Minutes of the Parish council meeting 25th November 2024

Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council

Minutes for the Parish Council meeting 7.30pm on
25^th November 2024

Meeting held at Halstock Village Hall.

Councillors present: Richard James (RJ). Henry Lovegrove (HL), Nigel Clarke (NC), Roger Hallett (RH), Grant Prior (GP), Helen Sherwood (HS), Garry Arnold (GG), Richard Fry (RF). David Hallett (DH), Deborah Childs (DC), John White Hamilton (JWH) and Mark Caddick (MC)

8 members of the public were present.

The meeting started at 7.30pm and was chaired by the chairman Cllr. James. 

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

No apologies and Cllr. Prior declared an interest in Planning application P/FUL/2024/057600 

2. To approve the draft minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 30^th September 2024. (A)

Proposed Cllr. Sherwood, Cllr. Arnold

Approved 6/6 

2.1 To approve amendment to item 9

Approved 12/12

“At the Parish Council meeting on the 30^{th of} 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.  

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

None 

Public period for comments on issues on the agenda

Damaged sign at bottom of Adams Green update.  It still needs to be followed up with Dorset Council.  It is not in our remit as a parish council to repair.

Action: Cllr. Clarke will follow up

Thank you to Cllr. Clarke for all his hard work on the fingerposts.

Gullies at Adams Green  need digging out as they are flooding and freezing.

Action: Cllr. Clarke will follow this up.  Residents were encouraged to also report issues directly to Dorset Council.

Blocked drain outside Halstock village hall.  Action: Clerk to report issue to Dorset Council.  Residence were also encouraged to report drainage issues.

Concern was raised over the process the Parish Council took in reaching a decision on a planning application.  The council discussed ways it can improve communication regarding planning applications with our residents.  Cllr. Chris Kippax is taking an initiative to understand more complex planning application and welcomes communication from concerned residents.

The Parish council wished to thank Roger Whittingham for the work he carried out on the Halstock Noticeboard. 

Wessex Internet

Christine O’Grady Community engagement manager.

In April 2024, Wessex Internet was awarded a new contract under the UK government’s Project Gigabit programme, to enable hard-to-reach communities to access gigabit-capable broadband.

Wessex Internet have started a residents’ engagement  process and will be holding an event to outline their plans on the 16^{th of} January 2025.

Wessex Internet takes on board issues with proposed road closures. Assurances were given that road closure would be made only where absolutely necessary.

Wessex Internet will liaise with the Clerk. 

Reports from Dorset Council Councillor and Police Liaison 

Cllr Kippax – summary guide to the new national planning consultation  is out, once there is a statement of policy, Cllr. Kippax will come back to us.

The Dorset Plan has been finalised, but some councils have not received it, Cllr. Kippax will look into this.

Dorset Councils budget is being looked at now the Government budget has been set.  There are some good indications regarding investment in special educational needs, extension of the household support fund, expenditure in school buildings, community transport and investment in roads.

Planning enforcement concerns were raised  with Cllr. Kippax, being asked if Dorset Council planned to improve planning enforcement and address issues raised by many councils. 

Police liaison –

Fortunately, nothing of note to feed back for the last month or so.

However, with the recent weather residents are reminded to be safe and careful on the roads, especially in ice and snowy conditions.  Reminder to people to plan journeys ahead of time, to give yourselves plenty of time and adjust driving to the conditions of the road.  Make sure to keep your speed low and give yourselves and other vehicles more space for braking distance.  It is also a good idea to check tyres to ensure they’re in good condition (across the width of the tyre and the side walls) and inflated properly.

 

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)

Statement of expenditure noted and approved Proposed Cllr. R Hallett, seconded Cllr. Lovegrove12/12

Schedule of payment approved Proposed Cllr. R. Hallett, seconded Cllr. Lovegrove 12/12 

5. To approve the 2025-2026 Budget and Precept (D) 

Recommended:

1. Resolution to approve the draft 2025-2026 budget
2. Resolution that the end year earmarked reserves be as shown. 
3. Resolution that the precept for 2025/2026 be set at £21,000 

Resolution a, b and  c were all approved.  Proposed  Cllr. Lovegrove  Seconded Cllr. R. Hallett. Approved12/12

Noted proposed expenditure for SID can be absorbed in the proposed budget.

