Given below are the minutes of the meeting of the above parish council held in the Communal Room, Cherry Tree, Bridport, on 8th March 2016. The meeting commenced at 7.30pm.
PRESENT: Cllr Lathey , Cllr Wrighton, Cllr Bowditch, Cllr Trott, 13 x members of the public. Mrs A Stephenson recorded the minutes
1. APOLOGIES
Cllr Beer, Cllr Gay, Don McAllister
2. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS INTERESTS
Item 8 – Cllr Trott, Cllr Bowditch
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The Chairman asked if everyone had both received and read the minutes of the last meeting, if so, were they a true record. ALL AGREED that the minutes were a true record. The minutes were duly signed.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES
Cllr Lathey had met Magna and walked around Cherry Tree – Kerrie Brook from Magna will be working on things with Ken Bodycombe.
Cllr Lathy and Cathy Harvey had met with Highways with regards to drains etc in North Allington – this is all ongoing. Plan to speak to Adrian Hutchings who rents the field off North Allington with regards to water run off.
5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Members of the public were in attendace at the meeting to discuss issues with Donkey Lane. They raised the issue that the owner of the property ‘Meadowside’ in Donkey Lane was trying to claim land that was not currently his, as his. He had put in an application to Land Registryto try and take ownership of and from the bottom of Donkey Lane right down through to the back of 77 Orchard Crescent.. This piece of land is regularly used by many people as a footpath, this has been so for over 60 years members of the public stated. Members of the public also stated that it had been a full track many years ago. Council were advised by some members of the public present that the owner of Meadowside had been particularly abusive to people walking along this route and that he had already moved his garden fence further out in an attempt to gain more land. Parish Council advised any abusive behaviour to be logged by the members of the public and to call the police if the situation was deemed necessary. The Parish Council had been tipped off about this situation shortly before the meeting and had immediately contacted Highways who had advised that the footpath/right of way was not on the definitive maps but that an application could be put together, with evidence from walkers, that it should be on the map as a footpath/right of way. Evidence forms from members of the public who had used this route for many years, would need to be filled out and collectively sent back by the Parish Council. Parish Clerk to make sure residents had the necessary forms. The Parish Council had also been in contact with Land Registry about this land claim as they had not been made formerly aware, however it had been brought to their attention that Bridport Town Council had been made aware. Land Registry had only sent forms to the Town Council and the Parish Council would have to state their case to the Land Registry in order to be able to make comment on the application. Clerk to deal. Parish Council were made aware by members of the public that Kitson & Trotman were the solicitors acting for the owner of Meadowside in his case to claim the land. Clerk was asked to speak to Kitson and Trotman to lodge objections to the proposal. The Council were in agreement that this footpath/right of way had been in use for many years – Chairman P Lathey himself had been using this route for over 60 years.
6. FINANCE REPORT
a) Current acct: £1,296.20, savings acct: £20,581.98.
b)The following cheques were authorised by the council: Clerk’s wages (for past month) £258.80 HMRC £9.20, clerks expenses jan-mar £47.43, Viking £113.89, John Bright Fencing £538 (Hillbillies reimbursing us for this – picnic table).
7. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
WD/D/16/000158 – 2 The Walled Garden, West Mead – demolish existibg conservatory and replace with two storey rear extension. Council had no objections
8. COOPERS WOOD
Now have a garage for storage. PIcnic table to arrive soon. AGM on Fri 11th March. Hedge event on Sunday 13th March.
9. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Progressing but there are some issues – Bradpole PC holding an extraordinary meeting on this.
10. CHERRY TREE PLAY AREA
Don not present.
11. WOODLAND TRUST PLAY AREA REPORT
Cllr Bowditch said all was fine.
12. CORRESPONDENCE
Various as discussed incuding an update from Savills on Vearse Farm and a meeting about this from the Town Council
13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
12 April 2016
Meeting closed at 8.37pm