MINUTES OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE ANNUAL/PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2007
AT BRADENSTOKE VILLAGE HALL

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Cllr Petch (Chair), Cllr Mrs. Turner, Cllr Mrs. Jardine, Cllr J Webb, Cllr Bunney, Cllr Bullock, Cllr Miss Palmer, Cllr Potter, Cllr T Webb, Cllr Lightowler
Mr M Edwards - Parish Clerk

Cllr Ball

Squadron Leader Rea (to Item 4), Miss L Mitchell, District Councillors Mrs. S Still and Mrs. A Bucknell, PC Jarra Brown & Colleague, and three members of the Public.

The Meeting started at 7.15pm.

1. Apologies:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Ball

2. Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 13th November 2007:

Minutes of the meeting held on the 9th October 2007 having been circulated were approved and signed.

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

4. RAF Matters:

a. Cllr Petch welcomed Squadron Leader to the meeting. Squadron Leader Rea gave the following reports: Sale of the Pintail Court field. Two individuals have come forward claiming to be the successors to the original owner. These details are being checked. The former NAAFI is being made safe and The Thrift Shop will close on the 22nd of December. The path lights leading to the Slessor Road Youth Shelter have been repaired. A repatriation ceremony will take place on Friday 16th of November.

b. To receive questions on RAF Matters (including leased land)

5. To Receive Public Questions:

6. Police Matters:

a. To welcome the Police Representative - Cllr Petch welcomed PC Jarra Brown and his colleague to the meeting. PC Brown reported additional policing over the Halloween period had proved successful. Two shoplifters were apprehended, PC Brown also thanked the RAF for assisting in Operation Commercial which saw 60 commercial vehicles stopped and checked. A number of problems with speeding vehicles, cars parked on pavements and at school times were also discussed.

7. Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

No matters were reported.

8. Public Toilets:

a. The Legal Agreement has been reviewed by Gough Solicitors and the list of issues raised were circulated. It was agreed to forward these to the Legal Team at North Wilts DC for consideration. Cllr J Webb suggested that any future loft insulation of the toilets meets the latest guidance.

9. Planning:

c: Other Planning matters - Cllr Bucknell updated the meeting on the changes to the Planning System which currently requires a contribution from any new house built towards affordable and Open. It is likely that North Wilts DC will change the rules to move the threshold to more than one dwelling.

Cllr Lightowler asked about whether this applied to the new Vicarage. Cllr Bucknell agreed to investigate the matter (Subsequent post meeting update – The Planning Application was submitted prior to new Local Plan being adopted and coming into force.)

10. Highway Matters and Transport:

a. Bus Shelters - Lillybrook – the delivery of the new shelter is expected by the end of November. Slessor Road, Melsome Road and Preston Lane will be repaired once the Lillybrook Shelter is installed. Cllr Bullock agreed to source steel panels to replace the panels in the shelter by St Mary’s Close. The spare panels would then be used to replace others elsewhere.

b. Seats – A discussion took place about the Stanley Taylor Memorial Bench and the objection received about its location. A discussion took place it was noted that the bench is a memorial to Mr. Stanley Taylor and the location was chosen as this is in a position in which he passed on his way to and from work and will be seen by his widow. The location meets with the approval of Mrs. Taylor and was made in July/August 2006.

The Parish Council also considered the advice provided by DEFRA which states that under Section 38 of the Commons Act 2006 the placing of a bench is classed as minor works which does not need permission. It was proposed by Cllr Bunney that the seat is located as agreed. The matter was put to the vote with 8 votes in favour with 1 abstention. The Clerk was asked to notify Mr. & Mrs. Pook of the decision.

c. Other highway and transport matters. It was noted that repairs had been carried out to the pavement from the White Hart Roundabout. Wiltshire County Council have confirmed that they have no budget for pavement resurfacing and can only make repairs which fall within the criteria for attention. Cllr Bunney raised concerns about the lighting on the zebra crossing by the RAF Main Gate. Cllr Mrs. Bucknell agreed to raise the matter.

