Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held in Potterne Village Hall on Wednesday, 25th April 2012
Welcome and apologies:
Clyde Hoddinott, Chairman of Potterne Parish Council welcomed Councillors and members of the village to their Annual Parish Meeting.
Apologies had been received from: Joe Brewer, Clerk to Potterne Charities, Jackie Sawyer, PCSO Nina Marsh and Councillor Rob Edwards.
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 20th April 2011: The minutes were agreed and signed as an accurate record.
Matters arising: There were no matter arising from the previous meeting.
Presentation of the Jubilee Cup:
This year the Jubilee Cup was presented to Ron Fraser for his services to the village. Mr Fraser is the Royal British Legion Standard Bearer and has paraded the Potterne Standard at the repatriations through Royal Wootton Bassett, and has also won the County Standard bearer competition. Mr Fraser has carried the Potterne Standard at the Royal Albert Hall at the remembrance parade. Mr Fraser has raised in excess of £600 for the new Potterne Standard.
Mr Fraser is also captain of the Potterne Rifle Club and recently guided them to victory in the Devizes and District rifle league twice in succession, the first time Potterne has won since 1952. Finally Mr Fraser has just qualified as a community volunteer First Responder. Mr Hoddinott congratulated M Fraser on his fine achievements.
Chairman of Parish Council report:
Mr Clyde Hoddinott, Chairman of the Parish Council reported that during the year the Council were pleased to welcome three new members, John Chandler, Chris Twiney and Rob Edwards following the resignations of Clare Manley and John Hobbs. The last co-option onto the Council had received four applications, which was a health sign as the majority of the year the Council had been running with one member short. Mr Hoddinott reminded everyone that elections would be taking place again in May 2013.
The Parish Council have been involved with Devizes Area Board through Tony Molland and the Devizes Community Area Partnership through Pat Straw and both give monthly feedback to the Council. We are also kept up to date with events at the Youth Centre through John Chandler.
One of the main focuses for the Parish Council has been the start of preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan for the village. This began with a planning consultant, Ed White coming to a Parish Counci meeting. We then held an open meeting where Mr Hunt-Grubbe agreed to Chair the proceedings. This is continuing to gain momentum with a steering group of local residents now formed.
Other matters have included the conversion of the cemetery shed at Brownleaze Lane to a shelter, which will soon have seating installed.
Although now approved we still await the 40mph speed limit from the High Street to Potterne Wick.
The Parish Council have had to employ contractors to undertake tree works at Blounts Court play area, which is now complete. This work was to make safe the trees, which had suffered weather damage. The actual play area continues to be inspected for safety by Rospa.
The Councils finances continue to show a healthy balance and this year we have budgeted to support the Neighbourhood Plan and possible Jubilee celebrations. The latter have not materialised as we had expected and any surplus funds will be used to reduce the demands on our budget for next year.
Burial fees received from the use of the Brownleaze cemetery help offset the maintenance costs of the area.
Mr Hoddinott informed parishioners that the Parish Councils accounts will be available for inspection as soon as the Auditor accepts them.
Mr Hoddinott thanked his fellow Councillors and Parish Clerk for their continued hard work. Thanks also went to Liz Bryant our Wiltshire Councillor as the Parish Council continue to increase demands on her time.
Reports from Local Groups and Organisations
Potterne Panto Group: Jackie Sawyer who unfortunately could not attend the meeting had sent in a written report to be read out by Tony Bailey.
Potterne Panto Group’s production of “Beauty & the Beast” was performed from 16th – 18th February at the Village Hall with sell-out audiences enjoying Potterne Panto Group’s version of this traditional French tale. There was a little of everything – a traditional fairy tale heritage, traditional pantomime elements, well known songs, dancing, romance, drama, a few medically challenged skeletons and some very dodgy French accents! The audience were invited to participate in the action and, at the Saturday matinee in particular, there was a queue of children wanting to “Splat the Rat”!
