MINUTES OF KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL ON

MONDAY 12 JANUARY 2009

 

PRESENT: Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird; Cllr. Dr. M. Dixson; Cllr. J Foster; Cllr. Mrs. V Giles; Cllr. D Gill; Cllr. D Styles; Cllr. Mr. C Timbrell; Cllr. G Trickey (Part) and Mrs. S Hart (Clerk) plus 7 members of the public. County Councillor Mrs. Jane Scott (Part)

 

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: District Councillor Ms. Sherry Meadows (Away)

 

001.09

 

After opening the meeting, the Chairman said although Co-option of a new Councillor was the first item on the agenda, Cllr. Trickey was on his way back from a funeral, so if councillors in agreement the item should be deferred until Cllr. Trickey’s arrival. All councillors agreed.

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

Cllr. Timbrell declared a Personal and Prejudicial interest in planning applications 08/02692/TCA Greystones, Upper Common and 08/02693/TCA Stocks Cottage, Middle Common.

 

Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles declared a Personal Interest in the agenda item regarding Co-option of a New Councillor as Dr. Peter Giles had put his name forward for co-option.

 

ACTION

 

 

002.09

 

RESIDENTS’ FORUM

 

Mrs. Ena Weston asked how the Parish Council could obtain funding from Wiltshire County Council in the same way as other councils. It was pointed out that the Parish had been very successful on a regular basis over the past few years in obtaining large funding grants, including the Commons Erosion Project and most recently the Village Hall boiler. Mrs. Weston said that in that case this should be published by WCC in the magazines they distribute.

 

Mr. David Sealy commented about excavations on the A350 as there are still problems by The Moors and when Wessex Water overfill their reservoir floods can end up at the corner by Barbarans Lane. He questioned whether the Old Picnic Site Drainage by the Plough Inn was really fixed. Cllr. Foster said he would be meeting The Moors resident, Mr. Taylor, and would check the current situation with him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr. Foster

003.09

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 8 DECEMBER 2008

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2008 had been circulated to all Councillors. On a proposal from Cllr. Don Styles, seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird, IT WAS RESOLVED that the Chairman, Cllr. Dr. Maurice Dixson, sign the Minutes as a correct record.

 

 

004.09

CO-OPTION OF NEW COUNCILLOR AND DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE

 

Two candidates put their names forward for co-option: Dr. Peter Giles and Mrs. Linda Reynolds. Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles left the meeting whilst Dr. Peter Giles spoke and the subsequent votes were taken.

 

Following the remaining councillor votes between the two candidates, on a proposal from Cllr. Maurice Dixson, IT WAS RESOLVED that Mrs. Linda Reynolds be co-opted onto the Parish Council. Mrs. Reynolds signed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

 

005.09

 

 

 

MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES

 

The Clerk handed out summaries of the Actions from the 8 December Parish Council Meeting Minutes. Actions with updates were as follows:

 

Matters still outstanding from Minutes of 10 Nov 08:

168.08: Dauntsey Transport Group. Cllr. Don Styles said that he had submitted an article to the Village Magazine regarding NADFAS parking but it had not been printed. Cllr. Dixson said that he had decided to withdraw it because there were no problems with parking now and he had decided not to make the issue too public.

 

Cllr. Betty Bird said that the bus sometimes turned further up Days Lane by Doveys Terrace. Cllr. Dixson said he did have some bollards which had been and could be used to resolve specific issues.

 

Cllr. Styles said that he had stopped the bus using Church Lane.

 

169.08: Highways and Byways. This has been superceded by later meetings.

 

178.08 (a) Planning Issues:  1. 08/02175/S73A - Field View House and 08/02278/S73A - Holly Bank House. County Cllr. Mrs. Jane Scott and District Cllr. Ms. Sherry Meadows did attend the 17 December Development Control Committee Meeting. 2. Carillion Site on B4122. The Clerk has written to NWDC Planning Department to request that planning activities relating to this site should be copied to Kington Langley Parish Council and has already received a response from Sutton Benger Parish Council.

 

New Matters Arising from Minutes of 8 Dec 08:  

183.08 Highways and Byways – Update (1) Wessex Water Church Bends – Proposed footpath. Cllr. Dixson gave the background to the current situation. Cllr. Trickey said that he has sent copies of licenses to the owners’ solicitors and they had revised their estimated costs from £1,000 to £250. Peter Jeremiah at North Wiltshire District Council has agreed to handle the legal side on the Parish Council’s behalf.

 

Cllr. Trickey had obtained a ballpark figure for the work from a local contractor but the work would need to go to competitive tender. It would also be necessary to apply for planning permission. The only outstanding issue is how the project would be funded. The Clerk was asked to put the subject on the February agenda.

 

Cllr. Timbrell asked, given the changes to the layout of the path, what the require-ment would be for gates on the original footpath from the school to the playing field. Cllr. Dixson said that as gates for the public footpath would be included in the project, there would only be an immediate requirement for a gate at the playing field end.

