MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE LYNEHAM AND BRADENSTOKE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2005
AT LYNEHAM VILLAGE HALL

Cllr M Petch (Chairman)
Cllr K Pearce (Vice-Chairman)
Cllr D Bunney Cllr P Potter Cllr C Pearce Cllr T Webb
Mrs S Copp (Clerk)

Councillors F Ball, J Jardine, P Lightowler and I Plested, District Councillor A Bucknell, Wing Commander Faulkes.

Squadron Leader Martin Young (RAF representative) Item 4 only
One member of the public

Prior to the meeting Mr P Jeremiah, Legal Team Leader at North Wiltshire District Council instructed council members on the Code of Conduct.
The Meeting started at 7.00pm.

1. Apologies:

Apologies for absence were received from Parish Councillors F Ball, J Jardine, P Lightowler and I Plested, District Councillor A Bucknell, Wing Commander Faulkes.

2: Minutes of Last Meeting:

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 8th November 2005 - these 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 Squadron Leader Martin Young.

Squadron Leader Young informed the meeting that the noise on flights mentioned at the previous meeting would now be over since the Pakistan relief operations were now finished. He also spoke on the VC10 planes, explaining the pattern of disruption. The Squadron Leader produced a map to look into the ownership of the ditch and it seemed that part but not all of the area is MOD land. He has asked the Defence Estates to clarify the situation. He reported on criminal damage in Slessor Road and to the youth shelter.

b) To receive questions on RAF matters - Cllr Potter asked who owns the land next to the rub hangar since the top three strands of wire fence had been cut. SL Young agreed to check. Mr Humm asked about the ownership of the ditch along Melsome Road to C site. SL Young thought this would be County Highways responsibility although part of the area does belong to the MOD. He would check.

Mr Humm also requested an update on the mobile skateboard facility which had been dormant. SL Young was investigating the possibility of using the area near Hobbs Cottage and the Officers’ Mess, although it would mean escorting users on to the site.

The Chairman thanked Squadron Leader Young for attending the meeting.

5. Public Questions:

Council website - Mr Humm wished to speak on this item. However the Chairman informed him that the item would be discussed at the January meeting.

6. Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Purchase of Lyneham Green - i) update - awaiting final papers from solicitor. ii) purchase of publication - the Clerk reported that she had been unable to purchase the publication “Our Common Land” since it cost £25 instead of the advertised figure of £5 .

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

“To purchase the publication “Our Common Land” at a cost of £25.”

b) Litter- sponsorship of bin - The bin had been ordered. No reply to the complaint about litter had been received from Tesco.

c) Youth Club - correspondence re. attendance at council meetings - Awaiting information from Mrs Boyd.

d) Update on lights suggested for Bradenstoke T junction - Councillor Bucknell had suggested two possible sources for grants and the Clerk was following up these suggestions. One of these required an application to be presented by 30th December unless the Council was prepared to wait until Spring 2006. It was generally agreed to apply in 2006. Action: Clerk

The Clerk had drafted a consultation letter to residents of the area and this was generally approved. A decision on the purchase would be made in one month’s time.

7: Planning:

b) Works to 111 Chippenham Road, Lyneham - No reply had been received. The Clerk is to contact the manager again. Action: Clerk

c) Planning enforcement at 67 The Folly - It was noted that this matter was now with the Council’s legal section for consideration of prosecution for non-compliance with the Enforcement Notice.

d) WCC: Waste Development document - Issues and Options Report - It was generally agreed to defer this item to the following month.

e) Meetings with planning applicants -

i) North Wilts Golf Club - The Chairman and Vice-Chairman had been invited but the Vice-Chairman had been unable to attend. The Chairman reported that the application referred to a development of one hundred holiday homes which he believed would only be seen over the Bassett hill.

ii) Westlea Housing Development - the Chairman, Cllr Ball and Cllr Potter would attend the site meeting on 14th December.

8: Highway Matters & Transport:

a) To consider purchase of seat for Bradenstoke bus shelter - There had been complaints at the lack of a seat. The Clerk had received quotations from Glasdon as follows:
Option A perch seat and associated materials £167, plus carriage and packing £55;
Option B perch seat and associated materials £167, plus fitting £512. All quotes plus VAT.

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

“To purchase a Glasdon perch seat as per Option A at a cost of £222 plus VAT in January.”

Cllr C Pearce would look into the cost of fitting the seat. Action: Cllr C Pearce

b) Other maintenance issues - The Vice-Chairman reported that a post at the memorial cenotaph had been broken. Cllr C Pearce and he would investigate repairs. Action: Cllr K Pearce/Cllr C Pearce

9: Play Areas & Open Spaces:

a) Extension/relocation of play area: play area strategy by Working Party Cllrs Plested and Lightowler would present a scheme at the next meeting..

b) Play areas:

i) Repairs - update - The balance to pay upon completion would be £2,425.91. It appeared that the works to Lyneham play area had been completed although the Chairman thought there may be some future re-seeding. The Vice-Chairman agreed to inform the Clerk when the contractor had finished in Bradenstoke. Action: Cllr K Pearce

ii) Future inspections - to be deferred until after repairs to play areas have been completed.

c) Ditch clearance alongside play area - It had only been possible to find one quotation for the work. The Vice-Chairman would ask for this in writing. Action: Cllr K Pearce

10: Reports of Meetings Attended :

No meetings had been attended

11: Finance & Administration:

a) Accounts and Budget update and payment of invoices – The update was noted.

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

"To approve for payment the accounts as follows:"

b) Council bank: change of signatories - the Council’s bank required to update its information by proof of identity of Council signatories. The Clerk had noted that It was also necessary to add further signatories to the list and the bank recommended that two new names be added. Cllrs Bunney and Webb agreed.

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

"That Councillors D Bunney and T Webb be added to the Council Mandate to become signatories of the Council‘s Bank Account"

All signatories present completed the Bank Mandate. Cllr Turner would be able to complete this at the next meeting. Action: Cllr D Turner

c) Receipt of Requests for Grant Aid - There were no requests.

However the Chairman wished to inform members that he had been approached by the vicar regarding any help the Council could give with the church grass cutting. The Chairman reminded members that the Council already provides grant aid of £1,000 per year and charities provide a further £500. The work costs between £1,500 and £2,000 for eleven cuts each year and the charity and church are unable to recover VAT, unlike the Council. The Chairman asked members to consider the possibility of the Council taking responsibility for Lyneham and Bradenstoke churches grass cutting, collecting the charity income and recovering VAT. The Clerk warned that some contractors did not pay VAT and the possibility of incurring extra expense. It was agreed that she should check the Council’s responsibility in this matter. Action: Clerk

The item is to be placed on the next agenda for consideration.

13: Correspondence received:

b) Actions to be taken: : Lyneham & Bradenstoke Parochial Church Council - Request for grant aid - The Clerk is to send a grant application form. Action: Clerk

14: Allotments:

a) Water supply - Awaiting information.

b) Works to the old footpath - Cllr Pearce reported that the fence was ready to be installed
.
c) Update - It was noted that half of Plot 10b had not been worked. The Clerk is to write. Action: Clerk

15: Councillors’ Observations & Items for Next Meeting:

[Top]

Action: Clerk
Cllr Potter reported that the road outside Swindon Road garage had standing water following a thunderstorm and it was agreed to ask NWDC to clean out the gullies there.
The Chairman asked if the road sweeper had visited Bradenstoke. The Clerk is to check. He also reported that at the bus stop opposite the BP garage the concrete was breaking up in the bus parking area. It was agreed to report this.

16: Date of Next Meeting:

The meeting closed at 8.23 pm