The Minutes of the previous meeting (May 2012)

MINUTES OF MEETING OF HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 19th JUNE 2012 AT 7.30pm IN THE VILLAGE HALL
Members were reminded that the Council has a general duty to consider the following matters in the exercise of any of its functions - Equal Opportunities (race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status & any disability); Crime & Disorder, Health & Safety and Human Rights.
Jessica Vale, Parish Clerk

PRESENT

Robin Carpenter (Chairman), Peter Bysouth, Keith Blackwell, Bill Turner, Malcolm White, Gina Seaton (District Councillor), and Cathy Bakewell (District and County Councillor).

IN ATTENDANCE

Jessica Vale (Parish Clerk) and one member of the public.

Before the meeting commenced there was an opportunity for the public to speak.

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
    Apologies received from David Beckley and Vanessa May.
  2. MINUTES OF MEETINGS HELD ON 15th May 2012 (Already Circulated).
    1. The minutes were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record of the meeting.
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
    There were none.
  4. MATTERS OF REPORT ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES.
    There were none.
  5. DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS (by invitation)
    Cathy Bakewell reported that the District Council has provided some information about progress with the draft Core Strategy. There is very little Housing Benefit fraud across the District. SSDC Area South Committee met on the 30th of May, and business included a report on the designation of Hendford Hill as a Conservation Area. At County Council level, she has received information about Community Safety and policing, also service reviews on substance misuse and domestic abuse. She is concerned about the rising costs of an internal Change review. Ofsted has recently carried out an inspection of the County Council’s services for children in care, described the service as “adequate”, resulting in the setting up of a new board to look into the service. She took note of Parish Councillors’ concerns about delays in dealing with the blocked road drains and new pot holes on Primrose Hill.

    Gina Seaton reported that SSDC have adopted new rules permitting substitution of members sitting on the main Council committees, subject to training and informing the Council in advance. She has attended workshops on the National Planning Policy Framework, Localism and Neighbourhood Planning. She enjoyed the opening of the new Community Field and praised the community for its achievement. The Chairman of the Area South Committee, Tony Fife, and Area Development Manager, Kim Close, have recently stated that they want SSDC to do more work on projects within the Area South parishes and would like the parishes to bring forward their ideas. Regarding the new Empty Homes Strategy, it was observed that SSDC is not able to act on properties where owners pay Council Tax, and can insist on repairs to listed buildings.

