The Annual meeting of Odstock Parish
Council was held on 16th May 2007 in The Radnor Hall,
Bodenham.
Present: Rod Poynting (Chairman), Cliff Whitley (Vice-Chairman), Colin Berry, Stephen Stapley, Ray Martin, Richard Parsons (Clerk), SD Cllr Bryan Rycroft, WC Cllr Julian Johnson and six members of the public.
Apologies: Sherwood Elcock.
14/07 Open Public Forum: The Radnor Hall Committee reported on progress with the extension project.
15/07 Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman: Cllr Whitley proposed and Cllr Stapley seconded, Cllr Poynting as Chairman. The Chairman proposed and Cllr Stapley seconded, Cllr Whitley as Vice-chairman.
16/07 Two Vacancies: Three candidates had volunteered. Former Cllr Colin Berry was the first candidate chosen by a majority vote and David Williamson-Jones received a majority of the second vote.
17/07 Declaration of Interest: None.
18/05 Delegation of Functions: LGA 1972 s101 allows for the functions of a statutory authority to be discharged through a committee, a sub-committee, a council officer or any other local authority. It was agreed that, when necessary, OPC's statutory functions should be delegated to the Clerk as OPC's Proper Officer.
19/07 Meeting Dates: Members resolved that ordinary meetings of Odstock PC should take place on the following dates: 12th September, 5th December, 16th January 2008, 19th March and the 2008 Annual meeting would be held on 14th May. In accordance with LGA72 sch.12 s.9(1), Extraordinary PC meetings can be called by the Chairman at any time and may be subject to LGA72 sch.12 s.10(2) requiring three clear days notice.
20/07 Minutes of the PC meeting held on 21st March 2005 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.
21/07 Matters Arising:
a) Nunton Field: The agreed improvements should be completed prior to the Annual Fête on 14th July.
b) Shepherds Close: No further positive or negative developments to report.
22/07 Nunton Field Management:
a) Sub-Committee: The Chairman, Cllr Whitley and Cllr Stapley agreed to form a Sub-Committee.
b) Grass Cutting: The quote to cut the football pitch only for £48.36p plus VAT each time was approved; as was the quote of £100.78p plus VAT to cut the whole field, each time, as often as required.
c) Equipment Storage: Cllr Whitley was authorised to purchase a white lining storage facility.
d) Pavilion: There was a discussion about maintenance required and whether it would be possible to use the Probation Service to repaint the Pavilion. It was agreed to discuss this further at a future PC meeting.
e) Signage: There was a discussion about the need for a sign to advise on the responsibilities of the field's use and to ask that litter be removed.
Action: The Clerk will provide suitable wording and a quotation.
f) Letting: There was a discussion about the field's terms of use for events such as weddings, etc. It was resolved that the council should only approve a letting on a case-by-case basis so as not to set a precedent.
g) Letting for a Wedding on 22nd September: Members noted that a commitment had been made by a former Parish Cllr to allow a parishioner to use the Nunton Field for their wedding. It was resolved that it would be unreasonable to now advise the parishioner that they could not use the field.
Action: The Clerk will draft a letter explaining the Parish Council's predicament and the associated costs.
h) Car Boot Sales: These are usually organised by the Fête Committee.
Action: The Chairman will report.
i) Football Clubs: The Chairman reported that the players would not be prepared to pay £25 per game as decided at the OPC meeting on 6th December 2006. There was a discussion and it was resolved to accept a revised sum of £15 per game.
Action: The Clerk will write to each Football Club to confirm.
j) Fête Committee Marquee: Members resolved not to adopt the Marquee believing it to be a liability.
23/07 Finance:
a) Zurich Municipal: The annual insurance premium for 2007/08 of £354.45p was approved.
b) Chairman's Allowance: Members approved a Chairman's allowance of £100 for 2007/08.
c) PC Accounts for y/e March 2007: Members approved the accounts as presented. During the year, the balance of the R2 money had been drawn down, the play area finished and the store in the Nunton Field completed. There was a balance to be carried forward of £12,839.40p.
d) Payments: The following were approved:
HAC Joynt - Grass Cutting ----------- 249 - £224.00p
Parrs Ltd - Litterbin ------------------- 250 - £118.51p
WALC - Annual Subscription --------- 251 - £166.40p
Community First - Insurance Premium - 252 - £354.45p
R Poynting - Chairman's Expenses ----- 253 -- £24.99p
R Parsons - Clerk's fee on account ---- 254 - £460.00p
e) Receipts: The following were noted:
Five Bells Football Team - Pitch Fees --- £60.00p
The George Football Team - Pitch Fees - £60.00p
24/07 Transport, Roads and Footpaths:
a) WCC Parish Steward: There was a discussion about the state of the parish's roads and there is general satisfaction that the Parish Steward is achieving useful results. The local Parish Steward Co-ordinator agreed to continue liaising to ensure that monthly visits are effectively used.
b) WCC Highways Presentation on 17th May: The Clerk agreed to attend on behalf of OPC.
c) Resurfacing of A338 at Bodenham: Consultation with WCC Highways is ongoing.
d) Clarence: Freephone: 0800-23-23-23.WCC Highways continue to act on reported road defects.
e) Parking at the Hospital: Increased capacity at the Salisbury District Hospital car park will hopefully lead to a reduction in on-road parking along the Odstock road.
25/07 Planning:
a) S/2007/0776 - FULL APPLICATION - 2 STOREY EXTENSION at EBBLE HOUSE ODSTOCK. Members noted that this application had been withdrawn. There were no other planning applications requiring a response from the PC.
26/07 Reports and Correspondence:
a) Cranbourne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: The Chairman and the Clerk had attended the annual Forum on 28th March. Both agreed that the event had been well worth attending. Most of Odstock Parish is in the AONB.
b) New Forest National Park Authority: Being not far from the New Forest, Odstock PC is occasionally asked for its opinion on matters of policy within the new National Park. Wiltshire County Cllr Julian Johnson is a member of the New Forest NPA and will alert PC members to relevant matters.
c) Wiltshire Association of Local Councils: Members noted that, this year, the AGM would be in October.
d) Salisbury District Council: Salisbury District Cllr Bryan Rycroft reported that there was uncertainty following the local elections on 3rd May. The Conservative group had lost its overall majority and the Annual District Council meeting on Monday, 21st May would reveal the council's future direction.
e) Wiltshire County Council: The Department of Communities and Local Government has provisionally approved the bid prepared by WCC for Unitary Government in Wiltshire. This strategic decision will be finally resolved by the end of July 2007.
27/07 The next Ordinary Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12th September.
The meeting closed at 9:45pm
Signed without amendment by the PC Chairman, Cllr Rod Poynting, on
19th September 2007.
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