BAYDON PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT THE BYPA HALL ON

2nd April 2007 (Subject to approval at the meeting on 30th April 2007)

 

 

PRESENT: Mr K Barnes (Chair), Mrs Bailey, Mr Carmichael, Mr J Grove, Mrs S Grove,

Mr Haythornthwaite

Also in attendance: L Knight (Clerk), Cllr S Findlay and 4 members of the public.

1.         APOLOGIES

None

                                                                                                                          

2.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

 

3.         MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

It was noted that the draft minutes had been amended to show that Mrs Bailey was in attendance at the meeting on 19th February. The minutes were agreed to be a correct record of the meeting.

 

4.         CLERK’S REPORT

The Clerk advised the meeting that the election notices had been placed on the Parish Council notice board and that the entry form for the Best Kept Village competition had been completed and returned.

 

5.         Community first Presentation on parish plans 

Marion Rayner gave an informative talk on Parish Plans. She advised the meeting that that Community First was a charity working at grass roots level supporting local communities in Wiltshire. A new Parish Plan Toolkit is being trialled and Baydon could have a copy. The next steps are to raise awareness of the proposal to produce a Parish plan and then to test the idea at a Parish meeting. The steering group should be made up from a cross section of the community. It was noted that there is a grant scheme of up to 95% of project costs for the development of the plan.

 

6.         ITEMS FoR CONSIDERATION

6.1      To consider a response to the proposal for a unitary council for Wiltshire

It was noted that the common people were not being consulted on the proposal for a unitary council for Wiltshire and that Kennet District Council was against the proposal. The Parish Council resolved to write to Ruth Kelly MP.

6.2      To note that the District and Parish elections are to be held on 3rd May

The Clerk advised the meeting that 3rd May is Polling Day. The deadline for nominations is 4th April. No-one had contacted the Clerk to request a nomination form. Any member wishing to still stand as a Parish Councillor will have to complete a nomination form. Successful candidates will be required to submit a Declaration of Interests to the monitoring officer no later than 31st May and to complete a Declaration of Acceptance of Office no later than 3rd July. It was noted that if there number of candidates is less than or equal to the number of seats on the Parish Council there will not be an election, however, there will still be some administration costs charged by Kennet.

 

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6.3      To consider whether the date of the 2007 AGM needs to be changed

The Parish Council agreed to keep the AGM on 14th May but move the date of the Parish Assembly forward to Friday 20th April.

  

7.         CORRESPONDENCE

7.1      Letter from Smiths of Derby regarding Church clock maintenance – There is an opportunity for the Parish Council to commit to a period of 3, 4 or 5 years Service Agreement with a 10%, 12%, 15% discount for payment in advance. The Parish Council had not budgeted to pay for 3 or more years fees in advance and resolved to pay the annual fee for this year. It was agreed that the Clerk write to Smiths of Derby to ask if the Parish Council could take up the offer of the Service Agreement next year.

 

8.         PLanning

8.1      Permission has been granted for a pond and fencing around land at Baydon Hole (ref. planning application K/55866/F). The Parish Council noted the letter from Kennet District Council which advised that the fence around the plot had been erected before the Article 4 Direction removing permitted development rights for such fencing came into force. The outer fence was/is, therefore, permitted development and does not require planning permission. This left the inner fencing and pond which it is considered causes minimal harm to amenity within the context of the outer fence. The decision will not prejudice the consideration of any further planning applications for fencing on other plots. Such fencing will in the future require planning permission as a consequence of the Article 4 Direction, and is likely to be resisted if intrusive within the AONB.    

 

9.         SUSPENSION OF MEETING FOR PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

The meeting was suspended to allow members of the public to speak to the Council.

 

After this period the meeting was resumed.

 

10.      FINANCE

10.1    To consider renewing the subscription to the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils 

The Parish Council resolved to renew its membership of the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils.

 

11.      VILLAGE MATTERS

11.1    To consider the proposal for grass cutting in the village

The Parish Council considered the draft proposal for grass cutting and agreed to put it out to tender. The deadline for return of tenders is Monday 30th April. The Parish Council resolved to hold an extraordinary meeting on 30th April to consider the tenders.

 

12.      ITEMS TO NOTE / ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING

It was noted that a member of the public had asked what was happening regarding the broken street name plate for Barley Fields. The Clerk had advised them that the road was unadopted and that the local residents were sorting it themselves.

 

A vote of thanks went to Mr Grove who, with assistance from Mr Carmichael, cut back the fir tree on Downsmead.

 

 

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Residents had been asking about the caravan site at Baydon Hole. It was noted that there was not going to be a caravan site. The notices relate to the removal of permitted development rights which mean that anyone wishing to set up a caravan site on the land at Baydon Hole will have to apply for planning permission.

 

Another member of the public asked who owned the Parish plan. The steering committee will be responsible for driving forward the production of the plan. When it is complete it will be given to the Parish Council for action. It was noted that some of the actions may be on other groups e.g. the District or County Council.

 

It was noted that Vince Kimber (KDC) should be asked to remove the rubbish that had been fly tipped on the Parish field.

 

The door of one of the Sarsen garages by the bus stop has been pushed in and it is being used by local children as a meeting place. The area is full of litter.

 

Mr Barnes advised the meeting that the decision on the fate of the Baydon Post Office had been deferred until May and that the moss problem on Ermin Street had improved following the repair to the guttering.

 

It was noted that the speed sign had been damaged. It does however still work.

 

Replacement ‘millennium’ trees are required for the Parish field. To be discussed at a future meeting.

 

It was noted that Highways need to be contacted regarding problems with Aldbourne road. The road surface is in a poor state, there are pot holes, the bank has eroded and the drains are blocked. 

 

Mr Carmichael volunteered to organise the Beating of the bounds, on the May Bank Holiday Monday, with assistance from Mr Grove.

 

The meeting ended at 9.45pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed :  ________________________________                      Date : _______________  Click here to return to Homepage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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