MINUTES of a Meeting of Melksham Without Parish Council held on Monday 7th September 2009 at Crown Chambers, 7 Market Place, Melksham at 7.00 p.m.

Present: Cllr. Richard Wood (Chairman of the Meeting); Cllrs. Elisabethe Bean; Rolf Brindle; Alan Baines; Paul Clark; Pat Nicol; Steve Petty and Don Millard.

Apologies: Cllrs. Mike Mills; Terry Chivers; Gregory Coombes; John Glover and Mike Sankey.

135/09	Declarations of Interest: Cllr. Bean declared an interest in the Lease for Shaw Hill Playing Field as a Member of the Shaw Hall Management Committee. Cllr. Wood declared an interest in the item re Allotments as an allotment tenant. Cllr. Petty declared an interest in planning as a Wiltshire Councillor and member of the Wiltshire Council Planning Committee. He also declared an interest in the Melksham Area Board as a Wiltshire Council Member.

It was resolved to suspend Standing Orders to allow for a period of public participation.

136/09	Public Participation: With reference to a letter he had just written to the Council, Bowerhill resident Tony Giddings expressed concern that since the chicanes and traffic-calming had been installed outside Bowerhill School, drivers were going down Mitchell Drive instead at great speeds. He had seen the Police doing surveys there but was unaware of any results.

The Council reconvened.

137/09	Minutes, Planning Committee Meeting 10th August : Resolved: The Minutes of this Meeting be formally approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

138/09	Arising from Min. 128/09 PA07 03866/FUL Countrywide Farmers new store: A reply was received from the Wiltshire Council Leader Jane Scott noting the Council’s support for this application. The Clerk reported that she had spoken with Wiltshire Councillor Rod Eaton who had informed that he would be calling the application to committee, if the Planning Officer was minded to refuse the application. Cllr Petty informed that the application could be called in as the new store was located on the trading side of the site. Asda had already taken the retail site. Cllr. Baines proposed that if there was any suggestion the application could be refused, the Council contact the local councils of Holt and Broughton Gifford to ask if they would send a letter of support. This was agreed.

Resolved: The Council contact Holt and Broughton Gifford Parish Councils if the Planning Officer recommended the application be refused.

139/09	Arising from Min. 129/09 New Cycleway through The Spa: The Council noted that a Meeting between residents and Wiltshire Council Officers had been arranged for the following day, 9th September, to be held at Crown Chambers. The Clerk reported that Cllr. While would be attending and had asked senior officers from Wiltshire Council to come as well.

140/09	Planning Applications: The following planning applications were considered:

W/09/01964 Land East of Orchard House, Shaw Hill, Shaw. Revised plans to show entrance and more secure fencing

Comments:- The Council notes the revised plans re the entrance and more secure fencing. However the Council still strongly opposes this application on the grounds that the development is extremely dangerous from a highway point of view. The housing site is well away from the villages of Shaw and Whitley on the Norrington side of the A365 which means that residents would have to traverse the A365 near the busy bend at the Norrington Lane junction to reach the village facilities, and the local school. Due to the camber of the land which slopes away from the A365 down towards Norrington, it is very difficult for residents wishing to cross this road to hear approaching traffic. Traffic moves extremely fast, particularly from the Bath direction travelling towards Melksham and there is at present no designated pedestrian footway. The site is very poorly related to village facilities and so there would be a heavy reliance on private transport for school and shopping, etc.

MW09 02383 J.S. Bloor, Swindon. Land north-east of Snowberry Lane and south of Sandridge Road. Construction of 58 dwellings, relating to access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale. Reserved matters

Comments: The council would like to see more natural hedging being planted as part of this application; e.g. a mix of deciduous hedge plants, including hawthorn.

There were no objections to the following planning applications:

MW09/02443 Persimmon Homes Ltd. Land at Clackers Brook between Sandridge Road and Snowberry Lane 114 Dwellings, Access & Associated landscaping –Application to remove/vary condition following grant of planning permission to allow for the installation of non-fixed obscurely glazed windows to plots 20,21,23,47,49,99 and 100. Letter from resident.

MW09 2380 and 02465 LBC Catte, 399 The Spa, Melksham. To convert store/workshop plus construct garage with WC.

MW09 02382 Lowden Nurseries, Folly Lane, Bath Road, Shaw. Side extension to existing shop, extension to kitchen, replacement of existing canopy, replacement of glass roof with polycarbonate to greenhouse, extension of existing car park.

MW09 02494 Persimmon Homes. Land north-east of Snowberry Lane and south of Sandridge Road. Construction of electricity sub-station and access.

