Minutes of the Meeting held on 12th November 2012
Present: Cllr Mrs J. Newman, Chairman
Cllrs R. Bourton, N. Crocker, S. Hinson, Mrs D. Ponting, J. Pullen and Mrs V. Stubbings.
Also present: One member of the public. Cllr Groom attended for a short time.
Cllr Bourton declared an interest in item 2d, as the applicant.
1. The minutes of the meeting held on 9th October 2012 were signed as being a true record.
2. Planning.
a. 03294. Hurstbridge House. Fell one tree. No objections.
b. 03364. The Artists Studio, Broad Town Rd. Convert to dwelling. Dangerous access onto the road.
c. 03374. 51 Broad Town Rd. Extension over garage. No objections.
d. 03429. Manor Bungalow. Construct wooden sheep sheltetr No objections.
e. 03527. Hurstbridge House. Replacement French windows. (Retrospective). No objections.
f. 03572. 20 Thornhill. Single storey side extension. No objections.
3. Finance. Clerk noted that the precept for 2013/14 needs to be cleared at January meeting. He will produce a statement of accounts and estimated at the next meting.
4. Planning Policy. It was felt that the original policy statement on development in the Village, dated 7 May 2001, should be updated in view of the present neighbourhood planning groups. It was proposed by Cllr Hinson that " The view of the Parish Council is, in principle, to support developement which is in keeping with the current structure of the Village, and does not overwhelm the character of this community. Any development should include some gain for the Village e.g. a car park, new Village Hall, traffic calming measures and new play area equipment. This statement should be the subject of further consultations." Agreed.
5. Neighbourhood Plan.
i. Neighbourhood Plan. The following resolution was proposed be Cllr Stubbings to bring the PC into line with the group. " The Parish Council be included withing the neighbourhood area application for the North East Wiltshire Villages (NEWV) neighbourhood area. It is intended that the NEWV neighbourhood area will cover the parishes of Purton, Lydiards Millicent, Lydiard Tregoze, Broad Town, Cliffe Pypard, Tockenham, and Lyneham & Bradenstoke. The parishes of Marstom Meysey and Brayden have also been invited to join the neighbourhood area. The Parish Council recognises that the neighbourhood area may change depending on the decisions of the respective parishes as to whether or not to be included within the neighbourhood area and to resolve to remain within the neighbourhood area provided that the resulting area continues to make sense in planning terms." It was further proposed that the Clerk be authorised to sign the consent form to indicate that the Parish wished to be included within the NEWV Neighbourhood Area. Agreed.
ii.In order to involve the village in the furutre plan, a presentation will be held in the Village Hall early in 2013 on a Saturday, followed by an open meeting the following week. Dates to be announced, and a flyer produced.
iii. Funding. It was noted that, although the cost of meetings of the Neighbourhood Planning Group was being funded, the cost for local village consultations was not. It was proposed by Cllr Stubbings that the cost of hire of the Village Hall, approx £70, be borne by the Parish. Agreed.
The meeting closed at 19.45 to allow Cllr Groom to speak, and re-opened at 19.50
6. Standards Board. A complaint made to the Standards Board that Cllrs Newman and Stubbings had breached the Code of Conduct had been considered by the Monitoring Officer in consultation with an Independent Person. Their decision was that no further action be taken. In summary they state that ' In the view of the Independent Person and Monitoring Officer the complaint and supporting information submitted by the complainant do not support the conclusion that Cllrs Newman and Stubbings breached the code of conduct. Further the Councillors have provided a reasonable explanation in their detailed response to the allegation.'
7. Safety 'Gates'. The position of the safety 'gates' at the south of the Village has been the subject of a complaint to Wiltshire Highways. The PC is satisfied that the gates are an integral part of the road safety campaign being run in the Village, and, together with the good work dome by the Community Speedwatch Team, is proving to be having some effect. However, as the complaint is about safety the Clerk is to notify County that the Village id willing to discuss a compromise if one is put forward.
8. Parish Matters.
a. Conditrion of the rod through Thornhill Clerk
b. Water on Bushton Rd passing Swindon Skips, plus unpleasant smell. Clerk
c. Road drains through the Village are blocked with silt. Clerk
d. Nervous dogs. A suggestion that owners of dogs who need more space indicate this by tying a yellow ribbon on their leads, was felt to have merit. Clerk to publicise. Clerk
The meeting closed at 20.35
signed) R.J.Davey, Clerk to the Council