Given below are the minutes of the meeting of the above parish council held in the Communal Room, Cherry Tree, Bridport, on 13th October 2020.  The meeting commenced at 7.30pm.

PRESENT:  Cllr Gay, Cllr Lathey, Cllr Bowditch, Cllr Beer, Cllr Trott, 1 x members of the public.  Mrs Amy Stephenson recorded the minutes

1.  APOLOGIES

Cllr Wrighton

2. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS INTERESTS

Cllr Bowditch and Cllr Trott in Item 11

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

None.

5.  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Clerk was asked to email Dorset Council about drains etc.  Nothing to report back as had no reply.  But it appears some work is being done to the drains although many are still currently blocked.

Parish Council suggest purchasing some sand bags for use in North Allington end where the flooding has been bad.  Council agreed in theory but would need somewhere to store them.  Cllr Gay will look into purchasing them and holding them temporarily.  Clerk to obtain some flood warning signs from Dorset Council.

Co-Housing site are pumping water out of that site into drains – need to email Monica with our concerns re the flooding as their site has added to the flooding in the locality which we warned them about before – what are they planning to do about this issue..  Also mud on the road at entrance to hospital which is dangerous for drivers and pedestrians which is another concern and how do they propose to deal with this.  Suggest they need a proper road sweeping machine hired in on bad days.

6.  FINANCE REPORT

a)  Current acct: £13,390.20 with second half of precept received.  savings acct:  £7,644.63

b) Cleks salary – New NALC pay scale has been introduced and although the clerk will stay on the same salary point of 27 the amount will go up to £390.96 a month (minus any HMRC deductions).

c)The following cheques were authorised by the council:  Clerk’s wages (for past month taking into account backdated amount) £731.39 HMRC £127.06, reimburse Paul Bowditch for motor fuel £31.50

7. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

WD/D/20/001358 – 32 West Mead – erect single storey extension – APPROVED

8. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

Dorset Council have accepted Neighbourhood Plan but appear not to be taking too much notice as Government White Paper is being drawn up

9.  CHERRY TREE PLAY AREA

Big gate wide open – no padlock there.

10.  WOODLAND TRUST PLAY AREA REPORT

Wet but still being used

11.  COOPERS WOOD

Been donated lots of wild seed but field would benefit from being chain harrowed before.  Council agreed.

Ash tree came down.  Woodland Trust will have to take whole tree out and will sort this – hopefully next week weather permitting.

12.  DORSET COUNCIL’S COUNCILLOR REPORT

Not present

13. CORRESPONDENCE

Received an email from a Pymoe resident with regards to Pymore bridge and if it would be possible to get signs put on it warning signs to its weight limits and how narrow.  Clerk will forward to Dorset Council for their thoughts

Received and email from a North Allington resident with regards to whether there are any plans in place for a pedestrian crossing in North Allington top end especially with the new housing coming etc.  Clerk to take this idea forward to Dorset Council although this has been asked before and it was felt there was nowhere suitable to site it.

14. DATE OF NEXT MEETING 

Unknown due to Covid

Meeting closed at 7.50pm