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

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

Parish Councillors D Bunney and P Lightowler and from Wing Commander Faulkes

District Councillors A Bucknell and J Webb, Squadron Leader Young (RAF representative -Item 6 only), two members of the public

The Meeting started at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies:

Apologies for absence were received from Parish Councillors D Bunney and P Lightowler and from Wing Commander Faulkes.

2: Minutes of Last Meeting:

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 14th February 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 elect Council Vice-Chairman:

It was agreed to defer this item to the next meeting

5. Casual Vacancies:

An election was not required. Notices of vacancies had been posted.

6. RAF Matters:

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

Sqn Ldr Young reported as follows:
A3102 Calne Road -We have made some progress since the last meeting with the WCC Highways Dept at the end of January. We have received a written reply which indicates that the Council have discussed the idea with the Police of reducing the speed limit near the B site entrance to 40 mph. No decision had been made but additional signs and road markings were being considered.
Possible footpath from Slessor Road families quarters to B site entrance - Two options being costed and designed - neither are straightforward and may involve constructing a small footbridge across the stream. One involves a 200m footpath running parallel to the road to the existing entrance - the other would involve a shorter path and a new pedestrian entrance to B site.
Youth Shelter litter bin - Now installed - being emptied by RAF's contractors at the moment.
Ownership of land (C Site entrance past Melsome Place) - Still to be resolved - WCC have asked their Land Charges Section to confirm from historical records.
TV News Item - No final decisions have been made regarding the future of Lyneham after the Hercules transfer to Brize Norton. The Joint Helicopter Command is one of the options being considered by the MOD as a potential user (this is a Joint Army/RAF/Navy organisation which operates the majority of military helicopters in the UK).

The Chairman thanked Sqn Ldr Young for his report.

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

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

b) To receive questions on RAF matters - Cllr Turner requested information on the closure of the old Naafi building and was told that it was unlikely that the Scouts would be asked to leave until the end of December. It was reported that there were loose pipes to the rear of the building since the last contractors had left and Sqn Ldr Young said he would speak with the new contractor. There was no progress with regard to the C site gate as yet. A copy of a letter sent to residents had been received which warned of construction work to be undertaken in or around the car park near the main gate within the next two months.

Sqn Leader Young left the meeting.

7: Public Questions:

To Receive Public Questions:
Mrs Lee asked if a sign could be placed at the entrance to Bradenstoke warning drivers of large wheel-based lorries of the restricted access. Cllr Bucknell offered to liase with the Clerk on this.
Mr Humm asked if the mobile skateboard facility could be loaned to the area. Cllr Potter suggested that the site used by the fair could be used and District Cllr Webb said he would make enquiries and report back to the Clerk.

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

8. Matters Arising from Previous Meeting

a) Purchase of Lyneham Green - update - Land Registry would send a further map.

b) Litter problems

i) sponsorship of bin - It was now North Wiltshire District Council policy not to install any new bins since the council could not afford to empty them. Viridor had agreed to put a hold on the offer of sponsorship.

ii) collection from youth shelter bin - the Clerk had put Ms Mitchell in touch with Cllr Bucknell.

c) Update on lights suggested for Bradenstoke T junction

i) correspondence - a letter of approval had been received from resident Mrs Stead.

ii) petition for funding - District Cllr Webb had organised a petition requesting funding for the lighting from Wiltshire County Council and he was awaiting further information. He had also applied to North Wiltshire District Council and said that the grant forms were now available. The Clerk is to investigate this. Action: Clerk

d) Hedge at Preston Lane - The hedge had been trimmed back.

e) Notice board repairs - Cllr Bunney was looking into the repair work and the Chairman was seeking permission to move the board to the Library wall.

9: Planning:

b) Works to 111 Chippenham Road, Lyneham - Further plans had been provided and the owner offered to attend a site meeting. It was generally agreed that the Chairman, Cllr Potter and Cllr Webb should attend. The Clerk is to arrange the meeting. Action: Cllrs Petch/Potter/Webb

c) North Wiltshire District Council: Core Strategy Development Plan - The Chairman agreed to look at the papers and report back. Action: Cllr Petch

d) North Wiltshire District Council - Planning training sessions - The Chairman and Cllr Ball agreed to attend on 19th April. Action: Cllrs Petch/Ball

10: Highway Matters & Transport:

a) Purchase of seat for Bradenstoke bus shelter - The seat had been installed. It was agreed to thank the Pearce brothers. Action: Clerk

b) Obstruction of traffic outside Church End Cottage - PC Porter was to speak with the vehicle’s owner.

c) Request for bus shelter at entrance to Lillybrook Estate - Both the bus contractor and Wiltshire County Council had indicated their approval of the bus stop being moved and grant aid from the county council could be sought. The Clerk is to obtain a quotation for a 3 - 4 bay shelter in the same style as the one purchased for Bradenstoke, the site to be agreed with the Lillybrook Estate owner, the county council and the bus company. Action: Clerk

d) Update on bus depot problems - Cllr Bucknell detailed the progress on this.

e) Correspondence with WCC re. Speed limit at The Folly/parking in vicinity of Piggy’s Café - The speed restriction on the A3102 is on the list to be reviewed on 22nd March. The request for repainting the yellow lines in Pound Close has been passed to the maintenance department.

f) Other maintenance issues - visit by Parish Lengthsmen - the Lengthsmen would visit Lyneham on 3 - 4 April.

