Whitchurch Canonicorum, Wootton Fitzpaine and Stanton St. Gabriel Parishes

Present: E Fortescue (Chairman), V Diment (Vice Chairman), A Bay, S Johnson, P White, C Richards, R Cook, B Briscoe, R Taylor, J Bridle, L Jenkins and 5 members of the public.

3940 Apologies: W Chapman, R Andrews, D Newson and S Creed-Castle.

3941 Declarations of Interest: None.

3942 Chairmans Closing Remarks: Cllr Bay thanked the Councillors for working with her and she said that it is a very good Parish Council. There had been an expansion of Parish Council activities including the Parish Plan and Bridport Area Partnership. Some planning applications had been tricky but she had been happy with the responses that the Parish Council had given over the years. The Parish Plan has been hard work with lots of work being carried out by Elizabeth Fortescue, Yvonne Bridle and many more, it is nice to see so many actions from that being carried out and that has been a highlight. There are still many more ongoing problems to resolve such as road maintenance and the land opposite the Church in Whitchurch Canonicorum which she hopes will be resolved in the near future.

3943 Election of Chairman and Signing of Acceptance of Office: Cllr Diment nominated Cllr Fortescue, seconded by Cllr Bridle, unanimously agreed. Cllr Fortescue signed the Acceptance of Office and thanked Cllr Bay for her three years of Chairmanship and over twenty years serving on the Parish Council.

3944 Election of Vice Chairman: Cllr Bay nominated Cllr Diment, seconded by Cllr Taylor, unanimously agreed.

3945 Election of Members to Committee and Appointment of Representatives:
(a) Finance: Cllr Fortescue, Cllr Diment, Cllr Bay, Cllr Andrews, Cllr Johnson, Cllr Taylor and Cllr Bridle.
(b) Rights of Way: Mr & Mrs Newman, Mr Mills and Cllr & Mrs Bridle.
(c) Trees & Hedges: Cllr Richards
(d) Transport: Cllr Bridle
(e) DAPTC: Cllr Chapman and Cllr Bay
(f) Village Halls: Cllr Johnson and Cllr Andrews for Whitchurch Canonicorum and Cllr Briscoe for Wootton Fitzpaine.
(g) Ancient Monuments: Mrs S Creed-Castle.
(h) Planning Areas: Cllr Richards Whitchurch Canonicorum North, Cllr Diment Whitchurch Canonicorum South, Cllr Fortescue Wootton Fitzpaine and Cllr Bridle Stanton St Gabriel.
(i) Bridport Area Partnership: Cllr Bay. The election of these members and representatives was unanimously agreed.

3946 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 19th April 2004: The minutes were agreed as acceptable, proposed by Cllr Briscoe, seconded by Cllr Bay, all agreed and signed.

3947 Matters Arising: Cllr Diment reported on the proposed sewer work at Charmouth. It is a 4 million project to be totally rebuilt, the capacity of it is unknown but it has to come up to European standards, whether any noise and smell will come from this site is unknown until the hot weather. Mr Loosemore has been ordered to close his caravan site for the season and he has been compensated for this. The Clerk was given a contact name, address and telephone number of Wessex Water to put on file if any problems occur.

Cllr Bay reported that she is still trying to contact Bob Ashington regarding the Char Valley Trail. The Clerk reported that looking at the Countryside Agency figures for the Parish Plan the Parish Council has now received full matched funding for the project. She has written to Cancer Care regarding no donation to a national charity, written to Dorset County Council regarding subsidence in the Cardsmill Farm area of Whitchurch Canonicorum and missing finger posts directing to Wootton Fitzpaine. She has written to Hyder Consulting, Andy Lloyd Rural Housing Enabler Officer, who will be attending the Whitchurch Canonicorum Parish Meeting, to Dorset County Council regarding children playing signs for the local playgrounds, sent comments off to West Dorset District Council regarding the Local Plan, ordered the two new notice boards and obtained a price list from Verne Prison regarding a bench for Goodens Hill in Whitchurch Canonicorum.

