Parish Council
Parish Council minutes August 2012
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Village Hallcommencing at 7.00pm on Monday 6 August 2012
Present: Cllr J Werrett (Chairman) Cllr A Brock Cllr R Curtis Cllr F Fahy Cllr G Herbert Cllr A Reynolds
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session The Open Spaces Wardens, a Footpath Warden, Borough Councillor Ward, Police Sgt Phillips, PCSO S Downie and seven members of the public were present for part of the meeting.
The Police reported that only three incidents had been reported over the past month and that they would follow up the report on the noisy scooter rider. They confirmed they had now relocated to the Stockbridge Fire Station which meant the public could not gain direct access to them as the Fire Station was a restricted area and they reminded all present that the method of making contact was primarily by ringing 101. PCSO Downie reported on the success of the young people’s sports afternoon organised for 3 August when 31 youngsters had turned out for an afternoon of sport and fun.
Mr Hayden, the Footpath Warden, commented on the rapid growth of vegetation along the footpaths and asked that remedial action be taken especially along the Horsebridge and Palace Close paths. Mr Dyke and Mr Pidgeon, Open Spaces Wardens, commented on the Furzedown Road potholes in particular and Cllr Fahy was able to confirm they had been reported for repair and Mr Pearson repeated his request that the footpath at the far end of the Village on the right towards Romsey be cleared of vegetation to make if safer for pedestrians.
The members of the public present were then invited by the Chairman to express their views on the dragons teeth recently installed along part of the Borne adjacent to Old Vicarage Lane. Most of the views expressed supported the need for the teeth to be removed although some discussion indicated their ability to sustain the earth bank in the future. Cllrs noted the views expressed.
Borough Cllr Ward outlined the timetable for relocating Test Valley staff from Duttons Road to Beech Hurst starting in mid-August. Planning staff would move in mid-October although a duty planning officer would be available at certain times in the former magistrate’s court building. Cllr Ward also commented on his disappointment that only 14 people attended his launch of the Village Design Statement (VDS) meeting in the Village Hall and how few had subsequently signed up to his website for progressing the VDS although 31 had signed an expression of interest at his stand at the Horticultural Show. He encouraged councillors to lead the way. Finally, Cllr Ward reported that work on the Local Plan was progressing and that he would be attending a forthcoming settlement boundary meeting as part of this process.
127. Apologies for absence.
127.1 Cllrs Harrison, Harwood and Lane. Apologies also received from County Cllr Gibson.
128. Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions
128.1 None made.
129. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 2 July 2012
129.1 Proposed Cllr Fahy, Seconded Cllr Brock, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2012 be accepted as a true record.
130. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
130.1 Para 125.3 Research was still on-going into external funding for traditional street lights.
131. Declarations of Interest
131.1 None declared.
132. To consider what action, if any, should be taken over the Dragons Teeth bordering the Bourne
132.1 The Chairman then invited the Clerk to outline the comments received in person, by letter and by e-mail as a result of the proposal circulated by Cllr Fahy to local residents for their removal. The Clerk confirmed receipt of 21 comments in favour of their removal and 12 in favour of their retention. A variety of additional comments were also made ranging from their unsightliness to the cost of their removal; the additional strength now in the construction of the earth bank to the difficulty posed when opening car doors; the loss of the village effect to their installation on the Winchester Road side of the Borne; and a number of comments centred on the refusal by the contractors to hand back the daffodil bulbs.
132.2 The Chairman emphasised that the views received by the Clerk were random responses and Councillors should weigh all the comments made during the course of the meeting. Cllr Fahy then proposed that the dragons teeth by removed and replaced by discreet notices advising motorists not to park near the earth bank. The proposal failed for want of a seconder. As a result, the teeth would remain in situ and the Clerk would contact those who had made their views known to him to advise this outcome.
132.3 Proposed Cllr Werrett, Seconded Cllr Herbert, RESOLVED unanimously that up to £50 be made available for the purchase of replacement bulbs and that Cllr Fahy organise their purchase and planting, with others as necessary.
Action: Cllr Fahy
133. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
133.1 The Clerk drew Councillors’ attention to a letter from the National Lottery outlining grants available to sustain village shops and communities and to the letter of thanks from the Sombornes Neighbourcare Group for the grant awarded. No further action was thought necessary.
