Allington Parish Council

Present. Paul Bowditch [Woodland Trust Play Area Supervisor] Cllrs. David & Karen Hitt, Ian Gay, Trevor Gruitt, Philip Lathey, Don McAllister [Cherry Tree Play Area Supervisor. Mrs C V Stansfield [clerk] recorded the minutes]

The Chairman [Cllr Lathey] welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1. Apologies. Apologies had been received from District Cllr. A Alford. & Cllrs. M Wrighton & G Stansfield. [Cllr Stansfield to tender resignation at this meeting]

2. There were no declaration of members interests to declare

3. Minutes of last meeting. The Clerk apologised for the 2 spelling errors in last months minutes. The Chairman asked if, it was the wish of all councillors that he sign and date the minute book. ALL AGREED. The minute book was duly signed

4. Matters arising. The greenery around the sign at the bottom of North Allington had been cleared away from the sign. The notice board at Pymore to be on site one day this week according to Ian Curry of Gladedale. Magna Housing Association representatives have been to see Mr Issacs following councils complaint re him putting food on the hill and outside his bungalow. The gravity of the situation has been clarified to him. The vans belonging to contractors should now be off site at Cherry Tree. An email received from Mr Paull [Bridport Town Council]stated the funeral cars do not park on the zig zag lines at St Swithuns Church instead they use the parking area. Cllr Hitt had noticed cars outside the church gates. Council decided to monitor this situation and if possible to suggest that on occasions of large funeral parties maybe a community support officer could be on duty. Cllr Wrighton was to attend the Archives meeting at Dorset County Archives Office on behalf of the parish council. It had been noted that many people were not using the crossing to get to the doctors surgery but just crossing anywhere along the pavement.

5. Public Participation. The refuse bin for dog waste on Allington Hill was not fixed but is in the hedge - could this be fixed? Several bins were on St Swithuns Road but North Allington and Donkey Lane areas there were no bins. A request for the Woodland Trust to place two more seats on Allington Hill - Valerie Staley to be contacted.

6. Resignation of Clerk/Councillor. The Chairman said it was with regret that the Council had today to accept the resignation of Councillor Gerald Stansfield, who is seriously ill and feels unable to continue with his duties as councillor. Mr Muir Monitoring Officer of West Dorset District Councillor to be informed so that an advertisement could be made. As a result of Councillor Stansfield illness the clerk Mrs Stansfield also is to resign. Councillors were given a copy of the job description of clerk and council agreed for the clerk to place an advertisement in the Bridport News after Christmas. As Mrs Stansfield has carried out the role of Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer without any salary, this must now be added to the budget. Also Councillors should bear in mind that any new clerk may not have a computer and laminator as at present we use Mrs Stansfield personal machines. It was with regret that Council accepted both resignations.

7. Financial Report.
[a]The Clerk advised council that any salary paid to the new clerk would have to increase each April by 2.95% plus more if the new clerk is qualified. The salary at present will be around £3,000 a year.
[b] Two new cheque signatories have been approved for our two accounts, they are Cllrs Hitt and Gay.
[c] Balances - in the ordinary account we have £1,548.42p in the Savings account £3816.77p this is without the cheques being authorised tonight. I can transfer in two weeks time £1500 from the savings account as we will have a account coming in from the printers for the final parish plan. We have received interest of 38pence and I will shortly be sending off a vat claim for over £200
[d] accounts for payment. The SLCC subs £30 [this will go up when the clerk has a salary. Woodland Trust rent £100 [this is the annual rent] next year it can be paid by the BACS system. Magna Housing Association room hire £48 for 6 months - next payment is end of May 2006. St Saviours Church Dottery £315 this is our contribution towards graveyard maintenance as we have a duty to maintain this churchyard it is within our parish. Home working Allowance for Clerk £205 this is towards telephone calls, heating and use of computer/laminator. A BACS payment to Viking direct of £175.52 for stationery for newsletters and other council business. Councillors all agreed with these payments.

8. Planning. 1/W/05/001824 Washingpool Farm Additional storage facility. These plans had arrived the day after the other plans and no objection was raised. [b] 1/W/2005/0054 Waste Storage & Concrete Crushing Facility - retrospective permission was sought and has now been withdrawn.  

9. Woodland Trust Play Area. The Children are using this play area and Mr Bowditch will keep his eye on the grass to ensure no broken glass or other debris is left there. The nets will be installed on the Goal Posts in Summer. Cherry Tree Play Area. Dog Mess is still being found in the play area, possibly because the gates are not self closing. It was reported to council that the residents at No 42 allow their dog to stray this situation to be monitored. TMH Fencing had checked and repaired the gates, Cllr Hitt to enquire what work was carried out and if anything could be done to ensure the gates closed. The Mattas surfacing had been found to be slippery clerk to contact Mattas to ascertain why. Mr McAllister has checked the area for debris and the equipment and reported all was well.

10. Clerks Report. Firstly the Way Ahead Group. The clerk reported that the council owe a huge debt of gratitude to Kate & Malcolm Dowty for putting the plan together and input of data. To Arnold Coffer, Richard Boorne, for proof reading. Susan Anders Bridport Area Partnership, Derek Williams for their valuable input and advice. Keith Alner, Alan Taylor, Antoinette Thomas, Heather Williams, Arnold Coffer Ian Newitt & Philip Lathey for delivery newsletters and questionnaires. The council requested a letter of thanks to go to these people after Christmas. The meeting for the finalisation of the Parish Plan is to be held on Friday January 6th at 7 30pm in St Swithuns Vestry Extension. Could all councillors attend please. As Cllr Stansfield who is the chair of the Way Ahead Group is too ill to continue as Chair Cllr Lathey will Chair this meeting.

11. Correspondence. There was a questionnaire to fill in regarding Dorset Police and the proposed merger. Unfortunately the deadline had passed and council could not reply. All other items of correspondence received was read out by Cllr Lathey including the Local Council Review and the Dorset Community Action magazine which, councillors could take if they so wished.

12. The next meeting was arranged for January 10th 2006.