Action

1.

Welcome

Mr James welcomed those present and thanked them for coming.  Apologies were received from Councillor’s Hibberd and Green.

2.

Minutes

A copy of the minutes for the last meeting on 1^st June 2006 were submitted, approved and duly signed by Mr James. 

3.

Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting

Noticeboards – Mr James reported that the recent purchase of new noticeboards had now been delivered and checked.  Mr James added that he had spoken to Mr George regarding the erection of the noticeboards and it was agreed by all of the Council to formally ask Mr George to install the noticeboards.   A 3 bay noticeboard will replace the current board at the junction of Great Croft and Firs Road.  The current Great Croft board will be relocated to the woodland area (near 99 Firs Road).  A new 2 bay noticeboard will be positioned in Firs Road near to it’s junction with Firs Close.  One of the current noticeboards is located between 81-91 Firs Road, however the location of this board will change to be located near number 99 Firs Road.  In light of this change and as the location is on Clarendon Estate land it was agreed that the Clerk should write to the Estate informing them of this change and to check whether they would have any objections.

Hedge cutting – following last month’s Council meeting and agreement it was reported that Councillor Green had kindly carried out some grass and hedge cutting in the Parish.  However overgrown vegetation is still a problem and it was agreed to seek two quotations from companies to carry out a regular schedule of maintenance.  The two areas in particular needing attention are Firs Road to the Roman Road and the play area itself.  It was agreed hedge cutting would be postponed to the autumn but that the trimming back of the grass would be undertaken as soon as practicably possible.  The Clerk was asked to seek quotations for the cutting of grass immediately and then 6 weeks thereafter.

Footpath 4 – it was confirmed that the Clerk had been in contact with Nick Cowan, Rights of Way Officer and that the farmer had cut a 3 metre swathe on a narrow path which was Footpath 4 before it had been obliterated last year.  Mr Hawkins made comment that although this was not a re-instatement of the actual path, the path was now of a satisfactory width and hoped that the matter was now resolved.

Play area – Councillor Richards reported that after meetings with the recently formed sub-committee for the R2 funds/play area, that they had chosen two pieces of equipment which would be suitable for the play area.  After consultation with the Council it was agreed to purchase the equipment of a seating and basketball structure from Baseline Leisure at the cost of £4467.  Mr Hawkins raised concern regarding the hard surface area that the equipment was to be placed upon and it was agreed that Councillor Richards should liaise with the Clerk in order to seek the advice of both Wiltshire County Council and Salisbury District Council.  It was reported that Mrs Hibberd had commented at the sub-committee meeting that a bin for the site would be a useful purchase.  Mr James reported that Mrs Hibberd had been in contact with Salisbury District Council who had informally agreed that the Parish Council might be able to purchase a second hand bin for a nominal charge from them.

A resident made comment that it would be useful if the Parish Council contacted each of the residents adjacent to the play area to seek their views/agreement regarding the installation of the new play equipment.  In light of this comment it was agreed that the Chairman should liaise with the Clerk in order that a letter is composed and sent to each household affected.

Clerk

Clerk

Mr Richards, Clerk

Mr James, Clerk

4.

Financial Report

The Clerk distributed a spreadsheet to the Council members with details of the Council’s financial accounts and transactions for the last month.

The Clerk reported that she was still having difficulties with the current Parish Council’s bank – the Abbey and had written a letter of complaint.  Mr James suggested, and all agreed, that this matter should be added to the September agenda for further discussion.

Clerk

5.

Manned refuse compaction vehicle

Following the change to the Skip service at Salisbury District Council, the Council have now introduced the scheme of a manned refuse compaction vehicle available to each Parish.  The Clerk was asked to contact Jill Carey to ascertain whether she would be happy to have the compaction vehicle on her property for the one Saturday morning allotted slot at the end of September.  Notification of the availability of this refuse compaction vehicle, for use by Parish residents only, would be placed in the Parish magazine with the specific date and site of vehicle to be placed on Parish noticeboards.

Clerk

6.

