Parish Council Meeting Dates:
16th February 2012 starting at 7.30pm
Note! This is a change in date from the previously scheduled date advised in the minutes.
AGM: 10th May 2012 starting at 7.30pm
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Minutes of the Rushall Parish Council Meeting
10th November 2011
Rushall & Charlton Village Hall
Present: Dr Richard Tilbury Chairman
Mrs Caroline Larken Acting secretary for the meeting
Mr Colin Gale
Mr John Rogers
Also present: Mr David Harvey, Mrs Marion Harvey, Mr Oliver Gale and PCSO Helen Ringstead
1. Appointment of a Minutes Secretary - The chairman asked Caroline Larken to take the minutes and she agreed.
2. Apologies for absence - Brigadier Robert Hall
3. Minutes of Last Meeting - The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of 28th July 2011 and the Project Meeting of 13th September 2011 were approved and duly signed as a true record of the meetings by the chairman.
4. Correspondence - Letters of resignation have been received from Mrs Marion Harvey and Mr Julian Ridge. A letter has also been received and reviewed from Roger Wiltshire, Ethical Governance Officer, Wiltshire Council.
5. Matters Arising:
Conservation Area Status (CA) - The chairman advised that he had not had much opportunity to progress this item since the last meeting due to higher priorities. However, the chairman recommended that the item should remain on the agenda and progressed at a later meeting when the work allowed.
Best Kept Village Memorial Tree - Still no site has been found- John Rogers will ask the Village Hall Committee. He had some other ideas for positioning, possibly by the lay-by, and will contact Highways and the houses near by.
A letter has been received about the Lawrence Kitching Best Kept Village award, which gives the judges feedback but doesn't state how Rushall fared. John Rogers will contact them to find out.
Speed Indicator Device (SID) - Colin Gale advised that there were two significant changes associated with the control management of the SIDs and the criteria for having a SID. The Control Management for the allocation of the SIDs has been delegated to the Area Boards, Community Area Transport Groups (CATG). The criteria for having a SID has been raised so that the SID is the next layer of surveillance management beyond CSW. In order to qualify for a SID there has to have been 29 recorded speeders within a CSW session. Based on historic records there are only 3 sites in the Pewsey Area that qualify. Rushall is not amongst these and from our records Rushall would not qualify for the enhanced SID requirement criteria. John Rogers is exploring this status via Elizabeth Ngero and Colin Gale is progressing the Rushall status as the CATG member. This may involve applying for a 'Metro Strip' re-measurement of volume of speeders.
6. Community Service Report - Helen Ringstead reported that over the last month Rushall had experienced theft of lead from the church. There were issues in other areas. Marlborough and Pewsey have reported non- dwelling burglaries; this is more normal as the nights close in. The public are advised to lock up outhouses and sheds and report suspicious activity. The Police would rather have a wasted journey and find nothing wrong as opposed to not attending and an incident occurs.
Policing priorities: Beauty spot thefts are no longer a priority and the focus is now being put on non- dwelling burglaries. The second priority in this area is with anti-social behaviour in Rawlins Road. Youths have been acting in an anti-social manner causing upset to residents. Police aim to tackle this by catching the youths and imposing restorative justice on those caught; 3 youths have been caught so far.
Pewsey East is short of a beat manager but interviews have been held and an appointment is being made. No start date has been given yet. Before this happens Richard and Helen are committed to the areas and working hard to maintain a visibility in both areas.
October saw the start of the new policing hubs, and September saw the start of the new non- emergency number 101. Both are working well. The public are welcome to contact the police by email: pewseynpt@wiltsire.pnn.police.uk, phone: 101 or by dropping into the police station on Tuesdays between 10-12.
7. Safe Pedestrian Access - Colin Gale gave a brief review of the vote on 24th September organised to determine the villagers' preference between footpath scheme, Area '1' which had a footpath around the base of the Yew Tree and, footpath scheme Area '2' which had a footpath over the root ball of the Yew Tree. The vote was counted after the declared polling cut off time that evening and the result was identified as 39 votes for Area '1' and 55 votes for Area '2'. However, on completion of the count it was noted that there were more voting slips than expected based on the registration and distribution of the voting slips against the electoral role. The decision notice was posted that evening on the Parish Council Notice Board as agreed and Mr Gale performed a subsequent investigation to reconcile the vote discrepancy. Three false votes were identified, all in favour of Area '2'. The source that resulted in the availability of the false voting slips was identified. The person who posted the false voting slips came forward and admitted their involvement and apologised. The Parish Council determined that the false votes did not impact the villagers' choice of Area '2' as the footpath scheme.
