Allington Parish Council

Present. Cllrs D & K Hitt. T. Gruitt, I. Gay, P.J. Lathey, M. Wrighton, G. Stansfield. Clerk Mrs C Stansfield and 3 members of the public.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. As every councillor was present there were no apologies to record nor, were there any declarations of members interest.

1. Apologies. None

2. Declarations of Member's Interest. None

3. Approval of Minutes. The Chairman asked councillors if everyone had both received and read the minutes, If they were a true copy was it their wish he sign and date the minute book as such ALL AGREED. The minute book was duly signed and dated.

4. Matters Arising. Ian Curry, from Gladedale Property Developers has now ordered the board to be sited at their Pymore Development. This will be in situ soon. Cllrs Lathey & Gay to place in position the bench seat 23rd October near the site of the notice board. Mr Ian Newitt from Morbae Grove to be present. Mr Newitt also will have heard from Dorset County Council regarding the problems he is experiencing every time it floods. The road Morbae Grove is at present unadopted by the County Council. Mr Newitt had previously told the clerk that he had contacted Gem Alarms with regards to the alarms constantly going off on a nearby barn. Mr Issacs a resident of Cherry Tree who has been seen going onto Allington Hill with a carrier bag and placing bones and scraps of food on the Hill is to be monitored. Mrs G. Furber a Sheltered Housing Officer with Magna Housing Association has witnessed the gentleman going onto the hill with the carrier bag, this he has denied.

5. Public Participation. It was reported to council that the gate at the bottom of Allington Hill has three lots of refuse placed by it in black sacks. Lots of complaints have been received by council on the siting of the lamppost/pelican crossing by St Swithuns Church. The lamppost now shortens the width of the pavement and the zigzags mean that no funeral cars can park outside the church gate. In the light of the new law regarding empty properties council were asked if they could now do something about 57 Cherry Tree as it has been empty for a number of years. Residents of Meadfields Estate have complained to the council regarding the fact that their refuse is regularly not collected on refuse collection day Monday. Because of the fact that cars/lorry are in the way of the collection vehicle. The drains at the bottom of Hospital Lane/North Allington were beginning to cause concern – contact DCC.

6. Financial Report.
[a] The balance on the two accounts are as follows. In the ordinary account £4239.70p [this includes £1,000 of the grant money from the Countryside Agency for the parish plan] Interest in this account is 29p for this month, including also a vat claim of £122.94p in the savings account £2816.77p including £4.89 interest.
[b] The auditors found nothing wrong with our accounts and were satisfied with the way they wee presented. The conclusion of audit notice was placed on the notice boards at the hospital and West Mead together with the full accounts.
[c] There are cheques presented for payment. One from Karen Venn the consultant for the parish plan £400.00. The second is for BDO Stoy Hayward the auditors £141.00. One of our subscriptions Plus Publishing [Local Councils Update] has informed the clerk that they now have a 24 hour service available on the web The cost of this is an extra £40 onto the yearly subscription of £60. The Chairman asked if this would be useful to the council/clerk. The clerk explained what it entailed and the council were all in agreement to have the Internet service also. Cheques duly signed.
[d] The Co-op Bank had sent back the forms for extra signatories as there were two places not signed by the Chairman. These were duly signed so the forms could be returned.
[e] The clerk reported that council had received thank you letters from all the recipients of the S137 and S142 had now received their cheques, all thanked council for the support given. The W.R.V.S. also replied that next year they would not be applying in order to give some other group the benefit that they have received, however, they would like to apply the following year.

7. Magna Housing Association Lease. Councillors discussed at length this lease. The comments were as follows. The lease given was for a one off booking. We book one year ahead. The kitchen facilities are unused by council. The heating has not been on even though Magna are aware of the room being used. As time of length of meetings vary it was agreed by councillors to offer a fee of £10 per meeting. The meetings would be a minimum of 12 per year.

8. Planning. 1/W/05/001457 adjoining parish consultation carry out external buildings 186 North Allington. Council had no objections to this work. Approval for Listed Building work had been received for Higher Pymore Farm Pymore.

9. Standing Orders. The Clerk reminded councillors that standing orders should be reviewed regularly. The standing orders as laid out were still relevant today and it was agreed no changes to be made.

10. Ancient Monuments Officer. Cllr Lathey is our Ancient Monuments Officer and still has heard nothing from Claire Pinder – Council agreed this situation could not continue and clerk to ascertain the delay

11. Clerks Report. The clerk reported on the work of the Way Ahead Group who are dealing with the parish plan. A lot of hard work by various members who reside within the parish have meant we will be producing a good plan for the future. Several people also deliver newsletters and these people are a vital asset to the Council. We will hold a public meeting in the New Year. A lot of work has been done by Kate & Malcolm Dowty in sorting out the questionnaires as these had to be done through for each question. Our ordinary newsletter goes out regularly and there will be a special newsletter regarding the parish plan. A list of refuse dates over the Christmas break will be circulated onto the notice boards.

11a. Flaxhayes Paddock. The Chairman had a meeting with Tim Crabtree on Flaxhayes Paddock and several issues were sorted out. There would the Chairman explained be a Trust set up as requested the clerk looked into funding for the architects fees etc., but was advised by Andy Lloyd the Housing Enabling Officer that this was not the correct time to do this.

The Chairman explained that several trustees would be required as it was the land that would be in a trust. The houses would always be affordable and the occupiers of the houses would never own the land. He had approached local builder Philip Fry of C G Fry & Sons who had agreed to be a Trustee. Councillor Lathey was also to be a trustee and Mrs Jane Dibden is also to be approached as a trustee. Andy Lloyd and Tim Crabtree to liase with Council.

12. Cherry Tree Play Area.. Councillors agreed that Matta Surfacing had produced a good tender for the surfacing at the entrance gates and the bench seat areas. Clerk to confirm. Don Mc Alister was suggested as a possible Play Ground Supervisor at Cherry Tree in the light of Mr Georgiou emigrating. WOODLAND TRUST PLAY AREA - Paul Bowditch agreed to be play area supervisor for the Woodland Trust Play Area. One of the councillors had been asked if the play area was ever used? The reply was it was used constantly.

13. Correspondence. The entire list of correspondence was read out to council and as usual councillors were asked if they wished to read any of the items. There were no queries on any items read out.

14. Date of next meeting. The date of the next meeting would be November 8th – The precept would be decided at this meeting if all councillors were present.

The Chairman thanked everyone for coming to the meeting and the meeting closed at 9 28pm