Whitchurch Canonicorum, Wootton Fitzpaine and Stanton St. Gabriel Parishes

Present: E Fortescue (Chairman), V Diment, R Andrews, S Johnson, C Bailey, B Briscoe, J Bridle, G Brierley, I Gillespie, D Newson, S Creed-Castle and 3 members of the public.

1545 Apologies: C Richards, R Taylor and W Chapman.

1546 Public Discussion Period: The meeting was suspended for the public discussion period, however, the public had nothing to raise.

1547 Declarations of Interest: The meeting was re-opened. There were no declarations of interest.

1548 Resolution to Approve the Annual General Parish Council Minutes held on the 8th May 2006: The minutes were agreed as acceptable, proposed by Cllr Briscoe, seconded by Cllr Diment, all agreed and signed.

1549 Actions Following the Last Meeting: The Clerk reported that she wrote to Mr Douglas regarding notice board maintenance, carried out Whitchurch Canonicorum and Wootton Fitzpaine Parish Meeting letter requests and wrote regarding the proposed Charmouth Library closure, these items will come under correspondence. Finally she reported that a meeting will take place on Monday 26th June 2006 at 4pm at Oselhay Farm, Whitchurch Canonicorum regarding the Rights of Way. Cllr Fortescue reported that a questionnaire on the proposed library closures can be found on the Dorset County Council web site for anyone to fill in.

1550 Planning Applicants Presentation: None.

1551 Planning: Planning Applications to Consider: None. Planning Approvals: Topsy-Turvey, Morcombelake, Frodsham Motors, Morcombelake and 16 Knapp Cottages, Wootton Fitzpaine. Planning Refusal: Paddocks Farm, Broadoak. Planning Withdrawal: Cuthay Farmhouse, Whitchurch Canonicorum.

1552 Resolution to Accept and Sign Amended Whitchurch Canonicorum Playground Lease: Cllr Fortescue reported that the amended lease has arrived and now ready to sign. Cllr Bridle proposed to sign the lease, seconded by Cllr Johnson, all agreed and signed by the Clerk.

1553 Discussion on Affordable Housing Issues and Community Land Trust: Cllr Fortescue reported that she has circulated to all Councillors a leaflet explaining how Community Land Trusts work. She also reported that she has spoken to Sutton Hastoe Housing Association and that the issue of a housing scheme in Whitchurch Canonicorum is not dead and funding will continue to be found. Cllr Bridle asked that these subjects be explained in an edition of the Char Chat.

1554 Next Step for Repairs/Planning Application for Well House, Whitchurch Canonicorum: Cllr Fortescue that this matter needs to get started again. She has spoken to the Listed Buildings Officer and the best way forward is to put in a planning application and go from there. It was agreed that Cllr Fortescue contact David Brooks asking him to draw up the plans and submit the door with two panels in it, it was agreed to leave the solar light at this moment in time. It was also agreed that the Clerk contact West Dorset District Council asking for planning application forms especially for Listed Buildings. Action: Cllr Fortescue & Clerk

1555 Report on Stanton St Gabriel Parish Meeting: Cllr Bridle reported that the main items discussed at the Parish Meeting were, A35, Tetra Mast, Coastal Path update, recycling rubbish and Frodshams Garage. It was agreed that the Parish Council write to Oliver Letwin asking him to see whether a policy could be proposed to allocate small amounts of money for schemes on trunk roads to give a better quality of life for adjacent residents. Action: Clerk

1556 Recruitment of Parish Councillors onto the Parish Council: Cllr Andrews reported that there is a small item in the next Char Chat but more needs to be done to recruit Councillors for the next round of elections, perhaps posters in notice boards to start with. It was agreed to devote the December issue of Char Chat to this item to encourage and show people what is required of a Parish Councillor and Cllr Fortescue asked present Councillors to canvass prospective candidates. Cllr Bailey reported that there is a package from DAPTC coming out in the next 3 to 4 months for prospective candidates. It was agreed that the Clerk contact West Dorset District Council with regards to leaflet drops and any information which they might have on Councillors and elections. Action: Clerk

