MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 8th AUGUST 2006
AT LYNEHAM VILLAGE HALL

Cllr M Petch (Chairman)
Cllr J Jardine (Vice-Chair)
Cllr D Bunney
Cllr P Lightowler

Mrs J S Copp - Parish Clerk

Cllr F Ball
Cllr P Potter
Cllr D Turner
Cllr T Webb
District Councillor J Webb

District Councillor A Bucknell (part meeting) and one member of the public

The Meeting started at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies:

Apologies for absence were received from Parish Councillors F Ball, P Potter, D Turner and T Webb and District Councillor J Webb

2: Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 12th July 2006 :

The Vice-Chair pointed out two typing errors in the RAF report. (Minutes 12th July 2006) IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED THE VICE-CHAIR AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "That the minutes as amended 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:

No RAF personnel in attendance.

5. To Receive Public Questions:

RAF contractors - A resident living at Barrow End complained that the noisy contractors often woke him early in the morning. It was agreed to inform Squadron Leader Young. Action: Clerk

6. Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Purchase of Lyneham Green - to consider plans for ceremony - It was generally agreed to hold the ceremony on Friday 15th September. The guest list was drawn up and plans were made to provide refreshments. The Clerk is to deal with actions. Action: Clerk

b) Update on lights suggested for Bradenstoke T junction - The Clerk expected that the underground services search would be completed within two weeks, following which the date would be given for the lights to be installed.

c) Notice board repairs - The Church Committee had now given permission for the Council to place the board on the Library Wall. Action: Cllr Bunney

d) NWDC - decision to close public toilets - Council officer Mr Weeks had stated that if the Parish Council took over the toilets then the present cleaning staff would have to be taken on also. Councillor Bucknell said she would inform the Clerk of the contents of a report due out at the end of the month. The Clerk is to write to Mr Weeks. Action: Clerk

e) Further consideration of Council’s own website - Cllr Lightowler reported on progress to date and said he would continue to investigate. Action: Cllr Lightowler

f) NWDC - Clean Neighbourhood & Environment Act 2005 - including Dog Controls - The District Council wished to know if the Parish Council is interested in exercising the new powers. It was agreed to state that the council is interested but awaits further information. Action: Clerk

There would be wardens appointed for other offences such as parking illegally and Cllr Bucknell agreed to ask if the Council could request a visit from a parking warden.

g) Request for memorial bench for Mr Stanley Taylor - Babcock Defence Services wished to site a bench on Lyneham Green in memory of Mr Taylor. The Clerk had been unable to contact Mr Brannick. It was agreed to suggest a circular seat to go around a horse chestnut tree near the village hall. Cllr Bunney offered to take this action forward. Action: Cllr Bunney

7: Planning:

a) Update on recent planning applications:

b) Wilts & Swindon Minerals & Waste Development Framework - consultation - The comments on the consultation documents are to be passed on. Action: Clerk

8. Highway Matters & Transport:

a) Request for bus shelter at entrance to Lillybrook Estate - Cllr Potter had agreed to obtain a site plan. Action: Cllr Potter

b) Wiltshire County Council - Speed limits 2006 - The proposed Orders had now been advertised in the Press.

c) South West Regional Assembly - Draft Regional Spatial Strategy Consultation - Councillor Lightowler spoke about the proposals. The comments are to be passed on. Action: Clerk

d) Parking in lane adjacent to 82 The Green - A letter from Mr Godfrey, resident of an adjacent property indicated that he would prefer to keep the status quo. Following discussion - IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN, SECONDED COUNCILLOR LIGHTOWLER AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: "That the Council would not support an attempt to change the status of the lane adjacent to 82 The Green."

e) Wiltshire Highways Partnership - Introducing the Parish Steward Scheme - Wiltshire Highways had introduced the new Scheme which would commence in October.

f) Other maintenance issues: Action: Clerk
Clearance of ditch in Pound Close - it was believed that this belongs to Westlea Housing Association;
Overgrown pavement in front of The Folly - it was agreed that the Clerk should report these;
Overgrown hedges at Church Farm Mews - the Clerk is to write.

