MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
HELD IN THE PAVILION ON TUESDAY MARCH 4TH 2003
Present:- Cllr M Burt (chairman of the meeting)
Cllr B Trowbridge (vice chairman)
Mrs D Burt (clerk)
A Calcott, R Corben, C Nelson, E Thorne, M Bignell, D Squires, V Failes, J Burt, B Gillingham, E Horton, J Thomas.
The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1) Apologies A Campbell
2) The minutes of March 5th 2002 had been circulated to councillors and notice boards and were read by the chairman. Cllr Corben proposed and Cllr Trowbridge seconded that the minutes be signed by the chairman, this was agreed.
3) Matters Arising
Chimney, Faccenda, Higher St. � Awaiting decision of NDDC�s consultants on reports given by Faccenda.
4) Chairman�s Report
�This has been another busy year for the council and as a result it has reviewed the hours of the clerk and increased them to 6 hours a week from September 2002, a further 2 hours will be added in the new financial year. I suspect that despite this the clerk will still be putting in a good deal of voluntary time.
The results of the parish questionnaire have been published in the parish magazine and on the website.
The website arrangements have recently been revised and the council will now have to pay �120 per year for I.T. services.
The new swings have been provided at the recreation ground.
A new mower has been purchased to cut the grass at the recreation ground and Bowey Field many thanks to the volunteers who continue to carry out the work.
The installation of the chimney at the chicken processing plant has brought a significant reduction in odour levels, however uncertainty remains as to the future as planning permission for the chimney has been quashed. The council will continue to monitor the situation.
The acquisition of new cemetery space has not progressed and I have recently learned that the land, which was owned by Mr Dean, has been sold without him giving the parish council the opportunity to purchase it.
The Youth Club, despite last year�s concern continues to operate and our thanks go to the volunteers for all their efforts. More volunteers are needed.
A new village hall is now unlikely, the Hall Committee are now looking at funding the proposed extension to the existing hall which had been put on hold awaiting the outcome of the proposed development in Castle Lane which has now been informally turned down by NDDC.
The villages Jubilee Celebrations were a great success and I thank all those who made it possible.
Refurbishment of The Pound is continuing using Jubilee funds where necessary, my thanks to the volunteers.
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We are grateful to The Village Hall committee for donating and installing a new seat at The Cross to celebrate the Jubilee.
We are also grateful to The Blackmore Vale Lions for donating and installing a new seat at Greenhayes.
I would like to thank the councillors and the clerk for the hard work put in over the past year.
A new council will be elected on May 1st and I wish them every success for the future.�
5) Open Session
Mr Gillingham said that he is no longer on the Football Club Committee and he would like to say what a good job they do and to thank them for all they have given to the village.
Mr Squires from Fiddleford said that there is to be work done on a pond project and a seat would be very useful. The chairman said that the council could help, the clerk said that money could be made available from the Jubilee fund.
There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 7-47 pm.
The Parish Council meeting followed immediately.
