Tag: #BGPCLT

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Online Meeting Monday 12th April 2021

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are meeting online using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Monday 12th April 2021.  All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE. Minutes of previous Group Parish Council meetings can be found online HERE

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 13 8477 8938
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

This month Councillors are called upon to update their Disclosures of personal and prejudical Interests and Dispensations prior to the last meeting’s minutes being approved.
Any matters arising will be addressed.
Residents are then invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda. This will be followed by:

a. Report from Councillor Christopher, Dorset Council
b. Report from Dorset Police

This month’s Correspondance and Notices include a Request for a Grant from Bridport & District’s Citizens Advice and Chris Loder MP presents his views on a Proposed Dorset National Park.

In the Parish Council’s response to the Coronavirus – there will be a Call for Evidence: Local Authority Remote Meetings.

Accounts present a timetable for Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2020/2021 and seek to approve payments of an Annual grant of £1,800 to each of the Village Halls in Broadwindsor, Drimpton and Blackdown and to Broadwindsor Community Stores.  The Town Clerk receives a 3 month Salary Adjustment of £930.06 and £53.63 is being requested by Cllr. Rowe for reimbursement of wildflower seeds. £1.80 is to be approved for HMRC (NI).

There is only one Planning Application for consultation:

  • WD/D/20/002187, Ellaway Cottage, Wood Farm, Wood Lane, Kittwhistle, DT8 3HG

Updates and Reports will be delivered by Broadwindsor Cricket Club; Climate Change Emergency Working Group; Footpaths Officer; Common Water Lane and BWGP Community Land Trust.

There is a Grass Cutting contract at Hursey Common Sports Field, a ‘Scoop the Poop‘ poster and Ongoing Maintenance Considerations for a new Footpath in Drimpton to be discussed.

Residents are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on any outstanding issues on this Agenda or raise issues for future consideration.

The date of the next meeting will then be arranged.

The FRM Trust are then to approve a payment of £224 to Broadwindsor Group Parish Council for their Trust Administration.

The meeting will then close.

The press and public are invited to attend.  Under the Openess of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, members of the public may now film, photograph and make audio recordings of the proceedings of the formal Council meeting, though not, under current legislation, of the Public Participation session, as this is not part of the formal agenda of the meeting. Recording activity should be respectful to the conduct of the meeting and behavious that disrupts the meeting (such as oral commentary) will not be permitted.  Any member of the public shall not speak for more than five minutes.  A question asked by a member of the public during Public Participation shall not require a response or debate during the meeting though the Chairman may direct that a written response will be provided subsequent to the meeting.

There are 15 Elected Councillors – Click HERE to identify them.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#FMRTrust,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#PlanningApplication,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#NationalLockdown,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

BGP CLT Update – Full Planning Permission achieved!

The Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust released this statment today:

“On behalf of BGP CLT, I am very pleased to inform you of the latest progress on our proposed development at Netherhay Lane, Drimpton. The S.106 Agreement  has now been signed by all parties and was sealed by Dorset Council on 19 March 2021. This completes the planning process and gives BGP CLT full planning permission for our development site, after a long and exacting 1 year and 10 months through the planning system.

Within the next few weeks, the 1.5 hectare site will be transferred to CLT ownership and immediately leased to the CLT’s development partner, Yarlington Housing Group (YHG. The BGP CLT Board has been closely involved with the planning and development process at all stages and will continue to take an active role throughout the construction stage. Our development partners are currently undertaking the tender process to select a construction company. BGP CLT is managing a project of community involvement throughout the construction stage, being led by Lesley Tibballs. We will be keeping the communities within Broadwindsor Group Parish area well informed about progress through local Newsletters, websites and Facebook.

