BAYDON PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of Meeting held at the BYPA Hall on 19 October 2009

 

(Draft copy. Subject to approval at the next meeting)

 

 

PRESENT: Cllr Tony Prior (Chair), Cllr Michael Edmonds, Cllr Tamsin Witt, County Cllr Chris Humphries (p/t) and 12 members of the public.

 

1. APOLOGIES

Cllr Alison Tomkins (holiday)

 

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Cllr Prior declared a personal interest in item 7.7.

 

3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The minutes of the ordinary meeting on 28 September 09 were approved.

 

4. SUSPENSION OF THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

The meeting was suspended so members of the public could speak to the Parish Council.

 

5 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT (FOR INFORMATION ONLY)

Councillors did not raise any queries. The Chairman said the item he would raise was on the agenda.

 

6. PLANNING

6.1 There were two planning application details that had been notified.

       (i) The application for an extension to 8 Ermin Close had been rejected.

      (ii) It had been confirmed that the new entrance to Finches Farm in Finches 

       Lane would require planning consent.

 

7. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION

 

7.1 A report from Mr S Webb, Baydon Resource Group, about the BMX track

Mr Webb did not attend the meeting and had not sent a reply following the invitation, dated 2 October 09.

 

7.2  7 November bonfire and Christmas tree arrangements

The bonfire arrangements were satisfactory. The Chairman said he would be a steward on the day as would Cllr Edmonds. It was noted that it was necessary to write to the insurance company giving 14 days notice of the event.

The Chairman had spoken to Debbie Moxon about the Christmas tree and she was checking her records for last year. A slightly shorter tree was  considered more suitable.

 

7.3 Terms of Reference for the Traffic Calming Working Group

After discussion about the meaning of a particular sentence it was agreed that the version agreed at the   27 July 09  Parish Council meeting would stand.

 

7.4 The Village Gates project

(a) Approval was given for the project to proceed.

(b) The Betta Group quotation for six unpainted gates with hardwood posts was approved. It was agreed that paint up to the value of £40 could be spent. Painting would be carried out by volunteers from the Parish Council. Cllr Witt confirmed that the WC Highways Department would erect the gates at no cost to the Parish Council.

(c) It was agreed that a grant  application be made.

(d) It was agreed that the TCWG manage the installation of the gates.                    Action  TW

 

 

 

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7.5 Letter to WC Highways about road signage.

Cllr Witt tabled a draft letter. It was approved for posting by the Acting Clerk.          Action ANP

 

7.6 Purchase of 30mph stickers

After some discussion about design it was agreed that the item be deferred until more information is available.                                                                                                            Action ME

 

7.7 NALC Option 2 Resolution.

The Chairman said the allotment project had been running for two years and that and he would like to assist Councillors by outlining the key points as he saw them. It was agreed they should be recorded. The points are listed in  Appendix 1, headed “ Key points described by Chairman”.

 

Following on from the Appendix 1 content, the Chairman referred to two letters of objection from the same person, received in September, following the advertisements. Councillors confirmed they had seen them. No other correspondence had been received. He  asked whether Councillors had given them due consideration. Again it was confirmed. Following that confirmation he proposed that the Parish Council was in a position to consider  a resolution.

 

He read out the proposed resolution which was in the possession of Councillors.

 

“Following the decision at the  Parish Council meeting held on 15 October 2007 to set aside an area of the Parish Field ( Land Registry Ref WT133349) for allotments, the Parish Council now resolves to  retrospectively appropriate, pursuant to s. 126 (4A) of the Local Government Act 1972,  (which is applicable to land classed as open spaces), that the piece of land to the west of a line along the boundary of Willow House and extending down to the Ermin Street boundary to be classed and recorded as  statutory allotment land. The area  is shown on drawing no. Allot 1, detailing  the layout of fifteen plots,  and will be  attached to the  minutes of the Parish Council  meeting held this date, 19 October 2009”.

 

The Parish Council approved the resolution.

 

7.8 Water Supply on the Parish Field

 

It was agreed, as an alternative to the use of Parish Council funds,  an application for a grant will be made.                                                                                                   Action ANP

 

7.9 Playbuilder Scheme.

 

The Chairman reported that an application for  £40,616 had been submitted to Wiltshire Council.

