at the beginning of the meeting as a mark of respect for former Councillor Percy Wilcox and former clerk Margery Chambers. – The minute silence was duly held. The business of the meeting began at 7.32pm.

1.Apologies. The clerk had received apologies from: - Cllrs P.J.Lathey [Chairman] [on holiday. Cllr K. Hitt [illness] Cllr I. Gay [previous engagement] District Councillor A.J.Alford [previous engagement]

2.Declarations of members’ interests. Cllr D.C.Hitt item 7

3.Matters Arising. Mr Clive Tett had as yet not cut down the Lelandi trees in Longhayes Avenue. Council to enquire into the reason. The situation regarding the many complaints we had received re Broadhayes Avenue and the overhanging shrubs causing danger to pedestrians, as this is in Bridport Town Council’s area this had been passed onto Bernard Paull the surveyor. The notice board that is being supplied by Fry’s at West Road has been promised now for Easter 2005.

4.Public Participation. Mrs Dibden asked if council wished at this juncture for her to give her report on her meeting with Valerie Staley of the Woodland Trust. All Agreed.
“On February 7th Mrs Dibden and Ms Staley spent 3 hours on Allington Hill looking at the complaints council had received at the state of the paths/steps. Work had been carried out on the old steps and Ms Staley was concerned that the unofficial BMX track the youngster had made was eroding into the banking. The Woodland Trust felt this activity should be stopped as it was causing future tree damage. The BMX riders the Woodland Trust said must not undermine the hill nor impede walkers. Mrs Dibden and the council agreed that this track provided a safe place for the youngsters for this sport. They had made the track themselves and kept it tidy. Cllr Gruitt agreed to approach the boys with regards to being more careful. Cllr Gruitt to report at the next meeting. They walked to the new steps and Ms Staley agreed that the steps were very steep and a handrail would be put in place. A small gate will only open one way, this to be repaired. Contractors of Woodland Trusts were responsible for cutting tree roots, paths no longer were littered with debris of fallen trees and the drainage channels were now in place. The Birch trees had been cut down by the contractors and the surface of the paths was now more settled. Wood chippings were thought to be more slippery on the paths despite the fact that the council had said that Mr Bowditch and Mr Alner had repeatedly put chippings down themselves to help facilitate the movement of people coming on/off the hill when the rain had made it difficult at the entrances to access the field. Council were grateful to them for doing this. Volunteers were being asked for by Bridport Town Council to keep the tracks clear. The Woodland Trust was looking at seating again. This council had offered seating in the past but not the memorial type seating the Woodland Trust had first thought of but more small seating similar to that in the play areas that would be of wood and in keeping with the theme of the wood. Mrs Dibden is to be the Warden of the Hill. On several occasions she has asked Ms Staley to please contact her when she is checking on the hill so they may go round together and discuss any problems that may arise. “ end of report.
Council thanked Mrs Dibden for keeping us informed. Council had received several complaints of dog fouling but this section is not in Allington parish but in Bridport Town Council. However, council would inform Bridport Town Council of the complaints received. A question from the body of the meeting regarding the Waterwheel at Pymore. Where is it? The clerk said she believe it had been taken away by a contractor from Gladedale. The Historic Society in Bridport may be interested in it as it was a cast iron one and the members of the public felt it should be returned to Pymore if possible.

5.Financial Report. The clerk announced that there was a cheque to sign for Creed’s the printers. This was for the questionnaire they had printed. Cost £211.50p Councillors agreed with this amount and the cheque was duly signed. The ordinary account at present stands at £1,214.81. The cash point had eaten the council’s cash card when the clerk went to draw out the cash for the 350-second class stamps for the questionnaire plus usual first class stamps. Council agreed to the amount for the stamps to be paid from councils account into Mrs Stansfield £76.89. All agreed. The bank to confirm this payment in writing. The savings account now a stand at £3669.91 Out of this has to be deducted the money for the Cherry Tree Play Area fencing. This will be deducted when the account is presented. The Internal Auditor will be coming next month to do our audit and next month council will have the accounts to approve. Our audit is due in August this year but the year-end for our accounts is March 31st.

6.Planning Report. We have had no confirmation of the date of the Development Control Committee meeting regarding the Medical Centre Plans. Is it your wish that I go and representing the council’s views all agreed. We have received a letter from the Tree Officer of West Dorset District Council to perform tree surgery on a tree at Plot A West Mead Park. This address is the marketing address but the tree is on the plot behind West Mead Lodge.

