Minutes of Council Meeting held on Monday, 8 January 2007, at 1930h in King Edward’s Hall
Present: A.Bowditch (AB); L.Bowditch (LB); S.Dowding (SD); J.Guy (JG); plus Councillor N.Whiteley, J.Bundy (JB) and three members of the public.
Apologies for Absence: T.Mousley, D.Rimmington, Councillor M.Woodhall
Declarations of Interest: None
1.
Minutes of
Council Meeting held on 11 December 2006
It was proposed by SD and seconded by AB that these be signed by the Chairman as a true record of the Meeting.
2.
Matters
Arising
The Chairman reported that he had resigned from the King Edward’s Hall Committee w.e.f. 2 January 2007
3. Police Report Nil
4.
Report from HCC
SD reported that he had received a message from Councillor Woodhall to the effect that HCC were addressing the flooding problem on the road at Queenwood.
5.
Report from TVBC
Trees on verge outside village shop – NW reported that Testway Housing had applied for permission to reduce the crowns of the two chestnuts and that the Highways Department would fell the diseased sycamore .
6.
Correspondence
Clerk reported that all correspondence had been circulated for comment and there was nothing outstanding that required action
7. Confirmation of new
Parish Clerk
It was proposed by LB and seconded by JG that Lisa Koetser be appointed Parish Clerk w.e.f. 9 January 2007
8.
Cooption of Parish Councillor
It was proposed by LB and seconded by JG that Jarred Bundy be coopted onto the Parish Council to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Elizabeth Marsden. The Chairman thanked Messrs M. Roberts-Spears and A. Mavrogordato for offering their services and explained that Mr Bundy had been chosen particularly to represent that part of the Parish in West Dean. It was noted that parish council elections would be held in May. Mr Bundy signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Action Clerk to send Mr Bundy the Notification of Financial and other Interests and to arrange with Lloyds Bank for him to be a signatory on the accounts of the Council.
9.
Finance & Cheques
9.1 It was proposed by SD and seconded by LB that the following cheques be
signed
HAPTC
(Registration of LK for 2007 Clerk’s Conference) CQ.No. 000411
£40.00
D.Lyon (Clerk) Wages & Expenses CQ.No. 000412 £265.63
A new standing order for the annual subscription to the Hampshire Playing Fields Association of £20 p.a. was proposed by AB and seconded by LB
9.2 Bank reconciliation as at 31 December 2006 (attached to these minutes)
Current A/C 0015194 £5175.92
Savings A/C 7202534 £3511.24
Total £8687.16*
· excludes War Loan £80
9.3. It was proposed by JG and seconded by LB that the total budget for 2007-2008 should amount to £16028. This budget is attached to these minutes.
9.4. Clerk forecast that the carry-over of funds from the current year to the 2007-2008 financial year would be £8197 leaving a shortfall of £7111 to be covered by Precept to meet the requirements of the agreed budget.
9.5. It was proposed by LB and seconded by JG that the Precept should be set at £8000 Action Clerk to inform TVBC. It was noted that this precept represented a reduction on the previous four years (see details attached to these minutes) mainly because major projects on the recreation ground had been completed, using funds built up by the Parish Council and grants received from TVBC and Awards for All.
10.
Planning
06/03655/FULLS Harving Ltd Dean Hill Park on circulation for comment
06/03448/FULLS 1
06/03572/FULLS on circulation for comment
06/03521/FULLS 28
06/03031/FULLS Frenchmoor House permission
11.
Parish Plan
It was agreed to defer further action on this until after the May elections.
12.
Recreation Ground
12.1 Clerk explained that not all the grant of £4755 from TVBC for resurfacing the childrens’ play area had been needed and TVBC had confirmed that the balance of about £1400 could be used for other projects on the recreation ground. It was agreed that new fencing should be installed at the back of the Thorngate development. Preliminary quotations indicated that this would cost about £900. It was agreed that the Chairman should seek further quotations from local contractors to add to those he had already received for consideration at the next meeting. Action Chairman
13.
Highways & Footpaths
13.1 Clerk
reported that he had informed HCC Highways of the problems in
13.2 It was agreed to accept David Lyon’s offer to become footpath warden when he retires from being parish clerk. He said he would continue as tree warden as well.
13.3 It was agreed that in response to TVBC’s request under the Dog Orders that the dogs should be banned from the recreation ground and should be kept on the lead on Footpath No. 5 and at the western end of No.3 (which is already designated this by HCC)
13.4 The Chairman referred to a letter he had received from the Head Teacher of the Primary School about the problems of mud on the road between the school and the dining hall and the village hall. This was not a parish council matter but he would discuss the problem with Mrs Kirby.
13.5 There were still problems with silt washing down from Coopers Drove on to the road, and blocking gulleys, causing flooding outside the dining hall. Action Clerk to discuss with Mr Bergengren’s staff.
14
Deer
Problems
Large herds of fallow deer and smaller groups of roe deer were causing increasing problems in the parish. They were not a parish council issue, but it was noted that culling previously carried out by local landowners had apparently ceased. It was agreed to monitor the problem.
15
Air
Ambulance
It was agreed to donate a sum of £200 from the ring-fenced sum of £500 held in the budget for the First Responders to the air ambulance charity, subject to the agreement of the First Responders. Action Clerk to discuss with Nigel King
16
AOB
There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 2104h.
Signed
A.Bowditch (Chairman) Date