BEAMINSTER TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 26th May 2015 in the Skyrm Room at the Public Hall, Beaminster at 7.00pm
1270PRESENT– Cllr G Berry(Chairman), Cllr T Beswarick, Cllr P Body,Cllr R Cheeseman,
Cllr P Elliott, Cllr Mrs K Gould,Cllr M Jupp, Cllr Mrs J Page and Cllr CTurner.
1271IN ATTENDANCE – Mrs Christine Bright (Town Clerk) andWDDC Cllr A Alford.
1272REPORTS FROM AND QUESTIONS FOR:
(a)Dorset Police Representative
In the absence of a police representative no report was received.
(b)West Dorset District Councillors
Cllr Alford advised that the new District Council had met for the first time on 19th May 2015 at which the usual annual meeting processes had been carried out, there had also been a number of induction events for new members.
Cllr Mrs Page expressed her concern that Beaminster appeared to be under siege by developers whilst the Local Plan remained with the Inspector and enquired if there was any indication as to when it would be approved and how would Cllr Alford, and the District Council, defend the town. In response Cllr Alford advised that he was aware of the problems in Beaminster and the outcome would depend on the Inspectors report. If the report was favourable the District Council would move to adopt the Local Plan and he was hopeful that some of the planning policies would be taken into account when determining planning applications.
Cllr Turner expressed concern that there would appear to be conflicting statements in respect of the five year supply within the Local Plan to which Cllr Alford advised that he was due to meet with principle planning officers very soon to seek clarification on this issue.
(c)DorsetCounty Councillor
In the absence of Cllr Mrs Knox no report was received.
1273APOLOGIES–Apologies for absence were received from WDDC Cllr P Barrowcliffe.
1274 MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 27TH APRIL2015 AND THE
ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 12TH MAY 2015
The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 27th April 2015havingpreviously been circulated were amended to record Min No: 1247 (b) West Dorset District Councillors – “service reviews were ongoing, one of the current focus being the operation of Tourist Information Centre’s” and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
Page 232
The minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 12th May 2015 having previously been circulated were amended to record “the Chairman offered his commiserations to Mrs J Page and Mr C Turner” and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
1275COUNCIL VACANCIES – CO-OPTION
Following an uncontested election, resulting in five vacant seats, members of the Town
Council had met with four prospective candidates and it was RESOLVED to CO-OPT
Mr T. Beswarick, Mrs K. Gould, Mr M. Jupp and Mr S. Norris to Beaminster Town Council.
The Chairman, Cllr Berry welcomed the new members.
The Town Clerk advised that DAPTC had scheduled a new Councillor’s training event for Wednesday 3rd June if any new members wished to attend.
1276DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No declarations of interest were received.
1277PLANNING ADVISORY & HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
RESOLVED the following members be appointed to service on the Planning Advisory &
Highways Committee for the ensuing year:- all members of the Town Council
Cllr Mrs Gould joined the meeting.
1278SKATEPARK PROJECT GROUP
RESOLVED Cllr G Berry and Cllr Mrs J Page be appointed as Council members of the Skatepark Project Group.
1279APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES
RESOLVED the following Liaison Officers be appointed for the ensuing Council year:-
- Ancient Monuments – Cllr Jupp
- Crime Prevention – an approach to be made to Mrs Valerie Baldwin
- Public Transport – Cllr Body
- Public Rights of Way – Cllr MrsGould and Cllr Jupp
- Tree Warden – Cllr Mrs Page
RESOLVED the followingappointments to outside organisations be confirmed:-
- BAVLAP - Cllr Mrs Gould
- Beaminster Area Senior Forum/Dorset Age Partnership – Cllr Beswarick
- Beaminster Community Centre Partnership - Cllr Berry
- Beaminster & District Twinning Association – Cllr Mrs Page
- DAPTC – Cllr Mrs Page and Cllr Turner
- South & West Dorset Broadcasting Group – Cllr Beswarick
- Youth Centre Management Committee – Cllr Elliott
- WATAG – Cllr Body
1280REVIEW OF ASSET REGISTER
Members had previously been circulated with a copy of the Town Council’s Asset Register
for 2014/2015 and AGREED total assets of £937,430. Members NOTEDthe addition of four items purchased during the year and the removal of an office computer.
