KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL

HELD IN THE MEETING ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL ON MONDAY 9^TH NOVEMBER 2009 THAT COMMENCED AT 7.45PM

PRESENT: Cllr Dr. M Dixson – Chairman,

Cllrs. Mrs B Bird, D Gill, Mrs L Reynolds, G Trickey, J Foster, Dr. Jayne Carrington,

C Timbrell, Mrs. S Webb - Clerk. + Wiltshire County Councillor H Greenman and 2

members of the public.

Public Question Time – Mr Weston enquired after the ordered Neighbourhood Watch signs - Not yet received - Clerk to chase - ACTION CLERK

M I N U T E S

176.09.	Apologies for absence. Received from Councillor D Styles
177.09.	Declarations of Interest Personal interests were declared from: Councillor D Gill agenda item 13 (Village Hall) Councillor Jane Carrington - agenda item 6 (Church Lane) Councillor Lindi Reynolds agenda items 4 and 6 (Glenhaven planning application) All stayed and joined in the discussions - No voting was called for.
178.09.	Minutes The Minutes of the meeting held on the 12^th October and the extra-ordinary meeting held on the 22^nd October 2009 previously circulated were signed by the Chairman and adopted as true records.
179.09.	Matters Arising and actions from last minutes. Glenhaven - Cllrs Greenman mentioned that the S106 Agreement monies are to be paid on first occupation and will be paid to Ian Brown who is the Amenities and Countryside Officer for Wiltshire Council. Cllr Greenman agreed to continue to monitor this issue and assured the Parish Council that he has this in hand. ACTION CLLR GREENMAN Following an extra-ordinary meeting of the Parish Council it was resolved to pass comments to Wiltshire Council as stated in the minutes of the meeting held on the 22^nd October 2009 and to instruct Wiltshire Councillor H Greenman to call the application into committee 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. Overhanging trees at Church Road, Lower Common. Reported to Clarence Ref No. 385224 on several occasions - Kristian Price together with the Landscape Officer from Wiltshire Council and Cllr Dixson are to inspect these trees on the 16^th November. Cllr Dixson to report back to committee at next meeting - ACTION CLLR DIXSON. Speed limits - The Chairman briefed members that the two issues in the village that he felt needed reviewing were 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. Traffic calming measures were mentioned as an alternative option. To date, nothing concrete to report to be followed up - ACTION CLLR DIXSON All Weather Footpath – Completion of hard surface from Plough Hill to A350 Traffic Lights. - Cllr Timbrell contacted all three contractors and has secured a fixed price as opposed to re-measurement. - Agenda item. Finance - Clerk contacted Major E Ferguson with a view to carrying out the duties of the Internal Auditor for the financial year 2010/2011 and he has agreed to do this commencing April 2010 at a cost of £100 per annum. This is a saving of £124
180.09	Wiltshire Council report Cllr Howard Greenman reported on the following: · Work will commence on the A429 duel carriageway on the 9^th and 10^th November during the hours of 8pm - 6am. · He 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 to speak to Sue Hart on the position of this issue and report back to council. - ACTION CLERK. This to be an agenda item for December meeting.
181.09.	Planning · Planning Issues · Glenhaven - Cllr Greenman has called the application into the planning committee meeting to be held on the 25^th November. Written comments have been forwarded to Wiltshire Council and the contractor has responded to these comments to the Clerk. Cllr Greenman reported that he had spoken to Simon Smith - Head of Development Control for Wiltshire Council who said that he has noted the differences in both applications pointed out by the Parish Council. It is noted that plot 1 is 3mm wider than that of the application (the only planning issue that could be objected to) and is proposing to erect a conservatory. He also stated that the contractor is not looking to honour the original agreement of the previous application regarding the provision of affordable housing and the s106 Agreement of £7,800. Following discussions, Cllr Greenman was advised to leave the application called in and to lobby Wiltshire Council to carry forward the original conditions in particular the s106 Agreement as the Parish Council are in danger of losing this due to this being a new application. Thanks were relayed to Cllr Greenman for his efforts relating to this issue. · Resurfacing of Church Lane - Cllr Dixson reported that Kristian Price has put this issue forward to the appropriate Wiltshire Council committee for consideration in the 2010/2011 works programme. Cllr Greenman agreed to check that the type of coating specified for the job is appropriate. Cllr Greenman to speak to Cllr Jane Scott - Leader of Wiltshire Council from time to time. ACTION CLLR GREENMAN · NWDC Planning Decisions - N/09/01570/TCA - Tree Felling of 1 Monkey Puzzle & 1 Conifer at Clandooe, Church Lane, K L - Permission granted 27^th October 2009 - N/09/01927/TCA · Planning Applications for consideration - N/09/01904/FUL - Conservatory at Honeywood, Parkers Lane, K L - previously circulated. - It was resolved to support this application - N/09/01927/TCA - Fell Sycamore Tree - Greystones, Upper Common, Kington Langley. - It was resolved to support this application.
