MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2005
AT LYNEHAM VILLAGE HALL

Parish Councillors M Petch (Chairman), K Pearce (Vice-Chairman) F Ball, D Bunney, J Jardine, P Lightowler, C Pearce, I Plested, P Potter, D Turner, T Webb Mrs S Copp (Clerk)

There were no apologies for absence

Wing Commander Faulkes (RAF representative), District Councillors A Bucknell, J Elford, four members of the public.

The Meeting started at 7.00pm.
On behalf of the Council the Chairman congratulated Cllr Plested and his wife for the recent birth of their baby girl.

1. Apologies:

There were no apologies for absence

2: Minutes of Last Meeting:

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 13th September 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 informed the meeting of a meeting of EU Defence Ministers at the base on Thursday and warned of noise and much activity in the area between Tuesday and Thursday. Publicity for such events was discussed

b) To receive questions on RAF matters - Mr Humm had asked if the RAF could cut the grass and hedge between the Melksham road and C gate. Cllr Ball reported that there was a large amount of litter by the fence. WC Faulkes said she would check these out.

The Chairman thanked Wing Commander Faulkes for attending the meeting.

5. Public Questions:

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

b) To receive public questions: – The hedgerow in Preston Lane between Pintail Court and opposite the Victoria Drive entrance badly needs cutting back. The Chairman said this is owned by the developers based in Winchester. Mr Humm offered to check for a contact so that the Clerk could write to complain. This was agreed. Action: Clerk

6. Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Lyneham Green -

i) to approve finalised copy of plan of land to be purchased - JCP Commercial had now added the piece of land to the purchase agreement.
ii) to consider funds required to purchase land - a breakdown of the invoice had now been provided.

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

“To pay the balance of £994-75 required to complete purchase costs of Lyneham Village Green.”

b) Litter-

i) sponsorship of bin - Viridor Waste agreed to purchase a litter bin. Awaiting the art work.
ii) rubbish around the Tesco Store - The Clerk had written to the manager. It was suggested that if this did not resolve the matter the Council should consider taking further measures. It was noted that the area around the fish and chip shop was also a mess and the bin outside Londis was usually overfull. District Cllr Bucknell said she would speak with North Wiltshire District Council about this.

c) Youth Club - correspondence re. attendance at council meetings - Cllr Bunney reported that Mrs Scothern had left the area. He would look into the matter. Action: Cllr Bunney

d) To further consider lights suggested for Bradenstoke T junction - The Vice-Chairman had been thanked by the company for the useful photographs he had provided. The Chairman believed that three lights would be sufficient if the lights were shut down at 1 am and restarted at 5.30 am to daylight. The price of £2,614-95 plus VAT each does not include installation and it was agreed to get this costed before the budget meeting and it was also agreed to check what grant aid might be available. Action: Clerk

A spokesman at WCC said it might be possible to cover the maintenance of the lights for two years following the guarantee period before reviewing the situation. If the project is likely to go ahead local residents would need to be consulted.

e) Funfair adjacent to The White Hart - The Chairman had been informed that for the original fair George Scarott had donated £150 and the manager of The White Hart had made this up to £300. He said that another £900 had been raised on Saturday and all this had been passed to the Lyneham schools. Cllr Turner reported that she had received many complaints about the latest fair being noisy and about the parking.

f) To request that Preston Lane hedgerow be cut - this had been dealt with earlier in the meeting.

g) To report various water leaks - these had been reported.

7: Planning:

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

Appeal Decision: App/3910/A/05/1183027- Land south of Hobbs Cottage, 37 Calne Road, Lyneham - The Appeal is dismissed.

b) Works to 111 Chippenham Road, Lyneham - The Clerk had written to the manager and a response is awaited.

8: Highway Matters & Transport:

a) Pound Close traffic calming - Awaiting further information.

b) To report poor condition of footpaths in Preston Lane and Chippenham Road - The Clerk had written.

c) To request 20 mph speed limit around Pound Close/Webbs Close - The Clerk had written.

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

9: Play Areas & Open Spaces:

a) Extension/relocation of play area: play area strategy by Working Party Cllrs Plested and Lightowler were progressing the work.

b) Grass cutting contract and contributions - Awaiting information from Mr Iles.

c) To investigate report of barbed wire on play area fence - The Chairman had been unable to find any barbed wire but he had repaired the fence. He reported that the plastic is deteriorating with rust getting through and therefore this must be dealt with.

d) To consider RoSPA report on play areas - The inspection report was considered. A small number of high risk items would require dealing with as a matter of urgency and therefore it was agreed to seek quotations for a safety contractor. Action: Clerk

The Chairman had already removed the threads on the screws mentioned in the report. Cllr Plested had removed logs containing nails from the base of the multi-climber.

e) To discuss ban on dogs entering play areas - there were signs on the gates and these would require policing by councillors. It was also agreed to place notices on boards and in the paper reminding residents of the health hazards of dog faeces. Action: Cllr Turner/Clerk

The Vice-Chairman was seeking quotes for work to the hedge at the Bradenstoke play area.

