MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 10TH JANUARY 2006
AT LYNEHAM VILLAGE HALL

Cllr M Petch (Chairman)
Cllr K Pearce (Vice-Chairman)
Cllr F Ball Cllr I Plested Cllr D Bunney Cllr P Potter
Cllr J Jardine Cllr D Turner Cllr P Lightowler Cllr T Webb
Cllr C Pearce Mrs J S Copp - Parish Clerk

Wing Commander Faulkes.

District Councillor A Bucknell; Squadron Leader Martin Young and Miss L Mitchell (RAF representatives) Item 4 only; Eight members of the public

The Chairman announced that District Councillor Elford had resigned.
He requested and it was generally agreed that Item 13 ‘To Consider Council’s Own Website’ be considered in confidential session.
The Meeting started at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies:

Apologies for absence were received from Wing Commander Faulkes.

2: Minutes of Last Meeting:

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 13th December 2005 - these having been circulated were signed as a true record of the meeting.

3: Register of Interests under the Parish Councils (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2001:

4: RAF Matters:

a) To welcome the RAF Representative - The Chairman welcomed Squadron Leader Martin Young.

Squadron Leader Young reported that boundaries and land ownerships were still being investigated. It was intended to install a cycle track/access route on MOD land. There is to be a tidy up at the skate park.

b) To receive questions on RAF matters - Mr Humm requested an update on the mobile skateboard facility and was told that there had been no progress as yet.

The Chairman thanked Squadron Leader Young for attending the meeting.

5. Public Questions:

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

“That Council Standing Orders be suspended to allow members of the public to speak.”

B4069 Bradenstoke Junction Mrs Smith believed it would be safer if the hedge at the B4069 Bradenstoke junction was reduced. The Chairman explained that nothing could be done since the owner kept the hedge within her boundary. It was also suggested that a mirror be sited at the junction. However the Chairman said this had already been put forward but the county council would not support mirrors due to insurance problems.

Bus Shelter Mrs Smith also requested that a bus shelter be provided at the entrance to Lillybrook Estate . Since the current one was not being used, perhaps it could be moved there. The Clerk is to make enquiries. Action: Clerk

Council website - Mr Humm was concerned that the Council did not waste money setting up a website when there was already a village website free of charge for Council use. The Chairman said the matter would be discussed in confidential session but Mr Humm’s concerns had been noted.

Slessor Road Shelter With regard to the Slessor Road shelter Miss Mitchell said that the District Council would not enter into correspondence regarding emptying a litter bin if the RAF provided one. Cllr Bucknell agreed to look into this. She also agreed to check if the road sweeper had visited Bradenstoke. The hedge at Preston Lane mentioned at previous meetings had still not been cut back. The Clerk is to seek progress on this item. Action: Clerk

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

“That Council Standing Orders be reinstated.”

6. Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Purchase of Lyneham Green - update - awaiting final papers from solicitor

b) Litter problems - sponsorship of bin - awaiting information from the District Council.

c) Youth Club - correspondence re. attendance at council meetings - Awaiting information from Mrs Boyd.

d) Update on lights suggested for Bradenstoke T junction - no response had been received from the consultation letter or the item in the Bugle. The Clerk had negotiated a ten per cent discount on the cost of the lights and the County Council had provided written agreement to maintain the lights for two years. Cllr Bucknell warned that any grant aid provided by the District Council could not be awarded if the project had been progressed and the first opportunity to apply for grant aid would be in May or June.

IT WAS MOVED COUNCILLOR JARDINE SECONDED COUNCILLOR BALL AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

“To purchase three solar/wind powered lights from Marlec Engineering Co. including delivery and installation as previously considered for the sum of £9,395-20 + VAT , to be placed at the B4069 Bradenstoke junction, the date of purchase to be dependent on the result of a grant application to North Wiltshire District Council in May/June.”

