Minutes of Council Meeting held on Monday 9 October 2006 at 1930h in King Edward’s Hall
Present: A.Bowditch (AB) (Chairman); L. Bowditch (LB); S.Dowding (SD); J.Guy (JG); D.Lyon (Clerk); plus PC 636 Dave Turpin, and five members of the public.
Apologies for Absence: T.Mousley, D.Rimmington.
Declarations of Interest: None
1.
Minutes of
Council Meeting held on 11 September 2006
It was proposed by LB and seconded by SD that these be signed by the Chairman as a true record of the Meeting.
2.
Matters
Arising Nil
3.
Police
Report
3.1 PC Turpin gave an account of the latest reorganisation
of the local police. From 1 January 2007 the number of officers based in Romsey
will be reduced from 22 to 10. Romsey will be a dedicated beat station with two
beats – Romsey North (the rural beat including
3.2 Mr Turpin
said that
been some incidents recently, including the theft of £300 from a customer’s handbag at the Black Horse, the theft of £5000 electric cable at the school building site (which the police considered inadequately secured) and two break-ins at Dean Hill Park when a large quantity of copper was stolen. Recent police successes include the arrest of a Wiltshire man alleged to have been responsible for a number of local burglaries, and the police have recovered a quantity of stolen property.
3.3 Mr Turpin confirmed that it was part of his job to attend Neighbourhood Watch
and Parish Council Meetings when his other duties permitted.
4. Report from HCC None
5. Report from TVBC None
6.
Correspondence
e-mail from Cllr Verney (Cheriton) via HAPTC re.pole sharing
Action Clerk to obtain clarification
Hants Rural, Social and Community Partnership – Small Grants Scheme
Action Clerk to discuss with HAPTC
7. Finance & Cheques
It was proposed by JG and seconded by SD that the following cheques be signed
Jared Bundy construction of basket ball court CQ.No. 000399 £2643.75
D.Lyon (Clerk) Wages & expenses CQ.No. 000400 £220.53
8.
Planning
8.1 JG reported on the work of the Dunn Valley Group of Parishes in preparing responses to TVBC’s proposed review of planning policy for rural villages. A recent meeting he had had with Phil Turner (Planning Aid South) indicated that more time was needed for discussions with him and more information was desirable on practice in similar situations elsewhere in the country, both from Turner and from TVBC. Meanwhile TM had prepared a first draft of a discussion paper which he had circulated to councillors. The Chairman drew attention to letters that had been received already from residents (which he would circulate to councillors) and invited members of the public present to comment on infill policy as represented by the “brown line”. There was a view that this was unduly restrictive on the future development of the village. It was agreed that further public discussion should be encouraged and that the Open Forum at the November meeting would be an appropriate occasion. Action Clerk to draft an announcement for the Newsletter.
8.2 06/02178/FULLS 3 Rectory Hill West Dean Permission
06/02828/FULLS Old Nails Parish Council had no objections
06/01146/FULLS 4 Rectory Hill Cottages West Dean – appeal
06/02255/FULLS Norman Court Stud Farm – Planning Control Committee
06/02581/FULLS
9.
Parish Plan
JG reported the current state of flux regarding parish plans in the context of the new Local Development Framework which had been agreed by TVBC in the summer. It was the view of Phil Turner that this Framework was a mechanism which could achieve the same ends as a parish plan without the work required to develop and maintain the latter. It had now emerged that parish plans would need to be updated annually and this raised the question whether small communities had the resources to do this. JG also said that a local resident, John Neilson, had offered to assist with the proposed parish plan.
10.Recreation
Ground
10.1 Clerk reported that there was still no news from Awards for All regarding the Council’s grant application.
10.2 It was agreed that the brown waste bin on the recreation ground was not required
Action Clerk
11.Highways
& Footpaths
Action Clerk to ask HCC Highways to cut overhanging hedges at Stony Batter & North Lane, and to request the Primary School to have the public footpath by the school dining hall reinstated following the recent drainage work on the site.
12. Councillor Vacancy
Clerk reported that Sandy Lamb of West Dean had apologised for not being able to attend the meeting , but was still interested in being coopted as a Councillor.
13. HAPTC AGM
It was agreed that the Council would not be represented.
14. AOB
JG reported that West Dean Parish Council had written to Defence Estates requesting that the cherry trees on the traffic islands at Hillside Close be pruned rather than felled.
There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 2100h.
Signed
A.Bowditch (Chairman) Date