Parish Council
Parish Council minutes Oct 2010
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 5 October 2010
Present: Cllr R Lane (Acting Chairman) Cllr D Bidwell Cllr F Fahy Cllr R Harwood Cllr G Pearson Cllr R Pidgeon
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session Mr Colin Matthews, the Tree Warden, reported that he would be submitting tree types and costs for the six or so trees to be planted at the bottom of Top Field, subject to the approval of TVBC.
PC Benton reported that the Summer months had been fairly quiet although poaching remained an issue together with thefts of diesel fuel.
Borough Councillor Ward had provided a written brief on matters of general interest including the Boundary Review by TVBC which had found our submission to be generally acceptable; details of the Christmas recycling dates; the demise of the Standards Regime and Audit Commission; cancellation of the council tax revaluation; the community’s right to build initiative designed to enable local people to deliver the homes they really wanted and the Government’s plans to axe paperwork to help save trees. Cllr Bidwell sought progress on the review of conservation areas and was informed that wisdom dictated a slow approach to this in view of the other changes in progress at this time. Considerable discussion took place on the old Somborne garage site developer’s wish to re-site the recycling facility currently sited on the recreation ground which was land owned by Fields in Trust but managed by the Parish Council on their behalf. TVBC’s position was that the developer should come up with an alternative location acceptable to both TVBC and the Parish Council. There was undoubtedly considerable local support for and usage made of the facility in line with Government policy to encourage recycling.
Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Bidwell, RESOLVED unanimously that full support be given to TVBC in resisting relocation of the recycling facility unless a community approved alternative site was made suitable by the developer.
1. Apologies for Absence
1.1 Cllrs Bevan, Dyke, Room and Werrett and Dr Rake, the Footpath Warden.
2. Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions
2.1 The Acting Chairman congratulated everyone on achieving re-accreditation under the Quality Parish Scheme.
2.2 Cllr Bidwell gave an overview on the School Travel Plan and commented on the apparent lack of consultation within the community and the Parish Council. He would produce comments for consideration at the next meeting.
Action: Cllr Bidwell
2.3 The Clerk updated Members on Dr Rake’s progress in finding a replacement Footpath Warden for when he retired at the yearend; two candidates had expressed an interest and the Clerk would follow this up.
Action: Clerk
3. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 6 September 2010
3.1 Proposed Cllr Pidgeon, Seconded Cllr Harwood, RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2010 be accepted as a true record.
4. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
4.1 Para 11.2 Cllr Fahy confirmed that the Cricket Club held insurance cover if an accident occurred with balls going over the boundary into the old Somborne garage site development. Their insurers had advised they should take reasonable steps to prevent injury or damage to property. The Club wished to act quickly in getting some form of netting erected and was taking advice from the English Cricket Board and TVBC.
Action: Cllr Fahy
4.2 Para 14.2 Cllr Harwood reported that advice had been taken from TVBC on establishing a biodiversity area on Parish Council owned land adjacent to The Gorrings and Members’ approval was now sought.
4.3 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Bidwell RESOLVED that a suitably sized area of Parish Council owned land adjacent to The Gorrings be made over into a biodiversity area.
5. Declarations of Interest
5.1 Cllrs Fahy and Harwood declared an interest in the Cricket Club’s need for safety netting (Item 14).
6. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
6.1 The Clerk drew Members’ attention to recent correspondence received, in particular, a request from Caroline Nokes MP for future meeting dates which had been supplied. It was thought inappropriate to accept the invitation to sign up to the ‘No Need for Nuclear’ campaign and no further action was thought necessary.
7. To receive reports on planning applications considered and determined
7.1 The following responses had been made to recent planning applications received:
* Woodman’s Cottage, Winchester Road – replacement sunroom – no objection
* land adjacent Garlick Lane, Hoplands – erection of agricultural building for general and viticulture storage – no objection
* The Triangle, Stockbridge Road – fell three Conifers – no objection
* 3a Nutchers Drove – fell one Sycamore – no objection
* Charlton House, 4 Camp Field – fell one Lime – no objection
7.2 The following decisions had been notified by Test Valley Borough Council:
* Oaktree House, Muss Lane – crown reduce one Oak tree – permitted
* Askew, Old Palace Farm – front extension and conversion of garage to study – permitted
* 22 Riverside Green – certificate of Lawful Proposed Development for installation of three Velux windows to front and five to rear – issued
* 4 King’s Acre – fell six Ash and two Sycamore to ground level – permitted
* land at King’s Acre – fell one Lawson Cypress and one Plum to ground level – permitted
8. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
8.1 The Clerk informed Members he had received an application to use part of the recreation ground for a keep fit class on various mornings during the week.
8.2 Proposed Cllr Pidgeon, Seconded Cllr Harwood, RESOLVED unanimously that permission be given for use of the recreation ground for organised Keep Fit activities, provided the necessary public liability insurance was in place, at an annual charge of £25.
