Minutes of the Parish Council meeting 28th November 2022

 Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council

Minutes for the Parish Council 7.30pm on Monday 28^thNovember 2022

Meeting held at  Halstock  Village Hall.

Councillors present: Elizabeth Southern (ES), Roger Hallett (RH), Nigel Clarke (NC), Richard James (RJ), Henry Lovegrove (HL), Grant Prior (GP), Deborah Childs (DCh), David Hallett (DH), David Clary (DC) and Jez Hodesdon (JH)

6 members of the public

Chairman Cllr. Lovegrove

 Public period for comments on issues on the agenda

• Defibrillator for West Chelbourgh – a case was made for the Parish Council to reconsider funding the placement of the defibrillator in West Chelborough. See item 10 and 11.
• Pressure on Southwestern ambulance service and impact on residence of rural areas. Is there anything the Parish Council can do? (See item 14)

 Reports from Dorset Council Councillor and Police Liaison

 A notice from PCSO  was read out.

Nothing reported specific to the parish, However, further afield issues relating to car thefts and scams are noted.  The report will be placed on the notice board in Halstock and village websites.

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

Apologies noted from Cllr.  Mary  Penfold, Cllr.  John White-Hamilton and Cllr. Debbie Rix

Declaration of Interest made by Cllr. James re item 8

2. To approve the draft minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 27th September 2022 (A).

 Additionally noted: of name of chairman.

 Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove, seconded Cllr. Hallett 9/10

With respect to minute 10 a parishioner has suggested that the proposal for

£100 to be made available for village hall hire and publicity material to kick start a bulk household PV scheme was invalid as it was not specified in the meeting agenda. As it is not absolutely clear that budgetary provision had been made for this expenditure it was agreed that:

• The Council ratifies its decision to make £100 available for this purpose.

Proposed Cllr. Prior, seconded Cllr. Hodesdon   9/10

• In the Council budget, the expression “devolved services s137” be changed to “non grant expenditure s137” so that such an eventuality is avoided in future.

Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove, seconded Cllr. Southern 10/10

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

None

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)

Bank reconciliation: accepted – Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove and seconded Cllr Hodesdon 10/10

Scheduled payments accepted – Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove and seconded Cllr Southern 10/10

 

5. To approve the draft budget and precept for 2023/2024 (D)

Amendment to budget –

Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove, seconded Cllr. James, 10/10

 Agreed:

1. The proposed budget be approved as amended:

Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove, seconded Cllr. R. Hallett, 10/10

2. That the end year earmarked reserves be approved as amended

Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove, seconded Cllr. Prior, 10/10

3. That the precept for 2023/24 be set at £19,000

Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove, seconded Cllr. Southern, 10/10

Action: Clerk to send of Precept request to Dorset Council.

Note an updated draft budget sheet will be sent out showing the amended budget.

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

Noted –  no issues re maintenance although it was noted that the Parish Council will need to consider replacement of some pieces of playground equipment at some stage in the future.  The budget reflects this by increasing the earmarked reserves.

A working party will be set up to move the fence to enlarge the area for ball play.

 7. Highways and Rights of Way

7.1Update on fingerpost repairs and grants – (verbal) NC

Work on the finger post outside The Quiet Woman Halstock is nearly completed. Cost of @£1100 noted.  Thanks to Cllr. Clarke for his work on the fingerpost and his efforts to find alternative suppliers to reduce costs.  The Parish Council can claim a grant of £100 for this fingerpost from the CPRE once completed.

Work on a further finger post was approved. Proposed  Cllr. Lovegrove, seconded Cllr. R. Hallett 10/10

Action Clerk to write to the Halstock Village Trust to see if they would be willing to contribute to fingerpost repairs in the village.

7.2 To note PROW report (E)

 Noted.

7.3 To note condition of Lids on salt bins Adams Green Hill and propose remedial action to rectify.

Noted – Action Clerk to ask RW to repair the lid. Proposed Cllr. James, seconded Cllr. Lovegrove 10/10

 8. To consider and note planning applications and decisions. (F) TS/Planning group

Noted

Update – Appeal APP/D1265/W/22/3298936   –  Construction of private way bridge WD/D/20/001239

The Parish Council’s original decision to object to this retrospective planning application has not changed.  We see nothing in the appeal to change our decision and would ask that you support Dorset Council’s original decision to reject this application.

8.1 Unauthorised dwellings update (verbal) TS/Planning group

No response from Dorset Council.

9. To receive and note training updates (Verbal) TS

Three councillors have requested Planning Training offered by DAPTC.

10. To consider taking ownership of the AED programme for defibrillator provision in the parish – see paper from the Corscombe & Halstock First Responders (CHFR) (G)

Friends of First responders were invited to speak on this matter.

• Concerns raised over long-term commitment to funding defibrillators –
• Liability and maintenance issues. – defibrillators are guaranteed for 10 years.  Other costs will be batteries which will need to be replaced approximately every 3 years, replacement of pads .
• Precedence set to provide defibrillators for other areas in the parish.

 The Parish Council resolved to take ownership of the new defibrillators proposed for Corscombe (phone box), Halstock (Halstock village Hall) and West Chelborough.  The proposed defibrillators will be Parish Council assets.

Agreed:

1. The Parish Council will purchase and maintain defibrillators *within the Parish subject to the Friends of First Responders making contributions net of VAT for as long as their reserves can do so. Initially the aim is to place new defibrillators at Corscombe Telephone box, Halstock Village Hall and West Chelborough telephone box.
2. £1000 is placed into reserves as a provision for future capital spend on defibrillator capital spend.

Proposed Cllr. Lovegrove, seconded Cllr. Childs 10/10

11. To consider applying to the British Heart Foundation for a half price defibrillator for installation at West Chelborough or Halstock village hall – see email from CHFR (H)

This was dealt with under item 10.

 12. Correspondence to be discussed and noted.

 12.1 River Portland obstruction update (Verbal) TS

No response

12.2 Bransford parking letter to Magna housing (verbal) TS

No response

 13. Climate and Ecology emergency action to be noted

 13.1 Update on environmental initiatives. (Verbal) HL

Cllr. Lovegrove reported on the PV project’s initial meeting.  In total 36 households have signed up to receive a quotation from the potential supplier.

• DAPTC invitation to participate in an online event early next year  looking at environmental issues.   The session Objective: Dorset Council would like to meet with town and parish councils that have declared climate and/or ecological emergencies to better understand what actions and activities are being undertaken, to share best practice and information and also to highlight synergies where joint working could help us to collectively accelerate our common goals.

8 councillors expressed an interest to attend.

Supported 10/10

Action  – Clerk to complete survey and register our interest.

• Council was made aware of an organisation ‘Zero Carbon Dorset’ who have issued a report on how to achieve net zero carbon emissions with no use of fossil fuels
• Childs is looking at the possibility of setting up a new Tree planting initiative for 2023 and will look at hedge planting initiatives.   The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project is looking at training up volunteers, information can be found on the Dorset Climate Action Network website.

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

 It was agreed that the Clerk would write an article for the January Chimes asking residents about their experiences both positive and negative of using the Southwest Ambulance service over the last year

9/10

 15. Date of next Parish Council meeting will be Tuesday the 31^st of January 2023 at Corscombe Village Hall.

 Meeting closed 9.30pm

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

Email: CHparishclerk@gmail.com

chdpc.org.uk