MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 9TH MAY 2006
AT LYNEHAM VILLAGE HALL

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

Cllr T Webb

District Councillors A Bucknell and J Webb, Squadron Leader Young (RAF representative -Item 7 only), Mr P Lightowler (Item 12 only)

The Meeting started at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T Webb

2: To Elect Chair:

Cllr Potter nominated Cllr Petch as Chair, seconded Cllr Jardine. There being no other nominations Cllr Petch was elected Chair.

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

Cllr Petch signed the Declaration

4: To Elect the Following:

a) Council Vice-Chair: The Chairman nominated Cllr Jardine as Vice-Chair, seconded Cllr Potter. There being no other nominations Cllr Jardine was elected Vice-Chair.

b) Committee members: IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED COUNCILLOR POTTER AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "That council committees be agreed as follows." To see sub-committee responsibilities Click here

5. Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 14th March 2006:

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 14th March 2006 It was noted that Cllr Turner was to attend a Transport meeting in September. IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED COUNCILLOR POTTER AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "That the minutes as amended be signed as a true record of the meeting."

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

7: RAF Matters:

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

Squadron Leader Young reported as follows:
“A3102 Calne Road - speed limit - The WCC Highways Dept have confirmed that the speed limit approaching Melsome Place junction and B Site entrance will be reduced. Whether this will mean an earlier introduction of the 30mph limit or a new 40 mph limit being imposed is still unclear. They are having further discussions with the Wilts Constabulary. The RAF have indicated a willingness to fund new signs (with flashing amber lights) at the B Site cross roads. We are just waiting for WCC Highways to give us a firm quote before seeking financial approval. If the signs were installed by the Highways Dept contractors on behalf of the RAF, then they would agree to maintain them.

Preston Lane Former NAAFI Site - The Mears contractor's building has now been boarded up and there is a warning painted on the front that the structure is dangerous and should not be climbed on. Regrettably, vandalism is likely to continue until the structure is actually demolished. Persons unknown continue to open the stop cock on the adjacent concrete hard standing resulting in localised flooding. Brey Utilities (the MOD's Water Contractor) have been asked to seal the pipe and bury it in concrete to prevent further flooding/waste of water.

Disruptive work at the Main Gate avoided - BT were about to replace the main telephone cables to the Station. This would have involved digging and duct work near the main entrance (on the road and on the pavements which would have lasted 3 or 4 days and would have required a traffic light system on the A3102. We have now had detailed discussions with BT's contractors to find an alternative route into the Station which would not be as disruptive to local traffic. BT have accepted our advice and the revised plan should involve only a brief inconvenience to pedestrians on the main path near Hobbs cottage (there will be no need for traffic lights).

MOD Police Constable - We are hopeful that the Station will have a MDP Beat Constable post established within the next 8-10 weeks. The post is currently being advertised and we are seeking an experienced officer who can deal with problems on the Station, around Families Quarters and the surrounding areas. He or she will develop strong links with Wilts Constabulary and with local schools and youth organisations. The officer will have full jurisdictional powers and we will hopefully see a reduction in vandalism and nuisance behaviour in the village. His primary role will be the Station and Quarters though and his office will be in the RAF Police HQ.

Fencing/Boundary Issues - We will shortly be carrying out work in 3 areas: Bradenstoke junction (A Site gate) to Cannon Horticulture yard - complete replacement of approx 500m of security fence; repairs to fencing adjacent to Councillor Potter's field near the RAF Police Dog training area and finally, re-instatement of the MOD boundary in Avon Grove Wood to the SW of the airfield, using marker posts and GPS satellite equipment to define the legal boundary.”

The Chairman thanked Squadron Leader Young for his report.

b) To receive questions on RAF matters - Cllr Potter asked if contractors could work longer hours on the above works to make less disruption for road users. Squadron Leader Young explained that it was hoped that the contractors would not be digging up the road.

