Parish Council

 

Parish Council minutes 7 Oct 13

 
 
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
 
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 7 October 2013
 
Present: Cllr R Harwood (Chairman)
Cllr A Brock
Cllr R Curtis
Cllr J Evans
Cllr  F Fahy
Cllr R Jackson
Cllr R Lane
Cllr J Werrett
 
In Attendance:    Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
 
Public Session
 
C/Cllr Gibson, B/Cllr Ward, the Footpath Warden, the Open Spaces Warden and four members of the public were present for part of the meeting.  C/Cllr Gibson confirmed action continued to address the poor state of the roads and noted, in particular, the comments by Cllr Fahy on the state of the road surface towards Braishfield and at the ford in New Lane.  C/Cllr Gibson would also investigate the choice of HGV signs for Strawberry Lane at the request of Cllr Lane.  B/Cllr Ward confirmed the Highways  report on Up Somborne had been written and would soon be on the website.  The Footpath Warden stated that, with voluntary help from Chris Hall, the steps up to the new footpath at the top of New Lane had now been installed.  He also would investigate claims that the new gate at the Horsebridge end of the footpath from King’s Somborne now precluded large dogs from gaining access to the path.  Mr Vanderpump presented information to illustrate reasons why the Village Hall wished to obtain land in its own right rather than have to lease which, in turn, would enable external funding to be sought for the planned extension on to the concrete hardstanding.
 
115. Apologies for absence.
 
115.1 None.
 
116. Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions
 
116.1 The Chairman informed the meeting of Mr Mercer’s resignation for health reasons and that Cllr Jackson would now develop the plans for the biodiversity site on 3 Fields.
 
117. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 2 September 2013
 
117.1 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Werrett, RESOLVED with Cllr Jackson abstaining (absent) that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2013 be accepted as a true record.
 
118. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
 
118.1 There were no matters arising not dealt with elsewhere in these minutes.
 
119. Declarations of Interest and requests for Dispensations
 
119.1 None declared or sought.
 
 
 
120. Co-option to fill a casual vacancy
 
120.1    One nomination had been received for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr Herbert and the Chairman invited Ms Alison Reeves to introduce herself.
 
120.2 Proposed Cllr Evans, Seconded Cllr Fahy, RESOLVED with Cllrs Lane and Werrett abstaining that Ms Alison Reeves be co-opted on to King’s Somborne Parish Council.
 
121. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
 
121.1 Stockbridge Primary School was seeking information on funds available to help those parents who were unable afford the purchase of  items necessary  for their children attending the school; Councillors felt unable to help.
 
121.2 The Department for Communities and Local Government had confirmed that it remained the Government’s intention to expect local authorities to again provide a top up grant towards the total Precept bid by parish councils; the Clerk would follow this up with TVBC.
Action: Clerk
 
121.3 Chilbolton had instigated a campaign to limit speed in their area to 20mph and was seeking support but on a vote of four in favour, two against and one abstention, Councillors decided not to add King’s Somborne to the campaign primarily because of the impracticality of enforcing such a low speed limit on the A3057.
 
122. To receive Councillors’ Reports
 
122.1 Cllr Lane reported on the planning meeting which had preceded the full Council meeting.
 
122.2 Cllr Brock reported that he was still in discussion with SSE regarding the rerouting of the overhead electricity cables and also that one burglary had occurred in the area recently.
 
122.3 Cllr Fahy stated that the noise damping surface on the skate ramp had lost its effectiveness and complaints on noise could be received from near neighbours.  The Clerk would investigate possible remedies.  Cllr Fahy also expressed concern at car parking along the Romsey Road especially on the bend opposite the four new houses.
Action: Clerk
 
122.4 Cllr Curtis said he had attended a recent school assembly at which the Parish Council’s responses to the children’s list of concerns within the Parish had been well received.  Following the Clerk’s approach to HCC for a school crossing patrol, the necessary papers had been forward to the school for their action.
 
