PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN'S REPORT of APRIL 2004
on the Barford St. Martin Parish Plan 2003/04
1. To maintain
effective communications between Councillors and
all members of the village community.
* Allow
parishioners to speak at Council Meetings
A standard feature of Parish Council
meetings is a period set aside for members of the
public to raise issues of concern. We have also
been relaxed about allowing participation during
the course of the meeting provided this does not
lead to inefficiency in the conduct of business.
* Make copies of minutes accessible to public -
target within 3 weeks of meeting
Copies have been posted in the
Barford Inn, the school and the church. Copies
are also available to any individual on request.
The deadline of 3 weeks has been achieved and
often beaten.
* Publish details of budget on Notice Boards and
web site - target immediately following agreement
at November meeting
Achieved
* Publish information in Barford Bulletin -
target last Wednesday in each month
Frequent articles have been published
in the Bulletin. A good relationship exists with
the publisher of the Bulletin. The Bulletin is
distributed to every household in the village.
* Publish significant deviations from or
additions to the Parish Plan on village notice
boards
There have been no deviations
meriting this action.
* Maintain and develop web site
The web site has been maintained. The
main development has been the inclusion of
extract from the SDC planning portal relevant to
Barford.
* Publish 'Keeping You Posted' notices from time
to time - target at least 6 times per year
5 notices have been published during
the year 2003/2004.
* Publish outline of planning applications
affecting the village on notice boards - target
within 7 days of receipt from SDC
Outline planning notices have been
placed on notice boards always within 7 days from
receipt with an invitation to see copies at
Dragon Cottage. On no occasion, however, has this
invitation been taken up.
2. To provide and improve facilities in
the village
* Support the School House Project - target
contribute towards assets in 2003/2004 budget and
place orders at appropriate times
We supported the School House and
held our Parish Council meetings in the Garden
Room when appropriate. No funding was called for
during the year.
* Support the school in its bid to become a
competitive Primary school
The school is in the process of
becoming a Primary School. We have supported the
introduction of the pedestrian safety
improvements arising from the School Travel Plan
outside the school which will also benefit the
community as a whole. One of the Parish
Councillors is a school governor who reports at
each Parish Council meeting.
* Introduce measures, if possible, to remove
rabbit infestation on allotments - targets in
2000 and 2001 not achieved. New target June 2003
(achievability depends on cooperation of
Railtrack or their successor company)
The Parish Council has decided that
there is no ready solution to this issue.
Individual allotment holders take measures to
combat rabbit infestation and little more can be
achieved. Allotment holders have not made any
approach to the Council for some time. We have
been in touch with the gamekeeper at the Hurdcott
Estate over a potential problem in the cemetery
and this contact will be maintained.
* Provide skips at least once per year - target
June
Achieved.
* Maintain play area and its fencing and ensure
safety requirements of ROSPA are met - target no
high risk observations
There were no high risk observations
by ROSPA. We are following up those
recommendations that appear to make economic
sense. We are also in the process of employing
the Burnbake Trust to maintain the play area in a
neat and tidy condition.
* Install lockable gates in play area and kick-about
area - target May 2003
Lockable gates have been installed
for the kick-about area and are in the process of
being installed for the play area.
* Support Wiltshire County Council Youth and
Community officers in providing recreation for
the young people of the village (eg Arts drop in
scheme)
The young people used the Alabare for
a time and are now using the School House to meet
each Wednesday evening. We should make close
contact with the young people to establish their
wishes and priorities.
* Continue discussions with Alabare Trust over
use of the Countryside Unit by residents of the
village
This has really come to nothing (see
above). We need to consider whether there is any
future in taking this further.
* Seek to achieve the NPFA's standard of
recreational open space - target by end 2003
No progress on this issue.
* Maintain all assets in good condition - target
no criticisms from auditor
All assets identified in the assets
register are in good condition. There have been
no criticisms from the internal auditor.
* Seek to ensure that Rights of Way are
maintained in good condition at all times
The Parish Council has an appointed
Rights of Way Officer who reports to the Council
on the condition of rights of way in the Parish.
We have recently reacted to a request from our
Member of Parliament for a report on the impact
of motorbikes and 4X4 vehicles on footways.
* Support right to fish in river upstream from
Bridge opposite Dairy Rd
Arrangements were again made with the
Hurdcott Estate for the rights to fish upstream
of the bridge at the end of Dairy Rd. The river
was stocked with trout.
* Support the concept of affordable housing
subject to demonstration of need
We have been working jointly with
Dinton Parish Council, SDC and the Raglan Housing
Association for the provision of affordable
housing at a suitable site in either Dinton or
Barford for which those with connections to
either village would be equally qualified. A
questionnaire for Dinton residents has been
designed, the results of an earlier needs survey
in Barford having been accepted as valid.
