Action

1.

Welcome

Chair Cllr James welcomed those present and thanked them for coming.   Apologies were received from Cllr Green.

2.

Declarations of Interest

None reported.

3.

Minutes

A copy of the minutes for the last meeting on 5^th July 2007 were submitted, approved and duly signed by Cllr James. 

4.

Resignation of Parish Councillor Barry Richards and current Parish Councillor vacancies. 

It was noted that Cllr Richards had resigned from his position in July 2007.  The Clerk has since informed Salisbury District Council and advertised for the vacancy which expired on 5^th September 2007. 

Mr Brian Edgeley expressed an interest in taking up one of the three Councillor vacancies and after Cllr James proposed and Cllr Green seconded, Mr Edgeley was welcomed onto the Parish Council. 

5.

Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting

Play area surface repair quotation: Following a request from the Council, the Clerk informed the Councillors that she had sought and obtained a quotation to repair the surface area in the children’s play area, which amounted to £1957.00 plus VAT.  The Clerk noted that RoSPA was due to visit in the month of September for its annual inspection and it was decided to wait for their report before deciding on the repair of the play area surface.

Play area fencing and subsequent vandalism: it was reported that safety fencing had been installed in the teenage play area but that subsequent vandalism had taken place on two separate occasions.  The vandalism has now been repaired at a cost of £120.  Cllr Simcock offered and agreed to repair the damage caused by the second act of vandalism.

Concern was raised over how frequently the dog bins were being emptied with special reference to the bin located at the entrance to the lane near the play area as it was currently overflowing.  The Clerk confirmed that the bins were being emptied once a week but had asked Salisbury District Council for a request as to the cost of the possibility of emptying the bin in question on a twice weekly basis.  In addition the Clerk was asked to research the cost of an alternative larger capacity bin.

Thanks were given to Cllr Simcock for his repair to the gate in the teenage play area.

Noticeboard update: thanks were given to Cllr Simcock who had kindly repositioned and repaired the original noticeboard previously located at Great Croft to replace the noticboard at the top of Firs Road.

Firsdown Music Fayre: It was noted that the recently held Music Fayre in July had been a great success and that it was intended to repeat the event in 2008.  Thanks were given in particular to Professor Graham Wright for the time he gave to the organisation of the event and to Richard George for allowing the event to be held on his land.  It was confirmed that the amount of £625.00 which had been collected at the Music Fayre had been deposited into the Parish Council bank account for the safekeeping of the Parish Council and the amount to be used for future Music Fayre events. 

Cllr Simcock

Clerk

6.

Finance

The Clerk distributed the Parish Council’s spreadsheet to the Council members with details of the Council’s financial accounts and transactions for July and August 2007.   The current balance in hand is

£5,747.41 

Cheques for £188.60 for Queensbury Shelters Ltd (repair of bus shelter), £20.00 L Simcock (notice board materials) and £25.00 Salisbury District Council (election expenses) were authorised for payment.

7.

Parish Plan Steering Group

It was noted that Cllr Richards had resigned from the Steering Group Committee.  Cllr Edgeley will in future provide an update on the Group’s progress.

8.

Highways and Speeding

Cllr Edgeley confirmed that he had attended a meeting of the “Amesbury Rural Tasking Group” and had met with PC Amanda Warren to discuss the results of the recent placement of speed monitoring cables in Firs Road together with the various speed checks carried out between May and August.  It transpired that 64% of vehicles had exceeded the 30mph speed limit and that 15% of vehicles were travelling at 39 miles per hour.  The average speed of vehicles was noted at 36.5 miles per hour.  It was intended that speed camera signs would be placed at either end of Firs Road and that subsequent random speed checks would be carried out.

It was noted that the Parish Steward had visited and carried out various jobs in the Parish.  Particular note was made of the strimming of grass on the path running from Firs Road to the play area to which the Parish Steward will check and strim on each allocated visit.  The Clerk was asked to contact the retired Councillor, Mr John Hawkins to ask if he would wish to volunteer to act as liaison with the Parish Steward and Clerk as he had previously carried out the role as Councillor to the Parish Council.

9.

Roman Road

Cllr James informed the Council that Robert Key MP had visited the Parish, at the request of a Parishioner, to discuss the Roman Road and to which he had attended the meeting to act as an observer. 

10.

Planning

·          S/2007/1350 – Firs Lodge, 43 Firs Road, Firsdown – Full application – retrospective planning application for single storey extension – this application was supported by the Parish Council.

·          S/2007/1402 – O/L application – B1 Development, comprising offices and laboratories, open space, roads and car parking – Land off Manor Farm Road, Porton Down, Salisbury.  No comment was made regarding this application.

·          S/2007/1507 – Cottles Stud, Firsdown, Salisbury – use of land and buildings for the storage of building materials and equipment – this application was objected to by the Parish Council.

·          S/2007/1566 – 18 Great Croft, Firsdown, Salisbury – replacement garage – this application was supported by the Parish Council.

·          S/2007/1679 – 8/10 Firs Road, Firsdown – Full application – erection of 4 dwellings, garaging/carports and new access following demolition of existing – this application was objected to by the Parish Council.

11.

Code of Conduct – review and acceptance of revised Conduct

A copy of the revised 2007 Model Code of Conduct from the Standards Board for England which came into force on 3rd May and which Parish Councils have until 1st October to adopt was recently distributed to all Councillors.  After discussion the Parish Council unanimously agreed to accept the revised Code of Conduct.

12.

Correspondence

Salisbury District Council – Liaison with Parish Councils.  A letter from Councillor Paul Sample at Salisbury District was read whereby he offered to attend a Parish Council meeting to discuss any relevant matters.  The Clerk was asked to invite Councillor Sample to a future meeting.

Wiltshire District Council – One Council for Wiltshire

Clerk

13.

Any other business

·          Firsdown area charity collections – concern was raised that items left out for charity collections were in fact not being collected by the designated charity but by rogue individuals or groups.

·          Community First – it was decided not to renew the subscription.

·          Charity Commission – the Clerk was asked to complete the annual return online.

·          The Clerk was asked to contact the District Council to enquire whether the bird distress call located at Thorney Down could be placed on an electric timer as it currently appeared to be signalling throughout the night.

Clerk

14.

Questions or points from the floor

·          Concern was raised by a local resident as to what the legalities were concerning the lighting of outside fires – the Clerk agreed to add a note to the précis as to the correct guidelines and to ask that neighbours consider each other when lighting fires.