THE annual parish meeting in Broadmayne held during May was presided over by Councillor Mrs June Salt, chairman of the parish council.

She welcomed over 40 parishioners including all five parish councilors, County councillor David Crowhurst, District councillor Alan Thacker and guests.

After signing the minutes of the 2008 meeting, Councillor Mrs Salt welcomed guest speaker, Dave Levi, Recycling Promotions Officer for West Dorset District Council.

He gave a short talk and then answered questions from the floor.

He stressed how important it was to recycle because if targets were not met local authorities would be fined and offered to give talks to groups.

District Ccouncillor Thacker confirmed that there were no plans for West Dorset District Council to reduce the collection frequency from weekly to fortnightly. Police Officer Charlie Dale, who is part of the Dorchester Rural East Safer Neighbourhood Team, reported that there were two less crimes than last year (14 in the period March 2007 to March 2008).

Most were opportunist apart from the recent barn fire.

Issues discussed were dog mess outside the school and speeding through the village. including Knighton Lane.

Councillor Mrs Salt introduced the annual report of the parish council which had been circulated to all households in the parish and thanked her colleagues on the council for their hard work on behalf of the parish.

She stressed that communication between the council and the residents was very important.

Mrs Melanie Austin, Headteacher of Broadmayne First School since September 2008, gave a brief outline of the work at the school, its outstanding OFSTED report and said that numbers were increasing.

With regard to Connecting Dorset, Gordon Murray informed the meeting that the village hall was equipped to run courses on the use of computers – Broadmayne’s own “Computers for the Terrified”!

Councillor David Crowhurst suggested that the parish council ask again for a 20 mph limit in Knighton Lane near the school as regulations had recently changed.

He also mentioned that the reception class at the school used to write short notes to the recipients of the meals on wheels service and wondered if this might be introduced.

The county council is now seventh of 34 counties off the bottom to receive funding.

The winter had produced more pothole problems.

The county council was the highest performing of the SW Counties and received Beacon Award and £3 million for the Olympics.

Councillor Alan Thacker reported on a busy year with a low council tax, progress on the new Dorchester swimming pool and that the new district council offices will only go ahead if economically viable.

Broadmayne Patient Support Group Co-ordinator, Stan Harland, reported that the group was formed in October 2008.

There are 16 volunteers, 12 from Broadmayne, two from West Knighton and two from West Stafford.

In the period to date 88 assignments have been completed, the top three being transport to the surgery: transport to practice nurse and delivery of prescriptions.

Residents had been provided with support as follows, Broadmayne 27, West Knighton 9, Owermoigne 35 and Winfrith Newburgh 1 and volunteers from Owermoigne are desperately needed especially to avoid double journeys.

Crossways Surgery which has a paid co-ordinator through POPP, received only 13 requests for support in 12 months.

He also thanked the village for its support in the “Save the Post Office” campaign.

Copies of the action plan and progress to date regarding “Broadmayne Looks Forward” were available to all at the meeting and the chairman ran through the items and made appropriate comments.

Copies can be obtained from the clerk on 01305 263759.

The following points were raised during the open forum.

It was clarified that the parish council will continue to provide allotments and confirmed that the new allotments in Chalky Road are a private enterprise.

The telephone box was in need of renovation.

It would be difficult to deal with the problem of dog waste in the fields, as they are private property and would depend on the view of he landowner.

The council was asked to consider joining the community speed watch.

The chairman paid tribute to the retiring parish clerk and the meeting responded with sustained applause.