Minutes of Council Meeting held on Monday 13 November 2006 at 1930h in King Edward’s Hall
Present: A.Bowditch (AB)(Chairman); T.Mousley (TM) (Vice Chairman); S.Dowding (SD); J.Guy (JG); D.Rimmington (DR); D.Lyon (Clerk). Plus Cllr.N.Whiteley (NW)(TVBC) and nine members of the public.
Apologies for Absence: L.Bowditch
Declarations of Interest: None
Safer Routes to School – Jane Rimmington (Secretary,
Planning – the “Brown Line” issue (no comment from members of the public present)
1. Minutes of Council Meeting held on 9
October 2006
It was proposed by SD and seconded by JG that these be signed by the Chairman as a true record of the Meeting.
2.
Matters
Arising
13.1 Air Ambulance: (Minutes of Meeting on 11 September 2006) JG was concerned that advice to proceed with caution regarding this project should not be seen as questioning the integrity of those involved in raising the necessary funding. However HCC was unlikely to be a source of funding, at least in the short term. A recent meeting of the local First Responders indicated that they were now unaware that the Council held a sum of £500 ring-fenced in the budget in case the Responders needed it. There was a possibility that a contribution to the Air Ambulance project could be made from this source, although it was noted that other Parish Councils were supporting a lottery to raise funds. NW indicated that he would bring the matter up in TVBC when he sufficient background information.
3. Police Report Nil
4. Report from HCC Nil
5.
Report from
TVBC
5.1 NW commented on the recent White Paper on the future of local government produced by the Minister, Ruth Kelly. He though the paper generally weak, but it did raise a number of possibilities for change, including directly elected mayors, giving powers to county councils to take over administrative functions from district councils, and the creation of more unitary authorities.
5.2 The Alternate Bin Collection scheme was experiencing teething problems in some areas and NW would like to hear of any complaints about it.
6.
Correspondence
6.1 Clerk reported that all correspondence received had been circulated to Councillors; the following items required action
Notice of meeting of Test Valley Transport Forum on 1 December: agreed Council would not be represented
Review of street cleaning questionnaire; Action AB to complete
7.
Finance
& Cheques
7.1 Clerk reported that the Return for 2005-2006 had been returned by the External Auditor, who had signed the Certificate without qualifications or comment.
7.2 It was proposed by JG and seconded by TM that the following cheques be signed:
Audit Commission (2005-2006 External Audit) CQ.No. 000401 £141.00
Information Commissioner CQ.No. 000402 £35.00
D.Lyon (Clerk) Wages & Expenses CQ.No. 000403 £293.99
8.
Planning
8.1 06/03031/FULLS Frenchmoor House – on circulation for comment
8.2 Dun Valley Group: the Group would meet Mrs Winter (Head of Planning TVBC) and her colleague Steve Lees in King Edward’s Hall on Wednesday 15 November .
8.3 06/02255/FULLS Norman Court Stud Farm. JG reported that the Head of Planning was exercising her right to submit this to the Government Office for the South East for the Secretary of State to call in following the Planning Control Committee’s decision to grant permission. There was an opportunity for the Parish Council to comment further, but the deadline was short and JG proposed to ask for more time to consider the Council’s position, which was basically that the application breached Government guidelines, HCC’s structure plan and TVBC’s own policies.
9.
Parish Plan
9.1 JG proposed to raise the current status of parish plans with Mrs Winter at the meeting on 15 November.
10.
Recreation
Ground
10.1 Resurfacing the Children’s Play Area: Greenfields of Churcham Gloucester had submitted the lowest tender and it was agreed to award the contract to them.
10.2 It was reported that the football pavilion needed tidying up Action TM to speak to the Club.
11.
Highways
& Footpaths
11.1
It was agreed that the road running south from Winterslow to join
12.
Councillor
Vacancy
12.1 Clerk reported that there had been no developments
13.
Recruitment
of Parish Clerk
13.1
It was agreed that the post should be advertised for
two weeks in the Romsey Advertiser and
for one week in the
14.
14.1 The Parish Council was not represented at the November meeting. The agenda notice arrived very late. Action Clerk to write to the secretary of TVAPC about this
15.
AOB
15.1 Clerk reported that he had received a letter from Keith Hawkins (Solicitor, Dutton Gregory) advising the Council that a Deed of Grant was proposed between Testway Housing Ltd. and the Village Store Association regarding use of the sewage system. The Council were asked to confirm that it had no objection to the proposed Deed as the Council had a Grant of Charge over the lease of the Association. Keith Hawkins recommended acceptance and this was agreed on the understanding that it would not result in any financial or other liablity to the Council. Action Clerk to inform Mr Hawkins by letter.
15.2 The condition of the chestnut trees outside the shop, which belonged to Testway Housing, was still giving cause for concern. NW agreed to take this up with Testway
Action NW
15.3 First Responders: the need for more volunteers was noted and the Chairman agreed to mention this in the next edition of the Newsletter Action AB
There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 2045h
Signed
A.Bowditch (Chairman) Date