Supplementing our loyal and dedicated core of cast members were a number of new members, who we welcomed into the Panto team this year. We are, as always, keen to hear from Potterne residents if they would like to be involved in performing or being part of the backstage and technical team.
The backstage workers who produced the costumes, scenery and props had a great deal to undertake in order to support the cast in their endeavours on the stage. Everyone’s role is vital and I would like to thank them all for their contribution to this year’s production.
We would like to thank Potterne Post Office for acting as our Ticket Agency; all local businesses, schools, St Mary’s Church, etc for carrying our advertising; Mark Godding for help with staging; Sarah Challice at Devizes School of Dancing; Gaiger Bros. Ltd; & Catley’s Gas Centre.
In Autumn 2011, the Pantomime Group made donations to a number of village organisations and local charities. A total of £1,200 was donated to these good causes.
Last, but by no means least, thank you to everyone who came to a performance to support this year’s production. We hope you enjoyed the show!
Potterne Charities: Mrs Straw read the reportfrom Potterne Charities in the absence of Joe Brewer, Clerk to Potterne Charities.
The annual accounts for the year ending 31st March 2012 showed an income of £3,420 a decrease of £291 over the previous year.
Investment income from the ten charities in Potterne came to £1121 and income from land amounted to £2,299. On this basis the Trustees at Christmas were able to increase the individual grant to £46, a total of £1932. This year the grant was split into two equal parts £23 x 2) to give more choice of suppliers.
Grants to village organisations amounted to £1540. These amounts plus expenses of £472 and the contribution of £122.68 to the Worton & Marston charities leaves a balance of £1,609
Potterne Neighbourhood Plan: Mr Hunt-Grubbe explained that the initiative to proceed with a Neighbourhood Plan came out of the recent Localism Bill. By carrying out a Neighbourhood Plan it gave the parish a huge opportunity to control their own environment.
Following several open meetings a fluid steering group has been formed. It is hoped that the steering group will include all ages and sectors in the parish. The steering group have has an address from Jackie Bawden from Rowde Parish Council who have recently carried out a Village Plan which is a pre-cursor to a Neighbourhood Plan.
The plan will make an opportunity to look forward for the village and when funds are available from various sources, with the plan in place we would be able to apply quickly. By having the plan it does not mean that the village are against any development. There are three strands to the plan Mr Hunt-Grubbe explained: 1). Being able to apply for funding; 2). Control development, with no inappropriate building; 3). Bring the community together.
The steering group meets each month in the village hall and the next meeting is on Friday, 27th April.
Potterne Mummers: Mr Chandler reported that the Potterne Mummers had raised £1,500 to present to the Air Ambulance Appeal and that this ’secret society’ would be performing on 1st May in Salisbury at the Jubilee celebration where the Queen would be present.
Jubilee celebrations: Mrs Ann Howard reminded residents of the celebrations taking place the weekend after the official jubilee celebrations in George Day’s field. This event is part church fete and part jubilee celebration and will end with a pig roast in the evening.
Potterne Village Hall: Mr Rob Jones introduced himself as the new Chairman of the Village Hall committee and invited everyone to their AGM which takes place on 28th May. The committee are keen to see the hall used and would like to hold significant events here to help raise funds to maintain the hall to in the high standard it has achieved.
Potterne Youth Centre: John Chandler introduced Steve Dewar, the youth worker who is working with Potterne, Worton and Marston youth.
Mr Dewar said he wanted to support and encourage young people in the village. He has now qualified as a football coach and on Tuesday afternoons will be coaching youths, which will help instill team working and a sense of belonging to the community.
Ryeleaze field will be used as much as possible, with an Olympics event taking place here later in the year. The Youth Centre is open five days a week with a café, drop in centre etc., Mr Dewar appealed to anyone who may have a skill, whether it be interviewing techniques, to administration skills etc., that could be passed onto to youth to come forward as help is always welcome.
