Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Holt Parish Council Held 16th December at Holt Parish Hall 7:15 pm
Item 34 Action By
Public Open Session
Two members of public present – no questions.
County Councillors Report – Cllr Peter Finney (West Moors & Holt)
Cllr Finney reported on proposed improvements to Yeovil Junction to reduce rail travel time from Weymouth to London by 25 minutes. Cabinet has commissioned a report on how services are to be delivered in the whole of Dorset. A full council debate will be held in March 2016. The Government settlement is announced 17th December and a lot of negotiations on budgeting operations are in progress including the sustainability of Adult Social Care and Children’s Services which the County Council has a statutory obligation to fulfil.
District Councillors Report – Cllrs David Shortell, Alex Clarke and Andy Skeats (West Moors & Holt)
Time of Meetings The Scrutiny Committee have asked the Cabinet to review the time of their meetings, which are currently in the morning, to move to a more accessible time for working councillors to attend. Licensing The Licensing Committee has conducted its statutory review of the Council’s Policy on Gambling and it was approved at full council on 14 December. Unitary Authority After several weeks of debate in the media and an article in the Council’s East Dorset News, this was finally placed as an extra item of business on the agenda of the Scrutiny & Policy Development Committee on 24 November. It was also considered by the Cabinet on 9 December and their recommendation was to commission, along with the other 8 District/Borough/Unitary/County councils in Dorset, an examination of the financial implications of the 4 options and development of a case for change. The arguments were similar to those in the past – economies of scale, greater resilience, greater clarity for the public, a more powerful voice, plus the trend to greater access to central funds for larger councils. The research would be funded by the Transformation Grant received by the council to explore different ways of working. However, after a debate of over one and a half hours, EDDC councillors voted 20 – 8 to continue the current status and review in 12 months. This was in the context of the sudden announcement via the media in September, subsequent debate in the media and discussions with the Government minister before consideration within the democratic process. The suspension of the process would allow a more considered approach. The Leader of the Council resigned both his position and his ward seat in Alderholt before the meeting, having replaced the cabinet member for the environment a week earlier for publicly expressing opposition to further work towards developing different models of local government, especially unitary. The outgoing Leader had, however, allowed a Free Vote on the matter. Combined Authority Unlike in the above debate, it was agreed unanimously to support a Combined Authority across Dorset, including Poole and Bournemouth and the Local Economic Partnership. This will be a partnership of councils working together to promote economic growth and to attract government grants for this purpose, which are now likely to be made to larger regions. Dorset Waste Partnership The forecast overspend for 2015/2016 for EDDC has now fallen to £21,000. The draft budget for East Dorset for 2016/2017 is currently £56,000 less than this year.
Members took this opportunity to express to the District Councillors that they were extremely disappointed by East Dorset District Councils incompetent representation at the Informal Hearing of Application 3/14/1114 CLP Mixed use of site for agriculture and as a caravan site with 5 caravans for residential purposes at Broadbridge, Rowe Hill on 1st December 2015. The Parish Council and local people feel extremely let down by the Authority. District Councillors will investigate.
C:\Users\David\Google Drive\Holt Parish Council\Minutes\Minutes 161215.doc 35
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Holt Parish Council Held 16th December at Holt Parish Hall 7:15 pm
112 Attendance
Cllr Dick Irish (Chairman) Cllr Peter Finney Cllr Pauline Ford Cllr Celia Moore Cllr Marjorie Shaw Cllr Jim Stone (Vice Chairman) Cllr Norman Willis Cllr Alex Clarke (District Councillor West Moors & Holt) Cllr David Shortell (District Councillor West Moors & Holt)
Lisa Goodwin (Clerk)
Apologies received from:
Cllr Susan Frost Cllr Janet Wallace Cllr Andy Skeats (District Councillor West Moors & Holt)
113 Declarations of Interests & Requests for Dispensation
None.
114 Confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held 18th November 2015.
The minutes of the meeting, having been circulated previously to all members; were confirmed as correct, approved unanimously and signed by the Chairman.
