THE DRAFT MINUTES OF A MEETING OF TARRANT GUNVILLE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 1 AUGUST 2017
Present: Councillors Jim Shephard (Chair), Alan Bailey, Geoff Percival, Jan Robinson
In attendance: District Councillor Piers Brown, Ian Stone Parish Clerk
Members of the public: There were 2 members of the public at the meeting
17/30. Welcome and Opening Remarks
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
17/31. Apologies for absence
There were apologies for absence from Cllrs Farquharson, Regnart and Tatham
17/32.Minutes of meetings held on 23 May and 28 June 2017
These were agreed as a correct record.
17/33. Matters arising from meeting held on 23 May and 28 June 2017
17/34. Reports from appointed representatives and committees
The Chairman asked District Councillor Piers Brown if there was anything he wished to report to the Council. Piers Brown said that the response from the Secretary of State on the Dorset local government reorganisation was still awaited. He said that North Dorset no longer had the 5-year housing supply to meet the national target because it could not get houses built within the specified time frame. He said that would mean that the Local Plan would have less influence on planning policy and it would not be able to be used to refuse applications. He said that North Dorset would do whatever it could to combat the effects. Piers Brown said he would like to encourage community-led housing initiatives but these would require Parish Councils to lend their support. Cllr Shephard said he thought because Tarrant Gunville was in an AONB then that would help to control housing development which may not be wanted locally. Piers Brown said that he thought it would be of some help and that Parish Council views would still be taken into consideration. He said he thought the effect of the changes were more likely to have an impact on large developments.
Cllr Bailey said he would like to know the purpose and definition of “Affordable Housing”. Piers Brown said it was housing sold at 80% or less of its market value to residents from the Council property list. He said it helped residents get on an ownership ladder. Alan Bailey said he thought it would be better to place houses where there were some services.
Tony Langdown, Rights of Way Officer, said that there had been three objections registered to the proposed opening of the T467 path over Dungrove Hill – 2 from local residents and one from the landowner. He said that the County Council was asking the objectors to withdraw to avoid the issue being referred to the Secretary of State and a then formal inquiry. DCC would have to fund any inquiry and Tony Langdown said it was thought unlikely to be held within the next 5 years.
Jan Robinson, Homewatch Co-ordinator, said that the Church Fete had raised £1800 for the Church, £1000 for the Playground, £500 for the Village Hall, £200 for special projects and £100 for Speedwatch. He said that Speedwatch would be operating at times during the days when the Steam Fair was to be held and that “Community Speedwatch” signs would be erected at strategic points in the village.
Cllr Percival said he remained concerned that the 30mph speed limit had not been extended to Stubhampton. Piers Brown said that it might be helpful to raise this with County Councillor Croney as she has been involved.
17/35. Planning Matters: applications and notifications received
17/36. Great Dorset Steam Fair 2017: to discuss any matters relevant to the village
Jan Robinson said that two meetings were being held in advance of the Fair for anyone concerned about issues. He said the traveller’s site would open 10 days before the Fair started and that other arrangements were as in previous years. He confirmed that the “No Access” sign should be in place at the top of the valley road as in previous years.
17/37. Financial Matters
The Clerk reported that since the May meeting the Council had paid Playground Insurance of £402.74 and had received £1376.41 from the Defibrillator Fund which it had immediately paid out to fund further equipment for the Defibrillators. He said that the Council’s current account stood at £2771.85.
17/38. Squires Playing Field: oral report from the Trustees
Ian Stone, Trustee, said that the Squires Playing Field Trustees were very grateful to the Church Fete for donating £1000. He said the Playground was expensive to upkeep and the donation would be put to good use.
17/39. Freedom of Information: to consider draft policy for Tarrant Gunville
Ian Stone referred to the draft Transparency Code which he had circulated to Councillors for their approval. He said it was based on the template they had discussed at the May meeting but had been made as understandable as possible. Councillors approved the draft unanimously [copy filed with minutes].
17/40. Correspondence received: briefing from the Clerk
The Clerk said he had to report one item to the Council:
17/41. Any other business
There was no other business
17/42. Items from members of the public
A member of the public said that despite efforts by the Clerk the list of Councillors in the Dorset for You website was still out of date. Ian Stone said he would see what could be done..
17/15. To confirm dates of future meetings
Dates for 2017 meetings were confirmed as follows: 7 November, 6 February 2018: both were Tuesdays at 7.00pm in the Village Hall.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.25pm
HELD ON TUESDAY 1 AUGUST 2017
Present: Councillors Jim Shephard (Chair), Alan Bailey, Geoff Percival, Jan Robinson
In attendance: District Councillor Piers Brown, Ian Stone Parish Clerk
Members of the public: There were 2 members of the public at the meeting
17/30. Welcome and Opening Remarks
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
17/31. Apologies for absence
There were apologies for absence from Cllrs Farquharson, Regnart and Tatham
17/32.Minutes of meetings held on 23 May and 28 June 2017
These were agreed as a correct record.