123. Land title transfers
 
123.1 Following Mr Vanderpump’s earlier presentation on behalf of the Village Hall, Councillors considered the concept of accepting the transfer of title of the main part of the King’s Somborne recreation ground and the implications of legal costs involved, land value tax and other matters.  Note was taken of the planned development and the benefit this would bring to the Hall and it remained the Council’s wish to support the Hall.  Given that thoughts and plans were at the early stage, it was agreed the Clerk should continue to liaise informally with Fields in Trust with a view to establishing the likelihood of land transfer and the associated legal and other costs.
Action: Clerk   
 
 
 
 
124. To receive the Housing Needs Working Group report
 
124.1 The report from the Housing Needs working group had been circulated previously.  The report recognised the Parish Council’s serious commitment to provide additional housing stock in support of TVBC’s local plan and cited that we currently had 180 social housing units which accounted for 30% of the total housing stock in King’s Somborne.  However, rather than  look at the need for a survey in isolation, the report recommended that other on-going matters likely to have an effect on the outcome of the needs survey should be taken into account.  In particular, it was thought the survey should be incorporated into the village design statement discussions which were themselves linked to the next stage of the TVBC revised local plan and settlement boundary discussions.  The report also recommended that leadership on the village design statement should be given greater focus and should now be driven by a small group from the Parish Council who would ensure on-going consultation with parishioners.  In so doing, any housing needs survey would become something the wider community became engaged with and would be linked to the other activities taking place.  In making this recommendation, the working group recognised the work undertaken to date by B/Cllr Ward particularly with regard to community valued assets.  
 
124.2 Proposed Cllr Werrett, Seconded Cllr Evans, RESOLVED with Cllr Jackson abstaining that the Housing Needs working group’s report  recommendations be accepted. 
 
125. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
 
125.1 The Clerk reported that unfortunately we had been unsuccessful in our bid for funds from HCC towards the MUGA.  A bid to the Veolia Environmental Trust had been submitted and the previous bid to Sport England would now be resurrected.  The Clerk would also approach Aster Housing.
Action: Clerk
 
125.2 It was agreed that a fundraising group be formed to approach local benefactors and others to raise funds for the MUGA.  The group would comprise Cllrs Curtis, Fahy and Reeves.
Action: Cllrs Curtis, Fahy and Reeves
 
125.3 A budget monitoring report had been circulated with the agenda papers and was noted.
 
125.4 Test Valley School was, as in past years, seeking sponsorship for prizes and it was agreed to grant £75 again this year. 
 
126. Payment of Accounts
 
126.1 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Curtis, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for September 2013 be approved for payment:
 
To For Net      VAT Gross    Chq/Internet
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses        915.39 915.39             Int
BPC Shared costs            22.00  22.00 Int
HMRC Tax/NIC            30.15  30.15 Int
Came & Co Insurance        1276.65          1276.65 Int
Mr M Rebbeck Grounds maint          538.00 538.00 Int
Totals                            2782.19              2782.19                     
 
127. Grant Aid application from South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
 
127.1 Proposed Cllr Brock, Seconded Cllr Lane, RESOLVED unanimously that a grant be made to the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust of £600 to assist in the purchase of an automatic external defibrillator and vandal proof box for installation in the village subject to the receipt by them of a further grant from the British Heart Foundation.
 
128. Clerk’s monthly report
 
128.1 Councillor vacancy.  The necessary notices advertising the councillor vacancy would be posted in the Parish.
 
128.2 Streetlight upgrade.  Work on upgrading the streetlights would begin in October 2014 and traditional lights had been provisioned for within the conservation area.
 
128.3 TVBC had confirmed most of our green litter bins were well used but they would relocate the bin on the bend in Winchester Road to the top of Cow Drove Hill.  The worn seat on the Winchester Road bend overlooking the stream would be removed.
129. Date, time and place of next meeting
 
129.1    The next meeting will be on Monday 4 November 2013 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, Winchester Road, King’s Somborne.  
Action: All
 
 
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.00pm