Plus Jayne Edwards (Footpath Warden) and four members of the public
Apologies: T.Mousley, D.Rimmington & Councillor Michael Woodhall
Open Forum
1. Minutes of Council Meeting held on 11 October 2004
It was proposed by JG and seconded by LB that these be signed by the Chairman as a true record of the meeting.
2. Matters Arising
3.1 Clerk clarified contact details for Romsey Police Station; 0845 045 45 45 gives the Hampshire Police Communications Centre at Netley. A request for extension 734 followed by a three digit number gets through to Romsey police station – 132 the Station administrator; 124 the enquiry office. The e-mail address for the Rural Beat is: romseyruralbeat@hampshire.pnn.police.uk. The fax No. is 02380 674 300. Direct dial is 02380 674 plus extension.
3. Report from HCC Nil
4. Report from TVBC Nil
5. Correspondence
5.1 Clerk reported that all correspondence since the last Council meeting had been circulated and apart from that relating to the Data Protection Act (see 6.2) no action was outstanding.
5.2 SD reported on the 4 November meeting of the Test Valley Association of Parish Councils which he had attended on behalf of the Council. The minutes of the meeting would be circulated as soon as they are received. SD agreed to follow up proposals made by the Head of Environmental Health at TVBC regarding litter clearing, signage maintenance etc. although the proposals appeared to be urban area orientated.
6. Finance & Cheques
6.1 It was proposed by JG and seconded by LB that the following cheques be signed
Mike Eastwood (grass cutting) CQ.No. 000330 £333.00
6.2 The Parish Council is required to register with the Information Commissioner under the 1998 Data Protection Act. An annual fee of £35 is required. It was proposed by SD and seconded by LM that consideration of this matter be deferred until the next meeting.
7. Planning
7.1 TVS.LB.00670/TVS.03395 The Gardens Norman Court – circulated for comment by councillors
7.2 TVS.00888/2 Old Nails Action Clerk to obtain up-date on this application from Planning Department
7.3 JG provided a progress report on the Test Valley Draft Deposit Plan. The public inquiry is now in progress – those parts of the plan of interest to the Council will be considered on 22 November. We had hoped that the rules on replacement dwellings would be made more restrictive but in fact they have been loosened, with the 50 per cent limit gone – control of the design is to be the main objective. JG would be meeting Phil Turner (Consultant, Planning Aid) on 9 November to get guidance as to how best to present the Council's views to the Inspector. The response has to be in writing. Action JG to circulate the recent papers relating to the inquiry. The draft plan will be published on 17 January 2005 and will be finalised by October 2005.
7.4 JG reported proposals for the future of planning under which a regional plan and a local development framework will replace the present county and Test Valley plans next year. HAPTC is organising a meeting on this on 7 December and it was agreed that JG should attend this, at a cost of £40, if the relevant information is not available on the internet. Action JG
8. Parish Plan
8.1 Action JG to discuss this with Mr Turner when they met.
9. Recreation Ground
9.1 Action Clerk and TM to liaise regarding refurbishing the play area surface, where wood chips might be replaced by a more resilient surface.
9.2 It was agreed that Mike Eastwood should continue cutting the football pitch as and when required and conditions permit during the winter.
10. Highways an Footpaths
10.1 Pot holes were reported at Red Lane and flooding on the Coach Road after heavy rain was also reported. Action Clerk
10.2 West Tytherley No. 12 – proximity of barbed wire fence to the stile was a potential hazard. West Tytherley No. 9 was overgrown Action Clerk
10.3 Clerk reported that he had informed Mr Milne (HCC Highways Test Valley) that he would be the point of contact between the Department and the Council on matters of Highway maintenance
11. Data Protection Act 1998 – this is covered under Item 6.1 above.
12. AOB
12.1 AB reminded Councillors that at the next meeting it would be necessary to consider the 2005-06 budget, preliminary to setting the precept at the January meeting Action Clerk
12.2 It was agreed that the achievement of Quality Parish Status should be investigated, and costed and the availability of grants looked into Action Clerk
12.3 Action Clerk to investigate costs of getting on to the internet
12.4 LM requested that funds be retained in the budget to support the First Responders scheme if necessary.
12.5 SD reported on the recent conference on Climate Change he had attended on behalf of the Council and agreed to circulate the papers he had obtained. Among other points to emerge from the conference a global rise of 0.7 degrees C. was predicted by the Hadleigh Centre over the next 60 years. The Association of British Insurers would inevitably increase premiums on those at increased risk of flooding. The Forestry Commission (Alice Holt) were now recommending planting more exotic species, which could cope with increased temperatures when they became mature in the next century. Hampshire's tree coverage, at 17.7 per cent was the highest in the country.
12.6 There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 2055h.
Present:A.Bowditch (AB) (Chairman); L.Bowditch (LB); S.Dowding (SD); J.Guy (JG); L.Marsden (LM); D.Lyon (DL)(Clerk)
Clerk (D.Lyon) Wages & Expenses CQ. No. 000331 £219.75