3948 Finance: Clerk’s Report: The Clerk reported that the Interest Account with Lloyds has been opened and is gaining us interest. She also reported that Simon Christopher has the accounts and book to carry out the internal audit. Payments: Clerks Salary £258.50 and £25.50 Ink Cartridge – James Hargreaves Community Hall, £7.00 – DAPTC, £215.39 – Allianz Cornhill, £860.89 – Mr C Douglas, £300.00 – Whitchurch Canonicorum PCC, £230.00 – Monkton Wyld PCC, £195.00, proposed by Cllr Taylor, seconded by Cllr Diment, all agreed. To Consider Donations: James Hargreaves Community, Stanton St Gabriel and Fishpond PCC contribution towards grass cutting of churchyards, £40.00 proposed to each by Cllr Richards, seconded by Cllr Bay, all agreed. Mr J Anderson for paint and maintenance to the Morcombelake notice board, £25.00 proposed by Cllr Bridle, seconded by Cllr Richards, all agreed.

3949 Public Discussion: Mr Newman asked what the latest position was on Mr Parker’s land opposite the Church in Whitchurch Canonicorum. Cllr Bay reported that it was in the hands of the Enforcement Officer at West Dorset District Council waiting for action. It was proposed by Cllr Taylor, seconded by Cllr Bridle, that the Clerk write to the Enforcement Office again asking them to deal with it urgently as it is very unsightly in the Conservation Area and becoming a safety issue with pedestrians walking in the carriageway. (Cllr Richards abstained). Action: Clerk Mr Chambers asked if the Parish Council notice boards could be used for Village Hall notices. Cllr Fortescue reported that they are firstly for Parish Council news but Village Halls may use them as long as there is room for parish notices. It was agreed that the Clerk place notices on the boards stating that the notice boards are in the ownership of the Parish Council. Mr Jenkins asked if Morcombelake Post Office could have a larger notice board as it is full all of the time, however it was agreed that this is already one of the largest boards and there are other boards due for renewal in this financial year. Action: Clerk

3950 Planning: Planning Approvals received: Rowan House, Wootton Fitzpaine, Heartease, Morcombelake and East Lodge, Wootton Fitzpaine. Planning Acknowledgement and Decision Notice received: Lower Beerlands Farm, Whitchurch Canonicorum. Planning Decision Notice: Cockwell Farm, Morcombelake. Planning Appeal received: Newlands Holiday Park, Whitchurch Canonicorum.

3951 Report: Mr Newman reported that the Millennium Walk brochure has come to a standstill as Mrs Hawkins has no time to look at it. Cllr Fortescue offered her help and she will contact him soon. He also reported that the broken bridge has still not been repaired in Stoke Mill area, he is very disappointed with the lack of responses he gets from Dorset County Council. Cllr Bay said that she would raise the issue of the broken bridge with Bob Ashington and Cllr Richards said that he would give Mr Newman some other Dorset County Council telephone numbers to see if this would help. Action: Cllrs Fortescue,Bay & Richards

Cllr Richards reported tree works at Stonebarrow Manor, Stonebarrow Lane and Brookfield, Whitchurch Canonicorum.

Cllr Bridle reported on a Rights of Way and Transport issue and that he has given the Department of Transport a telephone call to get a freezer removed on their land near Wainhouse Farm at Langdon Woods.

Cllr Johnson reported on the Whitchurch Canonicorum village hall. It has been a very successful year fundraising and the new kitchen is working well. Mr Wallace asked Cllr Johnson if there was any news regarding West Dorset District Council and the mortgage. It was agreed to write to West Dorset District Council asking for a meeting and write to Mr Wallace to keep him up to date. Action: Clerk

Cllr Taylor reported that the Star Lane sign is still missing and that some drains in the Morcombelake area still need clearing out. He again raised his concerns over the safety fencing between Frodshams Garage and Moores Biscuit Factory saying it is a real safety hazard. It was agreed that the Clerk report these matters. Action: Clerk

Cllr Briscoe reported that pothole and drain repairs are taking place slowly around the Fishpond area. She also asked if a letter could be sent to Dorset County Council asking for horse riding signs at each end of Fishponds to warn cyclists and motor vehicles that there are a large number of horse riders about, perhaps the signs could be put onto the existing cycling signs. It was agreed that the Clerk write to Dorset County Council with the request. Action: Clerk

Cllr Diment reported that the drains in Loves Lane Morcombelake are getting blocked due to grass cuttings from banks. He also reported that the ‘welcome to Morcombelake’ sign on the A35 has gone missing. It was agreed to report this to the Police and to Connect. Action: Clerk