The Parish Council approved the application. He described the very tight time schedule, having been advised about on 7 September  by an equipment supplier and by Wiltshire Council on 10 September, with the deadline, that was met, of 25 September. Large towns have been granted awards of £50 – 75,000. Villages, including Baydon, were unsuccessful.

 

Councillors agreed that a letter should be sent enquiring how awards greater than the stated £50,000 limit were made, the balance between towns and village awards, the impact on decisions when no facilities exist and would Baydon be considered for the second tranche. Action ANP

 

Two other actions were agreed, namely, application for a Lottery grant and a planning application for play equipment.                                                                                     Action ANP

 

7.10 Consultation leaflet about a play area location.

 

The reason for this last stage of consultation, ahead of a decision, was that there would be a cost for insurance, inspection and maintenance. The cost would be included in the precept thereby involving a contribution from each household. The leaflet  and a printing cost of up to £50 were approved.                                                                                                  Action ANP

 

7.11 Parish Council email correspondence retrieval.

 

The Chairman advised that the procedure could lead to legal costs for the Parish Council. The procedure was approved.

 

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7.12 Parish Council meeting dates

 

11 January, 15 February and 29 March were agreed for the remainder of the 2009-10 financial year. It was agreed that the dates for the whole of the 2010-11 financial year would be agreed at the 29 March meeting.

 

7.13 Newton’s Walk street lighting

 

It was agreed, in principle,  that street lighting should be provided. Reservations about the amount and colour  of lighting and lamp post design were expressed by Councillors. The Section 38 layout plan was still awaited. Cllr Humphries advised that the Wiltshire Council will decide all details. A reply letter, as requested and incorporating the above points,  will be sent. Action ANP

 

8. C0RRESPONDENCE FOR INFORMATION  - for information

 

9. FINANCE

 

9.1 Payments made between meetings

 

Bonfire fireworks account £200 – already approved.

 

9.2 Community First repayment

 

The repayment of the residual balance of £1,067.24 from the Village Fund funding was approved.

 

9.3 Signatories

 

It was agreed that Cllrs Alison Tomkins and  A N Prior  be signatories on the Lloyds TSB accounts.

 

9.4. Nationwide Account

 

The Chairman explained the need for closure in relation to the Annual Return and the associated problems arising thereby. Closure was approved.  Discussion about location of Parish Council funds resulted in the recommendation that one bank should be used with separate accounts for current, ring fenced and reserve categories. This recommendation was accepted and approved. Further information would be obtained for consideration at the next meeting. The Chairman pointed out that the total of Parish Council funds is below the Government/ Banks guaranteed limit.                                                                                                                  Action ME

 

9.5. Unallocated Reserves

 

Following on from the previous meeting the Chairman said the figure of £1700 approximately was based on an error on the Payments and Receipts listing prepared in June. As a result the uncleared cheques had been deducted twice. Since the last meeting £6230 precept had been received. If it is assumed that all budgeted project money is not spent in this financial year the total unallocated funds at present amount to £11,000 approximately.

 

9.6. Annual Return

 

Section 1 and 2 of the Annual return were approved.

 

9.7. 2010-11 Budget

 

The 2010-11 draft budget of £9,860 was accepted and approved.

 

9.8 2010-11 Precept

 

The recommendation that the 2010-11 precept be set at £9,860 was accepted and approved.

 

 

 

 

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10. ITEMS TO NOTE

 

The Parish Steward office had been contacted and arrangements made for the Steward to check the visibility off 30mph signs as a routine per visit.

 

The Chairman to request a salt/grit box for the Manor Lane/Ermin Street junction

 

The light at the Manor Lane/Aldbourne junction is not working.

 

Cllr Witt had passed grant information to Venice Marriot.

 

 

11. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING

 

11.1 Downsmead notice board

 

11.2 Review of play area location responses.

 

11.3 Bank account options.

 

The meeting closed at 9.15pm

 

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Signed............................................                       Date..................................

 

 

Click here to see Appendix A

 

Click here to see the allotment layout drawing

 

Click here to return to the Homepage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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