182.09.	Chairman’s Business (Cllr Dr. M Dixson) The Chairman briefed members on the following: · Area Board Meeting - Attended this meeting but there was a lack of relevance to Kington Langley. The Fire Officer reported that this is the time of year that all vertical flues should be checked · Planning Workshop - Attended a Wiltshire Council planning workshop. It was noted that Chippenham area is to grow by 33% by 2026. This is decided by Government and Wiltshire Council is instructed to plan developments accordingly. Options are being looked at. The new trunk road is generating some publicity. Cllr Greenman reported that this will be the other side of Birdmarsh. · Bowl Down Farm - Point of Information - Permission has been granted for one dwelling and the access is through the farm. An alternative access being explored is converting the bridleway into a byway. One option not being explored is off byway 34. A planning application is expected.
183.09.	Proposed pull in & Drop Off Zone – School Travel Plan Cllr Reynolds previously circulated a report mentioning the following: Questionnaires have been issued to individual families, staff and class groups. Warning signs designed by pupils may be more visible and attractive. The kerbing still appears to be an issue to some parents and teachers. Other ways of traffic control have been discussed and Heather Barham is to be consulted. A Calne Travel coach is using Kington Langley as a cut through during school leaving times and sometimes at unacceptable speeds. This to be investigated - ACTION CLERK. The school has been informed that the path to the playing field may be used by pupils accompanied by parents or staff to access the school but must be kept locked at all other times. The school will supply two new coded padlocks to reduce the problem of mislaid keys.
184.09.	Speed limits Nothing further to report - see minute 179.09
185.09.	All Weather Footpath – Completion of hard surface from Plough Hill to A350 Traffic Lights. Cllr Timbrell prepared and distributed the following report. Background The all-weather footpath was constructed in 2002/3 and links the village school with the western end of Plough Lane. The section of footpath from the school to the sharp bend at the top of Plough Lane Hill was finished with a tarmac surface called Natratex. At the time of construction, there were insufficient funds to complete this on the remainder of the path and it was left with a temporary ‘hogging’ surface. It was intended to complete the Natratex surface at a later date when funds permitted. Whilst the underlying structure of the un-surfaced footpath remains sound at the moment, there has been a significant deterioration in the hogging layer which has left larger stones exposed at the surface making it uneven and uncomfortable to walk on. In addition, this breakdown in the temporary surface is allowing weather and water to penetrate which is putting the foundations of the path at risk .At previous meetings the Council decided that we should include work to complete the surfacing of the footpath in our list of high-priority projects. We also resolved to obtain quotations for the work from suitable contractors and to explore the raising of a loan from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) to meet the cost. Costs I have requested and received quotations from three reputable companies. All of the contractors come with good references and I recommend that the Council accepts the lowest bid of £20,383.92 from Thornbury Surfacing. A loan to cover this cost can be made available from the PWLB. If we choose a repayment period of 13 years the annual repayment will be approximately £2000. (The exact figure will depend upon the interest rate in force when we sign up for the loan). Proposal I propose that the Council should a) resolve to complete the surfacing of the all-weather footpath b) request the Clerk to write to Thornbury Surfacing accepting their fixed price quotation of £20,383.92 c) request the Clerk to arrange a loan from the PWLB for £20,400.00 repayable by annuity over 13 years. Thanks were relayed to