West Moors Memorial Hall at 2pm

Attendees Roger Long (Chairman), John Bartley (Secretary) Pamela Long (Publicity), Donna Marlborough (Vice Chairman & Treasurer, Mike Holloway (other Groups Liaison), Pete Holden (District Council).

1. Apologies Steve Hunt (Youth), Jenny Winslade (Buses).
Also in attendance were Angela Peskett and Carol Holmes.

2. Welcome to new members.
Previous to the meeting some residents from Weavers Close had expressed an interest in joining the LAG because of their concerns over the issue in item 6. This issue has since been resolved.

3. Review of minutes/actions from last meeting.
These were agreed and signed by Roger.

Outstanding Actions.

a) Bus shelters. The shrub blocking the sight lines of those waiting inside the bus shelter outside Castleman Court has been cut back. Item closed

b) Speed Indicator Device. The unit has again been installed in Pinehurst Road. ACTION Roger to see if this time it gets swivelled around away from the approaching traffic.

c) No meeting of Amber Group so items carried forward again.

i) Special Character areas- Policy statement required from EDDC
ii) Section 106 funds- Parish Council to enquire from DCC as to what projects might benefit the village before this money is lost.
iii) Canterbury Close disused Playing field- PC to enquire from DCC as to long term plans for this field seeing as it was turned down as a possible site for allotments.

d) Proposal to erect a phone mast on the approach to the village.
No further news following the refusal of planning consent. Post meeting Donna produced confirmation that the area originally selected was subject to a Woodland Tree Preservation Order. She has also outlined the criteria for obtaining a TPO. No further action at this time

e) Extra Bus serving West Moors
No further news from DCC or Nordcat Buses. ACTION Roger to take matter up at the next Transport Themed Action Group meeting

f) Moving the pedestrian crossing from outside the old post office.
No further news. ACTION John to ask the Parish Clerk for any latest information. Roger to take up with Transport TAG

g) Future role of LAG.
A copy of the LAG constitution was circulated. This allows up to five LAG members to also become Parish Councillors out of the total 15 councillors. It was proposed by John, seconded by Donna that the LAG continues in its present form. This was agreed unanimously.

h) PACT meetings
Donna reported that these are still operating in other localities but seem to have ceased in West Moors. Street corner meetings are still being held by the police in the village and recent changes to local police personnel were noted.

4. Correspondence
An e mail from District Councillor Alex Clarke
i) Expressing the hope that the pavement issue outside the Coop would be resolved by next January.
ii) Update on the Weavers Close issue (item 6)

5. Local Parish Councils seeking to curtail funding to unelected bodies via DAPTC.
Roger explained that at the recent East Dorset Community Partnership AGM he had heard Councillors from other parishes expressing concern that unelected bodies such as LAGS were undermining the authority of elected Parish Councils. There is also a move to have this concern confirmed at the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils AGM in November.
John circulated a draft letter to West Moors Parish Council outlining the formation and role of the WM LAG. It was agreed that this letter should be sent to the Chairman of WM Parish Councils so that all W M Parish Councillors were aware of the facts before voting on this issue. ACTION Roger to send the letter.
It was also pointed out that WM had, through the efforts of Steve Hunt and Pete Holden, been successful in obtaining some £6,000 in grants to benefit local youth activities. Had the LAG not existed this money would not have been forthcoming.

6. Provision of a tract of land adjoining the Woolslope estate.
EDDC had received a proposal from a local building company to donate some 32 acres of land on the floodplain for local amenities. In return they expected building consent on a small open area adjacent to Weavers Close. This idea had caused consternation to local residents. Following resident’s recent representations at EDDC the idea of building on the Weavers Close land was shelved, but EDDC are to explore the possibility of acquiring the floodplain land by other means.

7. Update on issues affecting the village.
a) Dangerous state of Pavement outside the Coop.
The letter from Alex Clarke confirmed that work will start in January. The split of the land between three separate owners was the main reason for the delay. It was emphasised by Mike that this was an urgent issue and the matter must be resolved as quickly as possible because the surface further deteriorates every time a heavy vehicle passes over it.

b) Provision of Allotments
Pete and John reported that the Allotment Association are meeting on 8th Oct. It is expected that they will pursue the acquisition of the Brookview land now it has been established that covenants on this land do not present a problem.

c) Medical Centre
John advised that the valuation figure received by the Memorial Hall council had been much higher than the offer from the developers. Under Charity Commission rules only benefits to the Hall can be considered when arriving at a decision and so it appeared that the proposal was dead.

Note Carol Holmes left the meeting at 4pm for another appointment.

8. Chairman’s Report
Roger advised that he and Angela had met with representatives from Pinehurst Chapel who are keen to establish village events. A suggestion was for a soap box derby with vehicles being constructed by different local groups. It was agreed the any community based activities are to encouraged and that the LAG would support any reasonable local event

9. AOB a) Donna mentioned that an improved security marking system is now available from Dorset Police at a cost of £12-£14 for marking over 50 items. This works like Smart Water but leaves an indelible DNA footprint on each item.

b) John asked if the Village Christmas evening was scheduled for this year. ACTION John to enquire from Steve Hunt who has organised the event for the past few years.

c) Possible provision of a LAG wreath to be laid as part of the Remembrance Parade was discussed. However it was agreed the village was already very well represented by numerous associations

10. Next Meeting. 12th November 2pm Committee room Memorial Hall


The meeting ended at 4.30 pm.

Minutes JJB 03/10/09