Parish Council
Parish Council Minutes April 2009
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 6 April 2009
Present: Cllr R Dyke (Chairman) Cllr R Bevan Cllr D Bidwell Cllr R Harwood Cllr R Lane Cllr R Pidgeon Cllr D Room
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session County Councillor Woodhall was present for part of the meeting but no members of the public were present. In the absence of any parish councillor being able to attend the forthcoming Hampshire Action Team meeting, Cllr Woodhall agreed to represent the Parish Council’s concern at the worsening state of many of the roads in our area and the apparent lack of action in addressing the lengthy list of other outstanding highways matters. The Chairman thanked Cllr Woodhall for this and for the support given and interest sustained in our Parish during his many years as our county councillor.
Action: Cllr Woodhall
1. Apologies for Absence
1.1 Apologies were received from Cllrs Fahy, Pearson and Werrett, the Borough Councillor, Tree Warden and Village Correspondent.
2. Announcements by the Chairman
2.1 The Chairman drew Members’ attention to a letter received from Borough Cllr Ward in his capacity as Chairman of the Village Hall Development Committee thanking the Parish Council for their generous contribution towards the purchase costs of tables and chairs for the renovated Committee Room in the Hall. The Chairman reiterated the need for the Parish Council to be seen to be helping other organisations and groups within the Parish which, in turn, would act as a trigger for further support from other interested parties. Cllr Bidwell expressed his concern at the loss of space in the Committee Room, which he thought was more than that indicated by Cllr Ward when bidding for the financial support given, and questioned whether the room was now large enough for the equipment being purchased. Cllr Bidwell urged the Chairman to bring this concern to the attention of the Village Hall Management Committee at their next meeting.
Action: Chairman
3. To receive reports from the Tree Warden, Footpath Warden and other Volunteers
3.1 In the absence of the Tree Warden, the Clerk confirmed that no replacement action on the damaged tree in the Muss Lane recreation ground would be taken for the moment as the tree was now showing signs of regeneration.
3.2 Dr Steven Rake, the Footpath Warden, reported on work undertaken to the footpaths and bridleways by those on Community Payback. The completed work had been undertaken in agreement with the local landowners and/or the Rights of Way Officer at Hampshire County Council (HCC) and had much improved access. HCC has resurfaced some of the paths and was investigating the installation of kissing gates on Footpath 14 (Muss Lane to New Lane) and further resurfacing of Footpath 506 (Eldon Road to Furzedown Road) and Footpath 27/10 (Luke Copse through Parnholt Wood).
3.3 In the absence of the Village Correspondent, the Clerk updated Members on action in hand to update the Parish Plan which now involved a small group of volunteers co-ordinated by Mrs Harrison collating information and initial views with the aim of presenting in three months time some outline ideas for further consultation.
4. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 2 March 2009
4.1 Proposed Cllr Dyke, Seconded Cllr Bevan, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2009 be accepted as a true record.
5. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
5.1 There were no matters arising not dealt with elsewhere within these minutes.
6. Declarations of Interest
6.1 None declared.
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:
* 09/00441/LBWS – North Park Farm House, Somborne Park Road – satellite dish on chimney – no objection
* 09/00591/LBWS – 1 and 2 Marsh Court Farm – replacement of timber windowsand restoration of some brick mullions – no objection
* 09/00509/LBWS – Willow Cottage, Romsey Road – oak framed porch to rear – no objection
* 09/00174 and 175/FULLS – The Old Exchange, Romsey Road – removal of rear extension and erection of a single storey extension to form an orangery
* 09/00523/FULLS – Meadow Brook, Romsey Road – replacement garage and store – no objection
* 09/00409/TPOS – Yew Tree House, Romsey Road – prune one Yew tree – no objection
* 09/00339/TREES – Woodlings, Winchester Road – fell one Silver Birch and crown lift three others – no objection
8.2 The following decisions had been notified by Test Valley Borough Council:
* Upper House, Up Somborne Lane – two storey front extension – permitted
* The Crown Inn, Romsey Road – remedial works to external wall – permitted
* Forge Cottage, 1 Forge Close – fell Leyland type Fir tree – permitted * Yew Tree Cottage, Romsey Road – install satellite dish – permitted
* War Memorial, Romsey Road – add name – permitted
* Woodlings, Winchester Road – fell one Silver Birch and crown lift three others – permitted
* Shappon, Romsey Road – rear porch – permitted
8.3 Application 09/00167/FULLS to construct three office buildings with associated works at Sunnyside View, Stockbridge Road had been withdrawn.
