WEST TYTHERLEY & FRENCHMOOR PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of Council Meeting held on Monday 10 April 2006, at 1930h in King Edward’s Hall

 

Present: A.Bowditch (AB) (Chairman); L.Bowditch (LB); S.Dowding (SD); D.Rimmington (DR); D.Lyon (Clerk); plus PC D. Turpin (Romsey Police); Councillor N.Whiteley (TVBC); L.Arthur (Chair, Lockerley PC); J.Gimpel (Chair, West Dean PC); plus three members of the public.

 

Apologies: T.Mousley; J.Guy

 

OPEN FORUM 

 

1.      Minutes  of Council Meeting held on 13 March 2006

 

It was proposed by LB and seconded by AB that these be signed by the Chairman as a true record of the meeting.

 

2.      Matters Arising

 

There were no matters arising that are not dealt with below

 

3.      Police Report

 

3.1  Police Constable Dave Turpin reviewed the current situation regarding local policing and the organisational changes that have taken place recently. He is now the officer covering the parish, part of a beat which covers 130 square miles and extends from HursleyAmpfield – Kings Somborne – to the A36. The beat takes up about two thirds of his duty time. In theory at least he is dedicated to this beat but could always be required to meet operational needs in other areas. This part of southern Test Valley has now been amalgamated with the New Forest for policing purposes in an Overall Command Unit (OCU) under Chief Superintendent Anne Wakefield, based at Lyndhurst. Inspector Funnell will remain in charge at Romsey Police Station. Five new officers are expected at the Station over the next three weeks, while the CID officers will be moved to the main CID base at Eastleigh.   Ninety two Police Support Officers are being recruited for the OCU to deal with juvenile nuisance and anti-social behaviour issues. A PIT (prisoner handling team)  will deal with arrests. Farm Watch will be starting soon, details have already been issued to farms and there will be a press release shortly. The police are aware that they have been criticised for not giving enough support to Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the past. The Mobile Police Station now has a dedicated team (from Stockbridge Police Station) and Parish Councils will be informed of schedules for future visits. PC Turpin noted that West Tytherley was considered a low crime area (ride-on mowers and quad bikes remain targets for thieves who then ship them to the Irish Republic).

 

3.2  Turning to other matters PC Turpin said that a robust policy regarding travellers was being developed, the aim of which was to move them on. There have been further sightings of “big cats” in the area (one at Sherfield English) and four sheep have been reported attacked (three on the Melchett Court Estate). Hampshire Constabulary now has a “big cat” database and wants bona fide sightings to be reported.

 

3.3  In response to questions PC Turpin confirmed that Inspector Funnell wants him to attend all Neighbourhood Watch Meetings on his beat (operational requirements permitting) Action Clerk to let PC Turpin have details of dates of both Parish Council and Neighbourhood Watch meetings and to note that Sgt. Anstee, the former contact in Romsey, has now moved to other duties – as has PC Chris Day (now in Winchester). Although police have powers to deal with travellers on public land, including the highways, matters are more complicated on private land. Future contact with PC Turpin for non urgent, low key matters should be via the 0845 number, and when connected to ask for the Force Enquiry Centre (FEC) and then to ask to leave a message for PC Turpin.  The police still face difficulties in locating properties as they have not been issued GPS equipment (in contrast to Fire and Ambulance services which have). Action Clerk to write to Inspector Funnell emphasising the need for this equipment especially for rural beat vehicles. It was noted that the First Responders have a log of all the local houses. Former problems arising from the proximity of the County boundary should now be resolved; PC Turpin can now talk direct to Wiltshire police on his radio and a liaison meeting with police based at Alderbury is now scheduled on a monthly basis.

 

4. Report from HCC    Nil

 

5.Report from TVBC

 

5.1 Borough Local Plan should be published in September

 

5.2 Travel Tokens – the TVBC will not issue these any longer,  but the railways should continue to take these for the next two years at least as they are issued nationally.

 

5.3 Dean Hill site – NW said he had spoken to Mrs Winter who gave an assurance that there will be no transgression from what is in the Local Plan. Because five of the bunkers are located in Wiltshire there remains some concern over variations in the criteria used by TVBC and Salisbury DC with respect to these. West Dean PC are anxious that the bunkers should be used only for long-term storage and not as a distribution depot.

 

6. Correspondence

 

6.1 Annual Parish Meeting – Mrs Winter has agreed to be the guest speaker. Action Councillors to let Clerk know of any issues they would like Mrs Winter to address and Clerk to inform her.