 

6. Highways and Rights of Way

6.1 Red Post update (Verbal) NC

Replacement of the hedge will be undertaken when the weather improves in the spring. We have received a £200 grant from CPRE towards costs.

It was agreed that the next finger post to be renovated will be the Finger Post opposite the Fox Inn, Corscombe.

Thanks to Nigel Clarke for his work on the Red Post.

Action – Clerk to send a letter of thanks to Mr and Mrs Norman, Knapp Farm for their support in moving the red post location.

6.2 Concerns over Wessex Water  upgrading of wastewater site

Issues we raised over the status of the new temporary track/road.  Also, concern was raised over damage that has been caused to the bridge and walls on both sides of the road on Adams Green.

Action: Clerk to contact Wessex Water regarding damage to bridge and walls.

Additional issue raised under highways was the success of the speed survey that showed there was sufficient evidence for Dorset highways  to approve a SID for Halstock.

It was provisionally agreed that the Parish Council would be prepared to fund a SID but would like matched funding from the Halstock Village Trust.

It was agreed that an extraordinary meeting of the Parish Council will be held in December to officially approve costs. Agreed12/12

Action: Clerk – to arrange an extraordinary meeting. 

7. Marking of Remembrance Day

It was agreed that the Parish Council will look at this issue in July 2025. 

8. To consider and note planning applications and decisions. (E) TS 

8.1 Enforcement update (verbal) TS

None

8.2 Dealing with planning applications (F)TS

Noted

Issues relating to reasons to objection or accept a planning application were given. 

8.3 Resolution to place planning application numbers and responses on the Parish Council website. TS

Agreed 12/12

Also, to consider putting out application details on sites such as WhatsApp.

8.4 Application to become a Certificated Campsite (verbal) RJ

It is believed that this is no longer an issue.

Action:  Clerk to raise letter to confirm this. 

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

Noted

Rubber mating on fence needs looking at.  Action: Clerk to ask Roger Whittingham to look at this issue and arrange a suitable replacement.

9.1 Halstock Playground update

On-hold until a suitable site can be identified.  Money has been allocated in the budget to cover costs should a site be identified. 

10. To note new defibrillator – location Fox Inn Corscombe. (Verbal) TS

Noted

Locations of defibrillators are now in Chimes and on noticeboards.

The Parish Council would like to thank the Friends of the First Responders for their donation. 

11. To receive and note training update (Verbal) TS

Clerk, Cllr. James, Cllr. Lovegrove and Cllr, Clarke – Planning Enforcements & Appeals

Cllr. James National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – Potential Changes 

11.1  Carbon Literacy workshops

Cllr. Lovegrove and Cllr. Childs will look into attending this event. 

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

The Lithium-Ion Battery Campaign is ongoing as is Lord Redesdale’s Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Bill, and the Governments Product Regulation and Metrology Bill. 

13. Corscombe Village Hall

No information available to feed back to the Parish Council regarding plans for the Corscombe Village Hall. 

14. Ratification of decision to support DAPTC move to a Company Limited Guarantee. Approved by the  23^rd of November.

Approved 12/12 

15. Climate and Ecology action to be noted

The Eco Group Big Green Day was a great success and well attended.  It was well supported by many local businesses.

There is now a monthly rolling program of talks at the Memorial Hall at Beaminster on subjects such as West Dorset Wilding, Food Resilience etc. The next one will be on the 14^th of January 2025. 

COPS  update was given by Cllr. Loveggrove  

16. Sandbags Storage update

Nothing to report at this stage. 

17. Wessex Water – water pipes

Dealt with above in discussion with Wessex Internet, damage to waterpipes by Wessex Internet was noted and will be feedback to site managers. 

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

None 

19. Date of next Parish Council meeting will be the 30^th of January 2024 at Corscombe Village Hall. 

20. Resolution to exclude members of public for item 21 due to confidential nature of the following discussion

Approved 12/12 

21. Clerks Pay award 2024/2025 

To ratify the Nalc pay scale published for 2024/2025 backdated to April 2024

Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove, seconded Cllr, Clark.  Approved 12/12 

Meeting closed 9.30pm 

Appendices available upon request to the Clerk. 

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

Email: CHparishclerk@gmail.com

chdpc.org.uk