MINUTES OF KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL ON

MONDAY 11 AUGUST 2008

PRESENT: Cllr. Dr. Maurice Dixson (Chairman), Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird, Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles, Cllr. Dennis Gill, Cllr. P Hart, Cllr. D Styles, Cllr. G. Trickey. District Cllr. Ms. Sherry Meadows. Mrs. Sue Hart (Clerk) plus 7 members of the public and speaker Mr. Richard Munro.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr. J Foster (Hospital); Cllr. C Timbrell (Holiday). County Cllr Mrs. Jane Scott

117.08

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Cllr. Peter Hart and the Clerk, Mrs. Sue Hart declared a Personal Interest in the planning application at New Build, Church Lane. Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird declared a Personal Interest in the agenda item on Kington St. Michael Almshouses.

ACTION

118.08

RESIDENTS’ FORUM

Mr. David Sealy asked whether Wiltshire County Council could be contacted to request that the ragwort on the A350 could be pulled out before it seeded. Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles said that the Parish Stewards were not available during August because they were seconded to this task. The Clerk was asked to contact WCC to ensure that this particular area was in their plan.

Mr. Ramon Weston said that two signposts in Days Lane were damaged - the double bend sign had been knocked off. The Clerk was asked to contact CLARENCE.

Mr. Ramon Weston asked if consideration could be given to moving the 30 mph speed limit further down Days Lane in order to include the last houses before the entrance to Byway 34.

Mrs. Ena Weston asked whether a contract was in place to trim Byway 34. The Clerk said that the contract was for the work to be done in July so she would follow up with the contractor.

Clerk

Clerk

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Clerk

119.08

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 14 JULY 2008

Minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2008 had been circulated to all Councillors. On a proposal from Cllr. Betty Bird, seconded by Cllr. Graham Trickey, IT WAS RESOLVED that the Chairman, Cllr. Dr. Maurice Dixson, sign the Minutes as a correct record.

120.08

MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES

The Chairman asked for a review of the actions from the previous meeting as follows:

Minute 101.08 Residents’ Forum – Commons Cuts:	The Clerk has arranged to meet Andy Workman, the contractor, to review ruts and the areas not being cut when he carried out his next work in the village. Cllr. Hart said that there was a re-wording between the 2003 list of areas to be cut and the new contract. Should more grass need to be cut it was agreed that this should be subject to a revised contractual rate which will need the Parish Council’s approval.
Minute 103.08 Matters Arising - Outstanding Actions from 9 June Mtg:	Village Walkabout: A response has now been received by WCC Director, Mrs. Tracy Carter, Assistant Director, Operations, Environmental Services Dept, Wiltshire County Council Field View House Breach of Planning Conditions: Cllr. Sherry Meadows has raised the issue with NWDC Planning but agreed to chase it again as this remains unresolved. Lloyds Online Banking: Lloyds Bank has said that online banking just to review accounts is not possible without full signatory authorisation. A suggestion was made that the clerk could be given signatory authorisation but within the Financial Regulations it should specify that she was not empowered to countersign cheques unless in an emergency situation. The Clerk was asked to put this on next month’s agenda for resolution. Land at Church Lane: NWDC asked for a two week log of breaches in order to prepare a court case. There had only been one incident to log but was a serious Sunday working breach because in spite of a neighbour asking the builder not to work he continued to do so. District Cllr. Sherry Meadows was asked to raise this with NWDC. Cllr. Dr. Dixson asked the Clerk to draft a letter to the Planning Inspectorate questioning the buildings’ conformity to the planning application consent. The Church Lane collapsed drain has been reported and has a CLARENCE incident number (320838).
Minute 104.08 Planning:	Issues: The Caramena garden building has been reported to Planning Enforcement and has been given an Enforcement Log number (08/290/ENF).
Minute 106.08 Commons Erosion Project:	The Clerk has confirmed the award of the bollards installation contract with Groundscape. The bollards will be delivered on Tuesday 12 August.
Minute 107.08 Coffin Way Surfacing:	Cllr. Dr. Dixson reported that Nick Elkins will prepare a specification to enable a lower priced solution.
Minute 108.08 Footpath – Church Double Bends:	Cllr. Trickey / Cllr. Dr. Dixson have sent a letter to the field / footpath owner but no response has yet been received.
Minute 109.08 Greens Registration:	The Clerk has put a request for information in last month’s Village Magazine but so far has only received one response. She was asked to contact villagers individually who are known to have been in a village for more than 20 years.
Minute 110.08 Hit or Miss License:	The meeting to discuss the approach to how the Parish Council can take over custody, care and control of the two areas by the Hit or Miss Pub has had to be delayed due to interested parties’ absences on holiday. A meeting should be able to be arranged within the few weeks.
Minute 111.08 Village Pond:	Cllr. Timbrell / Clerk – Dr. Newman has now submitted a formal quotation. (See Agenda item)
Minute 114.08 Finance – Other Financial Actions:	3. School to Playing Field Maintenance Contract: This has now been awarded to Complete Weed Control.
Minute 116.08 AOB:	(b) Cllr. Gill and the Clerk visited the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre and were provided with maps of the medieval field system. (c) The Parking on Registered Commons procedure was resubmitted to the Village Magazine.

