Neville Whiteley (NW) TVBC
Apologies
Ron Warwick (Footpath Warden)
1. Minutes of Council Meeting held on 10 March 2003
It was proposed by JG and seconded by AB that they be signed by the Chairman as a true record of the meeting.
2. Matters Arising
6.1 Clerk reported he had copied the DEFRA letter regarding the new licensing bill to the village hall committee
8.1 JG reported that he and the clerk had drafted a response to TVBC regarding the Frenchmoor House application (TVS.01355/8)
9.1 SD reported that he had taped off the broken seesaw and Clerk reported that he had contacted the suppliers (Universal Play Ltd.) who thought that it was still covered by guarantee and who promised to inspect it
10.1 AB reported that the tree blocking Path No.9 had now been cleared
3. Police Report Nil
4. Report from HCC Nil
5. Report from TVBC
5.1 NW said that TVBC had received a grant of £295 000 from central government to enable Planning Services to employ more staff with the object of improving service delivery. He was concerned over the long term sustainability of increasing the staff complement, although the Head of Planning thought more funds would be available next year. He was insisting on three-year contracts for new staff and wanted 40% of the grant set aside against future salary funding if needed. He asked for feedback on improvements or otherwise in the processing of planning applications. At present he felt that the bureaucracy involved was excessive and he was pressing for planning officers to concentrate on salient points in dealing with applications.
6. Correspondence
6.1 Correspondence received since the last circulation
Countryside Agency guidance on Parish Plans (to be retained pro tem by JG)
7. Finance & Cheques
7.1 It was proposed by BW and seconded by SD that the following cheques be signed
8. Planning
8.1 TVS.0759/2 Extension to West Tytherley Village Store. Four councillors had declared an interest. The remainder did not object to the proposal but expressed concern over the septic tank problem, parking for Pragnells Cottages residents, and the future of the pollarded chestnut tree.
9. Recreation Ground
9.1 Replacement fence - Clerk reported that four local contractors were invited to tender for this last autumn. To date responses had been received from two, with indications from the other two that they were not interested in the work. It was agreed that details of the two tenders received, which were both incomplete making direct comparison difficult, would be circulated to Councillors for comment before a final decision is taken Action Clerk
9.2 Maintenance of War Memorial; Clerk reported that the only quotation received had been from Mr M.Eastwood for £112. It was unanimously agreed to accept this Action Clerk to inform Mr Eastwood
9.3 War Memorial - addition of names of those commemorated; SD reported that he was awaiting a quotation from Vokes & Beck for the 323 letters needed and meanwhile would seek other quotations
9.4 DR drew attention to an exercise carried out by Class II of the Primary School in which they were asked what new facilities they would like on the recreation ground Action Clerk to summarise the children's' ideas
10. Highways & Footpaths (including Agenda Item 11 Floods)
10.1 Clerk reported that he had been asked by Mr Lindsell (TVBC Technical Services) to supply details of the street signs required for Church Lane, North Lane, The Village, and Red Lane so that these could now be ordered for erection in June.
10.2 Traffic Calming - Clerk reported that he had recently spoken to Atkins and to HCC (Highways West) about completion of this scheme and had been assured that the work would go ahead shortly. TM reported that the Primary School had no problems with the experimental build-out and asked councillors to form a view so that the Highways Dept. could modify the design if necessary before it became permanent
10.3 SD reported on a meeting he had had with Michael Woodhall (HCC) in March to discuss progress on the various works agreed with the Highways Department following the winter floods. He was concerned that progress was slow, and that in some cases work was claimed to have been completed which he was sure had not and he had asked MW to look into these. The issues discussed included:
The Warren - now needing more passing places to cope with the Norman Court School traffic - the question had arisen whether the school should be asked to contribute to the cost.
