Given below are the minutes of the meeting of the above parish council held in the Communal Room, Cherry Tree, Bridport, on 7th June 2016. The meeting commenced at 7.30pm.
PRESENT: Cllr Lathey, Cllr Trott, Cllr Bowditch, 15 x members of the public. Mrs A Stephenson recorded the minutes
It was Proposed by Cllr Lathey to move agenda item 7 (Donkey Lane) to before agenda item 6 (Public Participation) so information received could be talked about before moving on to the public item where they could then speak about it. Seconded by Cllr Bowditch. All agreed.
1. APOLOGIES
Cllr Beer, Cllr Wrighton. Cllr Gay, Don McAllister
2. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS INTERESTS
Item 14- Cllr Bowditch
3. OUTSTANDING DECLARATIONS OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICER
Form given to Cllr Lathey to sign and return. He also signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Officer Form
4. 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.
5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THOSE MINUTES
None
6. DONKEY LANE
A letter had been received from Mr Raymond’s solicitor, which was read out and discussed at length. It was agreed for Clerk to draft a response to each query/statement raised within the letter and get Chairman to approve before sending. Clerk was instructed to make clear that Donkey Lane was in Bridport Town Council’s boundary with associated information, as well as mentioning the Parish Council’s application to Dorset County Council to get the footpath put on the definitive map. Also Clerk was told to make it clear that Mr Raymond is welcome to attend a parish council meeting, as is anyone. Clerk to also state we have seen more recent evidence of what Donkey Lane used to look like, than is quoted in Solicitor’s letter. Clerk to make it clear we have already made objections to Land Registry which still stand.
7. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Members of the public gave evidence as to how long they had been using Donkey Lane for and how long ago Mr Raymond had started enclosing part of the land which had been a gradual process (e.g. making turning circle bigger after increasing his property’s boundary, putting in a gate half way down Donkey Lane. One member of public had evidence from an Ordnance Survey Map dated 1985/4 as well as more evidence from Google Earth showing much more recent aerial views. Members of the public were extremely cross at the way land has been gained and also that this application had gone to Land Registry. Many had already filled out evidence forms to state their use of this lane over the last 60 years, more members of the public said they would gather any more evidence they could find. Cathy Harvey informed all that the Allington Hill Volunteer Group have now purchased the tractor. There will be a competition to name it. She reported that Aiden’s Ambe was a great success and raised at least £720 at last count. AONB have offered to match fund. Member of public informed all that 57 Cherry Tree has been given notice to quite the property (currently squatters).
8. FINANCE REPORT
a) Current acct: £5,613.38, with money in of £2795 from Allington Hill Volunteers for tractor (taking into account the £1000 offered by Allington Parish Council and the VAT), savings acct: £20,589.72
b)The following cheques were authorised by the council: Clerk’s wages (for past month) £269.80 HMRC £7.20, Clerk’s expenses for last 3 months £60.12, Leigh Hansford for Internal Audit £10, Paul Bowditch for fuel for mower £11.39, ROSPA for play area inspections £239.48
c) Internal Audit had been completed and was distributed – all had been found to be present and correct. Proposed to accept by P Lathey, Seconded by P Bowditch, agreed by all
d) The External Audit has been completed by the Clerk and was handed to all Councillors to view. It was proposed by Cllr. Lathey and seconded by Cllr. Bowditch to approve Section 1 – Statement of Accounts, Section 2 – Annual Governance Statement. It was noted that all the answers to Section 2 were Yes other than where they were not applicable. This was agreed and accepted by all.
9. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
None
10. ROSPA PLAY AREA INSPECTIONS
All fine, nothing of immediate concern, some minor points noted and will be mentioned to the people responsible for those area to monitor.
11. NOTICEBOARD
Clerk had been to inspect noticeboard at West Allington and reported that it was beyond repair and a replacement was required. Clerk had costings to match those noticeboards already replaced. This was agreed in theory but to look at it more detail at next meeting.
12. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
There was a meeting yesterday but not heard anything from it as yet as we had no representatives present.
13. CHERRY TREE PLAY AREA
Don not present, but no-one had heard any reports of any problems.
14. WOODLAND TRUST PLAY AREA REPORT
Cllr Bowditch said all was fine. Clerk to remind TMH Fencing about outstanding report/quote. Soil removed form new posts could go in goal mouths.
15. CORRESPONDENCE
Various were available to read.
16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
12th July 2016
Meeting closed at 8.52pm