Minutes Jan 2024

BROADMAYNE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING HELD IN BROADMAYNE METHODIST HALL
ON 8th JANUARY 2024

 

Present

Cllrs S Diamond, S Toogood, K Ellis, S Hawkins, P Lamb, C Lawley and R Macer-Wright.

In attendance

Mr T Watton (Clerk), and 9 members of the public.

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed those present.

Apologies for absence

24/1

There were no apologies for absence.

Declarations of Interest and requests for dispensations

24/2

There were none.

Minutes of meeting held on 6th November 2023

24/3

The minutes of the meeting held on 4th December 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed at the meeting.

Planning and Tree Matters

24/4

(a) Decisions and correspondence/updates on previous applications

(i) P/PABA/2023/07248 (Information only – request to the LPA to determine whether a prior approval application is required). Land to south of Chalky Road Broadmayne Grid Ref SY707853. Erect agricultural storage tank.
(ii) P/HOU/2023/06333 17 Watergates Lane Broadmayne Dorset DT2 8HA. Proposed front porch. Form doors to rear elevation. (revised submission). Application approved on 7 Dec 2023.
(iii) P/HOU/2023/06715 Cob Barn 3A Main Street Broadmayne Dorset DT2 8EB. Dismantle existing granary and re-build. Not yet determined.
(iv) To note the communication from DC Planning policy team circulated to members on 15th Dec 2023: “Planning for climate change documents” – three non-statutory documents intended to guide the consideration of climate change in planning applications, and to support planning decision-making for the interim period until the new Dorset Council Local Plan is adopted. It was noted that this has been posted on the website as advice to applicants.

(b) Consultations

None.

(c) Any planning matters received after publication of the agenda.

Received 8 Jan 2024: P/HOU/2023/07400. 2 Martel Close Broadmayne DT2 8PL. Convert existing garage to office/bedroom with en-suite. Erect front extension to enlarge dining room and erect porch. A response deadline extension has been requested from the Planning West team to enable this matter to be considered at the Council meeting on 5th February 2024.

Public participation

24/5

Traffic in the village: A resident commented further on his points made at a previous meeting about possible danger presented by traffic joining Main St from Rectory Rd. He wondered if it might be possible to have a “concealed entrance” sign installed. It was agreed that the Clerk would approach DC Highways about this or a sign warning of a junction. The same resident also commented on potholes in Rectory Rd. The Clerk was asked to report these but residents were encouraged to report problems direct to DC Highways using the public online fault reporting process on the DC website as well as reporting them to the Parish Council.

Flooding: Several residents expressed concern about the flooding along Main St because of water pooling in the field at the south-eastern edge of the village and then flowing past properties onto Main Street. It was noted that at the peak of the recent flooding the water, containing a large amount of silt from the fields, flowed down both sides of Main Street leaving only the crown of the road dry. The resultant “bow waves” from vehicles travelling too fast through the flood put adjacent properties at risk of inundation. On this latest occasion DC Highways were contacted. They promptly cleared the road drains of deposited silt.  The Dorset Council Flood Officer also became involved. Whilst the road drains were cleared, it is believed that some deeper connecting pipework may remain blocked and might require intervention of heavier equipment. It was generally agreed that the land management which leads to the initial pooling of water in the field needs to be addressed with the landowner. Ideally also some form of management system is needed to allow the water to safely reach the adjacent water meadow on the northern side of the road. The following actions were agreed:

        • Cllr Macer-Wright, as Flood Warden, to approach Dorset Council about this problem, to request the DC Flood Officer to visit to view the situation, speak to the landowner, and ideally to initiate further investigation of the possible blocked pipe.
        • Parish Clerk to approach DC Highways about the possible purchase of “Flood” warning signs for retention and use locally.
        • Residents to make active use of the public online flood reporting system at https://dorset-self.achieveservice.com/ or the FORT (Flood Online Reporting Tool) at https://swim.geowessex.com/glos/Report/Splash

Bridleways: A resident noted that Dorset Council have indicated an intention to undertake some improvement to the surface of Bramble Drove. He wondered if this might be used as the basis of an argument for a request for surface improvements to other unadopted roads in the village.

Reports

24/6

Playing fields: The next meeting of Broadmayne PFA will be held in February.
Village Hall: The next management meeting is on 17th January 2024.
DAPTC: The Central Area DAPTC meeting is scheduled for 23rd January 2024.
PCSO: This report included one matter concerning Broadmayne; a report of vehicles parked in a residential road, some of which were displaying for sale signs and trade plates. The PCSO liaised with traffic officers and Dorset Council on the matter.

Financial Matters

24/7

    • The Clerk had prepared the January financial statement, showing the receipts and payments since the last meeting. It was RESOLVED to approve the following payments:

Payments to be made

Eyelid productions Ltd (annual website support, domain name & hosting)                  £170.00
Dorset Council (remembrance day signs)                                                                                £32.40
Starboard Systems Ltd (Scribe accounts package plus one-off setup fee)                       £788.40
Broadmayne PF Assn (Grant – reimbursement RoSPA fee + insurance)                         £883.87
T Watton (reimbursement – expenditure on laptop, setup / data transfer,
plus Office 365 annual licence)                                                                                                  £724.99
Broadmayne Parish Council (Initial deposit in Unity Trust bank account)                     £500.00
RJS Cleaning Management Ltd (Bus shelter cleaning Aug-Dec 2023)                              £158.40

Proposed, S Toogood; Seconded, S Hawkins. CARRIED.