115 Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Meeting 18th November 2015.
None.
116 Parish Hall Matters
Committee happy for a wall mounted projector screen to be installed. Clarification received that the electricity bill has infact been dropping since the installation of roof insulation however, EDF rebated £133 then increased the monthly direct debit which will be reviewed after the winter months.
117 Highway Matters
Speed Indicator Device – two models considered for purchase, defer until next month. Data to be retrieved from loan unit in use at Broomhill. Holt Village Green Fingerpost – Quotation received from supplier. Members resolved to three order replacement blades for Holt Green and a further three for another site (Bussens Corner or Pig Oak) to benefit from a reduced price of £105.00 per blade plus VAT and carriage. RI/NW Lodge Road 1046741– Defects following work by Bmth Water with photographs supplied but Inspector claims no defects. Lower Rowe Cattle Grid – Gatepost has been repaired very well. Clerk to write and thank DCC Highways. Clerk Mannington – Overhanging branches. DCC has taken photos and written to Landowner. Whitemoor 1046516 – edge of road breaking up outside Paddock Lodge. DCC to repair. Grips – clearance work begun around the Parish by DCC. Holt Lane – from The Old Inn to Thornhill, sunken trenches (Wessex Water). DCC to repair. Whitemoor – a resident has requested an extension of the 30 or 40mph speed limit past properties. DCC has confirmed they cannot support this request at this time as there have been no accidents along this stretch of road in the past 5 years. Clerk Overhanging Tree – outside Leoni, Holt. Clerk to report to DCC Highways. C:\Users\David\Google Drive\Holt Parish Council\Minutes\Minutes 161215.doc 36
118 Rights of Way/Village Green Matters
None.
119 Planning Applications
Informal Hearing on 1st December for Application 3/14/1114 CLP Mixed use of the site for agriculture and as a caravan site with 5 caravans used for residential purposes at Broadbridge, Rowe Hill. Attended by Cllrs Susan Frost and Celia Moore. Members resolved to write a letter of complaint to the Chief Executive at East Dorset District Council following their incompetent representation at the Hearing. Clerk
120 Correspondence
DAPTC – proposed increase of 3% to subscriptions next year. Christchurch & East Dorset Community infrastructure Levy partial review – publication of revised draft charging schedules consultation until 8th January 2016. Local Planning Authority REFUSE consent to prune T1 Oak at The Oaks, Smugglers Lane. Local Planning Authority NO OBJECTION to reduce canopy of T2 Oak, Fell T3 Willow and pollard T4,T5,T6 Apple Trees at The Oaks, Smugglers Lane. Local Planning Authority NO OBJECTION to fell T1 Copper Beech and reduce lateral branches on T2 Beech at Crossways, Smugglers Lane.
121 Financial Matters & Expenditure
Clerk provided members with up to date account balances and bank reconciliation to 16th December 2015 Members prepared Budget for 2016-2017 and resolved unanimously to submit a Precept demand to the Local Authority of £14,250.00 (£21.79 per Band D property) Resolved to pay:
000995 Cllr R Irish Reimbursement of expenses for fixing sign £6.04 000996 Dell Corporation Ltd Projector £545.90 000997 Limecove Ltd Grass Cutting Village Green for 2015 £1212.00 000998 Holt Parish Hall Hire of Hall for Meetings 2016 £168.00
122 Information for Report only
Next Meeting 13th January 2015, 7:15pm Holt Parish Hall.
The Clerk read out a report from Cllr Janet Wallace on the recent meeting of Bournemouth Airport. Cllr Pauline Ford reported on the recent DAPTC Annual General Meeting. Clerk to book SSE to attend Clerk the APM with their Customer and Community Advisor Unit.
Meeting Closed 8:59pm
These minutes are to be signed by the Chairman after approval at the next meeting of the Parish Council.
Signed;…………………………………………………………………………………………… 13th January 2016
C:\Users\David\Google Drive\Holt Parish Council\Minutes\Minutes 161215.doc