Parish Council
Parish Council minutes March 2007
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Councilheld in the Epworth Hall, King’s Sombornecommencing at 7.00pm on Monday 5 March 2007 Present: Cllr D Bidwell (Chairman) Cllr R Dyke Cllr A Gannaway (Item 7 onwards) Cllr R Lane Cllr G Pearson Cllr D Room In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council) Public Session: The County Councillor, Footpath Warden and Village Correspondent were present for part of the meeting. 1. Announcements by the Chairman 1.1 The Chairman reminded those present of the forthcoming local elections and the submission dates for the nomination papers. 2. Reports from the Tree Warden, Footpath Warden and others 2.1 The Footpath Warden commented that 26 people had enjoyed the February Walk. He also briefed that he had reported a fallen tree on the Test Way at Brook and that a planning application notice was on display regarding change of use of a barn at Chalk Farm which fell in to the Parish of Ashley. 2.2 Cllr Pearson reported that he had reviewed the Yew Tree in the Churchyard with the Tree Warden and expressed concern at the quantity of dead wood within the tree and the angle at which the tree stood. The Clerk was instructed to pass these concerns on to Test Valley Borough CouncilAction: Clerk 3. Apologies 3.1 Apologies were received from Cllr Bevan (personal), Cllr Geary-Harwood (personal), Cllr Harwood (unwell) and Cllr Pidgeon (unwell). 4. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 5 February 2007 4.1 Proposed Cllr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Dyke, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2007, with amendment to reflect Cllr Pearson voting against the resolution at para 16.5 (grant to Scout Troop), be approved.. 5. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes 5.1 Kissing gate. Agreement had been given to installing the kissing gate in lieu of the stile at the entry to the field behind Manor Farm House. Work would commence when the weather improved. 12.1 Notice boards. The Clerk was obtaining quotes for inscribing the notice boards and further consideration would be given to an additional board in the Village Centre in lieu of using the Church notice board when a decision had been taken on the bus shelter.Action: Clerk 16.2 Trim Trail. Plans for the Trim Trail would be displayed on the Village Hall notice board.Action: Clerk 6. Declarations of Interest 6.1 No declarations of interest were made. 7. To consider Correspondence Received 7.1 Details of correspondence received since the last meeting had been circulated with the agenda; the actual correspondence was available at the meeting for Members to peruse, as required. The Clerk drew attention to correspondence received since circulation of the meeting papers. 7.2 Cllr Dyke would review the Code of Conduct draft amendments and Cllr Room would review the South East Regional Housing Board’s strategy review consultation document.Action: Cllrs Dyke and Room 8. Report on Planning Applications Considered 8.1 The following response had been made on a recent planning application received: * 06/03640/LBWS – The Old Exchange, Romsey Road – erection of single storey rear extension to breakfast room, rear porch, new window at first floor and internal alterations – no objection 8.2 Cllr Bidwell reminded Members that, as a Quality Parish Council, the Council could apply to Test Valley Borough Council for authority to determine routine planning applications in its own right. It was agreed that this should be taken up with the Borough Council.Action: Cllr Bidwell 9. RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring 9.1 An analysis of budget against actual spend to date, together with a forecast out-turn had been circulated with the agenda papers. The RFO gave a verbal presentation on the Council’s financial state of affairs at the end of the eleventh month into the financial year when 88% of the annual budget had been expended to date. The combined bank balances stood at £42095. 9.2 Proposed Clr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Dyke, RESOLVED unanimously that the RFO’s report be accepted. 10. Payment of Accounts 10.1 Proposed Cllr Room, Seconded Cllr Dyke, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts be paid:
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 465.66 465.66 1299
HMRC Tax 251.01 251.01 1300
BPC Broadband 15.00 15.00 1301
Michael J Dant VH Survey fees 422.00 73.85 495.85 1302
Companion VH HSW fee 1686.00 295.05 1981.05 1303
HAPTC Aff fee/NALC fee 286.00 286.00 1304
Cllr Pearson Stationery costs 17.32 17.32 1305
Mr M Rebbeck Ground maint 96.00 96.00 1306
F A Bartlett Tree works 640.00 112.00 752.00 1307
TVBC Planning app 65.50 65.50 1309
Total 3946.49 480.90 4427.39 Note: Cheque number 1308 cancelled 11. To receive reports from Members on external meetings at which they have represented the Parish Council or have attended in any other capacity 11.1 Cllr Dyke had attended the recent HAPTC training on Chairmanship and found the instruction to be professional and in-depth. 11.2 Cllr Pearson, together with the Clerk, had attended a liaison meeting hosted by Tarmac at which the Plant Manager had reviewed the work of the site which now had a reduced staff of seven but was still producing some 35,000 tonnes of aggregate annually. No major matters of concern were raised. 11.3 Cllr Pearson commented that the AGM of The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England would be held on 9 March but he would be unable to attend.
