MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 9TH AUGUST 2005
AT LYNEHAM VILLAGE HALL

Parish Councillors M Petch (Chairman), K Pearce (Vice-Chairman) D Bunney, J Jardine, P Lightowler, C Pearce, D Turner. Mrs S Copp (Clerk)

Parish Councillors I Plested, P Potter and T Webb

Wing Commander Faulkes (RAF representative), County Councillor T Sturgis, District Councillor A Bucknell, four members of the public.

The Meeting started at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies:

Parish Councillors I Plested, P Potter and T Webb

2: Minutes of Last Meeting:

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 12th July 2005 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: RAF Matters:

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

Wing Commander Faulkes had raised the matter of speeding vehicles with the Road Safety Committee. Work on the old NAAFI building was in hand. In September work would commence to cut a path in the hedge through the main gate by the zebra crossing. She agreed with council comments about the litter problems by the youth shelter - a bin would be provided and in the meantime a working party was keeping litter down. Areas for dog bins and signs had been identified. Tesco vehicles were manoeuvring in front of the RAF gates and were also driven on to the married quarters to turn - a letter of complaint was to be sent to Tesco. She was pleased to report that the RAF had been awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for work in the community amongst other things.

b) To receive questions on RAF matters - The Chairman had received details of six bags which had been dumped on an area within Defence housing. Cllr Bucknell offered to report this.

The Chairman thanked Wing Commander Faulkes for attending the meeting.

5. To welcome a pc from Wootton Bassett Police Station:

There was no pc in attendance

6. Public Questions:

a) To respond to previous questions – There were no previous questions to answer.

b) To receive public questions: There were no questions.

7: Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Lyneham Green

i) to approve finalised copy of plan of land to be purchased - there was still a piece of land in question and the Clerk is to get back to JCP Commercial. Action Clerk
ii) to pay funds required to purchase land - JCP said the original fee was an error and latest estimates put this at £1,850 plus VAT. It was agreed to ask for a breakdown of this as it seemed excessive. Action: Clerk
iii) Community First Capital grant - to consider conditions and sign acceptance. Following consideration -

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED THE VICE-CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

“To sign acceptance of conditions for the Community First capital grant.”

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman signed.
iv) To consider duty to inspect the Green - The Chairman offered to walk the Green each month and report back to council. This was agreed. Action: Cllr Petch It was further agreed to keep a written record of this. Action: Clerk

b) Village Websites - Nothing to report.

c) Litter bins - A possible sponsor had requested details of prices for a plaque on the bin and these had been provided. Council agreed to the installation of a plaque on the bin. The sponsor is to be informed. Action: Clerk

d) Youth Club - correspondence re. attendance at council meetings - Awaiting comment from youth club.

e) Condition of land adjacent Pound Close - Councillor Webb would deal with the matter shortly.

f) Information on lights suggested for Bradenstoke T junction - The Chairman would consider the information received and report back to the next meeting Action: Cllr Petch

8: Planning:

a) Update:

* It was generally agreed to recommend refusal on the same grounds as the previous application.

** 1) Not in keeping with building next door; 2) Ugly pipes on side of building - not in keeping; 3) Earth mound right-hand side will become unsightly - needs to be removed.

b) Works to 111 Chippenham Road, Lyneham - The mound of earth had still not been removed. The Clerk had written but no response had been received. Clerk is to write again.

c) Planning Enforcement 67 The Folly - the Enforcement Officer is aware of the situation and is pursuing the matter.

9: Highway Matters & Transport:

a) Pound Close traffic calming - Mr Andrew Wyatt, the County’s Traffic and Road Safety Group Manager had agreed to look into the matter.

b) Bus shelter - report on progress - The Vice-Chairman is to organise removal of the seat. The shelter is due to be installed on Friday 19th August.

c) Request for signs on bend on A3102 - The request has been added to the list of sites to be investigated by WCC in 2005/06 and any signing considered appropriate would be placed at the end of the current year.

d) Complaint re. school buses taking up residents’ access - County council had agreed to speak with the owner. Councillor Bucknell stated that the Enforcement Officer was looking into this. It was agreed to monitor the situation during school term time.

e) Possible encroachment onto verge at Bradenstoke T junction - The Vice-Chairman had met with Mr Danny Everett of WCC on site with regard to the hedge on the corner. Although it was kept cut back it still caused difficulty with motorists’ sight line.. Mr Everett suggested the possibility of purchasing a piece of the land to cut back part of the hedge.

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To suspend Standing Orders to allow members of the public to speak"

The owner of the hedge was present. She said she had no intention of selling any land and felt harassed due to comments made. The Vice-Chairman apologised but said the investigations were a result of residents’ requests.

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To reinstate Standing Orders."

