Action

1.

Welcome

Chairman Peter James welcomed those present and thanked them for coming.   Apologies were received from Cllr Hibberd.

2.

Minutes

A copy of the minutes for the last meeting on 1^st February 2007 were submitted, approved and duly signed by Cllr James. 

3.

Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting

Noticeboards – The Clerk reported that she had contacted Richard George to ascertain whether the noticeboard, formerly at Great Croft Road, had been repaired.  Mr George replied that he intended for his carpenter to look at the board in order that it be repaired.  The Clerk was asked to add this item to the April agenda for consideration.

Play area surface repair and fencing update – The Clerk reported that she had obtained the necessary forms to apply for a SWAG grant from Salisbury District Council in order to repair the play area surface.  As three quotations are required for the application, the Clerk informed the Council she is currently pursuing the third quote that is necessary for the completion of the grant form.

The Clerk informed the Council that she is awaiting two quotations that she has sought for an extra line of fencing in the teenage play area.  One quote has been received and three quotations are necessary in order to use the allotted the R2 funds from Salisbury District Council for this work.

Flood Zone 3 – Following a query at the last meeting which the Clerk resolved to all Councillors by email, Cllr James distributed a map showing the Flood Zone 3 area as identified by the Environment Agency.  Cllr James asked that Cllr Richards add a link to Parish Council website to the Environment Agency web site in order that residents can access the map showing the Flood Zone site.

Roman Road – Cllr Hawkins informed the Council that he had met with the Rights of Way Officer at Wilton who had in turn met with representatives of Wiltshire County Council to discuss this matter.  Cllr Hawkins will report to the next meeting of the Parish Council following the results of that meeting.  Cllr Hawkins agreed to obtain a copy of the definitive statement.

A local resident who was present at the meeting asked if the Council could ask in the next précis, if any residents had photographs of the Roman Road in years gone by.  The Clerk agreed to actions this request.

Clerk

Cllr Richards

Cllr Hawkins

Clerk

4.

Financial Report

The Clerk distributed the Parish Council’s spreadsheet to the Council members with details of the Council’s financial accounts and transactions for the last month.   The current balance in hand is

£3,831.62

A cheque for £75.00 for Wiltshire County Council and £193.62 for IT Solutions was authorised.

5.

Elections

The Clerk informed the Council of the crucial dates for the forthcoming Town and Parish elections.  The Clerk distributed a poster regarding becoming a Parish Councillor and the crucial dates – it was agreed that this should be placed on the noticeboards.

Clerk

6.

AGM

As polling day for the Town and Parish Election is on the 3^rd May and therefore clashes with the May meeting of the Parish Council it was agreed that the Clerk should check with the Winterslow Village Hall booking Clerk if an alternative date of 10^th May was available to hold both the AGM from 7-7.45pm and then the May Parish Council meeting to follow.

It was agreed that Cllr James should give a short presentation at the AGM with particular reference to the financial expenditure of the Parish Council over the last financial year.   Cllr Tier agreed to carry out some initial work with regards to the presentation and to email it to Cllr James for his consideration.

Clerk

Cllr James, Cllr Tier

7.

Clean Neighbourhood Acct 2005

Cllr Richards had asked for this item to be placed on the February and March agenda but due to other commitments and therefore his inability to give consideration to this matter, asked that it be placed on the April agenda for discussion.

Cllr Richards

8

Steering Group

Cllr Richards noted that there was nothing to report.  Cllr James agreed to provide up to date photograph’s of the Parish for inclusion in the Parish Plan literature.

Cllr James

9.

Highways and Speeding

Letter from PC Colwill – a discussion took place with regards to a letter that the Clerk had previously distributed to all Councillors from PC Colwill which gave further interpretation of the speeding statistics following the placement of a traffic classifier in 2006.  Cllr Hawkins agreed to raise this letter with PC Amanda Warren at a forthcoming Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators meeting.

Footpath 4 – Following the ploughing of Footpath 4, the Clerk reported that she had sent a letter to the farmer stating Parish Council concerns.  Following a response to the letter it is now planned to meet on site with representative(s) from the Parish Council, the Rights of Way Officer from Wilton and the land agent in order that this matter be finally resolved.

Cllr James noted that due to the recent adverse weather, scalpings to fortify the footpath known as Footpath 6, from Firs Road to the play area would be beneficial.  All agreed that the Clerk should ask Richard George to lay the scalpings with payment from Parish Council funds.

The Clerk reported that she had obtained two quotations for the repair of the bus shelter pane in Firs Road.  The Clerk was asked to obtain a third quotation from Salisbury Glass Centre and report back to the next meeting.

Cllr Hawkins

Clerk

Clerk

10.

Planning

S/2007/153 – 38 Firs Road – Full application, single storey side extension and demolition of existing and loft conversion and associated works.  This was approved by the Parish Council.

S/2207/334 – 3 Juniper Road, Firsdown – Full application – Porch to side of garage.  This application was supported by the Parish Council subject that should this application be approved by Salisbury District Council, that a condition be inserted into the approval restricting any future conversion to habitable space.

The Clerk distributed the up to date quarterly planning application spreadsheet for the Parish to all Councillors.

11.

Salisbury District Council – “District Costs and Precepts”

Following a letter in December 2006 from Salisbury District Council concerning the change to district costs and precepts, Cllr Richards expressed his concern as to what implications this may have to the Parish Council.  Cllr Richards asked the Clerk to seek further clarification from the District Council and to place the item on the April agenda.

Clerk

12.

Correspondence

None to report.

13.

Any other business

Newsletter – a discussion took place as to whether to have a yearly or bi-yearly newsletter.  It was agreed to have a yearly newsletter which would be ideally prepared and distributed in either June or July.   Agreed items to include are to be the new teenage play area equipment and the Parish Plan.  Cllr James agreed to put some thoughts into further items for inclusion.

Cllr James reported that he had made up several new laminated dog fouling notices and asked Councillors to distribute them at various appropriate locations.

Cllr Tier requested that following discussion of the precept in December 2006, that a finalised budget spreadsheet be prepared.  Cllr James asked the Clerk to liaise with Cllr Hibberd in order that this is done.

Clerk, Cllr James

Cllrs

Cllr Hibberd, Clerk

14.

Questions or points from the floor

A member of the audience and resident of Firsdown asked the Council to support his concerns regarding the apparent diteriation in the local postal service.  Cllr James and all agreed that it was up to the individual concerned to express their concerns to the appropriate establishment.