Any Questions: Mr Hoddinott asked those attending this evening whether they had any questions for the Parish Council.
Some of the questions asked:
Footpath behind the bus shelter at Blackberry Lane: This footpath was below the level of the bank and mud washes down on to the path, making it very hazardous for pedestrians. Could anything be done about it? Mrs Straw, the Parish Councils footpath liaison said she would talk to the Parish Steward, who will be in the village next week and try and get the path cleared. It was agreed that better retention of the bank was required to stop this problem re-occurring.
Speed limit reduction: Did the Parish Council know when the speed limit reduction promised for Potterne Wick end of the village was to take place and would it cover the Potterne Wick road? Mr Hoddinott said that there has been no definite date given to the Council re the installation of the amended limit. The reduced limit would go pass the Potterne Wick turn, but not along the Potterne Wick / Urchfont road.
Potterne past and present: Mr Dewer introduced three young people from the village, Georgia, Madison and Kelsey who said how much they appreciated the youth club and the church summer camp. Georgia said she had gained more opportunities and encouragement through the youth club and is now a volunteer there. Madison said it had built her confidence in what she considers a quite village.
Kesley, who had left the village and came back after four years said she was was shocked to find the damage youths had caused, but now the youth centre has started again, it has stopped youths hanging around as much, which in turn was stopping the damage.
Steve Dewar said there were still youth smoking, drinking and generally hanging around, but he wants to give them all the opportunities he feels they deserve.
Mr Tony Bailey, Mrs Janice Underwood and Mr George Day all of which had been born and still live in Potterne gave an account of their earlier days in the village.
We were reminded of the shops, (Fish & Chip, Butcher, two Cobblers, a Drapers shop, Bakers, Antiques and a Sweet shop) local services (a laundry at Cuckolds Green, Pearce’s yard, which had been an employer of quite a few local people and petrol pumps in the High Street to name a few) and the school. Mrs Underwood reminded Mr Bailey and Mr Day of Nurse Ratsen, who was the local midwife doing her visits on her bicycle and of Mr Sam Elver, a teacher at school who had a wooden hand.
St Marys and Ryeleaze were allotments in their days and Mrs Underwood said how they had been taught how to boil potatoes and keep them white. Brownies were held on a Wednesday, with Guides on a Friday and Sunday school of a Sunday afternoon. There was an ice-cream van that visited the village on a Friday, but much to Mrs Underwood’s annoyance as a youngster she had to attend music lessons and missed the ice-creams!
Mr Day said the village hall had no stage or kitchen and had only a coke boiler in the basement for heating and the lighting was three or four hanging pendant lights from the ceiling. Toilet facilities were in a building in the garden and when troops came in on a Saturday for the local dances, trestle tables and benches were put up around the sides of the hall. The hall currently has a black pipe running over the ceiling, which is apparently the remains of a gas pipe from the gas works that were in Coxhill Lane.
Mains water came to the village in the early 1950’s, before that Mr Day was paid 6d a week for carrying two buckets of water, twice a day from the village pump and this money would then be used to go into Devizes to the cinema. Children and young people helped their families with the chicken and pigs that were kept and everyone was encouraged to have an allotment.
School times were from 9.00am to 4.00pm and this was the only schooling, they did not move on to a senior school and left school at the age of 14. There were no school dinners, everyone went home and came back in the afternoon. Evacuees during the war came to Potterne, which apparently caused problems at the school as some were Catholic and it was a Church of England school, but it was overcome by using the village hall as a classroom. Most of the classrooms had coke boilers in them for heating.
All three reminisced at playing in the road, either on homemade trolleys, roller skates or with whip and top and because there were not many cars on the roads, they went around them!
There being no further business Mr Hoddinott thanked everyone for attending the meeting, particularly those who had given accounts of their time in Potterne. Mr Hoddinott reminded parishioners that this was their meeting and only chaired by the Parish Council.