Winter salting/gritting of local roads - HCC need to reconsider the roads to be treated
Springs in Red Lane still causing problems
Culverts in Dean Road not cleared, in spite of assurances to the contrary
Coach Road - need to complete drainage work (including gully work, culvert clearance and reforming the ditch) started in January
Action TM to write to HCC Highways Dept. expressing the continued concern of the PC and its dissatisfaction at the slow pace of progress
12. MOD Munitions West Dean
12.1 Clerk reported that letters had been received from Mr Warrick (TVBC Planning Policy) and Sara Gruzelier (Chair, West Dean PC) (copy of her letter to Salisbury District Council giving a resume of her PC's views on the future of the site). This correspondence had been circulated.
13. Elections
13.1 TM noted that no election for the Parish Council would be required on 1 May as there were fewer candidates than places on the Council. Mr Whitlock and Mrs Girling had not stood for the new Council; Mrs L.Bowditch would be joining the Council and one vacancy remained.
13.2 The Chairman formally thanked Mr Whitlock and Mrs Girling for their work on the Council and said that they would be much missed
14. Arrangements for next Meeting of the Council
14.1 It was agreed that the next meeting of the Council, on 12 May, would take place at 1900h in King Edward's Hall and would include the first meeting of the new Council, the AGM, and the Annual Parish Meetings of the parishes of West Tytherley and Frenchmoor and the normal monthly meeting . Gordon Richardson of Community Action Hampshire had agreed to speak on Affordable Housing. Action Clerk to book the hall
15. AOB
15.1 It was agreed that the village should not enter the TVBC Test Valley in Bloom competition, but that an entry form for the Calor/Community Action Village of the Year competition should be completed. Action Clerk in consultation with Councillors.
15.2 There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 2102h.
Present: T.Mousley (TM) Chairman; A.Bowditch (AB) Vice-Chairman; S.Dowding (SD); S.Girling (SG); J.Guy (JG); D.Rimmington (DR); B.Whitlock (BW); D.Lyon (Clerk).
plus four members of the public
P.C. Chris Day
6.2 Clerk reported that he had contacted the school regarding proposals for future use of the photocopier
6.3 JG reported that he had attended the Planning Service User Group Meeting on 31 March and would circulate the minutes in due course. A further meeting was proposed for June or July Action JG
8.2 Clerk reported that he had forwarded the Council's views on TVS.LB.00552/2 & 3/ etc (The Old Corn Store & Cartshed) to TVBC
8.3 Clerk reported that he had written to the Conservation Officer TVBC regarding the listed barn at the Black Horse but had so far received no response.
13.1 Clerk reported that he had as yet to contact Mr Koetser about putting the PC minutes on his village website
HAPTC - AOL Community Awards/Appointment of primary School Governors/ Quality Parish Status
Environment Agency - Review of winter flooding (Action Plans) Action SD to respond by end April
HCC (Highways) copies of correspondence with Old Nails (and covering letter to PC) regarding future arrangements for pumping water in road gullies Action Clerk to copy correspondence to other relevant householders
Notification of meeting of Rail Passenger Committee in Portsmouth on 15 April PC will not be represented
Test Valley Transport Forum Longstock 19 May - PC will not be represented. NW referred to the successful introduction of the Kango bus service in the northern part of the Test Valley and said it might eventually cover the southern half as well.
TVBC notification of the change of the name of the Parish Council from Greater West Tytherley to West Tytherley and Frenchmoor
Mrs D.Bowditch - letter of appreciation of the benefits of the experimental build-out at the corner of North Lane/Church Lane Action Clerk to circulate this correspondence to Councillors
Dutton Gregory (Registration of Rec.) CQ.No. 000274
£411.25
K.G.Fonteneau (Notice Board, W.Dean) CQ.No. 000275
£175.00
Clerk (D.Lyon) (Wages & Expenses) CQ.No. 000276
£340.57
T.Mousley (Erecting Notice Board W.Dean) CQ.No. 000277
£40.00
The signs for The Village would require public notices (to be drawn up by the legal department of TVBC) to be posted in advance. Action Clerk to inform Mr Lindsell (first consulting Mr & Mrs Wilks regarding their address)
Springs by Poplar Farm (Dean Road) - have not been dealt with as claimed by the contractors (MW to investigate further - a letter from HCC to him dated 7 April insists the work has been done)