The Vice-Chairman said he would ask the residents concerned to write to WCC if they had any future complaints about the hedge. Action: Cllr K Pearce The Clerk is to inform Mr Everett. Action: Clerk

f) Other maintenance issues - There were no other issues.

10: Play Area & Open Spaces:

The Chairman left the room for the following item and the Vice-Chairman took the chair

a) Extension/relocation of play area: Report by Working Party Cllrs Plested and Lightowler had met with Cllr Bucknell and after considering all the information they believed that the best way forward would be to undertake a comprehensive review of all play areas and likely population figures and then to identify the needs of the parish. A strategy for the next ten years could then be produced for the council. Full details of the briefing note may be found in the Appendix to these minutes.

IT WAS MOVED COUNCILLOR LIGHTOWLER, SECONDED COUNCILLOR BUNNEY AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"That the Working Party should produce a play area strategy for consideration by council"

Councillor Jardine congratulated members of the Working Party on their commendable work.

The Chairman returned to the meeting and resumed the Chair

b) Grass cutting contract and contributions - Mr Kevin Iles had written seeking information about the tender since he believed he had not quoted for the same work as other contractors. It was generally agreed to write back to Mr Iles. Action: Clerk The Vice-Chairman reported that the contractor was not locking the play area gate. The Clerk is to write to him as a matter of urgency. Action: Clerk

The White Hart’s grass cutting contribution had still not been received. The Clerk is to pursue the matter. Action: Clerk

c) Repairs to multi-climb - The Chairman had received a quote from Kingsdown Nurseries for bark of two grades - 8mm - 25mm = £48.60/m³ and 10mm - 50mm = £50.80/m³ all plus VAT and the company believed the requirement was 22m³ of bark. In addition there would be the cost of installation and repairs to the wooden surround.

IT WAS MOVED COUNCILLOR LIGHTOWLER, SECONDED COUNCILLOR JARDINE AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To delegate authority to Councillors Petch and K Pearce to undertake repairs/install bark at the play area for a maximum budget of £2,000."

It was suggested that a Working Party could be organised. Action: Cllrs Petch and K Pearce

11: Review of electoral arrangements NWDC:

Parish councils were asked for suggestions as to how district council wards should be split. It was noted that there would be a second consultation later in the year. Following discussion it was generally agreed to write suggesting that there should be one district councillor to each ward. Action: Clerk

12: Reports of Meetings Attended:

No meetings had been attended

13: Finance & Administration

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

The Council Statement of Accounts for the year 2004/2005 was considered.

IT WAS MOVED COUNCILLOR LIGHTOWLER, SECONDED THE VICE-CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To accept the budget figures and Statement of Accounts for the year 2004/2005."

It was generally agreed to place the Council Statement of Assurance for the year 2004/2005 on the agenda for the next meeting. A draft Risk Register was considered and it was agreed to place this for further consideration at the next meeting as a confidential item. Action: Clerk

b) Receipt of Requests for Grant Aid - St Andrew’s Methodist Church sought grant aid towards works to provide access for disabled people. The Council had not budgeted for extra grant aid for the current year. The Clerk is to check if grant may be given towards works already previously completed. Action: Clerk It was agreed to consider the matter again in two months’ time.

c) Payment of invoices -

IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"To approve for payment the accounts as follows:"

The following cheques were signed by the Chairman and Cllr Turner -

14: Correspondence Received:

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a) To review the list:

b) Actions to be taken : Stagecoach bus stop signs - still awaiting signs on A3102 - it was agreed to support Mr Jardine’s letter. Action: Clerk

15: Allotments:

16: Councillors’ observations & items for next meeting:

Cllr Jardine had noted that the Lyneham Community minibus was not accessible to wheelchairs.

Cllr Turner queried the commercial funfair on Lyneham Green, which was meant for community use only. The Chairman believed that a collection towards Lyneham schools had been made. He agreed to ask the landlord of the White Hart what amount had been raised. Action: Cllr Petch

Cllr Turner also commented on the uncut hedges at Pound Close. Cllr Bucknell offered to raise this with Westlea. The Vice-Chairman asked if the Clerk would provide an updated list of councillors and allotment holders. Action: Clerk

Cllr Lightowler suggested that it was unnecessary to agenda a visit from Wootton Bassett police each month when the pc was often not able to attend. It was agreed to consider this at the next meeting. He also felt that county and district councillors should either be a part of the meeting or should not be allowed to speak. This is to be considered at the next meeting also.

Cllr Lightowler was unhappy at the council’s budget being considered at regular meetings. Again it was agreed to discuss this at the next meeting and in the meantime the Clerk is to try to provisionally book the hall for a special meeting for two weeks after the next council meeting. Action: Clerk

16. Date of Next Meeting:

Date of Next Meeting Tuesday 13th September 2005 at 7 pm at Lyneham Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.50 pm