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. All noted that, subject to yearend adjustments, 84% of the budget had been spent, the underspend being attributed to those budget headings for provisions not called upon during the year and a surplus of income over expenditure for the year of £1800 had been achieved. The Council’s bank balances stood at £24251.74.
10. Payment of Accounts
10.1 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq
Mr P Storey Salary and expenses 721.44 721.44 1506
HMRC Tax/NIC 219.58 219.58 1507
BPC Shared costs 15.00 15.00 1508
HALC LCR subscription 13.50 13.50 1509
TVBC Cemetery rates 388.00 388.00 1510
Mr M Rebbeck Grounds maint 100.00 100.00 1511
Smiths of Derby Clock service 171.00 25.65 196.65 1512
KS Village Hill Hire charge 33.00 33.00 1513 Totals 1661.52 25.65 1687.17
11. To consider and, if appropriate, agree the proposal to establish a regulatory size junior football pitch on King’s Somborne recreation ground
11.1 A request had been received to agree the installation of a junior size football pitch to enable junior league matches to be played. This request generated much discussion on the safety of children in the adjacent play area when a match was in progress due to the close proximity of one of the goals. The other goal would be very close to the border hedge which would need severe cutting back to provide the regulatory run off area. The possibility of installing high fencing/netting was discussed but was thought too unsightly and costly.
11.2 Proposed Cllr Room, Seconded Cllr Bidwell, RESOLVED unanimously that further discussion with the Football Club be undertaken with a view to identifying an alternative location for the pitch.
Action: Chairman
12. To receive reports from Members on external meetings at which they have represented the Council or attended in any other capacity
12.1 No reports were tabled.
13. To receive Members’ reports on actions taken on lead matters including the Parish Plan
13.1 Cllr Harwood updated Members on the establishment of a biodiversity area between the mounds on the John O’Gaunt Palace field which would entail killing off the current grass topping before sowing wild flowers. Suitable publicity would be generated and liaison with English Heritage, who owned the field, would be undertaken as plans developed further.
Action: Cllr Harwood
14. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
14.1 Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service had now confirmed they would give a presentation at the Annual Assembly.
14.2 Suitable step designs for the School path over the mounds on the John O’Gaunt field were still awaited from English Heritage and the Clerk would follow up on some contacts whom English Heritage might find acceptable to undertake a survey of the mounds to establish if they could be dug through without disturbing any artefacts.
Action: Clerk
14.3 Hampshire Highways staff were redesigning Footpath 503 from Scott Close to Old Palace Farm to replace the existing steps with a ramp to ease access.
15. To receive reports on the Parish recreational facilities and Cemetery
15.1 Cllr Pidgeon reported that he and the Chairman would be attending a meeting at the School to discuss the development of the pre-school and that repairs to the Scout Hut were progressing. Cllr Bidwell expressed the view that the Parish Council should know the reason why the Village Hall Management Committee had refused to allow the pre-school to hire the Village Hall and if the pre-school sponsors wished to resubmit their bid to use the Hall the Parish Council should lend its support. Cllr Dyke would make this known at the meeting.
Action: Cllr Dyke
16. Date, time and place of next meeting
16.1 The next meeting will be the Annual General Meeting to be held on Monday 11 May 2009 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.05pm