LITTON CHENEY PARISH
COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting
of Litton Cheney Parish Council
held on Tuesday 10 March 2020 at Litton and Thorner's Community Hall
Present:
Bill Orchard (Chairman); Kathryn Brooks, John Firrell; Andy King; Bella
Spurrier, Maggie Walsh (Clerk). Also in
attendance: Cllr Mark Roberts and 2 local residents
3. Democratic
time: the following matters were raised
·
Villagers had expressed wide ranging views on the
future of the telephone kiosk and had questions such as who would maintain it
and how much would it cost. Cllr Firrell reported that no calls had been made
from the box in the last year; he suggested it be placed on the agenda for the
Annual Village Assembly. MW
·
The fallen tree on the Litton Cheney to Puncknowle
footpath would be removed as soon as weather permitted.
·
Mr Romans advised that the current works underway at
Charity Farm were to install a concrete hardstanding within an existing barn
and the adjacent yard. There would be no additional cattle and livestock would
not be kept within 100m of dwellings. Trees would be planted as screening. He
had appointed agents to prepare and submit a planning application for the
camping site at the Lake.
·
Mr Romans had spoken to the Community Highways
Officer and would implement measures to reduce mud on roads within the village.
·
Query as to why cones had been placed alongside the
verge opposite Charity Farm. Cllr
Orchard explained that they had been placed there temporarily by Dorset Council
Highways to protect the collapsing stream bank from further damage and that the
Parish Council were working with DC to find a permanent solution. DC did not currently
have available funds to carry out permanent repairs but had undertaken to
reinstate the verge.
4. Approval of
minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 14 January 2020: It was proposed by Cllr Firrell, seconded by Cllr Brooks and carried
unanimously that these be approved.
5. Matters arising since
previous meeting not part of this agenda: Cllr Firrell
reported that works to The Rocks had been completed and seemed to have been
successful. The Regeneration Group
awaited quotes for the restoration and reinstatement of the turn stiles. He had
been reliably informed that The Litton Cheney Trust could cover the cost and
hoped the works might be completed in the near future.
6. Dorset Council
overview – Cllr
Mark Roberts reported that DC had a number of cross-party advisory panels who
maintained a watching brief and provided advice to the Cabinet. He sat on the Environment panel which ensured
DC’s policies supported the natural environment within Dorset. DC was responsible
for over 70 green spaces in its area ranging in size from Jellyfields to
Durlston Park. Numerous staff provided services which were not statutorily
required and which largely went unrecognised and so these services might be
seen to offer “easy savings”. It was
therefore important their work was better publicised so that Councillors and
residents could understand the benefits. Cllr Roberts felt that his role as
Ward Councillor, was to attend Parish Council meetings wherever possible as PCs
were his ‘eyes and ears on the ground’.
He could then disseminate information both ways and explain the
decisions that DC had to make. PC’s could help him by ensuring they only raised
issues with him that were important and that the PC intended to follow through.
He was aware that DC Highways were still not aware that they should be gritting
Chalk Pit Lane – fortunately the weather had been mild. Cllr Orchard expressed concern that the
school bus turning right onto the A35 from Askerswell frequently had to stop
across one or more lanes of the double carriageway.
7. Finance report and
invoices for approval (Clerk and RFO) At the time of
publishing the agenda, Parish funds stood at £14,788.84. Spend since the
previous meeting was £310 comprising £250 contribution for restoration of
fingerpost and £60 for annual website fee.
Income since last meeting was £0.22 interest. Estimated year end outturn was approximately
£2,100 surplus of income over payments, possibly less if repairs to the
playground were completed and invoiced by
Bridport Town Council before the end of March. A surplus was forecast because various planned
repairs and maintenance had been delayed either by weather or other events
outside the PCs control.
The following invoices were for approval:
Dorset Council, works to The Rocks* |
£1,176.12 |
Wicksteed for playground inspection |
£54.00 |
Clerk’s expenses & mileage |
£39.59 |
*At the previous meeting,
the PC had agreed to contribute £1k to these works. Subsequently DC advised it
could only proceed on the basis of a 50/50 split as the works were considered
to be improvements. Due to the urgency,
Parish Councillors had discussed and agreed this by email.