  6. PLANNING & PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    1. Planning Applications received. 1. App no 12/01834/FUL Richard Brooks, erection of lean-to building for livestock at Brooksfield, Lyatts Hill, Hardington Mandeville. There were no objections. 2. App no 12/01487/COL David Creed, Proposed Certificate of Lawfulness for existing use of site as agricultural contracting yard, Springfield Stores Hardington Moor. No objections were raised. It was noted that gritting vehicles are no longer kept on the site.
    2. Any planning application received after publication of the agenda. None.
    3. Results of previous applications. None.
    4. Results of previous applications received since publication of the agenda. App no 12/00854/OUT Mr W Turner. Erection of agricultural workers dwelling. Lime Kiln Farm, Hardington Mandeville. Application withdrawn. Noted.
    5. Progress on enforcement file, The Stables, Partway Lane. There was no further report.
  7. HIGHWAYS
    1. Report from Highways Representative; Rob Lloyd reported that a patch has very recently been put on the surface of the corner on North Lane previously a grounding problem area, and that the bank of the Chinnock Brook beside the spur road off North Lane has been marked for repair in the near future. SCC Highways are aware of the blocked drain nearby. Rob has reported again the state of several drains on Primrose Hill, with water running continually down the road, and a pot hole now created; he has asked for a site meeting with a Highways representative. This area is felt to be a skid risk. Cathy Bakewell has been informed that the drains are due for clearance in August, but the Parish Council is clear that this matter cannot wait until then. Further problems reported to Rob Lloyd at the meeting were; potholes on the north side of Barry Lane between Lime Kiln Farm cottage and Hill Cross; a pothole in Ridge Lane just off Primrose Hill; a pothole on the west side of New Road south of Chasers Farm.
    2. Parking in turning bay, Bishops Lane; in spite of the notice put up in the bay there have been more reports of parking here. Robin Carpenter has discussed this with the residents of the house opposite, and considers the issue resolved, to which councillors assented.
    The Highways representative, District and County Councillors then left the meeting.
  8. COMMUNITY FIELD
    1. The Recreation Space committee’s meeting had been postponed to the following Monday 25th June. It was agreed that the lines of the football pitch need to be marked out. The next order, for play equipment, is to be placed with Playdale. Robin Carpenter hopes to get agreement with SSDC’s Youth Facilities Team to obtain a grant towards this. Robin has set up a spreadsheet for recording inspections and mowing. The Committee needs to determine what inspections are essential – there are several different types which is confusing. The Clerk to contact insurers over their definition of “competent” inspector.
      1. It was RESOLVED to pay R Taylor & Sons £60.00 including VAT for clearing a blocked ditch.
      2. It was RESOLVED to pay Robin Carpenter £24.75 including VAT in reimbursement of expenses for purchasing corner flags for the football pitch
    2. Review of Jubilee event; in spite of the wet weather, the event had been well-attended and very successful. One sapling got knocked over as equipment was being moved. The Clerk to write and thank David Lovelock and Andy Collins for their support.
  9. RISK MANAGEMENT
    1. Welcome Pack: the Clerk reported that, as the Parish Plan was dated 2008-2012, she had revised the wording of the Welcome Pack so that in future it would go out without the Parish Plan attached. The village website version is also adjusted, but the Parish Plan remains there as a stand-alone document. There may be a new Plan in some form in future.
  10. FINANCE
    1. A letter to the Bank to increase the standing order for monthly payment to the Village Hall to £20.00 was SIGNED.
    2. Clerk’s hours for May 2012 were CONFIRMED as submitted (34.5 hours).
    3. Peter Bysouth proposed, Bill Turner seconded and it was RESOLVED that the Parish Council make a Section 137 grant to Hardington Pre School of £120.00.
    4. PAYE compliance: the Clerk reported that she had been three days late in filing online the annual P35 form with HMRC, having encountered problems at the first attempt, and therefore the Parish Council had incurred a fine of £100. She had drafted a letter to HMRC to explain the circumstances, which was signed by the Chairman, but not received a reply. She was instructed to try telephoning to get a response. She offered to pay the fine herself, but councillors agreed that the Parish Council should offer to meet this cost.
    5. Bank Signatory change procedures: the Clerk and Keith Blackwell had completed paperwork to become authorised signatories but this has been rejected by the Bank’s Mandates team. The Clerk checked the rejection letter with staff at the branch, who advised that a separate form needs to be completed by each new signatory for each bank account.
  11. FOOTPATHS
    1. Robin Carpenter reported that local walkers have complained about arable crops sown over two footpaths, namely wheat at Lyatts (Y9/1 and 9/2) and maize at Milcombe Farm (Y10/44 and Y10/45). The stile on Y9/4 at Lyatts previously reported has been repaired and gate fixed, but there is still a water leak on the path. Robin has spoken to the farmer concerned with a broken stile on Y10/44, suggesting that the adjacent gate be repaired.
  12. PARISH LENGTHSMAN SCHEME
    1. May’s work; was carried out as requested.
    2. Work for June:
      1. Primrose Hill and other village approaches; strim area around recently-planted tyre and village signs
      2. clear undergrowth from south side of village hall
      3. get more road planings to infill the steps at the stile on footpath Y10/7 at Lyatts previously repaired
      4. strim around the village sign opposite the Mandeville Arms
      5. strim nettles off the stile by the gate on footpath Y10/7
      6. strim weed growth on the steps up from Broadstone Lane at the end of footpath Y10/20.
  13. CORRESPONDENCE
    1. Correspondence to be circulated included a reply from County Council Highways to the Parish Council’s letter of complaint about traffic in the village caused by closure of the A30 in May.
    2. Correspondence received:
      1. From SSDC about new Empty Homes Strategy; the Clerk was instructed to ask how to find out whether or not Council Tax is being paid on a property.
      2. New Nippybus timetable – noted.
      3. County Council’s new arrangements for enforcement of Traffic Regulation Orders. Noted.
  14. MATTERS OF REPORT & ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
    1. Chairman; none
    2. Councillors; nothing to report
    3. Clerk; reported that new legislation will require the Parish Council to adopt a new Code of Conduct, Standing Orders and financial regulations for. The process will start after SSDC have adopted their own new Code of Conduct. Further information is awaited from SALC. SALC have also alerted Parish Councils to the potential effect of changes in the way Council Tax Benefit is managed, which could possibly lead to higher levels of Council Tax. More details on both these are to be circulated to Councillors.
  15. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING & CLOSURE
    The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Tuesday the 17th of July 2012 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall. The meeting closed at 8.55 p.m.