Through the initial stages of the design process, 2 shared ownership units were included as part of the project. Problems have arisen  recently, however, concerning this type of property:  YHG has merged with Abri, and their latest business plan means that they will no longer buy back a share of these properties when they come on the market. This makes it very difficult for the owner/lessee, without the help of the housing association, to find another buyer who can access the required mortgage funding and also matches the local connection criteria required on this development. In addition, there are very few mortgage lenders willing to finance shared ownership properties. Because of these difficulties, the BGP CLT Board, which has always wished to support people on to the first step of property ownership, very reluctantly agreed to withdraw the shared ownership option. All 15 housing units will now be offered for affordable rent.

I and all members of BGP CLT Board, are greatly cheered at our achievement of full planning permission, and we look forward with great enthusiasm to participating in the next stages of this long-term project in Drimpton.”

David Leader – Chair, BGP CLT – 30 March 2021

Lesley Tibballs can be contacted at: Tibballs55@outlook.com.

The principal aim of the Broadwindsor Group Parish CLT is to provide a small development of affordable housing for rent to people with a direct connection to the villages within this Parish:

  • Blackdown
  • Broadwindsor
  • Burstock
  • Drimpton
  • Hursey
  • Kittwhistle
  • Seaborough

Anyone interested in being part of the current and future CLT community projects are invited to contact Sheila Hawkins (11esgh528@gmail.com) for a CLT membership. Learn more at their website HERE.orm.#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#BroadwindsorGroupParishCommunityLandTrust,#Netherhay,#BGPCLT,#DorsetCouncil,#NewHomes,#BeSafe,#SocialDistancing,#StaySafe

C G Fry’s Planner Paul Hoffman Responds To Fuller Residents’ Concerns

Over half of last evening’s Group Parish Council meeting was taken up with Planner for C G Fry & Son, Paul Hoffman listening to the many comments and objections from residents re: Planning Application: WD/D/21/000123, the Land South of Fullers, Bridport Road, Broadwindsor.

Chairman, Rowland Hibbard brought item 9a on the agenda ahead of it’s proposed time as councillors, Leader and Rowe delivered the many comments and objections as well as the findings from their canvassing of residents. Village residents, Sandra Burrows, Jess Burns & Julie Steele delivered their objections to Paul Hoffman directly.

Cllr. Leader began, requesting additional trees on the north east border and the western boundary and other soft landscaping issues – none of which were expected to cause any problems. Unfortunately, the straight layout of the road cannot be altered. Paul Hoffman said that Dorset Council Highways had looked at the proposal and were satisfied with it as were they. “It is what it is in terms of the road.”

Cllr. Leader continued to then enquire about affordable housing – would they to be to buy or to rent?  Paul Hoffman replied that they were in discussion with various Housing Associations and that once they had consent, all of the affordale housing decisions will go to the Housing Association. As far as the tenures are – there is part ownership (up to 60%) and there are affordable rented homes.  These houses will never appear on the open market.  The Housing Association would always retain ownership of these affordable homes.

Cllr. Rowe began by addressing the 110m of hedgerow proposed to be planted at the western edge of the site and this was part of the mitigation for the loss of wildlife habitats. This hedgerow was the boundary of five properties and Cllr. Rowe sought reassurance from Paul Hoffman that that this hedge not be the reponsibility of householders and that a separate boundary was established on the western edge of the site with a mitigation hedge at least 2m away to ensure maximum protection for the displaced wildlife.  Paul responded by saying that this should not be a problem and proposed the fairly easy solution of building a timber fence with some trees.  When questioned further about maintenance, he added that either the landowner or the Management company would have the stewardship to maintain the area.

Five of the 22 houses proposed are four bedroomed houses and Councillor Rowe and Redlands resident Sandra Burrows stated that this did not go along with the village’s Neighbourhood Plan. Paul Hoffman defended their actions and stated that the vast majority of the scheme was in line with the village’s Neighbourhood planning policy and that four bedroomed houses were an obvious need and in keeping with similar properties in the village.

