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LYTCHETT MINSTER & UPTON TOWN COUNCIL
A MEETING of the TOWN COUNCIL was held in the Council Chamber, 1 Moorland Parade, Moorland Way on TUESDAY the 16 June 2015 and commenced at 7.30 p.m.
PRESENT: Councillor Mrs J M Richards in the Chair
Councillor J C Small
Councillor Mrs M Pryor
Councillor P F Johns
Councillor F H Drane
Councillor P Rusling
Councillor R Griffin
Councillor Mrs E Andrews
Councillor F Rickard
Councillor J R Burns
Councillor M Holmes
Councillor J Porter
Also in attendance: District Councillor W T Pipe
Mrs K Wright, Town Clerk
Mrs B Lake, Office Manager
54/15 APOLOGIES:
Councillor M Dodds
Councillor Mrs B Wood
Councillor M Chase
55/15 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
None.
56/15 MINUTES of the Town Council meeting held on the 19 May 2015 as circulated were confirmed and signed.
57/15 MINUTES: of the Town Annual Assembly held on the 13 May 2015 were deferred for adoption until the full Council meeting in July 2015.
58/15 CLERKS REPORT:
a. Minute 92/14 Community Cohesion Meeting. No further information.
b. Minute 469/14 Telephone Box, Lytchett Minster. A letter has been sent to the Lytchett Minster Villagers containing all the salient information. A representative from the Villagers contacted the Clerk and this will be pursued.
59/15 CORRESPONDENCE:
None.
60/15 ADOPTION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a) The report of the Environment committee held on 26 May 2015 as circulated was confirmed, adopted and signed.
b) The report of the Amenities committee held on 2 June 2015 as circulated was confirmed, adopted and signed.
c) The report of the Planning Committee held on 9 June 2015 as circulated was confirmed, adopted and signed.
continued……………………
61/15 REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS/DORSET COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS:
Councillor R Griffin – Lytchett Minster and Upton Town Council
Cllr Griffin advised that the South and South East in Bloom judging will take place on the morning of Wednesday 8 July 2015. A litter pick will be held the day before.
Councillor W T Pipe – Purbeck District Council
Proposed County Division Boundary Review
The Boundary Commission has proposed a re-jigging of the boundaries of the current Egdon Heath, Wareham Town and the Lytchetts County Divisions, making two, two-member Divisions. At the last meeting of PDC those proposals were rejected by the full council on a majority vote. In its place, the Council (Purbeck) has proposed the retention of Wareham as an entirety and single entity; the creation of a new Lytchett Minster & Upton Division with the inclusion of the Holton Heath part of St Martin, the loss of Lytchett Matravers and the creation of a re-modelled Egdon Heath Division which would include Lytchett Matravers, presently a part of the current Lytchetts Division.
A response is awaited from the Boundary Commission on the PDC submission.
The “numbers game” argument about equal, or more equal representation, is satisfied by the PDC proposals, whereby the proposed wards are now more reflective of the required equality sought by the Commission. The status quo was not an option on the grounds of over and under representation.
Planning Training for Town Councillors
It was noted that the Town Council has agreed to take up the option of sending Town Councillors to training at PDC.
Code of Conduct
It was noted that the Town Council is considering the adoption of the Code of Conduct as upheld and practiced by the District Council.
Community Safety Week
The Police and PCSOs will be holding a “Car Crime” drop-in at the Costa Coffee retail outlet at Upton Cross on 23 June from midday to 2.15 pm where they will be offering advice on how to cut car crime and thefts from cars. The Chairman of PACT encourages all comers to this event.
Councillor P F Johns – Purbeck District Council
Town Council Flood Warden’s Reports
Sandy Lane Flooding Action – Following a suggestion agreed between a resident and Cllr Johns I attended a meeting on site with the DCC and PDC officers and thanks to the earlier support by the then MP Mrs Brookes DCC have agreed to raise the back of the pavement in front of Nos. 39, 41, 43 and possibly No. 45 by about 300 to 400mm and to raise the drives of those properties so as to facilitate vehicular access to the properties. Re the earlier agreement by Wessex Water to investigate a possible drainage solution, I await the results of their desk top study.
Flooding in Lytchett Minster – I have repeatedly pressed the Environment Agency (EA) for their findings after carrying out the their levels survey work. At the EA public meeting in the July 2014 they expected to report their findings to residents by September 2014. They have given me numerous revised dates but we still await their report.
In a 11th May reply to my request for information, which I picked up have seen in early June after my holiday, the Area Flood & Coastal Risk Manager, Wessex explained that they are waiting to review the outputs from their hydraulic model before providing initial feedback to the community. He goes on to say that the EA are commissioning a second phase of modelling looking at tidal influence on the land drainage in the area and how that might be managed. In answer to my further request the PDC Engineer has replied on 3rd June saying that the EA have prepared a draft letter to residents they were expecting to have another meeting soon in order to finalise the letter. In earlier discussions the DCC Flood Risk Manager has said that DCC had decided to replace the culverts under the Upton By- Pass, but they are now considering whether flap valves are also needed.