17/33. Matters arising from meeting held on 23 May and 28 June 2017
- Superfast Broadband (17/04a) Cllr Robinson said he had raised a general question about progress with Openreach to try to speed things up. Cllr Shephard said he would speak to Steve Riley to see whether that could achieve some sort of progress. Cllr Bailey said he had spent some time trying to get the County Council to help but he had not yet had a reply. Piers Brown said he agreed that the Parish Council should continue to pressure Openreach to finish the work and he said he would also do what he could to help.
- Highway Issues (17/08) The Clerk reported that he had raised the concerns of the Council about the road edge in two places along the village street. He had not heard more but would follow this up with Roland Skeats who was the local officer responsible for the state of the road.
- To consider and agree statements to be submitted to the External Auditor (17/27) The Clerk said that he had submitted the statements agreed at the extra Council meeting and he had had phone calls from the auditors that indicated they were satisfied with what had been sent in. he said that they had however told him that the accounts would be qualified because the late submission of last year in some way spilled over onto the 2016-17 submission.
17/34. Reports from appointed representatives and committees
The Chairman asked District Councillor Piers Brown if there was anything he wished to report to the Council. Piers Brown said that the response from the Secretary of State on the Dorset local government reorganisation was still awaited. He said that North Dorset no longer had the 5-year housing supply to meet the national target because it could not get houses built within the specified time frame. He said that would mean that the Local Plan would have less influence on planning policy and it would not be able to be used to refuse applications. He said that North Dorset would do whatever it could to combat the effects. Piers Brown said he would like to encourage community-led housing initiatives but these would require Parish Councils to lend their support. Cllr Shephard said he thought because Tarrant Gunville was in an AONB then that would help to control housing development which may not be wanted locally. Piers Brown said that he thought it would be of some help and that Parish Council views would still be taken into consideration. He said he thought the effect of the changes were more likely to have an impact on large developments.
Cllr Bailey said he would like to know the purpose and definition of “Affordable Housing”. Piers Brown said it was housing sold at 80% or less of its market value to residents from the Council property list. He said it helped residents get on an ownership ladder. Alan Bailey said he thought it would be better to place houses where there were some services.
Tony Langdown, Rights of Way Officer, said that there had been three objections registered to the proposed opening of the T467 path over Dungrove Hill – 2 from local residents and one from the landowner. He said that the County Council was asking the objectors to withdraw to avoid the issue being referred to the Secretary of State and a then formal inquiry. DCC would have to fund any inquiry and Tony Langdown said it was thought unlikely to be held within the next 5 years.
Jan Robinson, Homewatch Co-ordinator, said that the Church Fete had raised £1800 for the Church, £1000 for the Playground, £500 for the Village Hall, £200 for special projects and £100 for Speedwatch. He said that Speedwatch would be operating at times during the days when the Steam Fair was to be held and that “Community Speedwatch” signs would be erected at strategic points in the village.
Cllr Percival said he remained concerned that the 30mph speed limit had not been extended to Stubhampton. Piers Brown said that it might be helpful to raise this with County Councillor Croney as she has been involved.
17/35. Planning Matters: applications and notifications received
- Applications and notifications received. The Clerk reported that planning applications had been received for a new house at Furzey Down and a new wall and a greenhouse at the Old Rectory. He said that there had been no objections from the Councillors.
- Any other planning issues. The Clerk reported that the Parish Council would no longer be notified about tree trimming or felling applications and that the only way to be alerted to these applications would be to monitor the Dorset for You website.
17/36. Great Dorset Steam Fair 2017: to discuss any matters relevant to the village
Jan Robinson said that two meetings were being held in advance of the Fair for anyone concerned about issues. He said the traveller’s site would open 10 days before the Fair started and that other arrangements were as in previous years. He confirmed that the “No Access” sign should be in place at the top of the valley road as in previous years.
17/37. Financial Matters
The Clerk reported that since the May meeting the Council had paid Playground Insurance of £402.74 and had received £1376.41 from the Defibrillator Fund which it had immediately paid out to fund further equipment for the Defibrillators. He said that the Council’s current account stood at £2771.85.
17/38. Squires Playing Field: oral report from the Trustees
Ian Stone, Trustee, said that the Squires Playing Field Trustees were very grateful to the Church Fete for donating £1000. He said the Playground was expensive to upkeep and the donation would be put to good use.
17/39. Freedom of Information: to consider draft policy for Tarrant Gunville
Ian Stone referred to the draft Transparency Code which he had circulated to Councillors for their approval. He said it was based on the template they had discussed at the May meeting but had been made as understandable as possible. Councillors approved the draft unanimously [copy filed with minutes].
17/40. Correspondence received: briefing from the Clerk
The Clerk said he had to report one item to the Council:
- He had received and had passed on to Councillors details of various transport initiatives and changes – these included the cessation of the X12 service to Salisbury on Saturdays and the establishment of a bus service from villages, which could include Tarrant Gunville, provided by NORDCAT.
17/41. Any other business
There was no other business
17/42. Items from members of the public
A member of the public said that despite efforts by the Clerk the list of Councillors in the Dorset for You website was still out of date. Ian Stone said he would see what could be done..
17/15. To confirm dates of future meetings
Dates for 2017 meetings were confirmed as follows: 7 November, 6 February 2018: both were Tuesdays at 7.00pm in the Village Hall.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.25pm