1557 Resolution to Write to Palmers Brewery Regarding the Future of the Ship Inn, Morcombelake: Cllr Diment reported that Cllr Taylor wanted this item discussed at the meeting and he would speak on his behalf. Cllr Taylor has asked that a letter be sent to Palmers expressing the Parish Councils concerns over the closure of this village amenity and ask what Palmers intentions are on the future of this public house. It was stressed that in the letter the Parish Council should point out that we supported the planning application to the alterations although we did express concerns over the parking/vehicular access arrangements. It was agreed that the Clerk send a letter to Palmers. Action: Clerk

1558 Reports: Cllr Newson reported that the Local Plan will be published on Friday and hopefully adopted on the 14th July 2006. He also reported that the building at Five Penny Farm, Wootton Fitzpaine will not be used as a slaughter house but instead used as a meat processing unit, however this matter is being looked at by the Legal Department at West Dorset District Council as in the past it was confirmed that no permission would be needed, however, permission will now be needed.

Cllr Gillespie reported that the new Local Plan will not alter the position in the Char Valley area as there are no development boundaries. He also reported that the finance section of West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council have been merged and is now called Westwey. Bailiffs are now cheaper and collecting Council Tax will be cheaper and it is hoped that North and East Dorset will join in the next few years. Also homeworkers will be used and this will help out people with families, flexibility and saving time and money on travelling to work. Finally he reported that there is a white paper coming out in the Autumn regarding Local Government reorganisation.

Cllr Brierley reported on the proposed closure of 13 libraries in Dorset and reported that the consultation period has been extended for another year but people must put in their objections and fill in the questionnaire on the web site. Cllr Fortescue asked that the Clerk contact Dorset County Council and ask for 300 questionnaires to be circulated with the next Char Chat. Cllr Brierley reported that a public meeting on the proposed library closures will take place on the 28th June 2006 at 7pm in Charmouth and asked for as many people as possible to attend. Action: Clerk

Mrs Sylvia Creed-Castle reported that she had attended her Ancient Monuments Officer course and it was very interesting, however, still no paperwork to help with the job. Open Days were suggested as a way bringing this subject to the attention of the public but she would need help from the Parish Council to do this. Cllr Fortescue reported that Wootton Fitzpaine are having a history weekend in conjunction with the Centenary year celebrations where a notice about her job could be displayed.

Cllr Johnson read through the minutes of the Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall committee meeting minutes and confirmed that the next meeting will be on the 28th June 2006.

Cllr Fortescue has had a report that the Morcombelake church yard grass has not been cut as yet and neighbours are concerned as weeds are seeding. Cllr Diment believes that the committee are finding it hard to find someone to do the job at the moment. Cllr Briscoe said that she would look into Fishpond church yard grass cutting too.

Cllr Fortescue read out a report from Cllr Bailey from a DAPTC meeting, items discussed were library closures, prospective new Parish Councillors, Community Action fund for Dorset, finance and insurance. Cllr Fortescue reported on the Statement of Community Involvement document which involves planning issues which the Bridport Local Area Partnership have looked at very closely. Comments put forward at the moment are that neighbours should be notified of any development and that a site notice should be put up every time also, whether an application needs full planning permission or not.

Cllr Fortescue reported that the wonderful tapestry has been unveiled in the Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall, the Parish Council gave a grant to that some years ago. She also reported that Dorset Community Action has money put aside for Parish Councils to review their Parish Plans and this could help towards our parish audit which has been agreed to be done. Finally she reported that Liz Daros is stepping down as one of the Editors to the Char Chat, she was not a Councillor and gave all her hard work up for free, it was agreed that the Clerk write a letter of thanks to Liz. Action: Clerk

Cllr Diment reported that he did not attend the last WATAG meeting so has nothing to report but he will be writing an article on WATAG for the next Char Chat. He also reported on behalf of Cllr Taylor that a fixed SID will be installed in September 2006, Cllr Taylor wanted a thank you sent to the Highways Agency but it was agreed to wait until the SID was installed.

