KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL

HELD IN THE MEETING ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL ON MONDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2009 THAT COMMENCED AT 7.45PM

 

PRESENT: Cllr Dr. M Dixson – Chairman,

        Cllrs. Mrs B Bird, D Gill, Mrs L Reynolds, C Timbrell, D Styles,

        Mrs. S Webb - Clerk.  + Wiltshire County Councillor H Greenman and 1

        member of the public.

 

 

Public Question Time   Mr Weston informed members that the replacement Neighbourhood Watch signs had not yet been received. - Cllr Gill to chase - ACTION Cllr Gill

 

M I N U T E S

 

192.09.

Apologies for absence.

Received from Councillors, Mrs J Carrington, G Trickey and J Foster.

 

193.09. 

Declarations of Interest

Councillor M Dixson declared a prejudicial interest in item 6 planning application No. N/09/01838/TCA stayed - did not vote

 

194.09.

Minutes

Following agreed minor amendments; the Minutes of the meeting held on the 9th November 2009 were signed by the Chairman and adopted as a true record.  

 

195.09.

Matters Arising and actions from last minutes.

Neighbourhood Watch Signs - Not yet received, Clerk chased - Now fitted - Replacement sign still to come - ACTION CLLR GILL

Water lying at Plough Lane –-  Cllr Greenman met with Kristian Price and has spoken to Danny Everett who is the acting Officer to deal with flooding issues and he is awaiting delivery of a detailed sketch of the area that should give more information.  The Chairman mentioned that a full survey is needed and he was advised to make contact with Steve Scothern of Wiltshire Council. Cllr Greenman also agreed to raise this issue at the next Wiltshire Council Flood Working Group meeting - ACTION CLLR GREENMAN/CLLR DIXSON.  A meeting is to be arranged with Cllr Greenman, Cllr Dixson, Kristian Price and Steve Scothern both of Wiltshire Council on site with an aim to finding a solution that will resolve this problem. - ACTION CLLRS GREENMAN/DIXSON

Overhanging trees at Church Road, Lower Common.  Now done.

Speed limits - Issues in the village are to introduce a 20mph limit past the school as opposed to 30mph and to extend the 30mph at Days Lane to byway 34.  Other suggestions were that the introduction of the 20mph is active only at school arrival and leaving times, and traffic calming measures. - see item 198.09

Wiltshire Council report Parking at Hit or Miss P H - Cllr Greenman has been approached by the landlady of the Hit or Miss public house regarding the possible provision of car parking spaces opposite the pub to the right of the bus stop. - Clerk has spoken to Sue Hart on the position of this issue and looked through the files - See Item.

Planning

Glenhaven - Cllr Greenman to monitor this application. - see item 197.09

Resurfacing of Church Lane - Been put forward to the appropriate Wiltshire Council committee for consideration in the 2010/2011 works programme. Cllr Greenman mentioned that the type of coating allocated for the job was inappropriate.  However, Wiltshire Council do not have the budget for a better quality surface therefore it is better to see it resurfaced within the budget rather that not at all.  Thanks were relayed to Councillor Greenman for his efforts in resolving this issue.  Councillor Greenman agreed to monitor the situation.  ACTION CLLR GREENMAN

Proposed pull in & Drop Off Zone – School Travel Plan -  A Calne Travel coach is using Kington Langley as a cut through during school leaving times and sometimes at unacceptable speeds.  Clerk has written to Calne Travel to ask if an alternative route can be taken - to date no reply.  Also Wiltshire Council have been notified of the situation and their response is that there is no legal reason why the coach cannot use this route nor is a weight restriction applied to coaches, however agreed to monitor for a couple of days. . 

All Weather Footpath – Completion of hard surface from Plough Hill to A350 Traffic Lights. - Contractor appointed, loan applied for, to be chased. - ACTION CLERK - See item  

Budget for F/Y 2010/2011 Agreed adjustments made and re-circulated - see item 205.09    

Church Bends Footpath - see item 203.09

 

196.09.

Wiltshire Council report

Due to Cllr Greenman recent illness, there was nothing significant to report.

 

197.09.

