MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2006
AT BRADENSTOKE VILLAGE HALL

Cllr M Petch (Chairman)
Cllr D Bunney, Cllr P Potter
Cllr J Jardine, Cllr D Turner
Cllr P Lightowler, Cllr T Webb
Mrs J S Copp - Parish Clerk

Councillor F Ball and District Councillor A Bucknell

Wing Commander Faulkes and Miss L Mitchell (RAF representatives) Item 5 only; Three members of the public

The Meeting started at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies:

Apologies for absence were received from Parish Councillor F Ball and District Councillor A Bucknell

2: Minutes of Last Meeting:

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 10th January 2006 - 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: To declare three council vacancies:

The Chairman announced with regret the resignation of Councillors Cyril and Ken Pearce and Ian Plested who were all leaving for personal reasons. Members agreed that they would be greatly missed.

It was noted that a new Vice-Chairman should be elected at the next meeting

5. RAF Matters:

a) To welcome the RAF Representatives - The Chairman welcomed Wing Commander Faulkes and Miss Mitchell.

Wing Commander Faulkes said there was nothing to report on previous issues at present but that she had spoken with the Principal Traffic Officer with regard to speeding traffic. He had explained that resources were fairly limited but said he would take the information back to Wiltshire County Council.

Miss Mitchell was trying to get rubbish at the youth shelter collected by North Wiltshire District Council but they had refused. It was agreed to write supporting Miss Mitchell. Action:Clerk

b) To receive questions on RAF matters - It was requested that a notice be put up asking people to keep off the grass on the area by the Bradenstoke junction where a wild flower meadow was growing. Wing Commander Faulkes said that a notice advising people of the wild flower meadow could be put up. It was further asked if snowdrops and other bulbs could be planted behind the bench at Hoppy Clark’s Corner where daffodils were already growing. The Wing Commander said it would be best to liaise directly with the site estate representative. Cllr Potter asked if the hedge could be cut at the end of the year instead of early in the year and was told that the contractors could not guarantee when this would be done since they had to fit it in with other work.

The Chairman thanked the RAF representatives for attending the meeting.

6. To Receive Public Questions:

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:
“That Council Standing Orders be suspended to allow members of the public to speak.”

Mr Webb spoke on the need for further double white lines and the Chairman suggested that he should speak with the county council about this.

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:
“That Council Standing Orders be reinstated.”

7: Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Purchase of Lyneham Green - update - Land Registry required a more up to date map and the Chairman agreed to complete this. Action: Cllr Petch

Community First had requested photographs of Lyneham Green for an article and Ian Plested had kindly provided these.

b) Litter problems - sponsorship of bin - North Wiltshire District Council had not responded to the Clerk‘s request. Members believed the bin at Preston Lane had not been replaced and the Clerk is to contact NWDC again since she was concerned that the offered sponsorship may be lost. Action: Clerk

c) Youth Club - correspondence re. attendance at council meetings - Mrs Boyd had explained that the youths were busy with exam course work at this time of year and were not attending the club. She had asked for information on parish councils and the Clerk had provided this.

d) Update on lights suggested for Bradenstoke T junction - The Clerk had negotiated an agreement with Marlec to hold the agreed price and discount without the need to pay a holding deposit.

e) Hedge at Preston Lane - No response had been received from United Land Holdings and therefore the Clerk had contacted Wiltshire County Council who had agreed to speak with the company and had promised that if necessary the county council would trim back the hedge.

8: Planning:

b) Works to 111 Chippenham Road, Lyneham - Plans had now been provided and the Chairman marked in the area of concern. The Clerk is to write to the restaurant stating that the mound of earth must be removed. Action: Clerk

c) Proposed Westlea housing development - nothing to report.

d) Boundary Review proposals - The Chairman reported that he had attended a Planning Committee meeting at NWDC and that the boundary proposals made in 2003 would be progressed.

e) North Wiltshire District Council: Core Strategy Development Plan - Wiltshire County Council’s papers on this had been considered the previous month.

