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A meeting of West Dean Parish Council was
held at 7.30pm on 1st July 2003 in King George's Hall.
Present: Mrs S Gruzelier (Chairman), Mr
P Dawkins (Vice-Chairman), Mr P Hargrave, Miss C Warry,
Mr M Rowe, Mrs P Parsons, Mrs J Gimpel, Mr R Parsons (Clerk),
District Cllr Chris Devine, District Cllr Mike Hewitt and
one member of East Dean Parish Council. One member of the
public arrived during the meeting.
45/03 Matters raised by the Public: None.
* Cllr Gruzelier used this opportunity to proposed a vote
of thanks to District Councillor Mike Hewitt for his
regular attendance at West Dean PC meetings and his
continued support.
46/03 Declaration of Interest: None.
47/03 Minutes: The minutes of the annual
PC meeting held on 6th May, having been circulated, were
agreed and signed by the Chairman. The PC noted the
minutes of the Annual Parish meeting held on 27th May.
48/03 Matters Arising:
* The report on the Playingfield safety inspection had
been received. Action: Cllr Gruzelier.
* Cllr Hargrave reported that he had contacted BT on
eight separate occasions since March and that neither the
telephone kiosk light nor the door had yet been fixed. Action:
Cllr Hargrave.
* The Post Office collections manager has arranged for
the postbox to be lowered. Action: the
Clerk.
* SDC has advised applying under the SWAG scheme for
funding to supplement the maximum award from the Friends
of War Memorials charity. Action: the
Clerk will ensure that an application is submitted by 11th
July.
* Cllr Gruzelier reported that the WCC Youth Development
Co-ordinator would arrive in the village on 30th July.
She stated that insufficient adult supervisors are
currently available to make the establishment of a
village youth club viable and that the promised equipment
including ping pong table and table football has been
donated elsewhere. Action: Cllr
Gruzelier will continue to work with the relevant
authorities to realise objectives.
* Cllr Warry drew attention to the off-road bike
facilities produced from recycled materials by AS&A
Leisure Ltd. The Clerk reported that Landford Parish
Council had recently installed an 'assault course' from
this firm and that anyone could see the facility in situ
at the Recreation Ground, Lyndhurst Road, Landford. Action:
Cllr Gruzelier.
49/03 Reports: * District Cllr Chris
Devine reported that at its meeting on 30th June, SDC had
approved the Corporate Plan for the current year and the
Local Plan that would be in force until 2011. He also
confirmed that he would be actively lobbying the police
to provide a more effective presence in the area.
* The Wiltshire Association of Local Councils AGM is on
17th July and is being chaired by Robert Key MP. The
event will also be for the launch of the Association's
training initiative scheduled to begin in Devizes on 13th
Sept.
* There will be an election during July for two
representatives from the Downton Area 19 to serve on the
Executive Committee of WALC.
* The Clerk reported that he had attended the Local
Agenda 21 meeting on 25th June and the Community First
event on 18th June.
* The Standards Board has provided a video that shows the
Code of Conduct in action.
* Cllr Gruzelier reported that the result of the
Standards Board investigation into the affairs of West
Dean Parish Council was likely to be made known soon.
* Cllr Gruzelier is concerned that correspondence
relevant to PC meetings is not being circulated promptly
enough. Action: the Clerk will
distribute correspondence more frequently.
50/03 MoD Dean Hill: * It was noted that
180 people had taken part in the consultation exercise
organised by Broadway Malyan at Dean Hill on 16th May.
Cllr Gimpel reported that a working party had been set up
consisting of two members from each of the relevant
Parish Councils and that a meeting had been convened with
the planning authorities for SDC and TVBC at which six
questions had been asked. A draft document is being
produced that it is hoped will provide answers to the
questions posed. Action: Cllr Gimpel and
Cllr Rowe will represent WDPC on the working party that
will attempt to establish a plan, incorporating a housing
needs survey, that can be used as the basis for
negotiation with Broadway Malyan and Defence Estates.
* Cllr Dawkins reported that residents at Hillside Close
had received a letter from Defence Estates advising them
of their plans for the disposal of the houses. All
tenants will be offered the right to buy on the statutory
discount terms. The houses of tenants not taking
advantage of this offer will be offered first to a
Housing Association and if no agreement is reached, on
the open market. This could lead to conversion as assured
tenancies under Section 38 of the Housing Act 1996 and
the imposition of a full market rent. Robert Key MP is
making representation on behalf of the Hillside Close
residents.
51/03 Parish Plans: Cllr Gimpel reported
on the implications of the Countryside Agency's
initiative to encourage communities to develop Parish
plans. She said that both planning authorities had
advised on the importance of this initiative and that
communities could combine to produce a joint plan to
lessen the burden on very small villages. Grants of up to
£5,000 are available. Action: Cllr
Gimpel and Cllr Hargrave agreed to participate for WDPC.
52/03
Finance: * The Clerk reported that the quote
under the Group Insurance scheme organised by Community
First and underwritten by Zurich Municipal had shown a
significant saving over the Cornhill Insurance offer to
renew and that the members had accepted the lower quote.
* Cllr Gruzelier completed and signed the annual audit
return by inviting members to reply to each question
asked of the PC. The parishioner who has agreed to act as
the internal auditor will be invited to confirm these
accounts.
* The PC noted the prepared budget and approved the
following payments:
Community First - Zurich Municipal Insurance Policy - 152
- £315.67p
Wiltshire County Council - Common Land Seminar --- 153 --
£35.00p
53/03 Transport, Roads and Footpaths: Cllr
Warry will prepare a list for the Lengthsmen's visit on 3rd/4th
Sept.
54/03 Planning: * S/2003/774 - FULL
APPLICATION - CONVERSION OF GARAGE TO FAMILY ROOM NEW
PORCH OVER FRONT DOOR at DEAN HILL HOUSE DEAN HILL WEST
DEAN. - The PC will support this application.
* A recent planning application ref:TVS/00824/1 in
connection with Mill House, West Dean from Test Valley
Borough Council had been reviewed by members and returned
to the Clerk of West Tytherley PC.
55/03 Correspondence: The PC noted the
following correspondence: * Notification of the Southern
Area Committee Website at http://www.southwilts.co.uk/site/Southern-Area-Committee/.
* May edition of Clerks and Councils Direct. * Minutes of
WTPC meetings. It was noted that a West Dean parishioner
had been co-opted as a member of WTPC.
* Police Community Consultative Group meeting at
Winterslow on 27th May. Action: Cllr
Hargrave had attended.
* Monthly circulars from WALC. * WCC Emergency planning
newsletter. Action: Cllr Hargrave agreed
to establish a dialogue with the WCC Emergency Planning
team at County Hall.
56/03 The next PC meeting will be held
at 7:30pm on Tuesday, 9th September 2003.
57/03 Any Other Business: Cllr Warry
reported that HCC regulatory committee would consider the
Village Green application on 16th July and WCC on 23rd
July. The verdict from the Public Inquiry in March has
yet to be delivered.
The meeting closed at 9:30pm
Signed without amendment by the Chairman, Cllr Gruzelier,
on 9th September.
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