Baydon Village News by Barbara Furber

Baydon Parish Council Meeting of 25^th February 2013

Cllr Andy Knowles chaired the Parish Council meeting on Monday 25^th February in the Baydon Young Peoples Hall (BYPA). All Councillors were present and there were a good number of villagers in attendance also.

The new clerk Mrs Harriet Knowles was welcomed to her first meeting.

Public Question Time began with Mr Colin Philips asking councillors why they were serving on the council, because he felt they did not vote on matters following the villager’s wishes.

Mr Alan Brown added that it was important to take the majority village view and not a private view as seemed to happen at the last meeting.

Cllrs Andy Knowles and Kevin Howell both said that decisions were taken in the light of what was, in their judgement, fair and best for the long term good of the village.  In the matter of the building application at the Red Lion Pub, Cllr Knowles said he felt that if the pub became a going concern the proposed building would not happen.  He confirmed that Julie and Mark, the new tenants, would be moving in on 11^th March 2013 with a view to opening on the 1^st June 2013.

Mr Bernie Gribble brought up the matter of the Baydon 11 footpath where he felt that councillors had again not voted as those attending had wished. Cllr Knowles said that it was a County decision that could not be retracted because a porch was built over it in 1952; therefore the landowner agreed to re-route the footpath and make it suitable for walkers, mothers with prams, wheelchairs and horses. Plans were on view at the hall.

Mr Alan Brown also pointed out that the drop kerbs on the entrance to Downsmead take walkers across a hazardous very pot-holed road. Cllr Knowles agreed talk to Highways about improving the surface.

It was noted that Messrs Cockcroft, Weeks and Simmons had applied for post as councillors. County Councillor Chris Humphries said that it would be necessary to call for an election on 18^th May 2013.

Planning:-

A dwelling to be built in the Red Lion Pub Car Park had been approved by the planning Office subject conditions, as was a garage and workshop at Gooselands.

An extension to Agricultural buildings at Baydon House Farm was approved by the Parish Council with the condition that the new rights of way were installed with an all weather surface.

The erection of a garage and log store at Keepers Cottage was also approved with the same conditions.

Demolition of an existing building at The Finches and the erection of a new building raised no objections, as it would still be for agriculture.

Ex-chairman Mr Tony Prior asked the councillors to decide what, if any, equipment they wished to add to the play area.  It was agreed that Cllr Tamsin Witt would look into the situation quickly before the Awards for All grant had disappeared. It was decided that at least one piece of equipment would be added and the necessary minor amendment made to the initial planning application at a cost of £195.

Cllr Witt then gave a brief report from the Traffic Calming Working Group (TCWG). It was Baydon’s SpeedWatch’s 2nd anniversary this week, she said, and in spite of the Police not having the manpower to follow up on speedsters the statistics were invaluable when applying for traffic calming measures.

The discussion on parking within Baydon was opened to the floor.  After much debate School Governor Alison Dobson said the answer was to educate parents to park sensibly and not necessarily so close to the school. Mr Philips suggested that the School provide parking spaces, at least for the teachers, behind the mobile classroom, by moving the shed.

Cllr Philip Dore reported that two trees on the Green would need to be replaced in the next two or three years. It was agreed to include this in the next budget.

Congratulations were extended to the small BYPA committee on the improvements made in the BYPA Hall.

Cllr Witt said that the next grant would ensure that disabled toilets would be installed during the Easter holidays.

Originally the BYPA had hoped to share a Youth Worker with Aldbourne and Ramsbury, but this is no longer an option. It was therefore agreed to co-opt someone already working for the Marlborough area, to work one day a week and get a Youth Group up and running. Then, added Cllr Witt, the Parish Council could consider a long-term solution.  The Parish Council agreed to fund this initially with a view to the BYPA becoming self-funding in the long term. The next BYPA AGM is to be held on 15^th March at 7.45pm in the BYPA Hall.

Cllr Philip Dore agreed to plan the Big Breakfast event after Easter – date to be arranged.

The Baydon Allotment Association asked the Parish Council to appoint a new liaison officer, as they no longer knew who owned the plots or when new plots became available. Cllr Alison Tomkins agreed to take on the post.

The Quarterly Budget was approved and the bank reconciliation to January 2013 is as follows; Treasurers account £5,666.58; Savings account £2,606.65; Petty cash £21.35; Total £8,293.58.

Payments of £19.24 to Thames Water and £197.47 to HMRC were approved.

The Feasibility Study payment had not yet been confirmed.

Thanks were extended to Cllr Knowles for ably carrying out the clerks work during the interim.

The meeting closed at 9.30pm

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