9: Highway Matters & Transport:

a) Purchase of seat for Bradenstoke bus shelter - The Pearce brothers had kindly agreed to install the seat when it arrived.

b) Obstruction of traffic outside Church End Cottage - County council officer Phil Hutchins advised that this was a police matter since the vehicle was forming an obstruction. Action: Clerk However he would look into the matter himself since the highway could be damaged.

c) Request for bus shelter at entrance to Lillybrook Estate - The owners of the estate were prepared to have a bus shelter placed on the land adjacent to the entrance and would be willing to make a contribution towards costs.

Cllr Bucknell had approached the county council about bus shelters/stops and a reply was awaited. The Clerk is to check the progress on this and explain the delay to the Lillybrook Estate. Action Clerk

c) Other maintenance issues -

i) road sweeper visit to Braden stoke - this has been done.
ii) visit by Parish Lengths men - grips and gullies had been cleared.

They had suggested that the Vactor should visit Preston Lane and the work was in hand.

10: Play Area & Open Spaces:

a) Extension/relocation of play area: play area strategy by Working Party Cllr Lightowler presented a paper for members to consider before the next meeting. He advised that the Council should work with the Defence agency for the development of play areas and he had already spoken with Miss Mitchell about this. She confirmed that the MOD play areas had regular play equipment inspections.

It was generally agreed to discuss this matter at the next meeting and in the meantime the Chairman thanked the working party for their efforts.

b) Play areas: future inspections - the Clerk had drawn up an inspection programme for members to use on three-monthly checks. The Clerk is to draw up a rota. Action: All/Clerk

It was noted that Mr & Mrs Palmer who lived adjacent to Bradenstoke play area would cut back the leylandii hedge the following week.

Ms Mitchell announced that the YELL AGM would be held on 6th March at 7.30 pm in the HIVE Community Centre.

c) Grass cutting:

i) update on Agreement with local Church - the Clerk is to draft an Agreement. Action: Clerk

ii) To consider placing contract for 2006 season - Mr Kingdon had asked that the Council should reconsider the standard of the contract for the new season since he believed the quality had been poor in 2005. His comments were noted and the Clerk is to write to thank him. Action: Clerk

Three quotations had been received but since then Mr Harper had requested the opportunity to quote for the Bradenstoke churchyard. Therefore the Clerk is to seek an amended quotation from each of the contractors. Action: Clerk

11: Reports of meetings attended:

No meetings had been attended

12: Finance & Administration:

a) Accounts and Budget update and payment of invoices – The Clerk reported that MacVenture had lost the Council’s payment and the Clerk had stopped the cheque at a cost of £7.50. The Clerk is to seek reimbursement. Action: Clerk

IT WAS MOVED CLLR WEBB, SECONDED CLLR JARDINE AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:
"To approve for payment the accounts as follows:"

b) Cost for internal audit services for year 2005 - 2006 - RBS Auditing would charge £340 + VAT for internal audit this year, an increase of £20 on the previous year.
IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED CLLR LIGHTOWLER AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:
"To accept the quotation of £340 + VAT from RBS Auditing for internal audit 2005/06 :"

c) Receipt of requests for grant aid - There were no requests for grant aid.

13: NWDC: Draft Equalities and Diversity Policy - parish consultation:

It was generally agreed to make no comment

14: Correspondence Received:

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a) To review the list:

b) Actions to be taken: It was asked if there were any plans to extend traffic calming by roundabout at Preston Lane - it was felt that the roundabout did slow traffic in this area. The Clerk is to write back. The complaint re the other village website was noted. The Council had done its best in the past to rectify false allegations without success.

15: Allotments:

16: Councillors’ observations & items for next meeting:

Cllr Bunney reported that the notice board by the church required a renovation and he offered to look into the problem. This was agreed. Action: Cllr Bunney

Cllr Jardine reported further problems with the speed of traffic at Frying Pan Bottom when contractors operating manual traffic signs had found this to be very dangerous around the fast moving traffic. It was agreed to inform the county council. Action: Clerk

Cllr Turner asked if there had been any progress in dealing with the problems at the bus depot. The Clerk is to ask the district council. Action: Clerk

The Chairman reported that he had cleared the litter mentioned at the previous meeting but that it had been just as bad the following day.

Cllr Lightowler remained concerned about the parking problems around Piggys Café and asked if the double yellow lines could be repainted. It was agreed to write. Action: Clerk

17: Date of Next Meeting

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Date of Next Meeting Tuesday 14th March 2006 at 7 pm at Lyneham Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.45 pm