Parish Council

Parish Council minutes March 2013

KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting

held in the Epworth Hall

commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 4 March 2013

 

Present:          Cllr J Werrett (Chairman)

                        Cllr A Brock

                        Cllr R Curtis

                        Cllr J Evans

                        Cllr F Fahy

                        Cllr D Harrison

                        Cllr R Harwood

Cllr G Herbert

Cllr R Lane

 

In Attendance:    Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)

 

Public Session

 

Mrs Everett, a resident of Ashley, drew councillors’ attention to the concern felt by Ashley residents over the continued operations by Forest Extra and the number of heavy goods vehicles using the local lanes to the detriment of those who live there.  She expressed the strongly held view that more should be done to contain the operation than appeared at the moment.  B/Cllr Ward explained that the planners were awaiting a reassessment by Hampshire Highways of the impact of large vehicles on the local roads.  He also confirmed he would attend the forthcoming meeting of local residents to discuss the matter, as would Cllr Lane.  Any notes or minutes of the meeting would be forwarded to the Clerk for use as necessary.

 

B/Cllr Ward confirmed that the TVBC Local Plan consultation was in hand; that the Borough Council had seen fit to increase council tax by 4.1%, which equated to around £5 per annum for a Band D council tax payer, that some developers were undertaking their own needs survey on social housing to support their contention that more such housing needed to be built; and that the replacement Yew tree for the tree felled to make way for the bottle bank would be planted in the Churchyard in the immediate future.

 

  1. Apologies for absence.

 

29.1      C/Cllr Gibson and Mr D Hayden (Footpath Warden).

 

  1. Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions

 

30.1      The Chairman welcomed the return of Cllr Harrison after a prolonged period of absence and drew councillors’ attention to the letter of resignation from Cllr Reynolds due to pressure of other commitments.  The Clerk would acknowledge and initiate proceedings to fill the vacancy.

Action: Clerk 

 

  1. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 4 February 2013

 

31.1      Proposed Cllr Brock, Seconded Cllr Curtis, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2013 be accepted as a true record.

 

  1. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes

 

32.1      Para 22.5          School path.    The Clerk confirmed the matter of the new footpath from Lancaster Green to the Village Hall via the School was in the hands of HCC and advised that hopefully work would start in the Autumn

 

 

32.2      Para 23.1        Speed indicator device.  Cllr Fahy briefed on his findings to date on the various modes of indicating passing motorists’ speed.  In discussion, it was agreed that the most effective method of attracting a driver’s attention was to have the device show the actual speed of the passing vehicle.  Solar panels as a means of power were discounted on grounds of cost and the need for a back up battery and it was noted that the average purchase cost of these devices was between £2600 and £3500.  Cllr Fahy would table formal recommendations for debate at the next meeting.

Action: Cllr Fahy

 

32.3      Para 26.1          Annual Assembly.    Cllr Brock confirmed the next issue of the Newsletter was in draft and that past issues were now available on the website.  Arrangements for the Annual  Assembly were in train and it was agreed that the rehearsal should be on Tuesday 16 April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.  The CWG would oversee the rehearsal arrangements.  The Chairman asked that inputs for his report be with him before 25 March.

Action:  CWG and All

 

  1. Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

 

33.1      None declared or requested.

 

  1. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required

 

34.1      The Clerk drew Councillors’ attention to correspondence received but no further action was thought necessary. 

 

  1. To note the Planning Committee minutes as tabled

 

35.1      Minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2013 had been circulated with the agenda.

 

35.2      Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Lane, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 4 February 2013 be noted.

 

  1. To receive Councillors’ Reports

 

36.1      Cllr Fahy confirmed his willingness to continue to represent the Parish Council on the Village Hall management committee and reflected the committee’s request that the remaining sandbags be removed from the slip road approach and that the backing on the notice board fixed to the Hall wall be replaced. The Clerk confirmed these actions were in hand.

 

36.2      Cllr Brock confirmed that the electricity cables over the 3 Fields and recreation ground should be  buried in the next few months and that the transformer upgrade to cope with increased consumption in some areas of the village should be completed in the Summer.

 

36.3      Cllr Harwood agreed to undertake responsibility for the biodiversity site on the 3 Fields and would liaise with Mr Matthews over its future development.

 

36.4      Cllr Evans confirmed she was unable to attend the forthcoming Community Transport Forum meeting at which taxi licensing rules and wheelchair accessibility would be discussed.  She commented on the satisfaction of Hunter Close and adjacent road residents at the efforts of the Sparkleday team from TVBC and reminded everyone of the existence of the taxishare scheme.  She also commented on the usefulness of the HALC training seminar she had attended for new councillors.

 

36.5      Cllr Lane drew councillors’ attention to the significant tree and hedge cutting work undertaken by SSE along Strawberry Lane.

  1. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring

 

37.1      A budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda and was noted.

 

  1. Payment of Accounts

 

38.1      Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Curtis, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for February be approved for payment:

 

To                                For                               Net            VAT          Gross      Chq/Internet

Mr P Storey                 Salary/expenses         732.23                            732.23             BACs

BPC                             Shared costs                  63.21                            63.21             BACs

HMRC                         Tax/NIC                    201.29                           201.29             BACs

D Piper                        Cemetery gates         640.00        128.00          768.00             BACs

Totals                                                          1636.73        128.00      1764.73                                             

 

  1. To note draft report on assets of community value

 

39.1      B/Cllr Ward’s draft paper on assets of community value had been circulated before the meeting for councillors’ consideration and was subsequently noted.  It would now be updated and form part of the wider project to produce a Village Design Statement and Community Action Plan.  Thanks were offered to Cllr Ward for his efforts thus far and further support would be forthcoming from the Parish Council as necessary.

Action:  All

 

  1. To note draft Local Plan

 

40.1      Cllr Herbert confirmed the consultation period for the revised draft Local Plan would be between 8 March and 26 April and a second revised draft was in preparation.  TVBC’s response to our earlier comments was awaited and further responses would be required to be agreed in due course.  These would be an agenda item for the next meeting.  Cllr Herbert would co-ordinate although anyone could respond individually.  However, comments for inclusion within the Parish Council’s response should be with Cllr Herbert by 18 March.

Action:  All

 

  1. Clerk’s monthly report

 

41.1      A request for funding the hire costs of the Village Hall had been received from Valley Leisure Ltd who were running a series of fitness courses in the Hall.  The hire rate was £156 for a 13 week period but as only six persons had turned up to the current sessions it was agreed not to grant assistance.  The Clerk would reply accordingly.

Action:  Clerk

 

41.2      The Horticultural Society would be holding its annual show on the recreation ground on Saturday 27 July and there would be a cake stall on the Village Green on Easter Saturday.

 

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting

 

42.1    The next meeting will on Monday 22 April 2013 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, Winchester Road, King’s Somborne. (Please note date change)

Action: All

 

 

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.15pm