Whitchurch Canonicorum, Wootton Fitzpaine and Stanton St. Gabriel Parishes

Present: A Bay (Chairman), C Richards, P White, S Johnson, R Cook, E Fortescue, W Chapman, R Andrews, Y Bridle, V Diment, D Newson, L Jenkins, S Creed-Castle and 6 members of the public.

Apologies: D Richards (Vice-Chairman), B Briscoe and G Brierley.

3735 Declarations of Interest: Cllr Diment declared an interest on the James Hargreaves Community Hall, Cllr Chapman declared an interest on the Penn Cottage planning application and Cllr Fortescue declared an interest in the Thurnings Graphic invoice.

3736 Minutes of the Last Meeting: Subject to two minor amendments the minutes were agreed as acceptable, proposed by Cllr Fortescue, seconded by Cllr Chapman, all agreed and signed.

3737 Matters Arising: The Clerk reported that Andy Dean and Phil Kingdom from Connect Road Operators will be attending the April 2003 meeting to discuss major roadworks between Morcombelake and Charmouth. The Chairman asked if any correspondence has been received from the Womens Institute regarding the seat and Mr Douglas regarding the Notice Boards, the Clerk reported that no correspondence has been received.

3738 Finance: Cheques to be signed this month are:- Clerks Salary and Postage £240.90, Petty Cash £30.00, Morcombelake URC Hall £10.00, Morcombelake URC Hall £7.00, Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall £6.00, Thurning Graphics £10.63, Mr G Edwardes £30.00 and Ordnance Survey £55.81, proposed by Cllr Andrews, seconded by Cllr C Richards, all agreed.

The Chairman read out a letter from the James Hargreaves Community Hall Committee assuring the Parish Council that solutions to parking problems would be sought and also asking for a 5% donation, £750.00 as Dorset Community Action have awarded £6,700 so far. It was discussed that this money has not been budgeted for in the 2003/2004 financial year but the Parish Council would write to Dorset Community Action giving their support for the 5% donation, proposed by Cllr Bridle, seconded by Cllr C Richards, all agreed.

3739 Public Discussion: Miss Diment reported that the potholes near The Green in Morcombelake have been filled.

3740 Planning: 46 Penn Cottage, Wootton Fitzpaine – Cllr Fortescue reported on this planning application to erect a first floor extension and convert garage/out building to an annexe. She said that the neighbours have recently been consulted by the applicant. The plans show that the extension is joined onto the neighbours property and it looks like a new dwelling in an AONB which is outside the development boundary. It was unanimously agreed to object to this application.

3741 Reports: Cllr Newson reminded the Council that comments regarding the Local Plan have to be in by the 13th March 2003. He also reported that he has seen a document, which shows that the Marshwood Vale area is the most deprived ward in the Country, he will find out how they get these figures.

Cllr Bridle reported that there is a WATAG Meeting coming up soon and she will report back next month.

Cllr Fortescue said that she had attended a Bridport Area Partnership Meeting and they discussed the formation of community planning. She said that Char Valley had carried theirs out in the Parish Plan and forwarded to various departments within Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council but had received no acknowledgements and the Authorities had been told. She also reported that transport had been discussed and the Beecham Report and that Bridport is the lead town for the villages surrounding it. Dorset County Council has been sent the transport findings and the Morcombelake Car Park was an issue, Cllr Bridle is to write to Tim Westwood of Dorset County Council on this matter.

Cllr C Richards reported work on an ash tree at Bonhayes in Whitchurch Canonicorum.

Cllr Chapman reported that the Poole Athletic Club will be passing through the area on the 11th May 2003 due to a relay race.
Cllr Chapman reported on a DAPTC meeting he had attending with Cllr Andrews. Topics discussed were the mobile speed safety cameras, ship to ship in Lyme Bay and the National GM debate.

Cllr Bridle reported that a talk by Dorset Polices Karen Taylor the Homewatch Co-ordinator on crime prevention will be held in Morcombelake Hall on the 18th March 2003.

Cllr Fortescue reported that the footpath sign at Wootton Cross is rotting and will soon fall down. Also the Wyld Cross sign with the finial has fallen down and is being held at Greenlands at Wootton Fitzpaine. She also reported that the Wootton Fitzpaine notice board has been taken away for repair along with the election notices in, she is to retrieve the notices from Mr Douglas. Cllr Fortescue also reported huge potholes in the area of Becklands Bridge in Whitchurch Canonicorum.

Cllr Chapman reported potholes at Westover Hill, Wootton Fitzpaine.

Cllr Bay reported potholes in Crooked Lane, Whitchurch Canonicorum and Stoke Mill Lane.

3742 Correspondence: Dorset County Council, Highway repairs – Oliver Letwin, Newlands planning application – Charmouth Parish Council, Newlands planning application – DEFRA, Licensing Bill – West Dorset District Council, Consultation draft on Tourism – Dorset Community Action, Introduction of new Officer – Charmouth Parish Council, Stonebarrow Notice Board – DAPTC Circulars on Elections, Royal Garden Party and Parochial Fees – The Boundary Committee, Review of Dorset County Council – Wootton Fitzpaine PCC, Thank you for donation – Whitchurch Canonicorum PCC, Change of Treasurer – Highways Agency, Parking at Morcombelake.

3743 Parish Plan: The Chairman said the web designer Tim Heap suggested that a years worth of minutes were put on the web site, it was generally thought that a years worth was adequate. Cllr Bay said that Mr Newman was not getting information from the Rights of Way Section at County Hall with regards his job and group within the Parish Plan. Cllr Fortescue said that the document called The Hedgerow Survey Handbook was needed from DEFRA, it was agreed that the Clerk get a copy. The Chairman reported that the Heritage and Archaeology Group was up and running with Sylvia Creed-Castle kindly arranging a walk through her farm on the 9th March 2003.

3744 May 2003 Elections: The Clerk reported that she has given each Councillor a nomination form just in case they wanted to nominate themselves for re-election in May.

3745 Local Plan: The Chairman reported that after several meetings the comments on the Local Plan have been typed up, she thanked everyone who had helped in compiling these comments. The main issues commented on were caravan sites, housing and farm buildings and also parking facilities at Morcombelake.

3746 Any Other Business: Cllr Andrews reported that Connect have been contacting landowners adjacent to the A35 wanting to carry out bore holes and test pits in readiness for works on the A35 at Morcombelake.
Cllr Fortescue reported that the newsletter will be available soon, she will chase Creeds to see how they are coming on. She also reported that addresses for the Wootton Fitzpaine area have been put on a database, with just Whitchurch to do. It was agreed that the Clerk order 500 envelopes for the newsletters.

3747 Date of Next Meeting: 14th April 2003 at 7.30pm in Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall.

3748 Close of Meeting: 8.50pm.