Squadron Leader Young left the meeting

8. Public Questions

There were no questions

9: Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Purchase of Lyneham Green - update - Awaiting information from Land Registry. The £6,000 sum mentioned in the article published in the Community First magazine had been an error.

b) Update on lights suggested for Bradenstoke T junction - funding - District Cllr Webb was continuing to look into funding. The Clerk had requested grant aid from Wiltshire County Council and had completed a grant application form for North Wiltshire District Council.

c) Notice board repairs - The Chairman reported that in fact the Library wall belongs to the Church and the Vicar would inform him if the Council could use it. Cllr Bunney awaited the result of this query before dealing with the repair work. Action: Cllrs Petch/Bunney

d) Request for mobile skateboard facility - District Cllr Webb was looking into the matter.

e) White Hart Inn: Fun Day in August - The Landlord requested that the Council nominate a children’s charity to benefit from the event along with two other charities already chosen. It was generally agreed to do so after the event. Action: All

f) Wiltshire County Council - Revising the Strategy for Wiltshire - Cllr Ball believed the wish list would be difficult to achieve.

g) Wiltshire County Council - Waste Site Allocation Development Plan document - Cllr Turner was looking at the document. Action: Cllr Turner

h) North Wiltshire District Council - decision to close public toilets - Calne Town Council would not become involved in acquiring its public toilets; Wootton Bassett Town Council had not yet reached a decision. NWDC had acknowledged the Council’s letter. District Cllr Bucknell said that the District Council was still debating the matter and the original deadline of 1st May for closure had been removed. District Cllr Webb said there was a stay of execution until the end of October.

i) North Wiltshire District Council - Dog Control Orders - further information had been received and would be circulated to members. Action: Clerk

10: Planning:

b) North Wiltshire District Council: Statement of Community Involvement - The Vice-Chair reported that the District Council wished to ensure that everyone was consulted on everything. However as far as she could see no-one had been missed.

c) North Wiltshire District Council - Planning training session -The Chairman and Cllr Ball had attended and found the information very useful. The Vice-Chair borrowed the briefing document.

11: Highway Matters & Transport:

a) Request for bus shelter at entrance to Lillybrook Estate - The Clerk is arranging a site meeting to include The Chairman and Cllr Potter. Action: Clerk

b) Request for sign at entrance to Bradenstoke: Restricted access - District Cllr Bucknell was seeking progress on this item.

c) Wiltshire County Council - report on visit from Parish Lengths men - A letter detailed the works undertaken by the Lengths men.

d) Request re completion of footpath opposite Lyneham Village Hall - Wiltshire County Council did not see the need for further works.

e) Wiltshire Highways Partnership: Annual Highways Meeting 2nd May - Neither the Chair nor the Vice-Chair had been able to attend the meeting.

f) Wiltshire County Council - Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2006/07 2010/11 - Five copies of the document were distributed.

g) Other maintenance issues: There were none.

12: Play Area & Open Spaces:

Extension/relocation of play area: play area strategy by Working Party The Chairman asked the Vice-Chair to handle this item.

The Vice-Chair thanked Mr Lightowler for offering to attend the meeting and speak on the suggested play area strategy.

Mr Lightowler spoke on the the opportunity to create a good standard of play areas over the next few years. Lyneham and Bradenstoke were blessed with a good number of areas set aside for play, including defence housing play areas but there was a need to regenerate them. He recommended that the Council join with the defence agencies and others to draw up a comprehensive strategy, following which the Council could plan its budget accordingly. He said he would be happy to remain involved.

Several ideas were considered and the Vice-Chair suggested that a sub-committee of interested parties be set up to take the matter further : IT WAS MOVED THE VICE-CHAIR, SECONDED CLLR TURNER AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE: "To set up a sub-committee to investigate a future strategy for the development and maintenance of children’s play areas in Lyneham and Bradenstoke." The sub-committee is to consist of the Vice-Chair, Cllr Bunney, Mr Lightowler, Lisa Mitchell and District Cllr Bucknell.

13: Finance & Administration:

a) To consider Financial Statement for year ended 31st March 2006 - It was generally agreed to defer this item to the next meeting.

b) Accounts and Budget update and payment of invoices – IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED THE VICE-CHAIR AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: 09/06

14: Correspondence Received:

b) Actions to be taken: Notice board for St Andrew's Church - Cllr Bunney explained that the church needed more publicity and he requested permission to place the board on common land. He was informed that he would need to check if planning permission was required. The Clerk is to make enquiries with regard to commons laws. Action: Clerk

15: Allotments:

[Top]

a) Water supply - The Chairman is to attend a site meeting with Thames Water on 20th June. Action: Cllr Petch

b) Update - nothing to report.

16: Councillors Observations and Items for Next Meeting:

17: Date of Next Meeting:

Date of Next Meeting Parish Council Meeting Tuesday 13th June 2006 at 7 pm at Lyneham Village Hall.

Confidential item:

[Top]

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.

18: To consider Council’s own website
Awaiting further information.

The meeting closed at 9.50 pm