Highlights of the Parish Council Meeting 9 September 2026

Draft minutes can be viewed using this link.

Dorset Council update from Cllr Neil Eysenck

Cllr Neil Eysenck provided an update on planning enforcement. The aim is to ensure compliance and, where possible, enable work to meet planning requirements. Cllr Eysenck is investigating how planning enforcement decisions are made and recorded, particularly decisions made without elected members, and is pushing for better communication about progress and decisions.

Progress is being made on the Trailway to Maiden Newton but the project is complicated and takes time. TPPC stated it would welcome a timeline for the options being considered.

Dorset Council is currently £8 million overspent, although this is the same position as this time last year and the year ended under budget. Inflation is the main cost driver.

Finance

The council approved the accounts for July and August, with a balance of £16,445.12 at the end of August.

The council agreed a £200 grant towards insurance for the Post Office. The council encourages other local organisations to submit applications.

The Finance Working Group will begin work on the draft 2027/28 budget and precept in October. The Group would like to hear residents' thoughts on spending and any projects, facilities or other priorities that should be considered, please contact the Clerk with your thoughts ([email protected]). The Recreation Ground Working Group will also meet in the near future to consider its budget.

Armed Forces Covenant

The council agreed the pledges associated with the Armed Forces Covenant and reaffirmed its decision to sign the Covenant. This follows the earlier consideration of questions about the commitments involved.

Telephone box and area

The village telephone box, bench and noticeboard are showing their age. The council instructed the Clerk to seek quotes for repairs and repainting to be considered at a future meeting.

Consultations and surveys

TPPC's response to Dorset’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2026–2036 was agreed with the demographic answers being changed to ‘prefer not to say’. The council also agreed its response to the Dorset Council Draft New Wards consultation and confirmed its response to the Police Force Mergers public consultation.

DAPTC and planning

Cllrs Neil Farmer and Helen Jones reported on a Dorset Council Planning and Building Control Forum. There are concerns about proposed changes to the planning system, particularly the move towards more decisions being made by planning officers or with limited councillor involvement.

TPPC is concerned that this could reduce democratic involvement by removing elected members and the public from some planning decisions, with only large or significant applications going to planning committee.

Highways

The feasibility study and heritage assessment for High Street Bridge should provide more information about the repair options available. Councillors were reassured that the reduction in the bridge’s capacity has occurred gradually through deterioration and that the bridge is highly unlikely to fail suddenly.

The Dorset Council online highways reporting system will be unavailable from 14 to 22 September while a new system is installed.

Environment and Rights of Way

A resident has raised a concern about detritus on the footpath behind the telephone box and the council has been asked to speak to landowners about unattended fires on private property - I will make contact.

Community

There is encouraging progress on the Church for Future Generations project. The church has received the architect’s drawings and, once the required bat survey has been completed, will apply for planning permission for the new roof.
Bell ringing at the church will be reduced to two full peels and two quarter peels each year.

Correspondence

A friend of the Way family in the USA, asked whether any distant relatives might still live in the village. The request was shared on Facebook, which led to members of the Way family visiting Toller Porcorum and meeting local relations. They subsequently expressed their gratitude to the council for helping to make the connection.

Next meeting

The next Parish Councill meeting will take place Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 7pm in the Village Hall.