PARISH COUNCILCHAIRMAN'S REPORT to
the ANNUAL PARISH MEETING on 14th MAY 2003

ACHIEVEMENTS AGAINST THE PARISH PLAN
(ISSUE 3 DATED FEB 2002)

1.To maintain effective communications between Councillors and all members of the village community.

* allow parishioners to speak at Council Meetings

Achieved. A time is set aside at the outset of each Parish Council meeting for parishioners to introduce topics that they wish the Council to examine. Parishioners may also raise topics with Parish Councillors at any time and they will be introduced by that Parish Councillor. Additionally we allow parishioners to speak at the outset of agenda items and allow them to contribute to the discussion at the Chairman's discretion.

* make copies of minutes accessible to public

Achieved. The minutes are available at the Tinkerbell Service Station, the Church, the School and at the Barford Inn. A copy is provided to the editor of the Barford Bulletin for him to summarise in the next edition. Copies are given to individuals on request.

* publish details of budget on Notice Boards and web site - target immediately following agreement at November meeting

Achieved. A copy of the agreed budget and the consequential provisional precept rates for each band were published on the 3 notice boards and on the Parish Council web site immediately following the November Council meeting.

* publish information in Barford Bulletin - target last Wednesday in each month

Achieved. A number of articles were published in the Bulletin. This is a valuable means of communicating with the public.

* publish significant deviations from or additions to the Parish Plan on village notice boards

Achieved. No deviations have yet arisen.

* maintain and develop web site

Achieved. The web site has been kept up to date by the monthly additions to the Diary of Events and posting the KYP Notices and Chairman's Report on to the site. It has been developed to provide information on the Historical Society.

* publish 'Keeping You Posted' notices from time to time - target at least 6 times per year

Partially achieved. 4 Keeping You Posted Notices were produced during the year 2002 and 22 since they were introduced. (3 have been produced in 2003). They are placed on notice boards, in the church entrance, in the Black and White Farm shop and at various points around the village. They are also added to the web site. KYP Notices are supplemented by article in the Barford Bulletin.


2. To provide and improve facilities in the village

* support the School House Project - target contribute towards assets in 2002/2003 budget and place orders at appropriate times

Achieved. 20 chairs were bought at a total cost of £750 for use by the community and are located in the School House. A clock and a plaque were purchased and installed in the School House in time for the official opening in December 2002.

* introduce measures, if possible, to remove rabbit infestation on allotments - targets in 2000 and 2001 not achieved. New target June 2002 (achievability depends on cooperation of Railtrack or their successor company)

Not Achieved. Success has continued to elude us. We have written to Railtrack on whose land the rabbits breed and although they have promised action they have not delivered on those promises.

* provide skips at least once per year - target June

Achieved. Skips were in place at Heath Farm Park and in Dairy Rd between 10-21 June 2002.

* maintain play area and its fencing and ensure safety requirements of ROSPA are met - target no high risk observations

Achieved. There were no high risk observation in the 2002 ROSPA report. Medium and low risk observations are being dealt with.

* install lockable gates in play area and kick-about area - target May 2002

Not achieved. It remains the Council's intention to undertake this task. Funds have been set aside in the budget.

* support the presence of the mobile youth bus in the village - target every possible Monday

Not achieved. The schedule of the mobile bus was changed and it no longer visits Barford. The Alabare Christian Care Centres provide a youth club at its Countryside Unit in Dairy Rd each Wednesday.

* Continue discussions with Alabare Trust over use of the Countryside Unit by residents of the village - target use of car mechanics workshop operational by June 2002

Partially achieved. We work closely with Alabare. Questionnaires on what courses would interest residents were largely ignored. The Unit's courtyard was used by Salisbury College's Mobile Learning Unit and a few residents of the village took advantage of this. The mechanics workshop was not operational by June 2002. However, funds were made available from SDC to the Alabare for the purchase of tools and recent discussions have concluded that they would run a course for the young people of Barford on car, motorbike or bicycle maintenance during the summer holidays.

* Complete purchase and installation of changing rooms on school field (using R2 money) - target April 2002

Achieved. The changing rooms were satisfactorily installed in May 2002 by Frenchmoors at a price of £3663. Since then the Alabare Countryside Unit has made and installed shutters over the windows and doors.

* Seek to achieve the NPFA's standard of recreational open space - target by end 2002

Not Achieved. There has been no progress on this. The assessment of open space needs for communities is understood to be under review.

* Maintain all assets in good condition - target no criticisms from auditor

Achieved. There were no adverse criticisms from the internal auditor.