  • Fullers resident Jess Burns questioned the impact on amenity due to the closeness of one of the properties.  The 110m of hedgerow would not suffice and she was concerned that the elevation of one of the new four bedroomed properties was too close to the back of her property. The new occupied property would generate a considerable amount of noise creating a huge negative impact on amenity. Jess also compared the ridgelines of the properties at Fullers and Redlands to the proposed development.
  • Of the eight properties on the road, three were slightly above the height of those nearby and Redlands resident, Julie Steele expressed her concern about people being able to see into her property.
  • Cllr. Sewell expressed concern and sought reassurance from Paul Hoffman that the properties would not be sold as second homes and that the properties would provide affordable housing.  Chairman Cllr. Hibbard advised to wait to see which Housing Association had the contract and negate any difficulties with them rather than Fry’s.

As the Clerk has to submit the Council’s corporate decision by this Wednesday 10th March, Cllr. Fraser Hughes addressed the urgency to vote.

Cllr. Rowe commented that she was impressed by how many residents had taken the time to discuss their issues with herself and Cllr. Leader.  They had carefully considered their objections and stated that “We (the Parish Council) must give them (the Parishoners) the very best that we can.” Cllr. Rowe added that there are many more issues such as street lighting and conservation.  Cllr. David Leader staed they must be clear on what and how they wanted the layout. Cllr. Steve Chubb reiterated the need to listen to the parishoners and to make sure it was all forwarded to Dorset Council.  Cllr. Simon Christopher had left the meeting by this time, having received no questions on his report.

All the Councillors agreed that C G Fry & Son had a positive and long standing history of development in the area being sensitive to both the area and the environment.

The Clerk suggested she collate the information, communicate with all on Tuesday and once there was clarity, submit the Corporate decision from the Parish Council on Wednesday. Cllr. Jacqui Sewell was clearly against the development.  Cllr. Peter Hardwill clearly supported the development. However, a decision had to be made by all.

It was agreed that subject to meeting the concerns and considerations of the Broadwindsor Parish residents, they would approve plan WD/D/21/000123.

Who are your Councillors? Click HERE.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#CGFry,#Development,#PaulHoffman,#Community,#PlanningApplication,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#Highways,#NationalLockdown,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

 

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Online Meeting Monday 8th March 2021

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are meeting online for the first time since January, using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Monday 8th March 2021.  All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 849 1591 6794
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

After the minutes of the last meeting have been approved, the only matter arising is the Clarification of the VAT Refund Rules.

Residents are then invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda. This will be followed by:
a. Report from Councillor Christopher, Dorset Council
b. Report from Dorset Police
c. The co-option to BWGPC, Seaborough Ward.

Folowing Correspondance & Notices, the PC’s response to Covid-19, the Finance Report & Accounts to be approved, there are 4 Planning Applications to be considered:

  • WD/D/20/002888, London House, Broadwindsor, DT8 3QD
  • WD/D/20/003017, Castlewood Farm, Marshwood, DT8 5QQ
  • WD/D/20/003296, Broadwindsor Cricket Club
  • WD/D/21/000123, Land South Of Fullers, Bridport Road, Broadwindsor

Planning Application WD/D/20/001135, Land at Oathill Farm Holiday & Touring Park has been Refused.

Other items on the agenda include Census 2021; Mobile Phone Coverage; Broadwindsor Cricket Club; Climate Change and Allotments.

The Highways item addresses:

  • Report fom Footpaths Officer
  • Verge Management
  • Common Water Lane
  • Hursey Common Sports Field – Grass cutting contract
  • Highways Reporting Protocol
  • Scoop the Poop poster

Following a report from the Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust on Affordable Housing and any items of interest for the next agenda, Residents are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on any outstanding issues on this Agenda or raise issues for future consideration.

The date of the next meeting will then be arranged.

To read the agenda in full – please download it HERE.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#PlanningApplication,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#NationalLockdown,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Online Meeting Monday 11th January 2021

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are meeting online using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Monday 11th January 2021.  All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 874 5530 6004
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

Once the minutes of the last meeting have been approved, there are no matters arising. Residents are then invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda. This will be followed by:
a. Report from Councillor Christopher, Dorset Council
b. Report from Dorset Police

There is a Parish Council vacancy for the Seaborough ward.

