THE DRAFT MINUTES OF A MEETING OF
TARRANT GUNVILLE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2020
Present: Councillors Jim Shephard (Chair),Jim Farquharson, Geoff Percival, Charlie Regnart, Jan Robinson, Heather Sandison, Paul Wentworth
In attendance;; Tony Langdown, Rights of Way Officer.
Members of the public: There were two members of the public at the meeting
19/43. Welcome and opening remarks
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
19/44. Apologies for absence
There were apologies from Roger Andrews, Flood Warden; Dorset Councillor Sherry Jespersen; Ian Stone, Parish Clerk
19/45. Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 5 November 2019t
These were agreed as a correct record.
19/46. Matters arising from the meeting
Village Telephone Box: proposal for possible use (19/32) Cllr Wentworth said that he would have completed all the shelving by the end of the week. He said that books were to be provided by book club members and others: there would be a need to put a simple notice on the box.
Anniversary of VE Day: to consider village participation (19/38) Members of the public (Katie Robinson and Susie Percival) said they would organise an afternoon tea on the day but thought that an email around the village to ascertain interest would be the right way to proceed. Jan Robinson said he thought there could be a small display with such items as photographs, newspaper cuttings and personal memorabilia. He said that there were a number of villagers who would have memories of VE Day and they might want to contribute in some way.
19/47. Reports from appointed representatives and committees
Tony Langdown, Rights of Way Officer, said that a Dorset Council committee would be deciding in the next two months whether the T350 bridleway could be given BOAT status. He said that if the Byway status is allowed then the Parish Council should object, and the case would then go to appeal. Tony Langdown said he had visited a path which was virtually unusable because a cattle trough was too close, and he would be revisiting it with a Dorset Council ranger. Jim Shephard said the tree felling had caused a lot of footpath disturbance and he would be taking that up with the estate manager. Tony Langdown said he was investigating an incident where a during a shoot a shotgun was discharged a few feet from a footpath. He said he would report back at the next meeting. He said that the footpath near Chettle Long Barrow had been ploughed over, as had been reported at the November Council meeting, but had now been restored.
Cllr Sandison, reporting for the Village Hall Committee, said that there were problems with achieving the right levels of heating in the hall and the system was being checked. She said the Committee was financially healthy.
Jan Robinson, Homewatch Co-ordinator, said that Speedwatch in the village had checked 314 vehicles in November and December and 14 were reported for speeding: there was one persistent offender who had been home-visited by the police traffic officer. A member of the public suggested that the Council should write to the \Bursar of Clayesmore School asking him to remind parents of the need to keep to the speed limit.
19/48. Planning Matters
Applications and notifications received
In Ian Stone’s absence Jim Shephard reported that there had been 2 applications in the last three months: an adaptation of the Drove Barns plan and one from Spartae. He said the parish council had not raised any objection to these plans and the Clerk had already confirmed that to the Planning Department.
Any other planning items
The Chairman confirmed that the Parish was not pursuing a local plan in the light of advice at the last meeting from Cllr Sherry Jespersen that the village was classed as a “countryside village” in the Dorset Council Plan and was consequently well protected.
19/49. Financial Matters: report from Clerk
In the Clerk’s absence the Chair confirmed that the Parish Precept for 2020-21 was to be £2,600.
19/50. Squires Playing Field: oral report from the Trustees
Jim Farquharson, Trustee, said that a number of maintenance repairs to equipment was being carried out, funded by the Playing Field deposit funds. He said that Chris Tatham, Trustee, was organising regular grass cutting from a new contractor.
19/51 Flooding, road closures and road conditions: to discuss implications and any action
Cllr Percival said that the road closed signs for the road through the village were effective at the Iwerne crossroads end but did not seem to stop use at the Bussey Stool end. The real problem had been hidden potholes, and these had caused a serious accident to a cyclist. He said that as a result of the accident the Highways department had carried out temporary repairs. Cllr Regnart said that the flooded road had meant that bins had not been emptied as the operatives wore trainers. He said he reported this to Dorset Waste partnership and the men were issued with wellington boots. Cllr Wentworth said he was concerned that the verges on the Everly Hill road had been damaged by heavy vehicles, probably timber lorries; Cllr Shephard said he would raise this with Pearse Lally. Tony Langdown said the stock fences in the Keightley fields had caused the river water to back up. He said that Roger Andrews would raise this with the Environment Agency.
19/52. Any Other Business
There were no items.
19/53. Items from Members of the Public
A member of the public had sent the Clerk an email asking the Parish Council to remind dog owners to pick up dog waste and secondly to inform them that they had contacted the Environment Agency because there was a strong smell of heating oil and it was visible on the surface of the river at the southern end of the village.
Cllr Robinson said he had been informed by Pearse Lally and Chris Tatham that the Crown Prince’s estate had removed 15,000 old trees and were replacing them with 17,600 new ones over the course of the next twelve months. Jan Robinson said that the replacements were native English hardwoods and there would be deer fencing to protect the trees. Mr Lally had also reported that the old scrub and stumps would be used as biofuel and that the old tree line from Church Hill along the top of the three fields above the village would have new fencing and hedging.
19/54. To confirm dates of future meetings
Dates for further meetings confirmed as follows, 5 May, 4 August - Tuesdays at 7.00pm in the Village Hall.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.18pm.
