BROADMAYNE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN BROADMAYNE METHODIST CHURCH HALL
ON 5 JUNE 2023
Present
Cllrs S Diamond, S Hawkins, P Lamb, and R Macer-Wright.
In attendance
Dr J Davis (Clerk), and 12 members of the public.
Apologies for absence
23/66
Apologies for absence had been received from Cllrs Ellis, Lawley and Toogood.
Declarations of Interest and requests for dispensations
23/67
There were none.
Minutes of meeting held on 2 May 2023
23/68
The minutes of the meeting held on 2 May 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.
Planning and Tree Matters
23/69
(a) Consultations
(i) P/OUT/2023/02031—19A Knighton Lane: erection of up to three detached bungalows. The Parish Council considered this application and, after considering an objection made by a local resident and other comments made by members of the public, resolved not to object to the application but to make a comment about some aspects of sustainability referred to in the planning statement.
(ii) P/HOU/2023/01488—2 Oakwood: to install a black factory style flue to the gable side of the property for an internal wood burner. The Parish Council considered this application and agreed not to object to, or comment on, the proposal.
(b) Other planning matters
As agreed at the last meeting (minute 23/60(c)), Cllr Lamb had examined the draft Dorset Council planning for climate change documents. He reported that the measures proposed were common sense and to be welcomed but he was concerned that they did not encompass measures to improve the existing housing stock to mitigate climate change (other than listed buildings), and that there was no opportunity to discuss onshore windfarms. It was agreed that comments to cover these points would be submitted.
Public participation session
23/70
The following issues were raised by members of the public.
(i) Overgrown vegetation obscuring road signage at various locations, and limiting visibility for drivers leaving the allotments.
(ii) The uncut grass on the verges at the cross roads.
(iii) The visibility for drivers at the Coombe Valley/Chalky Road junction. This had been reported following the last Parish Council meeting but the cutting-back undertaken was considered to be insufficient to resolve the problem. These issues would be pursued by the Clerk as appropriate.
(iv) A memorial stone which had been made for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and which had originally been in the wall of a bus stop on Main Street was being held by a member of the public. He asked if thought could be given to re-installing it in a public location. The Chairman said that he would discuss this possibility with the Village Hall Management Committee.
(v) The Parish Council was thanked for the organisation of the Coronation Street Party which had been greatly enjoyed by all who had attended.
Reports
23/71
(i) West Knighton Village Green Committee (WKVG) Cllr Hawkins reported that she had attended a meeting of the Committee and that it had been agreed that there should be closer ties between WKVG and Broadmayne Playing Field Association. The two committees would swap minutes and, in future, it was hoped that Broadmayne Parish Council could be represented by the same person on both committees. WKVG was preparing to celebrate its 40th birthday on 5 August. She asked if this could be publicised on the community website. The Chairman asked for details to be sent to him.
Financial Matters
23/72
(a) The Clerk had prepared the June financial statement, showing the receipts and payments since the last meeting. It was proposed by Cllr Hawkins, seconded by Cllr Macer-Wright, and RESOLVED to approve the following payments:
Payments already made
Parish Magazine Printing (annual report) £ 103.40
J.Davis (salary: April/May/June) £1,448.77
HMRC (PAYE income tax on above) £ 398.80
Mr A Down (painting seats) £ 380.00
(b) 2022-2023 Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR): Councillors considered the questions in Section 1 of the Return (Annual Governance Statement). The answers being agreed in the affirmative, the section was signed by the Chairman and Clerk.
(c) 2022-2023 Accounts and Report of Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer, and of the internal auditor The Council received the report of the Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer in support of the 2022-2023 accounts, alongside the report of the internal auditor. It was agreed to accept and approve the accounts which were signed by the Chairman.
(d) 2022-2023 AGAR: Accounting Statement With reference to the 2022-2023 accounts, Councillors noted the figures in Section 2 of the return for the External Auditors. It was proposed by Cllr Lamb, seconded by Cllr Hawkins, and RESOLVED to accept and approve the AGAR accounting statement which was signed by the Chairman and Clerk.
(e) Conflict of interests statement The Parish Council confirmed that it and its members had no conflicts of interests with the external auditors, BDO LLP. A form to this effect was signed by the Chairman and Clerk.
(f) It was proposed by Cllr Macer-Wright, seconded by Cllr Lamb, and RESOLVED to pay the internal auditor an honorarium of £190.
Speed control measures
23/73
(a) Application for 20 mph limit The Chairman reported that the possibility of a 20 mph zone extending to West Knighton had been discussed at West Knighton’s recent Village Meeting and had been well-received. Cllr Macer-Wright said that the Dorset Council officer with whom he was corresponding had explained that a recent application for a 20 mph limit from Fontmell Magna Parish Council had been refused because applications should not be on roads where the movement of motor vehicles is the primary function. The A350 through Fontmell Magna was classified as a strategic route and therefore could not meet this criterion. In addition, informal consultation with Dorset Police had shown that they would not support an application if it included the A350. Cllr Macer-Wright understood that the A352 through Broadmayne was county class A route but not a strategic route so he would continue to correspond with the officer on the point. If the status of the A352 was such that an application for a 20 mph limit would fail then expenditure on the necessary speed surveys and further public consultation would be wasted.
(b) SIDs The Clerk reported that, with David Eaglestone, the SID Coordinator, she had met with Dorset Council officers to discuss positioning of the solar panel for the SID at the eastern end of the village. At the meeting, the officers’ view was that a solar panel on the SID at its present eastern location wasn’t a viable option because of the proximity of so many large trees and that they no longer favoured installing the solar panel on a pole in the field. On review, they had formed the opinion that the SID pole itself is in bad position, the SID and 30 mph signage being positioned too close together. David Eaglestone added that he has to keep the trees around the SID itself trimmed. The officers’ view was that a possible solution would be to move the start of the 30 mph limit further east beyond where the bridleway crosses the road, this would mean varying the relevant Traffic Regulation Order which would cost approximately £1000, in addition to the cost of speed survey. The Parish Council agreed that it could not initiate that procedure whilst the 20 mph discussions were ongoing. The Clerk added that there was no progress to report with the recalibration of the second SID (positioned Chalky Road/Knighton Lane) and that it was possible it would have to be returned to the manufacturer in Germany. Cllrs were concerned about the handling of these matters relating to the SIDS, in particular that the viability of the solar panel at the eastern end of the village was not considered before it was installed. It was agreed that a formal letter should be sent to Dorset Council setting out these concerns.
(c) A352 Entrance gates The Clerk reported that she had written to the relevant officer at Dorset Council about the positioning of the gates but no reply had been received to date. In the event that the start of the speed restriction was eventually moved further east this would not be an issue.
Clerk recruitment
23/74
The Chairman reported that four completed application forms had been received and three applicants had been invited to interview. One had subsequently withdrawn and the two remaining candidates would be interviewed on 5 July.
Community Governance Review
23/75
The Parish Council noted that Dorset Council had published the order (The Dorset Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance Order [No. 4] 2023) setting out the boundary changes between Broadmayne and West Knighton which would come into effect on 1 April 2024.
Other matters of report
23/76
The Clerk reported that there were four people on the allotment waiting list. One plot was being kept under review as little or no work was being undertaken and consideration would need to be given to evicting the tenant.
23/77
The next meeting would take place on Monday 3 July 2023 in the Methodist Church Hall, unless otherwise advised.