It was proposed by Cllr
Spurrier, seconded by Cllr Firrell and carried unanimously that these be
approved.
The RFO had completed the
annual review of the inventory/asset register.
The following items had been removed from the register: obsolete
computer and IT equipment purchased for £788; goal posts which were purchased
in 2000 for £359 and had since been removed; spring mobile in playground which
had been purchased in 1988 for £310 and had recently damaged and could not be
repaired. It was proposed by Cllr
Firrell, seconded by Cllr Brooks and carried unanimously that these be formally
written off.
The Parish Council had a
Petty Cash float of £22.47 that had not been used for a number of years. The RFO recommended that this be paid into
the bank and in future that no Petty Cash be kept. This was proposed by Cllr Spurrier, seconded
by Cllr Brooks and carried unanimously. MW
8. Councillors’ portfolios:
Footpaths/rights of way/ (Bill
Ochard, Chairman) Cllr Orchard was collating evidence for the PC’s application
to register Watery Lane as a public footpath: he had16 completed forms and there were four or
five more in the pipeline.
Highways/Transport (Andrew Price –
written report provided): Cllr Price had met with the
DC Community Highways Officer (CHO) and was encouraged by his quick attendance
and promise of action: he had undertaken to:
·
address a number of potholes in Redway and would press for its
inclusion in a future resurfacing programme.
·
press Building Control to seek out the owner of the
collapsing wall on Redway below Church Path
·
redress the roadside erosion on Whiteway once drier weather
returned, meanwhile there were traffic cones at three points requiring
particular care.
·
request Dorset Waste Partnership to clear the debris
that had swept down Whiteway and towards Hines Mead Lane – the PC could also
request clean ups when necessary
Cllr Price and the CHO planned to meet again for a tour of village
roads. The CHO was aware of evidence of
possible road failure in several locations, particularly in Main Street.
Playground/playing field/allotments (Andy
King): the hedges could not be cut before Autumn as birds would be nesting
before the ground dried out enough to allow vehicular access. The Annual Playground Inspection report had
been received and Bridport Town Council’s Lengthsman would undertake
repairs. Cllr King would erect a sign
giving emergency numbers, replace the broken dog sign and contact DC about
repairs needed to the base of the slide as they only installed it last year.
He had received a competitive quote from Dorset Council of £846.48
for grass cutting for 2020. This included £50 for cutting the grass around the
allotment edge. DC had advised against reducing the number of cuts saying the
additional time to cut may outweigh any savings. Allotment plot holders had agreed to pay the
additional £50 for one year, but wished to know what other Parish Councils paid
towards upkeep: Cllr King undertook to find out. AK
Cllr King proposed that the Parish Council accepted the grass
cutting quote for one year during which time the PC considered alternatives if
the playing field continued to be little used. This was seconded by Cllr
Orchard and carried unanimously. AK
The pipe taking water from the
allotments was completely blocked and causing flooding in the adjacent
field. Attempts to unblock it had been
unsuccessful. Cllr King would reattempt
to rod it from both ends of the blockage once the water subsided sufficiently.
Risk assessment/transparency
code/annual report (Vacant): as no Parish Councillor currently held this portfolio,
the clerk had reviewed and circulated a draft annual update of the Model
Publication Scheme and the Transparency Checklist prior to the meeting. It was proposed by Cllr Firrell, seconded by
Cllr Orchard and carried unanimously that both be approved. A review of the Financial Regulations (in
light of revised NALC guidance) and the annual review of the Risk Assessment
would be considered at the next meeting in May. MW
Village fabric/maintenance/devolved
services (John Firrell): Cllrs Firrell and
Brooks had attended an interesting DC meeting in January where some innovative
ideas were put forward about how Dorset, Parish and Town Councils (P&TC) could
better work together. It was still unclear what DAPTC’s and BLAP’s respective
roles would be in the new set up. P&TCs had lobbied DC about the number 6
Bus Route and Dorset Council were now holding meetings with First Bus so it was
hoped the situation may soon be resolved.