Colin Gale proposed that the Parish Council vote to select Area '2' as the selected footpath scheme. John Rogers seconded the proposal and the vote was unanimously agreed by the Parish Council. The chairman asked about the timing for the implementation. Mr Gale advised that Wiltshire Council were targeting early December and if the works went over the Christmas period the contractor would make the site safe and resume on the 9th January 2012.
Colin Gale then briefed the meeting on the latest developments to extend the footpath to 'The Old Barnyard'. At the SPA Project Working Group held on 13th September the members reviewed two extensions, Area '3' and Area '4', which combined would extend the footpath to 'The Old Barnyard'. The cost of Area '3' was £2,980 and the cost of Area '4' was £4,043. The members also recognised that 3 or 4 wooden bollards would be required. Three bollards would be needed along the stretch between the village hall and Brambledown to stop parking on the footpath. An additional wooden bollard would also be required if Area '2' was selected to stop motorists mounting the footpath by the Yew Tree. The working group recommended that the members pursue a strategy to gain sufficient funding and grants to implement both Area '3' and Area '4' plus the bollards.
Since the SPA working group meeting the Parish Council Chairman has been approached by a donor who has recognised the villagers desire to extend the footpath scheme as far as possible and has offered a donation of £1,500 towards this aim. The donation combined with the Parish Council current year precept funds would allow sufficient funding for the Parish Council to progress Area '3' plus 4 wooden bollards.
Colin Gale proposed that the Parish Council vote to implement Area '3' plus 4 wooden bollards using the available donation and precept funding. John Rogers seconded the proposal and the vote was unanimously agreed by the Parish Council.
Colin Gale further briefed that at the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) which met on 19th October additional funding became available due to a previously agreed scheme not attracting sufficient additional funding to proceed. This allowed priority schemes with agreed plans and costings to be considered. The CATG recommended the Rushall footpath scheme Area '4' to the Pewsey Area Board for funding approval. The Pewsey Area Board met on 7th November and approved the CATG recommendation to fund the Rushall Area '4' footpath scheme.
Colin Gale proposed that the Parish Council vote to approve the Area '4' footpath scheme for implementation. John Rogers seconded the proposal and the vote was unanimously agreed by the Parish Council.
The chairman asked the meeting if they had any questions or points they would like to raise.
Mr Dave Harvey asked if the implementation of the footpaths would reduce the road width. Colin Gale advised that it was declared from the outset that there would be a minimal road pinch at the Yew Tree with the implementation of Area '2'. There would also be increased curb heights as the footpath slopes over the tree root ball. A further road pinch would be necessary to get round the wall buttress at Little Thatch. To a certain extent the road width would be reinstated to its original width prior to the erosion of the grass verges by large vehicles.
Mr Dave Harvey then queried if the road centre white lines and cats eyes would be retained. Colin Gale advised that the cats eyes would be removed along the complete stretch of the new footpath in line with highways policy for this class of road. The centre white lines would be removed at the points where the road is pinched.
Mrs Marion Harvey asked whether the contractors would have full insurance cover. The Parish Council confirmed that the Highways contractors were required to have full public liability insurance.
The chairman concluded the item and suggested that a flyer should be generated and distributed to all households advising the latest status and the proposed date for commencement of road works. Colin Gale agreed to draft the flyer for distribution at the end of next week.
8. Budget/Precept - Wiltshire Board would like the Precept to be set before Jan 20th 2012. At the moment the precept is £2100. The chairman advised that the PC annual expenditure is £1,230. There was discussion on next years funding requirements. Colin Gale proposed and John Rogers seconded the vote to increase our 2012 precept to £2600. This would enable a further consideration of a donation of £200 to be given to the Village Hall to support grounds maintenance and a contingency to cover any unforeseen additional costs associated with contributions towards the extending of the footpath from Forge House to Rushall Bridge to link with the permissive access paths to North Newnton and additional wages for the Clerk.
9. Planning Applications considered - 1 Park View extension was approved by the PC but still undecided by the Wiltshire planning office. A Planning application for The Old House change of driveway entrance was approved by the PC, subject to conditions. Dr Tilbury is expecting a planning application from Mr Nigel Wookey for change of use from agricultural to cricket pitch and for revamping the cricket pavilion in Garson's field. Caroline Larken advised that she had received a planning notice for solar panels on the farm buildings adjacent to the Devizes Road. The PC noted that this planning notice was being processed and would be received in the next few days.
10. Village Hall Matters - John Rogers, the PC representative on the Village Hall Committee advised the PC of the highlights of interest to the PC from the last VHC meeting. Forthcoming dates,
Christmas Coffee Morning December 3rd 2011, Christmas Party December 17th 2011 and a Fish and Chip evening March 23 2012.