9: Play Areas and Open Spaces:

a) - Play area strategy - A meeting of the Working Party would take place on Monday 14th August. Action: Cllrs Jardine/Lightowler

b) Play equipment inspection - The Chairman believed that the only repair required on the Multi-Gym was to replace a missing screw and he would do this. He had also noticed that the posts were loosening on the senior swing but they did not require immediate action. The fencing had lost its outer covering but he did not believe it was worth repairing. It was agreed to await the results of the RoSPA inspection.

District Councillor Webb had provided photographs of the litter bin and the Clerk could now order a replacement liner. Action: Clerk

c) Play equipment - request for information on distance from properties - RoSPA stated that the recommended distance between housing and play equipment depended on the type of equipment to be installed but for toddlers only then a minimum distance of 10.0m would be recommended, but for teenagers it would be at least 30.0m if it would be possible to look into adjacent properties and where noise levels would be likely to be greater.

10: Finance and Administration:

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

The notice of audit would be advertised locally from 10th August.

b) YELL - update on request for grant aid - As requested the Clerk had obtained information regarding grants from Community First but YELL had applied to Awards for All for grant aid and it had been decided not to pursue a grant through Community First at this time.

c) To obtain cover for Clerk’s absence - The Clerk might have to be absent from a Council meeting in the near future due to sick leave and cover was required. It was generally agreed to ask the previous Clerk, Mr Mark Edwards and to pay him at the Clerk’s rate. It was noted that the Clerk would not be entitled to sick pay. If Mr Edwards was not available then local resident Mr Childs had agreed to attend. Action: Clerk

11: Correspondence Received:

a) To review the list:

b) Actions to be taken:
Siting of funfair - there had been criticism of the proximity of the funfair to the A3102. However the Principal Environmental Health Officer had arranged a site inspection and found the risk of accident from traffic hitting a pedestrian to be low. Following an accident later, Health and Safety officers inspected and passed the fair and it was noted that the accident had been nothing to do with Health and Safety issues or the location of the fair. In all, the Fun Day had raised £2105.50 for local charities. It was queried why the fair was allowed to be sited on common land but it was agreed to write back explaining that this area was not the Parish Council’s responsibility.

Lyneham Green Tree - Mr Wright had informed the Council that growth from the base of a tree on Lyneham Green was affecting sight lines when exiting the Lyneham village hall car park. The Clerk is to arrange for the growth to be removed. Action: Clerk

12: Allotments:

a) Update on purchase of water butts - The following quotations had been received:

Focus DIY £29.99 each incl VAT plus £20 delivery
Thames Water £19.99 each incl VAT
Enterprise Works £18.50 each incl VAT plus £8 delivery

Since the Clerk had been given delegated authority to choose the cheapest quotation she had purchased 25 water butts from Enterprise Works and been given a discount which meant that the water butts had cost £16.64 each including VAT. The Chairman had taken delivery of the butts and had distributed them.

b) Update - The Chairman reported that the allotments all seemed tidy with good crops.

13: Councillors' Observations & Items for Next Meeting:

The Vice-Chair reported that there had been a presentation by the Speed Camera Unit at a WI meeting. The Sergeant had promised to investigate problems at the mini-roundabout.

14: Date of Next Meeting:

Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 5th September 2006 at 7 pm at Lyneham Village Hall. Please note that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 5th September instead of the expected date of 12th September. Apologies for any inconvenience.

15: New parsonage plans - Request for access across Lyneham Green:

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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.

Quotations for obtaining a valuation on the land had been received as follows:

Humberts Commercial £470 plus travelling expenses of £15 plus VAT
Straker Goodman Ingram £350 plus VAT
Atwell Martin £250 plus VAT

Since it had been agreed at the previous meeting that the Clerk should obtain a valuation she had given instruction to proceed to Atwell Martin, being the cheapest quotation. Mr Martin had valued the ransom strip and recommended that the Council should charge between £3,000 and £4,000 plus costs to grant easement.

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

"To agree to grant easement for the sum of £3,500.00 plus valuation and legal costs for vehicular access from the new parsonage across parish land at Lyneham Green. "

The Clerk is to inform both Mr & Mrs Stewart and the Church of England Property Department. Action: Clerk

The meeting closed at 9.15 pm