Parish Council
Parish Council minutes October 2011
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 3 October 2011
Present: Cllr R Harwood (Acting Chairman) Cllr D Bidwell Cllr A Brock Cllr R Curtis Cllr F Fahy Cllr P Goddard Cllr D Harrison Cllr G Pearson
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session Borough Cllr Ward, Mr R Dyke and Mr R Pidgeon (Open Space Wardens), PC Williams and 16 members of the public were present for part of the meeting. Mr G Towerton from Test Valley Borough Council explained the various options under consideration by the Council for relocating the bottle banks to the site of the cricket score hut, this being the only option now considered feasible in the community. Mr R Gold expressed concern that the proposed relocation would add to the noise suffered by residents of Hayes Close. The options would be discussed in detail with the Cricket Club and all associated costs would be met by the Borough Council. A final agreed layout would then be the subject of a planning application raised by the Borough Council. The Parish Council would determine what should happen to the clothing, foil and paper banks, in due course.
Action: Clerk Mr A Knight addressed the Council on their letter requiring him to remove the rear access gate from his property on to the recreation ground and gave his reasons why this should not happen. The Clerk would seek professional guidance on the reasons given.
Action: Clerk Mrs L Chadwick and Mrs S Boot from The Sombornes Pre-School were present in support of their application for a grant to assist in meeting the start-up costs of the Pre-School. Master Toby Bates made a plea on behalf of other skate boarders for more challenging equipment on which they could hone their skills rather than the half pipe which had been in situ for some years. Mrs S Byron received confirmation that the impact of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and need for a Village Design Statement (VDS) would be considered carefully and a suitable response made by the Parish Council in due course. Cllr Ward reminded all present that these would be matters under consideration at the forthcoming Community Workshop on Saturday 5 November in the Village Hall and that all Test Valley consultation initiatives were accessible on the Borough website. PC Williams reported on the continuing low crime rate in the area although there had been four thefts of fuel, plants and a Wendy House. He emphasised the need not to leave valuable items in cars. As this was his last attendance before retirement, all present thanked him for his contribution to community safety and wished him well in the future.
140. Apologies for Absence
140.1 Cllrs Herbert and Werrett
141. Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions
141.1 None made.
142. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 5 September 2011
142.1 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Brock RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2011 be accepted as a true record.
143. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
143.1 Public session. The Clerk was unaware of anyone else having volunteered to help Sue Jackson as Village Agent despite notices on the boards.
Para 118.3 Broadband. HCC had funds available to improve Broadband reception across the County but no firm plan to hand as yet.
Para 120.6 Horsebridge residents. Cllr Werrett had liaised on planning application procedures with the Horsebridge residents who were now content.
Para 127.8 Repairs were at last in hand on the telephone kiosk on the Village Green.
144. Declarations of Interest
144.1 None declared.
145. Borough News
145.1 Borough Cllr Ward mentioned the boundary review which would result in Test Valley having four MPS and King’s Somborne transferring from Romsey to North West Hampshire. He also drew attention to the National Development Framework, details of which were on his website and to which the Government was seeking responses. Cllr Bidwell emphasised the importance of the local community to determining the wish/need for more houses in the Parish, a topic which would be discussed at the forthcoming Community Workshop.
145.2 A planning workshop had been organised for councillors from King’s Somborne and Timsbury on Saturday 26 November and Cllr Ward asked that any specific questions be passed to him before then so reasoned replies could be given by the planning officers attending.
Action: All
145.3 Cllr Bidwell asked if the new approach to defining conservation areas was being implemented but was told this was on hold for the time being.
146. To receive Councillors’ reports
146.1 Cllr Bidwell had attended the transport forum at which the reductions in rural bus services had been discussed and concerns noted.
146.2 Cllr Harrison reported on the HALC councillor training course she and the other new members had attended. All agreed the evening had been very instructive. She also confirmed that work continued on improving communications and the Village website via the webmaster, Tim Long. The Gauntlet was now on the web and other areas were being updated or improved.
146.3 Cllr Fahy commented on the proposed relocation of the bottle banks and asked that detailed plans be made available to the Cricket Club at their forthcoming meeting. B/Cllr Ward confirmed his attendance at their meeting to explain the options.
146.4 Cllr Fahy undertook to co-ordinate any interest in the Community Speedwatch initiative and reminded everyone, as the CPRE representative, that CPRE was encouraging comment on the Government’s planning proposals to be made directly to the local MP.
Action: All
146.5 Cllr Brock confirmed that Neighbourhood Watch was working closely with the Police to improve the liaison between Watch members and the Andover Police station now the Stockbridge station was being closed and that we currently enjoyed the lowest crime rate in Test Valley.
146.6 Cllr Harrison referred to the ‘Love Your Village’ campaign and reported that the Communications Working Party had taken on the task of publicising this campaign but had rejected organising an orchestrated effort and instead would be encouraging parishioners to tidy up the communal areas around their properties while asking the groups and societies within the parish to organise their own efforts.
