Draft Minutes                                                          (4)

           ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

                                                                        15th May 2007

PRESENT:     Councillor                   A.R.Nicholls               (Mayor)

                                    Councillors                 P.Baker

                                                                        Mrs.L.Clark

                                                                        Mrs.T.B.Coombs

                                                                        Mrs.A.Daymond

                                                                        M.V.Daymond

                                                                        M.W.Dolan

                                                                        A.R.Dedden

                                                                        Mrs.L.Dedden

                                                                        Mrs.G.Belcher

                                                                        S.Gibson

                                                                        Mrs.J.Hazel

                                                                        B.Mortimer

                                                                        Mrs.L.A.K.Nicholls

                                                                        V.Redpath

                                                                        P.W.Richardson

                                                                        Ms.J.Russell 

                                                                        M.Simper                              

                                                                       

In Attendance:- Mrs.V.Bright, Town Clerk & Mrs.J.Gaskell, Assistant to the Town Clerk.

Also in attendance: County Councillor S.Flower

Public: 2

9/07                 Declaration of Interests.

Councillor Mrs.L.Clark declared a personal interest as she is a member of the East Dorset District Council.

Councillor Mrs.T.Coombs declared a personal interest as she is a member of the Planning Committee at East Dorset District Council.

Councillor Mrs.J.Hazel declared a personal interest as she is a member of the East Dorset District Council and regarding  Minute number 22/07(c) as she lives alongside Champtoceaux Avenue.

Councillor B.Mortimer declared a personal interest as he is a member of the East Dorset District Council.

Councillor P.Richardson declared a personal interest as he is a member of the East Dorset District Council.

Councillor M.Simper declared a personal interest as he is a member of the Hub Community Association, a member of the Verwood Community Association and a member of East Dorset District Council.

10/07               Minutes of the Meeting held  24th  April, 2007 as circulated, were confirmed and signed.

11/07               Minutes of the Annual Town Assembly held 1st  May 2007, as circulated, were confirmed and signed.

12/07               Clerk’s Report

a) Dorset County Council wrote regarding a perceived danger at the junction of Brock Way and Jenner Close, Verwood. (Min 361/06 (c) & 327/06(b) refers)  Information was given as to why the introduction of additional markings would not be supported. The letter was copied to all Members. After much discussion the Clerk was instructed to write that the Town Council

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felt that there is still a major problem at this site but suggest that the situation is monitored until the new flats have been built. Once they have been built and cars are coming from Peel Close, Jenner Close and Brock Way the situation should be looked at again and consideration may have to be given for yellow lines and that priority markings may have to change.  

b) Verwood Community Association wrote thanking the Town Council for financially supporting the provision of CCTV at Potterne Park. This was noted.

c) East Dorset District Council wrote that following the success of The Sting in the Tale Festival last summer, they are seeking sponsorship for the fourth annual festival of storytelling this August. After discussion it was agreed that this would be an agenda item at the next Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting.

d) Ringwood & Fordingbridge Citizens Advice Bureau wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for 2007/2008. This was noted.

e) The Clerk reported that the renewal documentation has now been received from Zurich Municipal for 2007/2008. The Town Council took out a long term agreement with Zurich for five years (Min 33/03 refers).  The total cost will be £10,347.14, which includes engineering inspections on the Play Areas and the Town Council boiler. This was noted.

f) Hampshire County Council – Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework, Issue and Options: Sites Discussion Paper (Addendum) Consultation.

Work has begun on the Hampshire Minerals Plan and the Hampshire Waste Management Plan. A further round of informal ‘issues and options’ consultation additional sites, more detailed proposals for the role of existing sites and industrial estates, and various issues that have arisen, which are available for comment on their website from 8th May 2007 until 19th June 2007. The addendum and sites are available to view on line at http://ww3.hants.gov.uk/planning/mineralsandwaste/planning-policy/development-framework/sites-plans/sites-plan-issues.htm

This was noted.

g) East Dorset Citizens Advice Bureaux wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for 2007/2008. This was noted.

h) Verwood Community Association wrote thanking the Town Council for the first part of their Grant Aid for 2007/2008. This was noted.

