36/18 Corfe Castle Parish Council
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CORFE CASTLE PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, CORFE CASTLE ON MONDAY 9th July 2018 - The meeting commenced at 7.00pm PRESENT: Cllr Steve Clarke (Acting Chairman), Cllr Morrison Wells, Cllr Haywood, Cllr Spicer-Short, Cllr Parish, Cllr Marshallsay, Cllr Spinney, Cllr Dragon. There was one member of the public present. PUBLIC HALF HOUR. No members of the Public spoke. Cllr Clarke opened the meeting by extending the Council’s condolences to Cllr Dru Drury following the death of Diana Dru Drury 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr Dru Drury, Cllr Dando 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND DISPENSATIONS: The Council adopted the Code of Conduct set out on the Communities and Local Government website at the 10th September 2012 Meeting (Page 155, para 3.7). Declarations of Interests received for all Councillors. All Councillors are granted a dispensation to set the Precept. Cllr Parish has submitted her declarations and dispensations to the Clerk and they have been sent to the monitoring officer. 3. TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING: The draft minutes of the meeting held on the 11th of June 2018 were confirmed as a true record of proceedings and were signed. 4. COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT: Cllr Brooks was asked about the impact of Christchurch’s judicial review? She replied the Council are continuing with planning for LGR as they have no other option. Should the case be found in Christchurch’s favour LGR could collapse. Cllr Brooks reported the Shadow Council is now in place and the Shadow Exec’ is in place. Several task and finish groups are still active and HR has started. Cllr Brooks is Vice Chair for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Apart from the Local Area Decision Making group, most task and finish groups have served their purpose and are no longer operational. She emphasised 80% of the Councils budget goes on adult and child care and that the Shadow Council are looking at future funding issues. A new section 151 officer Jason Bourne has been appointed to look at this and review the budgets. Matt Prosser has been appointed as interim head of Paid Service and the position of Chief Exec is out to advert. Cllr Brooks was asked about concerns raised at a recent DAPTC meeting about ‘highways working together’. She responded that TRO’s and legal procedures had halted some proceedings. There were comments raised at the meeting about ‘putting together a team and did the highways not have staff’. In this instance it was not simply a case of organising a highways team but of employing subcontractors. The reported issue of a discrepancy between the price advertised on the working for you document to paint central white lines and the actual quoted figure resulted because the price in the document refers to painting the side of the road and using DCC staff, which is obviously cheaper. To do the centre of the road a larger piece of hired kit and a gang of subcontractors would be required, which in turn would cost more. 5. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT: District Councillor Dragon reported aircraft noise over the Parish had been raised with him as a problem. He requested the parishioner kept a log; the results of which were quite outstanding. It is thought aircraft use the line from Kingston to Corfe as a marker and train to perform tricks in the air. They are not allowed to do this is in urban areas for various reasons and there are also restrictions over the sea. He has been recommended a website on which he can identify planes which can then be reported to the aviation authority. He asked how can Purbeck be a designated area of tranquillity yet also be a playground for aviators? At the last Council meeting PDC discussed the purchase of a house from a housing authority. The property would be used to house families moving between a B&B and a permanent home. Questions had been asked about how the maintenance would be managed, and would the house need refurnishing after each occupation? It was also 36/18 asked why PDC were considering purchasing from a Housing association when the maintenance and running of the property would need to be passed back to a housing association? The July meeting of the District Council has been cancelled. Cllr Dragon was asked if he could comment on the recent response the Council had received from Ian Brewer of DWP? He stressed that DWP is run as a separate enterprise to PDC and that he is not aware that PDC had been asked for any resources from DWP. He will follow up with Peter Webb. Action: Cllr Dragon to make enquiries re DWP with Peter Webb. Had they asked PDC for further resources? 6. NATIONAL TRUST REPORT: James Gould reported on two fires in the village. One by Hartland Farm on Sleep Common which is thought to have been started by a discarded cigarette and a second on the hillside behind the railway bridge, which had started as a controlled burn by the railway. The Trust had received no information about the burn in advance. The National Trust warden Paul Bradley will be circulating information about fire prevention. ‘Secrets of the National Trust’ will be aired on channel 5 and will feature Corfe Castle on the 25th of July. James wished to stress that the parking at Uvesdale would soon be restricted. No designated spots had been granted by the highways authority and they are looking into chaining the area off. The PC advised James that a condition of the original planning application was that a wall was reinstated and requested that this be implemented. The parking there is dangerous and the Trust wish to remove this danger. Cllr Dragon raised that someone wishes to take over the lease on the now empty garage at Uvesdale and could James comment on the delay on the application? James was unaware but would be interested to receive the person’s details so he can look into it. James requested that people please ask if they wish to use the NT fencing at Castle View to place adverts. The Trust policy does not object on principle to people putting up signs but please ask and they will be removed after a week to be left in Castle View for collection. There is a Woman in Power exhibition in the castle involving Audio Points and telling the story of Lady Bankes. Please visit it and feedback comments to the National Trust. James will be unable to attend in September but will request Laurie or Nick do so in his absence. The National Trust took back the queries raised at the last meeting re. litter and have advised they will provided additional bins at peak times in the village and litter pick on Mondays and Tuesdays after peak weekends. Cllr Dragon asked whether tenants still receive National Trust Tenant Membership Cards? Action: James to discuss with building team reinstating the wall at Uvesdale as per original conditions of planning Action: James to advise whether tenants receive National Trust Membership cards? Action: Clerk to write to Swanage Railway requesting they do not practice controlled burning through the summer months and ask if they have considered spark arrestors to minimise risk of fire elsewhere? 7. PLAYGROUND REPORT: 7.a Painting of Equipment. Despite great efforts to seek tenders to complete the work to paint the playground the Council had received one quote to paint the equipment. The Council were happy they had fulfilled requirements of financial regulations by advertising for quotes in the Corfe Valley News and approaching several private contractors. It was resolved to accept the single quote of £1440 which was based on eight person days, to use the Councils paint as supplied and to paint all apparatus in the playground. The work must be done outside of the summer holidays so if it cannot be done immediately it must be carried out in September. Proposed to accept the quote of £1440.00 by Cllr Marshallsay, seconded Cllr Haywood and all agreed. 7.b Safety of Equipment. The Playground committee were asked is the equipment safe, concerns having been raised at the last meeting. It was confirmed that Cllr Grinstead was going to tighten the roundabout and the committee was confident it was not a hazard, Cllr Dragon advised he would double check as soon as possible as a precaution and if required fence it off. It was confirmed that the swing seats had been replaced and the see saw has been filled where it was split. 7.c Quotes for new apparatus. The clerk has gathered several quotes for new gym equipment. The quotes vary hugely in price and it has become apparent that to a decision on purchasing needs thorough research and consideration. The Council resolved to remove the existing damaged equipment, thoroughly research the best equipment to buy; visiting other parks and ensuring a longer lasting product is purchased. The Council then plan to replace all the equipment in one go. 37/18 It was noted an external playground inspection is provisionally booked for sometime in September. Cllr Morrison Wells highlighted the relative expense of the equipment only lasting over a few years and asked the Council to consider this and ensure new items have a 10 year life span. Action: Cllr Spinney and Cllr Dragon to look into removing the existing equipment. Action: Cllr Dragon to confirm he has inspected the roundabout or sought confirmation from Cllr Grinstead. Action: Clerk to continue to look for alternative quotes and manufacturers for the gym equipment and research any nearby locations where equipment is installed.