8.3 A budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda. All noted that 66% of the budget had been spent to date. The current bank balance stood at £24663.05. This was noted.
9. Payment of Accounts
9.1 Proposed Cllr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Pearson, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for September be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 787.58 787.58 1642
BPC Shared costs 22.50 22.50 1643
HMRC Tax/NIC 240.94 240.94 1644
Cullen Memorial Masons Memorial cleaning925.00 925.00 1645
Test Valley School Prize grant 75.00 75.00 1646
HCC PFI lighting 28.72 5.03 33.75 1647
Information Commissioner Reg fee 35.00 35.00 1648
HALC QP re-accred fee 50.00 8.75 58.75 1649
Mr M Rebbeck Grounds maint 733.50 733.50 1650
Hants Fencing 3 Fields fencing 748.70 131.03 879.03 1651
TVBC Grounds maint 521.62 91.28 612.90 1652
NALC LCR sub 13.50 13.50 1653
Totals 4182.06 236.09 4417.45
10. To consider voting proposals at the HALC AGM
10.1 Cllr Fahy would be attending the HALC AGM with the Clerk and as the voting representative would be called upon to vote on the proposals on the agenda. One proposal related to percentage increases in subscription fees and the Clerk produced illustrative figures of actual increases on our present fee which the AGM would be debating to make itself more financially secure.
10.2 Proposed Cllr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Pearson, RESOLVED unanimously that Cllr Fahy vote as he sees fit at the HALC AGM.
11. To consider the draft Romsey Town Access Plan
11.1 Details of the draft Romsey Town Access Plan had been circulated to Members and Cllr Pearson had responded privately. No further action was thought necessary.
12. To review progress and printing of the update to the Parish Plan
12.1 The draft update to the Parish Plan, produced by Mrs Dawn Harrison, had been circulated to Members just before the meeting. The Acting Chairman asked all present to submit their final comments to Mrs Harrison in the immediate future to enable the draft to be finalised and circulated. Cllr Bidwell thought a copy should go to every household in the Parish but initially copies would be placed on the website and in public/community places and also be distributed to those on the original plan’s distribution list. The Clerk would arrange for this. It would then become the main topic on the agenda of the Annual Assembly 2011 before finalisation and adoption by the community.
Action: All/Clerk
12.2 A unanimous vote of thanks was made to Mrs Harrison for all the work she had put in to producing the draft update.
12.3 Cllr Ward reminded Members of the wisdom of having a Village Design Statement. The Clerk had already drafted a suitable document and it was agreed this should be tabled at the next meeting.
Action: Clerk
13. To review the Cemetery rules and regulations
13.1 Certain aspects of the Cemetery rules and regulations required updating to comply with best practice, in particular, the right to pre-purchase a plot should cease in view if the increasing difficulties in determining actual ownership some years later; the right to erect a memorial should be dependant upon the family’s ownership of the plot to make it absolutely clear where the responsibility for maintenance of the memorial lay; plot ornaments made of glass or other breakable substances and lighted candles should not be allowed for safety reasons and all memorial masons working on memorials to be erected in the Cemetery should be required to comply with the current codes of practice and BS8415. It was also noted that when the Cemetery extension came into use it should be managed as a Lawn Cemetery which meant all plots would be flat with only a simple headstone erected suitably inscribed on each plot, if required.
13.2 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Pearson, RESOLVED unanimously that the recommendations made and outlined above, be adopted.
14. To consider proposals for safety netting on the King’s Somborne recreation ground
14.1 Cllrs Fahy and Harwood elaborated on the need for cricket safety netting and its design. The Clerk had obtained quotes for suitable posts and nets both fixed and demountable. The preference was for fixed netting and Cllr Fahy would enquire about the need for planning permission in the hope that the netting could be in place in the near future. Members’ support was being sought for this course of action and a subsequent bid for developers’ contributions towards the costs involved.
14.2 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED with Cllr Pearson against that support be given to the Cricket Club for the early erection of suitable netting to minimise damage and accident to the occupants of the houses being built on the old Somborne garage site.
15. To receive Councillors’ reports
15.1.1 Cllr Fahy opined that the ‘20 is plenty’ initiative had outlived its usefulness and conflicted with the legal speed restriction signs and recommended their removal. The Clerk would approach the School and place the matter on the next agenda.
Action: Clerk
15.2 Cllr Pidgeon commented on the amount of greenery growing out of the gutters in Eldon Road and elsewhere and Cllr Lane would look into this and report to the relevant authorities with a view to removal.
Action: Cllr Lane
16. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
16.1 The Clerk would advise the date for the presentation of the Quality Parish certificate and invite Members to attend the function.
Action: Clerk
16.2 The HALC website had been upgraded and Members wishing to gain access should apply to the Clerk for new login details.
Action: Members
17. Date, time and place of next meeting
17.1 The next meeting will be on Monday 1 November 2010 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne.
Action: All
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.05pm