BEAMINSTER TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 27th March 2017 in the Skyrm Room at the Public Hall, Beaminster at 7.00pm
Prior to the commencement of the meeting Mr Mark Bagwell, Operations Director at Clipper Teas updated members of the Council with regard to the commencement of works to relocate their operations to the south side of Broadwindsor Road.
1668PRESENT – Cllr C Turner (Chairman), Cllr C Baker, Cllr T Beswarick, Cllr P Body,
Cllr Mrs J Cooke, Cllr A Dawkins, Cllr P Elliott, Cllr M Jupp, Cllr S Norris and Cllr Mrs J Page.
1669IN ATTENDANCE – Mrs Christine Bright (Town Clerk) also Dorset County Councillor Mrs R Knox and West Dorset District Councillor A Alford.
1670REPORTS FROM AND QUESTIONS FOR:
Dorset Police – In the absence of a police representative at the meeting no report
was received.
West Dorset District Council
Local Government Reform – Cllr Alford had hoped to be in a position to report the Secretary of State’s preliminary opinion however no government announcements had been made following the recent terrorist attack on Westminster Bridge. Christchurch had agreed to carry out a form of referendum in May with regard to their position within a unitary authority.
West Dorset had been selected as a trial area for the next census form.
Dorset County Council
NHS consultations – Cllr Mrs Knox reported that the County Council’s Health & Wellbeing Board had agreed its direction for the future – to concentrate on prevention by early intervention by ‘Health & Social Care integration’.
In the Beaminster area the focus would be based around family partnership zones, to be developed in the coming months based around the school pyramid as part of the ‘Living & Learning’ concept.
The Beaminster Community Car scheme was working well with the GP surgeries and more volunteer drivers were needed.
The County Council would assist the Academy Board at St Mary’s Primary School to make further improvements following a recent OFSTED report.
Finally Councillor Mrs Knox assured members that the County Council were investing in child social care at the Children’s Centre and outreach services.
In response to a question from Cllr Turner with regard to progress on the provision of a crossing point in Clay Lane, Cllr Mrs Knox advised that a meeting had been scheduled with interest parties, including Oliver Letwin MP for 5th May.
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Cllr Mrs Knox advised the criteria for a crossing had not been met therefore any possible solutions should to be considered on a wider scale - to include the school’s ‘safe route to school’ plan and the issue of child obesity with a view to establishing a safe and healthy route to school.
1671APOLOGIES – Apologies for absence were received after the meeting from Cllr R Cheeseman and West Dorset District Councillor P Barrowcliffe.
1672DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS
No declarations of interest were received
1673REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE ORGANSATIONS
(a)SLCC – Cllr Mrs Page advised that she, Cllr Turner and the Town Clerk had recently attended the Regional Conference in Taunton. The content of the conference had been very useful and one item had been of particular interest – as a local authority the Town Council would not be in a position to contribute to the fabric of a church.
(b)BEAMINSTER SOCIETY – Cllr Beswarick advised that he had attended the Annual General Meeting at which there had been a presentation by the National Park Authority with regard to the proposal for the creation of a East Devon & West Dorset National Park.
(c)BAVLAP – Cllr Baker advised that it had been two years since the partnership had agreed its objectives therefore a review would be undertaken in the coming months. The partnership were working towards ‘Dementia Week’ in May.
(d)DAPTC – Cllr Turner advised that, with Cllr Mrs Page, he had attended the Spring Conference where discussion focused on unitary authorities and the guest speaker from Wiltshire spoke of their experience.
There had also been a presentation under the National Quality Scheme for Councillor Development and he was pleased to report that Beaminster had been presented with a double star award to recognise 64% of Beaminster Town Council members had participated in training to strengthen and update the council’s knowledge.
1674MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 27TH FEBRUARY 2017 AND MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 27TH FEBRUARY 2017
The minutes of the Special Council meeting held on 27th February 2017 and the minutes of the Council meeting held on 27th February 2017, having previously been circulated were approved and signed by the Chairman as correct records.
1675 PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS
Members had previously been circulated with the schedule of payments, cheque
numbers 104577 to 104592 issued, together with direct debit payments between 1st
March and 31st March 2017 totalling £11,408.92; also receipts totalling £2,518.51.
Members RESOLVED to APPROVE the schedule, a copy of which is attached.
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1676MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
(a) Minute N0. 1661 (a) – Local Plan Review
Members had previously been circulated with a copy of a draft of the Council’s response as compiled by Cllr Dawkins, Cllr Mrs Page and Cllr Turner. The Chairman offered members the opportunity to feedback comments prior to submission by the deadline of 3rd April.[1]
The Chairman expressed his gratitude to Cllr Dawkins for his comprehensive report.
1677PUBLIC HALL WORKING PARTY
Members had previously been circulated with the minutes of the Public Hall Working Party meeting held on 15th March 2017.
No items were raised for discussion and members RESOLVED to ADOPT the minutes.
1678FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
Members had previously been circulated with the minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on 20th March 2017.
Min No. 330 – Beaminster Festival
RESOLVED to award Beaminster Festival a grant of £900 towards expenses in connection with the 2017 Visual Arts Exhibition.
No further items were raised and members RESOLVED to ADOPT the minutes.
1679NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Cllr Mrs Page advised that following initial meetings with representatives from neighbouring parishes no further progress had been made. Having attended a Planning Workshop at the SLCC Annual Conference she felt the council must make a decision as to whether to proceed and suggested it could be a topic for discussion at the Annual Parish Meeting.
1680CALENDER OF MEETINGS 2017/18
Members had previously been circulated with a copy of the draft Calendar of Meeting for the ensuing year. Cllr Mrs Page asked the date of the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting in November be changed. AGREED, members to be circulated with the amended calendar of meetings.
1681CONSULTATIONS
(a)Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group – Improving Mental Health Services in Dorset
Members had previously been circulated with the detail of the consultation and following discussion it was AGREED members would respond on an individual basis.
1682CORRESPONDENCE
The Town Clerk read a note received from ‘a grateful Beaminster resident’ thanking the councillors for the time and energy given to ensure Beaminster remained a great place to live. Members expressed their thanks to the sender.
1683PROGRESS REPORT
Members had previously been circulated with the latest progress report, the content of
which was NOTED.
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1684 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
One item was raised:
- Quality Council
1685DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date of the next meeting was NOTED as Monday 24th April 2017.
1686PUBLIC BODIES (Admission to Meeting) Act 1960
Members RESOLVED that in accordance with the Act, the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst discussion on the next item takes place on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted in respect of staffing issues.
(a) Postholder 301
Members NOTED the current position.
1687 MEETING
The meeting which commenced at 7.20pm, closed at 9.00pm.
CHAIRMAN
24th April 2017
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[1] A copy of the final submission attached to these minutes.