Parish Councillors will deliver their community updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are no new Planning Applications to consider but 2 have been approved:

WD/D/20/001069, Higher Farm, Seaborough, DT8 3QY: Approved
WD/D/20/001070, Higher Farm, Seaborough, DT8 3QY: Approved

There will be reports and updates from Broadwindsor Cricket Club on their fundraising, a Working Group Update on Climate Change Emergency and the Allotment Group.

Items in this month’s Highways section include the formal adoption of named verges in Broadwindsor:

a. Report from the Footpaths Officer
b. Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area
c. To approve request for formal adoption from Dorset Council of named verges in Broadwindsor
d. Common Water Lane Update
e. Damaged Drimpton Bridge Update

Following a report from the Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust on Affordable Housing and any items of interest for the next agenda, Residents are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on any outstanding issues on this Agenda or raise issues for future consideration.

After the date of the next meeting is established, they will receive the Finance report from the FMR Trust.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#PlanningApplication,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#FMRTrust,#Tier3,#NationalLockdown,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Councillor Simon Christopher’s Report – Dec 2020

Here is our local Councillor Simon Christopher’s interim report submitted to the Parish Council’s meeting this evening.

“I am actually writing exactly seven days before the meeting and as a politician famously said, a week is a long time in politics.

I thought I would set out some thoughts at the last meeting of the year. A difficult year in which we have seen so many people rally around to help vulnerable people.

The council has risen to the task of helping the elderly, the infirm and has acted positively to help with the provision of meals to vulnerable children over holiday times.  There has of course been financial consequences and the council has had to utilise reserves.

Councillors Jill Haynes and Councillor Tony Ferrari as portfolio holders have written to all Town and Parish Council clerks re the Dorset Council area.  The communication is in respect of the Dorset Council Asset review Process, which was presented to Cabinet on 3rd November 2020.
Extracts include ‘There are a number of (property) holdings which we need to consider in order to rationalize the estate and reduce cash’

‘The desire is to

  1. Create economic growth by creating new homes and jobs
  2. Delivering a more integrated customer focused service, through joint provision with partner organisations
  3. Generate efficiencies through capital receipts and running costs’.

Please contact me if you have not seen the aforementioned email or wish to discuss the matter. 

Councillors are currently discussing the budget setting process, primarily:

  • Children’s Directorate
  • Place Directorate- including property’s, highways and Dorset Waste
  • Adults Directorate
  • Corporate Directorate

There is to be a concentrated effort to achieve savings in contract arrangement without a reduction in service.

The Parish Council will be aware of the considerable correspondence involving Highways and the police about continuing damage to the verges etc at Common water Lane.  This is an ongoing matter and many of us are determined  that the above authorities are made aware of the continuing concern of residents.

I will be pleased to receive your thoughts on possible changes to Dorset Council car parking charges. 

You may have noticed that Dorset Council car parks will be free on Saturday’s in December 2020. (In Sherborne I understand this will be on Mondays)

The mailbag of a Dorset Councillor in a rural ward appears to show continued concern about speeding motorists and I pass on these concerns to the relevant highways officers and other agencies.

Thank you to those Parish Councillors who contact me re concerns about footpaths and I have contacted the officer on   your behalf.  I continue to request a pavement be installed from Broadwindsor Village to the cricket ground.

I am in touch with officers to make sure drains in Seaborough are properly cleared,  as a result of residents concerns.

Rachel Baker, senior communications officer Digital and Change Dorset Council has been publicising the Gigabit Voucher Scheme.  An email has come out to John and myself, which has been further circulated and you have comments on this.

On 30th November 2020 the Government has unveiled its Path to Sustainable Farming.

