Minutes of the Parish Council meeting 30.9.24

Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council 

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting 7.30pm on 30^th September 2024 

Councillors present:  Roger Hallett (RH), Grant Prior (GP), Helen Sherwood (HS), Garry Arnold (GG), Richard Fry (RF) and Mark Caddick (MC)

Dorset councillor Chris Kippax

0 members of the public were present.

The meeting started at 7.30pm and was chaired by  Cllr. R Hallett.

Meeting held at Corscombe Village Hall.

Welcome 

Due to absence of Chair and Vice chair Cllr. R Hallett was voted in as chairman 6/6 

1. To receive and accept apologies and declarations of interest.

Apologies received Cllr. James, Cllr. Lovegrove, Cllr D Hallett,  Cllr. Nigel Clarke (NC), Cllr. John white Hamilton and Cllr Childs.

No declarations of interest 

2. To approve the draft minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 29^th July 2024 (A)

Approved 6/6 

3. To discuss matters arising from the minutes not covered in this Agenda.

None 

Public period for comments on issues on the agenda

None 

Reports from Dorset Council Councillor  Chris Kippax and Police Liaison         

Dorset councillor Chris Kippax introduced himself as our new Dorset Council link.  He sees his role as an advocate to the people and where necessary can  intervene to help resolve issues. He also will inform the Parish Council of any relevant issues raised at the full council of Dorset Council.

Councillors were invited to contact him if there were any issues of concern, this link would be facilitated by the Clerk.

 PCSO update

During August, into September, there was a spate of thefts across the border area with Avon and Somerset Police.  It appears that they had a series of thefts in their Force area, particularly of trailers and quad bikes.  It would appear that some of this came across the border, with similar thefts in the Halstock area.  One of the quad bikes stolen from the Halstock area was fitted with a tracker and was located, along with several other stolen items, in a field in Somerset.  Residents are urged to be vigilant and to report suspicious activity to the police, at the time, on 101, or online at www.dorset.police.uk.  If you believe a crime is in progress, call 999 immediately.

Between the 22^nd and 23^rd September, farm equipment, including a weighing cattle crush, hurdles and backing gates, were stolen from a barn near Halstock.  It is unknown if this is related to the crimes above.

If anyone would like any crime prevention/security advice, please let our PCSO know.  He is happy to come and visit to provide advice.  The next engagement session will be held in Halstock Community Room on Thursday 10^th.

4. To note the statement of expenditure to date and bank reconciliation (B) and to approve the schedule of payments since the last meeting. (C)

Proposed Cllr. Prior, seconded Cllr. Arnold

Statement of expenditure noted and approved 6/6

Schedule of payments approved 6/6

5. Broadband update (verbal)

Project Gigabit Dorset and South Somerset – Exciting news for Halstock

In April 2024, Wessex Internet (a local internet service provider based here in North Dorset) was awarded a new contract under the UK government’s Project Gigabit programme, to enable hard-to-reach communities to access gigabit-capable broadband. This contract will put around 21,400 properties in South and West Dorset and South Somerset in the digital fast lane.

Thanks to this Project Gigabit funding, a number of properties in Halstock will be given access to gigabit-capable full fibre broadband direct to their home or business premises and be eligible for a free installation from Wessex Internet. In addition, we have commercial plans to roll out full fibre to many additional properties in the area that were not included in the contract.

They were unable to attend the PC meeting but hope to talk to residents at the next Parish Council meeting on the 25^{th of} November.24. 

6. To note/receive a maintenance update for the playground and outdoor gym (Verbal)

Remedial work highlighted in the most recent inspection of the playground was approved 6/6

Action: Clerk to let R Whittingham know he can proceed with the remedial work. 

7. Highways and Rights of Way

7.1 Halstock speed survey and SIDS update to be noted (Verbal)

We have confirmation from Dorset Council Highways that the Radar Speed Data survey can go ahead.  Two surveys are to be completed in term time (date to be confirmed). The total cost of this survey is £495+VAT.  This cost was approved at the Parish council meeting on the 29.7.24.

Location 1 – Site 3518 Halstock North, just inside 30mph limit.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1xUAGZEMrKUHpqTC6

https://w3w.co/beaks.vocab.flooding

Location 2 – Site 3519 Halstock South, just inside 30mph limit.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QYbiCFW7Y1fayEtC7

https://w3w.co/professed.arranges.fatter….

The Clerk has approached other parishes to obtain further information regarding SIDS.  This will be discussed on the 25^th of November Parish Council meeting. 

7.2 Potholes  update to be noted (Verbal)

Repairs to potholes in common lane up to water works have now been completed.

7.3 Fingerpost update (Verbal)

Work on the red finger post is nearing completion and the post will be moved to a new location to help prevent damage.  This was notified to councillors prior to the meeting and discussed at the Parish Council meeting on the 29^{th of} September.  There was concern raised by some councillors that this would make it harder to see and result in the loss of a small part of hedging.  

8. Halstock Noticeboard (D)

After reviewing the tenders  for the Halstock notice board it was agreed 6/6 that we would go with the quote from Roger Whittingham (£500) to renovate the current Halstock Board. It was noted that the quote did not include pinboard replacement.

Proposed Cllr. Caddick Seconded Cllr. R Hallett approved 6/6

Action Clerk to let Halstock shop know about renovation (the notice board will be out of action for about 4 weeks)   and inform Roger Whittingham that we have accepted his quote and would be happy to accept a slight increase due to the need to also replace pinboard. Clerk to authorise.  

9. To consider and note planning applications and decisions. (E)

Noted

Councillors were asked to make sure that they responded to all calls for comment and that they let the Clerk know if they approve, object  or abstain to a planning application, giving relevant material reasons why. 

Amendment

At the Parish Council meeting on the 30^th September 2024 I reminded councillors to review the planning application, P/FUL/2024/05029, that I had recently sent and was asked to contact the applicants to clarify some points prior to councillors making a decision.  

• Do you know how many animals will be processed?  
• Would it be domestic animals or would you be considering larger/farm animals. 

9.1 Enforcement update (verbal)

 Noted.  This remains an on-going concern with Dorset Council. 

10. To receive and note training update (Verbal)

Clerk will be attending the Clerks conference on the 1^st  of October 2024 and the clerk and Cllr. James, Clarke and Lovegrove will be attending the DAPTC training event on enforcement on the 8^th of October.

11. Archives update (F)

Noted

Dorset History Centre now holds minutes, agendas and appendices from 1894.

Corscombe Parish Minutes 1894 to 1949

Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council 1973 – 2010  Current minutes and agendas can be sources from the Clerk, on request, covering the period 2010- 2024. 

12. Correspondence to be discussed and noted. (Verbal) 

13. Audit update (G)

Noted.  The Parish Council passed the external audit  with no issues raised. 

14. Climate and Ecology action to be noted

Carry forward 

15. To consider urgent matters to report from members and items for the next meeting.

Cllr. Prior to pass on information to the  PCSO relating to the  burnt-out car on the Yeovil Road leaving Halstock towards Corscombe.

Corscombe Hall update

Budget – should note a larger than normal increase of the DAPTC annual fee by 30%

Resolution to support DAPTC move to a Company Limited Guarantee.  This will need to be approved by the 23^rd of November and ratified at the Parish council meeting on the 25^th November.

Action Clerk to circulate details. 

16. Date of next Parish Council meeting will be the 25^th of November 2024 at Halstock Village Hall.

Noted 

Meeting closed at 9.20pm 

Appendices available upon request to the Clerk. 

Clerk to the Council: Tessa Safadi, Tel: 01935 579783     

Email: CHparishclerk@gmail.com

chdpc.org.uk