BURTON BRADSTOCK PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 7^th June 2011 at 7.30pm in the Reading Room, Burton Bradstock.

Present: Cllrs: G.Moody, D.Dixon, D.Batten, K.Delves, N.Bowles, D.Venn, F.Moore (Clerk), and five members of the public.

1. Apologies: DCC Cllr: R.Coatsworth.

2. Declarations of Interest: There were no Declarations of Interest.

3. Minutes of the previous Meeting 9^th May 2011.

The following amendment was made to the third paragraph in Agenda item 16.

‘J.Russell asked whether a new public toilet block and ice cream facility could be developed at the Hive. This could then leave the existing block for public use during café opening times.

The minutes were then approved and signed as a true record by the Chairman.

4. Matters Arising & Parish Clerk’s Report.

§ Councillor Acceptance Forms/Registration of Interests: The Clerk to contact J.Hill regarding completed forms. Action Clerk.

Mr L.Tapping would like to become a Parish Councillor and has received various

Information from the Clerk. It was agreed to invite Mr Tapping to the July Parish Council meeting and co-opt him onto the Council. Action Clerk.

§ Cemetery Gates: The Clerk to speak to J.Hill on this matter, and then ascertain further details. Action Clerk.

§ Japanese Knotweed at corner of Grove Road/Middle Street. Cllr Dixon to let the Clerk have details from DEFRA/Environment Agency regarding the proper removal and destruction of this weed. The Clerk to action work by an authorised contractor. Action Clerk.

§ Planning Committee Meeting: A date was set for the next meeting, Monday 6th June 2011 at 7.00pm in the Reading Room.

5. Democratic Quarter Hour.

• J.Harding: The Clerk reported in a response to J.Harding that the footpath near Cogden Farm would be signposted after the period of public consultation which would finish in September.

Mr Harding also asked that the minutes record a vote of thanks to T.Coombes for

his ongoing voluntary work in tidying up the area around the phone box in the

High Street.

• J.Grantham: The Chairman in a response to J.Grantham stated that the Parish Council would be writing to Mrs Mallinson regarding the loss of J.Mallinson a past Chairman of the Parish Council.

6. Parish Councils Response to DCC Libraries Consultation:

Prof: B Hynds gave a historical summary regarding the Library situation.

In 2006 DCC were suggesting closure of 14 Libraries as part of an efficiency review.

This was rejected in 2007 and cuts in hours across all 34 libraries was suggested. In 2009 DCC began negotiations to lease the library building to the Parish Council on a 99 year lease with a peppercorn rent.

In December 2010 after all sorts of problems the lease and use of the building as a Library was resolved. The Library Service then announced that due to DCC budget cuts, they proposed to close 20 rural libraries and keep 14 town libraries.

In Jan 2011 the Library Service made another proposal: Funding to all 20 libraries would cease in April 2011 and that they would be offered the opportunity to become Community Libraries. Community Libraries would be given the books in their local library and the book shelves. They would need to take over the library building, pay its running costs, buy a computer and set up a book issuing service and rely on local book donations to refresh their book stocks.

Also in January 2011 the 20 rural libraries formed a consortium, calling itself ‘AdLib’. A member of ‘AdLib’ had a spreadsheet for the Library budget for 2011/2012 and showed that the £800K could be saved by a 10% cut across the library system and by cutting the new book fund by 40%.

At the DCC meeting in February the Library proposal was presented to the Council for adoption. While the proposal was accepted for further review, the ‘AdLib’ proposal was also put forward to be urgently investigated by the Library management. The 20 libraries unanimously rejected the DCC proposal. Generally speaking once the Council has accepted the advice of the ‘Executive’, it is very difficult to stop a particular project. However the 1964 Libraries and Museums Act, requires the Library Authority to provide a comprehensive and efficient Library Service. Library users can appeal to the Minister to get the Council’s proposals rejected.

On 23^rd March a meeting between the Library management and the 20 libraries was chaired by the Director of Community and Care services. (Mrs D.Ward). This resulted in a proposed review of DCC proposals. On 21^st April the new proposal appeared:

The rural libraries would be updated with an annual supply of new books (from the Book Fund), There would be a connection to the central Library computer for issues and returns, the self service terminals would be available and the PC’s connected to the internet. There would also be limited professional support of three hours per week.

