MINUTES OF MEETING 12 MARCH 2007


Extracts from the Minutes of a Meeting of
CHIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
held in The Church on
12 March 2007 at 1930hrs

Matters Arising

  1. Smoke Alarms — Forms had been distributed to those considered vulnerable. There had been no feedback to the Parish Council from anyone.
  2. Parish Website — This is progressing well and will go live on 1 April as reported in the Newsletter. An Admin Link has been included so that selected people can insert/alter various pages without leaving it all to one person. Stewart Neale has kindly agreed to monitor the overall working of the site.
  3. Skittle Alley at The Yeoman —David Baker reported that all action by Wadworth had been deferred until the autumn. There were plans to improve the garden.
  4. Drainage and Road Markings — The Clerk continues to keep in contact with WCC Highways Dept. The 30mph roundel has been painted on the road at the north end of the village.
  5. Old Garage Site — The Clerk read out a letter from Sarsen Housing Association saying that they had passed the initiative back to Fairlynx Homes, the developers who still wanted more money from Sarsen for the two low cost houses than Sarsen were willing to pay. David Baker voiced the frustration of all concerned at the lack of progress and Mr Molland, our District Councillor, offered to intercede with Sarsen and Fairlynx to try to get things moving.

Finance

  1. Clerk announced that the bank balance stood at £1396.36 on 7 Mar 07 and that the first instalment of the precept of £750 was due in early April.
  2. The following payments had been made since the last meeting. Conock Notice Board Repairs £9.06; Sustain The Plain £122, refund of over-payment of grant for the new hedge. Ratification would be carried over until the next meeting.
  3. Requests for donations had been received from:
    • Bobby Van Trust. £50 recommended
    • Parkinson's Disease Society — Not recommended in line with the council's policy to make grants only to those organisations which benefit the whole parish.
    • Splash Wiltshire. £10 recommended
    • Redhorn News. David Baker outlined the request by the Editorial Committee for a one off payment of £25 (15p per household in the village) to help fund a 100% issue of the newsletter to encourage greater use by both church and civil organisations. Urchfont PC have been asking for some time if they could contribute towards the cost of the publication so that they might use it to publicise their activities. The committee felt that every parish should be given an equal opportunity and the intention was to limit contributions to no more than one A4 side and that a charge would be made on this basis. In view of the urgency to meet publishing deadlines this payment was agreed.
  4. After Note — The council still has to approve payments to the church of £100 (churchyard upkeep), £40 (use of church for meetings) and the employment of Rod Bridewell to cut the verges in Small Street. These will be addressed at the next meeting.

Parish Council Elections 2007

The Clerk reported that of the current council John Clarkson and Jeremy Harbord had indicated that they would not be standing for re election. He had received nomination papers from David Baker, Stephanie Robertson and his own. He also had nomination papers from Stewart Neale of Chirton and Jeremy Cross of Conock. These had all been forwarded to the Returning Officer at Kennet District Council. Nominations close at 1200hrs on 4 April.

Correspondence

The clerk reported on the following points:

  1. Kennet. Making Places for the Future. The current local structure plan comes up for revision. Four meetings are to take place and David Baker and Stephanie Robertson volunteered to attend on of them and report back.
  2. Preserving the Character of Devizes. David Baker agreed to comment on the papers.
  3. New Planning System: Shaping the Future. David Baker and Stephanie Robertson agreed to comment.
  4. Sarsen Trail — Sunday 6 May 07. It was agreed to publicise this on the parish website.
  5. Devizes Link — Thank you for our donation of £50
  6. St Georges Day Celebrations. It was decided to take no action.
  7. One Council for Wiltshire — It was decided to take no action until April when the Government's decision on WCC application would be known. (After Note. WCC have offered a meeting in Marden on 27 March at 7.30pm in the village hall to a group of parishes to be attended by Mr George Batten, Council's Director of Environmental Services, who will answer questions and the clerk has accepted).

Planning Applications Received

The following were ntoted:

  • K/55690/TR2 —Fell row of Leylandii at 35 The Street. KDC raised no objection
  • K/55823/F — Change of use from orchard to garden and retention of oil tank at 10 Andover Road. KDC permission granted

Dates of Next Meetings

Annual Parish Meeting. Monday 16 April 2007 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

A short Council Meeting will follow this meeting.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 2038hrs.