Cllr Bay reported that the Whitchurch Canonicorum signs at Bonhayes and Ryall are also missing. She also reported that toilets have replaced the sinks outside Hit N Miss at Ryall. It was agreed that the Clerk report this onto Dorset County Council again. Action: Clerk

Cllr Bridle reported that he met an irate holidaymaker as the sign pointing to Charmouth points towards Ship Knapp, the Clerk will report this to Connect. Action: Clerk

Cllr Johnson reported a large pothole near Dolphins Caravan Park and that the subsidence near Cardsmill Farm, Whitchurch Canonicorum had still not be repaired. She also reported that the bridge near Bridge Farm which comes under the Upper Marshwood Vale Parish Council has been hit and buckled. Finally she raised her concerns over the overgrown hedges in the area, she is concerned that an accident will happen if the verges aren’t cut and who would be liable over the accident. It was agreed the Clerk pass all of these problems onto Dorset County Council. Action: Clerk

Cllr Fortescue reported that the Parish Maintenance Unit is in the Wootton Fitzpaine area cutting out potholes and refilling them and it looks a good job.

3952 Correspondence: Dorset AONB Partnership, Management Plan 2004-2009 – DAPTC, Circular No 10/04 – Dorset Air Ambulance, Thank you for Donation – Dorset County Council, Bridge Repairs at Fishpond Bottom – Bopper Bus Organisation, Thank you for Donation – West Dorset District Council, Notice of European Parliamentary Election – Dorset County Council, Mobile Library New Timetable – West Dorset District Council, Tree Work at Stonebarrow Manor – West Dorset Partnership, Community Plan – West Dorset District Council, Acknowledgement to Revised Deposit Plan – URC Morcombelake, Hall in New Ownership – Dorset County Council, Acknowledgement to Children Playing Signs – West Dorset District Council, Tree Work at Brookfield, Whitchurch Canonicorum – Mr Anderson, Work on Morcombelake Notice Board.

3953 Parish Plan: Nothing to report.

3954 Comment on Consultation Document on Investigation and Determination of Misconduct Allegations: Cllr Fortescue reported that she had read this document which seems very sensible. There were no other comments on this document.

3955 Confirmation of May 2004 Parish Meeting Dates: Stanton St Gabriel, Monday 24th May 2004 at 7.30pm in the James Hargreaves Community Hall. Whitchurch Canonicorum, Monday 17th May 2004 at 7.30pm in the Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall. Wootton Fitzpaine, Thursday 20th May 2004 at 7pm in the Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall.

3956 Resurfacing Works on the A35 at Morcombelake: The Clerk reported that she had received an e-mail from Connect with regards to the resurfacing of the A35 at Morcombelake. It will be carried out during the night around the end of May 2004 and representatives wanted to come and talk at either the Parish Council Meeting or the Parish Meetings. The Clerk confirmed she would contact Connect again asking them for more information and for them to contact the local Councillors to see if a leaflet drop would be more appropriate to advertise the works. Action: Clerk

3957 Whitchurch Canonicorum Playground – Request for Signs and Barriers and Request for Small Planting Area: Cllr Bay reported that she had been contact by Dale Wright with regards to the ongoing problems of stones on the grass damaging his mower and could barriers and signs be put up to combat the problem. Cllr Richards said that barriers would cause a trip and would be a health and safety issue, the only solution at the moment is to raise the mower and not have such a tight cut. However this problem would be discussed at a Finance Meeting to cost up new surfaces. Finally Cllr Bay said she had been approached by the Whitchurch Canonicorum Playgroup Chairman asking if they could use an area of the playground as a little garden, it was agreed that Cllr Bay contact the Chairman referring them to the Village Hall Committee who have control over the land. It was also agreed that the Clerk write to the Village Hall Committee asking them if they have any further information on the proposed lease of the land to the Parish Council.
Action: Cllr Bay & Clerk

3958 Any Other Business: The Clerk reported that she had been in contact with the DAPTC and they had asked her about going for training to be an Accredited Clerk. It was agreed that the Clerk look into costs and report back at the next meeting. Cllr Fortescue promised to do her best as Chairman of the Parish Council and said that if anyone does not agreed with her please say, she won’t be offended. Action: Clerk

3959 Date of Next Meeting: 14th June 2004 at 7.30pm in Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall.

3960 Close of Meeting: 9.30pm.