A meeting of Holt Parish Council was held on Thursday, 22nd May, 2008 at the URC Hall.

Present: Cllr. J. Palmer, Cllr. J. Grant, Cllr. Helen Rabaiotti, Cllr. Becky Stevens, Cllr. Barbara Tucker, Cllr. J. Gooding, Cllr. David Hogg, Cllr. Basil Ash, Cllr. Bob Mizen.

Apologies: Cllr. Helen Quilliam, Cllr. Martin Moyes.

In Attendance: County Cllr. Ernie Clark, District Cllr. Trevor Carbin.

Open Meeting:

Cllr. Ernie Clark reported that WWDC has been formally consulted by DCLG on the following issues:

Whether to bring forward parish council elections to 2009, rather than deferring them until 2013.

Whether to defer elections to the new unitary council, scheduled for 7th May, 2009, until 4th June, 2009 to combine them with the European Parliamentary Elections.

Electoral Services is the first service to be set up as a single team and plan to be operational in Chippenham by 1st September, 2008.

Cllr. Bob Mizen asked what progress, if any, WWDC has made with Persimmon Homes re affordable housing. Cllr. Ernie Clark said he will pursue the matter, but said that the national press has reported that Persimmon are not starting any new developments in the current economic climate.

The Chairman welcomed Mr. Richard Munro, Project Manager, Delegation to Town & Parish Councils, Towards One Council, to the meeting. Mr. Munro said the new Wiltshire Council will have a statutory responsibility to provide services; however, town and parish councils will be encouraged to take on some services. Assets and services go hand in hand and he asked that the Parish Council should consider which services they wish to take on and those for which they would not want to assume responsibility. Councils can go directly to contractors or buy back services from Wiltshire Council. Funding for additional services would come from the County budget, not from the Council precept. Wiltshire Council would assess costs and pass funds to parish councils. Money from any service contracts remaining at the end of the financial year would be retained by the parish council. Councils should consider their attitude to liability when deciding which services to take on, but ultimately responsibility lies with Wiltshire Council. The way in which the Parish Steward scheme operates may be a way forward; Wiltshire Council retains all liability but parish councils have operational control.

Planning matters - more delegation to officers than hitherto. There will be area boards and consideration is being given to creating area officers so decisions can be made more quickly.

The Chairman asked Cllr. Jimmy Gooding to prepare a short paper setting out the options for the adoption of greater powers and responsibilities under the new arrangements to shape discussion for the next meeting. Cllrs. John Palmer, Bob Mizen and Becky Stevens to work with Jimmy.

Election of Officers: Cllr. John Palmer retained the chair and asked for nominations for chairman. Cllr. John Palmer was proposed and seconded. There were no other nominations and all present were in favour. Cllr. John Palmer was elected.

The Chairman asked for nominations for vice-chairman. Cllr. Jane Grant was proposed and seconded. There were no other nominations and Cllr. Jane Grant was elected.

The Chairman asked for nominations for treasurer. Cllr. David Hogg was proposed and seconded. There were no other nominations and Cllr. David Hogg was elected.

Committees: The Management Committee to be called the Village Facilities Committee. It was confirmed that Cllr. Jimmy Gooding is a member of the Village Facilities Committee and Cllr. Becky Stevens a member of the Traffic Committee. It was proposed, seconded and agreed that the Committees should remain unchanged for the coming year. Cllr. Basil Ash proposed and it was seconded that the current chairmen of the committees continue in post. This was agreed.Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 24th April, 2008: The minutes of this meeting were approved and signed with the following amendment: page 1048 ...he also reported that the County rate for recycling has increased to 36%, which in real terms is 40% because of the way in which landfill and recycling costs are calculated.

Matters Arising: Spa Pump - Sue Morgan, Enforcement Officer, WWDC, is still pursuing this with the developers. Councillors are dissatisfied with the length of time it is taking to resolve this matter. To be discussed at the next meeting.J & T Beaven, residential use of factory premises - Sue Morgan is also pursuing this matter and councillors are dissatisfied with the length of time investigations are taking. To be discussed at the next meeting.

Holt Ahead - National Trust car park. Cllr. Jane Grant reported that Mr. Alan Fox has met with Mr. Graham Heard, National Trust Property Manager. Holt Ahead to convene a meeting with interested parties to discuss a car park. The Chairman clarified that the Parish Council is not delegating responsibility, but asking a working party to come up with suggestions.

West Wiltshire District Council Standards Committee - Parish Council Representative - Cllr. Martin Moyes has put his name forward.

White lines at the centre of the road on The Common by the junctions of The Midlands and The Station Road will be reinstated within the next month.