TARRANT GUNVILLE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2020
Present: Councillors Jim Shephard (Chair),Jim Farquharson, Geoff Percival, Charlie Regnart, Jan Robinson, Heather Sandison, Paul Wentworth
In attendance;; Tony Langdown, Rights of Way Officer.
Members of the public: There were two members of the public at the meeting
19/43. Welcome and opening remarks
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
19/44. Apologies for absence
There were apologies from Roger Andrews, Flood Warden; Dorset Councillor Sherry Jespersen; Ian Stone, Parish Clerk
19/45. Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 5 November 2019t
These were agreed as a correct record.
19/46. Matters arising from the meeting
Village Telephone Box: proposal for possible use (19/32) Cllr Wentworth said that he would have completed all the shelving by the end of the week. He said that books were to be provided by book club members and others: there would be a need to put a simple notice on the box.
Anniversary of VE Day: to consider village participation (19/38) Members of the public (Katie Robinson and Susie Percival) said they would organise an afternoon tea on the day but thought that an email around the village to ascertain interest would be the right way to proceed. Jan Robinson said he thought there could be a small display with such items as photographs, newspaper cuttings and personal memorabilia. He said that there were a number of villagers who would have memories of VE Day and they might want to contribute in some way.
19/47. Reports from appointed representatives and committees
Tony Langdown, Rights of Way Officer, said that a Dorset Council committee would be deciding in the next two months whether the T350 bridleway could be given BOAT status. He said that if the Byway status is allowed then the Parish Council should object, and the case would then go to appeal. Tony Langdown said he had visited a path which was virtually unusable because a cattle trough was too close, and he would be revisiting it with a Dorset Council ranger. Jim Shephard said the tree felling had caused a lot of footpath disturbance and he would be taking that up with the estate manager. Tony Langdown said he was investigating an incident where a during a shoot a shotgun was discharged a few feet from a footpath. He said he would report back at the next meeting. He said that the footpath near Chettle Long Barrow had been ploughed over, as had been reported at the November Council meeting, but had now been restored.
Cllr Sandison, reporting for the Village Hall Committee, said that there were problems with achieving the right levels of heating in the hall and the system was being checked. She said the Committee was financially healthy.
Jan Robinson, Homewatch Co-ordinator, said that Speedwatch in the village had checked 314 vehicles in November and December and 14 were reported for speeding: there was one persistent offender who had been home-visited by the police traffic officer. A member of the public suggested that the Council should write to the \Bursar of Clayesmore School asking him to remind parents of the need to keep to the speed limit.
19/48. Planning Matters
Applications and notifications received
In Ian Stone’s absence Jim Shephard reported that there had been 2 applications in the last three months: an adaptation of the Drove Barns plan and one from Spartae. He said the parish council had not raised any objection to these plans and the Clerk had already confirmed that to the Planning Department.
Any other planning items
The Chairman confirmed that the Parish was not pursuing a local plan in the light of advice at the last meeting from Cllr Sherry Jespersen that the village was classed as a “countryside village” in the Dorset Council Plan and was consequently well protected.
19/49. Financial Matters: report from Clerk
In the Clerk’s absence the Chair confirmed that the Parish Precept for 2020-21 was to be £2,600.
19/50. Squires Playing Field: oral report from the Trustees
Jim Farquharson, Trustee, said that a number of maintenance repairs to equipment was being carried out, funded by the Playing Field deposit funds. He said that Chris Tatham, Trustee, was organising regular grass cutting from a new contractor.
19/51 Flooding, road closures and road conditions: to discuss implications and any action
Cllr Percival said that the road closed signs for the road through the village were effective at the Iwerne crossroads end but did not seem to stop use at the Bussey Stool end. The real problem had been hidden potholes, and these had caused a serious accident to a cyclist. He said that as a result of the accident the Highways department had carried out temporary repairs. Cllr Regnart said that the flooded road had meant that bins had not been emptied as the operatives wore trainers. He said he reported this to Dorset Waste partnership and the men were issued with wellington boots. Cllr Wentworth said he was concerned that the verges on the Everly Hill road had been damaged by heavy vehicles, probably timber lorries; Cllr Shephard said he would raise this with Pearse Lally. Tony Langdown said the stock fences in the Keightley fields had caused the river water to back up. He said that Roger Andrews would raise this with the Environment Agency.
19/52. Any Other Business
There were no items.
19/53. Items from Members of the Public
A member of the public had sent the Clerk an email asking the Parish Council to remind dog owners to pick up dog waste and secondly to inform them that they had contacted the Environment Agency because there was a strong smell of heating oil and it was visible on the surface of the river at the southern end of the village.
Cllr Robinson said he had been informed by Pearse Lally and Chris Tatham that the Crown Prince’s estate had removed 15,000 old trees and were replacing them with 17,600 new ones over the course of the next twelve months. Jan Robinson said that the replacements were native English hardwoods and there would be deer fencing to protect the trees. Mr Lally had also reported that the old scrub and stumps would be used as biofuel and that the old tree line from Church Hill along the top of the three fields above the village would have new fencing and hedging.
19/54. To confirm dates of future meetings
Dates for further meetings confirmed as follows, 5 May, 4 August - Tuesdays at 7.00pm in the Village Hall.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.18pm.