Whitchurch Canonicorum, Wootton Fitzpaine and Stanton St. Gabriel Parishes

Present: A Bay (Chairman), E Fortescue (Vice Chairman), R Andrews, S Johnson, C Richards, V Diment,
R Taylor, J Bridle, W Chapman, P White, B Briscoe, I Gillespie, S Creed-Castle, L Jenkins and 3 members of the public.

3909 Introduction/Talk by Esther Osborne and Mark Jones, Police Community Support Officers: Esther and Mark introduced themselves as the areas local Police Community Support Officers. A question and answer session followed which revealed their roles and powers

3910 Apologies: G Brierley and D Newson.

3911 Declarations: Cllr Diment declared an interest on Westhill, Pitmans Lane, Morcombelake planning application.

3912 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 9th February 2004: Cllr Bay pointed out that I Gillespie should be omitted from the present list and Cllr Andrews asked that under Finance that ‘professional advisors’ be changed to Finance Committee meeting. The minutes were then agreed as acceptable, proposed by Cllr Diment, seconded by Cllr Briscoe, all agreed and signed.

3913 Matters Arising: The Clerk reported that she has carried out all of her ‘actions’ but as yet no replies have been received. She also reported that she has been to see Lloyds Bank regarding the account and this will be reported under the Finance Section.

3914 Finance: Clerks Report: The Clerk reported that she has been to Lloyds TSB bank and they have advised that the Parish Council take out a Business Instant Access Account which gives interest and can be run along side our other account which does not give any interest. Cllr Taylor proposed that we open this account, seconded by Cllr Chapman, Cllr Richards abstained, all agreed. Action: Clerk Payments: Clerks Salary, £242.47 – Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall, £15.00 – Ordnance Survey, £55.81 – Logomotion, £420.00, proposed by Cllr Fortescue, seconded by Cllr Andrews, all agreed.

3915 Public Discussion: Mr Barnes said that he was the applicant of the planning application for Penn Cottage and he hoped that the Parish Council would look favourably on it.
3916 Planning: Rowan House, Wootton Fitzpaine – Cllr Fortescue looked at this application to erect a double garage. She reported that previous owners had incorporated the original double garage into the dwelling and this application was to replace that one. It was felt that there was not enough room for a double garage on site and refusal was recommended with a view to erecting a single garage instead. Westhill, Pitmans Lane, Morcombelake – Cllr White looked at this application to erect a single storey side extension. No objections have been received and it was agreed to recommend approval. Myrtle Cottage, Taylors Lane, Morcombelake – Cllr Diment and Cllr White looked at this application to erect a garage/store. Three objections have been received on this application. Concerns raised was that it towers over neighbours and it is not inkeeping with the area, so refusal was recommended. Windhover, Whitchurch Canonicorum – Cllr Richards looked at this application to erect a single storey and two storey extension. No objections from neighbours have been received as the application will not interfere with anyone and approval was recommended. Penn Cottage, 46 Axminster Road, Charmouth – Cllr Fortescue looked at this application to erect a two storey extension to form offices for a local business. It was agreed to recommend approval subject to a business tie put on the property and that the access nearby is kept clear of skips. Planning approvals received: Nettlemore Farm, Fishpond and Greenacres, Morcombelake.

3917 Introduction/Talk by Susan Anders, Community Partnership Development Officer: Susan Anders introduced herself as the Community Partnership Development Officer. She spoke on how she needs feedback from the Parish Council on important issues in the community, she can then take the comments forward and pass them onto relevant sections for them to deal with, ie matters such as transport and affordable housing.