The Village Hall have requested a donation from the PC towards the cost of grounds maintenance; they receive nothing from Charlton PC.(See Budget/Precept). The PC discussed the funding provision and the balance of providing funding from Rushall PC when Charlton do not match and have not previously provided any funding. The chairman asked Mr Dave Harvey if he would like to comment as the clerk of Charlton & Wilsford PC. Mr Dave Harvey advised that this subject had been discussed by both PC's in the past when Rushall PC had contributed funding. Charlton & Wilsford PC's position is that they expect the Wilsford Village Hall to generate sufficient funding to manage and be self sufficient and as a consequence do not budget in their precept for any village hall contributions. Rushall PC would reconsider this item in next years expenditure.
The Village Hall Committee had been approached to have a clothes bank in support of Wiltshire Air Ambulane located in the Village Hall grounds at the rear where the seat was previously sited. The Village Hall Committee were still investigating aspects associated with the clothes bank but wanted to know what the PC view would be. The PC discussed the pros and cons associated with the clothes bank. There was general support for the Air Ambulance but concerns about a clothes bank in the village hall grounds. The concerns identified were the loss of a parking space in order to provide access to the clothes bank; knowledge of fires associated with other clothes banks as a consequence of vandalism, and theft of the donations from the clothes bank due to the high value of rags. The chairman asked Mrs Marion Harvey if she would like to comment as Headteacher of the school. Mrs Marion Harvey advised that the school was also a supporter of the Air Ambulance. She was surprised that there had been a request for a clothes bank to be sited in the village hall grounds as there were already Air Ambulance clothes banks at Pewsey and Upavon. Mrs Marion Harvey considered there were more effective ways of raising funds and she advised that she had recently had an event in the school collecting rags which had raised £700.Mrs Marion Harvey also stated that she would be happy to discuss school supported fund raising for the Air Ambulance with the Village Hall Chairman.
The chairman proposed a vote and the PC voted unanimously against the clothes bank. The PC actioned John Rogers to write formally to the Village Hall Chairman advising him of the PC view.
11. Any Other Business -
Status of Recruiting a New Clerk - The chairman reported that it was disappointing that he had received no applicants from adverts that he had placed in various publications. He would keep trying.
Community Speed Watch - This is going well; a new recruit (Mr. Norman Newport) has joined which should enable a crew of three to be on watch at any time. Several speedwatches have occurred since the last PC Meeting, using three locations. Most speeders are recorded entering the village from the Upavon approach, with an average of 18 per hour over 36mph and with some as high as 48mph. The location by the school also catches speeders and slows speeders past the school. The new location outside Chudleigh Cottage records speeders entering the village from North Newnton. It was very successful in slowing speeders due to the high visibility of the crew. Three speeders were recorded, one at 43mph.
Community Area Transport Group - Mr Colin Gale briefed that the CATG met on 19th October 2011. With regard to the Speed Indicator Devices the criterion for having them in Rushall has changed. It now requires 29 speeders per hour to be recorded. Mr. Colin Gale and Mr. John Rogers are progressing a request for one through the Pewsey Area Board.
Neighborhood Watch - It was agreed that following the attempted break- ins at the church the PC must appoint a Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator and let the police know who it is. Colin Gale agreed to take on the co-ordinator role and notify the police accordingly.
Newsletter - Mr Gale said that the summer issue didn't get put together, but all the information is ready and an Autumn edition will be issued in the next few weeks.
Website - Mr Gale reported that this has been on the back burner but it will be resuscitated so that the minutes can be posted.
Standing Orders - Roger Wiltshire advised the PC to develop and implement a set of Standing Orders. A specific task working group was established (Mr Colin Gale, Mrs Caroline Larken and Mr John Rogers) to take the necessary action and report back to the next PC meeting.
Jubilee/Olympic celebrations - Ian Blair-Pilling (Netheravon PC) has asked Rushall PC to think about joining other Avon Valley villages to celebrate next year's Royal Jubilee and Olympics together. He is arranging a meeting to discuss the idea.
Bulb Planting - Each councillor was given a bag of bulbs to plant throughout the village, courtesy of Lady Turner.
School House - Outside this house the footpath needs clearing and the tree needs attention. John Rogers will take the lead and contact the owner and the Parish Steward and liaise to obtain the necessary TPO approval.
Great Stones Way - The proposals will be circulated by the Chairman.
British Woodlands Trust Tree Planting- They plan to supply 6 million trees for UK communities as part of the Jubilee celebrations. The Chairman has contacted Nigel Wookey and will find out more details.
Neighbourhood Plans - Colin Gale identified that the PC would have to progress the generation of a Neighbourhood Plan in line with national policy which is being adopted by Wiltshire. The current Village Design Statement would satisfy some of the content but additional elements which would have been part of a Parish Plan would need to be created and included.
12. Date of Next Meeting -
The next meetings are scheduled for, 9th February 2012, 10th May 2012 (AGM)
The meeting finished at 21.10