Parish Council
Parish Council minutes Feb 2012
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hallcommencing at 7.00pm on Monday 6 February 2012
Present: Cllr R Harwood (Acting Chairman) Cllr A Brock Cllr F Fahy Cllr P Goddard Cllr D Harrison Cllr G Herbert Cllr G Pearson Cllr J Werrett
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session County Cllr Gibson, Borough Cllr Ward, Mr R Dyke (Open Spaces Warden), Mr C Matthews (Tree Warden), PC Beecroft and 6 members of the public were present for part of the meeting. The main concern discussed by the public attending was the growth in allegedly unauthorised activity at Forest Extra in Up Somborne and the problems caused to local residents by the size and number of large vehicles using Strawberry Lane. Mr Matthews suggested planting a Royal Jubilee Oak along the river bank or on the 3 Fields site. Cllr Harwood would follow up the riverbank suggestion. Cllr Ward sought suggestions for planting a replacement tree for the one to be felled outside the Scout Hut to make way for the new bottle bank area and Mr Matthews would advise.
Action: Cllr Harwood and Mr Matthews
Mr Dyke commented on the poor state of repair of the fence around the toddlers’ play area on the recreation ground and Cllr Gibson said he might be able to help meet the costs from his county councillor’s devolved budget.
Action: Clerk
PC Beecroft confirmed that parking vehicles on the pavement was an offence if an obstruction was caused, as reported in last month’s minutes. Cllr Ward commented on the successful workshop hosted by the TVBC planning policy staff to discuss the draft TVBC Core Strategy and confirmed he would lead on producing a Village Design Statement. He confirmed that TVBC enforcement staff were following up on the Forest Extra problem and that current information on live crime could be accessed on Twitter and Crime Report, although later in the meeting Cllr Brock commented that not all crime was recorded in the Crime Report.
21. Apologies for Absence
21.1 Cllr Curtis.
22. Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions
22.1 Cllr Harwood, with other councillors and the Clerk, had attended a successful Open Day at the site of the 21 new affordable homes and had met the developers and some of the new residents. Everyone had been very impressed with the high standard of the build and the variety which would meet a good cross section of those waiting for such homes and he congratulated the Council in general and Mr Dyke and Mr Bevan in particular for seeing the project though to its completion.
22.2 Cllr Pearson queried why fees for the Cemetery were doubled for non-residents. The Clerk explained that this was normal practice by Burial Authorities to compensate for those local residents who had contributed towards the Cemetery maintenance cost through their council tax. He explained there was some discretion allowed to him by the Council where, for example, a resident moved from the Parish into a care facility outside of the Parish would not normally generate a doubling of the fees. Cllr Pearson requested that this matter be reconsidered at the next budget meeting when fees and charges were being discussed.
Action: Clerk
22.3 Cllr Harrison commented that there were some problems with transferring e-mail addresses to the Hampshire County Council website but hopefully these would be overcome in due course.
23. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 9 January 2012
23.1 Proposed Cllr Brock, Seconded Cllr Pearson RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2012 be accepted as a true record.
24. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
24.1 Para 203.2 Cllr Fahy reported that the plastic bollards had been removed from along Winchester Road.
24.2 Para 203.4 Cllr Werrett had spoken to Hampshire Highways staff at the site of the collapsing stream bank near to Martin’s Shop who confirmed they were investigating the riparian ownership of the bank before determining any repairs. The Clerk would follow up.
Action: Clerk
25. Declarations of Interest
25.1 None.
26. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
26.1 The Clerk drew Councillors’ attention to recent correspondence received but no further action was thought necessary.
27. To note the Planning Committee minutes as tabled
27.1 Minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2012 had been circulated with the agenda papers.
27.2 Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Herbert, RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 9 January 2012 be noted.
