WINTERBORNE KINGSTON ANNUAL VILLAGE MEETING
TUESDAY 20th APRIL 2021 AT 7pm
BY VIDEO CONFERENCE
Present: Cllrs R Allcock, L Luxford, R Brock, H Andrews, D Knapp, R Sorrell, B Newman
K Langdown
Chair: Cllr R Jessopp
Clerk: Mrs A Crocker
Also present: 3 members of the public and James Allan
1. Attendance and apologies
No apologies had been received.
2. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the 2019 meeting had been available to all members and residents on the Parish Council web site. Cllr Brock proposed them to be a true and accurate representation of the meeting. This was seconded by Cllr Langdown and agreed unanimously. A full copy of the minutes remains available on the web site.
3. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
4. Parish Council Chairman’s Report
Cllr Jessopp read his report for 2021. A full copy of his report is available on request and on the Parish Council web site.
5. Dorset Councillor’s Report
The Dorset Councillor was not able to attend the meeting and no report was available.
6. Village Updates
Floodwatch – James Allan reported that the ground levels in 2020/21 winter were down by around 6m from the previous winter of 2019/20 where the levels came up enough to pool up on West Street. Once it looked like we might see some groundwater flooding and James visited all 5 cottages which had sump pumps and made sure they were operational and gave advice and his contact details. Levels dropped after this and there was no flooding and the pumps that were needed ran when they were needed. The Environment Agency cut the channel from Brookly Cottage to the Greyhound pub as part of their flood defences as usual in October and will continue to do so. James has also kept an eye on all the drains, cleared them as necessary with the help of Graham Hyde last autumn and has contacted Highways to unblock drains in North Street and Noah Henville. If anyone has any concerns at any point, they should contact James by telephone on 07717 693570 or by email at james.allan@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Public Footpaths – Cllr Jessopp reported that there have been some broken styles. All have been reported and he will follow up if nothing happens in the near future.
Bridleways – Nothing further to report.
Trees – Nothing to report.
Village Hall – Like every community building, the Hall was closed for all but essential services. Initially, the Post Office did not open, but is now operating twice weekly, on a Monday and Wednesday. This is well used and has been very much appreciated in lockdown. Prior to this, an immense amount of work was put in during the summer to make the building Covid safe. The Hall was eventually open with limited numbers in September, with the Modellers group meeting once, and a small Pilates group on several occasions. This was only possible for a short period. There was very little revenue coming in, but the hall committee were very grateful to receive Local Restriction Support Grants from Dorset Council which have amounted to over £19,000.00. It was not possible to hold the AGM last year but will be held this year as soon as it is possible to do so when careful consideration will be given to ensuring this money is well spent.
Winterborne Kingston WI – This has been an exceptional year for the WI, with no face-to-face meetings being held, for either the members or the committee. A WhatsApp group and Facebook page were started, and meetings and quizzes took place on Zoom. Some members were either unable or did not wish to use any of these platforms, so the Monthly Newsletter produced by our President, was a vital form of contact. In June, all members contributed to filling Sunshine bags following a request from Blandford Hospital for the Elderly and Palliative care units. The bags made by two members were filled with many treats and essential toiletries that visitors would normally have been able to bring. In December members donated gifts again, this time toys, books, puzzles for children whose families use the Blandford Food Bank. At Halloween, the usual Fun Morning was replaced with a Pumpkin Carving Competition, for which there were many ingenious creations. Judging was done in the evening by four members touring the village dressed as witches. During a period of lockdown easing, some members tried a croquet taster session at Winterborne Stickland and there were several socially distanced gatherings in groups of six for coffee at the Greyhound. Each member received a goody bag for Christmas. The planter at the Village Hall has been maintained and replenished with seasonal plants. Another activity that carried on for most of the time was the regular litter pick, not always possible in groups, but quite often in pairs. The verges and laybys approaching the village are covered as well as the village itself. The area around the Hall, War Memorial etc is often weeded at the same time. The WI has been doing this now for more then seven years and a conservative estimate is that over 300 bags have been collected in that time. As lockdown restrictions are gradually lifted, we look forward to normal meetings and the social contact that has been missed by so many.
Speedwatch – Cllr Andrews reported that the team have not been out since the beginning of November 2020. They have got the go ahead to start again but, unfortunately, Cllr Andrews has sustained an injury. They have been out with the Camera Team three times and tickets have been issued. They will be back in the village shortly. The SID proved very useful in the beginning, but drivers are currently ignoring it. The Police were on site today and the team will be back out as soon as possible.
Best Kept Village – There was no Village of the Year Competition in 2020 and there will not be one this year.
St Nicholas Church – The church closed completely from March until June, when having done much preparation and pre-Covid risk assessments, opening for Private Prayer was allowed. Services, albeit masked, socially distanced and with no singing began in July and continued twice monthly until Christmas Day. Apart from a funeral, there were no further services until Easter. Zoom services have been held throughout, as well as Sundays, also every weekday.
7. Village Appointments
These were organised at the February meeting and will remain in place.
8. Open Forum
No points or questions were raised.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 19:18hrs.