3918 Reports: Cllr Gillespie reported that the District Councils Council Tax rise is 7.6% and that Dorset County Councils rise is 4.9%, figures from a questionnaire showed that 85% of people in Dorset would have been happy to pay an increase of between £10 and £15. He reported that MAFF money is not certain and that the schemes in Lyme Regis and West Bay need to be looked at carefully at a later date. He also reported that cuts are inevitable in some services and that the services will be reviewed to see where money can be saved wherever possible. He also reported that the District Council are failing to meet the 95% turnaround of planning applications within 6 weeks, this is due to a large number of applications coming through the system and that objections have to go to committee which takes more time. Finally he reported that there are problems with the District and County Pension Funds and these will be looked into during July 2004.

Cllr Chapman reported that he had attended a DAPTC meeting which included a talk by the Dorset Rural Renaissance Partnership on regeneration in rural areas and what funding is available. He also reported that the District Council are going to list why applications are approved as well as why they are refused in future.

Cllr Bridle reported that the bus shelter has now been erected outside the Ship Inn in Morcombelake. Cllr Briscoe reported the usual potholes in the Fishpond area and a particularly bad one near Whitegates. She also reported that the bridge at Fishpond Bottom looks unsafe, it was agreed that the Clerk reports these matters to Dorset County Council. Action: Clerk

Cllr Chapman reported the usual potholes in the Monkton Wyld area which need reporting again and that the salt bin at Monkton Wyld Cross is empty. He also asked if Cllr White had looked at the notice board, he confirmed he had not but will before the next meeting, however Cllr Chapman feels that it has gone beyond repair. Action: Clerk and Cllr White Cllr Bridle asked if a freestanding notice board could be placed near Stonebarrow Lane instead of waiting for the sale of Mr and Mrs Gorfin’s house. Everyone was in agreement and it was agreed that the Clerk write to the various authorities requesting permission to do this. Action: Clerk

Cllr Fortescue reported that the West Dorset District Council litter bin outside Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall does not get regularly emptied due to the small refuse lorry coming around and no bin bag placed in the litter bin. It was agreed that the Clerk write to West Dorset District Council asking for any suggestions to this problem. Action: Clerk Cllr Johnson reported that the drain near Stockham Bridge has still not been repaired and that along Gassons Lane the road is giving away in places, the Clerk will reported these matters again. Action: Clerk

Cllr Diment reported that he had received a request for a salt bin just below Eagle Cottage at Morcombelake because of a spring. Cllr Bay said that this request would be discussed at the next Finance Meeting. Cllr Taylor said that work on the footpath between Frodshams and Moores Biscuit Factory had started but has come to a standstill. He also reported that gullies have been emptied at the bottom of Verriotts Lane, Morcombelake but not at the top. It was agreed that the Clerk write to Dorset County Council and Connect chasing up the works. Action: Clerk

Cllr Bay reported that the road is collapsing between Meadowside and Bluntshay, Whitchurch Canonicorum underneath the electric pylons, the Clerk will report this also. Action: Clerk

3919 Correspondence: DAPTC, Circulars 02/04, 03/04, 04/04 and 05/04 – West Dorset District Council, Change of property at Stonebarrow Lane – West Dorset District Council, Register of Interests and Prejudicial Interests – Dorset County Council, Dorset Waste Forum – Wootton Fitzpaine PCC, Thank you for Grant – West Dorset District Council, Housing Strategy – West Dorset District Council, Spring Clean 2004 – Dorset County Council, Carshare Scheme – CPRE, Newsletter – Dorset County Council, Acknowledgement to Coastal Footpath Closure – Dorset County Council, Parish Maintenance Units – Dorset County Council, Changes to Services – Dorset County Council, Revised Deposit Plan.

3920 Parish Plan: Cllr Fortescue reported that Mr Jenkins has given her a leaflet from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) which is giving out awards and the Parish Plan could be put forward for an award, this will be looked into. She also reported that at the April 2004 meeting she will report on an updated list of actions which have been carried out so far.

3921 Any Other Business: Cllr Richards reported a good response so far on the questionnaires for affordable housing.

3922 Date of Next Meeting: 19th April 2004 at 7.30pm in Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall.

3923 Close of Meeting: 9.40pm.