28. Up Somborne Forest Extra Certificate of Lawfulness and associated traffic problems
28.1 Cllr Brock introduced the concerns expressed by Up Somborne residents regarding the increase in heavy duty traffic using the Forest Extra complex and the problems generated by these vehicle movements. Whilst it was acknowledged that TVBC enforcement officers were monitoring the situation, the hope was that the Parish Council could expedite resolution of the problem. The Clerk would write to both TVBC and Hampshire Highways expressing local concerns. An opportunity to comment would also present itself when the application for the Certificate of Lawfulness came before the Council for comment.
Action: Clerk
29. To receive Councillors’ reports, as appropriate, on actions taken and other matters
29.1 Cllr Herbert queried the value of holding Cllr Surgeries when for the last three no-one had turned up. This matter would be on the March agenda for further debate. He also commented that the Pre-School, the WI and other organisations, were planning to mark the Royal Jubilee with a ‘Big Picnic’ on the recreation ground and he would arrange for the lead organisers to contact the Clerk to finalise matters.
Action: Cllr Herbert
29.2 Cllr Fahy confirmed the youth recreational facility survey was in hand and that he would meet youngsters on their way home from school to ensure they knew about the survey. A report would be tabled at the March meeting.
Action: Cllr Fahy
29.3 Cllr Harrison confirmed she was planning the detail for and advertising of the forthcoming Annual Assembly and would brief councillors on their roles at the March meeting.
Action: Cllr Harrison
30. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
30.1 A budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda and was noted. The current bank balance stood at £32,205.48.
31. Payment of Accounts
31.1 Proposed Cllr Brock, Seconded Cllr Fahy, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for January be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 747.46 747.46 1758
HMRC Tax/NIC 206.38 206.38 1759
BPC Shared costs 22.50 22.50 1760
Sarsen Press Newsletter 65.00 65.00 1761
TVBC Grounds maint 459.69 91.94 551.63 1762
KS Village Hall Hire charge 24.00 24.00 1763
Totals 1525.03 1616.97 91.94
32. To appoint a transport representative and additional members to the Planning Committee
32.1 Cllr Goddard volunteered to represent the Council on transport matters and Cllrs Fahy and Werrett agreed to become members of the Planning Committee.
33. Jubilee Strategy progress report
33.1 The Clerk reported on progress under Workstream 1, the Localism Act. The Act had now become law and the implications of the policy within the Act were becoming clearer. In particular, there was now a General Power of Competence which enabled councils to do anything which was legal instead of, as previously, only being able to do what was specifically covered in the Local Government Act 1972. The Standards Board would be abolished and it will become a criminal offence for councillors to deliberately withhold or misrepresent a personal interest. The public would be given the power to veto excessive council tax increases and setting an increase above that laid down by Government could trigger a referendum. A referendum could also be triggered on any matter for which 5%+ of the electorate raised a petition. The introduction of neighbourhood development plans would give local residents more say in development within their neighbourhood boundary.
33.2 Cllr Werrett was working on Workstream 2 which was designed to identify ‘quick wins’ where an improvement could be made in a short space of time for the benefit of the community.
Action: Cllr Werrett
33.3 Cllr Herbert tabled his draft response to the TVBC Core Strategy document which had been labelled Workstream 3. With minor amendment, the Clerk was then authorised to release the comments and widely circulate them.
Action: Clerk
33.4 Cllr Ward had already confirmed his willingness to lead on Workstream 4, the Village Design Statement, with Cllr Herbert and members of the public to help.
Action: Cllr Ward 33.5 Cllr Harrison was busy on Workstream 5, the planning process.
Action: Cllr Harrison
34. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
34.1 The Clerk drew Councillors’ attention to need to have some offensive graffiti removed from the skate ramp by TVBC Environmental Health. He was also chasing Southern Electric to repair the fence by The Gorrings entrance to 3 Fields which had been damaged when effecting recent repairs and he very pleased to report that after more than two years he had finally succeeded in getting BT to repaint the telephone kiosk and replace the front door of the kiosk on the Village Green.
35. Date, time and place of next meeting
35.1 The next meeting will be on Monday 5 March 2012 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne.
Action: All
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.50pm