MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 10TH MAY 2005
AT LYNEHAM VILLAGE HALL

M Petch (Chairman), F Ball, D Bunney, P Lightowler, I Plested, P Potter, T Webb. Mrs S Copp (Clerk)

Councillors J Jardine, C Pearce, K Pearce and D Turner

District Councillor A Bucknell, Wing Commander Faulkes and Ms L Mitchell (RAF representatives), eight members of the public.

The Meeting started at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies:

Councillors J Jardine, C Pearce, K Pearce and D Turner

2: To Elect Chairman:

Cllr Potter nominated Cllr Petch as Chairman, seconded Cllr Ball. There being no other nominations Cllr Petch was elected Chairman

3: To Sign the Chairman’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office:

Cllr Petch signed the Declaration.

4: To Elect the Following:

a) Council Vice-Chairman: The Chairman nominated Cllr K Pearce as Vice-Chairman in his absence, seconded Cllr Potter. There being no other nominations Cllr Pearce was elected Vice-Chairman.

b) Committee members:

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED COUNCILLOR POTTER AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"That council committees be agreed as follows." Council Committee Listing Click Here. It was also noted that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman are automatically members of each committee.

5. Minutes of the Previous Meeting.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on Tuesday 12th April 2005 having been circulated were signed.

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

7: RAF Matters:

a) To welcome the RAF Representative- The Chairman welcomed Wing Commander Julia Faulkes.

Wing Commander Faulkes had attended the meeting announced the previous month and provided a grass cutting map which had been drawn up. The RAF was taking on some new areas and leaving others. She also spoke on other grass cutting matters and in addition there was a problem with dog faeces at Slessor Road Playing Field and Pintail Court Field.

She announced that the clay pigeon shoot was to be relocated by the end of the month. However there were problems elsewhere since youths were climbing on the roof of the old NAAFI so warning signs would have to be put up. There was generally a problem with youths; Wootton Bassett police helped but it had been decided to introduce community policing.

Lisa spoke of problems with the construction of the youth shelter and therefore the opening had been put back to the 17th June.

b) To receive questions on RAF matters - There were no questions.

c) Chairman’s invitation to Memorial Service - The Chairman had accepted the invitation.

The Chairman thanked Wing Commander Faulkes for attending the meeting.

8: To welcome a pc from Wootton Bassett Police Station:

There was no pc in attendance.

9: Public Questions:

a) To respond to previous questions – The Clerk had written to NWDC regarding the lack of notification to residents of Webbs Court of the planning application number 05/00793/OUT at land adjacent to Webb’s Court, Lyneham.

b) To receive public questions: – Residents queried the council’s proposal to move the playground. The Chairman explained that the original play area would not be moved but the council was looking for an additional, larger site, although negotiations were at an early stage.

Mr N Nunns believed that the new area could not be accessed for maintenance since he owned the land in front of the gated access. He also had concerns about using the land for play or a football pitch since it was sloping. The Chairman reiterated that negotiations were at an early stage and everything would be taken into consideration. He added that a search would have to be carried out if negotiations reached that stage.

With regard to the planning application for a small development adjacent to Webbs Court, residents were concerned that if this was allowed then further housing would be built here in the future.

District Councillor Bucknell advised that a feasibility study was taking place on the proposed play area site. She reassured the residents that no extra land in Lyneham was to be allocated to housing development due to the present Local Plan, but exceptions to the Local Plan may be agreed for amenity land such as a play area. If the play area was to go ahead it would be a play area only and could not be built on for the foreseeable future - the land is outside the Local Plan’s building line. If the play area project became a possibility the council would have to consult local people.

Cllr Bucknell read out questions written by Mr A Humm as follows:-
Attempt to extend the speed limit - The Clerk explained that the Regulatory Committee had met and considered the request at the Annual Review but it was felt that the circumstances of the area concerned did not satisfy the requirements for a 30mph restriction. This would be reassessed in 2006 for a possible 40mph or 50mph restriction. The Parish Council had written back reiterating the request.

Grass cutting contract - to be considered under item 13.

Permanent litter bins - to be considered under item 10d Cllr Bucknell informed the council that there was a rethink on waste bins - some authorities were taking them out, expecting people to take their litter home. Also that dog bins would double up as litter bins and vice-versa.

