East Knoyle Parish Council - Minutes

10th July 2007

Minutes of a meeting of the Full Council in East Knoyle Village Hall on 10th July 2007

Present

Cllr Haworth-Booth (Chairman),  Cllr Garrett,  Cllr Campbell,  Cllr Coffin,  Cllr Dawson,  Cllr Drake,  Cllr Hyde,  Cllr Southerden,  Cllr Webster
Cllr Wharton,  Cllr Wilson
Also Present Cllrs Wayman (WCC) and Fowler (SDC) and two members of the public

1. PUBLIC OPEN FORUM - Information and Questions from the Public. The state of the roads in the region of Windmill Crossroads was raised and discussed. Council had been in constant contact with WCC Highways and had thought this was to be a high priority, but it had been removed from the list by WCC.

2. Apologies for Absence. None

3. Notices of Interest. None

4. Minutes of meeting held on 9th January 2007 . (previously circulated) Approved and signed off

5. Matters Arising from the minutes.

The Clerk updated Councillors on the current state of One Council for Wiltshire bid. The bench had been installed in Knoyle House ground and chained to a post. Thanks were expressed to the donor who wished to remain anonymous. Chairman had installed the securing post. Cllr Hyde had replaced Cllr Drake as a member of the Planning Committee, Cllr Drake had replaced Cllr Wilson on Highways Common Lands and Rights of Way Committee. Council was asked to note the changes. So noted.

6. Chairman’s Report.

The Chairman and Clerk attended a seminar for Quality Councils at Taunton in June. Some very interesting presentations were made but it is clear minister’s thinking was not finalised. Changes in ministers meant that there may be delays in the final outcome.

Chairman had attended a seminar held by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and this was an agenda item.

Chairman had attended a presentation by Wiltshire Highways on the next year’s work. They promised the work on the box markings at the north end of the village would be carried out within 4 weeks. That was 6 weeks ago. Having said we were not getting Holloway Lane surfaced, it was carried out. Having said that Brickyard Hill was a priority, it had not been done, though some potholes had been filled. Councillors noted that several stretches of road between East Knoyle and Salisbury had been surfaced. They were not as bad as Brickyard Hill. There has been continuous dialogue with Wilts CC over the B3089 and this was an agenda item.

7. Committee Reports from respective Chairmen of:

• Planning Committee. The Committee had met twice and all applications were supported.
• Common Lands, Highways and Rights-of-Way Committee. The Risk Assessment of Woodland at Windmill Hill should be completed by the end of July. The result of the WCC spring survey of footpaths was unknown. Cllr Haworth-Booth had felled 12 small holly trees in the woods and the wood was available for a donation to the Council. There were some trees blocking footpaths in Haddons Wood and Cllr Campbell was checking on this.
• Finance Committee. The Accounts for 2006-7 had been audited by Simon Ashworth. Council expressed their thanks to him and Cllr Dawson would write. The Committee had discussed a possible contribution towards a defibrillator for the new parish First Responder team and this was to be a Full Council agenda item in September. HSBC were being very slow with monthly statements.

8. Other Reports from Councillors with Special Responsibilities for:

• Wiltshire County Council (County Cllr. Wayman). Cllr Wayman apologised for the state of the roads. The One Council for Wiltshire bid would be decided at the end of July. Road works in Maiden Bradley meant a temporary removal of the weight restriction on the B3089. She would chase the report on Footpaths.
• Salisbury District Council (District Cllr. Fowler). Consultation was taking place on the new waste collection proposals which he explained, particularly in the context that landfill sites would run out in 10 years and WCC was not meeting government targets. A survey suggested that only one house in East Knoyle, at the Green, would have problems with wheely bins. Councillors expressed strongly their disapproval of rotting waste being collected fortnightly and they did not accept the reasoning. The Bourne Hill project was in the throes of consultation.
• Police Liaison. To note this committee no longer meets – so noted.
• Village Hall Management Committee Cllr Haworth_Booth other commitments meant he had not been able to attend the meeting
• East Knoyle Community Shop Association The first full year had passed with takings at £197,000 and £2000,000 passed the following week. The accounts had been signed off by the accountant and the AGM was soon to be held. If the AGM passed a rule change the Council would be able to have a maximum of two councilors on the management board, one being ex-officio. The Shop was to co-host an event in Knoyle House Ground with the Parish Plan Group.
• Mere Community Safety Partnership The group was writing expressing concern over the proposals for the B3089.
• Wigglybus and Link scheme Cllr Wilson had attended two meetings as an observer. East Knoyle accounted for 8-10% of requests, 1/3rd being hospital trips and, with only one volunteer, this means often an 8-10 mile extra round trip. The parish made no financial contribution and users made low contributions.
• East Knoyle Parish Planning Group. Cllr Southerden had attended all meetings. There had been open consultation at the War Memorial on 9th June, a youth barbecue on 8th July and there was to be a village barbecue in Knoyle House Ground on 28th July. This should lead to a village wide questionnaire after October.

9. To approve the audited accounts for 2006-7 and complete the Statement of Assurance. Approved and certified

10. To approve the publication in the Newsletter of contact details for individual councillors. Approved for the Newsletter once a year but not the website.

11. To note the Chairman has made a complaint to Wiltshire County Council concerning their management of the removal of the weight limit on the B3089 and its response. The Clerk had discussed this with the Complaints Investigation Officer Nina Wilton. She has discussed the matter with Jane Scott Leader of WCC Cabinet who is taking a personal interest in the matter. She has asked George Batton Head of Environment which includes Highways to oversee the matter. Jane Scott and Nina Wilton wished to attend a site meeting to see the issue and also to attend any joint parish meeting with officers. We had been asked to set the dates.

12. To respond to Salisbury District Council’s consultation on new offices at Bourne Hill. All households had received a consultation form as had the Council. The Clerk had asked two questions of SDC. 1) What is the cost of option 2 – the reduced scheme? Mr Crook at SDC stated that the savings were only marginal and would be eaten up by increased running costs of several buildings. 2) Why was this being decided on 23rd July when One Council for Wiltshire was being decided on 24th July? – answer because the decision was to be taken at full council on 25th July and in any case it is expected that the decision on One Council would be deferred to September as there were new ministers. (this was not a view shared at WCC). Councillors expressed strong criticism of the decision to sign the contracts before the decision on One Council for Wiltshire was known and the consequential requirement for office space in Salisbury was known.

13. To consider the implications for East Knoyle Parish Council of Section 40 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 regarding conserving biodiversity. Cllr Haworth-Booth had attended a conference on this. As land owners there was legal duty to consider the implications of protecting and promoting biodiversity.

14 Correspondence. Grants were available under the Defra Aggregates Fund in the parish was within 10k of a quarry and we were for Chickgrove Quarry. Applications for projects had to be submitted by the end of August.

17. Any Other Business. The state of the roads and overhanging trees were discussed