Parish Council
Parish Council minutes Jan 2010
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 4 January 2010
Present: Cllr R Dyke (Chairman) Cllr R Bevan Cllr F Fahy Cllr R Harwood 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 Mr Philip Mills from Hampshire County Council Trading Standards gave an insight into the ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ scheme being introduced in selected areas across the County after consultation with local residents and the Police. He explained that a cold caller was someone calling at the door without an invitation and research showed a clear link between cold calling and doorstep crime, such as distraction burglary and bogus property repairs. The scheme was designed to deter cold calling by placing notices at the entrances to a road to empower householders to say ‘No’ to cold callers by providing information and support, and to enforce trading standards legislation with a response to cold calling as soon as possible after it was reported. Information packs were available containing advice, stickers, the Safe and Sound booklet, the Buy with Confidence Directory and a crimestoppers leaflet. The scheme had been successfully introduced in a number of areas where there had been incidences of cold calling and it had enabled the elderly and vulnerable to refuse the advances of bogus trades people. Members noted the scheme for future reference. Dr Stephen Rake, the Footpath Warden, reminded all present that the Somborne Society had produced a booklet on local walks which was available for purchase from Cross Stores. He also intimated his intention to resign his voluntary position as Footpath Warden at the end of the year. County Cllr Gibson undertook to raise the level of awareness at Hampshire County Council on the Parish Council’s wish to see a low noise road surface laid on the A3057 where it passed through the Village centre. Although the pressure was off the Up Somborne telephone kiosk for the moment, he undertook to keep an eye on the situation and at the Chairman’s request he would also follow through the perceived need for a non-slip surface on the recently laid slope on footpath 503. Borough Cllr Ward offered some information on the proposed development of the light industrial site in Horsebridge which Members of the Planning Committee would visit in due course.
The meeting was then closed to the public
1. Apologies for Absence
1.1 Cllrs Bidwell and Lane and also PC Benton and the Village Correspondent.
2. Announcements by the Chairman
2.1 The Chairman announced Cllr Room’s forthcoming relocation and his willingness to remain as Chairman of the Planning Committee for the time being. Members noted this.
3. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7 December 2009
3.1 Proposed Cllr Pidgeon, Seconded Cllr Bevan, RESOLVED unanimously that with minor amendment the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2009 be accepted as a true record.
4. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
4.1 There were no matters arising not dealt with elsewhere in these minutes.
5. Declarations of Interest
5.1 None declared.
6. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
6.1 Details of correspondence received since the last meeting had been circulated with the agenda papers. Members noted in particular the letter of thanks from an Up Somborne resident for the installation of the new bus shelter; the letter from Test Valley School giving details of the two prize winners sponsored by the Council; and the joint letter from the President and Chairman of the National Association encouraging continued membership of the Association rather than withdrawal as recommended by HALC. It was agreed to monitor the pros and cons of membership of NALC which would be debated at the HALC AGM later in the year. No further action was thought necessary at this time.
7. To receive reports on planning applications considered and determined
7.1 The following responses had been made to recent planning applications received:
* 7 Nutcher’s Drove – tree works – no objection
7.2 The following decisions had been notified by Test Valley Borough Council:
* Woodmans Cottage, Winchester Road – addition of chimney pot and removal of first floor window and replace with new in matching style – permitted
* 3 Furzedown Cottages – single storey rear extension and reconstruction of rear conservatory – permitted
* Park Farm, Little Somborne – change of use and conversion of redundant farm buildings – application withdrawn for time being
8. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
8.1 The budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda. All noted that 73% of the budget had been spent and that the Council’s bank balances stood at £26,052.10. The Clerk confirmed he had successfully applied for an allocation of S106 monies (developers’ contributions) amounting to £1,802 to part-fund the new toddlers play equipment and that the Village Hall would likely be applying for a further tranche of capital grants from the County and Borough Councils, the success of which was in part determined by the Parish Council granting its budgeted £4000.
8.2 An application had been received from the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group for a grant to help enable it to continue to provide advice to farmers and others involved in countryside management. In the past, grants of £50 had been made.
8.3 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Bevan, RESOLVED unanimously that a grant of £50 be made to the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group to help meet their expenses.
9. Payment of Accounts
9.1 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for December be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 629.98 629.98 1575
HMRC Tax/NIC 175.86 175.86 1576
BPC Shared costs 110.00 110.00 1577
MJ Ellis Cemetery gate 75.00 11.25 86.25 1578
TVBC Grounds maint 703.87 105.58 809.45 1579
FWAG Grant 50.00 50.00 1580
Totals 1744.71 116.83 1861.54
10. To determine the Burial Board charges for 2010-2011
10.1 An analysis of comparative charges levied elsewhere had been circulated with the agenda papers together with suggested increases. The principle of aiming to have income equal expenditure was re-confirmed.
10.2 Proposed Harwood, Seconded Cllr Bevan, RESOLVED unanimously that the following charges be adopted for 2010-2011:
Interments
Child under 12 years of age No charge (no change)
Body of person 12 years or over £185 (£175)
Cremated remains £130 (£120)
Exclusive Right of Burial Adult grave £200 (£125)
Headstones, tablets and memorial inscriptions
Headstone or flat stone inset in the ground £125 (no change)
Flat cremation tablet £75 (no change)
Inscription after the first £60 (no change)
Note: Current charges in parenthesis
All fees are doubled for non-Parish residents
Action: Clerk to inform Funeral Directors and others
11. To consider proposals for combating litter in the Parish
11.1 Following the presentation by Test Valley School pupils at the last meeting, it had been hoped that they would subsequently produce ideas to combat the litter problem. No firm ideas had been forthcoming despite approaches by Members directly to the School staff and it was thought appropriate for the time being to continue to rely on those individuals and groups undertaking voluntary ‘litter picks’.
12. To receive reports from Members on external meetings at which they had represented the Parish Council or attended in any other capacity
12.1 Cllr Pearson reported he had attended recent meetings of CPRE and Neighbourhood Watch.
13. To receive Councillors’ reports, as appropriate, on actions taken on lead and other matters
13.1 Cllr Fahy expressed the concern felt by many at vehicle speed across the junction of Winchester Road and Strawberry Lane in the vicinity of the Up Somborne bus shelter and that with Cllr Lane he would be urging local children to co-ordinate a petition to Hampshire County Council for action to introduce a speed restriction.
Action: Cllrs Fahy and Lane
13.2 In the absence of the Village Correspondent, the Clerk confirmed that a draft report on updating the Parish Plan had been produced and would be tabled at the next meeting for discussion.
Action: Clerk
14. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
14.1 Nothing to report.
15. To receive reports on the Parish recreational facilities and Cemetery
15.1 Cllr Fahy reported he was obtaining estimates of cost for installing a multi-use games area (MUGA) on the recreation ground.
16. Motion for Confidential Business
16.1 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that, in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be discussed relating to employee’s remuneration, it was advisable in the public interest that the public be excluded and for the record the business be regarded as confidential.
17. To review the remuneration of the Clerk
17.1 Details of the Clerk’s remuneration and contract had been circulated with the agenda papers.
17.2 A proposal from the Chair to increase the Clerk’s weekly working hours by two was not seconded and therefore failed. An alternative, proposed by Cllr Werrett and seconded by Cllr Harwood, was RESOLVED with one against and one abstention, that any decision to amend the Clerk’s remuneration be delayed pending detailed information on the ‘Clerk’s hours’ as listed on Cllr Werrett’s e-mail to the Chairman on 9 December 2009.
Action: Chairman
18. Date, time and place of next meeting
18.1 The next meeting will be on Monday 1 February 2010 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.20pm