WEST TYTHERLEY & FRENCHMOOR PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Monday, 9 January 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.Lyon (Clerk); plus Councillor Neville Whiteley (TVBC); P.C. Ken Paviour (Romsey Police Station) and two members of the public.
Apologies: L.Bowditch, D.Rimmington
1.
Minutes of
Council Meeting held on 12 December 2005
It was proposed by JG and seconded by SD that these be signed by the Chairman as a true record of the meeting
2.
Matters
Arising
There were no matters arising
3.
Police
Report
3.1 P.C. Ken Paviour had recently joined P.C.s
Turpin and Morse on the Romsey Rural Beat (Beat 4), having previously spent 15
years in the
3.2 Mr Paviour gave an assurance that Inspector Funnell continued to attach importance both to providing a high standard of service in the rural areas and to supporting the Neighbourhood Watch. It was intended that the police would attend both Council and Watch meetings whenever operational commitments allowed.
3.3 Mr Paviour gave a summary of current problems in the Romsey area. There have been a number of thefts from garages and farm outbuildings. The thieves scout around during the day looking for opportunities which they then exploit at night. The police would like to hear of any suspicious vehicles cruising around or callers at houses offering spurious excuses, such as seeking work. There have also been some serious house burglaries and the police are targeting those whom they believe to be responsible.
3.4 It was proposed to restart the Farmwatch scheme in early April. The mobile police station would continue to call at West Tytherley on the first Thursday of each month
(details are posted on the shop notice board).
4 Report from HCC Nil
5. Report from TVBC
5.1 NW reported that the new sign had been erected at
Pragnell’s Cottages. HCC had been made aware that footpaths on
5.2 At the last TVBC meeting a motion had been carried to
the effect that dumping redundant vehicles should be made a criminal offence;
it already was in
6. Correspondence
6.1 Clerk reported that all correspondence received since the last meeting had been circulated to Councillors and that there was nothing outstanding requiring action.
7. Finance &
Cheques
7.1 It was proposed by TM and seconded by JG that the following cheques be signed
D.Lyon (Clerk) Wages & Expenses CQ.No. 000370 £239.23
HAPTC Attendance by JG at Planning Mtg CQ.No. 000371 £20.00
7.2 Budget & Precept for 2006-2007
It was proposed by TM and seconded by SD that the budget (attached to these
minutes) be agreed
It was proposed by AB and seconded by JG that the Section 137 Expenditure proposed in the budget be agreed.
It was proposed by SD and seconded by JG that the Precept for 2006-2007 be set at £9500. This represents an increase of 5.6 per cent over the previous year. The estimated tax base for the Parish is 272 Band D Equivalent Dwellings so the precept will be a charge of £34.92 per Band D equivalent household for the year.
8. Planning
8.1 Clerk reported that the Council had been informed, at very short notice, by TVBC Planning Services that there would be a meeting in the hall on 11 January to inform the Council of changes in the planning system. Neighbouring Councils had been invited. It appeared that some of these were unaware of the meeting or could not be present. NW agreed to take the matter up with Planning Services with a view to postponing the date of the meeting.
8.2 Local Development Framework(new regime): JG reported that he had commented on this on behalf of the Council and we now had had the opportunity to comment on TVBC’s response to these comments by 23 December. In the event no further comments were needed.
8.3 Blackhorse barn: JG reported that Paul Jackson of Planning Services had earlier supported the Council’s preference for two dwellings on the site, but now appeared to favour the barn being converted to a single dwelling. There was general agreement that the one-dwelling option was unlikely to be viable financially, given that the site was within 10 metres of the pub’s skittle alley, a view shared by a local estate agent who had been consulted. NW agreed to ensure that the Council’s preference for two dwellings was emphasised to the planners.
8.4 Local Plan Review (old system): JG reported that Pt. I of the Inspectors’ Report had been discussed by TVBC on 13 December and that Pt. II was discussed the previous week . Two policies covered by Pt. I affected the parish – the “brown line” system indicating where infilling would be permitted was criticised by the Inspectors, but would remain in place until reviewed under the Local Development Framework.
The “important open area” concept was also criticised by the Inspectors who recommended deletion, but there was resistance to this by TVBC. Apparently changes in the rules implied that TVBC were able to ignore the Inspectors’ recommendations.
8.5 Pt.II would be available for comment shortly. There was a distinction to be made between a policy based on infilling within frontages designated by brown lines and a policy based on the concept of a settlement which implied allowing developments at the rear of existing buildings, rather than being confined to a linear model. JG raised the question whether the Council should await the outcome of TVBC’s deliberations on the future of the brown lines versus settlement issue or whether the Council should take a lead in getting a consensus view from neighbouring parishes. It was agreed that this was worth pursuing and that JG should take the lead in contacting Planning Aid and arranging a meeting with them and the Dun Valley group of parishes Action JG
9. Parish Plan
JG reported that DEFRA was to make additional grants available, with two application dates, the first imminent and the second in two months. He thought that to stand a chance of making a successful application the Council would need to be able to declare it was working towards Quality Parish Status. It was agreed to include this issue in the Agenda for the next meeting Action Clerk.
10. Recreation Ground
10.1 In setting the budget it was agreed that priority under project expenditure should be given to establishing the basket ball facility and that if funding sources permitted then resurfacing the play area should also be undertaken.
10.2 Wicket gate closure: SD agreed to follow up purchasing an hydraulic closure mechanism Action SD
11. Highways & Footpaths Nil
12. AOB There being no other business the Chairman closed the Meeting at 2130h
A.Bowditch (Chairman) Date