BEAMINSTER TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 26th November2012 in the Skyrm Room at the Public Hall, Beaminster at 7.00pm.

Mrs Hulme addressed the council in support of the residents’ request for the provision of a grit bin at the junction of ManorGardens and North Street.

792PRESENT– Cllr G Berry(Chairman), Cllr Mrs V Baldwin, Cllr P Body,Cllr Ms A Cameron,

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

Cllr CTurner.

793IN ATTENDANCE – Mrs Christine Bright (Town Clerk),District Councillor Mrs C Payne and two members of the public.

794REPORTS 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 had no items to report.

Cllr Mrs J Page advised that:

  • the District Council were conducting a review of their Committee structure and committee functions with a view to identifying strengths and weaknesses
  • a democracy pack for parish and town council’s was being prepared with a view to encouraging them to engage more with young people, a meeting will take place in January to prepare a final draft

On behalf of the District Council Cllr Mrs J Page thanked members of the Town Council for their support at the proposed parking lottery meeting.

(c)DorsetCounty Councillor

Cllr Mrs R Knox advised that:

  • following a meeting of the County Council Cabinet on 5th December it was anticipated that an announcement would be made with regard to the contract

for soil nailing works at the Tunnel. A further public meeting would take place

in Beaminster on 6th December at 6.30pm in the Public Hall

  • a request has been made for a speed indicator board in North Street and due to, the increase in traffic, a‘walkabout’ by members of the safer route to school team had been scheduled
  • the Wednesday 213 bus service to Dorchester will now detour via Mosterton and a new timetable had been produced

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  • counterfeit toys had been found for sale at some markets and trading standards urged the public to be vigilant
  • another campaign had been launched to raise awareness of the need for superfast broadband in Dorset
  • discussions had taken place with regard to the railings at ProutBridge with a view to finding a solution to the ongoing problem of damage by large vehicles

Finally Cllr Mrs Knox expressed her disappointment at the response received from Damory regarding the school bus route via Whitesheet Hill; she advised that a copy of the correspondence had been forwarded to the head of Highway Operations at the County Council.

In his absence, the Chairman raised a question from Mr Morse who asked whether the soil nailing process at the tunnel would de-stabilise the green sand? Cllr Mrs R Knox referred to the information on dorsetforyou.com and suggested the question could be raised at the public meeting; in response to a question regarding the lights in the tunnel she confirmed that, for health & safety reasons, the lights had to be on particularly at night.

795APOLOGIES–Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mrs R Beeny.

796 MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 22ND OCTOBER 2012

The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 22nd October2012havingpreviously been circulatedMinute No. 777 (b) wasamended to read “Cllr Mrs J Page advised that it had become apparent that town and parish councils would need to apply for a dispensation from the Clerk in order to discuss, and agree the precept.” Following which the minutes were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

797DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were received.

798REPORTS FOR OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS

(a) Flood Warden Scheme – Cllr R Cheeseman advised that, with Cllr Mrs R Beeny, he had attended the Environment Agency’s Flood Seminar in Dorchester on 3rd December at which he had given a brief presentation on the Beaminster Flood Warden Scheme. He also advised that the Wardens had recently received two flood alert messages and one flood warning.

(b) WATAG - Cllr Mrs V Baldwin advised that she had raised the content of the response

received from Damory direct with their representative at a recent WATAG meeting.

(c) BAVLAP – Cllr Mrs S Samuel advised that the recent AGM had not been well attended, due in the main to the bad weather; however the presentation from Chris Ricketts, Primary Care Trust had been very well received.

(d) DAPTC – Cllr C Turner advised that at the recent AGM the resolutions referred to in Minute No. 785 were resolved, together with the amendment requested in respect of the motion put forward by Milborne St Andrew Parish Council.

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799 PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS

Members were tabled with a list of payments, cheque numbers 103533 – 103561, together with direct debit payments between 1stNovember 2012 and 30th November2012totalling £24,685.66; also receipts totalling £2,468.65. Members RESOLVED to APPROVE the list, a copy of which is attached.

800DISPENSATIONS

The Town Clerk advised that under Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011in limited circumstances councillors and co-opted members of a council may seek a dispensation to speak and vote despite having a disclosable pecuniary interest in a matter. Under the new Code of Conduct applications for a dispensation should be submitted to the Council’s proper officer for consideration. RESOLVED to delegate authority to the Town Clerk to consider dispensation applications.

801ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF DATA

Taking into account staff time and increasing printing costs the delivery of agenda and

minutes to all members via email was discussed. RESOLVED to distribute data

electronically to all members for a two month trial period. Those members wishing to

continue to receive paper copies to inform the Town Clerk accordingly.

802CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS 2012

Members had previously been circulated with the detail of events planned for the Christmas Lights Festival on 7th December. NOTED. The Chairman commended the Christmas Lights Committee for their hard work in organising this event.

RESOLVED the Council Office would close at 1.00pm on Friday 21st December and re-open at 9.00am on Thursday 3rd January 2013.

803NALC – NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP OF NALC SMALLER COUNCIL’S

COMMITTEE

The Council had been invited to submit nominations for membership of the NALC Smaller Council’s Committee, the three members receiving the highest number of votes to be elected for a one year term. No nominations were put forward.

804PROVISION OF GRIT BIN

Members had previously been circulated with a copy of correspondence received from residents of ManorGardens in which the provision of a grit bin at the junction of Manor

Gardens and North Street had been requested. Members considered the request and RESOLVED to provide a grit bin.

805CORRESPONDENCE

(a) Babylon Morris– Members NOTED that, under delegated authority, permission had

been given for dancing in the Square on New Year’s Day at 11.00am.

(b) Damory– Members NOTED the response to the concerns expressed with regard to the school bus using Whitesheet Hill received from Damory.

806 PROGRESS REPORTS

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

issues. NOTED.

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Under this heading Cllr Mrs J Page was pleased to confirm that the previously reported suspected Ash Die Back disease at Pease Hill was in fact Ash Canker.

807 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

No itemswere identified.

808 PUBLIC BODIES (Admission to meeting) Act 1960

Members RESOLVED that, in accordance with the terms of the Act, the public and press be

excluded from the meeting 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 the transfer of responsibility and associated financial issues.

Cllr Ms A Cameron and Cllr Mrs S Samuel left the meeting.

809 YARN BARTON WORKING PARTY

Members had previously been circulated with the Minutes of the Yarn Barton Working Party

meetings held on 6th November 2012 and 20th November 2012; also the Chairman’s

confidential report dated 21st November 2012.NOTED.

Members RESOLVED to award a grant to the Yarn Barton Community Centre in the sum of £5,000; to be expended in line with the budget to be prepared in conjunction with the Town

Council.

Cllr P Elliott left the meeting.

Members considered two quotations received to supply and install replacement windows on

the front and side of the building; also a new sign. RESOLVED to accept the quotation

from Mr K Elliott in the sum of £1880.

Cllrs Ms A Cameron, P Elliott and Mrs S Samuel returned to the meeting.

810 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date of the next meeting was NOTED as Monday 17th December2012.

811 MEETING- The meeting which started at 7.00pm closed at 8.20pm.

CHAIRMAN

17th December 2012

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