7.Cherry Tree Play Area. The fencing is now in situ and looking very smart. The wooden play area sign is now showing its age and it is to be re-varnished. It was brought to my attention that a broken alcohol bottle was found beneath the children’s swings, but more disturbing than this was the fact that a resident had taken his toddler grandson to the play area. As he was putting this youngster on the cradle swings he noticed as he was lowering the child down a large shard of broken glass embedded in the seat. He called over the Play Area Supervisor who was outside the play area. This glass was not there when the play area was checked by the supervisor or previously by the clerk. [The play area is checked at different intervals] This glass could have caused serious and possibly fatal injuries to this child. A new lock has been fitted on the new gate as the previous one on the old gate would not open. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents will come on the site in May for inspection. The seat swings will need replacing this year. In the past few months we have spent over £9,200 on this play area. No grants have been applied for we have purchased everything through saving from the precept in our play area account. Soil that the was found to be surplus after the new fencing erected has been placed in one corner of the play area for future use.

8.Woodland Trust Play Area. As soon as the weather improves the fencing and grass cutting contractors can go on the hill. The sign is ready and waiting to be erected.

9.Dorset Assoc. of Parish and Town Councils. As councillors are aware as a parish council we are allowed two representatives on the Western Area Committee. Cllr Lathey and I are the representatives appointed. We attended a meeting in February at Beaminster. This Committee meets quarterly with different venues each time. Any councillor who has received any concerns can tell either Cllr. Lathey or myself and we can bring this before the committee of the Western Area. The next meeting is 24th May – so please give us any concerns you have. Mileage and the cost of any of the courses run by the Association are paid from our funds and we do have a training budget in place for this purpose.

10.Way Ahead Group Report. Dr Coffer kindly delivered the boxes of questionnaires to the Clerk and the quarterly newsletter from the council will be sent out with the questionnaires. There is to be a publicity release in the Bridport News prior to the questionnaires going out. Washingpool Farm has kindly donated the cost of a meal for 2 in their restaurant as a prize. This is to be drawn by the Editor of the Bridport News at our Annual General Meeting on May 3rd. All questionnaires that have a name/address/telephone number will be entered into a draw. We will on Friday next at 2pm in the communal room be stuffing the questionnaires, leaflets, and various envelopes into a large envelope. Volunteers please. We have a time frame to do this, as we must have them out before the general election is called. So they need to be out 6 weeks before the election. Deliveries; Dr Coffer is doing West Mead. Derek Williams doing the Fry’s estate. Alan Taylor doing Meadfields. Phil Lathey Simene Close, Foundry and any others we cannot deliver. Megan Ward doing Dottery, Mr Newitt Pymore, Antoinette Thomas Cherry Tree and Longhayes Avenue, Gerald Stansfield the bungalows, Keith Alner outlying cottages and houses. The Way Ahead Group has spent a lot of time doing this questionnaire and now the hard work lies ahead, it has to be collated and implemented where possible. We have had a grant of £1,000 and there is very little left. We have another £1,000 to come and also this council has to put in its contribution and Bridport Town Council the £50. We have received in kind help from Bridport Local Area Partnership, Bridport Town Council and Susan Anders in particular. We have yet to receive the consultant’s fee. The public have four weeks to send their replies in to me.

11.Pymore Update. We are still no nearer with the notice board from Gladedale and the seat cannot be placed at Pymore until the notice board is up and Gladedale have never replied despite several telephone calls emails and copy letters. We still await news on the reed bed at Pymore.

12.Correspondence. We have correspondence from Defra re the Clean Neighbourhood Bill. Which came into force December 2004. This bill increases the parish council powers concerning graffiti dog fouling fly posting amongst others. We can issue fixed penalty notices as it streamlines the legislation regarding dogs. It must be stressed that these are powers not duties and we are under no obligation to use them but, they are there if necessary. From the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister we received Neighbourhoods and local leadership 2 booklets on these subjects both of which are available for councillors to read if they wish. The Area for review on public consultation on learning skills, we have two council updates magazines, From West Dorset District Council we have the Spring Clean information, The one day sale of animals the Licensing Act which as we have no premises on which we serve alcohol this does not apply to us and the council was told to shred it or scrap it. A Standards Board Update on the standards required .A consultation on the Code for the future deadline June 17th – councillors have all a copy please read it and report back to council in April. Dorset for You.com leaflet which is a new partnership website. Dorset Coastal Forum sent us posters of the events for March. In the past 10 months this council has received over 450 items of mail and this does not include emails.

13. The clerk asked if anyone had any agenda items for the next meeting in April. The Clerk reminded everyone that in April we are holding our Parish Meeting, this is the meeting that by law we must hold every year between March and June. It is the meeting at which all electorate can come to the parish council [in addition to public participation at ordinary meetings] they can give us their views, and ask questions of the councillors and myself. This meeting is different from the ordinary meeting; it has a separate agenda and minutes. The Chairman will also give a report on what has happened since the last Parish Meeting. The meeting will begin at 7pm and will be followed by the ordinary business council meeting at 7.30pm. Two completely different meetings both held on the same day but in law totally different.

14.Date of next meeting. April 12th 7.30pm