Child Okeford Parish Council

The ORDINARY MEETING of this Parish Council was held at the Community Centre on Monday the 1st October 2007, at 7-00pm. 

Action by
095

Attendance

All Councillors attended with the exception of Angela Schwier and Derek Duke who sent his apologies for his absence.  Deborah Croney (part time), fourteen parishioners (some part time) and the Clerk also attended.  Angus Campbell sent his apologies for his absence.  Sylvia Holdeman presided.
In welcoming everyone the Chairman reported that Child Okeford had won prizes totalling £100.00 in the Best Kept Village Competition.

 Noted
096

Declarations of Interest

Peter Riley declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 102a – access to the school across the Rec. Ground and Tim Cotton and Marion Carpenter declared personal interests in the same item.

 Noted
097

Minutes

The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on the 3rd September 2007, having been previously circulated, were confirmed and signed.

Clerk
098

Matters Arising

a

 The Clerk reported that Byron Harris had informed him that the Yew Wood on Hambledon Hill is protected by a long standing TPO and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as well as a NNR (National Nature reserve). Noted

b

 Formal acknowledgement of our application for listed building status for the two red telephone boxes was received from English Heritage.  Noted

c

 DCC have agreed to refresh the road markings throughout the village, which have become indistinct. Noted

d

 In an attempt to curb the proliferation of dog fouling in the village, NDDC will step up dog patrols. Noted
099

Public Participation
a It was reported that the congestion outside the School is preventing the bus from using the official stop and as a consequence it is parking in the entrance to Knott’s Close.  It was agreed to ask Susan Marsh to enlist the co-operation of the parents through the school newsletter. Clerk
b It was agreed to request DCC to re-instate the ‘no through road’ sign at the Memorial. Clerk
c It was agreed to ask NDDC to invoke the Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005, in an attempt to curb the selling of cars from the highway. Clerk
d It was agreed to ask DCC to refresh the marking of the Child Okeford junction with the A350 at Steepleton. Clerk
103

Planning
b

Consideration was given to full applications 2/2007/1007 & 1010 to erect single storey rear extensions to form a skittle alley/function room and erect a canopy to form an open smoking area at the Baker Arms.   It was agreed to recommend approval, conditional upon adequate sound proofing being incorporated and with the mono pitched roof over the skittle alley being changed to a conventional design.  Concern was expressed over the limited car parking facilities.  Consideration should also be given to the effect upon the existing licence.

 Clerk
100

Reports

a

Deborah Croney reported on the NDDC as follows:

  • A meeting will be held at Nordon on the 4th October to assess the effectiveness of the arrangements made for the Steam Fair.
  • The application to upgrade Smugglers’ Path to BOAT status was approved on the casting vote of the chairman, after initial voting was tied at 2–2.  The Clerk to object.
  • NDDC is pursing a ‘pathfinder’ scheme of sharing resources with other Councils.
  • The Licensing team is merging with Environmental Health.
 Noted
b Marion Carpenter reported on the area meeting of DAPTC by saying that a motion to go back to central government for more finance for NDDC was defeated. Noted
c In Derek’s absence his reports on the VDS and the Local Initiative scheme were read. Noted
d Tim Cotton reported on the SturQuest transport meeting he attended by saying there was an inherent reluctance throughout the area to use public transport. He said that the public perception of Nordcat was that they catered solely for the older generations and that they are now working on their image as a service provider for the whole community.  Noted
e Jackie Yard reported on the tree symposium, organised by Byron Harris of NDDC, she attended at Littlelynch with Angie Schwier by saying that positive step are being taken to discover and preserve Dorset’s full range of  trees. Noted
101

Local Initiative (Tough Choices)/VDS/DT11 Plan
a It was proposed by Wendy Addley, seconded by Jackie Yard and carried unanimously to agree in principle to make a contribution in 2008-09 to certain discretionary services, subject to confirmation after consultation with the electors of Child Okeford. Clerk
b It was agreed to circulate a copy of page 26 of the current edition of the VDS, which has been amended as a result of the public consultation, with the agenda of the next meeting. Clerk
102

Recreation Ground

a

This item was deferred to last and discussed in the absence of Peter Riley who had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in it.