Letters of thanks have been sent to Mouchel Parkman and Cotswold Homes.

Wiltshire Highways Meeting - Cllr. Jimmy Gooding attended.

The Rural Housing Trust - Cllr. Barbara Tucker and Cllr. Becky Stevens attended. Cllr. Becky Stevens said, from discussions with Carol Southall, Rural Housing Enabling Officer, she believes that the Parish Council has an obligation to carry out a survey of housing needs.

Chain and lock, double gates leading to Children's Play Area to be replaced.

Posts and chains, Ham Green - a price for replacement tops is still awaited.

Village Clean Up - Sunday, 1st June, 10.00am at the Village Hall Car Park. The Chairman, Cllr. David Hogg and the Clerk gave their apologies. Concern was expressed about the state of the Pond. Cllr. Basil Ash said he considered it could be done with a tench rake and help from members of the Youth Group. The World Wildlife Trust is meeting with members of the Youth Group in the next couple of weeks and Cllr. Barbara Tucker will try to enlist their help.

Village Facilities Committee Report: Cllr. Bob Mizen reported that work to the Hatch has commenced and should be completed within the next week. It remains to be seen whether the water flow to the village will be increased.

Electric Meter, Pavilion - to be progressed.

Goal posts - Edwards Sports, the suppliers, have gone out of business so the claim against them cannot be pursued. Funds to strip and repaint the posts should be considered for inclusion in the 2009/10 precept.

The small hard court needs relining. To be costed and included in the 2009/10 precept.

Horse Chestnut trees, Ham Green and Leigh Road are in need of surgery. Cllrs. Bob Mizen and Jimmy Gooding to contact WCC to establish who is responsible for their upkeep.

Traffic Committee Report: Cllr. Jane Grant reported that the Committee has discussed the difficulties children have crossing the road to the school. Parents to be asked to contact the School Travel Plan Adviser to do a plan to show where the crossing should be. Funding should be available from the School Travel Plan.

Playing Fields - Future Use: Held over. To be discussed at the next meeting.

Affordable Housing: Cllr. Jane Grant reported that Carol Southall, Rural Housing Enabling Officer, wishes to carry out a housing needs survey in Holt. Jane has the questionnaires and Holt Ahead will facilitate distribution. The results will be analysed by WWDC and no costs will be incurred by the Parish Council.

Concern was expressed that the results of the previous survey could not be validated as names could not be given to the Council for reasons of confidentiality. Cllr. Jane Grant was asked to find out if participant's details can be given in confidence to the Parish Council and Holt Ahead.

Correspondence: Parish Forum, 29th May - Cllr. Jimmy Gooding will attend.

Fly Tipping - WWDC has informed the Council that fly tipping should be reported to them. The magazine to publish details.

Mobile Library Service - WCC is proposing to cut this service by 50%. Councillors were strongly opposed to this proposal. The Clerk to follow up.

BT ‘Phone Boxes - BT intends to remove the ‘phone box in the village. 842 calls were made from the box in the past twelve months. There was strong opposition to this proposal. The Clerk to follow up.

A resident of The Spa, The Midlands has informed the Council of proposals to put a gate across a private track adjacent to The Spa. WCC and Mr. John Sawtell have been consulted.

Enforcement of waiting/loading restrictions and parking bays - responsibility for this will be taken over by WWDC from 16th June, 2008.

Caretaker's Report: A detailed written report has been received and usual work completed.Accounts: The following accounts were approved for payment:

Community First/Insurance Premium £1,316.35

Community First/Annual Sub £ 34.00

WALC/Annual Sub £ 466.28

Holt/Broughton Gifford Youth Club/

Donation £ 600.00

Southern Electric £ 61.05

G.Aland/Caretaking £ 190.00 (Inc. Pavilion cleaned x 1)

G.Aland/Ground Maintenance £ £365.99

JM Beale £ 405.79

Remuneration £332.07

Fixed Expenses £ 33.02

Stationery/Photocopying £ 12.88 (VAT £1.91)

Cassette Tapes £ 8 50 (VAT £1.26)

Postage £ 4.32

Telephone/Calls & line rental £15.00

Any Other Business: Cllr. Basil Ash has received complaints about vehicles cutting corners in Staverton Road and asked if white lines could be painted in the centre of the road. This is not permissible as the road is too narrow and it is deemed safer not to have centre lines on narrow roads.

Cllr. David Hogg reported that potholes have reappeared in Station Road. Cllr. Jimmy Gooding to investigate and report to CLARENCE.

Cllr. Jimmy Gooding reported that the Parish Steward has carried out work in the Village.

The Clerk thanked Cllr. Becky Stevens for reconciling the bank statement down to the last 6p!