Planning

Glenhaven - The Chairman reported together with Councillor Greenman that a letter has been sent to Brian Taylor of Wiltshire Council setting out various points following the letter received from the Applicant’s agent stating that all points would be adhered to.  Main points are that the first property using red brick is to be changed as this is not in-keeping with the surrounding area, drainage is to be restored and the s106 Agreement is to be honoured.  In the agents letter it states that the applicant is happy to apply these points - however no formal notification that this will happen has been received from Wiltshire Council.  This to be looked into by Councillor Greenman. - ACTION CLL GREENMAN.

 

NWDC Planning Decisions  - None received  

 

Planning Applications for consideration

N/09/01838/TCA

Pound House, Middle Common KL

Tree Surgery to 21 Western Red Cedars by 30%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/09/02076/FUL

2 Manor Cottages, Swindon Road, K L

Erection of detached double garage with first floor studio/study

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/09/02142/AGD

Kington Farm, Draycott Lane, KSM/KL

Agricultural storage building

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/09/02081/FUL

Maintenance Depot, Stanton St. Quintin, Chipp

Modular Officer Outstation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All above previously circulated - it was resolved to support all the above planning applications.

 

198.09.

Chairman’s Business (Cllr Dr. M Dixson)

Speed Limits - The Chairman reported that he has written to Mr Dave Thomas who he was advised to write to asking for a meeting to discuss the Kington Langley Parish Council’s proposals on speed limits.  No reply yet received.

Drainage - The meeting has had to be re-scheduled due to Cllr Greenman’s recent illness.  It was noted that due to the recent mass rain fall there is a lot of water lying at Plough Lane by the traffic lights. Cllr Dixson reported that he had received a telephone call from a Ruth Long who lives in the vicinity of Plough Lane, who expressed concern that over recent years the driveway to her house floods to extreme.  Ms Long contacted Kristian Price who explained to her that it was a Parish Council problem.  The Parish Council do not believe this to be so, therefore Cllr Greenman agreed to look into this matter.- ACTION CLLR GREENMAN. Cllr Dixson also informed members that a letter had been received from the residents of 4 Lower Common expressing concern over flooding issues - Cllr Greenman had also been contacted by the same person.

 

 

199.09.

Proposed pull in & Drop Off Zone – School Travel Plan

Cllr Reynolds had previously circulated a report covering the following:

A questionnaire inviting parents to identify any particular problems in getting to school was distributed and response was good.

The time scale for completion  of the Action Plan is February next year & then develop objectives & targets from that. 

The possibility of access to additional funding for the drop off zone through Taking Action on School Journeys which is now available to village schools is to be explored. Lindi asked if the surfacing on the footpath could also be including in these discussions to find out if additional funding would be available.

The design and layout of the drop off zone will be largely dependent on the agreement of the Highways Department. 

Lindi reported to the school that the Parish Council has applied for a loan to complete the surfacing of the footpath and is asking for a review of speed limits through the village including a 20 mile limit by the school during drop off & pick up times. The Church Bends footpath will go ahead as soon as possible & the school feel that this will relieve one of the major safety concerns.

The school is extremely grateful for the support of the Parish Council .

 

Cllr Reynolds is to brief parents and staff of the school where exactly the matting is that is the provision for parking.

 

200.09.

Parking at Hit or Miss Public House

The following report was circulated:

The last activities were as follows:

Cllr Dixson and Sue Hart had a meeting just over a year ago with Susan Heasman from the Hit or Miss Pub plus Brian and Joan Doe who live opposite the potential parking area. They were in broad agreement with the concept of having a parking area cut out of the grass bank on the right of the bus shelter (as you look at it). The understanding was that cars should park facing into the bank which would give space for more cars. The surface would be similar to the Coffin Way surfacing (the small parking area to the left of the school) and the grass bank would need to be reinforced as it is higher than the road.

 

Kristian Price from Highways is aware of the requirement and as this is highways verge he mentioned to Sue Hart that it would be necessary to submit a request for a license to alter this area. - From the files this has not been done.

 

It is not known who owns the grass beyond the verge and It is thought finding out may be very difficult as it may not be registered. - This has not been pursued.

