MINUTES OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2007
AT LYNEHAM VILLAGE HALL

Cllr M Petch (Chairman)
Cllr J Jardine (Vice-Chair)
Cllr F Ball
Cllr D Bunney
Cllr P Lightowler
Cllr P Potter
Cllr T Webb
Cllr K Witts
Mrs J S Copp - Parish Clerk

Councillor D Turner

District Councillors A Bucknell and J Webb, Wing Commander Collinson and Squadron Leader Rea (Item 4 only), Miss Lisa Mitchell, MOD PC Jarra Brown (Item 5 only), PCs Porter and Singfield (Item 5 only) and one member of the public.

The Meeting started at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Turner.

2: Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 9th January 2007:

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 9th January 2007 IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED CLLR POTTER AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "That the minutes be signed as a true record of the meeting."

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

4: RAF Matters:

a) To welcome RAF representatives - The Chairman welcomed Wing Commander Dave Collinson and Squadron Leader Rea to the meeting.

Responsibility for MOD land - Wg Cdr Collinson spoke on this matter.

A letter of complaint re. The Quarters environment had been received from Mrs Wright. Squadron Leader Rea responded as follows:
Debris from hedge cutting - this had now been cleared.
Litter clearance - this is not the RAF’s responsibility.
Flooding of the stream area - this was flooded at the weekend. It is not known quite what the problem was but it was not flooded on Monday.
Dog bins - there seem to be quite a few in the area. Wing Commander Collinson commented that the RAF does its best where it can. The Clerk is to write back to Mrs Wright.
Home Front Initiative - a meeting would be held at 10 am on Tuesday 27th February at RAF Lyneham and the Chairman and Cllr Potter agreed to attend. Action: Cllrs Petch/Potter

b) To receive questions on RAF matters: Overgrown bushes adjacent to old NAAFI building - Wg Cdr Collinson said he would check the responsibility for these.

On behalf of the Council the Chairman thanked Wg Cdr Collinson and Squadron Leader Rea.

5. To Receive Public Questions:

Introduction of new Community Police - the two Police Constables introduced themselves. They said they are tackling various problems connected with local youths and they detailed steps being taken. In addition local surgeries would be organised. There had also been an alcohol related incident the previous week and the police were to look at present licensing arrangements.

6. Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Update on lights at Bradenstoke T junction - The Chairman and Cllr Ball are to change the hours on the timers. Action: Cllrs Petch/Ball

b) Notice board repairs - Cllr Bunney had put up the notice board. The Chairman agreed to remove the old board. Action: Cllr Petch

c) Further consideration of Council’s own website - The site is up but Cllr Lightowler had not yet added information. He would liase with the Clerk to do so. Action: Cllr Lightowler/Clerk

d) Request for memorial bench for Mr Stanley Taylor - In hand.

e) Ditch clearance adjacent to Pound Close - Cllr Webb would progress this. Action: Cllr Webb

f) Request for CCTV for Lyneham - District Cllr Bucknell updated members. However it was generally agreed not to take this any further.

9: Planning:

a) Update on recent planning applications - The Chairman reported on recent applications.

Appendix.
04/00095: Enforcement Notice re. Dogs and kennelling at 67 The Folly - The notice has been complied with and the file would now be closed.

b) NWDC: Draft Affordable Housing SPD (Consultation) January 2007: this was noted.

10. Highway Matters & Transport:

a) Request for bus shelter at entrance to Lillybrook Estate - Mr Burchell had provided an alternative design by English Garden Carpentry for the sum of £6,500 + VAT and requested that the Council consider providing this rather than the Heritage shelter by Glasdon which would cost £6,437 including installation + VAT.

IT WAS MOVED CLLR POTTER, SECONDED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "To accept the bus shelter design provided by English Garden Carpentry quoted at £6,500 + VAT to pass to Wiltshire County Council for approval."

However there were concerns that the wooden structure could be vandalised.

It was noted that Mr Burchell had generously offered to put in the foundations and in addition to donate the sum of £1,500 towards the cost of the shelter .

b) Vandalism to Preston Lane bus shelter and seat - the resident who had offered to lift the bench could not do so after all and Cllr Webb offered to take this on and to move the bench to its new site. He would liase with Mr Harper. Action: Cllr Webb

c) WCC: Works by Parish Steward - The works undertaken by the Steward in December and January were noted. Cllr Bucknell agreed to request the road sweeper for the local area.

d) Overgrown footpath from Preston Lane to Slessor Road play area - Awaiting a response from Annington Homes.

e) Query regarding school transport pick-up points - Cllr Bucknell had received a response from WCC as follows:

a) pick up points do not have to have a bus stop;
b) pick up points do not have to have a shelter, and
c) WCC Passenger Transport Unit designates the pick up point.

f) Other maintenance issues: State of Farthing Lane - Cllr Bucknell reported that Cllr Potter had already cleaned the road but it would have to be swept again. Cllr Potter pointed out that WCC should clear the drain at the side of the road.

11: Play Areas and Open Spaces:

a) Play area strategy - The Vice-Chair reported on progress with the goal end project considered earlier in the year. YELL had now been awarded grant aid of £8,480 towards the total cost of £11,867 and the Council’s sub committee recommended that the Council grant £3,387 to make up the shortfall. Councillors suggested to Miss Mitchell that she investigate the possibility of recovery of VAT and she agreed to do so.

IT WAS MOVED CLLR LIGHTOWLER, SECONDED THE VICE-CHAIR AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "To award grant aid of £3,387 to YELL towards the cost of providing goal ends at the Slessor Road Playing Fields."

Miss Mitchell had also requested consideration of grant funding towards the cost of a lighting bollard at the same play area but this required further consideration by the sub-committee.

b) Play area - litter bin - Cllr Lightowler would deal with this. Action: Cllr Lightowler

c) Vandalism to barrier between Bradenstoke Play Area and Allotments - The Chairman would deal with this matter shortly. The Bradenstoke notice board had been vandalised and he would repair this also. Action: Cllr Petch

d) Quotations for sign at Bradenstoke play area entrance - The signs had been ordered from System Signs. It had been suggested that there should be a fine for non-compliance with the rules and the dog warden had agreed to look at the play area and contact the Clerk with advice on this. In the meantime the printing of the sign should be halted. Action: Clerk

12: Finance and Administration:

a) Accounts update and payment of invoices – IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED CLLR POTTER AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "To approve payment of the accounts as follows:"

b) Audit: Objection raised by Mr R J Wright re. Purchase of Lyneham Green - Mr Wright’s further letter to the Auditor was considered. However it was generally agreed to make no more comments in response. Mr Wright had again mentioned the bushes planted on the Green and it was agreed to speak with the WCC solicitor about this complaint. Action: Clerk

13: Correspondence Received:

a) To review the list:

b) Actions to be taken : Request for info on new lighting system - the information had been given.

14: Allotments:

a) Monthly update - Nothing to report

15: Councillors' Observations & Items for Next Meeting:

The Vice-Chair reported that Viridor lorries were still seen on the Chippenham Road and it was agreed to write again to Viridor. The Vice-Chair requested that a dog bin be acquired for the Chippenham Road. It was stated that a bin was already sited there and the Vice-Chair agreed to check. Cllr Potter commented that when he had seen the Parish Steward he had noticed that he did not appear to have a road safety jacket.

16: Date of Next Meeting:

Tuesday 13th March 2007 at 7 pm at Lyneham Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.17 pm