10: Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Lyneham Green - JCP had explained that they had been unaware that the local authority would treat the common as separate parcels of land until they submitted the search application. The company appreciated the fee was higher than expected but the searches were necessary.

b) Village Websites - There was no further information at this time.

c) NWDC - Spring Clean arrangements 2005 - the Spring Clean had taken place. Three members of the RAF Environmental Group, Mr Humm and the Chairman had met to collect eight bags of rubbish. These had been collected the next day.

d) Litter bins - The bin for Preston Road was on order. The Clerk reported that Viridor had offered to sponsor bins through Mr Humm who wrote that other companies were also interested. An offer of a litter bin had also been received from Mr Hawkins. The Chairman said that the matter was on hold awaiting action from NWDC.

e) Discussion paper from Office of Deputy PM - Cllr Ball had completed the questionnaire and returned it.

f) Community Area Awards - Awaiting NWDC as to whether the purchase of Lyneham Green would be eligible for the Awards.

g) Community Capital Grants - The Clerk had registered the council’s interest in the scheme.

11: Planning:

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1) Damage could be caused to beech tree roots when digging out driveway. This tree has a TPO.
2) The plan is to create a hard standing on common land.
3) The land is still all common land and as such should come under common land regulations.

Land at OS Map ST 9979 NE Clack Hill, Bradenstoke - NWDC was aware of the matter.

Planning Enforcement at 67 The Folly - NWDC required evidence from the complainant before the Planning Enforcement Officer could become involved.

12: Highway Matters & Transport:

a) Pound Close traffic calming - Mouchel Parkman said that although the street lighting was not specifically mentioned it is an integral part of the design process and was provided for in their quotation and included in the £4,500 fee accepted. They agreed that the county are the highway authority but as the promoter of a scheme to alter a highway the parish council would be responsible for any upgrading required to the lighting. They stated that if they had not included this element of the scheme and progressed only with the traffic calming, the need for street lighting would have been identified much later and could have caused more problems.
They sought payment of the invoices.

It was generally agreed to dispute the invoices because the company went beyond the brief and did not keep the Council informed. Cllr Lightowler agreed to investigate a contact in WCC so that the Clerk could inform them of the matter. Action Lightowler/Clerk

b) Bus shelter - report on progress - When the Clerk had tried to order the bus shelter she was informed that the manufacturer was not responsible for any base or installation works. Since the Vice-Chairman was the prime mover in this project the Chairman suggested that the Council should await his return. This was generally agreed.

c) WCC: Parish Lengths men - details of work carried out - the works undertaken were noted.

d) WCC: Provisional Wiltshire Local Transport Plan - Consultation - There were no comments.

e) Other maintenance issues - It was noted that at present the Church were not keeping up verges and hedges which they normally dealt with. The Chairman reported that they were attempting to decide on responsibilities since the RAF had ceased its involvement in Church works. He agreed to speak with the vicar about this. Action: Petch

13: Play Area & Open Spaces

14: Reports of Meetings Attended

Cllr Lightowler reported on the WCC Highway Maintenance 2005/06 meeting

15: Finance and Administration:

a) Accounts and Budget Update – The update was noted.

b) Audit reports - To amend Annual Returns for 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2003/04 - IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "To approve and sign the amendments to the Annual Returns for 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2003/04 as prepared by the Internal Auditor.”

c) Receipt of Requests for Grant Aid - Bradenstoke Methodist Church- An annual grant was provided in the budget but this had been reduced to £20. IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "To grant the sum of £20 to the Bradenstoke Methodist Church.

d) Payment of invoices - to include outstanding invoice from RoSPA - the account had been outstanding since November 2003. IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "To approve for payment the accounts as follows:"

16. Correspondence Received:

a) To review the list:

b) Actions to be taken : Action Clerk
Information re. Boundary at Church End Closel - report to Mr Lovelock at WCC;
Various suggestions for Lyneham:
Village Memorial - discussed previous meeting;
Litter bin - on hold
Purchase of hanging baskets and tubs - the council does not have spare funds in this financial year
Annual mini music festival: the cost of policing and insurance would be prohibitive.
Request to NWDC re. position of wheelie bins - write to NWDC.
Visit of Oxford students - use of ground - it was generally agreed to give permission to use the recreation ground for emergency car parking.

17: Allotments.

Request to place shed on allotment - permission had been given.
Uncultivated plot - the Chairman had noticed an uncultivated plot. The Vice-chairman is to be asked to look into this and if necessary a letter should be sent to the tenant.
Action: Cllr Pearce/Clerk

18: Councillors’ observations & items for next meeting

Low/dangerous wire - Cllr Potter believed an area of wire near Pound Farm was rather low. Cllr Webb offered to check this. Action: Cllr Webb
Uncut verge - Cllr Ball had noted that several areas of verge were uncut.

19. Date of Next Meeting

Date of Next Meeting Tuesday 14th June 2005 at Lyneham Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.27 pm