 

Colin Butler from Groundscape Services Limited quoted for the work November 2008 - £4000 +VAT to provide the parking area and £2700 +VAT to excavate the grass area outside the pub.

 

Following discussions it was agreed that the Clerk look into the process of registering the area of grass directly outside the Hit or Miss and report back to the Council.  No further action at this time. - ACTION CLERK

 

201.09.

Meeting dates for 2010

The following dates were agreed.

Parish Council meetings in the Village Hall Committee Room starting at 7.45pm

Monday 11th January 2010, Monday 8th February 2010, Monday 15th March 2010,

Tuesday 23rd March 2010 (Annual Parish Meeting at the Union Chapel starting at 7.30pm), Monday 12th April 2010, Tuesday 4th May 2010 (Annual Meeting of the Parish Council (AGM), Monday 14th June 2010, Monday 12th July 2010, Monday 9th August 2010, Monday 6th September 2010, Monday 11th October 2010, Monday 8th November 2010, Monday 6th December 2010. 

 

All the above dates to be booked with the Village Hall Booking Clerk and the Union Chapel for the Annual Parish Meeting. - ACTION CLERK

 

202.09.

All Weather Footpath – Completion of hard surface from Plough Hill to A350 Traffic Lights. 

Cllr Timbrell briefed members that the application for the loan had been submitted and the contractor appointed is scheduled to start mid January.  No work is to commence until confirmation of the loan has been received.  Clerk to chase. - ACTION CLERK.  The Chairman mentioned that he had placed an informative article in the parish magazine.

 

203.09.

Church Bends Footpath

Cllr Trickey reported by email that a successful site meeting was held with Wessex Water who has also sent written confirmation and agreement for the work to start which has already started. The footpath is to be kept useable by the school until after their Christmas event.  The content of the signs have been agreed - yet to be purchased.

 

204.09.

Kington Langley Village Hall      

Cllr Gill reported that the alcohol licence has been obtained and will be put to good use.  The accounts have been signed off for last financial year.  The village hall committee is changing their financial year to from January to December; therefore this financial year will run for just 9 months.  Clarification on who the Trustees are is being resolved. 

 

205.09.

Finance

 Cheques issued, since the last meeting amounted to £1,701.86.  Payments received amounted to £2,525, transfers made from savings to current account £4,000.  Bank balances as from 1st December - total £19,784.48.  This was noted.

 

Budget - It was proposed, seconded and carried that the budget for 2010/2011 with agreed adjustments as circulated is accepted and taken forward.  The Chairman thanked the Clerk for her efficiency in getting this sorted so smoothly.  

 

206.09.

Correspondence received/actions to take

a)      Thank you letter from Helping Hands for donation

b)      Adverse weather leaflets to distribute from Wiltshire Council

c)      Letter from Mr & Mrs Bailey of Plough Lane notifying the Parish Council of intentions to renew a drive with tarmac

d)      Letter from Paul Gilman on behalf of the Scarecrows requesting a donation towards a marquee - to be tabled at the March 2010 meeting.

e)      Letter from the Ministry of Justice regarding War Memorial Maintenance. - Ownership of the War Memorial is to sought - ACTION CLLR GILL

f)        Police report - Cllr Gill volunteered to attend the tasking meeting for Chippenham Rural on the 8th January commencing at 7pm at The Chase, Stanton st Quintin. 

 

207.09.

Exchange of Information

Cllr Bird - The Alms Houses - Improvement are being carried out to two of the kitchens from regular incoming funds.

Cllr Gill - Mentioned that Parish Council news is not being placed in the local papers.  Valerie Young places an article for Kington Langley in the Community News spot of the locals and Cllr Dixson agreed to speak to her to see if an arrangement can be brought about. - ACTION CLLR DIXSON

Cllr Gill - Requested that one article alone be placed in each circulation folder as he is finding that he does not have enough time to read all the contents.  It was agreed to include no more that 3 pieces of correspondence. 

 

208.09.

Agenda Items for meeting 11th January 2010

Letter received from Kington St. Michael Village Shop Ltd.  

 

MEETING CLOSED AT 9.45PM