Odstock Parish Council

An Ordinary meeting of Odstock Parish Council was held on 10 September 2008 in The Radnor Hall, Bodenham.

Present: Rod Poynting (Chairman), Cliff Whitley (Vice-Chairman), Stephen Stapley, Colin Berry, David Williamson-Jones, Nigel Start, Richard Parsons (Clerk), SD Cllr Bryan Rycroft, WC Cllr Julian Johnson and three members of the public.
Apologies: Ray Martin.

24/08 Open Public Forum: There were no matters for discussion raised by members of the public.

25/08 Declaration of Acceptance of Office: This being the first meeting in which Nigel Start had been available to participate, he agreed to be bound by the terms of Odstock Parish Council's Code of Conduct.

26/08 Declaration of Interest: None.

27/08 Minutes of the Annual PC meeting held on 14 May 2008 were agreed, subject to the correction of an error in minute no.15/08 regarding the name of the Councillor who had seconded the resolution. 

28/08 Matters Arising:
a) Fencing behind the Goalpost: Cllr Whitley reported that he had received conflicting advice from two of the four contractors who were submitting revised quotations for the fencing. It was agreed that 23 meters of green coated chain-link fencing, 1.8m high, affixed to 50x50 square metal posts, 3m apart and 50cms from the neighbouring boundary fence, would be the most appropriate solution. Cllr Whitley was authorised to award the contract of up to £1,100 excluding VAT to whichever of the four contractors could be reasonably expected to deliver the solution for the PC in the required timescale of November 2008.
b) Shepherds Close: Cllr Berry reported that there had been no progress towards a resolution to the established issues regarding road surface maintenance and unrestricted access to the Odstock playing field.

29/08 Nunton Field:
a) Grass Cutting: The Clerk reported that the field had been cut four times since April when it could easily have been cut six times if a more rigourous regime had been followed. 
b) Goalposts: The Chairman reported that the Football Club had agreed to make the goalposts safer by fixing approved plastic safety hooks for the purpose of anchoring the goal nets.
c) Football Fees: Following a debate, members were of the unanimous opinion that £25 per match was a reasonable rate to charge for the use of the football pitch and the Pavilion.
d) Pavilion Maintenance: The Chairman reported that he had measured the windows and discovered that all measurements were in imperial units. The donated kitchen units have yet to be delivered to the Pavilion.
e) Play Area Maintenance: Cllr Whitley is concerned that the wooden legs on some items of play equipment are degrading faster than might reasonably be expected. He had reported his concerns to the manufacturers who have agreed to carry out an inspection. The Chairman regularly inspects the play area and weeds are sprayed off as required. An independent annual safety inspection will be scheduled and budgeted for.
f) Signage: This is outstanding and will be progressed by the Clerk and Cllr Berry. It needs to be made clear that litter should be removed from both the play area and the field. The litterbins have been locked away.

30/08 Community Initiatives:
a) Radnor Hall: Turnover is about £5,000 per year. The Hall is being used more and more; year on year but there is little scope for significantly raising charges because local competition is fierce. The annual grant from the PC has paid the lease for the last several years but the cost of the lease has recently risen to £750. Many of the current improvements to the Hall have been funded by grants from several sources and there is a good chance that a SWAGrant will be awarded for improvements at the rear of the hall. Even with this grant, there will still be a shortfall of about £500 to pay for safety matting. It was agreed that the PC's annual grant should immediately be increased to £750 and a one off grant of £500 was also approved.
b) Waste Management: It was agreed to provide a maximum of two skips to be situated in the Nunton Field during October. The PC is concerned that inappropriate materials will be deposited in the skips which could lead to a surcharge being applied to the overall cost.
c) SWAG Applications: SD Cllr Bryan Rycroft reported that there had been a flurry of applications because these are likely to be last grants from SDC. It was agreed that Odstock PC would not submit an application. 

31/08 Transport, Roads and Footpaths:
a) WCC Parish Steward Report: The bridge parapets on the Odstock road will need to be repaired.
b) Resurfacing of the A338 at Bodenham and Signage: Cllr Williamson-Jones reported that the road signs had been re-positioned to make it easier for cyclists to safely negotiate a crossing of the road. WC Cllr Julian Johnson believes that Wiltshire County Council is pleased with the outcome of this new process which was used for the first time in Wiltshire, here on the A338. 

32/08 Draft Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment Plan and the LDF preferred options: Salisbury District Council had produced a magazine which had been delivered to each home and business in South Wiltshire. This had been well received because it answered many of the issues raised by the original Draft SHLAA Plan. Councillors and members of the public are encouraged to respond directly by 24 October following which SDC will produce a second draft plan for consideration in December prior to seeking its approval from the Secretary of State. It was resolved that Odstock Parish Council would not comment directly. 

33/08 Reports and Correspondence:
a) Downton Neighbourhood Policing Team: Reports are being published in News and Notes. 
b) Unitary Council Presentation to Town and Parish Councils: The Chairman agreed to attend this meeting at the Pembroke Arms, Wilton, on Monday, 13 October, 6:30-8:30pm. 

34/08 Finance:
Payments: The following were approved:
               R Poynting - Doors to the Pavilion ------------- 284 - £387.10p
               B Clake - Mower Repairs --------------------- 285 -- £45.00p
               C Whitley - Plaque for Seat ------------------- 286 -- £22.50p
               Sodexo Land Technology Ltd - Grass Cutting - 287 - £236.84p
               Radnor Hall - Annual Lease ------------------- 288 - £750.00p
               Radnor Hall - Grant --------------------------- 288 - £500.00p
               R Parsons - Clerk's fee on account ------------ 289 - £620.00p

35/08 Any Other Business (for information only): 
a) Cllr Whitley reported that there was a misunderstanding about the purpose of the recently announced Primary Care Centers which are being introduced in Salisbury. These are in addition to existing services and will have longer opening hours than a doctor's surgery.
b) Cllr Berry drew attention to the parking issue outside the hospital at the top of the hill. The parking of cars at the point where the double yellow lines end creates an obstructive situation for other road users. A solution might be to extended the double yellow lines further down the hill.

36/08 The next Ordinary Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, 3 December. 

The meeting closed at 9:10pm 

Signed without amendment by the PC Chairman, Cllr Rod Poynting, on 10 December 2008.
Download here as a .pdf file.