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Minutes of the PC meeting held on the 30.1.24.
Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council
Minutes for the Parish Council meeting 7.30pm on
30th January 2024
Meeting held at Corscombe Village Hall
Councillors present: Elizabeth Southern (ES), Deborah Childs (DCh), Richard James (RJ). Henry Lovegrove (HL), Debbie Rix (DR), David Hallett (DH) Jez Hodesdon (JH), Nigel Clarke (NC), Roger Hallett (RH) and Grant Prior (GP)
3 members of the public were present.
The meeting started at 7.30pm and was chaired by the chairman Cllr. James.
To receive and accept apologies and declarations of interest.
Apologies received from Cllr. John White Hamilton.
No declarations of interest.
- To approve the draft minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 27th November 2023 (A)
Proposed Cllr. Rix and seconded Cllr. Lovegrove Approved 8/10
- To discuss matters arising from the minutes not covered in this Agenda.
Contact with Wessex Water still to be made, item 7.4
Action: Clerk to follow up
Public period for comments on issues on the agenda
Trees are still available from Freda Hennessy. Congratulations on the Parish Councils effort to encourage new councillors for the May Election. It was agreed that a display will be put up at the Halstock Village Shop regarding the May Elections and highlighting the role of councillors.
Reports from Dorset Council Councillor and Police Liaison
No report from our Dorset Council Councillor.
Police Liaison – Alex Bishop our Police Community Liaison Officer (PCSO) will be at the Coffee morning in the Halstock shop on Thursday 8th February should you wish to raise any issues.
Recent incidents – In the early hours of the 2nd of January, various hand tools, fencing wire and fuel were stolen from an outbuilding in the East Chelborough area.
Abandoned cars – The abandoned red car in the hedgerow at the bridge on the Yeovil Road near its junction with Netherstoke Lane was involved in an accident and the police attended the scene at the time. Our Police Community Liaison Officer (PCSO – Alex) investigated the car, and it is insured, has a road fund licence and a current MOT; the registered keeper lives in Kent. He has informed Kent police and asked them to enquire with the registered keeper what he is going to do about the damaged car, he has not heard back yet. Since the vehicle is correctly insured and has a MOT and is not in a dangerous situation, he says the responsibility to recover it is with the registered keeper and their insurer. The matter was further followed up with Dorset Council. They were informed that the car had been abandoned (since it had been there for 2 months at the time) and asked them to remove it. Dorset Council said that as the vehicle is correctly registered and was involved in a road traffic accident the responsibility to recover it is with the registered keeper and their insurer.
The blue hatchback at Higher Halstock opposite Birts Hill Farm is still at the side of the road after the November flooding. It is partially pushed back into a field entrance. Again, our PSCO Alex has investigated this, and the car is registered to an address in Somerset and Somerset police have been asked to visit the keeper and ask them to remove the car. The car is insured and has a current MOT and road fund licence. There was concern that the car may still be in a potentially dangerous location, but the police have assessed the location and are happy it does not represent a danger.
Latest: The blue hatchback is now owned by the insurance company as they have paid out on a claim to the owner; It is now up to them to move it. Our PCSO has advised Dorset Council of this, and they have told him that they cannot move it themselves at this time, for the same reason. PCSO Alex is looking to see what insurance company now owns the car and will ask them to move it.
- To note the statement of expenditure to date and bank reconciliation (B) and to approve the schedule of payments since the last meeting. (C)
Statement of expenditure noted proposed Cllr. Prior and seconded Cllr. Lovegrove, approved 10/10
Scheduled payments approved, proposed Cllr. Prior and seconded Cllr. Lovegrove, approved 10/10
- To approve subscription to SCRIB accounting software TS
Approved 10/10. It was agreed that a year’s subscription will be purchased at £12 a month and would be run side by side with the current excel system for assessment for the year 2024/2025.
- Highways and Rights of Way
Two gates (£470 inc VAT) have now been purchased as agreed in the 27th of November 2023 minutes item 7.3
Noted – McMillan bridle way is difficult to pass along at present due to trees down. Action Cllr. James to report this to Dorset Council.