The local library would still have to pay the running costs of their buildings and provide the volunteers for the opening hours. The Library Service would set the minimum number of hours that the library would be open each week. The Library would not be part of the Town Library ‘care network’, but under another network which was outside the 1964 Act.

At a recent meeting 16 of the 20 libraries said that they could not meet these requirements, 4 said they would with Burton Bradstock the only one that could definitely do so.

After considerable pressure the Library Service have produced the analysis of the ‘AdLib’ proposals which would keep all the 34 libraries open but with reduced hours. This should be one of the proposals which would go to the ‘Community Overview Committee’, on the 20^th of this month for forwarding a recommendation to DCC who will decide on 21^st July 2011.

‘AdLib’ is hopeful that their proposals will be adopted, because if it is not there is enough evidence to apply to the Minister for a review.

So the Friends of Burton Bradstock Library believes it will stay open come what may and wishes it to become a Community Library, but hopes that the ‘AdLib’ proposals will be taken on board by DCC.

The Chairman thanked Prof Hynds, for his detailed input.

The following proposal was unanimously agreed:

‘That the Parish Council writes to DCC Library Services accepting the revised Community Library proposals. Action Clerk/Cllr.Bowles.

The Chairman also reported that he had received today detailed amendments to the leases from Nantes and that they would be circulated to all councillors and an agenda item would be set on the July meeting. Action Clerk/Chairman.

7. Correspondence:

Details of correspondence received prior to the agenda being posted have been circulated and are attached to the minutes.

• BLAP Steering Group Meeting 2 June 2011: The Chairman had given his apologies for this meeting.
• Burton Bradstock District Election: The Clerk to post the details.
• Notification of new byelaw for Good rule and Government: We have received formal notification that from 4^th February 2011, the following byelaw shall apply throughout the District of West Dorset. ‘No person shall urinate or defecate in any street or public place’.

8. Finance:

The RFO’s Finance report had been previously circulated to Councillors.

All cheques had been authorised in accordance with the necessary internal controls.

Two further invoices were approved for payment:

Hire of Village Hall 16^th May 2011, £24.00, Annual subscription to DAPTC £280.13.

9. New Ways of Working of the Parish Council:

Cllr. Dixon had previously circulated a paper to all Councillors regarding a proposed change in the Working Arrangements between the Parish Council and the Allotment Association.

Details of the proposal were highlighted by Cllr.Dixon.

After discussion the Council unanimously approved the proposal and delegated Cllr Dixon to finalise new working arrangements with the Allotment Association. This will come into effect on July 1^st 2011 for a trial period of 12 months.

The Chairman thanked Cllr.Dixon for his input. Action Cllr: Dixon.

10. WDDC’s Parish/Town Development Survey:

Councillors completed the Parish/Town Development Survey and the Clerk would fill in the appropriate forms and return to the District Council. Copies of the completed form to be placed in the Councillors mail boxes. Action Clerk.

11. Parish Plan Review: ‘The Next Steps’.

Cllr.Dixon had previously circulated a paper on the revised Parish Plan. Details were highlighted by Cllr.Dixon.

Discussion took place on the ‘big ideas’, whether to include a point on the B3157 Road Safety Updates, Youth Projects etc. Cllr. Dixon hoped that a Youth event might take place sometime in September. It was agreed not to number the ‘big ideas’.

The two recommendations in the paper were unanimously agreed, and the Parish Plan group would reconvene to move the project forward.

The Chairman thanked Cllr.Dixon for his work on this issue.

12. A.O.B.

• D.Batten: Reported an overgrowing bush on the footpath near the bridge between the allotments and Freshwater. Clerk to resolve. Action Clerk.
• K.Delves: Reported that the Environment Agency would like to attend a Parish Council meeting to talk about the overall Flood Warning management Scheme. This was agreed Cllr.Delves to pursue. Action Cllr.Delves.
• D.Dixon: Reported that he would be meeting with the Environment Agency regarding chemical spraying near the playing field and would report back to the Council. Action Cllr. Dixon.

13. Date of Next meeting: 6^th July 2011.

Cllr.Dixon gave his apologies for this meeting.

14. Democratic Quarter Hour:

• J.Grantham. thanked the Parish Council for all the work that it does on behalf of the Parish.
• J.Harding: Could a letter of thanks be sent to the Highways Department for the work being done on the B3157 especially through the village. It was agreed to do this after the summer period together with comments and feedback.

The meeting closed at 9.14pm.