KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 2 March 2015
Present: Cllr R Harwood (Chairman)
Cllr A Brock
Cllr J Evans
Cllr F Fahy
Cllr R Lane
Cllr A Reeves
Cllr J Werrett
Cllr S Whitehead
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session
Mr Dyke (Open Spaces Warden) and 2 members of the public were present for part of the meeting.
34. Apologies for Absence
34.1 Cllrs Curtis and Jackson.
35. Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions
35.1 The Chairman commented on the successful formal opening of the multi-use games area (MUGA) by the Mayor of Test Valley Borough Council and thanked everyone involved in its acquisition and fund raising.
36. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 2 February 2015
36.1 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Brock, RESOLVED with Cllr Reeves abstaining (absent) that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2015 be accepted as a true record.
37. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
37.1 Para 24.2 Local area map. The Clerk had obtained a map of the local area for the Flood Action Group at no cost.
37.2 Para 24.6 SSE cable work. Legal formalities were at long last virtually complete and SSE should soon be able to start work burying the overhead supply cables across the 3 Fields site.
37.3 Para 24.9 Lancaster Green litter. Hyde Housing had written to all Lancaster Green tenants regarding litter and the site had subsequently been considerably improved.
38. Declarations of Interest and requests for Dispensations
38.1 None declared or sought.
39. To receive the minutes of the Planning Committee
39.1 The minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 2 and 16 February 2015 had been circulated with the agenda papers.
39.2 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Harwood, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 2 and 16 February 2015 be received and accepted.
40. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
40.1 The Clerk drew Members’ attention to the letter from Southern Water sent to all residents outlining the action taken and the associated costs to alleviate future flooding problems. No further action was thought necessary.
41. To receive Councillors’ Reports
41.1 Cllr Lane reported on the planning meeting held earlier in the evening and recommended that a letter be sent to the Planning Inspectorate complaining about the undue length of time being taken to appoint an inspector to consider the Forest Extra appeal.
(Clerk’s note. A letter was subsequently received confirming the appointment of an inspector and a site visit date of 10 March 2015)
41.2 Cllr Evans, as Facilitator of the Local Flood Action Group (KSFAG), reported that reprofiling had started on the Borne with an estimated 80 cubic metres likely to be removed over the next couple of weeks. There had also been a successful multi-agency meeting held on 19 February at which representatives from the Environment Agency, Southern Water, TVBC, HCC, Hampshire Highways and the National Flood Forum had exchanged information about future plans and other work flood preventative work necessary.
41.3 Cllr Evans also invited everyone to attend the training on the recently acquired defibrillator to be held on Saturday 21 March at The Crown Inn as it was in everyone’s interest to be able to operate this equipment in the event of an emergency. She also proposed that the equipment and its housing be insured by the Parish Council as a gesture to the community.
41.4 Proposed Cllr Evans, Seconded Cllr Brock, RESOLVED unanimously that the defibrillator and its housing be insured at a value of £1500 with the premium being met by the Parish Council.
Action: Clerk
41.5 Cllr Fahy confirmed he was seeking the installation of Give Way signage at the junction of Church Road and Romsey Road and that he was making a photographic record of the Borne reprofiling.
41.6 Cllr Brock encouraged everyone to sign up to the new style rural police reports to keep abreast of the information and advice contained therein.
Action: All
41.7 Cllr Harwood reported he had been invited to a meeting in Broughton to discuss their opposition to a proposed housing development in their village. He had also attended the recent meeting of the Test Valley Association of Parish and Town Councils at which much discussion had taken place on how to reinvigorate the membership. One positive suggestion adopted was the inclusion of more workshops for members attending the meetings. There was also a fascinating talk by the recycling team from TVBC on the management of waste and as a result an invitation would be extended to the speaker to attend our forthcoming Annual Assembly.
Action: Clerk
42. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
42.1 The Clerk, as RFO, reported that the weed control contractor had recommended the application of approved herbicides on the King’s Somborne recreation ground to consolidate on last year’s preventative measures at a cost of £263.68 plus VAT. All agreed this should be done.
42.2 The Clerk outlined the plans for refurbishing the skate ramp and building end panels to convert an area into a youth shelter for which a county councillor grant would be applied for. The panels would also contain a lockable store for tennis equipment for the MUGA. The total cost was estimated at £4130.60 plus VAT for which next year’s budget contained £3000 which with an additional grant of £750 from C/Cllr Gibson would leave £380.60 to be found from the Council’s maintenance budget. Work was expected to take place in April.
42.3 A budget monitoring report had been circulated with the agenda papers.
42.4 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Brock, RESOLVED unanimously that the Budget Report be accepted as tabled.
43. Payment of Accounts
43.1 Proposed Cllr Evans, Seconded Cllr Fahy, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for February 2015 be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq/Internet
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 654.89 654.89 Int
HMRC Tax/NIC 393.33 393.33 Int
BPC Shared costs 22.00 22.00 Int
Earth Anchors Public seat 297.00 59.40 356.40 Int
HALC Clerks’ conference 35.00 7.00 42.00 Int
Glasdon Ltd MUGA litter bin 241.26 48.25 289.51 Int
S&C Slatter Ltd MUGA 2854.18 570.84 3425.02 Int
Totals 4497.66 685.49 5183.15
44. To consider the need to deter long term parking on the recreation ground
44.1 Complaints were being received from visitors to the Village Hall that parking was not always possible because of cars parked long term on the car park. Councillors considered the problem and the need to enforce any restrictions that might be introduced but decided in the end that matters should be left as they are because of the attendant difficulties in enforcement.
45. Annual Assembly arrangements
45.1 Arrangements were well in hand for this year’s Annual Assembly which would be held in the Village Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 30 April 2015. A draft agenda had been circulated with the meeting papers and was agreed subject to the outcome of the invitation extended to the TVBC recycling manager to give a presentation. The Chairman invited spouses to join councillors to help with the refreshments.
Action: All
46. TVBC’s draft gypsy and traveller development plan
46.1 TVBC had circulated their draft gypsy and traveller development plan for consultation. Whilst Councillors noted the statutory requirement placed on TVBC to provide accommodation none of the identified sites in the draft plan fell within the King’s Somborne Parish boundary and as a result no comments were thought necessary.
47. Clerk’s monthly report
47.1 Following the public interest aroused by the Gladman Developments application to build in the village, a number of people had expressed their interest in supporting and developing a neighbourhood plan and the Clerk would co-ordinate further action for the time being and identify those planning policies in the Test Valley Local Plan which applied to our community and draft a public consultation questionnaire.
Action: Clerk
48. Date, time and place of next meeting
48.1 The next meeting would be on Monday 13 April 2015 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, Winchester Road, King’s Somborne. (first Monday in the month is Easter Monday)
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.10pm