Baydon Parish Council Meeting of 11th January 2010
The first Parish Council meeting of 2010 was held in the Red Lion Pub on Monday 11th January. All councillors were present and Mr Tony Prior chaired the meeting.
Minutes of the last meeting were read and signed, and Cllr Alison Tomkins declared an interest in item 7.1 Planning.
It was decided that the clerk should hold all correspondence in a file for a month before filing to enable councillors to refer to those items not emailed to them.
There
were several changes made by Redcliffe Homes to the original plans including
conservatories and car parking.
The proposed footpath diversion at Baydon House had progressed a little said Mr Prior. In August 2009 it was approved that the bridleway BAYD 1, now extinguished, would be replaced by BAYD 30 on the definitive map, as it has been in existence for many years (this is the path from Dark Lane that zig zags around grounds of Baydon House). BAYD 11 still exists from the “crossroad” towards the highway outside Baydon House, but it has been proposed that this be extinguished and the new alternative route provided by the land owner become the new Bridleway BAYD 11 (a map on the Parish Notice board can be viewed for more detail). There is to be a meeting on 21st January to discuss the matter further.
Cllr Michael Edmonds insisted that any decision must reflect parishioner’s wishes.
There are further problems concerning the weather proofing of the Village Notice board as the company contacted no longer did bespoke doors. Cllr Edmonds said that he would look for an alternative solution.
There also appears to be difficulty in purchasing 30mph stickers, but Mr Prior said that he had seen a quote for stickers at £1.25 + VAT. It was agreed to spend £50, quantity to suit.
Cllr
Tamsin Witt gave a brief report on the Wiltshire County Council’s Speed Limit
Review Report saying that it did not affect the village. Cllr Edmonds asked why
the B4000 is a 50mph limit in some places and 60mph in others,
The application for a grant towards village white entrance “gates” has been submitted. The Parish Council will have to find £382 said Cllr Witt for a grant of £974. The application will be considered by the Marlborough Area Board on 8th February.
The clerk, Mrs Rowan Cockcroft, was instructed to write to Highways requesting the missing “Welcome to Wiltshire” sign to be replaced just outside the eastern edge of the village.
A report on the cost of hedge planting on the Parish Field was deferred until the next meeting.
Chairman Tony Prior reported that a bid of £1,239 had been submitted to the WCC Grant Scheme, to supply water to the Parish Field. £620 would be required from the Parish funds, which has budgeted £1,900. It appears that the pipe into the field must be completed before Thames Water will fit the supply. Mr Prior reported that he had cleared overhanging trees and hedging along the fence in the Parish Field. He asked that 8 lengths of fencing be replaced and the debris be removed. It was agreed to spend up to £80 on the fence rails.
Mr
Prior also suggested that quotes be sought for fencing along the Willow Track
side of the field. He also proposed that the brambles at the top of
A
letter had been received from Mr Beverage outlining his dissatisfaction about
the progress concerning the maintenance of Willow Track. Cllr Edmonds said that
he felt the tone of the letter was unnecessarily rude. It was agreed that the
councillors would have a site meeting to discuss their part of the track.
A grant of £10,000 has been promised for a play area for 8 to 13 year olds, but it must be of “adventure risk” nature. The Parish Council also wants to provide for the 3 to 8 year olds and so is seeking a quote for that also. The next step is to apply for planning permission, said Mr Prior who agreed to put the application together. It was suggested that a Working Party be set up consisting of parents of young children and those who have already declared an interest.
An application will then be submitted to “Awards for All” Grant Scheme for the 3 to 8 year old play area. £8,400 of Parish money has already been ring fenced and it was suggested that it be used for match funding when applying for grants.
It was reported that the council’s insurance policy would not cover the cost of retrieving correspondence and the e-mail password from the ex-clerk. To date £235 has been spent on solicitors fees and it was agreed that no more of parish money be spent on the matter, although it was minuted that the Councillors were disappointed that the matter had not been resolved. A new email address has been set up.
A vote of thanks was expressed to the Christmas Carollers led by Mrs Helen Chambers and to the Red Lion pub for its hospitality afterwards.
Thanks were also extended to Mr Mark Austen for his weather related updates on the Baydon website. Mr Tony Topp was also thanked for his efforts in clearing the snow in Ermin Close and Downsmead, with his tractor.
It was noted that as agreed all Parish Bank Accounts were now with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and the total amounted to £23,418.31 to date. It was agreed to set up a standing order to pay the clerk.
Mr Prior said that he was to have a meeting with Mr Stuart Burnley, Thames Water concerning the repair of the service road to the Sewage Works. It was suggested by County Councillor Chris Humphries that Highways might help to put pressure on Thames Water to ensure that the work is completed.
Concern was raised again about the Red Lion and villagers were requested to support both this and the village shop or they could be lost.
Cllr
Tomkins said that people in
The date for meetings in 2010 are as follows; 15th February; 29th March; 19th April; 10th May; 28th June; 26th July; 6th September; 15th October; 29th November; and into 2011 – 17th January; 14th February; and 28th March.
The Parish Assembly will be on 23rd April 2010.
The meeting closed at 9.45pm.
By Barbara Furber
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