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District Cllr. Ms. S Meadows

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District Cllr. S Meadows

Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

121.08

TOWARDS ONE COUNCIL

Cllr. Dr. Maurice Dixson introduced Richard Munro, Project Manager, Delegation to Town & Parish Councils. In preparation for the briefing, Cllr. Dr. Dixson pointed out that the village paid £560,000 in Council Tax out of which £410,000 was to the County and £51,500 to the District.

Richard Munro said that his brief was to encourage the 256 Wiltshire Town and Parish Councils to consider the possibility of taking over some services. This would not require Parish precept funding as money would follow the delegation. This would not include people services (social care) but activities such as street services, grass cutting, etc. If the Town or Parish agreed then a 2-3 year agreement would be drawn up subject to certain criteria, e.g., value for money.

Councils should decide what services they wanted to take on, what services they would be prepared to consider and what services they would definitely not want.

Mr. Munro said he would take back with him councillors’ concerns on Parishes’ frustrations with regard to planning feedback and raising the value of taxi tokens for disabled people as this was beyond his own remit. He was also asked to provide feedback on other councils’ suggestions and good ideas on delegated powers.

Following concerns raised about village potholes Mr. Munro said that it was important for the parish to decide what it wanted to do. Cllr. Dr. Dixson expressed the requirement as defining and managing a work schedule to a budget.

Cllr. Hart said that he thought that these activities should also be expanded to consider activities that aren’t done that the Parish wanted done, activities that are done but could be done better, and activities that the Parish is already doing and having to pay for itself (e.g., kerbing) that should be paid for by the County and not by the Parish precept.

Councillors discussed next steps with Mr. Munro. They confirmed that they were interested in participating and would let him have their thoughts on delegation by his late-September deadline.

122.08

PLANNING

(a) Planning Issues: None.

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

08/01100/TCA Land adjacent Great House, Kington Langley – tree felling and surgery work	Consent Granted – 24 July 2008
08/01307/LBC Ivy House, Middle Common – Installation of condenser gas boiler flue (north elevation)	Consent Granted – 21 July 2008
08/01378/TCA Sawyers, Parkers Lane – Fell Three Trees, reduce one tree	Consent Granted – 28 July 2008

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

08/01832/TCA Langley Chase – Felling of one pine, one horse chestnut, two birch & six Leylandii and Lawsons cypress trees.	Support
08/01835/TCA Boundary of Hit or Miss Pub – Re-pollard 2 No Horse Chestnut trees.	Support
08/01867/TCA The Glen, Ashes Lane – Felling of 1 robina, 1 cherry and 3 larch trees; crown lift a birch, oak and hazel trees and thin & crown lift a mature ash and a bird cherry tree.	Support

(c) Planning Applications for consideration:

08/00631/FUL Former Picnic Area Site, Kington Langley - Gospel Hall and Associated Parking (Amended Plans)	Information Only
08/01500/LBC Limetree Farm – Erection of Solar Panels on SE facing Roof at back of farmhouse	Supported
08/01652/TCA New Build, Church Lane – Fell one horse chestnut tree.	Not supported
Much concern was expressed by councillors on the nature of this application as it was believed that if the felling of this tree had been an essential part of the siting of the new build from the outset, then permission would never have been granted. Councillors believed that the Council’s objection to this application should be expressed in the strongest possible terms and that North Wiltshire District Council should be challenged if it was prepared to consider allowing this application to go through. Copies of well argued objection letters have already been received from two villagers. Cllr. Dr. Maurice Dixson had spoken to the Chairman of the Development Control Committee, Cllr. John Thomson, and would be meeting the planning officer, Bryan Gale, on site on his return from holiday.
08/01775/FUL Russet House, Plough Lane – Erection of dwelling and detached garage.	Supported

Clerk

Cllr. Dr. Dixson

123.08

CHAIRMAN’S BUSINESS

Cllr. Dr. Maurice Dixson said all points would be covered by agenda items.

124.08

COMMONS EROSION PROJECT

Cllr. Peter Hart said that the project has now started and is progressing well. The kerbing is being put in place and is following the line where the original road has been. Promises donations received now stand at £5,655.00.

125.08

VILLAGE POND (UPDATE)

Cllr. Dr. Maurice Dixson said that following consultation with Dr. Newman a quotation has been received that means that the pond can be treated by a maximum of three treatments over a period of 6-12 months. The cost per visit is £250 plus VAT. The Clerk confirmed that money was available in the precept under the appropriate budgetary head for this to be done. On a proposal from Cllr. Graham Trickey, seconded by Cllr. Betty Bird, IT WAS RESOLVED that Dr. Newman be appointed to carry out this work.