Noted
b It was proposed by Wendy Addley, seconded by Marion Carpenter and carried unanimously that the Youth Club’s proposal to site a basket ball net behind the Community Centre is approved. Clerk
c The 2007 RoSPA Report on the play equipment, having been previously circulated, was considered in detail. Noted
d It was proposed by Wendy Addley, seconded by Tim Cotton and carried unanimously that the estimate from Hags Play Ltd (which excluded the low risk work to the multiplay unit, spring horse and dog spring) is accepted in the sum of £737.52 to included the installation of matting local to the swings. Clerk
103

Planning
a

The following decisions were tabled:
2/2007/0459 – Redevelop land at Thompson’s Cot, Little Hanford – Refused
2/2007/0727 – Convert barn to holiday let at Abergavenny Farm – Approved
2/2007/0776 – Erect ext. at Orchard Cottage, Duck Street – Approved
2/2007/0918 - Raise roof and install two dormers at 15 Melway Gardens – Refused.

Noted
b This item was considered earlier in the agenda. Noted
c The Clerk informed the meeting that to extend the AONB would require a lengthy and costly process, including obtaining a parliamentary order, which would have to be done by English Nature, who advise that this is not possible in the foreseeable future. Noted
104

Finance
a



It was proposed by Jackie Yard, seconded by Wendy Addley and carried unanimously that the following cheques and transfer are signed signed:

  1. 000890 – Angie Schwier - £27.93 – Travelling expenses
  2. 000891 – David Fielding – £129.00 – Play area maintenance (2nd qtr)
  3. 000982 – John Gill - £810.19 – Salary + expenses (2nd qtr)
  4. 000983 – Blanchards - £40.00 – Land registration
  5. Transfer from no. 1 to  no. 2 a/c – £80.00 – Clerk’s retirement fund
 RFO
b

The following are the details of both accounts:

 RFO
No 1 account Opening Balance

£4,254.34

Less cheques as above 

 £1,007.12

Less transfer as above

 £80.00
Plus prize money £100.00
Balance in hand

£3,267.22
No 2 account Opening balance £235.36

Plus transfer as above

 £80.00
Balance in hand £315.36
Total Closing Balance £3,582.58
c

It was proposed by Jackie Yard, seconded by Tim Cotton and carried unanimously that the following actions arising from the Internal Auditor’s recommendations are approved:

  • Fidelity insurance cover extended from £10,000 to £15,000 at no extra premium for this year.
  • Clerk & RFO’s operating Procedures are approved.
 RFO
d It was proposed by Jackie Yard, seconded by Tim Cotton and carried unanimously that the estimated v actual expenditure for the 2nd quarter of 2007-08 is approved (Closing balance of no. 1 a/c - £4,255) RFO
e It was agreed to hold over the request from the COPFA & Community Centre for a grant for redecorating the building, pending receipt of further estimates. RFO
105

Village Projects

a It was agreed to accept the offer of the Hall Management Committee to provide the refreshments at the Welcome Day to be held on the 18th November. Clerk
b Peter Riley agreed to seek the views of the villagers on possible enhancement schemes by placing a notice in The Hill. P Riley
c On a proposition by Marion Carpenter, seconded by Jackie Yard and carried unanimously Tim Cotton was given authority to pursue appropriate schemes in connection with the Village Environmental Review.  Noted
d It was agreed to hand the key of the new litter bin in Gold Hill to NDDC, so as it can be emptied on their weekly rounds. Clerk
e A letter was tabled from the owner of the land at the bottle bank giving NDDC notice to quit. Noted
106

Correspondence
a

A number of items of correspondence were left on the table.  The Clerk agreed to respond to the review of gypsy site under the partial review of the RSS.
Clerk
107

Other Business
a It was agreed to write to the Football Club pressing them to complete the erection of the net behind the Melway Lane end goal, with a copy of the letter to be sent to the Baker Arms Sunday team. Clerk
b It was agreed to ask DCC to clear all the blocked drains in the village. Clerk
c It was agreed to ask DCC to arrange for the branches that are obliterating the various signs to be trimmed back. Clerk
102

Recreation Ground
a Peter Riley left the meeting before this item was discussed. The draft licence granting the school the use of pedestrian access across the Recreation Ground was tabled and reviewed.  It was agreed to send it to the NALC via the DAPTC for vetting against the terms offered.  It will then be formally considered by Council. Clerk

 The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 10.35pm.

Signed ………………………………… Presiding Chairman Date ……………………

(To be signed and dated by the presiding chairman after approval at the next Parish Council meeting)

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