Parish Council
October 2009 Council minutes
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 5 October 2009
Present: Cllr R Dyke (Chairman)
Cllr R Bevan
Cllr D Bidwell
Cllr F Fahy
Cllr R Harwood
Cllr R Lane
Cllr G Pearson
Cllr R Pidgeon
Cllr D Room
Cllr J Werrett
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session County Councillor Andrew Gibson, Borough Councillor Tony Ward, Steven Rake (Footpath Warden), Dawn Harrison (Village Correspondent) and PC Martin Benton, together with five members of the public, were present for part of the meeting.
Concern was expressed by some members of the public present at the proposed removal of the pay telephone box in Up Somborne by BT and Cllr Gibson undertook to follow this up and report back on the claim that BT had a duty, known as the universal service obligation, to provide a reasonable number of working telephone boxes where they were most needed. Cllr Gibson also informed the meeting that Hampshire County Council was unwilling to support the establishment of a pre-school in King’s Somborne because of falling demographic trends and that he would obtain a copy of the forecasts for information. He was also seeking greater quality control of road repairs around the local area. The Chairman of the Village Hall Management Committee took up the point in the previous minutes regarding the suggestion that undue preference might be given to commercial hirers of the Hall and stated that this was not the case. He sought to reassure Members that decisions on who may hire the Hall were made as much on value to the community as any other basis. That said, the Hall had to be financially viable and he hoped that continued financial support for the Hall would be forthcoming from the Parish Council. Regarding the use of the Hall by the pre-school group, he confirmed that an offer had been made to the pre-school group of three mornings and two afternoons each week but this had not been accepted. A previous minute stating that one of the current users using a slot preferred by the pre-school group would be willing to move was unfounded. The Village Hall Management Committee was on record as supporting the establishment of a pre-school but was not prepared to dislodge any current user from their current time slot.
Borough Councillor Ward commented on the rural communities boundary review, which was a later agenda item, and also drew Members’ attention to the existence of help available from the Borough Council for those who were suffering as a result of the ‘credit crunch’.
PC Benton reported that there were no issues of serious note in the area, apart from some recent thefts of chickens and that the Weekly Crime Bulletin was compiled by a volunteer and did not get completed if that person was on holiday. As a consequence, some crimes might not be reported in the Bulletin.
The meeting was then closed to the public
1. Apologies for Absence
1.1 Tree Warden.
2. Announcements by the Chairman
2.1 None made.
3. To receive reports from the Tree Warden, Footpath Warden and Village Correspondent and other Volunteers
3.1 The Footpath Warden reported that the rotted stile at the Horsebridge Road end of footpath 7 had been reported and that remedial works had been completed on the North Park path and footpath 6, the Clarendon Way to Farley Mount. He also drew Members’ attention to the new gates fitted across the BOAT on the Hoplands Estate to deter 4-wheel drive off-road vehicles.
3.2 Mrs Dawn Harrison introduced her draft questionnaire for publishing in The Gauntlet November issue. The questionnaire would also be available on the website. Members were invited to make their comments known to Mrs Harrison directly.
Action: All
4. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7 September 2009
4.1 Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Bidwell, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2009 be accepted as a true record.
5. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
5.1 Cllr Bidwell commented on the exchanges minuted and subsequent e-mails between councillors following the public session at the previous meeting. These had been found embarrassing and he had responded accordingly. He also reiterated his view that if the primary school was under threat, the Parish Council had a responsibility to encourage public debate on this and ways of helping, such as establishing a pre-school to feed children into the primary school.
5.2 Cllr Harwood queried the current situation regarding siting a junior football pitch on Parish Council land and it was agreed to place the future use made of Parish Council land on the agenda for the next meeting.
Action: Clerk
6. Declarations of Interest
6.1 None made.
7. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
7.1 Details of correspondence received since the last meeting had been circulated with the agenda papers. No further action was thought necessary.
8. To receive reports on planning applications considered and determined
8.1 The following responses had been made to recent planning applications received:
* 09/01780/FULLS – Park Stream Cottage, Horsebridge Road – conversion and extension of existing stable annex – no objection
* 09/01873/Trees – Village Green – crown lift and trim one Copper Beech – no objection
8.2 The following decisions had been notified by Test Valley Borough Council:
* Yew Tree House, Romsey Road – single storey timber outbuilding – permitted
* Brookvale, Muss Lane – crown reduce one Willow – permitted
* Crown Inn, Romsey Road – replacement signage – permitted
* land north of 15 Riverside Green – detached dwelling – permitted
* 1 Redhill Cottages, Winchester Road – demolition of rear extensions and replace with two storey rear extension – refused
9. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
9.1 The budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda. In response to a query from Cllr Werrett, Cllr Harwood confirmed it was the intention to utilise part of the budget for bio-diversity to provide bird boxes. All noted that the Council’s bank balances stood at £33601.30.
