KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hall commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 4 April 2016
Present: Cllr A Brock (Acting Chairman)
Cllr R Curtis
Cllr J Evans
Cllr F Fahy
Cllr H Griffith
Cllr K Hughes
Cllr R Lane
Cllr R Sutton
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session
Two members of the public were present for part of the meeting.
50. Apologies for Absence
50.1 Cllr Harwood, Mr Dyke (Open Spaces Warden), C/Cllr Gibson, B/Cllr Ward; Cllr Whitehead not present.
51. Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions
51.1 Cllr Fahy sought confirmation that the Speed Limit Reminder device would be rotated around all seven retaining posts in the Parish and this was confirmed.
52. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7 March 2016
52.1 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Sutton, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2016 with minor amendment be accepted as a true record.
53. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
53.1 Public session. Mr B Jezeph, the planning consultant engaged by the owners of Spencers Farm to oversee its potential for development, would be invited back to present more detailed plans at some time in the future.
53.2 Para 35.2 Aster Communities had given a non-committal response to our further contact regarding the provision of additional car parking and an alleged car repair business being carried on in the road to the detriment of adjacent neighbours and other road users. Residents were to be encouraged to report inconsiderate car parking to Hampshire County Council or the Police by ringing 101 if the parking was causing an obstruction and any suspicious activity on the road to Test Valley Borough Council planning enforcement, as appropriate.
Action: All
53.3 Para 39.1 Winchester Road bank slippage. Hampshire Highways did not consider the collapsing bank on the bend in Winchester Road adjacent to the stream to warrant repair. This was considered unacceptable and the Clerk would make further contact.
Action: Clerk
53.4 Para 42.3 Representations had been made to Fields in Trust to expedite the transfer of land from them to the Parish Council to enable the Council to subsequently come to an arrangement with the Village Hall management committee regarding building their proposed extension. To date, Fields in Trust had not responded and the Clerk would again hasten a response. He would also seek an intervention by our local MP on this matter and on the delay in completing the various agreements required to bury the overhead electricity supply cables across Fields in Trust land.
Action: Clerk
53.5 Para 43.1 Portable generator. Cllr Curtis had completed some preliminary investigations into the need for and type of portable generator as part of our community resilience planning. Further investigation would be undertaken into our potential needs and the Clerk would investigate the help provided by SSE elsewhere.
Action: Cllr Curtis and Clerk
54. Declarations of Interest and requests for Dispensations
54.1 None declared or sought.
55. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
55.1 The Clerk tabled the recent edition of CPRE’s Hampshire Views magazine for information.
56. To receive minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 7 March 2016
56.1 The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 7 March 2016 had been circulated with the agenda.
56.2 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Evans, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 7 March 2016 be received and accepted.
57. Councillors’ Reports
57.1 Cllr Lane reported on the two planning applications which had been considered and supported at the Planning Committee meeting held earlier in the evening.
57.2 Cllr Fahy reported a fallen Elder tree in the stream by the A3057 bridge which the Clerk would arrange to have removed.
Action: Clerk
57.3 Cllr Hughes reported on plans to rotovate the biodiversity patch on the 3 Fields site and the subsequent development of the area.
58. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
58.1 A budget monitoring report had been circulated with the agenda papers.
58.2 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Evans, RESOLVED unanimously that the Budget Report be accepted as tabled.
59. Payment of Accounts
59.1 Proposed Cllr Curtis, Seconded Cllr Hughes, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for March 2016 be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq/Internet
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 865.85 865.85 Int
HMRC Tax/NIC 219.82 219.82 Int
HALC HALC courses 225.00 45.00 270.00 Int
Mr M Rebbeck Grounds maint 534.00 534.00 Int
Southern Water KS rec usage 50.72 50.72 DD
Legal & General Staff pension 37.08 37.08 DD
Totals 1932.47 45.00 1977.47
60. Provision of adult exercise equipment
60.1 A note would be placed in The Gauntlet in an attempt to gauge community support for the provision of adult exercise equipment in the Parish.
Action: Clerk
61. Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) progress
61.1 Cllr Brock briefed on the progress to date regarding preparation of the NDP. The public consultation questionnaire had been drafted and tested on a sample of the community. Printing was now being arranged and volunteers would then distribute to every household in the Parish in the near future. A meeting would be held for distributors to brief them on how to engage personally with residents and answer any questions that might arise. The Clerk would continue to meet informally with local community groups to talk through the process and stress the importance of public participation. When the responses had been analysed, a community workshop would be held towards the end of April/early May to further engage with the community.
62. Clerk’s monthly report
62.1 The Clerk reminded all present of the forthcoming Annual Assembly on Thursday 5 May 2016 in the Village Hall starting at 7.30pm. (Note: a subsequent check with TVBC had revealed that there was no problem with the venue on this day given it was also a polling station)
62.2 All present were reminded that the next meeting would be the Annual General Meeting when councillor appointments and responsibilities would be reviewed.
62.3 A commemorative medal for schools and councils was being minted to mark HM The Queen’s 90th birthday. These could be purchased in quantities of 10 or more. (Note: more information on the Council’s website)
62.4 All noted the quinquennial review of the Parish Plan would be deferred until 2017 in view of the work currently being undertaken to produce a Neighbourhood Development Plan.
62.5 The Village Hall slip road potholes had been infilled and the vandalised dragons teeth around the recreation ground repaired.
62.6 The Police were mounting a Rural Roadshow for the community in the Stockbridge Town Hall at 6.00pm on Tuesday 12 April 2016; Cllr Brock and the Clerk would attend.
62.7 Cllr Griffith would attend the HALC Knowledge and Core Skills training session on 30 June 2016.
62.8 NALC were mounting a Lobby Day in Parliament to raise the profile of parish and town councils on 12 April 2016 and recommended that all councils approach their local MPs to arrange a meeting to discuss the issues facing our sector. It was agreed that the good auspices of Cllr Sutton would be used to involve Caroline Nokes. (Ms Nokes had subsequently agreed to actively support this event).
62.9 HCC had initiated a 10 week public consultation on future changes to the household waste recycling centres. A questionnaire was available on line and paper copies of the consultation could be obtained by telephoning 033 555 1389 or e-mail. (More information on the Council’s website)
63. Date, time and place of next meeting
63.1 The next meeting would be the Annual General Meeting on Monday 9 May 2016 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, Winchester Road, King’s Somborne.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.36pm