Parish Council
Parish Council minutes March 2011
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 7 March 2011
Present: Cllr R Lane (Acting Chairman) Cllr R Bevan Cllr D Bidwell Cllr F Fahy Cllr R Harwood Cllr G Pearson Cllr R Pidgeon Cllr J Werrett
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session One member of the public was present.
27. Apologies for Absence
27.1 Cllrs Dyke and Room. Apologies were also received from the Village Correspondent, Tree Warden, Footpath Wardens, PC Williams and Borough Cllr Ward.
28. Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions
28.1 Cllr Bidwell questioned the latest developments regarding the siting of the bottle bank on the King’s Somborne recreation ground following the informal on-site meeting called by the Chairman to consider the options. The Clerk briefed that as a result of that meeting he had informed TVBC that further consideration was being given by the Parish Council to the developer’s request to have the banks moved and that no action should be taken until further notice. TVBC had subsequently suggested the bottle banks be moved to the other side of the clothing banks where they would back on to the new double garage/workshop to be built there which in turn should deaden some of the noise. Cllr Fahy opined that little deadening effect was likely and consideration should be given to those existing residents who would now be nearer than at present to the banks. More alternative locations were then discussed including the junction of Furzedown Road and Eldon Road and on land at the Cemetery entrance but for various reasons these were thought inappropriate.
28.2 Cllr Werrett asked if the content and reaction by TVBC was known to the letter written to them by the developer’s solicitors and the Clerk undertook to follow this up. The Clerk also confirmed that Fields in Trust, as owners of the land, were in discussion with the developer about the rear gate access on to the recreation ground for which there was no right of way. Councillors confirmed their wish to retain the bottle and clothing banks and their view that the recreation ground was the most convenient and suitable location for users.
Action: Clerk
28.3 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Bevan, RESOLVED by six votes for and 2 against that TVBC be informed that the Parish Council supported a relocation of the bottle banks to the other side of the clothing banks adjacent to the double garage/workshop to be built.
28.4 Following this resolution, it was agreed that Cllrs Lane and Fahy would visit the residents of the existing houses to explain the rationale behind this resolution.
Action: Cllrs Lane and Fahy
28.5 Cllr Pearson queried the erection of large stone blocks alongside the road through Ashley which although outside the Parish boundary had caused some concern and were deemed unsightly by some. The Clerk was instructed to follow up this matter with the Borough Councillor.
Action: Clerk
28.6 Cllr Bidwell reported that unfortunately no-one had attended the last Councillor’s Surgery.
29. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7 February 2011
29.1 Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2011 be accepted as a true record.
30. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
30.1 There were no matters arising not dealt with elsewhere in these minutes.
31. Declarations of Interest
31.1 None declared.
32. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
32.1 The Clerk drew Members’ attention to recent correspondence received but no specific further action was thought necessary. However, one letter introduced the concept of a Village Conversation where TVBC would facilitate a meeting in the Village Hall on Thursday 31 March at 2.00pm designed to encourage local people to tell local service providers what life was like in King’s Somborne and the surrounding area and to discuss the simple things which could be done to improve the enjoyment of living here even more. Notice of the meeting would be spread by word of mouth and posting notices. In discussing this, Cllr Werrett considered that a communications strategy should be developed to ensure information was spread widely and quickly to those who needed to know. He acknowledged that the internet was readily used in this manner and that The Gauntlet was designed to achieve this but not everyone had access or used these mediums to best advantage. It was agreed to seek opinion from the community at the forthcoming Annual Assembly.
Action: Clerk
33. To receive reports on planning applications considered and determined
33.1 The following responses had been made to recent planning applications received:
* Chalk Stream and Hollybrook, Winchester Road – construction of a lean-to extension – no objection
* Horsebridge House, Horsebridge Road – interior remodelling – no objection
* Bourne Farm, Furzedown Road – renewal of application to erect an office building with car arking and associated works – no comment
* 2 Redhill Cottages, Winchester Road – various tree works – no objection
* Dove Cottage, Muss Lane – fell one Plum and reduce three conifers – no objection
33.2 The following decisions had been notified by Test Valley Borough Council:
* 1 Forge Close – prune Beech – permitted
* 7 Muss Lane – first floor extension and new porch – permitted
* Gardeners Cottage, Somborne Park Road – Certificate of Lawful Proposed Development – certificate issued
* St Swithun , Romsey Road – fell two conifers – permitted
* The Crown Inn – crown lift one Yew – permitted
33.3 The appeal against the decision not to allow seasonal use of land at Horsebridge Station for the erection of a marquee and use for receptions and other events had been allowed.
34. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
34.1 A budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda. All noted that 94% of the budget had been spent to date and that the current bank balance stood at £21,462.20.
35. Payment of Accounts
35.1 Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for February be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 789.31 789.31 1676
BPC Shared costs 29.99 29.99 1677
HMRC Tax/NIC 240.91 240.91 1678
Totals 1060.21 1060.21
36. To receive Councillors’ reports
36.1 Cllr Pearson would be attending the CPRE AGM. 36.2 Cllr Fahy reported on the almost doubling in cost of the cricket safety net which was beyond the financial means of the Cricket Club. He said that the Club had followed this idea through in the interests of safety but no legal requirement existed to install the net and the developer had not responded to their initial approach. There had also been some concern expressed by existing neighbours at the height of the proposed net. The Clerk confirmed he had received TVBC’s onfirmation that an application for using S106 developer’s contributions to help meet the costs could be submitted. In the meantime, the Cricket Club was negotiating with the supplier over these costs. It was agreed the need and funding should be considered further at the next meeting.Action: Clerk
36.3 Cllr Harwood reported that preparation of the biodiversity site on the 3 Fields would start soon and that he was planning to plant plugs in the first instance to achieve some growth quickly.
36.4 Cllr Bidwell reported from the Village Hall Management Committee that there was concern at the amount of dog excrement on the recreation ground; it had been suggested that the current white direction sign be relocated to the other entrance to the recreation ground when the new wooden information board was available; and that a BBQ area was being considered adjacent to the Hall building. It was agreed that the problems of dog excrement should be discussed at the Annual Assembly.
Action: Clerk
36.5 Cllr Pidgeon reported a hinge on the entrance gate to the Churchyard from Church Road had rusted through and the Clerk was authorised to effect repairs.
Action: Clerk
37. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
37.1 The Clerk reported he was still trying to get BT to repair and repaint the telephone kiosk on the Village Green and that the railings outside Martin’s Shop were in the process of being repaired.
37.2 In the Tree Warden’s absence, it was noted that the new trees had now been planted at the bottom of Top Field.
38. Date, time and place of next meeting
38.1 The next meeting will be on Monday 4 April 2011 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne.
Action: All
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.30pm