 

County Cllr. Mrs. Jane Scott joined the meeting (20:40)

 

184.08 Review of Consultation Document on Changes to Code of Conduct.

The Clerk has responded to the questions about local authority employees.

 

185.08 Review of Parish Obligations regarding Freedom of Information Act.

Cllr. Trickey and the Clerk have met to review any items to be added to the website. However as all information is available from the Clerk in hardcopy on application, it was agreed that the Parish Council were already in compliance with the Act.

 

186.08 Finance. Grants, Donations and other Financial Actions: Cllr. Dixson sent a letter of thanks to the villager who sent the £500.00 donation for the Commons Erosion Project.

 

187.08 2009/10 Draft Precept. The Clerk has sent an additional payment of £1,000 on the Public Works Loan for the All Weather Footpath. The 2009/10 Precept amount of £19,038 has now been submitted.

 

188.08 County Councillor Update re. 08/02167/FUL Glenhaven, Plough Lane. Cllr. Scott has followed up the allocation of the £7,800 Public Open Space contribution.

2. Correspondence - e-Mail from PC Heather Barham: Following her operation, a bouquet was sent to PC Heather Barham by the Chairman on the Parish Council’s behalf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

Cllr. Timbrell

006.09

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLANNING

 

(a)   Planning Issues: 

 

Glenhaven, Plough Lane. Following County Cllr. Jane Scott’s intervention the Clerk has received a response from NWDC Development Services regarding the allocation of Section 106 money from the site. Mike Hasted the Senior Regeneration Officer, who has responsibility for allocating the money received for Public Open Space contributions, has said that he had envisaged the money going to a project (not specified) at the playing fields. However, if the Parish Council had something else in mind then it should be submitted in writing to him in preparation for investigation and discussion. It was suggested that the Wessex Water footpath could be a good initial candidate for the allocation of this money.

 

Field View House (08/02175/S73A) and Holly Bank (08/02278/S73A) - Retrospective Planning Applications. Dr. Peter Giles attended the Development Control Committee meeting on 17 December. The Planning Officer did not provide an adequate explanation of how the condition regarding enclosure of the highway frontage should be interpreted, whether the stone piers and gates were covered by permitted development rights nor whether the additional work preserved and enhanced a Conservation Area. The DCC Chairman therefore ruled that both applications should be deferred.

 

 

Langley Park Redevelopment. Mrs. Sarah Foster had provided the Clerk with details for distribution to Councillors about a stakeholder session to be held at St. Paul’s Church Hall Chippenham on Friday 16th January. All Councillors were invited to attend.

 

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

 

08/00631/FUL Former Picnic Area Site, Kington Langley – Gospel Hall and Associated Parking (Amended plans received dated 5 Dec 08 re. revised landscaping plans)

Permission Granted – 5 Dec 08

08/02506/TCA The Barn, Ashes Lane – Pollard One Willow Tree

Consent Granted – 23 Dec 08

 

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

 

08/02692/TCA Greystones, Upper Common - Tree Surgery to Horsechestnut to reduce heavy limb over stable block by 30%

 

Supported

08/02693/TCA Stocks Cottage, Middle Common - Tree Surgery to Beech tree to crown reduce by 20%

Supported

 

(c)   Planning Applications for consideration: None.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Cllrs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

007.09

 

CHAIRMAN’S BUSINESS (Cllr. Dr. M Dixson)

 

Cllr. Dixson said that the points he wished to raise regarding the Wessex Water Footpath and the Community Plan meeting were covered by items on the agenda.

 

 

008.09

 

CLERK’S REPORT (Mrs. Sue Hart)

 

The Clerk said that she has been asked again this year to organise the Church Lane road closure on 21st February for the Annual Pancake Race and this was in hand. She would be writing to the organisers to point out the issues regarding the building work being carried out in the area.

 

Invitations to regular participants at the March Annual Parish Meeting had already been sent out and finalising the agenda will be on next month’s Parish Council meeting agenda.

 

The Clerk also informed the Parish Council that she was giving a month’s notice that she wished to resign from the role of Clerk to the Parish Council and had written a letter to the Council to that effect. She thanked those councillors who had supported her over the past 4 years. She was asked to put the steps in place to find a replacement.

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

009.09

CHIPPENHAM AND VILLAGES COMMUNITY PLAN

 

Cllr. Dixson said he was unclear about the relationship between the different kinds of Plan and the difference it would make to planning approval and said he would raise this at the ChAPS meeting he would be attending about the Community Plan.

 

Cllr. Jane Scott said that there was a fundamental difference between a Community Plan and a Village Plan. The ChAPS meeting topic was about a Community Plan to which Chippenham and surrounding villages had contributed their village priorities with or  without consultation in their villages. The ChAPS meeting was not a discussion on the Village Plan which is a major piece of work carried out by village representatives and not by a Parish Council.