134. To note the Planning Committee minutes as tabled
134.1 Minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2012 had been circulated with the agenda papers.
134.2 Proposed Cllr Curtis, Seconded Cllr Fahy, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 16 July 2012 be noted.
135. To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee
135.1 Councillors noted that Cllr Lane had been elected Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee and endorsed this decision.
136. To receive Councillors’ reports, as appropriate, on actions taken and other matters
136.1 Cllr Reynolds reported that work on the biodiversity information board was in hand and a draft design with associated production costs would be tabled at the September meeting.
Action: Cllr Reynolds
136.2 Cllr Herbert commented that he would attend the Village Hall management committee meetings as the Parish Council representative when a matter of Council interest was being tabled.
136.3 Cllr Fahy reported that he had met with the new Highways officer and had agreed an action list of highways matters outstanding.
137. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
137.1 A budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda and was noted.
138. To consider comments on the TVBC Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)
138.1 A draft SHLAA was available on the Test Valley Borough Council website inviting comments. Cllr Herbert led discussion on the topic reminding those present this was a technical document providing information on potential housing sites submitted by landowners and capable of accommodating 50 or more dwellings. This was a requirement of the Local Development Framework system and had assisted decisions being made in the development of the Local Plan. Cllr Herbert emphasised that inclusion of a site in the Plan did not imply that planning permission would be granted and development would not take place outside the settlement boundaries unless exceptional circumstances existed. However, we had to acknowledge that insufficient dwellings were being built to meet the local need and he would maintain a watching brief. Given our previous comments earlier in the consultation, it was not thought necessary to comment further at this stage.
139. To consider comments on the state of the TVBC bottle bank
139.1 Cllr Werrett reflected the concern of some local residents at the state of the bottle bank and its surrounding area, commenting on the risk posed to individuals by broken glass and the unsightly nature of overflowing waste banks and rubbish lying on the floor of the enclosure. Concern had also been expressed at the lack of an alternative exit if a person felt threatened in the enclosure. Thought would be given to laying a tarmac surface adjacent to the bank and in lieu of the grass bank which was frequently churned up by contractors’ vehicles. The Clerk would obtain cost estimates. It was agreed the foil bank should be relocated adjacent to paper bank, that the Lengthsman would be tasked to undertake a monthly clear up of the area and that consideration would be given to the possibility of a second entrance/exit being created allowing access to the field.
Action: Clerk
140. To adopt the new Code of Conduct
140.1 Discussion on the new Councillor Code of Conduct was deferred until the next meeting.
Action: Clerk
141. Payment of Accounts
141.1 Proposed Cllr Brock, Seconded Cllr Reynolds, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for July be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq/Internet
Hants Police Authority Children’s sports 40.00 40.00 1783
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 734.27 734.27 BACs
BPC Shared costs 24.00 24.00 BACs
HMRC Tax/NIC 201.29 201.29 BACs
Earth Anchors New seats 529.95 105.99 635.94 BACs
Lappsett Play equipment 14619.45 2923.89 17543.34 1784
TVBC 3 Fields rent 1.00 1.00 BACs
Mr M Rebbeck Grounds maint 940.50 940.50 1785
Sub Arb Churchyard tree 180.00 180.00 BACs
Mrs P Ward Church flowers 17.10 17.10 1786
Totals 17287.56 3029.88 20317.44
142. Newsletter update
142.1 Cllr Brock reported that distribution of the next Newsletter would be towards the end of August/early September.
Action: Cllr Brock
143. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
143.1 The Clerk reported that work had been completed on the Churchyard Yew tree but in the process decay has been discovered in the adjacent Lime. Fields in Trust was offering two mature Royal Oaks to mark the Jubilee which had been applied for.
143.2 The two new seats, top of Cow Drove Hill and Strawberry Lane, had been installed and well received, as had the new play equipment in Up Somborne.
143.3 A co-option notice would be posted this week calling for nominations to fill the current councillor vacancy and applications received would be considered at the September PC meeting.
144. Date, time and place of next meeting
144.1 The next meeting will on Monday 3 September 2012 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 8.55pm