WEST TYTHERLEY & FRENCHMOOR PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of Council Meeting held on Monday, 13 February 2006, at 1930h in King Edward’s Hall

 

 

Present: A.Bowditch (AB) (Chairman); T.Mousley (TM) (Vice-Chairman) ; L.Bowditch (LB); J.Guy (JG); D.Rimmington (DR); D.Lyon (Clerk); plus two members of the public.

 

Apologies: S.Dowding; Councillor N.Whiteley (TVBC)

 

OPEN FORUM

 

1.      Minutes of Council Meeting held on 9 January 2006 

 

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

 

2.      Matters Arising

 

8.5 JG reported that he had responded to Part I of the Inspectors’ report on the Local Plan Review. Part II had become available after his talk with Planning Aid and it was agreed that he would discuss issues again with them following his response to Part II, which had to be with TVBC by mid-April.

 

10.2 Clerk reported that SD had agreed to order the closure mechanism for the wicket gate on to the recreation ground through his company (Merryhill). It was agreed that the Council would reimburse the company for this purchase. Action SD

 

3.      Police

 

3.1  Chairman reported that he had received a letter from Supt. Anne Wakefield on Community Support Officers which he would circulate to Councillors.

 

4.   Report from HCC  Nil

 

5.      Report from TVBC Nil

 

6.      Correspondence

 

6.1  Clerk drew attention to invitations that had been received concerning the forthcoming Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate HM’s 80th Birthday and the Clerk of the Year award. As Councillors had not made any recommendations it was agreed that no response would be made.

 

7.      Finance & Cheques

 

7.1  Dr Tim Koetser (Webmaster, Village web site) had informed the Council that it was necessary to change the arrangements for operating the web site, which would involve a cost of £73.99. This was agreed.

 

7.2  It was also agreed to subscribe three years in advance for the Local Council Review in order to obtain a substantial discount.

 

7.3  It was proposed by JG and seconded by DR that the following cheques be signed

 

Mr M.Eastwood (Rec. & War Memorial  maintenance) CQ.No. 000372  £217.74

HAPTC (Chairmanship training modules)  CQ.No. 000373                        £45.00

HAPTC (2006-7 Aff.fee & NALC levy) CQ.No. 000374                          £145.00

D.Lyon (Clerk) Wages & Expenses CQ.No. 000375                                 £313.08

Dr T.Koetser (Web site)    CQ.No. 000376                                                   £73.99

L.Marsden (Keys for Rec.padlock) (CQ. No. 000377                                    £6.50

 

8.      Planning

 

8.1  Test Valley Association of Parish Councils meeting on 2 March – AB and JG agreed to attend on behalf of the Council Action AB & JG

 

8.2  Meeting of representatives of Parish Councils and TVBC Planning Services on 8 March  - AB and JG agreed to represent the Council Action AB & JG

 

8.3  Black Horse Barn – JG reported that Paul Jackson (TVBC Planning Services) now wanted to see proposals for a conversion into two dwellings. Jackson was about to leave TVBC. JG had spoken to the owner’s agents and had given them a brief on the Parish Council’s preference for the two dwelling option.

 

8.4  Planning Service Users Group – JG reported that he had attended the recent meeting when Paul Jackson had given a power point presentation on changes to the way planning applications would be dealt with by TVBC in future. There had been no consultation with parishes on these changes and many aspects were still not clear. It was agreed that JG should discuss the changes with NW. Action JG

 

9.      Parish Plan

 

9.1  DEFRA Grants – JG reported that he had discussed these with the Adminstrator, Jo Dixon, who had informed him that the current round (applications due in by 13 Frebruary) were principally aimed at parishes some way down the line in plan preparation and there was therefore little point in the Council applying at this stage. This was agreed.

 

9.2  Quality Parish Status – It was agreed that the Council should make, by this Minute, a Declaration of Intent to pursue Quality Parish Status, but that this should be deferred until a new Clerk is appointed in 2007. Action Clerk to recirculate booklet on Quality Parish Status to councillors.

 

10.  Recreation Ground

 

10.1          Action Clerk to ask Mr Eastwood to quote for removal of tree suckers on east side of the recreation ground.

 

10.2          PlayArea/basket ball court – it was agreed that a working group should be formed to review quotations received for this work and to make recommendations to the Council for the final specification and the selection of a contractor(s) to carry out the work. It was agreed that the working group should comprise AB,TM, LB and DL. Action Clerk to prepare papers for the working group.

 

10.3          Action Clerk to discuss with HCC the future use of the Rec. by the Primary School and to request a review of the payments made to the Council (currently £50 p.a.).

 

10.4          War Memorial  fence Action AB to request a quotation for its replacement from Mr J.Bowditch.

 

10.5          Clerk reported that Mr Eastwood thought that the cherry tree roots were unlikely to be damaging the War Memorial foundations

 

11.  Highways and Footpaths

 

11.1          Clerk reported that he had spoken to TVBC about the unsolicited calls the Chairman had received from the person who removed the mobile home from Frenchmoor Lane demanding official thanks and a financial contribution to his costs. TVBC confirmed that no such payments were due – the person concerned had entered an agreement with the Council to remove the home at his own expense and furthermore had agreed not to dump it elsewhere at some future date where it could cause further problems for the authorities.

 

11.2. AB reported  that the Primary School was conducting a survey of residents’ use of vehicles and views on traffic management.

 

11.2          Action Clerk to discuss with HCC the pick-up point for pupils going by bus to Test Valley School. Currently it was the bus stop by the Primary School. It was felt that pick up from the bus shelter by the rec. would be more suitable and would cause less congestion and be nearer to the houses of most of the pupils.

 

12.  AOB

 

12.1          MOD site at Dean Hill – JG reported that he had attended at meeting on 18 January with Jane Gimpel (Chair, West Dean PC)  and the HCC Street Lighting Department to discuss options for future lighting of Hillside Close. Originally HCC had offered three possible options – removal of all the existing lights; replacement of these with modern lights; replacement with traditional lights which would have to be adopted by the parish council (with attendant maintenance and electricity costs). HCC pointed out that they could not adopt lights unless they met certain standards; but they offered to put forward a new scheme involving lights of the traditional design used elsewhere in the village, but using more of the than originally proposed by the PC.

 

12.2          JG reported that a meeting of the Dean Hill working group would be held in March/April when it was hoped the new owner of the site would attend.

 

12.3          Action TM to look into the legal situation which might arise should travellers decide to park on the parish’s lay-bys by the rec.

 

12.4          There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 2050h.

 

 

 

 

 

A.Bowditch (Chairman)                                                         Date