continued……………………
61/15 REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS/DORSET COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS:(Cont)
Councillor F H Drane – Dorset County Council
Dorset Police and Crime Panel DCC at County Hall, Dorchester. This meeting is to scrutinise the Police Commissioner Martyn Underhill. Item 6 on the agenda is to review or scrutinise decisions made or other actions taken by the Police and Crime Commissioner. So it surprised when the Police Commissioner complained that all he was hearing was criticisms. He then said he wasn’t feeling very well. I raised a number of complaints put forward from Lytchett Minster and Upton Town Council which were very valid, such as the lack of police presence in the area, lack of communication from the Police and Crime Commissioner. In one of his bullet points it stated increase people satisfaction with policing in Dorset. He stated the national and local surveys. Dorset enjoys high level of confidence. I replied that when he visited Lytchett Minster and Upton Town Council in July he would find that my complaints were justified. I also raised that the 101 phone number was the only contact the public had with the police and there still was some complaints in the time to answer. He replied perhaps it was because the number was being used for non police concerns.
Local Government Boundary Commission for England Draft Recommendation for DCC
At the DCC meeting I on a personal opinion, objected to Lytchett Minster, Lytchett Matravers and Upton being separated taking Lytchett Matravers out. I also on a personal objection to PDC plan also taking Lytchett Matravers out putting Upton with Lytchett Minster and Holton Heath. I again stated Lytchett Matravers should remain with Lytchett Minster and Upton. The Boundary Commission draft plan is as I requested apart from joining with Wareham North – having a two member ward I see no problem with. The deadline for comments on these public new consultation is the 6 July 2015.
There has been a number of reports in the Echo about the LATC now called Tricure Local Authority Trading Company. I find them to be incorrect information given to the Echo Imp repaired to answer or find out and concerns raised by the Parish or Town Council. If you wish to make contact for more information – Cabinet Member Jill Haynes for Adult Social Care, Lead Director Catherine Driscoll, Director for Adult and Community Services DCC.
62/15 TO APPOINT CLLR JOHNS TO THE PLANNING COMMITTEE:
It was proposed, seconded and
RESOLVED that Cllr Johns be appointed to the Planning committee.
63/15 TO RELEASE DISCLOSURE FROM DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST (DPI) TO ALL MEMBERS WITH REGARDS TO SETTING THE PRECEPT UNTIL JUNE 2019:
It was proposed, seconded and
RESOLVED that this be accepted.
64/15 TO CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF A NOTICE BOARD:
After discussion it was agreed to provide Cllrs Johns and Porter with the specifications to enable them to obtain quotes for notice boards to be made.
65/15 TO REQUEST DORSET COUNTY COUNCIL TO CARRY OUT AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CYCLEWAY FROM DORCHESTER ROAD TO THE BAKERS ARMS ROUNDABOUT:
After discussion it was proposed, seconded and
RESOLVED to request that DCC investigate whether the current on-road cycle lanes need to be amended due to the road widths in some areas or whether an off-road route could be provided.
66/15 TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A MAYOR CIVIC CHAIN:
This item was not discussed as a donation towards the full cost of the chain was received with grateful thanks from Tapper Funeral Service.
67/15 TO CONSIDER ADOPTING THE SAME CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COUNCILLORS AS USED BY PURBECK DISTRICT COUNCIL:
It was proposed, seconded and
RESOLVED that this be adopted.
continued…………………….
68/15 TO CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL PLOTS AT FRAMPTON TERRACE:
After discussion it was proposed, seconded and
RESOLVED to consider the purchase of the additional plots.
69/15 TO APPROVE ACCOUNTS FOR JUNE 2015 FOR PAYMENT AND TO INSTRUCT MEMBERS TO SIGN CHEQUES:
It was proposed, seconded and
RESOLVED that the accounts for June 2015 be approved.
70/15 TO RECEIVE AND REVIEW THE LATEST FINANCIAL SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS:
This was reviewed by the committee and it was proposed, seconded and
RESOLVED that the latest financial summary of accounts be approved.
71/15 ITEMS OF REPORT (INCLUDING PUBLICITY OPPORTUNITIES) AND MATTERS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS:
a. It was reported that information is awaited from Lytchett Minster School regarding one of the Youth Advisers and Cllr Richards will pursue this.
b. Cllr Drane expressed concern that as Cllr Johns is no longer involved with Dorset Waste Partnership there is no representative from the Town Council.
c. Copies of the DAPTC magazine were received and circulated.
d. It was reported that DCC have assisted in repairs to the Cemetery entrance and the Recreation Ground Car Park.
e. The In Bloom judging of the Cemetery will take place in July.
f. The Art strand of the Beacon Association will be holding an Arts Festival week from Monday 29 June – Saturday 4 July.
g. Lytchett Minster Villagers are having open gardens between 2 – 5 pm on Sunday 21 June. A Floral Festival will be held at Lytchett Minster Church over the weekend 20/21 June.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.50 p.m.
Chairman……..…………………………………..
Date………………………………………………
DEMOCRATIC SESSION:
PCSO Jake Williams attended the meeting to give an update on police matters. There is no increase in crime figures, however there have been incidents of anti-social behavior at the skate park and Lytchett Bay View. An attempt will be made to set up a meeting between the Town Council, Borough of Poole, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Wareham Police and Hamworthy Police.