KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL

HELD IN THE MEETING ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL ON MONDAY 15^TH FEBRUARY 2010 THAT COMMENCED AT 7.45PM

PRESENT: Cllr Dr. M Dixson – Chairman,

Cllrs. Mrs B Bird, D Gill, J Foster, Mrs J Carrington, D Styles, C Timbrell,

Wiltshire Councillor H Greenman, Mrs. S Webb - Clerk. + 3 members of the public

Public Question Time – R Weston expressed concern regarding the recent changes to travel concessions. Travel Passes only are now to be issued and not tokens or any other concession. Although Cllr Greenman arrived a little late, he explained to Mr Weston that although a public consultation took place regarding the concessions not all areas of North Wiltshire are happy. Mr Weston’s concerns were noted.

M I N U T E S

19.10.	Apologies for absence. Received from Cllrs Mrs Lindi Reynolds and G Trickey
20.10.	Declarations of Interest None given
21.10.	Minutes The Minutes of the meeting held on the 11^th January 2010 were signed by the Chairman and adopted as a true record.
22.10.	Matters Arising and actions from last minutes. Neighbourhood Watch Signs - Cllr Gill reported that the replacement sign ordered through this council had been sent to Chippenham by mistake. A replacement sign will cost the council £5.50. It was resolved that a replacement sign be purchased to replace the broken sign at Days Lane. - ACTION CLLR GILL Water lying at Plough Lane & other Drainage issues in the village particularly Lower Common - A meeting to be arranged with Steve Scothern and Danny Everett of Wiltshire Council together with Cllrs Greenman and Dixson - Monday 22^nd February was mentioned. - ACTION CLLRS GREENMAN/DIXSON Resurfacing of Church Lane - Now done. An email was sent to Kristian Price thanking him for overseeing this. Cllr Dixson reported that further treatment is to be carried out at a later date to finish the job off. Thanks were relayed to Cllrs Greenman and Dixson for their efforts in seeing this issue to completion. CLOSED. Planning - Glenhaven - See item below Cllr Greenman to monitor. War Memorial - Cllr Gill reported that the church had tidied up the area surrounding the memorial. CLOSED. Parking at Hit or Miss Public House - The pocket of land in front of the Hit or Miss Public House is to be registered. - ACTION CLERK Kington St. Michael Post Point - Following a request for annual financial assistance as the Post Point is running at a £650 deficit - this item is to be placed on the March agenda for consideration. All Weather Footpath – Completion of hard surface from Plough Hill to A350 Traffic Lights. - See item below. To be monitored - ACTION CLERK Church Bends Footpath - See item below. Correspondence received/actions taken j) Letter of complaint from Ms Ing regarding Days Lane ditches. - Councillor Foster spoke to Mr Tayler who has agreed to clear the offending ditches. A letter of acknowledgement and what is intended has been sent to Ms Ing. CLOSED k) Letters of complaint from Mr Curtis of Newlands Green regarding cars parking on the Commons. - A reply has been sent explaining that all circumstances had been explored and the Parish Council is of the opinion that the parking arrangement in question is a sensible solution as it keeps a car off the road. CLOSED.
23.10.	Wiltshire Council report Cllr Howard Greenman reported on the following: · Wiltshire Council is setting its budget and there is likely to be an increase of 2.4%. If it was still Wiltshire County Council the increase would have been 4.9%. The government grant was lower than expected. · Waste/recycling discussions are ongoing as part of a cost reduction examination. · The Audit Commission is taking an interest in all councils housing stocks. · Due to forward planning, During the recent cold spell, Wiltshire Council’s salt stocks were good compared to other councils. Reports of salt bin contents thefts were noted in the North Wiltshire area. The Chairman thanked Cllr Greenman for his report and stressed that refuge collections need to stay on a weekly basis.
24.10	Planning · Glenhaven - Cllr Greenman reported that he had received an email from the head of Development Control of Wiltshire Council confirming that he and the applicant had agreed that the conditions of the s106 Agreement that hung over from previous applications was upstanding and will be honoured. Therefore this application will not go to committee and approval will be recommended. Cllr Greenman agreed to monitor and watch that the above is taken forward. N.09/02177/FUL - Erection of Agricultural Workers Dwelling at Bowldown Farm. - The Chairman reported that Wiltshire Council had sent the results of an Agricultural Assessment. Issues considered included, functional needs, quote (It is my opinion that the current agricultural and horticultural practice does not meet the functional test and accordingly there is no existing functional need for the proposed dwelling.) Financial Test, quote (In my opinion therefore the current farming practice does not meet the financial test). General Comments quote (The existing access to the holding is part metalled and traverses third party land. The condition and situation of the access is such that the applicant proposes a new route to the highway as part of the planning application; it is also proposed to change the location of the dwelling. The applicant states that the new access to the holding will serve to replace the existing access and will serve to simplify and ease the existing situation). Conclusion quote (The proposed agricultural dwelling is not warranted under Annex A of PPS7 as it does not meet either the functional test or the financial test). In view of the above report. The Planning Officer is likely to recommend refusal therefore the application will not go to committee. · NWDC Planning Decisions - N/09/002198/TCA - Crown reduction to Eucalyptus by one third - The Cottage, 1 Church Road, K L, - GRANTED (This application was originally for the felling of the tree but the P C objected and Wiltshire Council agreed therefore the application was amended). N/09/02081/FUL - Modular Officer Outstation - Maintenance Depot, Stanton St. Quintin - GRANTED · Planning Applications for consideration N/10/00010/TCA Metral, Parkers Lane, K L Tree Surgery to 1 Ash Tree and 2 Willow Trees. - It was resolved to support this application. N/09/02250/FUL, 2 Kington St, Michael Road, Kington Langley, - Erection of detached double garage. It was resolved to support this application.