* Consider the installation of bus shelters in
appropriate locations
We followed up the possibility of
surplus shelters from the District Council but
none has yet been identified. A continuing
interest has been registered.
* Erect a Lytch Gate at West St cemetery, repair
and varnish existing gate, varnish benches,
extend grave numbers - target June 2003 for Lytch
Gate
A competition was conducted for a
Lytch Gate against drawings provided free of
charge by Adrian Barrett. Measures were taken to
identify sources of funding having consulted the
CVS. This is still being pursued. In parallel a
loan has been secured from the Public Works Loan
Board to bridge the difference between the
quotation and the amount available from the
budget and existing reserves. The go-ahead for
the project is expected to be given in April 2004.
Varnishing benches and extending grave numbers
will be undertaken in the year 2004/2005.
3. To improve the safety of villagers by
the introduction of appropriate measures
* Improve pedestrian safety on B3089 by Barford
school by supporting the School Travel Plan
Two public meetings were held in 2003,
the latter with a strong team from WCC present at
which detailed proposals were considered. A
number of concerns at the proposal put forward
were registered but the decision was to go ahead
with the scheme on an experimental basis. A close
examination of the operation of the scheme would
be undertaken during and after a year's operation.
The experimental scheme became operational on 23
April 2004.
* Review speed restrictions and signage on A30
There has been no progress with this.
* Negotiate terms for purchase of laser speed
cameras by Wiltshire Police Authority
The Wiltshire Police Authority would
not permit the Council to purchase a camera. We
have looked into the action taken by Ringmer (E
Sussex) Parish who had apparently similar
problems with traffic. However, we now consider
the best way to address and improve the problem
of weight, speed and volume of traffic passing
through the village is in conjunction with other
local parishes similarly affected.
* Consider measures to improve safety at the
Burcombe Lane/A30 junction
We consulted the Joint Transportation
Team about this issue. They would not install a
mirror. They concluded that the poor visibility
for drivers of vehicles pulling out of Burcombe
Lane onto the A30 was caused by the run of the
road and that nothing could be done except to
ensure that the nearby hedge was kept trimmed.
* Press for the introduction of signage on B3089
opposite entrance to Hurdcott Estate
We believe that there have been 9
accidents over a period of about 18 months at
this point on the B3089. WCC introduced enhanced
white lining and a SLOW sign. Since then 3
further accidents have taken place. WCC are
looking at the condition of the road surface. We
continue in contact with WCC.
* Take appropriate steps to deter abandoned
vehicles
A plan to provide financial
assistance to Barford residents wishing to
dispose of their vehicles rather than abandoning
them was not accepted by SDC. We have reported
abandoned vehicles to SDC as soon as they appear
and their reaction time seems to have improved
although the fact that vehicles are mostly
abandoned on their own property has not helped
since this complicates their procedures. We will
pick this up again if the problem resurfaces.
4. To improve the visual appearance of
the village by liaison with the proper
authorities
* Maintain view across water meadows on B3089 (Riverside
Project) - target trim tree growth twice per year
This has not been too successful
since growth during the summer months is vigorous.
We shall have to consider other ideas if we are
to maintain what has been achieved.
* Maintain tidy appearance of churchyard,
cemeteries and play area by grass cutting -
target 6 cuts per year - and hedge trimming
We received excellent service from
our newly appointed grass-cutting contractor -
Banyards. They have been appointed for a further
3 years.
5. To act efficiently and in accordance
with legal requirements
* Satisfy audit requirements - target no major
observations
We received a clean bill of health
from the external auditors which we achieved
through the excellence of our Parish Clerk.
* Pay rates and other disbursements when due -
target no reminders
Achieved.
* Collect rents when due - allotments target by
end December
Achieved.
* Produce and maintain Parish Plan - target
annual update to coincide with budget
Achieved. A copy of the Parish Plan
was delivered to each household in the village.
* Produce budget and set precept to meet
objectives of Parish Plan - target by end
November
Achieved.
* Produce Community Emergency Plan - target by
June 2003
The District Council took a more
proactive line with regard to emergencies
although we were not able to participate in the
exercises they set up.
* Maintain asset register - target up to date
before District Audit submission in June
The Asset Register has been updated
and is good shape.
* Pay invoices within 30 days - target 100%
We have continued to pay invoices
very promptly well within the 30 day target.
* Review Business Procedures in light of new Code
of Conduct and introduce appropriate amendments -
target June 2003
This remains to be done.
* Maintain risk register - review complete by
audit submission in June 2003
A risk register was established
within the required timescale and has since been
updated.
* Seek Quality Council status at the earliest
opportunity
This remains our goal although the
application has not yet been submitted. The
qualifications required by the Government for a
Parish Clerk may become a stumbling block to the
success of any application.
Peter Batt, Parish Council Chairman. 26th April
2004
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