141/09	Planning Correspondence

(i) Cycleway through The Spa: The Council noted that a set of larger plans for these proposals had now been received. The Clerk reported that residents from the Spa would be attending the Meeting which had been arranged for the following day, 8th September at 2.00 p.m. Cllr Roy While had asked senior officers from Wiltshire Council to attend as well.

(i) New School Pedestrian Crossings – Wiltshire Council notices: The Council noted that on the official map, Falcon Way roundabout had been labelled “The Spa” roundabout in error. It was agreed to bring this to the attention of the Wiltshire Council Traffic Department.

(iii) Affordable Housing Units, Shaw Hill: A reply from Mrs Shell of the Wilts. Rural Housing Association enclosed information re the WRHA Housing Allocation Policy and indicated that she would be happy to meet Council representatives. It was agreed to propose that a meeting take place on 21st September at 2.00 p.m. Councillors made suggestions re possible alternative sites for affordable housing. It was agreed that housing was needed for Whitley, rather than Shaw as Shaw was close to the George Ward School site where affordable housing was due to be built in the near future. It was also agreed to contact Cllr. Chivers for his views on suitable sites and to forward him a map to mark up.

(iv) Blenheim Park One Stop Shop Extension: It was noted that plans were being prepared for an extension to the One Stop Shop.

(v) W09/01844 Boomerang change of use of land to leisure: The Council noted that this application had been withdrawn.

(vi)Works to Copper Beech Tree, Mavern House: It was noted that consent had been given for a crown lift to a height not exceeding 6 metres from ground level to the tops if the tertiary branches and a crown clean.

(vii) Rotherfield Physiotherapy, Bowerhill: Letter received from Wiltshire Council to inform that this company had been asked to submit a planning application re the business taking place in a private house.

142/09	Minutes, Council Meeting 27th July: Resolved: The Minutes of this Meeting be approved by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, with the following amendment:

Min. 102/09 Line 2 Amend “daughter” to “daughter-in-law”

143/09	Arising from Min. 109/09 The Spa - Conservation Area: The Clerk reported that she had received a reply from the Conservation Officer to confirm his awareness of the community’s application to make the Spa a Conservation area. He hoped to deal with it as soon as other important administrative issues, such as staffing levels, had been sorted.

144/09	Arising from Min 112/09 Rights of Way Information Boards: The Clerk reported that Wiltshire Council had confirmed the Footpaths Grant Scheme could be used to provide some rights of way maps. A bid for Grant Aid would need to be submitted to Wiltshire Council and if successful would cover up to 50% cost of the new Boards. The Council then considered the following sites put forward by the Caretaker:

a) Beanacre – Site outside entrance to Play Area by Post Box in lay-by on A350

b) Berryfield – At entrance to Berryfield Park, next to wall

c) Bowerhill – Site adjacent to the Pilot by the walkway to the rear of Bowerhill school

d) Shaw & Whitley – Site opposite Shaw School next to parish notice board. There was discussion as to board materials and the paths should be shown . It was felt that the information boards should be made in wood-coloured plastic to minimize on maintenance costs. It was hoped that collectively the Boards would be able to show all the rights of way in the Melksham Without parish. Following discussion the Council agreed to endorse sites a) b) and d) but to re-consider whether to have another site for Bowerhill. It was also agreed that a map would be required for Sandridge.

Resolved: 1. Sites a) b) and d) as detailed above be accepted. 2. ,The Council seek to install an Information Board at Sandridge as well as the four areas mentioned above. 3. The Council seek quotations for construction of the Boards and this matter be discussed again at the next Council Meeting when Councillors would consider possible sites for Bowerhill and Sandridge.

145/09	Arising from Min. 112/09 Parish Rights of Way: Cllr Clark read out a reply from Wiltshire Council he had received to his recent email about remedial work needed to rights of way in Beanacre. It appeared no remedial work could be done until November. There was discussion re the need for all paths to be kept in a reasonable condition so that they could be safely walked.

146/09	Arising from Min. 114/09 Council Power of Well-being: The Clerk reported that Penny Bell would be leaving Community 1st and so would be unable to carry out training in the Power of Well-being. Katie Field had offered to do the training but was unavailable on 19th October. It was agreed that it would be better to do the training on a separate evening from the Council Meeting.

The Council noted that 80% of the Council would need to attend and participate in order for the training to be valid.

Resolved: The Council liaise with Katie Fielding to agree a date for training on a Special Training Evening.

147/09	Arising from Min. 115/09 Melksham Area Partnership: Resolved Cllr. Wood agreed to attend the Meeting on 9th September as the Chairman was on holiday. Cllr Brindle and The Clerk also agreed to attend.