 

6.2 Councillor Woodhall has suggested he should do a village walk-about before the Parish Meeting. It was agreed that as there were no pressing matters not already being dealt with by HCC officials this would not be a good use of his time. Action Clerk to inform Councillor Woodhall.

 

6.3 Clerk reported that he had received a negative response from HCC to the Council’s suggestion that the pick-up point for the school bus service to Stockbridge be moved from outside the primary school to the bus shelter in the centre of the village.

 

6.3 The Local Channel had offered to provide a free link to the village website. This was agreed. Action Clerk to inform the webmaster Tim Koetser.

 

7. Finance & Cheques

 

7.1 It was proposed by DR and seconded by LB that the following cheques be signed

 

Mr G.S.Dowding Purchase of gate closure for Rec. CQ.No. 000380   £150.39      

D.Lyon (Clerk) Wages & Expenses CQ.No. 000381                            £252.39

 

7. 2 The receipt of the first tranche of the £2006-07 precept from TVBC at £4750 was noted

 

7.3 The Insurance Premium (due on 1 June) has been quoted as £772.12

 

8. Planning

 

8.1 Current applications

 

06/00904/BWS & 06/00900/FULLS renewal of earlier permissions – Councillors raised no objections

 

06/00771/FULLS Councillors raised no objections

 

06/01024/FULLS on circulation for comment

 

06/00747/FULLS on circulation for comment

 

06/00724/FULLS (Dean Hill site sign) Councillors raised no objections

 

06/00929/FULLS Councillors raised no objections

 

8.2    TVBC has issued the draft Core Strategy Development Plan for comment – on circulation

 

8.3    Dean Hill site – Report of  Parishes Working Group meeting with Richard Parry (new owner) – on circulation. The main issue of concern to West Dean and West Tytherley was working hours and vehicle movement times, where restrictions would be requested of TVBC Planners. Action Clerk to liaise with MrsGimpel to produce a joint response to TVBC.

 

8.4    The draft SE Plan on circulation for comment

 

8.5    New Land Use planning system on circulation for comment

 

9. Parish Plan  Nil (the absence of JG on sick leave was noted)

 

 

10. Recreation Ground

 

10.1 Play Area resurfacing – the recommendations for a contractor submitted by the Working Group were agreed, subject to confirmation that the estimate received was still valid. Action Clerk

 

10.2 Basketball Court – the recommendation from the Working Group for a contractor were agreed. Action Clerk ( and to ensure work does not clash with date of village fete).

 

10.3 Hants Funding Fair on 19 April at HCC – it was agreed the Clerk should attend.

 

10.4 Use of Rec. by primary school – HCC appeared likely to accept the Council’s request for the annual fee to be increased to £150 with immediate effect.

 

10.5 Summer use of Rec. for football training – this was accepted and a fee of £10 per session was agreed Action AB

 

10.6 The purchase and installation of the new hydraulic wicket gate closure was noted. Mr Dowding was thanked.

 

10.7 New south fence for War Memorial  - an quotation of  £350 for labour and materials had been received from Mr John Bowditch. (who had earlier repaired the east fence). It was proposed by SD and seconded by LB that this quotation be accepted Action Clerk to inform Mr Bowditch.

 

11. Highways & Footpaths

 

11.1 Pollarded horse chestnut tree by shop – reported to be in a dangerous state

Action Clerk to report to HCC Highways Dept. and Testway Housing

 

11.2 Street lighting at Hillside Close – Mr Parry, the new site owner, may be prepared to take on the costs and maintenance of lights, which could resolve the dilemma presented by the wishes of the residents on the one hand and HCC policies on the other.

 

11.3 Other matters: road to Strides Farm, Stony Batter – HCC Highways were ascertaining whether this was ever adopted. Trees on Coach Road at Stony Batter – HCC Highways are dealing with low hanging branches. Broken tarmac on footpath adjacent to Testway Housing on Dean Road – HCC Highways have accepted responsibility to repairs.

 

12. Arrangements for the Annual Parish meeting and the AGM of the parish Council on 8 May.

 

12.1 It was agreed to provide free wine and to advertise the meetings by means of a flyer to be inserted in the May  United Benefice Newsletter  Action Clerk

 

13. AOB

 

13.1 The Chairman reported that he had recently attended a Chairman training course organised by HAPTC. Following this he recommended that an item “Declarations of Interest” should head the Agenda for Council meetings in future. This was agreed Action Clerk

 

13.2 There being no other business the Chairman closed the Meeting at

2050h.

 

 

A.Bowditch (Chairman                                  Date