Whitchurch Canonicorum, Wootton Fitzpaine and Stanton St. Gabriel Parishes

Present: E Fortescue (Chairman), V Diment, R Andrews, S Johnson, C Bailey, P White, W Chapman, B Briscoe, J Bridle, R Taylor D Newson, S Creed-Castle and 6 members of the public.

1522 Apologies: C Richards, R Cook and G Brierley. The Clerk reported that Cllr Richards is attending a computer course and will not be attending Parish Council meetings for the next three months.

1523 Declarations of Interest: Cllr Fortescue declared an interest on Knapp Cottages, Wootton Fitzpaine planning application and Cllr Johnson and Cllr Andrews declared an interest on Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall grant.

1524 Chairmans Closing Remarks: Cllr Fortescue thanked all the Councillors, the Clerk and everyone on the committees for their hard work over the past year.

1525 Election of Chairman and Signing of Acceptance of Office: Cllr Andrews proposed Cllr Fortescue, seconded by Cllr Chapman, all agreed. Cllr Fortescue signed the acceptance of office.

1526 Election of Vice Chairman: Cllr Fortescue proposed Cllr Diment, seconded by Cllr Taylor, all agreed.

1527 Election of Members to Committees and Appointment of Representatives:
(a) Finance: Cllr Fortescue, Cllr Diment, R Andrews, S Johnson, R Taylor and J Bridle.
(b) Rights of Way: Mr & Mrs Newman for Whitchurch Canonicorum, Mr Mills for Wootton Fitzpaine and Cllr Bridle for Stanton St Gabriel.
(c) Trees: Cllr Richards and Cllr Chapman.
(d) Transport: WATAG Cllr Diment and A35 Cllr Taylor
(e) DAPTC: Cllr Chapman
(f) Bridport Local Area Partnership: Cllr Fortescue.
(g) Village Halls: Cllr Andrews and Cllr Johnson for Whitchurch Canonicorum, Cllr Briscoe for Wootton Fitzpaine and Cllr Taylor for the James Hargreaves Community Hall.
(h) Ancient Monuments: Mrs Creed-Castle.
(i) Planning Areas: Cllr Fortescue for Wootton Fitzpaine, Cllr Richards for Whitchurch Canonicorum North, Cllr Diment for Whitchurch Canonicorum South and Cllr Bridle for Stanton St Gabriel.
(j) Wootton Fitzpaine Playing Field: Mr Snook, Lord Bradbury and Cllr Chapman.
(k) Planning Committee: Cllr Bridle proposed Cllr Diment as Chairman and Cllr Taylor as Vice Chairman, Cllr Bailey seconded, all agreed.

1528 Resolution to Approve the Parish Council Minutes held on the 10th April 2006: The minutes were agreed as acceptable, proposed by Cllr Diment, seconded by Cllr Briscoe, all agreed and signed.

1529 Actions Following the Last Meeting: The Clerk reported that she has sent the amended Whitchurch Canonicorum playground lease back to the Village Hall committee, insured the stone sweeper, sent a letter to West Dorset District Council regarding refuse collection, sent off tree work comments to West Dorset District Council and sent a letter to Oliver Letwin and Highways Agency regarding the A35 at Morcombelake. Cllr Fortescue reported that a meeting was held with Mr Rendle regarding affordable housing.

1530 Public Discussion Period: The meeting was suspended for the public discussion period. Mr Trevor Chambers thanked Cllr Taylor for representing the James Hargreaves Community Hall and thanked Cllr Richards for his work over the last year.

1531 Planning Applicants Presentation: The meeting was reopened. There were no applicants present.

1532 Planning: Planning Applications to Consider:
Mast Site, Stonebarrow Lane, Charmouth - Cllr Bridle looked at this application to erect equipment on site. It was proposed by Cllr Bridle and unanimously agreed to object to this application as it is Parish Council policy to object to masts situated within 500 metres of properties and there is a perception/fear of a health risk, it is unsightly in an AONB and particularly noisy. It was also agreed to comment that the site at the Lyme Regis Golf Club should still be considered.

New House Farm, Broadoak - Cllr Richards and Cllr White looked at this adjoining planning application to erect a porch, erect a single storey extension and carry out internal and external alterations. They could see no problems and recommended approval, this was unanimously agreed.

Planning Application to Note: Frodsham Motors, Morcombelake - Cllr Fortescue reported that a letter from the Highways Agency had been sent to West Dorset District Council detailing more issues to look into including alterations to the entrance.

16 Knapp Cottages, Wootton Fitzpaine - Cllr Chapman and Cllr Briscoe looked at this planning application to erect a single storey extension. They could see no problems and approval was unanimously recommended.

Planning Refusal to Note: Dodpen Stables, Wootton Fitzpaine.

1533 Resolution to Approve Maintenance of All Parish Council Notice Boards: Cllr Andrews reported that Mr Chris Douglas had offered to do general maintenance on all the Parish Council notice boards when he made the new ones last year. It was agreed that the Clerk compile a list of notice boards to give to Mr Douglas and get him to list what works are needed with a price. Action: Clerk

1534 Resolution to Hear Report on Wootton Fitzpaine Parish Meeting and to Carry Out Actions: Cllr Fortescue reported that all Councillors had been given a copy of the report. It was agreed that the Clerk contact Dorset County Council to find out more information on 'Best Kept Village' signs. Write to the Connect Road Operators regarding picking up litter on the A35 on a regular basis especially before Easter and it was agreed that the Bridport Local Area Partnership take up this matter too. Finally a new notice board is needed at Knapp Corner and it was agreed that this matter is put to the Finance Committee. Action: Clerk

1535 Resolution to Hear Report on Whitchurch Canonicorum Parish Meeting and to Carry Out Actions: Cllr Andrews reported that all Councillors had been given a copy of the minutes. It was agreed that the Clerk write to the residents of Edgehill, Whitchurch Canonicorum and 1 and 2 Ivy Cottage, Morcombelake regarding parking on the road. It was also agreed to write to the Rights of Way department at Dorset County Council regarding the ongoing problems with the green lane/footpath from Cutty Stubs to Mandeville Stoke Farm at Whitchurch Canonicorum. Action: Clerk

1536 Report from Quality Status Working Group Meeting: Cllr Fortescue reported that at the meeting Standing Orders and Financial Regulations were discussed, work carried out by the Clerk, Council meetings working well, annual report, list of activities to be compiled for each village and new Chairman and Vice Chairman needed for this year.

