MINUTES OF KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL ON MONDAY 9 OCTOBER 2006

 

 

PRESENT:  Cllr. Peter Hart (Chairman), Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird, Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles, Cllr. Dennis Gill, Cllr. Simon Harris, Cllr. Rev. John Schofield, District Councillor Peter Green, Mrs. Sue Hart (Clerk) and three members of the public (part).

 

APOLOGIES for absence were received from District Councillor Peter Green and County Councillor Mrs. Jane Scott.

 

 

 

107.06

 

 

 

RESIDENTS FORUM

 

None.

 

 

ACTION

 

 

 

108.06

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

Cllr. Lynn Atwell declared a personal and prejudicial interest for planning Items 06/02379/FUL & 06/02380/LBC Ashley House and Cllr. Peter Hart (Chairman) and Mrs. Sue Hart (Clerk) declared a personal interest in the planning application for Yew Tree Cottage (neighbours).

 

 

 

 

 

109.06

 

MINUTES

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2006 had been circulated to all Councillors and were agreed by all. On a proposal from Cllr. Rev. John Schofield, seconded by Cllr. Graham Trickey, IT WAS RESOLVED that the Chairman, Cllr. Peter Hart, sign them as a correct record.

 

 

 

110.06

 

 

 

 

MATTERS ARISING

 

Minute 101.06: Cllr. Dennis Gill questioned whether the implementation of the commons erosion work had met the original specification and discussion ensued regarding base excavation, the way in which the matting was pinned down, the height of the kerbing, and when it would be possible to drive on. Following discussion it was agreed that this item should be put back on the agenda for November. It was also agreed that further discussion would take place on how the other side of the road could be changed to deter drivers going onto the Common to get around parked cars and the vehicles coming past them. In the meantime, the reflective safety posts should be re-erected and an item would be put in the village magazine advising on the progress of the project. Cllr. Hart would also check that the installation of the turf reinforcement work had been carried out according to the manufacturer’s specification, as required in the contract.

 

The Contractor would be contacted to review the pinning down of the matting and also asked to provide a quote for kerbing on the other side of the road.

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Cllr. P Hart

 

 

 

Clerk

 

111.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLANNING

 

(a)    Planning Issues & Consents Granted: 

 

Planning Issues:  None.

 

 

 

 

(b)    Planning Applications decided by North Wiltshire District Council:

 

06/01896/TCA Willow Cottage. Fell 15 Leyland Cypress Trees.

Granted - 26 Sept 06

06/02154/FUL – Yew Tree Cottage, Days Lane – 2 storey extension. Garage. Alterations to roof & creation of new access off Silver Street.

Granted –

4 Oct 06

 

Planning Application Recommendations decided under powers delegated to the Parish Clerk:

 

06/02367/TCA – 1 Manor Cottage. Crown lift 1 conifer, fell 2 conifers and 3 ash trees.

Support

06/02387/TCA – Old Chapel Field, Plough Lane. Fell one silver birch, tree surgery to 3 ash, 2 beech & 2 fir.

Support

 

(c)     Planning Applications for consideration:

Reissued Planning Applications:

 

06/02154/FUL – Yew Tree Cottage, Days Lane – 2 storey extension, garage, alterations to roof and creation of new access off Silver Street (Amended plans).

Information only.

 

New Applications:

 

06/02289/FUL – Old Chapel Fields, Plough Lane. Demolish existing garage and erect new garage, improve access and turning area.

 

Not Supported.

Councillors believed that the proposed garages would be too close to neighbours and that the entrance should remain unused for safety reasons. The access issue should be reviewed by Highways. There had been a previous application to build a garage on this property that is now in place. It is unclear why these further new garage facilities are required.

 

 

06/02379/FUL – Ashley House, Middle Common. Erection of single storey timber conservatory.

 

Supported.

06/02380/LBC – Ashley House, Middle Common. Erection of single storey timber conservatory & formation of door.

 

Supported.

06/02400/FUL – 18 Silver Street. Proposed two-storey extension.

 

Not Supported.

Councillors believed that the house was over-extending its width by building so close to the boundary wall, which raised concerns about its general proximity to the Hit or Miss Public House and its situation in a conservation area.

 

 

06/02444/CAC – Yew Tree Cottage, Days Lane. Demolition of section of boundary wall to from new Vehicular access. This has now been declared VOID by NWDC.