Central Government had promised more funding for local transport.
Parish Councillors agreed the village
should take part in the Great British Spring Clean along similar lines to last
year. The suggestion of offering refreshments was welcome but might prove
difficult to organise as it would be spread over several days. Cllr Firrell
would organise.
JF
(Post script – the Great British Spring-clean
has since been postponed to September due to COVID-19.)
The Regeneration Team had a quote to install kerbing in front of the bus
shelter. Cllr Firrell hoped it might be paid for from S106 funds. This would be on the agenda for the meeting
in May. MW
Agricultural Liaison (Bella
Spurrier): a number of footpath gates needed repairs. Cllr Spurrier would compile a list and report
them to the Footpaths Officer. BS
Planning/Climate
Emergency (Kathryn Brooks)
There had been no new applications
since the last meeting
The following applications had been decided
·
WD/D/19/001897
LAND EAST OF, 7-8
GARDEN CLOSE - Demolition of double garage and
erection of 1no. dwelling, garage block, access and parking. REFUSED
·
A35
Dorchester Road, DT2 9AA – erection of 12m monopole mast (WD/D/19/003166). Prior
approval REFUSED
The following planning matters were outstanding
·
WD/D/19/002804 2
CHURCH PATH DT2 9AQ. Removal of front
boundary hedge and erection of wall. No
update from the case officer.
·
WD/D/19/001427 & WD/D/19/1428 2 CHARITY
FARM COTTAGES, MAIN STREET DT2 9AP - Erect single storey extensions. No update from the case officer.
·
WD/D/19/001463 CHARITY
FARM, MAIN STREET DT2 9AP - Erection of 6no. dwellings & conversion of a
redundant agricultural building to a dwelling (with variation of conditions 4,
5 & 6 of planning permission WD/D/17/000758 to amend approved plans). The Section 106 was still being redrafted.
The five-year housing land supply figure was
currently being updated and was likely to remain around 4.88 years. There would not be a joint Dorset wide figure
until 2024 as North Dorset currently had a minus figure. Cllr Firrell believed
that central government was reviewing the validity of this measure.
Cllrs had agreed
their response to DC’s Local Plan consultation, which Cllr Brooks would submit
on behalf of the PC. KB
Other than using green spaces to encourage wildlife, there was limited
direct action the PC could take regarding Climate Change. Its role was therefore more one of sign
posting and raising awareness e.g. via the village website. Cllr Brooks would draft and circulate an
initial proposal/strategy for discussion. KB
9. New planning
applications for consideration at the meeting: no new applications.
10. Response to DC consultation on dog PSPO: DC was consulting on a single dog PSPO to cover the whole area, replacing
several existing ones. Parish
Councillors had provided their responses via email and answers to all questions
were unanimous except with regard to the length of lead, where the majority
agreed it should be limited to 2m. The
clerk undertook to submit the response on behalf of the PC. MW
Councillors were aware of incidences when an
aggressive dog had been loose in the village. The Clerk would check how loose
dogs could be reported. MW
11. Commemoration of the 75th
anniversary of VE Day on 8 May: Cllr Firrell reported
that there would be a commemoration and that the school would be involved,
albeit not on the actual day. Bells would be rung, and it was hoped the Social
Committee might organise a social occasion.
Details of arrangements would be on the village website.
12 Correspondence not dealt with as part of the
agenda The PC had received a request from Life Education
requesting a donation towards provision of health, well-being and drug
prevention education to school children at the Thorner’s Primary School. Whilst Parish Councillors agreed the training
was of benefit to the schoolchildren, they felt that given limited PC funds, donations
should prioritise causes that provided benefit to a wider number of villagers. Clerk to respond. MW
13. Date of next meeting Annual Village Assembly
followed by Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council Tuesday 12 May 2020
Meeting
closed
Maggie
Walsh
Parish Clerk