148/09	Arising from Min. 120/09 New Allotment Land: The Council noted that no written confirmation had yet been received from Mr Guley re the Council acquiring the land at Shurnhold for allotments. The Clerk reported that Mr Guley was still reluctant to allow a 25 year lease on this land. Another possibility was for the Parish Council to take back the larger area of land at Berryfield it owned which at present was rented to Mr Guley in lieu of the smaller allotment plot.. Councillor questioned whether the larger Berryfield plot would be too large for allotments and whether there could also be problems with parking and access. There was further discussion re a possible new alignment for the Wilts and Berks Canal in this area.

It was noted that Wiltshire Council was considering whether it could offer allotments to the Parish Council on the Woolmore Farm site. The Council agreed to await a reply on this matter.

149/09	Finance

Teresa - CILCA qualification: This item was discussed in committee at the end of the Council Meeting. The Clerk reported that Teresa was keen to take up training to be a qualified Clerk through the CILCA qualification, at an initial cost to the Council of £300. The CILCA course took approximately 2 years, plus any training days which cost £50 per day. The Council welcomed this news.

Resolved: The Council sponsor Teresa Strange to do this course at a cost to the Council of £300.

b) Wilts and Berks Canal Project – Grant Aid Resolved: The Council agreed to release £500 grant reserved for the Wilts and Berks Canal Project.

Receipts: Resolved: The Council note the following receipts

500299	Allotment rents	£ 10.00

500299	Carson Tyre: Deposit for roundabout sponsorship £ 200.00

500300	Allotment rents

500300	Headley Bros: refund re NALC LCR subs £ 6.00

500300	Mary Jarvis: ink cartridges from Council bulk buy £ 12.07

500300	Margaret Mylchreest: cartridges from Council bulk buy 12.07

d) Accounts: Resolved: The following accounts were checked and formally approved for payment:

3457*	Bowerhill Villager: Grant Aid	£ 250.00

3458*	The Cloth Road Art Week: Grant Aid	£ 50.00

3459*	Melksham Gardeners’ Society: Grant Aid	£ 200.00

3460* MSK Test Pro: Annual Buildings Insurance

Crown Chambers	£ 887.35

3461* WALC:Councillors' Legal Protection Insurance £ 383.50

Paid since last Meeting.

3462 Leigh Swinden: Grass cutting Beanacre – Mar - June 09 £ 210.00

3463 BT Payment Services: Internet rental

1st Aug - 31st Oct09 £95.94 + VAT £ 110.33

3464 Post Office: Postage stamps	£ 100.00

3465 Condor: Photocopier charge May -Jly 09 £70.13 + VAT £ 80.65

3466 P. S. Filkins: Grass cutting Beanacre – Aug 09	£ 80.00

3467 SLCC: Charles Arnold Baker Local Council Eighth Ed. £ 55.60

3468 Vol. Action W. Wilts: Health & S Course Jarvis 3rd June £ 45.00

(Re-issue of cancelled cheque 3382 as lost)

3469Wilts.Public. M’sham News advert 6 Aug £32.40 + VAT £ 37.26

3470Wilts & Berks Canal Trust annual subscription	£ 25.00

3471 Buildbase: Maintenance materials £17.90 + VAT	£ 20.58

3472 Community First: Tax for Legal Protection Insurance

(omitted from cheque 3461 above) £ 19. 18

3473 Countrywide: Maintenance materials £9.69 + VAT	£ 11.16

3474 Leekes: Maintenance materials £8.23 + VAT	£ 9.46

3475 Mrs Mary Jarvis: September salary

+ overtime + expenses (£28.95) eye test & key cut £

Margaret Mylchreest: September salary + tax refund	£

Terry Cole: Aug hours + travel allowance (£25)

+ July mileage (£56.90) £

Mrs Teresa Strange: September salary £

Jacob Tyghe: Crown Chambers decorating (17 hrs)	£

Mrs Gill Butler: August hours + sick pay (4 hrs) £

Mrs Elaine Cranton: Aug cleaning + sick pay (7 hrs) £

Inland Revenue: August - Tax & NI for Employer/ees £

Inland Revenue: Sept– Tax & NI for Employer/ees	£ 664.84

Wilts. Pension Fund: Aug & Sept Superannuation

Jarvis/Strange	£1,107.73

MSK Test Pro: 4th Qtr Rent for Crown Chambers

(1st Oct-31st Dec09) £1,462.50

Wiltshire Council:

Wilts & Berks Canal Partnership – Grant Aid	£ 500.00

150/09 Shaw Hall and Playing Field

a) Dog-fouling sign: The Council considered quotations for ‘no dog-fouling/ dogs must be kept on lead’ signs. It was agreed to accept the quotation from Citaglen subject to the supporting posts being extended to 1 metre.