Cllr Timbrell for all his time and efforts he has directed into this project. The Chairman pointed out to members that if the above proposals are supported, due to the outstanding loan with annual payments of £3,700, to complete the millennium footpath it will be necessary to take out a further loan of £20,400 for a period of 13 years with annual repayments of £2,000. There will be an overlap of paying two loans at £5,700 per annum until February 2013 (3 years) when the outstanding loan finishes. This will show a drop in council’s reserves for this period. Once the original loan is paid in February 2013, it is intended to start to build up the Parish Council’s reserves to a healthier level. During discussions, comments and indications made were · The completion of the footpath represents the unscheduled type of fundamental requirement for which council creates reserves · Choices are that council allows an important investment (the footpath) to devalue significantly or to run with a lower (but not insignificant) reserve for a short period. Following lengthy discussions it was proposed, seconded and carried by 7 votes for and 1 against to · Complete the surfacing of the footpath · Accept the quotation of £20,383.92 · Request the Clerk to arrange a loan from the Public Works Loan Board for £20,400 repayable by annuity over 13 years. It was noted that these figures will show in the draft budget (minute No. 186.09) CLLR CARRINGTON LEFT AT THIS POINT
186.09.	Budget for F/Y 2010/2011 a) Grant Application from the Playing Field Association (PFA) - Following the upgrading of the resurfacing of the children’s play area, another request from the PFA to include a grant of £1000 into the 2010/11 budget for the resurfacing of the toddlers play area has been received. The Chairman explained that the PFA has received grant aid totalling £1,850 during this financial year. It had been noted that an overpayment of £500 has been made. Following discussions it was resolved that the PFA keep the overpayment of £500 and it be noted as an additional grant for their new appeal for further upgrade to the toddlers play area made in this financial year and a further payment of £850 be incorporated into the budget for the financial year 2010/11. b) Draft Budget for 2010/2011 - The Clerk had previously circulated a draft budget to all members for consideration. This was carefully scrutinised by all members present. The proposed showed an income of £40,003 which includes a stand still precept of £19,038 and a PWL of £20,400. Payments proposed are as follows: Parish Admin - £8,160, Maintenance - £3,265, Projects - £20,500, Grants to village organisations - £1,100, Donations - £290, Subscriptions - £429, Loan repayments - £5,700 - totalling £39,444 leaving an estimated reserve of £6,142. Agreed adjustments are - Parish Admin Audit from £265 to £350 - total admin £8,245, Maintenance General - from £500 to £250 total maintenance - £3,015. Budget now totalling £39,279 giving an estimated reserve of £6,307. It was proposed by Cllr Gill, seconded by cllr Foster and carried to accept and support the proposed 2010/2011 budget with the above adjustments and to levy Wiltshire Council to pay a precept of £19,038.00 for the financial year 2010/2011.
187.09.	Church Bends Footpath Cllr Trickey reported that the Wiltshire Council grant had been received. A contractor has been appointed and a meeting is being arranged with Wessex Water, the Contractor and himself. He assured members that the project will have started and possibly finished before the end of March 2010 which is when the grant money needs to have been used.
188.09.	Kington Langley Village Hall The Chairman mentioned that a copy of un-audited accounts has been received and therefore the grant of £650 for this financial year will be released. It was noted that the Village Hall are holding very healthy reserves which reflect on the 2010/2011 budget. Cllr Gill reported that the Village Hall has applied for an Alcohol licence and although confident in being successful nothing official had yet been received.
189.09.	Finance The Clerk reported on the following transactions since last meeting: Receipts: £45 Payments: £2,357.90 Transfers: £2000 from savings to current account Direct Debits: none. All the above was noted.
190.09.	Correspondence received a) Letter from W C requesting information when intending to apply for a road closure b) Notification of receipt of Inspectors’ Report and Adoption of Wiltshire and Swindon Minerals and Waste Development Control Policies DPDs. c) Update from PCSC Norman Webster - circulated All the above was noted.
191.09.	Agenda Items for meeting 7^th December 2009 · Parking at the Hit or Mill Public House · Calendar of meetings for 2010

Meeting closed at 10.02pm