10: Reports of Meetings Attended :

No meetings had been attended

11: Finance & Administration:

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

b) Audit 2004/2005:

i) To consider internal audit report - Members considered the report and agreed a set of responses which were signed by the Chairman.
ii) To sign Annual Return - Statement of Assurance -
IT WAS MOVED CLLR JARDINE, SECONDED THE VICE-CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

“To agree to sign the 2004/2005 Audit’s Annual Return.”

The Chairman and Clerk signed the Return.

c) Receipt of Requests for Grant Aid - St. Andrew’s Methodist Church. It was agreed to defer consideration to the November meeting. Members involved with the Church were reminded that they should declare an interest in this item and take no part in the discussion.

d) 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 Potter -

12: Correspondence received:

b) Actions to be taken :

Query re meeting attendance - It was noted that if a councillor fails to attend council meetings for six consecutive months he ceases automatically to be a councillor.
School dropping off point - NWDC is to take up the matter with WCC and the bus company.
Rural Facilities Survey 2005 - the Chairman agreed to complete the survey - Action: Cllr Petch.
WCC Bus Stop Clearways - It was agreed to ask about the parking situation. Action: Clerk
Bus Timetables - These were passed to Cllr Turner.
Play Brochure - This was passed to Cllrs Plested and Lightowler.
Code of Conduct - Mr Peter Jeremiah, Legal Services Officer at NWDC would shortly give a presentation at a meeting .
Trees on Lyneham Green - Permission must be given for any works to trees with a Preservation Order before any works can take place.
A letter had been received from Mr Wright regarding shrubs planted on Lyneham Green outside the Chairman’s property. It was agreed to place this on the agenda of the November meeting. Action: Clerk

13: Allotments:

a) Water supply - The application was being processed.

b) Works to the old footpath - Cllr C Pearce informed members that this footpath had been installed some time ago by a former allotment holder to take access from his property. He had moved away but of late residents were using the footpath to exercise dogs. He requested permission to reinstate the hedge to cut off the path. It was generally agreed that permission be given to Cllrs Pearce to reinstate the hedge. Action: Cllrs C and K Peace

Ditch along RAF boundary - It was agreed to ask Wing Commander Faulkes at the next meeting if this is the responsibility of the RAF.

c) Request for ban on dogs entering allotments - this had been dealt with earlier in the meeting.

d) To reconsider rent rise previously agreed - A letter of complaint regarding the rent rise had been received from allotment holder Mr Major. Following discussion it was generally agreed that the price rise should remain at present and be reviewed once the cost of the water installation and costs are known.

The Chairman read out details of community composting.

14: Councillors’ Observations & Items for Next Meeting:

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Cllr Bunney had noticed an advertisement in the Bassett Buddy newsletter for the LynehamVillage.co.uk website which included an apparent statement of approval from the Council. It was agreed to write to the publication stating that the Council does not endorse either website and seeking to remove the wording from the advertisement. Action: Clerk

Planning Enforcement at 67 The Folly - Cllr Jardine said that there are now up to fourteen dogs at the property and that the noise is dreadful. It was agreed to contact the Enforcement Officer. Action: Clerk

Cllr Turner spoke of complaints received regarding cars being parked on the Green for the funfair. However it was pointed out that cars are often parked on the Green, not just for the funfair.
Cllr Turner also asked if it would be possible to place fencing on the Green around the church to keep children safe inside the area. The Chairman explained that according to Law it is not possible to place permanent fencing on common land. It was suggested that portable fencing be provided.

Cllr Potter asked if the Lyneham signs at the village entrances would be replaced. It was agreed to ask NWDC. Action: Clerk

Cllr Ball commented about the camera signs on the Chippenham Road where there are two signs within three feet of each other.

15: Date of Next Meeting:

16: Confidential Item:

Confidential Item
IT WAS MOVED THE CHAIRMAN AND RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

"That in accordance with the provisions of Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 that the public be excluded for the following item of business - To further consider draft Risk Register (previously considered in August 2005”

The meeting closed at 10.30 pm