BEAMINSTER TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 22nd October2012 in the Skyrm Room at the Public Hall, Beaminster at 7.00pm.

771PRESENT– Cllr G Berry(Chairman), Cllr Mrs V Baldwin, Cllr Mrs R Beeny, Cllr P Body,

Cllr R Cheeseman,Cllr P Elliott, Cllr Mrs R Knox,Cllr Mrs J Page, Cllr Mrs S Samuel and

Cllr CTurner.

772IN ATTENDANCE – Mrs Christine Bright (Town Clerk) andDistrict Councillor Mrs C Payne.

773REPORTS 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 Mrs C Payne advised that among the items to be discussed at the District Council’s Policy Scrutiny Committee meeting on 23rd October will be a new joint Housing Strategy, in conjunction with Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, each authority would set their own guidelines but the joint Strategy would run alongside the new Local Plan.

Cllr Mrs J Page advised that:

  • Phase II of the Charles Street development consisting of shops, offices and

housing had been met with some acrimony from the residents of Dorchester.

Due to a shortfall in funding from the developer the District Council would

now fund the removal of the existing church and the rebuilding costs on the

new site, as a consequence the planned car parking would notbe entirely

fulfilled

  • during the Olympics the District Council had taken over a building in

Weymouth in order to raise the profile of the area with, in particular, large

businesses. Subsequently, an approach had been made to the District

Council with a view to discuss a possible large sustainable energy (solar) site

within the District

(c)DorsetCounty Councillor

Cllr Mrs R Knox advised that:

  • following the recent well attended public meeting on the tunnel regarding

possible solutions to the stability issues following the landslip at Beaminster

Tunnel, regular updates on highway issues related to the road closure will be

posted on the dorsetforyou website

  • the X53 Sunday bus service had been saved until Christmas and she hoped

that it would be well used in order to secure its future

Page 93

  • concerns with regard to the school bus continuing to use Whitesheet Hill

especially as the weather turned seasonal with the likelihood of frost

  • there were changes to school funding following the creation of Acadamy’s

and the County Council were adding their representations to those being

made nationally

  • the County Council were considering their budgets and trying to predict

the level of grant funding it would receive for 2013/2014, due to be

announced in December

Some concerns were expressed with regard to the amount of light given off by the new lights installed around the MUGA at BeaminsterSchool, affecting in particular residents in the Chantry Lane area; also no lighting had been installed along the School’s access road or in the car parks. Cllr Mrs Knox agreed to raise this with the School.

The Chairman congratulated Cllr Mrs Knoxon how well the meeting on the tunnel had been managed, particularly in view of the very large number of people attending.

774APOLOGIES–No apologies for absence were received.

775 MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 24th SEPTEMBER 2012

The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 24th September2012havingpreviously been circulatedMinute No. 752 (b) wasamended to read “Cllr Mrs J Page advised that KPMG had been re-appointed as the District Council’s external auditor for the next five years.” Following which the minutes were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

776DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were received.

777REPORTS FOR OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS

(a)BVLAP – Cllr Mrs R Beeny advised that the Annual General Meeting would take place on 21st November at the Pavilion, Memorial Playing Field commencing at 7.00pm, the guest speaker, Chris Ricketts, would speak on changes to the NHS and the effect on the community. A PACT meeting would take place prior to the AGM commencing at 6.30pm.

(b) DAPTC – Cllr C Turner advised that he had recently been elected Chairman of DAPTC Town & Larger Councils. Cllr Mrs J Page advised that it had become apparent that those town and parish councils who had adopted the NALC Code of Conduct would need to apply for a dispensation from the Clerk in order to discuss, and agree the precept.

(c) Flood Warden Scheme – Cllr Mrs R Beeny advised that representatives from Beaminster had been invited togive a short presentation on its Flood Warden Schemeat the Dorset Flood Fair on 3rd November at the Dorford Centre, Dorchester.

Page 94

778 PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS

Members were tabled with a list of payments, cheque numbers 103520 – 103531, together with direct debit payments between 1stOctober 2012 and 31st October 2012totalling £6,965.68; also receipts totalling £6,231.78. Members RESOLVED to APPROVE the list, a copy of which is attached.