25.10.	Chairman’s Business (Cllr Dr. M Dixson) Bollards. - Two of the bollards on Middle Common have been knocked flat and the Chairman has taken them in for safe keeping. The police are aware of this and did not have any record of recent accidents that may have caused the damage. Mr Butler has assessed the damage and reported that replacements are needed. The insurance policy to be checked and a quotation for replacements to be sought - ACTION CLERK.
26.10.	Village Pond Cllr Timbrell reported that Mr Cooper has again dug out the bank free of charge. A letter of thanks to be written to him - ACTION CLLR DIXSON. The charge/or no charge for the final treatment yet to be clarified. ACTION CLLR TIMBRELL.
27.10.	All Weather Footpath – Completion of hard surface from Plough Hill to A350 Traffic Lights. The Clerk reported that the loan decision was expected Feb’10. Contractor delayed until further notice. To be monitored - ACTION CLERK
28.10.	Church Bends Footpath Update from Cllr Trickey as below: Status report - The path has been completed by the contractor. Notices have been placed at both ends of the path indicating the rules of use (costing £52 from Wessex Water) I have changed the hardware on the new gate so that it can be locked with a padlock. The school has been advised that they should now keep the path between the playing fields and the new gate onto the new path locked at all times when they are not using it. I notice that as of 13^th Feb, the gate is still unlocked. This is a security issue with the neighbour Mr. Tapper as the path was used as an escape route recently after an attempted theft. Issues - In my view, the new route for the path is too steep and does not meet the original requirement to allow wheelchair access. There appears to be a safety issue resulting from the new route of the path – especially when it is dark. It is not obvious that the path turns quickly and that there is a steep slope. There needs to be some gravel at the Church Farm end of the path to facilitate easier access over the mud. The contractor has already agreed to help with this issue. Proposed Solution - I have asked the contractor to re-look at whether the slope can be reduced to allow wheelchair access. I have asked him to quote for an additional stretch of fence to go at the top of the slope to prevent any accidents. The contractor is quoting us £100 including VAT to address the above safety issue. There is also a bill for £52 to be paid to Wessex Water for the new signs. Requested Resolutions - That the Parish Council agrees there is a safety issue with the new path and agrees that an amount of up to £100 should be authorised to resolve this issue. That the Parish Council agrees to pay the sum of £52 to Wessex Water for the new signs (when invoiced). It was resolved to support the above two requests.
29.10.	Kington Langley Village Hall Cllr Gill reported that the 2009 accounts were being examined. The 1.50 club has 5 new members.
30.10	Grit Bins Request from Wiltshire Council to carry out an audit of Grit Bins in Kington Langley. A map was provided and members confirmed that there are 3 grit bins in Kington Langley sited - Days lane (2) and Church Road (1). A request for two additional bins to be made sited at the bottom of Days Lane and one in the vicinity of Lower Common. - ACTION CLERK
31.10	Annual Parish Meeting A review of the present format for the above meeting was taken. It was agreed that the format used last year was satisfactory. Water and heating to be requested.
32.10	Finance a) Cheques issued, since 11^th January 2010 amounted to £501.80. payments received amounted to £2.00 there were no transfers. Direct Debits paid PWLB £1,815.69. b) Balances - as follows: Current Account - £6,752.99, Deposit Account - £6,929.63, Petty Cash - £8.26. Total - £13,690.88. (Note that all the above debits had not been cleared at time to receiving the balances) It was resolved to accept the above report as a true record.
33.10	Correspondence received/actions to take a) Thank you email from Val Giles for the Parish Council’s continued support to the village hall. - Noted. b) Letter from Wiltshire Council regarding the Parish Steward who would not be completing their January schedules due to pot hole duties. Cllr Foster informed - Noted. c) Speed Limit Review reminder comments were to be in by 5^th Feb - Document circulated 7^th Dec - not yet returned. - Returned 15/2/10 no comments to make. d) Acknowledgment of payment from Groundscape Services Ltd also confirming he will return to fix post and rails into wood and straighten bollard on the green. - Noted e) Information on the Wiltshire & Swindon Draft Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) Additional Consultation. Noted f) Information from the Highway Agency saying they have made the Compulsory Purchase Order for the M4 Motorway (Leigh Delamere West Overbridge Replacement, Chippenham). Noted g) Letter from Lisa Thomson regarding K L Scarecrow Festival - asking for the Council’s thoughts on the idea of erecting a Pimms tent during the festival - The Council is in support of this initiative. h) Letter from Jane Rawlings of KSM Village Shop Ltd thanking KL PC for considering the possibility of supporting KSM shop and asking if we would post flyers in the village - Granted and posters already posted.
34.10	Exchange of Information/Agenda items for meeting 15^th March 2010. The Clerk mentioned that she was in receipt of an email from Wiltshire Council Mr Bob Chequer requesting information on what services the Parish Council would/may be interested in taking on and the services it already provides. It was devolved to the Clerk to respond accordingly. - ACTION CLERK Cllr Greenman asked if the parish council were interested in taking on the responsibility of the phone box in the village. It was confirmed that it is not prepared to take this on. Cllr Greenman also reported that there was an enforcement issue ongoing between the occupants of Church Farm, Church Road due to ‘Fly-Posting’ advertising their annual Christmas bazaar. The Parish Council asked Cllr Greenman to advise the Council official that it supported the holding of the bazaar and that its advertising which was only displayed briefly was not considered to be a problem.

Meeting closed at 9.20pm