Baydon Parish Council Meeting 30th March 2015
News report by Barbara Furber
The March meeting of the Parish Council was held in the BYPA Hall and chaired by Cllr Andy Knowles, all other councillors were present. Wiltshire Councillor James Sheppard and the Parish Clerk Luci Bruins were also in attendance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and signed and there were no questions from the public.
However Cllr Tony Prior questioned the time allowed in Public Question Time (PQT). He asked that on the Agenda for the next meeting the subject be brought up so that the standing orders can be updated with this, and the responsibility of the Finance Officer.
Planning:-
An application concerning Foxfield,
Cllr Kevin Howell reported that he had purchased a laptop for council use and was awaiting complete delivery. The cost was £599.07. He also reminded councillors that the annual software budget needed to be added to the budget.
A letter had been received from Kate Buckingham requesting a donation to cover the cost of printing raffle tickets for the School / Church Fete on Saturday 13th June. It was agreed to sponsor the cost up to £80.
Cllr John Cockcroft reported that a storage box for the Event tent had not yet been purchased.
Cllr Prior said that as yet nothing had been done by
Wiltshire Council to remove that asbestos fly tipping.
Cllr Knowles added a thank you to all who helped with the litter pick on 21st March.
13 sacks of litter were collected around the village and 6 sacks from down the road to Aldbourne. Cllrs Howell and Cockcroft particularly thanked a new comer to the village, Ken, who stopped to help and took the sacks to the tip in his van.
Cllr Tamsin Witt met up with Steve Hind to discuss traffic
calming measures in February. They walked the whole of
There has been no further development on planning permission for swings on the playing field.
There was no further update on visits by the Parish Steward.
Cllr Knowles said that he was still awaiting another quote
for work on the access handrail to the footpath off of
“Chris” from Aldbourne has agreed to remove the dead trees from The Green during the first full week after Easter.
Kate Buckingham has agreed to take soil samples.
Cllr Prior reported that he had had a successful meeting
with Mrs James concerning the overgrown laurel hedge in
The meeting between Pittams and the Parish Council Chairman in February did not happen. As yet a new meeting has not been arranged but the chairman has requested a one off cutting of the grass before putting the contract out to tender.
Cllr Witt proposed that the contract include cutting and weed killing parts of the Allotment Field, twice a year. It was agreed.
It was noted that tree pruning and hedge cutting was needed on the Allotment Field.
These are to be added to the grass cutting plan.
Plots 5 & 13 are vacant. The Baydon Allotment Association (BAA) was happy to cover these plots with plastic. Cllr Prior suggested that the tenancy agreement be amended to ensure that plots were not abandoned with debris that had to be cleared. Tenancy payments were due in March but as yet the agreements have not yet been given to the plot holders.
Two tenants proposed to dig over Plot 5 and plant potatoes, just to keep it clear from weeds, if they could have it for free this year. After much discussion about the morality of this it was agreed to take up the offer.
Cllr Tamsin Witt reported that the BYPA AGM went well. A new treasurer and a new trustee have been appointed. Questionnaires are to be sent out to 8 to 11 year olds after Easter. Cllr Knowles suggested that a visit to the school would help promote the club. Cllr Witt said that the Youth Worker was available and some parents were willing to help.
The Chair (Andy Knowles) agreed to donate hi-viz jackets and gloves for the next litter pick. It was also agreed that Cllr Cockcroft collect and store all the equipment together by the next meeting.
Heather Birch and Barbara Furber agreed to lead the Beating of the Bounds on Monday 4th May at 10am. Cllr Witt will provide posters and the Clerk will write to all the landowners.
The Parish Assembly is to be held in the BYPA Hall on Friday 15th May 2015 as advertised in the Scene in Baydon. It was agreed a budget of £80 towards wine and soft drinks.
It was agreed, in the light of a recent training day, that more detail be included in future Agendas.
Finance:-
Cllr Prior reported that the previous Clerk has agreed to place a standing order of £25 per month to return an over payment. The first payment has arrived.
Cllr Prior has continued to write letters of complaint about the service of Barclays Bank, and has received £50 compensation. This brings the total so far to £210 added to the Parish account, through these letters!
The RBS statements are;-
Treasurers a/c 30,492.93; Reserve a/c £2,959.26; Petty Cash £28.14;
Total £33,480.33.
Payments approved;-
Income tax for Clerk £167.57; BYPA Hall hire £80.00; Present £30.00; Laptop / printer £600.00; WALC £54.00; Chicane Invoice £6,000 – (half of this will be paid by Mr Johnson of Baydon House Farm)
Cllr Howell thanked all those involved in the Baydon Bake Off including BYPA for the use of Tents and Tables.
Cllr Prior said that he proposes to purchase a map of the parish with footpaths marked on it. Cost £170 – Item for the next Agenda.
He also reported that at the last MAB meeting BYPA, Pre-school and Toddlers all gained funding for different projects. Next year, he added, £45000.00 would be available for Youth Work Activities and groups working with Elderly People.
Cllr Prior is to put up a notice about the problem of dog fouling in the Cricket Field – which is a private field.
The meeting closed at 9.17pm
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