Clarendon Estate – new ownership

The Clerk reported that she had contacted the Clarendon Estate and confirmed that the new ownership of the Estate would be revealed on 20^th October 2006.  It was agreed that the Clerk should liaise with the Chairman to send a letter of thanks and goodbye to the current owner of the Estate and that a further letter should be sent after the 20^th October to welcome the new owners.

Mr James, Clerk

7.

Parish Lengthsmen

Mr Hawkins reported that after attendance at a meeting at Antrobus House, Amesbury, that the Parish Lengthsmen scheme will continue but in a changed format.  The scheme will change from being a two man operation to one and each man will have the responsibility of maintaining several Parishes.  In addition the number of days allocated to each Parish will change and the deciding factor will be the size of the Parish.  Mr Hawkins suggested a pro-forma would be useful as to what jobs were required within the Parish and he that he would liaise with the Clerk to ensure that this was completed and forwarded to the correct department at the appropriate time.

Mr Hawkins, Clerk

8.

Roman Road

Mr James reported that the Council had received a letter from Ms Carri Langton, Rights of Way Assistant at Wiltshire County Council informing the Council of recent changes in the law which effect vehicular users of public rights of way.   It was agreed that the Parish Council should write to Ms Barbara Burke at the County Council to ascertain what could be done to stop vehicular traffic using the Roman Road in Firsdown.

Mr James reported that a concerned resident had made him aware of the dangers from e.g. horse riders to pedestrians and especially children on the Roman Road and on approach to the play area as this particular section had poor visibility.  It was agreed by the Council that they should contact a sign writer with the view to erecting a sign alerting e.g. horse riders to the possibility that there may children and people in the area.  The sign would be placed at the corner of the play area and should read “ Caution! – Pedestrians”.

Clerk

Clerk

9.

Highways and Speeding

The Clerk was asked, following comment from Councillor Richards, to contact Clarence to obtain a “report reference number” for the unstable wall located at Figsbury Ring and to ensure this repair was indeed being carried out due to the danger it posed to the public.

Clerk

10.

Planning

·          Tree Preservation Order 367, rear of 3 Firs Close, Firsdown – Mr James reported that he had attended the Southern Area Committee on 29^th June concerning this item.  He confirmed that two letters had been received asking that the tree preservation order be removed and six letters asking for it to be preserved.  Mr James had supported the preservation on behalf of the Parish Council and the Southern Area Committee unanimously agreed to uphold the preservation.

The Clerk confirmed that following a request at last month’s meeting she had written to the office of Eric Teagle, Head of Forward Planning at Salisbury Council to invite him to a Parish Council meeting to discuss the Structure Plan.  The main aim of this meeting would be to seek guidance regarding the Plan with particular regard to understanding the procedure on planning boundaries.  Mr Teagle had declined but confirmed that Mr David Milton would attend on his behalf at the September meeting.

Councillor Richards raised the issue of the current plan by Waldon Telecomm to site a airwave installation.  Due to the uncertainty of the location in Pitton and Firsdown Parish the Clerk was asked to clarify its exact location with Salisbury District Council.

Clerk

11.

Correspondence received and sent

None reported.

12.

Any other business

Following comment from Councillor Tier and Hibberd it was agreed that Mr Hawkins would pursue the possibility of the Parish taking part in a Parish Exercise which had been previously cancelled earlier in the year.  Councillor Richards agreed that his residence be used as the location for the exercise.

Councillor Richards asked that the item of the Steering Group be added to all future agenda’s until further notice.                                                                                                                                                                    

It was reported that there had been several attempted burglaries in the Parish.  The Clerk reported that she had been in contact with Barry Strange, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator who confirmed that there had been seven burglaries in the Alderbury area section in the past two weeks.  Due to staff changes he confirmed that Firsdown had unfortunately not received the last Neighbourhood Watch newsletter but this would be rectified and that he had suggested to the new Inspector Swett that the meeting of all Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators be re-instated.  It was agreed to place a note in the Parish précis informing residents within the Parish to be vigilant and secure their properties in light of recent crime.

Mr Hawkins

13.

Questions of points from the floor

None reported