10. To consider and, if appropriate, approve a donation to Test Valley School
10.1 The new Head Teacher of Test Valley School had written to invite a representative from the Parish Council to attend the Annual Prize Giving and Cllr Room confirmed his willingness to attend. The value of the prize donated by the Council was debated.
10.2 Proposed Cllr Dyke, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that the donation for a prize at Test Valley School be increased from £50 to £75.
11. Payment of Accounts
11.1 Proposed Cllr Fahy, Seconded Cllr Harwood, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for September be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq
Mr P Storey Salary and expenses 619.48 619.48 1549
HMRC Tax/NIC 169.34 169.34 1550
BPC Shared costs 98.10 98.10 1551
Earth Anchors Seat 406.25 60.94 467.19 1552
Information Commissioner Data control 35.00 35.00 1553
Mr M Rebbeck Grounds maint 833.25 833.25 1554
Queensbury Shelters Bus shelter 5384.00 807.60 6191.60 1555
TV School Prize donation 75.00 75.00 1556
Totals 7620.42 868.54 8488.96 12.
12. To determine a response to the Rural Settlement Boundary Review
12.1 Following a presentation by TVBC officers on the proposed review of rural settlement boundaries, discussion took place on where the limit of development should be in King’s Somborne and an agreed line was drawn on a map around the existing development for submission to TVBC.
Action: Clerk
13. To consider the implications of BT’s withdrawal of the telephone kiosk in Up Somborne
13.1 As recorded in the public session, Cllr Gibson will take this matter up on our behalf.
14. To determine input into the TVBC Access Plan
14.1 TVBC was preparing an access plan which would address a variety of transport issues and identify schemes which, if implemented, would result in easier and safer journeys. The Plan would act as a mechanism for directing funding secured through the Transport Contribution Policy, ie S106 monies paid by developers for highway enhancements. It was agreed that the following schemes should be submitted for inclusion in the Plan –
new footway from Spencers Farm to New Farm on Winchester Road or beyond to improve pedestrian access to the rural environment
new footway from the School to the Village Hall across the John O’Gaunt field
low noise road surface on A3057
new footway from Cross Stores to Martins Shop on Winchester Road
14.2 Suggestions discounted included a new footway from the Cemetery to Carlton Engineering on the A3057, uncontrolled pedestrian crossings outside the School and at the exit from Froghole Lane, and a one way system around the Village centre.
15. To reconsider the siting for the new notice board
15.1 The School Governors had not found it possible to agree to the request to site the new notice board on the roadside School railings although they had offered space on a board inside the School grounds which would be taken up. Members agreed to revert to the alternative location considered previously and site the new board on the Village Green near to the telephone kiosk where a board had existed some years previously.
Action: Clerk
16. To receive Members’ reports, as appropriate, on external meetings at which they have represented the Parish Council or have attended in any other capacity
16.1 Cllr Bidwell reported on a presentation given at a recent meeting of the Test Valley Association of Town and Parish Councils by Cllr Ward on the role of the TVBC Overview and Scrutiny Committee illustrating the wide ranging right of the Committee to scrutinise a variety of matters in the public interest.
16.2 Cllr Pidgeon had been in touch with the School about the dangers of and damage caused by children walking along the top of the Church Wall and the School had agreed to publicise this.
17. To receive Members’ reports, as appropriate, on actions taken on lead and other matters
17.1 Cllr Fahy confirmed that speed camera signs would be installed on the A3057 and that the SLOW markings had now been applied on the approaches to the Strawberry Lane/Winchester Road junction. He would follow up the need for ‘Give Way’ signs at the Little Somborne junction.
Action: Cllr Fahy
18. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
18.1 Skate ramp rust. The surface of the skate ramp would be treated with a rust preventative at an estimated cost of £200.
18.2 Village Green telephone kiosk. Agreement from BT to repair the kiosk was still awaited.
19. To receive reports on the Parish recreational facilities and Cemetery
19.1 Cllr Lane reported a plague of rabbits on the Up Somborne recreation ground.
Action: Clerk
20. Date, time and place of next meeting
20.1 The next meeting will be on Monday 2 November 2009 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.30pm