Finally Cllr Diment reported that resurfacing and patching had taken place on the A35 between Fulvens and Berne Lane and it was agreed that the Clerk write to Connect thanking them for this and asking them for a programme of works along this road. Action: Clerk

Cllr Johnson reported potholes opposite Dolphins, Berne Lane, Charmouth. She also reported that the verges along Gassons Lane, Whitchurch Canonicorum had not been cut and it's very dangerous. It was agreed that the Clerk write to the Dorset Wildlife Trust with a copy to Dorset County Council asking what these yellow posts are and if this area could be cut for safety. Action:Clerk

Cllr Briscoe reported that potholes have been filled in Fishpond and there is an increase in holiday traffic.

Cllr Fortescue read out a report from Cllr Bailey that the verges along Bluntshay Lane, Whitchurch Canonicorum are very overgrown and there have been several accidents in the area recently and also asked if horse signs could be attached to the cycle route signs, it was agreed that the Clerk write to Dorset County Council. Action: Clerk

Cllr Bridle passed on his thanks from Mrs Bridle for the Parish Council thank you card.

Cllr Fortescue reported that side verging had taken place in Wootton Fitzpaine.

1559 Finance: Clerks Report/General Financial Matters: The Clerk had nothing to report.

Payments: Clerks Salary & Expenses, £328.38 - Petty Cash, £85.00 - James Hargreaves Community Hall, £8.00 - Deane Business Solutions, £11.74, proposed by Cllr Bridle, seconded by Cllr Briscoe, all agreed. Request for £1,500 Grant From The James Hargreaves Community Hall: Cllr Fortescue reported that this amount of money has been budgeted for and agreed by the Finance Committee and the Parish Council and all the paperwork is in order. This was proposed by Cllr Diment, seconded by Cllr Andrews, all agreed.

Resolution to Approve Audited Accounts, Internal Auditors Statement and Statement of Accounts: The Clerk reported that the unaudited accounts given to all Councillors stand and that the Internal Auditors found no problems, proposed by Cllr Bridle, seconded by Cllr Johnson, all agreed and signed. Cllr Fortescue and Cllr Bridle thanked the Clerk for her work on the accounts.

1560 Correspondence: Dorset County Council, Highway Matters - Oliver Letwin/Highways Agency, A35 Morcombelake - West Dorset District Council, Longacre Farm, Ryall - Environment Agency, Exhibition Details - CPRE, A354 Weymouth Link Road - DAPTC, Circular No 07/06 - Strategic Leisure Ltd, Sport Assessment - West Dorset District Council, Statement of Community Involvement - West Dorset District Council, Kerbside Recycling - Dorset County Council, Library Service Review - Chapter 88, Sustainable Communities - Connect Road Operators, Litter Picking - West Dorset District Council, Higher Wyld Farm, Monkton Wyld and Five Penny Farm, Wootton Fitzpaine - Dorset County Council, Best Kept Village Signs - West Dorset District Council, Tree Work, Bellair Haye Nursery, Berne Lane, Charmouth - British Telecom, Payphone Services - South West Regional Assembly, Consultation Document - Charmouth Parish Council, Public Meeting Details on Library Review - Mr & Mrs Alley, Parking on the Highway - Mr Douglas, Notice board maintenance costs.

1561 Items for the Next Agenda: South West Regional Assembly consultation document, notice board maintenance, kerbside recycling and Char Chat costs.

1562 Date of Next Meeting: Monday 17th July 2006 at 7.30pm in the Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall.

1562 Close of Meeting: 10.03pm.