Present Councillors P Ashcroft, W Batty-Smith, B Booth J Cowley, J Cox, D Grimes,
J O’Hare, R Penfold, J Wardell and D Neal Chairman, D J Hine (Clerk)

In attendance C Cllr F Fox and D Cllr G Carr-Jones

Elect Chairman

D Neal having resigned as Chairman it was proposed by J Cowley and seconded by J Cox that W Batty-Smith be elected as Chairman. All Agreed.

To receive apologies D Short

Declarations of Interest None

Minutes of last meeting

The minutes of the last meeting having previously been circulated to Councillors were approved and signed by the Chairman.

Arising As it would appear that no action had been taken regarding the holes in the road at Copse House Hill it was agreed to send a letter to DCC Highways East Dorset.
Clerk to write

OPEN FORUM No comments

Proposed Expenditure

In accordance with S O No. 40 it was proposed by D Grimes and seconded by J Cox that the following expenditure be approved

N Smith The Ring £62.50

Sign Cheques

In accordance with S O No.40 it was proposed by D Grimes and seconded by J Cox that the following cheques be signed

D J Hine Salary £494.10
Travel 12.60
Post 29.20
Tree stake 3.10 £539.00
I Davies JFPA Hedge 250.00
Purely Print Town Plan 848.90
Williams Nursery Christmas Tree 5.00
B Gas 68.39
Direct Office 22.90
N Smith 62.50

Street Cleansing

The Clerk reported that NDDC have promised to let us have details of cost of employing a Street Cleaner for 2008 and details of the frequency which different areas have to be cleaned. Discussions have also taken place with a view to contracting out such work to include cleaning and opening and closing the toilets. However, further details required before we can produce a specification of precisely what Stalbridge will need. As one of the problems would appear to be litter generated by the public having visited a shop/takeaway and then just throwing down the food packaging it was suggested that a letter go to the proprietors asking for a Notice to be put up requesting customers to use litter bins. A suitable notice to be produced.

It was also suggested that we ask how often the mechanical road sweeper should operate.
Clerk to ascertain
(Cerk’s note: Controlled by NDDC. Zone 2 approximately 4 weekly cycle, Zone 3 8 weekly. Production of a map showing these zones is in hand at present moment)

Proposed new Standing Orders

It was proposed by J Cowley and seconded by J Cox that the following be made additional Standing Orders.

(a) When confirmed by the whole Council, the General Purpose Committee’s recommendations on planning matters shall be minuted and sent to the relevant District Council without alteration

(b) Letters as authorised by the Council must be despatched within seven days, maximum, unless an extension has been authorised by the Chairman

This matter now stands adjourned without discussion until the next meeting

Progress report on Library

A meeting was held at Crossways with 12 of the affected Libraries represented. It was agreed that all 34 Dorset Libraries should be involved in the cost cutting exercise and that the fight for the 13 must go on. Meeting on 22nd Feb. at County Hall will be attended. Meeting in Stalbridge Office on 28th March with P Lievers and two C Cllrs.

Proposed letter to MP

J Cowley read a letter he has sent to our M P regarding the Library and other problems being experienced in Stalbridge e.g. Tough choices programme. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to him on behalf of the TC and that the letter would be placed in the Notice Board with a request to residents to also write in a similar vein.
Clerk to write

Councillors’ Reports/Questions

D Grimes. Complaints still being received re. parked vehicles at junction of A357 and Waterlake. Police to be advised.

R Penfold. Unable to attend Hall Meeting on 13th Feb. D Neal will attend.

D Neal A complaint received that the Snowdrop Walk Stone is dirty. Suggested that someone cleans it if so required.

J Cowley. Attended DAPTC Area meeting re. Proposed Gov. White Paper and Pathfinder Bid but still not entirely clear on what is proposed.

D Fox advised that Bus Timetable Books are very scarce at the moment.

J Cowley reported that he had received a Housing Survey form to complete, apparently so had many others.

J Cowley asked whether a Councillors internal audit has been carried out. J Cox said it had not yet been done.

The Clerk reported that two 15ft Elm Trees were received from NDDC and planted by N Brown in the nature reserve area where the old sewage works were originally. Thanks due to Mr Brown.

Correspondence

Local Council Review
DCC Modification to Definitive Map re. FP 71
Probation Service. Notification that a work group will be sent on 14th Feb, but details will be confirmed
Colehill Parish Council. Re. Library Closures. Setting up an Action Group
DCC Youth & Comm. Service. Notification of Management Cttee meeting Sturminster Newton Area. Monday 12th Feb.
Copy of letter from Mr N Brown to NDDC Dev. Control re. Dike’s Development and cycle path
NDDC Confirming Local Delivery Phase 2 meeting Monday 26th Feb. 2-30 Stalbridge
Copy of NDDC letter to Ramblers Assoc. (J Wardell) re. FP 49
E-mail from DCC Confirming meeting with P Lievers Wed.28th March 7-30 Stalbridge
J Foster-Pegg re. Library Closure
DCC P Lievers re. Library Closures replying to ours of 6th December. Further letter/e-mail saying not happy that our queries have been dealt with.
Clerk to write
DAPTC e-mail re. Scheme of Publication approval extended to end of 2008
DAPTC e-mail re. Post Office Consultation
Sturquest e-mail re. S N Leisure Centre meeting 12th Feb.
DCC S Howard, Traffic Management. Details of criterion re pedestrian crossing (2 letters)
P Hyde NDDC e-mail re alteration to council Tax leaflet
P Hyde NDDC Requesting article for Open Line
NDDC Timetable for Local Elections
NDDC Draft Employment Land review
DCC User Guide for S I D
Sturminster Newton TC Invitation to meeting 27th Feb. 10 a.m. to informally discuss provision of NDDC Local Services during 2008/9
NORDCAT request for funding
Copy of letter from Mr Kinnibrugh to Dev. Control re. Old Rectory
Cancer Care e-mail inviting members to Snowdrop Service on 25th Feb
DCC Highways Advising of road closure A357 Feb. 11th
Copy letter from Ramblers Assoc. to NDDC re. FP49
NDDC notification of appeal by Mr & Mrs Moore re. refusal of p.p. 24 Vale Road
Copy letter from Ramblers Assoc to DCC re. FPs 49, 54 & 55
DCC re. Developing R of W Improvements Plan
Invite to Annual Review of Guiding 17th March Poole
NDDC re. Noise Nuisance Investigation Procedures
NDDC Support for Community Partnerships
DAPTC Ch. Exec. Circular 01/07
Wilber tSmith NDDc re. Sustainable Community Strategy

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9-20 p.m.