WEST TYTHERLEY & FRENCHMOOR PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Monday, 11 July 2005 at 1930h in King Edward’s Hall
Present: A.Bowditch (AB)(Chairman); L.Bowditch (LB); S.Dowding (SD); J.Guy (JG); D.Rimmington (DR); D.Lyon (Clerk) plus Councillor Neville Whiteley (TVBC); Jayne Edwards (Footpath Warden) and three members of the public.
Apologies: T.Mousley (Vice-Chairman); L.Marsden
1.
Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 13 June
2005
It was proposed by LB and seconded by SD that these be signed by the Chairman as a true record of the meeting
2.
Matters
Arising
12.2 It was noted that Robert Horsford, Director, The
Withies Management Company Ltd., had written to residents asking them not to
access the recreation ground other than through the gates provided
3. Police Report Nil
4. Report from HCC Nil
5. Report from TVBC
5.1 Councillor Whiteley reported that he had recently attended the AGM of the Local Government Association in Harrowgate when it was stated that central government, under its policy of “localism” intended that more notice should be taken of all tiers, including parish councils, of local government.
5.2 He also noted that the TV Standards Board was at present suspended as the three independent members had all resigned, and replacements now had to be appointed.
The new Licencing Act would soon come into force , but some 80 per cent of the trade had as yet to apply for new licences. Appeals would still go to magistrate’s courts under the new system. TVBC was considering new arrangements for domestic waste collection, one option being to move to a biweekly collection of general waste with recyclables being collected in the alternate weeks. Parishioners needed to be encouraged to express their views on this issue.
6. Correspondence
6.1 Correspondence on the following matters had been circulated to Councillors
Additional facilities at the recycling site – agreed none required
Hants Police Authority – invitation for proposals for independent members
Action JG to inform Neighbourhood Watch
Licencing Act Notifications – TVBC informs that these are not copied to PCs
which need to monitor announcements in local press
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 – no comments
Minerals & Waste Development Framework – no comments
7. Finance & Cheques
7.1 Planning Aid South: It was proposed by LB and seconded by DR that, in recognition of the help given to the Council in recent planning matters, a donation of £100, to comprise £50 from PC general funds, and £50 from the Parish Plan account, should be given to Planning Aid South.
7.2 Audit of the 2004-2005 Accounts. It was proposed by JG and seconded by SD that the accounts be approved by the Council. They were then signed by the Chairman. The Statement of Assurance was also approved on a proposal by JG, seconded by SD and this was signed by the Chairman and the Clerk.
7.3 It was proposed by SD and seconded by LB that the following cheques be signed:
M.Eastwood recreation ground maintenance CQ.No. 000352 £270.00
Playground Management Ltd., (RoSPA inspection) CQ.No. 000353 £69.33
D.Lyon (Clerk) Wages & Expenses CQ.No. 000354 £264.49
7.4 Internal Audit: It was agreed that the full report on the Council’s Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2005, prepared by Robert Horsford, should be filed with the minutes of this meeting. It was also agreed that a letter of thanks should be sent to Mr Horsford and an appropriate measure of the Council’s appreciation of his work should be given to him Action Chairman and Clerk
8. Planning
8.1 TVS. 06849/12 Old Rectory Orangery – Council raised no objections
8.2 Local Development Framework: It was agreed to nominate JG as the Council’s point of contact with TVBC Action JG to provide Liz Slade at TVBC Planning with his details and email address.
8.3 New arrangements whereby TVBC will consider planning applications: JG observed that to meet central government targets TVBC had reduced the interval between planning committee meetings from four weeks to three, in turn affecting the capacity of parish councils to consider applications at monthly meetings. This reorganisation further reduces the influence of parish councils, as under the previous system objections by a PC or the local member automatically meant that the application had to be considered by the planning committee; under the new arrangements there will be no consultation with PCs and only the objection of a member will result in a referral to the committee. Furthermore in the committee officers introduce the application and the chair proposes that the officers’ decision be accepted before any discussion takes place. This sets the tone of the meeting and could prejudice the outcome. The question was how to pursue the concerns of the PC. It was suggested by NW that the TVAPC was an appropriate route but it would be necessary to canvas support from other PCs.
8.4 Statement of Community Involvement: It was agreed that JG should submit comments to meet the 5 August deadline (although it was noted that TVBC had as yet to complete work on the new system which was not due for implementation until 2007).
8.5 These issues had been addressed by JG in his draft of 7 July 2005 which had been circulated to councillors. It was agreed that he should produce a final draft to be sent to the recipients of the council’s minutes with copies to David Bidwell (Chair TVAPC) and HAPTC, under a covering letter to be signed by the clerk. Action JG and DL
9. Parish Plan
9.1 JG reported that he was obtaining copies the questionnaires used by other PCs in the course of preparing their Parish Plans
9.2 JG agreed that the £600 he had received as a grant towards the cost of preparing the Parish Plan should be held, ring-fenced, in the Council’s bank account.
10. Recreation Ground
10.1 The RoSPA report on its annual inspection of the recreation ground and play area was noted. Little or no immediate action was required. Residents of adjacent properties were still dumping green waste on the recreation ground. Action AB to speak to Mr Horsford about this.
11. Highways and
Footpaths
11.1 The mobile home abandoned in
11.2 Erosion of gravel from the track to Norman Court Farm by Cooper’s Drove on to the highway was still causing problems Action Clerk
12. AOB
12.1
12.2 There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 2104.
Signed
A.Bowditch (Chairman) Date