BAYDON PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the BYPA Hall on Monday 2 December 2013

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

 

PRESENT: Cllr Andrew Knowles (Chair), Cllr Kevin Howell, Cllr Alison Tomkins, Cllr Tamsin Witt, Cllr John Cockcroft, and 4 members of the public. (Clerk still to be recruited) 

 

 

1.                   APOLOGIES –   Wiltshire Cllr James Sheppard

  

2.                   DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - None

 

 

3.                   MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – The minutes of the meeting held on 21st October 2013 were approved. Cllr Knowles apologised for late timings of minutes and agenda due to the current lack of a Clerk

 

 

4.            SUSPENSION OF THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

             4.1  Query of when the 2014 /15 budget will be decided

             4.2   Query whether The Red Lion would like assistance to paint their hardboard sandwich boards black    or not.  

 

5.         CORRESPONDENCE - none 

 

 

6.        PLANNING – None as yet (some expected soon)

 

To notify members of decisions on any outstanding application and responses to communications regarding planning applications.

 

No planning applications.

 

 7.       ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION 

 

7.1              Christmas Tree

Cllrs agreed to spend a maximum of £150 for a 20ft tree and source it from Baydon Post Office and Stores. Cllrs will erect the tree on Saturday 7 December.

Action: Cllr Knowles to speak to Debbie Moxton at the shop

 

7.2              Carols around the Tree

Cllrs agreed that the event would take place Friday 20 December at 6.30pm.

Action: Cllr Witt to confirm with Kim Austen that she is able to provide a group to do the musical accompaniment and ask Mark Austen to advertise the event on the website and have carol sheets to print off. Cllr Witt also agreed to produce a poster and put it up at various locations in the village.

 

7.3              Mulled Wine and Mince pies for the Carols around the Tree event

Cllrs agreed to spend a maximum of £100, which would cater for 65 people attending.

Action: Cllr Tomkins to print off tickets to give people at the event, so they can then claim their mulled wine and mince pies at The Red Lion afterwards

 

 

7.4              Times for illumination of the Christmas Tree lights

Cllrs agreed the lights would not flash this year and would be on 6am – 9am and then again at 3pm – 11pm daily

 

7.5              Christmas tree electrical supply – Parts and temporary supply cable

Cllrs agreed to spend £16 on a waterproof box for sockets. The cable and RCD will be used from last year

Action: Cllr Tomkins to check and advise whether the Christmas lights have a normal plug or a transformer

 

 

7.6              Update chicanes near the playground

Cllr Witt reported that the Wiltshire Highways update is that detailed plans of the traffic calming chicanes on Ermin Street will be ready in the New Year (2014) and that the work would begin in the New Financial Year. The delay is being caused by a 3 month notice period required for the road to be closed. Cllr Witt has already queried whether the 3 month notice period is definitely required because Ermin Street isn’t the official by-pass when the M4 is closed. Cllr Witt also asked Highways to confirm that this delay doesn’t affect our funding. (Cllrs noted that next time the M4 is closed, it would be very interesting and useful to take some photos of the traffic problems through Baydon)

 

7.7              Allotment update. Plot 5 available for the next growing season

Cllrs thanked Tony Prior and Alan Brown for rotivating the vacant plot.

Action: Cllr Tomkins to advertise the vacant plot on the website, village notice boards and Baydon Scene

 

7.8              Top and bottom sections of allotment plots, outside rabbit fence

Cllrs agreed that these areas needed to be treated /cleared twice a year and quotes were needed.  Tony

Prior informed the Council that there was a lot of plastic etc that needed clearing. There was also a query regarding the hedge.

Action: Cllrs to meet on site to investigate the above

7.9           Ongoing management of unlet plots

Cllrs agreed that Baydon Parish Council is responsible for the upkeep of unlet plots

 

7.10           Grit Bins

Baydon Parish Council’s request for an additional grit bin for Newtons Walk is still outstanding, although Cllrs are aware that Wiltshire Council is not currently providing any new bins.