The reason I draw your attention to this is :

  1. The mere fact that even in the heart of your village you are but yards away from a field managed by members of the farming community.
  2. This will impact on the County Farms Estate of some 46 farms and all our local farmers.

The Government states that it plans to deliver a better fairer farming system in England with the objective of changing the way the Government supports farmers.  The roadmap has outlined changes that will come in over a seven year period.

‘The changes will be designed to ensure that by 2028 farmers in England can sustainably produce healthy food profitably without subsidy, whilst taking steps to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare and reduce carbon emissions.

Next year marks the start of the transition where we will begin to move away from the Basic Payment Scheme(BPS) towards new policies that will be co-designed and tested together with farmers, land managers and experts, to ensure that the new systems work for them.

The ‘Path to Sustainable Farming’ document  sets out more detail on the changes we are going to make, and what they will mean to farmers.

The key changes include:

  • Introducing the Environmental Land Management scheme to incentivise sustainable practices, create habitats for nature recovery and establish new woodland to help tackle climate change.
  • Investing in improving animal health and welfare as part of our sustainable farming approach. This will initially focus on controlling or eradicating endemic diseases amongst cattle, pigs and sheep.
  • Direct payments will be reduced fairly, starting from the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme year, with the money released being used to fund new grants and schemes to boost farmer’s productivity and reward environmental improvements.
  • Launching a Farming Investment Fund, which will support innovation and productivity. This will open for applications next year and will be used to offer grants for equipment, technology and infrastructure for the future.
  • Simplifying and improving existing schemes and their application processes further from January 2021 to reduce the burden on farmers, and we will take a modern approach to regulation, cutting unnecessary red tape for farmers and working together with industry to design a more targeted regulatory system.

In a nutshell, the bulk of future payments will be through the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), but it will not be fully available to farmers for four years.  Meanwhile, cuts to the old scheme will begin in January 2021.  By the time  the ELM Scheme is fully available, farming businesses face losing 50% of the financial support they previously received.  The reliance on BPS for farming businesses of all sizes is it seems, such that farmers may struggle.

The Dorset Local Plan

Many of you will have noticed that there will be consultations in respect of The Dorset Local Plan.  The timetable will approximate to:

1st December 2020 –  Details published on the Dorset Council website for discussion at Dorset Council Cabinet

8th December 2020 – Discussion at Dorset Council Cabinet

Mid January 2021 – Consultation period opens for a period expected to be for 8 weeks.

In the event the Cabinet agenda was published yesterday evening and I will be pleased to discuss initial thoughts with you at the meeting this evening.

To quote the documentation:

‘ Having an up to date local place is critical in order to shape the future of the Dorset Council area, providing for development to meet the areas needs and manage decisions of planning applications.  Public consultation is a vital part of the process and this consultation will enable a wide range of views to be taken into account in moving the plans forward.  The plan includes potential development sites in order to meet the needs for housing, employment and other uses over the period to 2038’

It is proposed that the public consultation takes place for eight weeks starting in mid January 2021. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic means that face to face consultations are unlikely to be possible but in addition to the document and supporting evidence being available online a range of consultation methods are proposed including  online events, social media and copies available to loan in libraries.

After consultation a final draft plan will be published with an opportunity for further feedback and comments before being submitted for examination. At that stage responses will be considered and assessed by the independent inspector who examines the plan.

The intention is to adopt the plan by April 2023 .

Dorset Council has published the Dorset Highways Winter Service Policy and Operational Plan 2020/21.  This document has been made available to all Parish Council clerks.

I wish you all a safe very enjoyable Christmas and New Year.

Best regards

Councillor Simon Christopher
Dorset Councillor for The Marshwood Vale Ward
https://www.simonchristopher.info/

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#DorsetHighways,#DorsetLocalPlan,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#Christmas,#Zoom,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Tier2,#StaySafe

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Online Meeting Monday 14th December 2020

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are meeting online using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Monday 14th December 2020.  You are also invited to join from 7.00 pm with your festive drink and nibbles!
All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 925 993 0185
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

In the matters arising, there is a Parish Council Vacancy, for the Seaborough Ward.

