BROADMAYNE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN BROADMAYNE METHODIST CHURCH HALL
ON 3 JULY 2023
Present
Cllrs S Diamond, K Ellis, P Lamb, C Lawley, R Macer-Wright and S Toogood.
In attendance
Dr J Davis (Clerk), Dorset Cllr R Tarr and six members of the public.
Apologies for absence
23/78
An apology for absence had been received from Cllr Hawkins.
Declarations of Interest and requests for dispensations
23/79
There were none.
Minutes of meeting held on 5 June 2023
23/80
The minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.
Planning and Tree Matters
23/81
There were none.
Public participation session
23/82
The following issues were raised by members of the public.
(i) The field gate leading into the meadow on Footpath S9/7 (running eastwards from Knighton Lane) needed re-hanging as it was difficult to open.
(ii) Bridleway S9/4 (south-east of the washponds) was badly overgrown.
(iii) Overgrowth reported at the last Parish Council meeting, in particular at the Coombe Valley/Chalky Road junction, around road signage on the approaches to the village, and on the verges at the cross roads at the centre of the village had still not been dealt with.
(iv) Shrubs in the front garden of a house on Main Street were overhanging the footway.
(v) A drain in Osmington Drove was blocked causing rain water to run into Main Street. The Clerk would pursue these matters with Dorset Council as appropriate.
Reports
23/83
(i) Dorset Cllr Tarr urged anyone reporting problems directly to Dorset Council to persist with their complaints if no action was taken. He further commented that in respect of drain blockage problems, Dorset Council did not have a budget for regular maintenance work and only responded when problems arose.
(ii) Cllr Toogood reported that the Playing Fields Association would shortly be issuing the football team contracts for the coming season and was arranging for the swings in the children’s play area to be refurbished.
(iii) The Clerk read a report from the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). There had been no reported incidents in Broadmayne but it was noted that there appeared to be no reference to road traffic accidents or the recent theft of electric bicycles. The Clerk was asked to query this with the PCSO.
Financial Matters
23/84
(a) The Clerk had prepared the July financial statement, showing the receipts and payments since the last meeting. It was proposed by Cllr Toogood, seconded by Cllr Lawley, and RESOLVED to approve the following payments:
Payments already made
Broadmayne Village hall (hire for annual parish meeting)
£ 21.00
Dorset Council (advert for clerk’s job)
£ 250.00
Wessex Grounds Services (1st quarter grounds work)
£1,171.09
Payments to be made
Ricoh UK Ltd (security cleansing of old photocopier)
£ 180.00
Speed control measures
23/85
(a) Application for 20 mph limit Cllr Macer-Wright reported on further correspondence with Dorset Council which confirmed that the A352 through Broadmayne has a level 3 carriageway status (main distributor) and a level 2 footway status (distribution footway). The centre of Beaminster was already subject to a 20 mph limit and had a road, the A3066, of the same carriageway status as the A352 in Broadmayne, but had a level 1 footway status (strategic footway). The officer further said that there was no blanket assessment and that each application would be treated on its merits. After discussion it was agreed that a 20 mph zone (i.e. a zone incorporating side roads, including Knighton Lane and its continuation through West Knighton) should be pursued. The Chairman would discuss this further with Councillors from West Knighton (Knightsford Parish Council), with a view to a consultation with residents of both villages about this wider scheme. Parallel to this, enquiries would be made of Dorset Council about the number and location of the speed surveys which would be required, and their cost, and all other costs involved.
(b) SIDS As instructed, the Clerk had written to the SID team at Dorset Council expressing concern about recent developments concerning the SIDs, in particular the solar panel at the eastern end of the village and the calibration of the new SID. In their reply the team stated that they did not consider they had failed to make clear there might be an issue with trees overshadowing the solar panel, but they did agree to refund the cost of the panel if the Parish Council wished to have it removed. Any compensation arising from the new SID having to be returned to the supplier for resetting was a matter for the Parish Council to take up with the company. As regards extending the 30 mph limit further east so that the SID itself could be relocated, the officers were of the view that this would be beneficial in general road safety terms but there were still concerns about the tree cover and the use of a solar panel in that vicinity. After discussion it was agreed to accept the offer of a refund for the solar panel and to have it removed and not to pursue the matter of compensation from the SID supplier, the SID having now been returned. It was further agreed that moving the start of the speed limit further east should be pursued as part of the 20 mph application discussed above.
(c) A352 Entrance gates Councillors remained of the view that the gates should be repositioned to avoid obscuring the village name plate but considered that the location of the gates at the eastern end of the village was linked to the start of the speed limit and that they should be moved if and when the start of the speed limit was amended. The Clerk was asked to contact the relevant team and request that all of the speed control measures be considered holistically.
Clerk recruitment
23/86
The Chairman reported that two of the three candidates due to be interviewed had withdrawn so it had been decided to re-advertise the position. The remaining candidate would be included in the new shortlist. The present Clerk would remain in post until the new appointment was made.
Dorset Council consultation on the review of the existing dog related Public Space Protection Order
23/87
It was agreed that Councillors would look at the consultation questionnaire and send any comments to the Clerk by 17 July, otherwise the Clerk would prepare a response based on replies made to the original consultation in 2020.
Other matters of report
23/88
(i) The Clerk reported that there had been no improvement in the condition of the allotment which was causing concern. As the tenant was therefore in breach of their tenancy agreement, it was agreed that the Clerk should proceed to bring that tenancy to a close.
(ii) Cllr Toogood reported the potholes in the vicinity of the junction of Osmington Drove and Cowleaze Road.
Item received after the publication of the agenda
23/89
The Clerk had received a letter from a resident of Bramble Drove, expressing concern about increasing deterioration of the surface of Bramble Drove between Main Street and the private drive leading to Pine Tree House. This would be discussed at the August meeting.
23/90
The next meeting would take place on Monday 7 August 2023 in the Methodist Church Hall, unless otherwise advised.