 

 7.11           Dates for next years’ meetings approved

Cllrs have previously circulated suggested dates for 2014 and queries were discussed in the meeting with the following dates being agreed: 13 Jan, 24 Feb, 7 April, 19 May, 30 June, 11 Aug, 22 Sept, 27 Oct and 1 Dec.

Action: Cllr Knowles to suggest dates for AGM and Parish Assembly, partly depending on venue  and required timings etc.

 

7.12          BYPA Update

Cllr Witt reported that the BYPA Committee (Kim Austen in particular) had applied to Marlborough Area Board and been successfully awarded the funds to pay for indoor tables and trolley for storage. There are currently only 3 adult size tables in the hall. Cllr Witt also reported that the BYPA Committee now have the required 3 quotes for the work to install a disabled toilet and the intention is that the work is done in the Christmas holidays.

 

7.13        Parish Clerk vacancy update. Feedback on interview/s held

Cllr Witt met informally with two candidates and went on to formally interview one of these with Cllr Tomkins. Unfortunately that person later decided to withdraw from the process.

Action: Cllr Witt to re-advertise the position

 

7.14       Any outstanding issues with blocked drains

It was noted that Aldbourne Road drains had still not been unblocked

Action: Cllr Howell to investigate and chase Wiltshire Council if necessary

 

7.15     Potential matched funding opportunities for additional items of play equipment on the Parish Field

Cllr Witt advised that she had contacted the Community Area Manager who confirmed that Baydon Parish Council is able to apply for 50% matched funding from the Marlborough Area Board which currently has £29K left to spend this financial year. Cllrs agreed that this was a great opportunity to double the available S106 monies from the Newton’s Walk development (approx. £3.5K)

 

Action: Cllr Witt to draft a MAB grant application including traditional swings

 

 7.16     Potential removal of the trees from the grounds of The Red Lion

Cllrs agreed they would like to meet the Landlord and Landlady of The Red Lion (plus any interested neighbours) in the pub garden to discuss the potential future plans they might have to remove the trees.

Action: Cllr Witt speak to Mark and Julie to request  a meeting 

 

7.17   Update on repairs to entrance of Downsmead

Road repairs reported to be done.

 

7.18 Further consideration of concrete table tennis table behind BYPA Hall

Cllrs agreed to defer this until Cllr Witt had been able to discuss the ownership of the land with the rest of the BYPA Committee.

Action: Cllr Witt to discuss item at the next BYPA Committee Meeting

 

7.19 Further quotes for servicing of Church clock

Deferred

 

7.20  Vote of thanks to Baydon Fireworks Committee

 

8.         FINANCE 

8.1             Approved Payments:

a)      Southern Electric £22.34

b)      Thames Water £33.29

c)       Pittams Grass Cutting £72.00

Action: Cllr Knowles to check that Pittams have the map and are doing all the required areas

d)     Payment made for gazebo/shelter. Original amount agreed £104.97 the final amount was £129.95.

Cllrs agreed that the shelter could be stored at Trevor Dominy’s house but be available for use for any village event. Cllrs noted that the final cost was £108.29 and the VAT of £21.66 can be claimed back

 

8.3            Payments between meetings:

a)      £72 A4 Hire of Rotivator

 

9.         ITEMS TO NOTE:

 

9.1 Baydon  School and Church Fayre Friday 6 December

9.2 Carols on the Green Friday 20 December at 6.30pm

9.3 Father Christmas visiting Baydon on Sunday 22 December –Baydon.org will have more details nearer the time

 

10.       ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:

 

10.1                          Marlborough Area Board Grant Application

10.2                          Budget for 2014

10.3                          Chicanes for Ermin Street

10.4                          Allotment management

 

 

  The meeting closed at 9.35pm by the Chairman

 

 

Signed............................................                                                       Date…...............................

 

Chairman Mr A Knowles

 

 

 

Click here to return to the main Homepage