 

Information Only

06/02542/COU – North Side, Kington St. Michael Road - Conversion of building for use as livery yard & stationing of mobile home occupied by person responsible for care & mgmt of horses kept on site.

 

Not Supported.

Councillors believed that this application, in spite of being for a different purpose from previous applications, still did not address the issue of safety for large vehicles (in this case horse-boxes) entering and exiting the site. Safer access could be provided if more land was brought into use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

112.06

 

 

VILLAGE BULBS

 

Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles asked that anyone interested in planting bulbs should contact her directly in order to get bags of bubs.

 

Cllr. Hart suggested the Cllr. Giles gave planting instructions, and allocates sites to specific people in order to ensure no duplicate planting.

 

 

 

All Councillors

 

Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles

 

 

113.06

 

 

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEBSITE

 

Cllr. Peter Hart suggested that all Councillors should consider how the website could be used, e.g., e-mails reminding people of events happening in the village.

 

Cllr. Graham Trickey advised that there are currently approximately 100 unique visitors a month, and 20-30 keep coming back. He also thanked Cllr. Rev. John Schofield for his Village Magazine input for the site; also Kington St. Michael and Kington Tots. The website is at a point now where more access could be given and he would create a page to which people would be invited to add their names in order that an e-mail distribution list could be set up. This would also be advertised in the Village Magazine.

 

 

 

 

All Councillors

 

Cllr. Graham Trickey

 

114.06

 

FINANCE

 

(a)    Cheques issued and transfers since 11 September 2006 meeting:

 

29 Sep 06

Chippenham Kitchen Centre (Village Hall)

929

£3,386.00

29 Sep 06

N Freeman Plant Hire (PFA Drainage)

930

£1,410.00

29 Sep 06

V Giles (Commons Bulbs)

931

£97.80

29 Sep 06

SLCC Subscription

932

£69.00

29 Sep 06

Complete Weed Control (Footpath spraying)

933

£158.63

29 Sep 06

G Trickey (Parish Website Domain name)

934

£35.00

29 Sep 06

Kington Tots Toddler Group (Donation)

935

£100.00

29 Sep 06

Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust (Donation)

936

£50.00

29 Sep 06

Wiltshire Search & Rescue (Donation)

937

£25.00

01 Oct 06

Clerk Salary – September

938

£250.00

5 Oct 06

Clerk (Cllr. J Saunders leaving gift)

939

£25.00

05 Oct 06

Kington St. Michael United Charities (Almshouses Donation)

940

£75.00

05 Oct 06

Clerk – Additional Payment (Minute 104.06)

941

£200.00

05 Oct 06

Village Hall – Donation Part 1

942

£325.00

05 Oct 06

Playing Fields Association – Donation Part 1

943

£375.00

05 Oct 06

Helping Hands – Donation

944

£100.00

05 Oct 06

Petty Cash

945

£25.00

 

 

 

£6,706.43

 

Payments Received:

 

15 Sep

Village Hall

Kitchen Part-Payment

£2,881.70

26 Sep

Playing Fields Association

Drainage Project

£642.00

27 Sep

NWDC

Precept Part 2

£9,327.50

 

Transfers Made: None.

 

Direct Debits Paid: None.

 

 

 

The invoices for the above cheques had been inspected and approved by the signatories. On a proposal from Cllr. Rev. John Schofield, seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Lynn Atwell, IT WAS RESOLVED that cheques numbered 929-945 be approved by the meeting.

 

(b)    Bank accounts: The last reconciliation had been successfully carried out on the Thursday 5th October 2006.

 

Bank Accounts and Petty Cash as at 30 September 2006:

 

Current account

 £28,138.10

Deposit account

£  1,782.43

Petty cash

£         8.76

Total

£29,929.29

 

The Clerk pointed out that the amount in the current account was particularly high across the end of the month because:

 

1.                   The Commons Erosion Project cheque for £14,238.76 had not yet been presented for payment by the contractor.

2.                   The second half of the Annual Precept for £9,327.50 had just come into the account on the 29th.

3.                   The Village Hall had paid for the kitchen refurbishment in order that the Kitchen Contractors could be paid the next instalment of £2,881.70.

4.                   The Playing Fields Association had paid £642.00 for the drainage project in preparation for paying the contractor.

