MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING - 14 APRIL 2009


CHIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minute of the Annual Parish Meeting
held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday 14 April 2009 in the School

Present

Councillors Anthony Mather (Chairman), David Baker, Jeremy Cross, Stewart Neale, Stephanie Robertson, Sarah Withers and Jonathan Oliphant (Clerk).

In Attendance: Councillor J Willmott, Wiltshire Council, WPC Emma Brown and nine members of the parish.

WPC Emma Brown's Report

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited WPC Brown to give her report.

  • Crime Statistics — Reported crime was down by 15.6% but detected crime was up by 35.5%, which is the highest in the country. Chirton had nine recorded crimes; 2 theft, 2 criminal damage, 1 commercial premises burglary and 4 domestic related offences.
  • Distraction Offences — There had been a number of these and we were warned to be on our guard.
  • Crime Prevention — WPC Brown stressed the need for members of the public to act as additional eyes and ears and help the police by reporting suspicious incidents.
  • Speed Warning Signs — A large stick-on 30 mph sign was displayed, which the Police were suggesting could be stuck onto the side of wheelie-bins when they were put out for collection. The desired effect would be that at least once a fortnight passing motorists would be reminded of the speed limit in the village. Councils were being asked to consider their use. The cost was 90p per sign or less if the whole area could be persuaded to take them up.

The Chairman thanked her for her report and agreed to discuss the new signs at the next council meeting.

Minutes of the meeting on 15 April 2008

The Chairman read out a summary of last year's report. There were no questions on it and he duly signed them as a correct record.

Chairman's Report for the year to 31 March 2009

Meetings — The Council comprising, Anthony Mather (chairman), Stephanie Robertson (deputy chairman), and councillors David Baker, Jeremy Cross, Stewart Neale, Sarah Withers and Jonathan Oliphant (clerk), met on five occasions during the year. Members of the public attended on four occasions.

Business Conducted — The main items considered by the council were:

  • Planning Applications — Nine applications were received since the last annual meeting covering building work as well as work in a conservation area. The council raised no objection to any of these and all were agreed by Kennet District Council.
  • Old Garage Site — The two low-cost houses have been completed to a very high standard and have now been occupied. The remainder of the houses are unlikely to be built in the immediate future until there is a definite upturn in the housing market.
  • Village Design Statement — This has been completed and registered with Kennet District Council where it will assist in future planning decisions. We are indebted to Stephanie Robertson and Stewart Neale for all the time and effort they put into this project on behalf of the village.
  • Wiltshire Council — During the whole of last year there was considerable work done to prepare for this new body. Shadow Area Boards were set up, in our case in Pewsey, and these have been meeting to prepare for their inauguration on 1 April this year. Your council has been represented on them and reports that they will be a force for good in championing any issues we wish to raise to a higher authority.
  • School Safety — Much discussion has taken place on how to improve the safety of our school children from traffic approaching particularly from the north. Wiltshire County Council agreed to paint another SLOW sign on the corner by the church and to repaint the other road sign outside No.54 The Street. This now been done and we shall be monitoring the effect on traffic. Your council is also investigating what, if anything, can be done to improve the parking situation when children are dropped off and collected from school.
  • Allotments — Your council has been busy trying to locate a suitable plot of land but so far with no success. We ask for your patience as we continue to explore all possible avenues.
  • Phone Box — The council has applied to adopt the phone box and this has been agreed by BT. We now await their further action to hand it over.
  • Wiltshire Alternative Sports — Your council pursued this new initiative to provide alternative activities for 11 to 16 year olds in the village. Initial responses were encouraging but when the time came there were no takers.
  • Home Safety Checks — Following a presentation by The Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service all houses were circulated with a notice reminding them how important it was to ensure that smoke alarms were fitted. The Council hopes that everyone was able to take advantage of this free service.
  • Flooding — Flooding occurred on two occasions last year and our Flood Warden, David Baker was able to activate the Village Flood Plan. Sandbags are now stored at The Horseshoes in Small Street and No.56 The Street, the two places where flooding could occur in the future.

Best Kept Village Competition — Last year we came second for the third year in a row. We have entered again this year. This is very much a community affair and depends so much on everyone pulling their weight. Aspects outside our control such as the garage site and the village hall are reported to the judges before they arrive so that they can make allowances for them. Judging takes place in late May.

Financial Report — The council's total income for 2008/09 was £1,777. Expenditure was £1,841. The main items grass cutting £310, Notice Board repairs £409 and insurance £206. The notice board repairs included making good two cases of broken glass caused by avoidable accidents and this cost should not be repeated next year. The council also made donations to various charities which they deemed to benefit the parish as a whole.

Conclusion

The council has had a varied and busy year which we hope has benefited the village as a whole. We exist to serve you and welcome any suggestions you may have that would add to our mutual enjoyment.

Questions from the Floor

There being no observations on his report the Chairman declared the meeting open to questions from the floor.

  • Mr Clarkson asked for more details on the quest for allotments. The Clerk explained that none of the landowners who had been approached had offered anything and he was now waiting for one more person to return from abroad. He had made enquiries about glebe land and National Trust property but there was none in the village. Both Mr Tilley and Mr Boniface raised objections to allotments on the grounds that initial enthusiasm often declined and the land fell into disuse or was badly maintained. The Clerk explained that the council had a legal obligation to find land once a minimum of six people had expressed a wish to have an allotment. The council was actively pursuing every avenue and would keep the village informed of progress.
  • The Rev Gillie Baker thanked the council for their support in getting a SLOW sign painted on the corner by the church and for refreshing the preceding sign and for their continuing cooperation in trying to find a solution to the parking problem. She also proposed a vote of thanks to the council for their work on behalf of the village over the past year.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 2010hrs.



Posted: 26 April 2009