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Parish Council Meeting September 2024

By Neil Farmer Toller Porcorum Parish Council

Friday, 27 September 2024

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chair of Toller Porcorum Parish Council

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Below are the highlights of the meeting. Draft minutes, reports and appendices can be found by selecting Meetings/Meetings 2024-25 from this website’s menu or by using this link.

Public Forum and Dorset Council report

A member of the public asked parish council, now responsible for the Recreation Ground, if any further thought had been given to installing a boule court. A full-size court would cost at least £5,000 to install. The clerk is currently gauging interest for boules in the village so please get in touch; [email protected], or with one of your councillors to give your view.

Dorset councillor Neil Eysenck explained Dorset Council is preparing a response to government on stiff housing targets for Dorset and clarity on affordability. The new housing plan is to be in place for 15 – 17 years.

Finance and policy

The council’s Finance Working Group will meet in October to prepare a draft budget for the financial year 2025/26. Full council will consider the budget at its November meeting.

In light of recommendations made by the Dorset Association of Town and Parish Councils (DAPTC), council reviewed its Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Child Protection policies. The policies are to be combined into a single Safeguarding policy that will be available on the Toller Porcorum Parish Council website very soon. The new policy will contain all the necessary contact details to be used if residents have any welfare concerns. The Chairman of the Parish Council is the designated person to contact in an emergency ([email protected]).

Highways, Rights of Way and Environment

Parish council has been made aware of works that might be needed to the bridge over the River Hooke at the top of Watery Lane. The council has asked for channels to be cut through the eastern hedge to encourage flow downstream, on to the floodplain, rather than on to Toller Lane. Parish council will request that Dorset Council ensure gullies and ditches are kept clear but it is impossible to say if this will prevent flooding.

Highways England have requested a meeting with Dorset Council, the parish council and concerned parties to discuss the future of Powerstock Bridge and flooding under it. A formal decision on the future of the bridge is yet to be made and any subsequent works, if approved, would not take place for at least 18 months.

A new grit bin is to be installed on Common Road, between Higher Kingcombe and Mount Pleasant crossroads. The grit bin will be within parish bounds but will be owned and maintained by Powerstock and North Poorton Parish Council.

Progress on the Maiden Newton Trailway is slow but is being made. Dorset Council Rights of Way Officers has been given authority to talk to landowners.

A concerned resident asked parish council to consider raising the netting on the goal posts on the Recreation Ground to prevent hedgehogs becoming trapped. Parish council agreed to monitor the situation and commits to keeping the goal area tidy and mown with netting properly attached.

Planning Applications

The Parish Council considered two applications, raising no objections to either. Current applications can be found by selecting Planning Applications from this website’s menu or by using this link.

Ammonite Patient Participation Group (PPG)

Councillor Chris Wardle represents Toller Porcorum and its parish council at PPG meetings for the Ammonite Health Partnership. Chris toured the new pharmacy at the Maiden Newton surgery in August. Stage 2 of renovation is to move reception into current waiting room which will provide direct access to pharmacy. It is hoped this work will be completed in 2024.

The PPG met 3 September 2024, which Chris attended. Minutes can be found by selecting Meetings/Meetings 2024-25 from this website’s menu or by using this link.

Next Parish Council meeting

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held Wednesday 13 November 2024 at 7pm in the Village Hall. All are welcome to attend and contribute to the Public Democratic Forum part of the meeting.

Contact Information

Clare Smith

Find Toller Porcorum Parish Council

c/o 3 The Briars, Wool, Toller Porcorum, Dorchester, Dorset, BH20 6NA

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