Dorset Association of Parish & Town Councils
(Affiliated to the National Association of Local Councils)
Colliton Annexe
Colliton Park
DORCHESTER
Dorset
DT1 1XJ
Tel/Fax: 01305 260972
email:
www.dorset-aptc.gov.uk
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils held on Saturday 8th November 2014, in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Dorchester at 10.00 am
1) Welcome
The President, David Jenkins DL, took the Chair.
The President welcomed 55 representatives of member Parish and Town Councils, and the following guests;
Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset
Cllr Su Hunt, Chairman, North Dorset District Council
Cllr Mike Pratt, Vice Chairman, Purbeck District Council
DAPTC Past President John Hyde.
Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset also addressed the AGM and gave his thanks to all those parish and town councillors present for all their hard work.
2) Opening Address by Cllr Ken Browse, Chairman of National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
Cllr Ken Browse, Chairman of NALC, addressed those present with details on how he first got involved with his local parish council and then subsequently how he became involved with his area committee, the Devon Executive Committee and then his work at NALC, before eventually becoming their Chairman in 2013. Over the last two years, there has been a great deal to sort out at NALC, and a new Chief Executive was appointed in April 2014. Ken now has to help the National Association deliver their Strategic Plan. Work has started to make NALC more accessible and relevant to its member councils. NALC now has a new website and also a Manifesto. Cllr Browse has been using his position to get the message across on local media.
3) Apologies
Apologies were received from:
Guests:
MP for Poole Mr Robert Syms
MP for Bournemouth West Mr Connor Burns
MP for North Dorset Mr Robert Walter
MP for Christchurch Mr Christopher Chope
MP for West Dorset Mr Oliver Letwin
Dorset County Council Cllr Spencer Flower, Leader
Christchurch Borough Council Cllr John Lofts, Mayor
Christchurch and East Dorset Mr David McIntosh, Chief Executive
District Council
North Dorset District Council Mrs E Goodall, Chief Executive
North Dorset District Council Cllr Deborah Croney, Leader
North Dorset District Council Cllr Val Pothecary
Purbeck District Council Cllr Gary Suttle, Leader
Purbeck District Council Mr Steven Mackenzie, Chief Executive
West Dorset District Council Cllr Gillian Summers, Chairman
West Dorset District Council Cllr Robert Gould, Leader
Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Cllr Ray Banham, Mayor
Dorset Community Action Alex Picot, Chief Executive
4) Elections of Honorary Officers
· President – David Jenkins DL was nominated unopposed to continue as President.
· Vice-Presidents – The Chairman proposed a new Vice-President, Cllr Alan Thacker. Cllr Thacker has been Chairman of the Central Area Meeting for a number of years and has also at the same time been a member of the DAPTC Executive.
o Mr. John Freeman, Mr Ken Whetlor and Cllr Alan Thacker were nominated unopposed as Vice-Presidents’.
· Honorary Treasurer – Mr Paul Ackrill was nominated unopposed as Honorary Treasurer
· Honorary Auditor – Mr Andrew Notley was nominated unopposed as Honorary Auditor
5) Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on Saturday 2nd November 2013, had been circulated previously and were accepted as a true record of the meeting, and signed by the President.
Proposed and Carried
6) Annual Report
The Chief Executive Cynthia Starkey presented her report to the AGM, which had been circulated with the Agenda.
Proposed and Carried
The Chief Executive also took the opportunity at this point in the meeting to say a very big Thank You to Cllr Janet Page, who will be retiring from her role as DAPTC Chairman at the December Executive Meeting. Cynthia stated that since coming to her post 18 months ago having Janet’s help and wisdom available had been invaluable and that it had been an absolute pleasure to work with Janet.
The President David Jenkins also endorsed the Chief Executive’s comments and requested that it be recorded that the Association offers its very great thanks to all that Janet has done and the way that she has done it.
7) Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer Paul Ackrill presented his report, which had been circulated with the Agenda.
Proposed and Carried.
