HINTON ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held at Hinton St Mary Village Hall
on Tuesday November 11th 2025 at 7pm

Present:-
Chairman Celia Wright (CW)
Councillors Jo Curtis (JC) Ben Cooper (BC)
Clerk Vivian Hitchmough (VH)
County Cllr Carole Jones

No members of the public were present

2025.38 Apologies:- Robbie Bartlett (RB) ) Mark Steggles (MS)

2025.39 Minutes of the meeting of Tuesday August 19th 2025 were agreed as a true record and duly signed.

2025.40 Declarations of interest – none

2025.41 Matters Arising

DAPTC devolution
The Chairman gave a précis of an event she had attended at The George Hotel in Dorchester hosted by Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils on 30th October. The event was called Devolving Dorset and it explored the benefits and challenges of devolving services to Parish and Town Councils by central government to local and regional administrators. Government would like to see super Councils form and Dorset Council is to merge with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and also join Wiltshire and Somerset councils for strategic discussions.
Double devolution centres on services run by local authorities which can be passed to Town and Parish Councils including Council assets. Waste collection, household rubbish and road maintenance cannot be passed across.
There was a suggestion that Parish Councils work with neighbouring parishes to form groups to support devolution.
The Chairman said there are only 200 on the electoral register in Hinton St Mary. Many services within the village are undertaken by Hinton St Mary Estate and we do not have public toilets or car parks or other facilities which could be passed on from Dorset Council.

Speeding B3092 – The Chairman has received a reply from the police regarding speeding in this area and has been assured that her enquiry has been added to the enforcement list.
Road damage – The Chairman has submitted four reports to Dorset Council regarding damage in Veals Lane, Ridgeway Lane, outside the Manor House and Castlemans Lane. Ridgeway Lane is to be resurfaced in 2026.

2025.42 Updates from Officers
Planning JC reported on the following applications.
Twinwood Cottage – demolish existing dwelling and erect 1 replacement dwelling
CW will advise that the Council is supportive to this application.
The Bungalow, Wood Lane – single storey extension
Veals Lane – tree works

Roads, drains and potholes – discussed in Matters Arising.

Village Garden JC reported the abundance of apples which had to be moved as they were apt to destroy the grass. They were mostly cider apples.
There will not be a need for an Autumn tidy as this work has been carried out throughout the season and the garden is looking very tidy. JC said the volunteer workers had worked extremely hard in her absence.

Speed Indicator Device
A new battery has been purchased for the SID and it is now in working order again.

Defibrillator
CW reported the equipment was ready and good. The Chairman said it will need batteries in June 2026. MS has been asked in regard to training for volunteers.

2025.43 Finance
The necessary cheque for administration was signed and reimbursement to CW for the battery.
The Clerk reported the bank charges were high – £36 in charges on the account with transactions of one payment in and two payments out. A discussion took place regarding online banking although charges would still apply or possibly changing banks. CW will speak with DAPTC to ask whether there is an alternative to High Street banks. The Clerk advised the current balance at £4790.52.
A discussion took place regarding the application for precept for 2026/27. The
Chairman suggested 3.8% increase and a vote was taken. In his absence MS agreed to this and there was a majority vote for this increase. It will be rounded up to £100 making the precept application for 2026/27 to be £2300. The Clerk will submit the form to apply for the precept to Dorset Council.

2025.44 County Councillor’s report
Cllr Carole Jones advised that the Council will probably proceed with another layer of government in voting for a Dorset Mayor. She reported that there are issues with the lack of places and facilities for special needs children , but this is a UK wide situation.
She said there is a problem with land supply for housing and a five year land supply need for 8639 homes. Planning has been submitted again for Manston.
Low school attendance is an issue in the area and CJ reported that a project in Minehead has had a 50% success rate putting absent young people back into education. Public health, GP surgeries are all involved with setting up such a project in the area.
North Dorset is a very forgotten area and everyone agreed that there was a need for a further education facility in North Dorset, technical college, university etc. CJ said that rural area bring rural deprivation.
The Hub is thriving with Citizens Advice two days a week included.

2025.45 Any Other Business
The Chairman reminded everyone of the Village Christmas Party on Friday December 12th at 7pm to be held in the Tythe Barn.

2025.37 Date of next meeting
Tuesday February 17th 2026

The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.05