DORSETASSOCIATION OF PARISH AND TOWN COUNCILS

EASTERN AREA (INCLUDING CHRISTCHURCH) COMMITTEE

Draft Minutes of the Eastern Area Committee Meeting

held at Alderholt Village Hall, onWednesday 19th April2017

Present

Cllr Janet Wallace
Cllr Adrian Hibberd / Holt PC (Chair)
Alderholt PC
Cllr KD Johnson / Colehill PC
Cllr Peter Scriven / Colehill PC
Cllr Evan Waterman / Corfe Mullen PC
Cllr Esme Isaacs / Cranborne & Edmondsham PC
Cllr Suzanne Batten / Cranborne & Edmondsham PC
Cllr John Muggleton / Ferndown TC
Cllr Pauline Ford / Holt PC
Cllr John Chappell / Pamphill & Shapwick PC
Cllr Colin Taylor / Sixpenny Handley & Pentridge PC
Cllr Alan Davies / St Leonards & St Ives PC
Cllr Sonia Cade / Sturminster Marshall PC
Cllr Hilary Palmer / Sturminster Marshall PC
Cllr Lindsey Dedden / Verwood TC
Cllr Pat Morrow / Verwood TC
Cllr Penny Yeo / West Moors PC
Cllr Mike Hawkes / West Moors PC
Cllr Phillip Bamborough / West Parley PC
Cllr Diann March / Wimborne Minster TC

In Attendance:

Cllr Steve Butler / DCC
Cllr Barbara Manuel / EDDC
Judith Plumley / C&EDDC
Tony Gibb / Area Secretary

1.Apologies

Cllr Bea Boyland / Sixpenny Handley & Pentridge PC
Cllr Mike Dyer / St Leonards & St Ives PC
Cllr Noel Hindmarch / St Leonards & St Ives PC
Cllr Marion Cook / Vale of Allen PC
Cllr Andy Skeats / EDDC
Hilary Trevorah / CE DAPTC

Members noted the passing of Cllr Henry Bartlett, Wimborne TC and Cllr John Bell, Colehill PC.

2.Minutes of last Meeting held 23 January 2017 at Verwood, having been circulated, were taken as read and signed.

3.Matters Arising. None.

4.Report from the DAPTC Chief Executive. Having been previously circulated, the Chairman highlighted the topics; a copy of the report is attached.

5.Feedback from DAPTC Conference held at Kingston Maurward on 23 March 2017. Those who attended found the conference to be very useful. There was particular praise for the presentation by Sarah Jeffries from Wiltshire. Some members felt that there was an assumption that the move to two unitary authorities in Dorset was a ‘done deal’.

6.County Council Report.Cllr Steve Butler presented his report, a copy of which is attached, he noted that the majority of the county’s MPs supported the unitary proposals. In discussion there was considerable concern that the EDDC planning officers were not working with parish councils particularly where delegated powers were concerned. Parish councils were urged to ensure that they district councillors represented their concerns to officers. It was noted that all councils were have difficulties retaining planning staff but that this meant that parish council comments should be given more recognition.

7.East Dorset & Christchurch Council Matters. Cllr Barbara Manuel presented the district report, a copy of which is attached. It was noted that EDDC meetings were moving to the Allendale Centre although comment was made that the signage there needed to be improved.

8.Chairman’s Report. The Chair urged all councils to send their members on training courses to ensure that they were aware of the latest legislation. The Rural Housing consultation from NALC is extremely important and needs a response from parishes.

9.Reports from representatives:

  1. DAPTC Exec matters (not already covered). Nothing to add.
  2. NALC Matters.NALC continues to lobby against any introduction of precept referenda. The NALC conference will be held at Milton Keynes on 30/31 Oct.
  3. Northern Dorset LEADER Local Action Group. Cllr Hibberd reported that there is still money in the pot for new projects particularly for rural employment. Further details are available at:

10.Members’ Items.

  1. Alderholt. A village survey produce a creditable 38% response. Gladman Developments have been submitting proposals which are outside the village envelope.
  2. Colehill. 2 vacancies. The finger post as Church crossroads has been restored. Traffic issues around Beaucroft School. Welcome to Colehill signs are being installed.
  3. Corfe Mullen. Youth Club has been reformed. The Carnival will be on 19th June.
  4. Cranborne & Edmondsham. 1 vacancy. Improvements are being made to the sports facilities.
  5. Ferndown. Plans are being made to redevelop the town centre, investors will be sought. The problems at the Barrington Centre also impinge on other parishes. It was proposed that councillors should be invited to attend neighbouring council meetings.
  6. Holt. 2 vacancies. God’s Blessing Lane closed 24th to 30th April. 420 hedging trees have been planted for the cemetery extension.
  7. Pamphill & Shapwick. Several verges damaged during the winter due to inconsiderate passing. Pamphill church applying to build a church room. Shapwick sewerage improvements to counter flooding.
  8. Sixpenny Handley & Pentridge. Vacancy recently filled. Less litter found on recent litter pick. Due to the brewery move to Cranborne, the Sixpenny Tap has been established in the Sports Pavilion.
  9. St Leonards & St Ives. Site for new burial ground off Horton Road being explored. 210 houses due on old hospital site. Concerns about road / traffic congestion on Horton Road particularly at Moors Valley entrance.
  10. Sturminster Marshall. Litter pick had less rubbish this year. Highways problems are causing big problems for bus diversions.
  11. Verwood.1 vacancy. A developer recently made a very helpful presentation about proposals for a larger site.
  12. West Moors. PCC speaking at Annual Assembly. A multi-activity day is being held on 31st July. 2 new councillors recently co-opted; one is very young.
  13. West Parley. Increasing number of people volunteering in parish. Council is watching possibility of housing development in centre of village.
  14. Wimborne. Tree planted on recreation ground for HM Queen’s 90th birthday. 2 vacancies. Questions raised about attendance at Annual Meeting – Secretary to forward NALC Legal Topic Note. Civic service being held on 7th May.

11.Any Other Business. None.

2.Dates for Next Meetings 3rd July at Horton & Chalbury Hall

October at Colehill - KD Johnson to forward date.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 2115hrs.

Attachments:

  1. Chief Executive DAPTC Report
  2. DCC Report
  3. EDDC Report