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THE DRAFT MINUTES OF A MEETING OF TARRANT GUNVILLE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2017
Present: Councillors Jim Shephard (Chair), Alan Bailey, Jim Farquharson, Geoff Percival, Charlie Regnart, Jan Robinson, Chris Tatham
In attendance: District Councillor Piers Brown, Ian Stone Parish Clerk
Members of the public: There were 4 members of the public at the meeting
17/44. Welcome and Opening Remarks
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
17/45. Apologies for absence
There were no apologies for absence
17/46.Minutes of meeting held on 1 August 2017
These were agreed as a correct record.
17/47. Matters arising from meeting held on 1 August 2017
a) Superfast Broadband (17/33a) Cllr Regnart said that his house had been the first to have Superfast Broadband installed, but it did not work although it seemed that in other nearby properties where it had been installed it was functioning. District Councillor Brown said that he had spoken to the broadband team at the District Council and they had confirmed that the infrastructure was in place. He said he would make further investigations. Piers Brown said he understood that Tarrant Gunville should in fact be receiving ultra-fast broadband. A member of the public said that he had telephoned BT to try to ascertain what was happening in the village about broadband but it seemed that they did not know. He felt that the apparently patchy success around the village might be related to the telegraph pole from which the cables were connected.
b)Highway Issues (17/33b) Cllr Bailey reported that he and the Clerk had met Roland Skeats from the Highways Department and Mr Skeats had agreed to make secure two areas along the village street where the road edge was in danger of collapsing.
c) To consider and agree statements to be submitted to the External Auditor (17/33c) The Clerk reported that he had received a letter from the External Auditors enclosing a certificate of approval of the Council’s accounts and explaining why the accounts had to be qualified [a copy filed with the minutes]. Ian Stone read an explanatory email from the Auditors which said:
“In the prior year we raised an issue as the period of electors rights was not undertaken correctly, this was only an advisory issue as the period of electors rights fell into the audit for the year ended 31 March 2017. This year, question 4 on the annual governance statement has been answered yes. This means that the council have provided proper opportunity in the year for the exercise of electors rights. This is incorrect as the current audit year includes last year’s electors rights period and it was not undertaken correctly. Therefore we will be raising a qualified issue as the period of electors rights was not correctly undertaken in accordance with the Accounts and Audit regulations 2015.
This email is to advise you of the qualified issue which is being added to your audit.”
d) Item from member of the public (17/42) Ian Stone reported that at the last meeting a member of the public had pointed out that the list of Councillors in Dorset for You was out of date. Ian Stone said he had talked to the District Council and he was hoping to get this updated as soon as possible. He said it would involve each Councillor checking the information to be put on the site.
1748. Reports from appointed representatives and committees
Roger Andrews, Flood Warden, said he had nothing to report.
Jan Robinson, Homewatch Co-ordinator, said he had sent out a number of alerts in recent weeks. He said that Speedwatch training sessions were being held for 5 villagers and this would enable the Speedwatch camera to be used in the village.
Ian Stone said that Tony Langdown was unable to attend but had told him there were no new items to report to the Council. Chris Tatham said that there were bushes encroaching on the avenue of trees footpath which would soon make it very difficult to use the path. Jim Farquharson, in his role as Managing Director of the Estate, said that he would arrange to have this growth cut back. Cllr Tatham said he also wished to record his thanks to Jim Farquharson for removing the hawthorn tree on the path to the village playground.
Piers Brown said he wanted to inform the Council that the Secretary of State had agreed to the proposal to create 2 new statutory authorities across Dorset. There would be a consultation period and if the proposals were finally agreed then they would go ahead.
17/49. Planning Matters: applications and notifications received
a) Applications and notifications received. The Clerk reported that two planning applications had been received for adaptations to Stubhampton Manor Farm House and an application for a replacement dwelling for Manor Cottage. The Council members had already raised no objections to these applications. He said that the Council had also received details of a provisional Tree Preservation Order for the 9 Beech trees at the side of Manor Cottage.
b) Any other planning issues. Chris Tatham asked whether some trees on the bend at the end of the village were supposed to have been removed and he said he wondered whether the Council should raise this again. Cllr Farquharson said the Leylandii trees on the final bend were a hazard as they blocked the view around the corner. He also said that there were stakes driven into the verge which reduced the manoeuvrability of large vehicles. The Chairman asked the Clerk to write to the County Council on the Parish’s behalf to raise these concerns.
17/50. Financial Matters
a) Bank Statement. Ian Stone reported that the last statement from the bank dated August 4th had stated a balance of £1395.44 in the Council’s current account.
b) Correspondence from the Auditors. Ian Stone said he had made his formal report on this item earlier under Matters Arising.
17/51. Squires Playing Field: oral report from the Trustees
Jim Farquharson, Trustee, said the Trustees had now received the RoSPA report on the playground and the overall rating was medium. Cllr Regnart said he wondered whether the playground could cater for older children as the group for which it was built had now outgrown the equipment. Cllr Robinson said that he thought people might be willing to contribute to the costs of this and he hoped the Trustees might consider the idea. Chris Tatham, Trustee, said he would be trying to get a group together to remove weeds from the tennis court surface.
17/52. Correspondence received: briefing from the Clerk
The Clerk said he had to report two items to the Council. First, he had received a report that North Dorset District Council was considering introducing charges for local elections. Second, Blandford Town Council had written asking if parish councils would consider making a contribution to the cost of public conveniences in the town. The Parish Council discussed this request and decided they did not want to make a contribution.
17/53. Any other business
Cllr Tatham said it was his intention to stand down from the Council with immediate effect. He had served on the Council since 2008 and he now wanted to move on to other activities. The Chairman said he was very grateful for all that Chris Tatham had done and Councillors all expressed their appreciation of his contribution on many things.
The Council asked the Clerk to advertise the vacancy for a Parish Councillor so that they could consider any expressions of interest.
17/54. Items from members of the public
There were no items
17/55. To confirm dates of future meetings
Dates for 2018 meetings were confirmed as follows: 6 February, 1 May, 14 August, 6 November, 5 February 2019 all Tuesdays at 7.00pm in the Village Hall.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.12pm