Allington Parish Council

PRESENT: Cllrs P. Lathey (Chairman), M.A. Wrighton, K. Hitt, D. Hitt, T, Gruitt, Cllr. A. Alford, Don McAlister (Cherry Tree Play Area Supervisor), Paul Bowditch (Woodland Trust Play Area Supervisor), 2 members of the public. Miss A Hull recorded the minutes.

1. APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Cllr. I. Gay

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: At the last meeting a letter was read out from West Dorset District Council regarding our request for another refuse bin at the corner of Allington Gardens. West Dorset District Council had refused our request. However, the Clerk had managed to obtain an older District Council bin which has now been placed at our requested spot. Drain in Hospital Lane is still waiting to be unblocked. Clerk will contact Highways to remind them.

A letter has been sent to the owner of 57 Cherry Tree (empty house) from West Dorset District Council asking him to contact them as a matter of urgency regarding the empty and vandalised property.

The bank bordering the road at Longhayes Avenue is still waiting to be cut back. Clerk will contact Dorset County Council to ask them again to do this.

5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
a) Clerk was asked to investigate who's responsibility it is to remove roadkill from roads, hedges, footpaths etc.

b) The footpath owned by the Woodland Trust on Allington Hill has been vandalised. Also fires have been lit on the hill. Clerk to write to the Woodland Trust and inform them with a view to them meeting with Cllr P. Lathey to be shown all the problem areas on Allington Hill.

c) It was reported that there is an uneven and therefore dangerous pavement outside the corner of Allington Gardens. Although this is not within our parish the Clerk will contact the Parish Maintenance Department at Dorset County Council to inform them of this.

d) There is a very badly damaged garage door by the corner of Cherry Tree Play Area. Clerk to contact Magna and inform them of this.

e) Many weeds in around the footpaths of Cherry Tree. Clerk to inform Magna.

f) The parish council noticeboard in Cherry Tree was discussed as children seem to be pulling notices off. Unfortunately after discussion it was agreed that nothing could be done about this. The noticeboard needs to be available for residents to put up notices therefore making it a closed noticeboard (needing a key) is not viable.

g) Children have been seen creating a nuisance e.g. breaking fences and fighting etc. Cllr. P. Lathey will do spot checks on the area from time to time.

h) Refuse collection was discussed. Some rubbish seems to not be collected if placed in an actual bin, and sometimes there is spillage from the bins when the refuse collectors take it to their lorry. Members of the public present were asked to monitor the situation and let the council know at its next meeting as well as reporting to Cllr. Lathey immediately if bins are not collected.

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 £3,559.29. The savings at £2,024.00. Money has been paid out to Viking Direct (for Shredder) at £54.60, Xcalibre Communications (for Web Hosting Account) at £52.86, Clerk's wages for past month at £188.00, C N Richards (for grass cutting) at £507.60. The last two items were paid by cheque which Cllr D Hitt and Cllr M Wrighton signed. Retrospective agreement for these cheques was obtained, Cllr P. Lathey proposed and Cllr. D Hitt seconded. All cheques signed tonight will come out of the money left in the account. Also £1,000 was transferred from ordinary account into savings account as per April's minutes as this had been overlooked before.

b) The following cheques were authorised by the council: BDO Stoy Hayward for External Aidit £141.00, Clerk's wages (for past month) £188, Clerk's homeworking allowance (for 1 year) £250. Homeworking Allowance went up from £205 to £250 as this has not been put up in many years. Cllr. M Wrighton proposed this and Cllr. P Lathey seconded this.

c) The External Audit Annual Return was presented to the council which was approved and accepted. The Audit found no matters which required additional queries. Copies of the Audit were handed out to all Councillors. The Conclusion of Audit notice will now be displayed.

d) The proposed budget was tabled. The proposed budget showed the minimum amount the council need in the next financial year (10%), as well as showing 12% and 15% increases. Cllr. P. Lathey stepped back from making any decisions about the budget as he had worked with the Clerk to put it together. The budget was discussed and it was decided that as 15% was only an increase of just under £2,000 from the previous financial year, it would be wise to go for this. Most of the increase will be swallowed up the Clerk's wages as the previous Clerk was not paid. This will then only leave a small amount left over for any other costs which may rise with inflation. Cllr. T. Gruitt proposed the council opt for the 15% rise and Cllr. K. Hitt seconded the proposal. The council agreed this decision.

7. PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
Ref: TP/06/00187 - 2 West Mead - Reduction in height of yew tree. This has been agreed.

8. PARISH PLAN: It was agreed that the Clerk would put together a table of the Action points within the Parish Plan together with a column showing which points have already been actioned. This would then be discussed at the next meeting.

9. CHERRY TREE PLAY AREA REPORT: Mr McAlister reported that the overhanging tree had been cut back by the owner which had stopped the children playing in it. The fence was vandalised and then repaired by T. M. H. Fencing. An invoice for this work will be sent to the parish council in due course. The swings keep being twised up but Cllr. P. Lathey will be doing spot checks on the area to try and talk to the children involved in doing this. There is the usual general rubbish around the play area but otherwise the play area is being well used.

10. WOODLAND TRUST PLAY AREA: Mr Bowditch reported that he has cleared up various bottles and cans. Children have been seen using various gaps in the hedges/boundary to get into the play area rather than using the gate into the field. Otherwise there are no other problems and the play area is still being well used. Clerk to inform Woodland Trust of above.

11. CORRESPONDENCE: Various items of general correspondence were read out and available to view inlcluding:
Diversion of footpath letter regarding footpath through Pymore.
An introduction letter from Pymore - Gladedale Residents Action Group
Christmas and New Year Refuse Collections Arrangements (this will be available on noticeboards nearer the time.

Cllr. P. Lathey has received a letter from Andy Lloyd regarding the affordable housing proposed for Flaxhayes. This letter asked him to hold off pushing for this as they are developing a strategy. A consultation process will then take place Magna have informed Cllr. P. Lathey that from now on if they plan to undertake any work which will affect both tenant's and owners of neighbouring properties then they will be informed by way of letter before work takes place.

12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: The date of the next meeting will be 10 October 2006. The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Meeting closed at 8.50pm.