Clerk

126.08

WILTSHIRE UNITARY AUTHORITY- DELEGATION TO TOWN & PARISH COUNCILS

The Consultation document issued by Richard Munro on 25 June 2008 had been circulated to all councillors. With reference to the questions raised for councillors’ consideration during Mr. Munro’s briefing, councillors were asked to consider their approach to delegated services. This will be an agenda item at next month’s meeting.

It was suggested that the local Parish Councils could work together but at this point Kington Langley Parish Council was unaware of what the other councils wanted to do.

District Cllr. Sherry Meadows was asked to let the Clerk know if she heard whether other Parishes had put forward any ideas.

The Clerk was also asked to e-mail the other Chairs for their feedback.

All Cllrs

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District Cllr. S Meadows

Clerk

127.08

PATH 4 (MORRELL LANE) AND BARBARANS LANE (CLLR. GILL)

Cllr. Dennis Gill said that Morrell Lane was a footpath but that fencing had been put there to stop motor bikes from using it. However, as the fencing had been damaged it could now be driven down by motorbikes. The Clerk was asked to investigate the cost of replacing it.

Cllr. Gill said that Barbarans Lane was not a designated right of way but a lane. Its history is that a previous Chairman, Mrs. Sarah Foster, had started a clearing process some years ago but it had not been touched since and was up to 3 ft. in mud during the winter. The Clerk was asked to investigate the cost of trimming back the hedges and clearing out the mud.

Clerk

Clerk

128.08

FINANCE

(a) Cheques issued, payments received and transfers made since 14 July 2008 meeting:

10 Aug 08	Tree Maintenance Ltd (Greathouse trees)	001055	£572.52
10 Aug 08	Clerk Salary - July	001056	£333.37
10 Aug 08	Complete Weed Control (School Footpath spraying)	001057	£111.63
11 Aug	AW Services – 2 x Commons Cuts	001058	£400.00
		Total:	£1417.52

Payments Received:

7 July	Deposit A/C	2007/8 VAT Refund	£432.40
15 Jul	Current A/C	Villagers Promises Donations	£145.00
22 Jul	Current A/C	Villagers Promises Donations	£50.00
30 Jul	Current A/C	Villagers Promises Donations	£50.00
4 Aug	Current A/C	Villagers Promises Donations	£200.00
11 Aug	Current A/C	Villagers Promises Donations	£50.00
		Total:	£927.40

Transfers Made: None.

Direct Debits Paid:

5 Aug 08

Public Works Loan Board – Footpath Loan

£1,930.07

The invoices for the above cheques had been inspected and approved by the signatories.

On a proposal from Cllr. Graham Trickey, seconded by Cllr. Don Styles, IT WAS RESOLVED that cheques numbered 1055-1058 be approved by the meeting.

(b) Bank accounts: The clerk reported that the last reconciliation had been successfully carried out on 8 August 2008.

Bank Accounts as at 31 July 2008:

Current account (including Promises payments)	£8,187.57
Deposit Account	£11,087.63
Petty Cash	£31.49
Total	£19,306.69

(c) Grants, Donations and other Financial Actions:

1. Donation to Kington St. Michael Almshouses

Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird had asked for this to be put on this month’s agenda. However in view of the Resolution that the Parish Council would only consider requests for donations twice a year (March and September) this will be carried forward to next month’s meeting.

2. Replacement 4’ Gate for School to Playing Fields Footpath

The school to playing field gate at the playing field end has been totally vandalised and is hanging off its hinges. As it is now beyond repair, the Clerk was asked to investigate the cost of its replacement.

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Clerk

129.08

CORRESPONDENCE

1. Letter dated 31 July from Mr. Ramon Weston reference Byway 34.

2. Letter dated 5 August from Tracy Carter, Assistant Director, Operations, Environmental Services Dept, Wiltshire County Council reference Kington Langley Village List of Potholes.

130.08

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

(a) Cllr. Val Giles said that councillors should let her know before the 12^th September of any potholes that should be added to the village list. Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird said that there are deep ruts on the side of several roads if they counted as potholes.

(b) Cllr. Val Giles asked if Spring Bulbs could be put on next month’s agenda.

(c) District Councillor Ms. Sherry Meadows pointed out that further to the Chairman’s statement that over £500,000 is collected from the village in Council Tax, the money is sent on to central government and the County only get 2 per cent back.

(d) The Clerk said that Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird had raised with her an issue regarding Parker’s Lane dog bin not being emptied. NWDC had responded by saying that residents were using this bin for large bags of dog rubbish collected from their own gardens and have asked if a note can be put in the Village Magazine to remind villagers that the bin is only intended for small bags of dog mess collected whilst walking.

The meeting closed at 10:05.

The next Parish Council Meeting will be at 7:45 pm on Monday 1 September 2008.

All Cllrs.

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Clerk