8) Audited Accounts for Financial year 2013/14
The Audited Accounts for the financial year 2013/14 were received and approved.
Proposed and Carried.
9) Motions submitted by Member Councils
1. Proposed by Chideock Parish Council
Chideock Parish Council proposed the following motion:-
When a Planning Application is taken to a Local Planning Authority Development Control Committee for decision, objectors to the application should be permitted to make an illustrated presentation of equal length to that already allowed from the applicant.
Motion Vote: CARRIED WITH 24 FOR, 15 AGAINST AND 5 ABSTENTIONS
2. Proposed by Bridport Town Council
Bridport Town Council proposed the following motion:-
Annual parish or town meetings are increasingly not very well attended or supported by the public. There are now many other opportunities to engage with local councils. The Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils is therefore requested to ask the National Association of Local Councils to make representations to the Government to amend the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12, paragraph 14, that requires all town and parish councils to hold a statutory parish (town) meeting each year. It is considered that a statutory annual parish meeting should not be required for councils, such as Bridport Town Council and many others, which allow attendance and representations from the public at full Council and all other Committee meetings.
Motion Vote: NOT CARRIED WITH 11 VOTES FOR, 31 VOTES AGAINST AND 1 ABSTENTION
3. Proposed by Piddle Valley Parish Council
Piddle Valley Parish Council proposed the following motion:-
Following the Planning Committee Meeting at Dorset County Council on 9 May 2014 regarding the planning application for a temporary traveller and gypsy transit site at Piddlehinton Camp, Piddle Valley Parish Council would like to propose the following resolution:-
a) That DAPTC write to Dorset County Council and ask to ensure that as a matter of procedure that Town and Parish Councils are informed of planning applications relevant to their town and parish and to ensure they are informed of associated Planning Committee meetings.
b) That DAPTC encourage all Town and Parish Councils to carefully monitor Dorset County Council planning applications relevant to their town and parish and to ensure they are informed of associated Planning Committee meetings.
c) That DAPTC encourage Town and Parish Councils to hold Dorset County Council accountable for the decision making process in order to prevent misunderstandings and poor committee meeting procedures.
d) That DAPTC encourage Town and Parish Councillors to engage with their County Councillors and request their assistance regarding planning applications relevant to their town and parish.
This motion was withdrawn. It was agreed that this motion is a local issue and as such is more suited to discussion at a future DAPTC Executive Meeting.
4. Proposed by St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council
St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council proposed the following motion:-
‘St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council asks that more consideration is given to the impact of alternative/renewable energy sources on the natural environment.’
St Leonards and St Ives is concerned that whilst they understand the need to source alternative energy sources, there are other costs which need to be weighed into that equation such as the impact on the natural environment.
For example we have Navitus Bay Windfarm proposal all out at sea but the cable route will come up through from Milford to the National Grid at Mannington. The impact of this route is incredible, trees will be felled and not allowed to regrow on the route and the trench will be 40m wide. Access to all parts of the cable for inspection needs to be maintained. It will take years of construction to lay for a 25 year estimated life span of the windfarm.
The following amendment was proposed:
‘St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council asks that greater weight is given to the impact of alternative/renewable energy sources on the natural environment.’
The original proposer of the motion was happy to agree to this amendment and so no vote on the amendment was necessary.
Motion as amended Vote: CARRIED WITH 31 VOTES FOR, 3 VOTES AGAINST AND 10 ABSTENTIONS
The formal part of the AGM was concluded at 11.20am followed by coffee and exhibitors. Delegates returned to the chamber for the Presentation and Audience/Panel Debate.
10) A Presentation plus audience/panel debate on:-
Emergency Planning and the role of Local Councils.
Panel Members: - Debbie Ward – Chief Executive of Dorset County Council
Simon Parker – County Emergency Planning Officer at Dorset County Council
Nick Reed – Wessex Flood Resilience Team, Environment Agency
Jennifer Cutler – Civil Contingencies Unit Manager
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