Page 233
1281MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
(a) Request for site in the Square
Members had previously been circulated with a request received from Public First Group to to hold a petition signing dayin the Town’s Square. It was AGREED, subject toclarification of location,to grant permission.
1282 PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS
Members were tabled with a list of payments, cheque numbers 104208 – 10422 issued, together with direct debit payments between 1stMay 2015 and 31st May 2015totalling £15,133.94; also receipts totalling £7,676.03.
Members RESOLVED to APPROVE the list, a copy of which is attached.
1283CALENDAR OF MEETINGS
Members had previously been circulated with draft copy of the proposed calendar of
meetings, the Chairman sought approval to bring forward two dates in respect of the
Finance & General Purposes Committee in July 2015 and March 2016. AGREED in principle subject to availability of the Cowie Room.
1284WEST DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Members NOTED an appeal had been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate against the District Council’s refusal of planning application WD/D/14/002964 – Land at Woodlands, Bridport Road and had no further comments to make.
1285CORRESPONDENCE
No significant items of correspondence had beenreceived since the last meeting.
1286 PROGRESS REPORTS
Members had previously been circulated with a written progress report on all outstanding
issues. NOTED.
For the benefit of new members, the Chairman gave a brief resume of the background
to items relating to the resurfacing of the Square and Beaminster Society’s proposal to
re-visit the recommendations considered in 2008 in respect of enhancements to the
parking.
The Town Clerk advised that work had commenced on the provision of a path across the
Memorial Playing Field car park.
Public Hall – Cllr Cheeseman advised that he had sought clarification from the Building
Control officerat the District Council and it was clear that a fire escape on the northern
elevation must be retained.
Skatepark project – the Chairman advised the next Project Group meeting would take
place on 10th June.
‘Welcome to Beaminster’ signs – costs were awaited.
Highway issues – the Chairman advised that he had received no response to his last
correspondence sent in April.
Page 234
Under this heading Cllr Beswarick expressed his concern that residents of Fleet
Street and Newtown had not been given any advance notice of the current gas main
replacement works. The Town Clerk was asked to raise this with British Gas.
1287 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Itemsidentified for the June meeting were:
- Election of Chairman
- Finance & General Purposes Committee – to RESOLVE membership
- Public Hall Working Party – to RESOLVE membership
- Allotment & Cemetery Working Party – to RESOLVE membership
- Review Standing Orders and Financial Regulations
- Fingerpost & Tourist Signs
1288 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date of next meeting was set for Monday 22nd June 2015.
1289 PUBLIC BODIES (Admission to meeting) ACT 1960
Members RESOLVED that public and press be now excluded from the meeting whilst
discussion took place on agenda item 13 on the grounds that publicity would be
prejudicial to thepublic interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be
transacted in respect of a staffing issue.
1290 VOLUNTARY PLACEMENT
The Council had been approached by Abilities, a charity based in Weymouth and Yeovil
who assisted people back into employment by placing people in a voluntary placement for
six months. The charity were working with a Beaminster resident who would like
to help the Council on a voluntary basis with litter picking and other duties.
Members were keen to assist however a number of concerns were expressed during
discussion, the main being the question of responsibility for managing and monitoring the
work; also cost implications and risks. It was AGREED that the Town Clerk raise those
concerns with the Charity, however whilst the initial proposal appeared beneficial, it was
felt that, in practise, it would possible be impractical.
Postholder 401 – the Town Clerk drew attention to a problem that had arisen which
required urgent attention. RESOLVED the Town Clerk take immediate action to address the issue on this occasion; with considerationgiven to long term arrangements.
1291 MEETING- The meeting, which started at 7.00pm, closed at 8.50pm.
CHAIRMAN
22 June2015
Page 235