1537 Resolution to Approve the Annual Report for Publication: Cllr Fortescue reported that a copy has been given to all Councillors to read. Cllr Fortescue asked that all Councillors must try to attend meetings and if they cannot, they should contact the Clerk with a good reason for not attending. It was unanimously agreed to approve the report and send to the printers.

1538 Discussion on the Proposed Closure of Charmouth Library: Cllr Diment expressed his concerns over the proposed closure of Charmouth Library. It was unanimously agreed that the Clerk write a letter of objection to Dorset County Council explaining that it is well used, a meeting place, information centre, another service taken away from the rural communities and goes against Dorset County Councils list of aims. Action: Clerk

1539 Reports: Cllr Newson reported that Charmouth Parish Council have objected to the proposed closure of Charmouth Library. West Dorset District Council have unanimously agreed to object to this and have asked for Dorset County Council to look for savings elsewhere.

Cllr Fortescue reported that the Bridport Local Area Partnership is also going to respond and Cllr Taylor reported that a petition is up and running too.

The Clerk reported on Cllr Brierley's matters. The trees at Berne Lane, Charmouth will be cut back by Mr Legg, jetting and pothole work will be carried out at Stonebarrow Lane, Charmouth and Cllr Brierley has been promoted to the Cabinet on the Transportation and Highways Committee.

Cllr Bridle reported that the South West Coast path will be reopened on the 28th May 2006.

Cllr Diment reported that a WATAG meeting will be held soon. Cllr Taylor reported that issues are still outstanding on the A35 and it was agreed that the Clerk contact Oliver Letwin and the Highways Agency again.

Cllr Chapman reported that he is to attend a DAPTC meeting next week.

Cllr Fortescue reported that the BLAP is going through the Local Plan and taking up any concerns. Cllr Johnson reported that a Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall meeting will take place on the 12th May 2006.

Mr Chambers reported that major refurbishment of the kitchen and toilets at the James Hargreaves Community Hall is going well and reported on all the fundraising which is going to take place in the next few months including a 'boy calendar'.

Mrs Creed-Castle reported that her training for the Ancient Monuments post will start on Friday.

Cllr Briscoe reported that the potholes on the B3165 have now been filled in and cones are around work in Fishpond, hopefully to do edge of road repairs.

Cllr Fortescue reported white lines around potholes in Wootton Fitzpaine.

1540 Finance: Clerks Report/General Financial Matters - The Clerk reported that the VAT return has been sent off and that the 2005/2006 accounts are back from the internal audit and ready to be approved at the next meeting. She also reported that the insurance payment includes an extra £14 for the insurance of the stone sweeper. Finally she reported that she is being chased by the companies who quoted for the Whitchurch Canonicorum Playground surface, it was agreed that the Clerk write to them saying that this project has been put off for the next six months and we shall approach them again for another quote if necessary.

Payments - Clerks Salary, £328.38 - Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall, £30.00 - Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall, £10.00 - DAPTC, £227.05 - Allianz Cornhill, £1,082.51 - Deane Business Solutions, £14.09 - Crewkerne Horticultural - £364.25 - Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall, £15.00, proposed by Cllr Diment, seconded by Cllr Taylor, all agreed.

Resolution to Approve 5% Grant to Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall - £250.00 proposed by Cllr Bridle, seconded by Cllr Taylor.

Resolution to Approve Unaudited Accounts - The accounts were agreed as a true record, proposed by Cllr Taylor, seconded by Cllr Briscoe, all agreed.

Resolution to Approve Financial Regulations and Standing Orders - Cllr Fortescue reported that these two documents were looked at by the Quality Status working group recently. It was unanimously agreed to keep the Financial Regulations the same and make one small alteration to the Standing Orders to read Parish Meetings held in April or May.

1541 Correspondence: DAPTC, Circular No 06/06 - West Dorset District Council, Planning Amendment to Cuthay Farmhouse, Whitchurch Canonicorum - West Dorset District Council, Planning Committee Meeting Date - Dorset County Council, Highway Seminar - West Dorset District Council, Tree Preservation Order at Morcombelake - West Dorset District Council, Street Cleaning - Dorset County Council, Verges in Morcombelake - Dorset County Council, Road Closure for Watery Lane, Whitchurch Canonicorum - West Dorset District Council, Tree Work at Whitchurch Canonicorum - Dorset County Council, Highway Matters - West Dorset District Council, Database Information on Activities - West Dorset District Council, Leisure Month Brochure - West Dorset District Council, Tree Work Protocol - BDO Stoy Hayward, Audit Newsletter - Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, A Discussion Paper on Local Authority Byelaws.

1542 Items for the Next Agenda: Approve Audited Accounts - Repairs/Planning Application for Well House, Whitchurch Canonicorum - Community Land Trust - Stanton St Gabriel Parish Meeting Report - Recruitment onto the Parish Council, Your Parish Council Needs You.

1543 Date of Next Meeting: Monday 12th June 2006 at 7.30pm in the James Hargreaves Community Hall, Morcombelake. 1544 Close of Meeting: 9.50pm.