12. Parish Plan 12.1 No reports were tabled. 13. Clerk’s Report 13.1 Litter bin. The recently installed litter bin in the play area on King’s Somborne recreation ground had been set alight by vandals and required replacement. Proposed Cllr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Pearson, RESOLVED that the bin be replaced at an estimated cost of £43 plus VAT and delivery.Action: Clerk 13.2 Bus shelter. Three builders had been asked to quote against the revised designs produced by Cllr Dyke for a replacement bus shelter on the Village Green. A planning application had been submitted. However, it was thought that some further public consultation might be appropriate and to this end the matter would be discussed at the Annual Assembly.Action: Clerk 13.3 Replacement public seats. The Clerk had reviewed the various seats around the Parish and recommended a rolling programme of replacing many of them. Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Lane, RESOLVED that a replacement for the Jubilee seat on Up Somborne playing fields should be installed at an estimated cost of £320 plus VAT and delivery.Action: Clerk B
13.4 Tennis Club. The inaugural meeting of the Tennis Club would be held on 8 March and Cllr Bidwell would attend.Action: Cllr Bidwell 13.5 Keys to emergency gates on King’s Somborne recreation ground. It was agreed that a request from the Youth Football Team for a key to the emergency access gate be approved.Action: Clerk 13.6 Rebinding the Burial Book. An estimate of £220 had been obtained for rebinding the old Burial Book but it was agreed not to proceed with this work for the time being. 13.7 National Grid pipeline. The Environmental Statement and Impact Assessment for the proposed new gas pipeline from Barton Stacey to Lockerley would be on display on weekdays until 6 April at both the Test Valley Beech Hurst council offices and at Winchester City Council Colebrook Street offices. 14. Highway Matters 14.1 A variety of matters of concern were noted by Cllr Woodall in preparation for a meeting with the Highways staff. 14.2 Cllr Dyke queried the usefulness of the small size of HGV warning sign at the entrance to Old Vicarage Lane given the number of HGVs that entered the Lane and then could not turn round. It was noted that the current sign met with the approval of the Highways Authority and that it was known that the satnav software companies had been approached to programme their advice to avoid narrow roads unsuitable for HGVs. It was agreed that Hampshire Highways be asked to erect a much larger HGV warning sign in the area of the basket weaver’s shop.Action: Clerk 15. Test Valley Borough Council Matters 15.1 It was thought that a second litter bin adjacent to the bottle bank on the King’s Somborne recreation ground would be of benefit and the Clerk was instructed to approach Test Valley Borough Council.Action: Clerk 16. Recreational Facilities and Cemetery 16.1 Graffiti on the skate ramp continued to cause concern. Cllr Gannaway had been in touch with the manufacturers to identify a suitable graffiti remover and the Clerk would investigate the supply of graffiti resistant paint. Cllr Bidwell would organise a team of volunteers to undertake the work when the most appropriate form of action had been determined.Action; Clerk and Cllr Bidwell 17. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting 17.1 The next meeting of the Parish Council would be on Monday 2 April 2007 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne. There being no further business, the Chairman closed the Meeting at 8.40pm Clerk to the Counci