Resolved: The Council accept the quotation from Citaglen for one sign, in the sum of £102.64

b) Shaw Hall – Requirement for new Lease: It was noted that Shaw Hall required a new Lease to be drawn up for Grant Aid purposes as technically the old Lease had expired. The Clerk reported that she had referred this matter to the Solicitors Wansboroughs just before going on holiday. Wansboroughs had replied to inform that the cost to draw up a new Lease would be approximately £400. The Vice- Chairman, Cllr. Wood advised that the Council Chairman Mike Mills had suggested the cost of the new Lease be split between the Parish Council and the Shaw Hall Management Committee. The Council supported this proposal.

Resolved: The Council write to Shaw Hall Management Committee to inform that a new Lease would cost about £400 and to request that this cost be shared between the Parish Council and the Hall Committee.

151/09	Footpath 84 Diversion: The Council considered a proposed Diversion to Footpath 84. Resolved: The Council approve the Diversion

152/09	New Notice Board for outside The Pilot, Bowerhill: The Clerk reported that The Pilot had agreed to have a slightly larger Notice Board on their wall once the wall had been repaired.

Resolved: The Council obtain quotations for the new Notice Board

153/09	Parish Litter problems

a) Westlands Lane, Beanacre: Cllr. Clark reported that an area in Westlands Lane which was being used as a pull-in by cars, was becoming a dumping ground. This usually happened late at night. Cllr. Baines proposed the Parish Council ask Wiltshire Council to erect a sign similar to the one at the Forest Lane gravel tip. This was agreed.

Resolved. The Council write to Wiltshire Council and ask that a sign stating “Please take your litter home with you” and with details re the likely fine if prosecution took place, be erected.

b) Sandridge School lay-by: The Clerk reported that the Caretaker had asked if a litter-bin could be placed in this lay-by as he was continually picking up rubbish there. Cllr Petty suggested in would be better to place a bin near the school entrance rather than in the lay-by. Cllr. Millard felt it would be unwise to put a bin in the lay-by as it encouraged people to stop there, especially at night The lay-by was really for coaches to be able to turn safely. There was discussion on whether Wiltshire Council Education Dept should be asked to provide a bin and whether this should be placed by the school or at the school end of the bridleway. Cllr. Baines proposed that WC Education Dept. be asked to place a bin for school litter but then withdrew this proposal and instead proposed that Wiltshire Council be asked to erect a sign which read¨ “Please take your litter home with you” at the lay-by. This was agreed.

Resolved: The Council write to request that a “Please take your litter home with you” sign be also erected in the School Turning Circle near Forest and Sandridge School.

154/09	Request for safety signs at Bowerhill Sports Field: A request had been received for clearer signs re the prohibition of motorbike racing and dangerous ball games on the field. Cllr. Brindle reported that the existing signs were still in good condition and easy to read. It was agreed not to replace them at present.

155/09	Loose Coping Stones on new bush shelter, Beanacre: The Council considered a quotation for repair to the bus shelter coping stones received from Andy Strange Builder.

Resolved: This quotation in the sum of £73 be accepted subject to proof that Mr Strange had public liability insurance in excess of £1mil.

156/09	Portable Flashing Speed Signs: The Council noted details of these speed signs which had been supplied to Cllr. Clark by Police Officer Barry Dalton. Cllr. Clark explained that he had referred a complaint from a lady in Westlands Lane about speeding to PC Dalton who had then forwarded him information re the options re speed signs. It was noted that the signs were in excess of £2,000 per pair and took 4 – 6 weeks to obtain. Cllr Millard felt the signs were too expensive for the Parish Council to purchase on their own. Cllr Petty advised the signs needed to be mobile and that permission to site them could be an issue so ideally they needed to be handled by the Police. Cllr. Bean reported that at the last Neighbourhood Policing Meeting, it appeared that Atworth, Broughton Gifford and other parishes were interested in buying a set of signs. The Clerk advised that the parishes be encouraged to join together to make a grant application to the Area Board for funds to purchase the signs.

Resolved: Cllr. Baines proposed that the parish councils within the Melksham community area be invited to make a joint application to the Area Board for funds to purchase the signs for use by the Police in the Melksham Community Area. This was agreed. Cllr. Petty abstained from this vote as a Wiltshire Councillor on the Melksham Area Board.