 

Cllr. Scott said that a Village Design Statement was also of relevance as it could become a Supplementary Planning Document referred to by Planners when considering planning applications in a village.

 

Marion Rayner from Community First would be able to give advice about the latter and Cllr. Foster was asked to invite her to attend the Annual Parish Meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr. Foster

010.09

FINANCE

 

Councillors were provided with handouts for Finance summaries (a) and (b) given below:

 

(a)   Cheques issued, payments received and transfers made since 8 December 2008 meeting:

10 Jan 09

Additional 1-off payment to Public Works Loan Board for footpath loan

1086

£1,000.00

10 Jan 09

Clerk Salary – December

1087

£333.37

10 Jan 09

Foxley Road Nurseries – Village XMAS Tree

1088

£80.00

10 Jan 09

The Consortium (Filing folders)

1089

£10.64

10 Jan 09

S Hart (XMAS Tree Adapter)

1090

£7.34

10 Jan 09

Furnitubes (Additional Commons Bollard)

1091

£111.55

 

 

 

£1,542.90

  

Payments Received:

12 Jan 09

BT Open reach - Wayleave

£2.00

 

Transfers Made:        

 

12 Jan 09

From Deposit Account to Current Account

£2,000.00

19 Jan 09

From Deposit Account to Current Account

£2,000.00

 

Direct Debits Paid:

 

5 Feb 09

Public Works Loan Board: Footpath Loan

£1,930.17

 

The invoices for the above cheques had been inspected and approved by the signatories. On a proposal from Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles, seconded by Cllr. Graham Trickey, IT WAS RESOLVED that cheques numbered 1086 -1091 be approved by the meeting.

 

Bank accounts: The last reconciliation had been successfully carried out on 10 January 2009.

 

Bank Accounts as at 31 December 2008:

 

Current account    

£2,816.72

Deposit Account

£12,577.80

Petty Cash

£17.80

Total   

£15,412.32

 

(b)   Grants, Donations and other Financial Actions: Nothing to report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

011.09

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Received and distributed to Councillors with Agenda:

 

1.       Map and Schedule from Wiltshire County Council showing recommended boundaries of Wiltshire Area Boards to be created after the Unitary Council Elections in June 2009. Comments were required by 6 Feb 09. (Map to be recopied for councillors)

2.       Community First Communication asking for volunteers to be involved in discussions on researching alternative solutions to Post Office Services. Nominations were required by 9 Jan 09.

3.       North Wiltshire District Council Planning Training Event to be held on 4th or 10th February. 5 Councillors asked the Clerk to book them on the sessions.

4.       Response from Richard Munro (Project Manager, Delegation to Town and Parish Councils, Towards One Council) on Parish Council’s feedback regarding Delegation of Services.

5.       Response from Highways regarding resurfacing of Church Lane. In support of the request for resurfacing, the Clerk has responded to Highways enclosing a photograph of road damage by constructors’ vehicles. She was asked to also check with NWDC Planning Department contractors’ obligations regarding cleaning the lane before completing works at the site.

 

1.       The Clerk handed out copies of letters from the Scarecrow Weekend Committee asking if they could become a sub-committee of the Parish Council. Cllr. Dixson said there were other events in the village for which such a group could take responsibility and that the Clerk should reply saying that this will be an Agenda item for the next Parish Council meeting.

 

 

 

Cllr. Dixson said that he had received a letter commending the Clerk for her successful completion of the ‘Working with your Council’ training programme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

Clerk

012.09

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

(a)    Cllr. Gill said that the fire hydrant outside New Linden was leaning over and it should be reported to the Water Board.

(b)    Cllr. Gill asked about a recent event where there had been a lot of cars parked on Upper Common. Cllr. Dixson said that permission had not been sought from him. Cllr. Gill suggested that a reminder should be put in the Village Magazine about Registered Commons parking.

(c)     Cllr. Gill said that a pool of water was appearing in front of Lucerna by their hedge and that it should be reported to CLARENCE.

(d)    Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird said that a horsebox had been stuck opposite Langley Ridge between Langley Chase and their stables. The grass had eroded and concrete now sticks out into the road. This should be reported to CLARENCE as should a rut on the bend by Old Chapel Field.

(e)     Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird expressed concern about the encroachment of the verge by Langley Ridge wall over Plough Hill. The Clerk said that this has already been the subject of a letter to the Highways Department.

(f)       Cllr. Timbrell said that the pond was due to be sprayed again at any time now.

(g)    Further to Minute 103.08 from the 14 July 2008 Parish Council Meeting, Cllr. Timbrell was asked to investigate the condition of the lower part of the All-Weather footpath beyond Plough Hill again. Cllr. Dixson suggested that he should now involve Cllr. Mrs. Lindi Reynolds.

 

The meeting closed at 21:50.

 

The next Parish Council Meeting will be at 7:45 pm on Monday 9 February 2009.

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

Clerk

 

Clerk

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr. Timbrell / Cllr. Reynolds