Residents are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda.
a. Report from Councillor Christopher, Dorset Council
b. Report from Dorset Police
c. Co-option to Broadwindsor Group Parish Council, Burstock Ward

An update from Councillors re: Covid-19 and a Union Connectivity Review: Call for Evidence

Once the Finance Report (Balance £39,807.66 as of 30 November 2020) is received and payments approved, there are two Planning Applications to be considered this month:

WD/D/20/002442 – The Old School House, High Street, Broadwindsor, DT8 3QP
WD/D/20/002187 – Ellaway Cottage, Wood Farm, Wood Lane, Kittwhistle, DT8 3LG

With updates from Broadwindsor Cricket Club, the Working Group for Climate Change Emergency and the Allotments, there will also be a website review.

Dog Fouling is included in the items to be addressed in the Highways section:
a. Report from the Footpaths Officer
b. Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area
c. Maintenance of Signs in the Grouped Parish Area
d. Update on Oak Tree, Crewkerne Road, Drimpton
e. Dog Fouling
f. Common Water Lane Verges Update

The Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust will deliver a report on Affordable Housing.

The public are then invited to participate, to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on any outstanding issues on this Agenda or raise issues for future consideration.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#PlanningApplication,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#FMRTrust,#Tier2,#StaySafe

Councillor Simon Christopher’s Report – Nov 2020

Our local Councillor Simon Christopher has granted permission for his report to be shared to the public via Broadwindsor.

Here is his report:

“I am writing this report after the announcement of the National Lockdown on Thursday 5 November 2020 . I have had a long discussion with the hard working council leader Mr Flower on the impact of lockdown for residents and businesses.

I look forward to the virtual parish council meeting but thought I would share some of my thoughts now.

I have stressed  to Mr Flower the importance of keeping services available to local residents, our transport network and looking forward to the future where we can  for example keep our local leisure centres open. Leisure centres are used often by the young , who have suffered so much by restrictions since March  2020 and by the young at heart and they contribute so much for physical and mental well being.  I have subsequently made all other 81 Dorset Councillors aware of my views.

I appreciate many of us do not use leisure centres for their exercises and I would comment that  I have also spoken with Russell Goff  of Dorset Council re footpaths. Russell  is aware of my concern that all footpaths are open and not blocked.  Russell informs me that there is also a busy programme of stile replacement and footbridge replacement  Should you have any concerns re particular footpaths please contact Russell and myself. Footpaths and walking will be more important than ever this Autumn/Winter for the physical and mental health of many of us.  I would however stress that there is a constant concern from farmers and landowners throughout The Marshwood Vale Ward, about dogs attacking and worrying sheep.  I have noted some landowners imploring dog owners to keep their dogs on a short lead.

We will now have a lockdown that will bring new challenges to both residents and business’s and hope that the restrictions  will not continue past 2nd December . The lockdown will be be different  from previous where there were only a few types of businesses and amenities that could stay open . Now it appears it is a case of what has to be closed by HM Government until 2nd December. Dorset Council  car parks  and recycling centres will stay open. This leads me onto to the question of council car par parking charges that has had much consideration in the local press. I would wish to receive your thoughts but would point out the costs of having  road surfaces in good condition etc is high .  I am continuing to press for the funds to be made available to reopen Norway Lane down to Stoke Abbott.

I repeat  from previous reports any comments /criticism of highways please pass them on to me!

Schools will this time stay open despite the new lockdown and I keep in regular touch with the portfolio holder Andrew Parry. Again ,please let me have any comments re the reopening of the school and also how school buses are working.

I am pleased that Broadwindsor Cricket Club is seemingly making progress on purchasing the ground.  I am lobbying the Highways portfolio holder for safer pedestrian access to it.