11: Play Area & Open Spaces:

a) Extension/relocation of play area: play area strategy by Working Party It was agreed to defer this item until Cllr Lightowler was present.

b) Grass cutting:

i) Update on Agreement with local Church - in hand. Action: Clerk

ii) To place contract for 2006 season - Quotations for the grass cutting in Bradenstoke churchyard were as follows:

Ron Harper - £540 pa = £1,620 for 3 years
Envisage - 1st yr £600, 2nd yr £618, 3rd yr £637 = £1855 for 3 years + VAT
K Iles - 1st yr £840, 2nd yr £840, 3rd yr £860 = £2,540 for 3 years
Landscape & Ground Maintenance - 1st yr £720, 2nd yr £738, 3rd yr £756 = £2214 for 3 years + VAT

IT WAS MOVED CLLR WEBB, SECONDED CLLR POTTER AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To place a three-year contract for the grass cutting in Bradenstoke churchyard with Mr Ron Harper for the sum of £540 per year and £1,620 for three years."

Quotations for the remainder of the grass cutting were as follows:

Envisage - 1st yr £3,676, 2nd yr £3,787, 3rd yr £3,900 = £11,363 for 3 yrs + VAT
K Iles - 1st yr £4,440, 2nd yr £4,440, 3rd yr £4,540 = £13,420 for 3 years
Landscape & Ground Maintenance - 1st yr £7,200, 2nd yr £7,380, 3rd yr £7,564 = £22,144 for 3 years + VAT
All quotations included twelve cuts per season, plus strimming around graves and other works.
Members felt obliged to accept the cheapest quotation due to justification of costs.

IT WAS MOVED CLLR POTTER, SECONDED CLLR JARDINE AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To place a three-year grass cutting contract for all areas for which the Parish Council is responsible, with the exception of Bradenstoke churchyard, with Envisage for the sum of £11,363 for three years + VAT."

c) Petition re. State of hedge and ditch adjacent to Bradenstoke play area - A petition had been received from residents seeking the cutting back of a hedge and ditch adjacent to the play area. The Chairman had investigated and found that the hedge required cutting and layering but this could not be done until 1st August due to birds nesting in the hedge. With regard to the ditch he had found no blockages and the water was draining away freely. He felt that although it looked untidy at present it would improve when new growth came through. It was generally agreed to inform the residents that the Parish Council would make this a project for the following winter. Action: Clerk

12: Reports of meetings attended:

The Chairman had attended a site meeting at the new Bradenstoke bus shelter with a company representative and he had been shown photographs of the shelter which he had agreed could be used in the company brochure.

13: Finance & Administration:

a) Accounts and Budget update and payment of invoices – The Clerk reported that MacVenture had refunded the fee of £7.50 which had been paid to stop the lost cheque.

IT WAS MOVED CLLR WEBB, SECONDED CLLR JARDINE AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To approve payment of the accounts as follows:" 14/03

b) Receipt of requests for grant aid - Bradenstoke Village Hall
A grant of £1,000 was requested towards the cost of roof repairs. It was generally agreed to defer consideration of this to the following month when there would be a clearer picture of fund balances. Action: Clerk

14: Wiltshire County Council - Revising the Strategy for Wiltshire:

The Chairman and Cllr Ball agreed to look at the papers and report back to the next meeting. Action: Cllrs Petch/Ball

15: NWDC: Review of District Wards:

[Top]

District Councillor Bucknell spoke on this item. At present Lyneham is a two-councillor ward but the proposal is to add in ten or eleven extra communities to put into a three-councillor ward. She was asking residents to write complaining at this proposal. It was generally agreed that a letter of complaint should be written, stating that the Parish Council maintained its original view that there should be one councillor per ward and it was believed the new proposal was unworkable.
Action: Clerk

16: Correspondence Received:

17: Allotments:

a) Water supply - Awaiting information.

b) Update - The Chairman had checked the allotments and found them to be very tidy.

18: Councillors’ observations & items for next meeting:

[Top]

Cllr Turner reported that the District Council had cut back the hedge in the Webbs Court/Pound Close area but had not taken any further action. District Cllr Bucknell said she would check out the situation.
Cllr Webb asked if the footpath opposite Lyneham Village Hall could be completed. The Clerk is to ask.
The Chairman had received a query about a pedestrian being chastised for walking on what is believed to be common land.
The Chairman had also received a query re the possibility of purchasing a piece of land to be used as open space for fetes, funfairs and so on.

19. Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 11th April 2006 at 7 pm at Lyneham Village Hall.

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.

20: To consider Council’s own website: Awaiting further information

The meeting closed at 9.20 pm