Allington Parish Council

PRESENT: Cllrs M.A. Wrighton, I. Gay, D. Hitt, T, Gruitt, Cllr. A. Alford, 2 members of the public. Miss A Hull recorded the minutes.

1. APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Cllr. P Lathey, K. Hitt, Mr D McAllister (Cherry Tree Play Area Supervisor), and Mr P. Bowditch (Woodland Trust Play Area Supervisor). Due to the absence of Cllr. P. Lathey, Cllr. M. A. Wrighton acted as Chair

2. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS INTERESTS: There were none to declare.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Chairman asked if everyone had both received and read the minutes of the last meeting, if so, were they a true record. ALL AGREED. The minutes were duly signed and dated.

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES We have received a reply letter from Highways regarding the blocked drain in Hospital Lane. This is on their list of jobs to be undertaken and should be done shortly. We have received a reply letter from Magna regarding their tenant in Hibernia Close who is throwing bottles onto the road. They have infromed us that they are investigating the matter further. We have received a reply letter from West Dorset District Council regarding our request for another refuse bin at corner of Allington Gardens and for one at Pymore. The one at Allington Gardens has been refused but the one at Pymore has been agreed. Discussion ensued as to whether the present bin in Hospital Lane should be relocated but all agreed it was already in a suitable position. The External Audit form was read out to Councillors as some of this had been signed after the previous meeting. All Councillors were in agreement that everything was correct.

5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
a) It was brought to the Council's attention that 2 cars had been dumped in the garden of 57 Cherry Tree (owned house but empty).
b) Some residents of Cherry Tree are still putting their rubbish out too early resulting in the seagulls ripping it apart and throwing it everywhere.
c) . Cllr. Lathey had a conversation with a resident who lives at 15 Morbae Grove. There is a tree overhanging his house. The tree is not healthy and there is the fear that it will come down onto his house. The tree does not belong to him nor does it belong to Mr Johnson, the farmer who owns the field behind the house. The tree belongs to Gladedale Homes, who have disappeared. Clerk has emailed the tree officer at WDDC and it is in their hands now, they are planning to go and view the site and look into the matter. A member of the public who attended the meeting informed the council that Gladedale Homes had not disappeared and he had just written to them that very day.
d) With reference to the very overgrown bank in front of Longhayes Avenue which is to the side of the road leading up North Allington, Dorset County Council is looking into it with a view to cutting it back.
e) With regards the overgrown lane between the hospital and the houses of Mead Fields, this is now going to be cut back by the hospital within the next few weeks. This is due to a resident complaining to the hospital and discussions going back and forth between the resident concerned, Clerk Miss A Hull and the hospital.

6. FINANCE REPORT: The account balance was read out to Councillors and as usual all books were on the table for any member of the public to read.
a) The balance of the ordinary account now stands at £5,572.14. The savings at £2,024.00. Money has been paid out to Viking Direct (for Toner and Paper) at £185.50, LexisNexis for new Local Council Administration book at £65.45, also all cheques signed tonight will come out of the money left in the account.
b) The following cheques were authorised by the council: Website Renewal £11.69, Clerk's wages (for past month) £188.

7. PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
Ref: Tp/06/00187 - 2 West Mead - Reduction in height of yew tree. No objections.
Ref: 1/W/06/001236 - Bilshay Dairy Farmhouse - Erect a 2 storey extension and carry out alterations. The council objeced to this on the grounds of overdevelopment in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and concern over the future use of this development.
Ref: TP/06/00164 - West Mead Lodge - Reduction and removal of trees. This has been awarded permission for the holly tree but work for the sycamore tree was refused as the tree shown on the plan does not exist.
Ref: 1/W/06/001002 - 26 Cherry Tree - Erect conservatory. This has been awarded permission.

8. CHERRY TREE PLAY AREA REPORT: Although Mr McAllister was not present at the meeting, he had already informed the Clerk that that was nothing to report on since the last meeting. A groups at boys were playing football in the play area at the time of his conversation, which he was keeping an eye on.

9. WOODLAND TRUST PLAY AREA: Mr Bowditch was not present at the meeting. Councillors reported that the play area grass had been cut and everything was looking well.

10. WDDC - TREE PROTOCOL: The way in which WDDC deal with tree work applications has changed and this document detailed the new process. It was agreed by all that any tree work applications that came in would be dealt with as and when they arrived.

11. CORRESPONDENCE: Various items of general correspondence were read out and available to view.

12. CLERK'S REPORT: Clerk reported that all Parish Plans had now been delivered to residents. A grateful thank you to all those involved in its distribution.

16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: The date of the next meeting will be 19 September 2006.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Meeting closed at 8.15pm.