MINUTES OF KINGTON
HELD IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL ON
MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2008
PRESENT: Cllr. P Hart, Cllr. J Foster, Cllr.
Mrs. Val Giles, Cllr.
APOLOGIES for absence: Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird (in hospital) and Cllr.
The meeting was chaired by Vice-Chairman Cllr.
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020.08 |
CO-OPTION OF NEW COUNCILLORS AND DECLARATIONS OF
ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE
On a proposal by Cllr. Don Styles, seconded by Cllr. Peter Hart, IT WAS RESOLVED
unanimously that Dr. Maurice Dixson be co-opted to the Council. Dr. Maurice
Dixson signed his Declaration of Acceptance of Office. On a proposal by Cllr. Don Styles, seconded by Cllr. Peter Hart, IT WAS RESOLVED
unanimously that Mr. Chris Timbrell be co-opted to the Council. Mr. Chris Timbrell signed his Declaration of
Acceptance of Office. |
ACTION
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021.08 |
RESIDENTS FORUM
Mr. David Sealy expressed concern that draft Minute
007.08 did not state Cllr. Foster’s response to the points raised. Cllr.
Foster was asked whether he wanted to address this in Matters Arising but he
declined. Mr. David Sealy further asked whether it was appropriate to raise
an issue that had arisen at a social occasion. The Clerk responded that the
Clerk’s position as an employee is relevant at all times. Mr. Marcel Chapman expressed his frustration about
the continuing problem of pot-holing and mud outside the Hit or Miss Pub.
This has been an unresolved problem for several years. Cllr. Hart said that
Highways Department were not interested in putting the matter right. The area
is not owned or registered to the Parish Council. If the Parish Council was
able to claim the land as a Registered Green it might then be possible to
deal with this. However, this was likely to take some time to change. |
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022.08 |
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None. |
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023.08 |
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 14 JANUARY 2008
Minutes
of the meeting held on 14 January 2008 were circulated to all Councillors. On a proposal from Cllr. Don Styles, seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles, IT WAS RESOLVED that
the Vice-Chairman, Cllr. |
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024.08 |
MATTERS ARISING
Minute 002.08 Residents Forum: The Clerk reported that Cllr. Don Styles enquired
if any residents had petitioned for holding an election following statements
at the previous meeting that electors wished to have an opportunity to
appoint councillors. The Clerk confirmed that she had also been notified in
writing about this intention, but the Elections Office had not had any requests
prior to the cut-off time. Minute 007.08 Cooption
Procedure: The
Clerk has received a written apology from Cllr. John Foster which she asked
to have minuted as having been accepted. Minute Minute Minute 014.08(b) Standing Orders: The Clerk said that the resolution to
update the Code of Conduct date should apply to Item 12 as well as Item 10. Minute 014.08(d) Standing Orders
- Quorum: Cllr. Gill confirmed
that the Parish Council’s Standing Orders specify that 5 councillors
constitute a quorum. Minute 019.08(a) Branches across
road at Plough Hill: The Clerk reported that she had raised this with the Highways
Department who contacted the land-owner. This situation has now been
rectified. |
Cllr. D Gill |
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025.08 |
PLANNING
(a) Planning Issues: Appeal
07/00237/OUT Lypgate - Outline permission for detached bungalow. The hearing
for this appeal will be held on Tuesday 19th February at 10 am at
NWDC Council Offices. (b)
Planning Applications decided by North
Wiltshire District Council:
Planning Application Recommendations decided
under powers delegated to the Parish Clerk: None. (c) Planning
Applications for consideration: 07/03272/FUL – Holly House, (d) New Applications:
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Clerk Clerk Clerk Clerk |
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026.08 |
COMMONS EROSION PROJECT Promises
now stand at £5,930 out of the £6,000 target. The
Area 3 Committee remaining budget for the current financial year stands at
only £167. The Parish Council was therefore advised to go for a grant request
at the first meeting of the new financial year (April – May) with a plan to
do the work in the school summer holiday. |
Clerk |
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027.08 |
VILLAGE BENCHES – MAINTENANCE UPDATE The
Council considered a summary of the works required to each of the 6 benches. A
villager, Mr. Andy Boulton, had provided a written estimate dated 10th
February itemising the cost of the works to each bench. On a proposal from Cllr. Maurice
Dixson, seconded by Cllr. Don Styles,
IT WAS RESOLVED that the work should be implemented
as specified in Mr. Boulton’s estimate including concreting the bases where
required. The
Clerk said that she had been told by the Secretary to St. Peter’s Church that
the War Memorial in the churchyard is leaning. Cllr. Gill agreed to take a
look at what might be needed to resolve this. |
Clerk Cllr. D Gill |
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028.08 |
GREATHOUSE, LOWER COMMON – BRANCHES & DRAINAGE PROBLEMS The Clerk read out a letter which had been
received from the Greathouse dated 12th January 2008. As a result
she had met the Greathouse Hotel
Services Manager who raised two problems: (a)
A large number of branches from trees and saplings growing on Lower
Common are overhanging the Greathouse wall and are now causing damage. The
clerk is obtaining quotes for removal of the offending trees. Cllr. Maurice
Dixson would also provide details of companies who could do the work. (b)
There are two drains on the front drive where it crosses Lower Common
that are blocked. Highways Department say it is not their responsibility. Councillors
believed that it was also not the Parish Council’s responsibility to maintain
these drains. Cllr. Maurice Dixson said he knew a local resident who had
expertise in this area and would ask if they would look at the problem before
the Parish Council responded further. Cllr. Jane Scott left
the meeting at this point [20:45] but said that she noted the two issues of |
Clerk / Cllr. M Dixson Cllr. M Dixson |
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029.08 |
2008/2009 MAINTENANCE CONTRACT RENEWALS The Parish works which are not covered by formal
contracts are: (a)
Footpath
Spraying (School to A350 Traffic Lights). The Clerk said that
when she had asked for tenders in 2006 for contractors who conformed to the
most recent legislation on safe spraying only two contractors were prepared
to bid and the current company had been the cheapest. On a proposal from
Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles, seconded by Cllr. Peter Hart IT WAS RESOLVED that the Clerk should formalise a three year
fixed price contract with the existing contractor. (b)
Commons
Cuts.
In view of the cost of this contract, the Clerk was asked to seek competitive
bids for a 3-year contract. (c)
Footpath
Maintenance (School to Playing Fields). This is a very small
job but has no paperwork describing the work. The Clerk was asked to write to
the current contractor, Mr. David Raines, asking him to specify what works he
carried out. (d)
Bus-Shelter
Cleaning. The most recent paperwork the Clerk could find was dated
2000 so the Clerk was asked to write to the current contractor, Mr. Brian
Franklin, asking him to specify what works he carried out. The contract
should be updated to include the bus shelter opposite the Hit or Miss Pub. |
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