147. To receive reports on planning applications considered and determined
147.1 The following responses had been made to recent planning applications received:
* 11/02074/LBWS – 1 Marsh Court Farm, Romsey Road – conversion of outbuilding to utility room – support
* 11/02095/TREES – Winton House, Romsey Road – reduce Willow crown by 30% and Horse Chestnut stems by pollarding 5m – no comment
147.2 The following decisions had been notified by Test Valley Borough Council: * 11/01700/FULLS – Ferndale, Winchester Road – new detached garage, convert existing garage to habitable accommodation with new pitched roof, new porch, new brick wall to northeast and west boundaries – no comment and TVBC permitted
* 11/00878/FULLS – Brook Barn , Romsey Road – addition of 3 dormer windows to south east elevation, alterations to others and to doors and conversion of attached garage and covered link to living accommodation and replacing asbestos roof sheets with clay pantiles – supported and TVBC permitted
* 11/014594/TREES – The Waggon House, 4 Parsonage Barns – tree work – no objection and TVBC permitted
147.3 The Clerk reminded members that in future minutes of previous planning committee meetings since the last full Council meeting would be tabled for noting. All applications could be accessed on the TVBC website and committee agenda and approved minutes were now on The Sombornes website. The facility existed for individuals to subscribe to the website to be updated on agenda and minutes, if interested, and this was to be encouraged.
Action: All
148. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
148.1 The Clerk drew councillors’ attention to recent correspondence received, in particular, the TVBC letter on the local Development Framework which was a portfolio of documents relating to planning and the impact on the Borough Council’s planning strategy that the proposed changes to the planning system contained in the Localism Bill would have which, when finalised, would be the subject of a public consultation; the e-mail circulated by Cllr Curtis on the wording of the human excrement article in The Gauntlet and the letter from Mr and Mrs A Knight on the Council’s refusal to allow them rear gate access to the recreation ground. The Clerk would action, as determined.
Action: Clerk
149. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
149.1 A budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda. This was noted. The current bank balance stood at £38,165. Cllr Bidwell requested that future reports showed the state of the general fund to enable members to assess future funding potential more easily.
Action: Clerk
150. Payment of Accounts
150.1 Proposed Cllr Harrison, Seconded Cllr Bidwell, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for September be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq
Outlook Windows VH grant 4000.00 800.00 4800.00 1727
BPC Shared costs 147.90 147.90 1728
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 790.59 790.59 1729
HMRC Tax/NIC 229.76 229.76 1730
Smiths of Derby Church clock svc 176.00 35.20 211.20 1731
Lee Young Pipe repairs 680.00 680.00 1732
Mr M Rebbeck Grounds maint 735.50 735.50 1733
Pre-School Grant 1995.00 1995.00 1734
Test Valley School Grant 75.00 75.00 1735
Totals 8829.75 835.20 9664.95
151. To determine a grant application from The Sombornes Pre-School
151.1 An application had been made by The Sombornes Pre-School for £1995 to assist them in meeting their start-up costs. A business plan had also been made available to illustrate how they intended to cover their total costs whilst their numbers were building up.
151.2 Proposed Cllr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Curtis RESOLVED with six votes for, one against and one abstention, that £1995 be vired from reserves to enable a grant of £1995 to be made to The Sombornes Pre-School to assist them in meeting their start-up costs.
Action: Clerk
152. To determine the hire charge for use of the recreation ground by The Sombornes Pre-School
152.1 The policy of levying a hire charge on regular users of the recreation ground necessitated a charge being determined for The Sombornes Pre-School.
152.2 Proposed Cllr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Fahy, RESOLVED with five votes for and three against that £50 per annum be charged to The Sombornes Pre-School for use of the recreation ground on a regular basis.
Action: Clerk
153. To determine a grant for prizes at the Test Valley School
153.1 Test Valley School was seeking sponsorship of prizes and £75 had been granted last year. 153.2 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Brock, RESOLVED unanimously that £75 be granted to Test Valley School to sponsor prizes.
154. To adopt the policy for removal of unauthorised persons from Council owned land
154.1 A draft policy for the removal of unauthorised persons from Council owned land had been tabled previously but supplementary information on likely costs had now been obtained and tabled. All agreed that a plan was necessary and that actual costs could not be determined before the event.
154.2 Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Harrison, RESOLVED unanimously that the draft policy for the removal of unauthorised persons from Council owned land be adopted.
155. To note plans for Jubilee event in the Parish
155.1 No further notifications of Jubilee events had been received.
156. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
156.1 The Clerk reported he was in consultation with the Parochial Church Council regarding remedial work on some of the trees in the Churchyard together with associated costs and that he would table a costed plan for adoption in due course.
Action: Clerk
156.2 Nominations were being sought for attendance at the HALC AGM on Saturday 29 October 2011 but none was forthcoming at this time.
156.3 The Clerk would e-mail the HALC password enabling access to their website thus allowing members direct access to information on courses and other matters relevant to being a councillor. Action: Clerk
157. Date, time and place of next meeting
157.1 The next meeting will be on Monday 7 November 2011 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne.
Action: All
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.25pm