    • To consider and agree the resolution & declarations required as part of the application to open a current account with Unity Trust Bank (appendix 1 to these minutes)

Proposed, K Ellis; Seconded, P Lamb. CARRIED.

Also to approve the transfer of the funds and any Standing Orders and Direct Debits from the Council’s current account with Santander Bank and to subsequently close that account.

Proposed, S Toogood; Seconded, S Hawkins CARRIED.

    • To consider and approve a draft Internet Banking Protocol (appendix 2 to these minutes).

Proposed, S Toogood; Seconded, P Lamb. CARRIED.

    • To ratify the proposal for the 2024 / 25 budget and precept previously recorded at minute 23/155(g), subject to receipt of confirmation of Council Tax base. (Council meeting 5th Dec 2023).

Proposed R Macer-Wright; Seconded, S Toogood. CARRIED.
It was noted that the precept for 2024/25 would be £28500; i.e. an increase of £500 representing 1.79% overall, or £1.74 per D band property.

To consider possible locations for installation of Electric Vehicle Charging points under Dorset Council’s “Charging Ahead” scheme.

24/8

Members were reminded that in May 2023 local councils throughout Dorset were invited to express their interest in this Dorset Council scheme, and Broadmayne Parish Council did so. The project lead at DC has now responded requesting suggestions for suitable locations to install a charging point which could accommodate 2 vehicles. The following suggestions were agreed for further investigation:

      • The informal lay-by at the eastern end of the village
      • The green space owned by Magna Housing in the centre of Woodlands
      • The car park of the Black Dog PH.

The Parish Clerk will respond to the Project Manager accordingly.

Other matters of report

24/9

(a)  The Clerk reported on the following matters:

(i) Allotments; Inspection visit on Sunday 7th Jan 2024. Water meter read. No issues to report.
(ii) Rights of Way issues reported / under investigation; Dr Janet Davis has looked at the collapsed fingerpost behind church hall at the junction of FPs S9/1 & S9/2 and has reported it and the hedge alongside FP S9/2, to the DC Rights of Way team for action. Whilst the hedge is cut by Wessex Ground Services it needs more serious attention because it is collapsing over the path. Dr Davis has also reported to DC the pipe / cable protruding from the ground on FP S9/7, and that there is no waymarking or fingerpost at junction of FP S9/5 with Knighton Lane.
(iii) Abandoned car at Woodlands; the one remaining abandoned car has still not been moved. Consequently the matter has again been raised with Magna Housing, who will now try to get a DC Housing Officer involved. In the meantime the Clerk has brought the matter to the attention of DC Cllr Roland Tarr.
(iv) Scaffolding stored at Littlemead and Woodlands. This has also been raised with Magna Housing – who have referred it to their Assets Team to ascertain whether the owner has been given permission to store it there.
(v) Dealership cars parked on local roads; see also the PCSO report (minute 23/165 above). The Clerk telephoned the garage. They have explained that they rent two parking spaces from a local resident and storage space at Whitcombe Stables. The situation will continue to be monitored. It was noted that the situation appeared to have improved to some extent.

(b) The Chairman Reported on the following:

Washpond bridges Mr Ackerley, Senior DC Ranger, has advised that DC have now got prices for the bridges. These will be bridleway bridges with ramps rather than steps leading up to them. The money for these is awaited. In response to questions from members of the public the Chairman explained that it was neither feasible nor consistent with health and safety standards to install temporary crossings.

(c) Reports from Councillors:

Cllr Toogood reminded members that in 2020 a scheme had been developed to landscape the verges at the crossroads, but that this had been interrupted by Covid. The council agreed to the reinstatement of this scheme.

Cllr Lawley commented on the storage area for the current SGN works on the junction of Conway Drive and Bramble Drove, together with a large branch which has fallen from a tree and been fenced off rather than removed. The combined effect of this and has been to create access difficulties from Conway Drive into Bramble Drove. The Clerk is to speak to SGN / JDT about this.

Matters received after the publication of the agenda

24/10

Local Council Elections in May: The Chairman drew attention to an “Elections Toolkit” issued by DAPTC. This toolkit includes suggestions for a local pre-election awareness raising campaign to promote council membership. In view of the understanding that some current members of Broadmayne parish council will not be standing for a further term of office, he suggested it would be prudent to consider running a communications campaign. Members considered the suggestions within the Toolkit and agreed on the following:

      • Community newspaper / magazine articles – an item for the next edition of Compass, and to include on the website and local social media.
      • Posters – to support the Compass article, and ongoing.
      • Flyers delivered to local residences – useful to ensure residents who are not IT active are aware. Flyers can be delivered by volunteers.

Next meeting

24/11 The next meeting will take place on Monday 5th February 2024 in the Methodist Church Hall, unless otherwise advised.

 

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9:02pm, thanking everyone for their contributions