Baydon Village News

Baydon Parish Council Annual General Meeting – 10th May 2010

The Parish Council’s Annual General Meeting was held in the BYPA Hall on Monday 10^th May 2010 with Mr Tony Prior in the chair.

Apologies were received from Cllr Tamsin Witt and County Councillor Chris Humphries.

Mr Prior was elected Chairman for a further term.

Cllr Michael Edmonds said that the Council and residents were grateful to Mr Prior for taking them through a storm. Cllr Alison Tomkins added that Mr Prior spent many hours working for the village “behind the scenes”.

The minutes of the last Parish Council meeting were approved and signed.

Planning:

The street lighting and footpath plan for Newton’s Walk had been received. A two-storey side extension and a single storey lean-to extension and open front at 8 Ermin Close received no objections from the Parish Council.

It was noted that the alternative route around Baydon House has formally been made into a restricted byway and that the short footpath from the gate outside of Baydon House to the crossing of the footpaths (BAYD 11) will cease to exist.

The report from the Traffic Calming Working Group was deferred because of Cllr Witt’s absence from the meeting.

Mr Prior reported complaints from Ermin Close residents concerning inconsiderate parking by parents when dropping children off at school. Cllr Tomkins felt that it was the residents of Ermin Close who should take action, Cllr Edmonds agreed, and said he felt there was nothing the council could do. Parking in front of someone’s drive, he added was inconsiderate and should be dealt with by the householder. Mrs Denise Mathewson, chair of the school governors, said that a message would be sent to parents about parking. It would be possible to add concerns about Ermin Close, she said. Mrs Mathewson also reported that the school had contacted the Mouchel Highway Consultants who were conducting a survey of traffic at school time this week.

The Playbuilder scheme was progressing well, said Mr Prior, and planning permission for change of use etc for the Parish Field had been sought. Full planning of the play area is needed before a lottery grant can be awarded.

The S106 monies from Redcliffe Homes were discussed. Cllr Edmonds stated that Baydon Parish Council should have been consulted about the use of such monies. He proposed that the clerk write to Wiltshire County Council and Colin Brown of Planning to ask why the village was not consulted, and if it was possible to discuss the uses now.

Following on from remarks at the Parish Assembly about the use of a Wiltshire Youth Development Co-ordinator in the village, the parish clerk has passed on the Jan Bowyers name to the Baydon Young Peoples Association. Cllr Edmonds said that Aldbourne Youth Council was also offering support. That information was also to be passed on.

Concern was raised at the amount of water running down Manor Lane from Newton’s Walk after a rainstorm. It was agreed to look at the developments plans for drainage.

It was agreed that the current performance of the Wiltshire Council’s recycling arrangements for cardboard and plastic were satisfactory, although there were concerns aired about what happens after it was collected.

It was agreed not to continue with the proposed plan to plant another tree on the Village Green.

The village litter-pick is arranged for 10.30am on Saturday 22^nd May meeting at the Pub car park. Bags, coats and litter pickers will be available.

Finance:

There were no payments made between meetings, but the cheque for £72.85 covering the costs of the 30mph stickers was noted.

The payment of £104 for the Parish Field water standing charge was approved.

It was agreed to continue using Aviva Insurance for the next three years in a binding agreement at £262.50 per year.

Mrs Mathewson was then invited to speak.  Mrs Mathewson said that as Baydon School was a Church aided school only the Government would supply 90% of the funds for the building cost. The Diocese will find 3% of the cost, which leaves 7% for the School Governors to find. The governor’s final cost therefore will be in the region of £45,000, based on final build costs.

However, furniture will also be needed, this will not be paid for by the government. Fund raising in the village has been going well and has raised £21,000 so far, reported Mrs Mathewson, however the governors were requesting that the Parish Council consider helping with a donation. The same request has been made to the Lambourn Parish Council as some Lambourn children attend the school.

Cllr Prior asked if it was right to give precept monies to the school. Cllr Edmonds suggested that the legal side be checked first. He also mentioned that unspent monies from last year’s precept could be available. It was also suggested that an item could be purchased such as furniture, instead of giving money to the general fund. It was agreed to discuss the matter more fully at the next meeting.

The bank reconciliation was then read out. The general account £13,329.62; the Allotment account £949.24; the recreation account £8,359.57.

Cllr Prior stated that contractors working on the Parish Field, especially Pitman’s cutting the grass, have automatic authority from the Parish Council to use the track for access to the field. As the Parish Council owns the field they have a legal right of access. He hoped that this would clear up any misunderstanding by residents of the village.

The meeting closed at 9.05pm

By Barbara Furber

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