* Maintain Rights of Way in good condition at all times

Achieved. A Rights of Way Officer was appointed. He reviews the rights of way on a regular basis and reports to the Parish Council. Rights of way are in good condition in the parish.


3. To improve the safety of villagers by the introduction of appropriate traffic measures

* improve pedestrian safety on B3089 by Barford school - target agreed plan in place by end 2002

Not Achieved. A School Travel Plan was produced by the school in December 2002 after consultation with parents. It identified their concerns for the safety of children getting to and from school. Advice was also taken from the County's Travel Plan Adviser. Main concerns were the narrowness of the footpath in West St in places, crossing the road opposite the school and the presence of the school bus. In March 2003 WCC's Travelwise Manager wrote to the school notifying them that £12,500 had been awarded. We await their detailed plans which would be subject to the usual planning processes. I have since written to advise them that any plan would have to address the Council's concern that Short/Mount Lane could become a rat run.

* introduce footpath from East End Farm to Tinkerbell - target agreement in principle by mid 2002

Achieved. Work was completed in November 2002 apart from a coloured tarmac infill by East End Farm Shop.

* review speed restrictions and signage on A30

Achieved. Reviewed with WCC Joint Transportation team but they would not agree to extend the 30mph limit beyond its present location on the Shaftesbury Rd.


4. To improve the visual appearance of the village by liaison with the proper authorities

* improve view across water meadows on B3089 (Riverside Project) - target June 2002

Achieved. This project is completed although we may elect at some stage to install a seat (a requirement of the grant from SDC).

* maintain tidy appearance of churchyard, cemeteries and play area by grass cutting - target 6 cuts per year

Achieved. The Burnbake Trust provided a flexible and sympathetic service. (They have now been replaced by Banyards on value for money grounds. We are watching their performance carefully).

* Erect a Lytch Gate at West St cemetery, repair and varnish existing gate, varnish benches, extend grave numbers - target March 2003 for Lytch Gate

Not Achieved. An excellent design was produced free of charge by Adrian Barrett. Planning permission has been granted. Work now needs to be done to find sources of funds. A number have been suggested and need to be followed through. A delay of about a year can be expected. The cost of the present design might prove prohibitive.

* Tidy area on A30 opposite Barford Inn - target May 2002

Achieved. The untidy bushes and trees were removed and the ground levelled free of charge by Derek Reed. Grass seed was sown and the corner is now much improved visually.


5. To act efficiently and in accordance with legal requirements

* satisfy audit requirements - target no major observations

Achieved. We were given a clean bill of health by the Audit Commission in 2002

* pay rates and other disbursements when due - target no reminders

Achieved. All done to time

* collect rents when due - allotments target by end December

Achieved. All rents collected on time including allotment rents

* produce and maintain Parish Plan - target update to coincide with budget

Achieved. The Parish Plan for the year 2003/2004 was agreed and formed the basis of the budget set at the November Council meeting.

* produce budget and set precept to meet objectives of Parish Plan - target by end November

Achieved. Agreed at the November Council meeting.

* produce Community Emergency Plan - target by June 2002

Not Achieved. Overtaken by events. WCC Emergency Planning Office has sought the nomination of an Emergency representative from parishes and the Chairman has taken this on for Barford. Action now rests with WCC to take matters forward. Exercises are planned for October/November 2003 and newsletters are promised

* produce and maintain asset register - target before District Audit submission in June 2002

Achieved. An Asset Register was drafted and first considered by the Council at its meeting in July 2002. It was subsequently finalised. It is now a matter of keeping it under review.

* pay invoices within 30 days - target 100%

Achieved.

* Adopt new Code of Conduct - target May 2002

Achieved. The new Code of Conduct was formally adopted by the Council at its meeting in March 2002. All members of the Council completed forms agreeing to abide by the Code of Conduct and completed the Register of Member's Interests by the due date.

* Review Business Procedures in light of new Code of Conduct and introduce appropriate amendments - target by Jun 2002

Not Achieved. These are still under review.

* Publish outline of planning applications affecting the village on notice boards - target within 7 days of receipt from SDC

Achieved.

* Introduce financial self regulation - target Finance sub-committee to meet 3 times per year

Achieved. New financial arrangements were put in place. An internal auditor was appointed. There has been a need for the Finance Committee to meet only once prior to setting the budget and precept. The Parish Clerk liaises with the internal auditor as appropriate.

Peter Batt, Parish Council Chairman. 14th May 2003