11. Play Area & Open Spaces: (including Lyneham Green)

a. Lyneham Green – Emails received from Mr. Wright and on behalf of the Lyneham Village Hall. The issues raised were discussed and the following actions agreed.

ii) The Parish Council does not agree with the statements made by Mr. Wright about the Village Hall Car Park. It is not and was never the intention to suggest that the Parking area should be removed.
ii) In relation to Land ownership the Land Registry Documents clearly includes the land on which the car park is situated as being part of that purchased by the Parish Council in 2006.
iii) In relation to the extent of the Village Green the land which forms part of the Common Land registration includes the Village Hall Car Park.
iv) In relation to the alleged encroachment of The Green by the proposed bench this has been dealt with under Item 10b.
v) In relation to the alleged encroachment by the planting of bushes on The Green has been extensively discussed at previous meetings. The Clerk was asked to contact Mr. Wright and explain the above responses.

b. Pound Close Play Area (Maintenance Issues) – The RoSPA report was circulated and discussed. Cllr Petch agreed to investigate any urgent matters.

c. Bradenstoke Play Area (Maintenance Issues) – The RoSPA report was circulated. It was agreed to seek quotes for the clearance of the ditch alongside the playing field and for cutting/laying the hedge opposite the entrance to Bungalow Park.

d. Grass Cutting Contract and Issues. No matters were reported.

e. Pintail Court Project. Cllr Lightowler and Miss L Mitchell updated the meeting on the current position of the Lottery and Landfill Tax Credit Grant Applications. Cllr Lightowler proposed and Cllr Mrs. Jardine seconded that the Parish Council set aside £10,000 towards the project and as previously reported is the lead on the project, will own the equipment and will oversee maintenance and insurance. A vote was taken with all Councilors in favour. Information has been supplied to Community First by the Clerk in support of the bids,

f. Pintail Court Playing Field – The Parish Council’s interest in purchasing the land as Public Open Space has been recorded by Defence Estates. The use of the land is being investigated with North Wilts District Council.

12. Allotments:

a. Allotment agreements 2007-2008 have been sent out. A number of vacancies have occurred. Cllr Bullock and Cllr Miss Palmer agreed to contact the names of interested people on the waiting list and to oversee allocation of vacant plots. It was agreed to offer half plot to new allotment holders.

b. Maintenance Issues – Cllr Miss Palmer asked if maintenance of the boundary hedge and RAF side ditch could be considered. Further drainage of the allotments is planned using the unused pipe on site.

13. Finanace and Administration:

a. Accounts & Budget Review – a review of the current years budget and accounts took place Estimated balance available as at the 13th November was £39950. The request for a grant towards repairs at Bradenstoke Village Hall was discussed and £1000 awarded from the Support for Halls and Churches budget allocation.

b. Payment of Invoices – The following payments were proposed by Cllr Petch and Seconded by Cllr Potter: Playsafety £141 ( 666), Lyneham Village Hall £16.50 Oct (667), Colin Cowdry £708.35 (668), Clerk £342.16 (669), Envisage £370.81 (670), Open Space Society £40 (671), R Harper £60 (672), Bradenstoke Village Hall Hire £24 (673), Bradenstoke Village Hall Grant £1000 (674).

c. Correspondence received – to review the list.

Items to note:

d. Actions agreed from Correspondence. Noted above

e. Items for consideration in 2008-2009 Budget. A draft list of items for inclusion in the 2008-2009 budgets was circulated and a revised copy will be provided for the December meeting. Additional requests should be brought to the December Parish Council meeting

f. Council’s Own Website – Cllr Lightowler deferred this matter to a future meeting to allow further investigations

14. Councillors’ Observations & Items for Next Meeting:

Cllr J Webb updated the meeting on the recent One Council for Wiltshire Seminar.
Cllr Mrs. Turner – Bin in Pound Close is still full.
Cllr Mrs. Jardine – Log bench by the Mallard needs to be staked.

15. Date of Next Meeting:

Tuesday 11th December 2007 at 7.15pm at Lyneham Village Hall
Tuesday 8th January 2008 at 7.15pm in The Hive, RAF Lyneham

The meeting closed at 10.00 pm