Decisions
Apologies
Officer report 0921F1 was received and it was RESOLVED to accept the Apologies from Councillors Proctor due to prior personal commitment, Hollingshead due to a personal matter, Hall due to work commitments, Welch due to illness.
Declaration of Interest
Officer report 0921F2 was received and it was NOTED that Cllr Yeo declared a non-pecuniary interest as a director of Mampitts Lane CIC.
At this point and members were reminded that declarations could be made at any point during the meeting.
Councillor Yeo requested that all individual members’ votes be minuted.
Minutes
Officer report 0921F3 was received and it was RESOLVED that the minutes from the Full Council meeting held on 27th July 2021 are approved for signing as a true record of the decisions taken.
Full Council Report for Information
Officer report 0921FC4 was received and noted.
NHS and Blackmore Vale Partnership Engagement and Collaboration
Officer report 0921FC5 was received and it was RESOLVED to work in collaboration with the Blackmore Vale Surgery Lead GP and appoint Cllr Lewer and Cllr Loader as Lead Councillors to support the Health and Wellbeing objectives of the council.
Mampitts Lane Community Land Trust CIC
Officer report 0921FC6 was received and following considered debate it was RESOLVED not to support the request from the Mampitts Lane CIC’s application for the following reasons;
• Public land should be in the ownership of the people and not in the ownership of a private organisation however well-intentioned.
• A lack of any open recruitment process ensuring equal representation on the CIC.
• No feasibility study and resulting concerns that it will undermine stability of other community venues in the town.
• No business plan and financial management strategy that ensures the long-term financial stability and sustainability of the asset.
• No proof the 17 year old original master plan dated 2003 would meet the current needs of the area’s residents.
• No evidence of a statistically sound consultation that engages with the whole community.
• Concern over sections 25 & 26 of the CIC’s ‘Articles of Association’ dated 01/07/2020.
• Concern over sections 27 & 28 of the CIC’s ‘Articles of Association’ dated 01/07/2020.
• No proof of pre-application planning advice.
• No history of delivery of similar projects.
Delegated to the Clerk in consultation with the Lead Member to write to the CIC and Dorset Council outlining the decision and reasoning.
Code of Conduct Hearing Outcome
Officer report 0921FC7 was received and it was RESOLVED that Cllr Tippins attend a training course on interactions with other councillors and officers within 3 months, that the Council allocate the sum of £30 to fund the training course already sourced by Cllr Tippins.
It was RESOLVED that the Chairman of the Council be the single point of contact for Cllr K Tippins, to protect K Tippins and the Town Clerk from direct dealings outside of formal council meetings. (Financial provision – £0)
It was RESOLVED that until the date of the next Town Council election, any meeting between Cllr K Tippins and Town Council staff (outside formal council meetings) to be by appointment only so that staff can be accompanied at the meetings. (Financial provision – £0)
Wincombe Unit Review
Officer report 0921FC8 was received and it was RESOLVED To agree the rent increase for the remaining lease term (28 August 2023). Delegate to the Town Clerk all details in discharging this decision. (Financial provision – £566)
Committee Report
Officer report 0921FC9 was received and it was RESOLVED to adopt the Wildflower Policy as detailed at 9.3.1 with an amendment to state that glyphosate are not to be used except to treat Japanese Knotweed. (Financial provision – £0 relating to the adoption of the policy)
It was RECOMMENDED to Recreation, Open Spaces and Environment Committee To consider a town wide ban of use of Glyphosate and research free alternatives for treating Japanese Knotweed. (Financial provision – £0)
It was RESOLVED to amend the Financial Regulations as detailed at 9.3.2 to 9.3.6 of the officer report. (Financial provision – £0 relating to the amendment of the policy)
Payments
Officer report 0921FC10 was received and it was RESOLVED to authorise the payments from the Town Council’s current account. Delegate to the Town Clerk all details in discharging this decision. (Bank Balance – £312,857)
External Audit Challenge
Officer report 0921FC11 was received and it was RESOLVED To submit the response to challenge of the 2020-2021 audit to the External Auditor. Delegate to the Town Clerk all details in discharging this decision. (Financial provision – £0)
Legal and Professional Fees
Officer report 0921FC12 was received and it was RESOLVED to move £30,000 from General Reserves to the Legal and Professional Fees budget line. Delegate to the Town Clerk all details in discharging this decision. (Financial provision – £30,000)
Market Day – High Street closure marshal arrangements
Officer report 0921FC13 was received and it was RESOLVED to extend the marshal commitment until the end of December 2021. Delegate to the Town Clerk all details in discharging this decision. (Financial provision – £1,344 Marshals)
Representations to Dorset Council
Officer report 0921FC14 was received and it was RECOMMENDED to Planning & Highways to compose a response to Dorset Council regarding the Parking Charge proposal and Highways concerns. (Financial provision – £0)
It was RESOLVED to commission Nick Hellis Arboriculture to compile a report relating the Christy’s Lane trees to be presented to Dorset Council in support of the trees being saved. (Financial provision – to be within budget and the Clerk’s delegated authority to spend – Legal and Professional fees.)
There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 9:43 PM
These minutes were adopted on 26 October 2021 under minute reference F29a as a true record of the decisions taken and are duly signed below by the chair of that meeting.