Issue regarding proposed salt bin locations – as yet no response to request for clarification of the criteria the proposed salt bin locations were refused on. Action: Clerk to try contacting Roland Skeats.
6.1 Damage to road signs at Adams Green and missing road sign to Halstock Leigh (What3words Location: reveal.garlic.rating) TS
Action: Cllr. Clarke to assess damage to finger post at Halstock Leigh and look at repair options.
Action: Cllr. Clarey to be asked for further details on location at Adams Green. Cllr. Clarke to assess damage.
Action : Clerk to send Cllr. Lovegrove the exact location for the placement of the bin approved earlier in 2023.
To note finger posts at Oak Lane and opposite the Fox Inn in Corscombe are also damaged and have been logged.
6.2 Flood level gauge at location Birts Hill Farm, Halstock Leigh
What3Words: searching.verges.diamonds TS
There have been several incidents recently when cars have got stuck in deep flood water at Birts Hill Farm, Halstock Leigh. It has been suggested that a depth gauge would be helpful so that people know how deep it is, as the water is a lot deeper than in other places locally that flood.
As yet no response from highways.
Action: Clerk to follow up this request.
6.3 Repair of wall at Old Mill House TS
The retaining wall at Old Mill House by the stream will be repaired by the NFY and a temporary road closure will be needed. The owners will approach Dorset Council regarding the possible repair of the wall on the opposite side of the road.
Action: Clerk to follow up progress with owners – further updates to follow
6.4 Update abandoned cars Halstock – update GP
See police liaison comments above.
- To consider and note planning applications and decisions. (D) TS
Noted
As yet there has been no decision made on application P/FUL/2023/03556 However, there has been a revised description on the application “Continued use of land and retention of buildings for mixed use, to include nursery, tearoom and polytunnel” removing Magpie auctions. Action: Clerk to seek further clarification from Planning regarding changes.
- Enforcement update (verbal) TS
Application WD/D/20/001239 – there are ongoing discussions with planning regarding a pre-application made to reach a solution for addressing issues dismissed in the application/appeal.
- To note/receive a maintenance update for the playground and outdoor gym (Verbal) TS
No new issues noted.
8.1 Halstock Children’s play Park JH
Cllr. James and Cllr. Hodeston have identified two possible locations. They will follow this up.
Action: Clerk to write a formal letter outlining the Parish Council’s request once further details are provided.
8.2 Update on progress of Corscombe playground renovation ES
The placement of new playground equipment at the Corscombe play area will be undertaken on Tuesday the 6th of February and will be closed for several days.
- Election update (E) TS
Election notices have gone into the Chimes, website and on notice boards.
Councillors have been provided with Dorset Councils Election tool kit and a nomination pack. Several questions were raised during the discussion of the election timeline and nomination forms. Councillors were asked to take time to read through this information.
Action: Clerk to get a response to questions raised and attend the DAPTC election update session on the 1.2.2024
- Flood Warden Programme for Corscombe (Verbal) DR
It was agreed that a request will be made to see if anyone in Corscombe would be willing to become a volunteer flood warden.
Action: Clerk to put an article in the Chimes re request for Flood wardens
The community flood action plan will be considered if flood wardens can be identified.
The issue of the drainage ditch running along the back gardens of houses in Barrow Lane was raised as these may be blocked contributing to flooding further down.
Community sandbag storage – Action: Clerk to contact the Village Hall committee to formally ask if at their next meeting they would consider a location at the village hall for sandbag storage.
- To receive and note training update (Verbal) TS
Councillor Networking Event 7th March at Kingston Maurward (£79) It was agreed that a councillor should attend this event. Cllr. James will look at availability.
- Correspondence to be discussed and noted. (Verbal) TS
None
- Climate and Ecology action to be noted
13.1 Dorset Community Tree Project
Request for land to plant trees.
- To consider urgent matters to report from members and items for the next meeting.
None.
- Date of next Parish Council meeting will be the 25th of March 2024 at Halstock Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 9.30 pm.
Appendices available upon request to the Clerk.
Clerk to the Council: Tessa Safadi, Tel: 01935 579783
Email: CHparishclerk@gmail.com
chdpc.org.uk