The Clerk is to offer Marlec a deposit to hold the agreed price and discount. Action: Clerk

7: Planning:

05/02882/FUL Lilybrook House, Bowds Lane, Lyneham - It was agreed to seek a new set of plans. Action: Clerk

b) Works to 111 Chippenham Road, Lyneham - Plans were being sought from the restaurant’s solicitor.

c) WCC: Waste Development document - Issues and Options Report - It was generally agreed not to comment on this document.

d) Meetings with planning applicants - Westlea Housing Development - the Chairman, Cllr Ball and Cllr Potter attended the site meeting on 14th December and the Chairman gave an outline of the proposed development of ten units. Westlea had promised to ask residents’ opinions before making an application.

8: Highway Matters & Transport:

a) Purchase of seat for Bradenstoke bus shelter - The Vice-Chairman would inform the Clerk of the delivery address for the seat. Action: Cllr K Pearce

b) To replace broken post at memorial cenotaph - A post had been donated by Mr Sam Wright and had now been installed. The Council was grateful to Mr Wright.

c) Other maintenance issues - Cllr Lightowler reported that whilst building works are taking place at Church End Cottage a vehicle is being parked partly in the road and partly on the pavement outside the cottage, slowing down traffic and obstructing the path for pedestrians. It was agreed to write to County Highways to check the legality of this. Action: Clerk

9: Play Areas & Open Spaces:

a) Extension/relocation of play area: play area strategy by Working Party Cllrs Plested and Lightowler would present a scheme at the next meeting. They apologised for the delay.

b) Play areas:

i) Repairs - update - The Chairman had checked the works had been completed and the Clerk is to pay the balance of the costs. Action: Clerk

ii) Future inspections - It was generally agreed that the Council would undertake its own inspections for the time being and the Clerk is to draw up an inspection programme. Action: Clerk

c) Ditch clearance alongside play area - A written quotation for the works had been received from Mr K Iles for £500 but it was generally agreed to leave the works for the present.

d) To consider details of grass cutting contract for 2006 season -

IT WAS MOVED CLLR C PEARCE, SECONDED THE VICE-CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To add the cutting of grassed areas at Lyneham and Bradenstoke churchyards and Hoppy Clark‘s Corner to the Council’s specification and to seek quotations for the same standard and frequency of cuts as the previous season"

An official agreement is to be drawn up between the Council and the Lyneham and Bradenstoke churches. The Clerk is to seek quotations for the grass cutting. Action: Clerk

10: Reports of Meetings Attended :

No meetings had been attended

11: Finance & Administration:

a) Accounts and Budget update and payment of invoices – The update was noted.

IT WAS MOVED CLLR C PEARCE, SECONDED THE VICE-CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To approve for payment the accounts as follows:" 10/01/06

b) Council bank: change of signatories - Cllr Turner completed the Bank Mandate. The Clerk is to remind signatories to provide proof of identity before the next meeting. Action: Clerk/All

c) Receipt of Requests for Grant Aid - Grass cutting at churchyards - This item had been dealt with under Item 9 d).

15: Correspondence received:

b) Actions to be taken:
Questionnaire on Public Toilet Facilities - the Council completed the questionnaire.
Request bus shelter Lillybrook Estate - this item had already been dealt with earlier in the meeting.

16: Allotments:

a) Water supply - Awaiting information.

b) Works to the old footpath - Cllr Pearce reported that the work had been completed.

c) Update - No response had been received from the tenant of half of Plot 10b. The Clerk is to write again. Action: Clerk

17: Councillors’ Observations & Items for Next Meeting: :

[Top]

Cllr Plested reported that two youths were breaking into the refuse compound and breaking open the bags. The Chairman advised him to keep a diary and report the matter to NWDC.
Cllr Turner complained about rubbish lying in the lane near the chapel and the Chairman said that he would clean it up. She also mentioned residents who dumped rubbish down the side of their house. The Chairman informed her that nothing could be done about it.
Cllr Potter mentioned an overgrown hedge in a property down Bowds Lane and Cllr Bucknell said she would report this. She reported that a number of enforcement issues were still progressing, but slowly.

18: Date of Next Meeting:

Confidential item

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY

“That in accordance with the provisions of Section 100 A4 of the Local Government Act 1972 that the public be excluded for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 7 and 8 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

13: To consider Council’s own website

The matter was discussed in full.

The meeting closed at 9.45 pm