779COUNCIL VACANCY

The vacancy created due to the resignation of John Spooner attracted three applications, copies of which were circulated to all members.

The Chairman advised short informal interviews had been conducted with each applicant and members were asked to consider the recommendation put forward. It was RESOLVED to co-opt Mrs Alaina Cameron to Beaminster Town Council.

The Chairman raised the question as to whether the current procedure previously adopted by the Town Council for co-option should be reviewed. Some discussion ensued and a number of suggestions were put forward for further consideration, and the Chairman undertook to circulate a discussion paper.

780ALLOTMENT & CEMETERY WORKING PARTY

Members were been circulated with minutes of the Allotment & Cemetery Working Party meeting held on 28th September 2012. RESOLVED to accept the proposals and recommendations therein.

781PUBLIC HALL WORKING PARTY

Members were been circulated with minutes of the Public Hall Working Party meeting held on 16th October 2012. RESOLVED to accept the proposals and recommendations therein.

782PURCHASE OF RIDE-ON MOWER

Members had previously been circulated with a copy of the Town Clerk’s reporthighlighting the steady increase in the logistical problems in respect of the cutting of the grass in the Memorial Playing Field created by the introduction of small pockets of grassed areas inaccessible with the tractor and mower and the new footpath as part of the Mountjoy project’s ‘safer route to school’.

Members RESOLVED to purchase an Alko T20-102JHDE ride-on mower from Buglers Ltd at a cost of £2,300 + VAT in order to improve maintenance efficiency.

783FLOOD WARDEN SCHEME

Members had previously been circulated with a copy of an update on the Flood Warden

Scheme following the flooding events of 7th July in which a number of recommendations

and budget implications had been highlighted. NOTED and AGREED.

Members extended their thanks to those who had produced the report.

784YARN BARTON PHOTOCOPIER

The Chairman reminded members that there was agreement in principle for a photocopier in Yarn Barton Centre however concerns had previously been expressed with regard to committing future trustees to a lease agreement and ongoing costs.

Page 95

The Town Clerk advised that she had raised these concerns with the supplier and had clarified the future position. The Chairman stressed however the urgency of the situation due to the breakdown of the existing printer. It was RESOLVED to proceed with a photocopier for Yarn Barton.

785DAPTC – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Members had previously been circulated with the detail of the motions put forward by West Lulworth Parish Council and Sixpenny Handley Parish Council and RESOLVED to support.

With regard to the motion put forward by Milborne St Andrew Parish Council it was felt that any devolution of services should be accompanied by funding of other resources not just in the future as suggested in the proposal. Cllr Mrs Page and Cllr Turner agreed to raise this at the meeting

786PLANNING APPLICATIONS

To comply with the District Council’s response date of 19th October members of the Council considered the following planning applications:

Application No 1/D/12/001105 – Higher Barrowfield Farm

Application No 1/D/12/001348 – 13 St James

On the recommendation of the Chariman of Planning Advisory & Highways Committee it was AGREED to RECOMMEND APPROVAL in respect of both applications.

787CORRESPONDENCE

(a) Western Power Distribution

Members had previously been circulated with correspondence received extending an invitation to a Stakeholder Workshop, at which members could have a say on Western Power Distribution’s future investment priorities for 2015 and beyond. The nearest venue -Exeter Rugby Club on 13th November. NOTED.

788 PROGRESS REPORTS

Members had previously been circulated with a written progress report on all outstanding

issues. The Chairman verbally updated the situation in respect of the following issues:

  • Yarn Barton- potential trustees meeting re-scheduled for 6th November
  • MPF Access – following the meeting with the solicitor a draft letter was awaited which

would clarify and regularise the position with existing access and to advise of

proposed ditch works

  • MPF storage container – enquiries were being made to ascertain whether planning

permission would be required

  • MPF boundary wall – metal brackets and wire fence had been erected on the top of the boundary wall to prevent users of the play area climbing on the wall and causing damage.

These wereNOTED.

789 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Itemsidentified for inclusion on theNovemberagenda:

  • Electronic delivery of documents

Page 96

790 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date of the next meeting was NOTED as Monday 26th November 2012.

791 MEETING- The meeting which started at 7.00pm closed at 9.00pm.

CHAIRMAN

26 October2012

Page 97

1