157/09	General Correspondence for action

Wiltshire Council Standards Committee: The Committee noted an introductory letter & DVD. Details of the procedure for local councils to obtain a Dispensation were also noted.

Traffic Mitchell Drive & Halifax Road Bowerhill: The Council discussed an email received from Bowerhill resident Mr Giddings to express concern that since traffic-calming had been installed at Falcon Way, cars were using Mitchell Drive as a “rat-run”. See also Min. 136/09. Cllr. Petty advised that any traffic-calming measures installed had to be suitable for buses and ambulances to traverse. Cllr. Millard emphasised that “pin-cushion” calming was dangerous for motorcycles. Any measures had to be safe for bikes but should not close down emergency vehicles. Cllr. Baines referred to the package of traffic-calming measures which had been negotiated as part of the Development Brief for the development east of Bowerhill. Table-top ramps were promised at the top of Mitchell Drive. The Council needed to investigate whether all items agreed through a Section 106 Agreement had been implemented. Cllr. Brindle believed a sum of money had been given by developers to County Highways for traffic-calming and questioned whether all of this had been spent at Bowerhill. There was discussion about how effective gated calming was.

Resolved: The Council research whether all the agree traffic-calming measures for Bowerhill had yet been implemented.

Venue for Council Christmas Dinner: It was agreed to make a decision re the venue at the Planning Committee Meeting on 28th September.

Community First 2009 AGM: Invitation received to attend the AGM on 7th October. The Clerk reported that Cllr. Coombes wished to attend. This was agreed.

WC Proposals re Harmonisation of Concessionary Travel: Letter received to propose that in view of the national free OAP and disabled persons’ bus pass, WC now withdraw the concessionary tokens and vouchers currently available in the former West and North Wilts Council areas. Cllr. Glover emphasised how valuable the taxi vouchers and tokens were for those who did not have a bus service. Not all areas were able to tap into the national free travel opportunity. Following discussion it was agreed to reply to say the current system should be retained and the vouchers and tokens made available to all who needed them throughout Wiltshire.

Resolved: The Council reply to Wiltshire Council as detailed above.

Closure of Bowerhill Post Office: Letters were received from both the Post Office and Selwood Housing Association to explain the circumstances surrounding the Bowerhill Post Office closure. It was noted that the Post Office was keen to see another Post Office opened as soon as possible.

Resolved: The Council write to both Selwood Housing Association and The Post Office to emphasise how important the Post Office at Bowerhill was to community life and request all efforts be made to re-open it as soon as possible.

Play Area Inspection Reports, Shaw & Beanacre: These were noted. At Shaw there were problems with a branch overhanging the Play Area.

Resolved: The Council ask the Caretaker to remove the branch.

WC Prohibition and No-Waiting restrictions outside new secondary school: The Council noted that the WC Notice contained an error as the site was given as A365 bath Road, not Devizes Road.

There was concern about the existing lay-by near the school entrance which still remained but with a waiting restriction. Councillors noted that it was continually being used to sell second-hand cars. It was agreed to reply to Wiltshire Council to ask about the future of the lay-by and propose it be filled in. It was also agreed that the area should become a “no-loading” area as well as a “no waiting area. Following discussion, Cllr. Petty proposed that , rather than using yellow lines, the no-waiting area should become a clearway with one white line with a “no-stopping” restriction during school start and finishing times; as follows: No stopping 8.00 – 9.30 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Resolved: 1. The Council find out about the future of the lay-by and propose it be filled in. 2. The Council propose that the “no-waiting area” become a clearway with a no-stopping restriction from 8.00 a.m. – 9.30 p.m. and from 2.00p.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Overgrowing Trees, 4 Valiant Close, Bowerhill: An email was received from Cllr. Sankey to confirm he had examined trees on Mrs Lambe’s boundary at 4 Valiant Close which were causing her wall to be displaced. The trees had been planted right against her wall when the school extension had been built and the matter needed to be referred to the Local Education Authority at Wiltshire Council. . Cllr. Petty advised that Mrs Lambe would be able to do this via the internet by filling in a Melksham Area Issue Sheet.

Resolved: The Council forward a copy of Cllr. Sankey’s email to the LEA at Wiltshire Council and let Mrs Lambe know she should follow up this matter with LEA.

158/09 General Correspondence for information: The Council noted the following papers:

WC Notice re Temporary Closure of A350 Beanacre from A365 junction to Avon Road , 18th - 21st September 2009

(ii) Letter from Mouchel re above closure of A350 Beanacre

Meeting closed at 9.27 p.m.

Chairman, 19th October 2009