i) Verwood Concert Brass wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for 2007/2008 which will be put towards the purchase of their new Eb bass. This was noted.

j) Age Concern Verwood wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for 2007/2008. This was noted.

k) Dorset Association of Parish & Town Councils (DAPTC) Chief Executive’s Circular 07/07 regarding 2007/08 Pay Negotiations; National Minimum Wage Increase; New Mileage Rates; Award Schemes reminders; Code of Conduct; “Cracking The Code” The new ethical regime for Parish Councillors; Dorset County Training Partnership; DAPTC Office. This would be copied to all Members.

l) The Dorset Association for the Disabled wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for 2007/2008. This was noted.

m) Life Education Centre Dorset wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for 2007/2008. This was noted.

13/07               The Report of the Plans Consultative Committee meeting held, 25th May 2007 as circulated, was confirmed, adopted and signed.

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14/07                  Report from the Outgoing Mayor.

The Mayor had attended various functions which included: Civic days at, New Sarum and Shaftesbury; Civic Service at Wimborne Minster; Prama’s Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving; Mayor’s Charity Night at Weymouth; the Fossil Festival at Lyme Regis; Verwood Talented Youth Concerts at The Hub; a Stroke Awareness Blood Pressure check arranged by Verwood Rotary Club.

           

15/07               Report of Representatives on Other Bodies.

a) Verwood & Three Legged Cross Twinning Association. A report was given on events to be held for the  57 visitors from Champtoceaux.

b) Verwood Age Concern. Information was given on the AGM, which would be held on 24th May at the Town Council Offices at 7.30pm.

c) Verwood Memorial Hall.  A report was given on: the change of date for the AGM to  17th July at the Memorial Hall:   the purchasing of new furnishings and windows; external building work.

Information was given that there would be a meeting at Holtwood on 24th May at 2pm for Village Halls regarding Connecting Dorset.                                                      

16/07               Internet Councillor.

A request was made for profiles of the new Town Councillors and updates of the re-elected Councillors for the Town Council Website.

17/07               Press & P.R.Councillor.

No report

                                                                                   

18/07               Verwood Community Association.

No report.

           

19/07               Verwood Hub Community Association.

A report  was given on: the organisation of delivery of films; that the FA cup would be shown on the big screen at the Hub; future events; the benefits of membership; plea for volunteers.

The Chairman of the Association thanked publicly Councillors Mrs.A.Daymond and Ms.J.Russell for the tremendous hard work they had carried out at the Hub whilst they were trustees.

20/07               Reports of the County & District Councillors.

County Councillor Spencer Flower.  A report was given on the County Councils needs to find total savings of around £20m over the next three years to stay within projected capping limits due to lack of proper funding from Central Government. Also a progress report on the planning application for the rebuild of the Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne.

District Councillor M.Simper.  A report was given on :  Heathland Mitigation -  the date of the  meeting to determine the programme of project for the next three years regarding the allocation of funds from the Developer Contribution Policy: the reorganisation of Committee Structures; the District Councils approval of the preferred bidder to manage and develop the Moors Valley Golf Centre.

21/07               Accounts

It was proposed and seconded and

RESOLVED that the accounts totalling £79,140.70 for May were approved for payment, which included Grant Aid cheques for 2007/2008, which had been presented at the Annual Town Assembly. The list is attached to these minutes.

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22/07               Items of report and matters for future agendas.

a)  A report was given on graffiti on a bollard at the bottom of Crane Drive and fencing in the Potters Wheel Car Park.

b)  A request was made for clarification of the Declarations of Interest made by District and County Councillors.

c) A request was made for the criteria for siting the Speed Indicator Devices (SID).  The Clerk would contact the Dorset Camera Partnership to request a meeting to discuss this matter.

Councillor Mrs.J.Hazel declared a personal interest Min 9/07 refers.

d) A request was made for an agenda item at the next Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting to discuss public speaking, Standing Order 15(k), at a Town Council meeting, to allow an elector to address the Council as well as ask questions.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.12p.m.

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                                                                        Mayor