One of the things that has been noticeable has been an increase in correspondence from those in Assured Shorthold Tenancy   properties in the private sector and those in social housing questioning whether I can assist in them moving from villages in West Dorset into our local towns .

I would be pleased to receive your further thoughts on what can be done better in respect of local bus provision so I  can once more lobby portfolio holder  Councillor Ray Bryan .

We face huge challenges in terms of employment with the threat not just to Jobs within the aeronautical sector in South Somerset and Dorset but also the threat to jobs at Oscar Meyer across the border in Chard. For farmers the future has rarely looked more uncertain with a  seeming no -deal Brexit looming , uncertainty as to what ultimately replaces the existing subsidy scheme and the future of our West Dorset abattoir being questioned .

With no farmers discussion club evenings ( greatly missed ) ,village halls typically standing empty, social isolation is often very much the order of the day Never has good broadband and mobile coverage been so important. Again please let me have your comments suggestions and concerns for relaying to portfolio holders and our MP.

I continue to receive comments from residents about planning applications in the Broadwindsor  Parish area.

As the weather deteriorates ,please do let me have your comments re any local drains ,road surfaces and hedges and verges etc that are giving concern. There has been perhaps some decrease in e mails complaining about speeding and an increase in complaints about damage caused by off roading groups.  I continue to correspond with officers and the portfolio holder about speeding and road safety.

I have passed on your concerns re the desirability of greater police resources in the Ward to, amongst others , our MP Council members are focusing their attention on the budget for 2021/2022 and also the new Dorset Local Plan . The cabinet of the Council will  consider the property portfolio of the Council . We look to meet the future challenges of an ageing population , ever increasing demand for resources generally and a poor financial position. The council will accordingly look to make the best use of these various asset types. This  will ,for instance, involve assessing commercial returns as a landlord, management of 130 or so car parks and assessing the amount of office space that will need to be retained.

As we approach the eleventh day of the eleventh month I reflect on what my ancestors in the Marshwood Vale and all their friends had to deal with and believe that their experiences may just put everything into perspective !

Councillor Simon Christopher 
Dorset Councillor Marshwood Vale 

Tel: 07798 833 715 

Dorset Councillor for The Marshwood Vale Ward”

https://www.simonchristopher.info/

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#KissingGate,#PlanningApplication,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#FMRTrust,#Lockdown2,#StaySafe

Stop Press: Online Council Meeting Zoom Details

Due to a technical issue – the new details are:

Go to Meeting HERE.

Login to Zoom and Join the Meeting now.

Meeting ID: 899 1041 4222

Passcode: 131372

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Online Meeting Monday 9th November 2020

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are meeting online using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Monday 9th November 2020.
All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 858 2158 2924
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

Residents are then invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda. (There is the opportunity for Public Participation towards the end of the meeting)
Reports are to be expected from Councillor Simon Christopher (Dorset Council) and Dorset Police.

There will be an update on the fundraising from Bridport Cricket Club.

The Parish Council will give their response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19): their actions and support during this second Lockdown and community updates from the Councillors.

Climate Change Emergency will be discussed with an update from the Working Group and Climate & Ecological Emergency Strategy Consultation.

They will then be reviewing the contracts and approving the formal adoption of the BT Telephone Kiosks in Broadwindsor and Drimpton.

There is just the one Planning Application to be considered:
WD/D/20/002170, Manor Farmhouse, Bridport Road, Drimpton, DT8 3RD.

There are several parking issues being addressed regarding our Highways:
a. Report from the Footpaths Officer
b. Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area
c. Installation of Kissing Gates Update
d. Speed Indicator Device Update
e. Reported Highway Problems Update
f. Parking in Broadwindsor Square
g. Car Parking Area Outside Broadwindsor School
h. Common Water Lane Verges

After a Report from the Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust on the topic of Affordable Housing and after any Matters of Interest and Information that may arise, there is the Public Participation, where residents are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on any outstanding issues on this Agenda or raise issues for future consideration.

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