MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING OF BOX

                                        HELD ON 28th APRIL 2011

 

 

1.         Present:           Mr Sheppard (Chairman);  Mr. Campbell;  Mr. Clench;   Mr. Gould;  

Mrs Hartless ;  Mrs. Lyons;  ;  Mr. Murray;  Mr. Parry;  Mrs. Parker

Dr. Rayner;   Mrs. Seager;  Mr. Sims;  Mr. Thomas; 

Mr. A. Bosley (Corsham Town Councillor)  Mr. Kevin Gaskin (CCAN)  Mrs. C. Reid (Corsham Town Councillor) 

Mr. R. Tonge (Wiltshire Councillor)   10 members of the public

 

2.         Apologies:    Mrs. R. Rousell;  Mrs. E. Devon

 

3.         Minutes: The Minutes of the Meeting held on 27th April 2009 were circulated and signed as being a true record.

 

4.         Report by the Parish Council Chairman

Mr Sheppard gave his report for the last year.  Following the resignation of Mr. Mike Turner, Mr. Simon Wright had been co-opted onto the Council.

 

Car Parking Strategy – the Council was still awaiting a copy of the draft lease.

 

Box Library  -  Over thirty volunteers had put their names forward to help with the running of the Library

 

Refuse collections  -  This will change to a two weekly collection from October 2011.

 

Street Lighting  -  Some of the street lights would be switched off between midnight and five am

 

Corsham Campus and CCAN  - There would be a presentation later in the meeting.

 

The Chairman gave details of the annual precept and gave thanks to the other Councillors, the Clerk and staff members.

 

5.         Box Hill Common Management and Rights of Way Committee

Mrs. Seager, Chairman, read out the report for the newly amalgamated committee detailing work on the Common and on the Rights of Way

 

Thanks were given to the Committee, Cotswold Wardens and Council employees, particularly John Vinyard and Joel Arney for maintaining Lacy Wood and clearing the Common.

 

6.         Burial Committee

Mr. Clench, Chairman, reported on the work that had been carried out during the past year and highlighted work that it was hoped to carry out over the next twelve months.

 

Thanks were given to the Cemetery caretaker, Mr. Kissling, the Clerk and other Councillors.

 

7.         Highways Committee:

Mr. Cambell. Chairman, gave his report for the last year and explained about the switching off of some of the street lights during the hours of darkness.  He also outlined the problems that were being experienced on Westwells Road due to the Basil Hill developments.

 

He thanked the Parish Steward for the work that he had done during his visits to the Parish.

 

8.         Planning and Conservation Committee:

Mrs. Lyons, Chairman, gave her report for the last year and outlined the procedures for considering planning applications.

 

9.         Playing Fields Committee:

Mr. Gould, Chairman, gave his report for the last year.  Thanks were given to the groundsman, Mr. Mark Delahunty, for his continuing hard work and to John Vinyard and Joel Arney for their help. 

 

The tennis courts had been resurfaced and new netting put up.

 

Allotments  -  all the plots were now let and the waiting list had been reduced.

 

Lovar Garden – Work was in hand to try to clear the pond.

 

Thanks were given to the other Committee members and the Clerk.

 

10.        Pavilion Management Committee:

            Mr. Thomas read out the report in the absence of the Chairman, Mrs. Rousell.

 

A projector and screen had recently been installed to enhance the building.  The pavilion continued to be well let and was now self-supporting.

 

Additional outdoor storage space was being addressed and the external lights over the tennis court would be put up shortly.

 

Thanks were given to the Committee members and the Clerk. 

 

11.        Questions arising from the reports:

 

Q.         Mr. Walton gave his thanks to the Parish Council.  He raised the issue of the oil in the stream which allotment holders used to water the allotments and asked what improvements were to be made to the allotments following the rental increase.

 

A.         It was stated that there was very little oil in the stream, which had been caused by oil from a road traffic accident getting into the drain.  The Council would continue to monitor this.  Mr. Walton was invited to the Playing Fields Committee meeting to discuss improvements to the allotments.

 

12.        Wiltshire Councillors:

Mrs. Sheila Parker gave a report.  She stated that the amalgamation of the five district councils into one had made things easier.  The Wiltshire Council would not be increasing tax rates for the forthcoming year.  She outlined the changes to the refuse collection.

 

Mr. Dick Tonge gave his report.  He stated that there would be some resurfacing to the A4 between the 30 mph limits.  There was currently a consultation being carried out on the parking situation on Westwells Road.

The Government had allocated £3.7m for the repairs to the damage caused by the bad winter.

 

Q.           Mr. Tonge was asked whether money could be recouped from the

contractors to repair the road at Kingsdown.

 

A.         No as the lorries were going about their business.  Any damage to vehicles could claim from the Wiltshire Council.

 

13.        Corsham Community Campus:  Mr. Allan Bosley, Chairman of Corsham Town Council gave a presentation on the proposals for the new Corsham Community Campus.

 

14.        Corsham Community Area Network:  Mr. Kevin Gaskin gave a presentation on the Corsham Community Area Network (CCAN).

 

15.        Green Room Youth Club:  Mr. Hancock gave a report on the Green Room Youth Club which continued to be a success.

 

16.        Items of report:  Nil