 

(c)     Grants / Other Financial Actions:

 

The Precept for 2007/8 including the Auditing Solutions actions and any changes to the Financial Regulations will be reviewed at the November meeting so the Chairman asked all Councillors to come prepared with any suggestions.

 

The Clerk’s hours and payment per hour should also be reviewed in line with the Auditors’ suggestions, and the Clerk was asked to update the Council at the November meeting on her workload.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Councillors

 

 

Clerk

 

115.06

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

(a)                 Received:  None.

 

Sent:          Letter to Greathouse re. Parking on Lower Common (copy distributed to Councillors plus suggested copy of Standard letter to put on cars parking on the Commons)

 

(a)    Circulated to Parish Council:

 

·         Community First, Annual Report & Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2006

·         Wiltshire News, Information for Town & Parish Councils from WCC – Sept. 06

·         Wiltshire Association of Local Councils, September 2006

·         Wiltshire Association of Local Councils Constitution (Updated July 2006)

·         Clerk & Councils Direct, Issue 47, September 2006

·         DEFRA Rural Services Review – Reviewing Standards 2006

·         NALC LCR (Local Council Review), Volume 58, No. 3, September 2006

·         NWDC, Gambling Act 2005, Re. Consultation on Statement of Principles to be applied by NWDC, Letter dated 20 September 2006

·         Appeal Decision re Land at Upper Common, Kington Langley

·         Gridline, Summer 2006

·         WCC, Introducing your Parish Steward, Letter dated 26 September 06

·         Wiltshire News, Information for Town & Parish Councils from WCC – Oct. 06

·         Wiltshire Association of Local Councils, October 2006

·         Community First, Consultation Basics for Parish Councils – Announcement

·         Wiltshire Strategic Board (WiSB) Revised draft for the Sustainable Strategy for Wiltshire – 18 July 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

116.06

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

(a)                 Cllr. Sudbury was congratulated on becoming the father of a baby girl.

 

(b)                 Councillors were asked to bring next year’s diaries to the November meeting so that the Clerk can agree dates to book the Village Hall for 2007 Parish Meetings.

 

(c)                 Cllr. Sudbury asked whether the start time of the meetings could be made a half an hour later in order for those people who work outside the village to be able to get back in time. Cllr. Hart said that now that meetings were monthly it should still be possible to finish meetings at a reasonable time. It was agreed that the November meeting would therefore start at 8:00 pm and that Cllrs. Peter Green and Mrs. Jane Scott should be notified.

 

(d)                 Wiltshire Association of Local Councils, is putting on a Training Day on Consultation Basics for Parish Councils on Sat 18 November. If anyone is interested in attending, please contact the Clerk.

 

(e)                 Councillors were reminded of the Emergency Planning Unit Exercise to be held at Willow Cottage starting at 7:30 on Thursday 12th October. Councillors should aim to arrive soon after 7 pm in order to be ready to start promptly at 7:30.

 

(f)                   A Seminar about Play & Leisure Provision for Parish Councils (which is specifically about play equipment and its use is to be held at The Angel Hotel in Chippenham on 31 October at 7:30 pm. The Playing Fields Association Chairman had been notified and Cllr. Mrs. Lynn Atwell expressed an interest in attending. (The Clerk was asked to clarify the date of the meeting as it had been billed as a Thursday when the 31st is a Tuesday.)

 

(g)                 NWDC had recently distributed a letter regarding “Important Information Regarding Implementation of new Rounds Review – an Update for Councillors” which affects the refuse collection round for the village. The referenced website indicated that the new date would be a Friday though villagers had not yet been notified of this change.

 

(h)                 Cllr. Dennis Gill updated Councillors on the Community First AGM he had attended which indicated that new housing developments had to provide 1 for 1 Affordable Housing.

 

(i)                   Cllr. Peter Hart suggested creating a list of issues that concern the Village, and asked all Councillors to think of other matters to include in the list. This list could be used as the basis of an open letter to the District and County Councils detailing the Parish’s priorities for future improvements.

 

(j)                   Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird asked whether any response had yet been forthcoming to the issue of the Lower Common Wall. The Clerk said that this issue was with both NWDC Planning and Highways to investigate.

 

The meeting closed at 20:57.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Councillors

 

 

 

All Councillors

 

 

Clerk

 

All Councillors

 

 

All Councillors

 

 

 

 

Cllr. Mrs. Lynn Atwell

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Councillors