Parish Council

Parish Council October 2006 minutes

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 2 October 2006

Present:

Cllr D Bidwell (Chairman)

Cllr R Bevan

Cllr A Gannaway

Cllr R Harwood

Cllr S Geary-Harwood

Cllr R Lane

Cllr G Pearson

Cllr R Pidgeon

Cllr D Room

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

Public Session: Five members of the public, including the Footpath Warden, Village Correspondent and Sgt Curtis from Hampshire Police, were present for part of the meeting. The Chairman invited Sgt Curtis to address the meeting on neighbourhood policing and police community support officers (PCSOs). Sgt Curtis explained that under the new neighbourhood policing policy, he and six constables, previously seven, would now police the whole of the Stockbridge rural area reacting to situations graded as 3 on their operational scale. More serious grade two and one situations would be dealt with by the tactical patrol team from Andover. On PCSOs, Sgt Curtis commented that the additional annual cost for a PCSO had been established at £6000 and that Stockbridge police station was likely to get two PCSOs for general cover in its rural area starting from January next. From his incident records, it appeared that King’s Somborne did not warrant additional dedicated cover with the attendant costs and at least for the moment he planned to allocate these PCSOs to those known problem areas. Cllr Harwood commented on the loss of practical and local knowledge compared with the days of the ‘local bobby’ and although Sgt Curtis explained that the link between individual officers and local neighbourhood watch co-ordinators would remain the days of dedicating a particular police officer to a particular area had gone. Mr Ward regretted the loss of the high visibility police officer, a sentiment echoed by others present. Libby Alderson expressed concern at the volume and speed of traffic using Old Vicarage Lane as a means of getting to/from Romsey Road and Winchester Road, especially at peak travel times. The Chairman commented that this was a public road and whilst drivers should conform to local speed limits little could be done about traffic volume. However, Hampshire County Council was due to undertake a safety survey on the junction of Muss Lane and Old Vicarage Lane.

1. Announcements by the Chairman

1.1 The Chairman confirmed that the presentation of the Quality Parish certificate by Cllr Pat West, Chairman of the County Council, would take place on Tuesday 10 October in Serle’s House, Southgate Street, Winchester.

2. Reports from the Tree Warden, Footpath Warden and others

2.1 In the absence of the Tree Warden, the Chairman confirmed that progress was being made in identifying locations for newly planted trees and the Clerk confirmed that a planning application had been submitted for tree works in the Churchyard. Mrs Hunt, the Footpath Warden, reported that twelve people had enjoyed the last footpath walk but despite advertising in The Gauntlet magazine no replacement had yet been forthcoming for her position.

3. Apologies

3.1 Apologies were received from Cllr Dyke and also the Tree Warden.

4. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 4 September 2006

4.1 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Bevan, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2006 be approved.

5. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes

5.1 Kissing gate. The new kissing gate had now been installed and subject to the agreement of the Countryside Access Forum and local landowners, it was confirmed that the old kissing gate should be installed on the footpath at the far end of the field adjacent to Meadowbank on Romsey Road.Action: Clerk

5.6 Junior football pitch surface. It was thought that resurfacing work should be delayed until the off-season in 2007. Cllr Lane would obtain an estimate of costs.Action: Cllr Lane

7.3 New gas supply pipe line. The Clerk had inspected the plans for the new commercial pipe line and had been assured that local disruption would be kept to the minimum. Work was due to start in Spring 2008.

15.3 Litter bin. Following the resolution made at the last meeting, it had now been established that a further £79.82 would be required to supply the inner bin liner, pole and brackets to enable to bin to be fixed securely to the ground inside the play area. This was agreed.

15.6 PCC request for funds to improve clock tower access. The Clerk reported he had visited the Church and discussed the requirement in detail with PCC members. He had also established that it would cost £3900 plus VAT, subject to survey, to convert the clock to mains power. Cllr Harwood thought electrification should be seriously considered given the health and safety concerns over the present method of gaining access to the clock and the Clerk agreed to follow this up with the PCC. In the meantime, some financial help was thought appropriate. Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Harwood RESOLVED unanimously that £500 be granted to the PCC to assist in meeting the costs of completing health and safety improvements works in the Church.Action: Clerk

18.1 Dogs on leads. Cllr Pearson reiterated his view that dogs should be exercised on leads in the King’s Somborne and other recreation areas within the Parish. The Clerk would liaise with Test Valley Borough Council on any open spaces policy or bye-laws applicable to King’s Somborne with a view to producing a comprehensive set of rules for recreation areas suitable for public display; these to be discussed at the January PC meeting.Action: Clerk

18.2 Public seats. It was agreed the Clerk should experiment with replacing old slats with new using the existing frames before taking any further decisions on complete seat replacement.Action: Clerk

18.3 Stream clearance. The Clerk reported that the Environment Agency, whose responsibility it was to keep the stream clear of vegetation, would undertake this task, weather permitting, in October.

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 The Chairman informed Members that he had received a communication from Mrs Davis informing him that she intended to call him as a witness in her action to have a recent court decision overturned. He had also received a congratulatory letter from Sandra Gidley MP on the Parish Council achieving Quality Parish status.

8. Report on Planning Applications Considered

8.1. The following responses had been made on recent planning applications received: Control kiosks at King’s Somborne treatment works – no objection 06/02597/FULLS – Birch Cottage, The Cross – replacement conservatory – no objection 06/02703/LBWS – Pear Tree Cottage, Romsey Road – internal alterations – no objection

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 sixth month into the financial year when 46% of the annual budget had been expended to date. The combined bank balances stood at £48544.33p.

10. Payment of Accounts

10.1 Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts be paid:

To

For

Net

VAT

Gross

Chq

Vitalise

Grant

50.00

50.00

1252

HAPTC

Cllr training

50.00

50.00

1253

Bishopstoke PC

Broadband

15.00

15.00

1254

Zurich Municipal

Insurance premium

315.00

315.00

1255

Information Commissioner

Data protection

35.00

35.00

1256

TVBC

Goal mouth returfing

380.00

66.50

446.50

1257

Mr P Storey

Salary and expenses

438.18

438.18

1258

HM Revenue & Customs

Tax

246.78

246.78

1259

Mr M Rebbeck

Grass cutting

484.00

484.00

1260

Hampshire Fencing Svcs

Gate installation

460.00

460.00

1261

TOTALS

2473.96

66.50

2540.46

Action: Clerk

11. To consider proposals for tree planting within the Parish

11.1 Item deferred until the next meeting.

12. To receive a progress report on the Trim Trail on the Three Fields site

12.1 Cllr Pearson sought an assurance that it was the Council’s wish to actively support the installation of a Trim Trail on the 3 Fields site. Cllr Harwood was unhappy at the suggested removal of the dividing fence, queried the change to previously agreed policy of using the fields for grazing/raising an income and wondered about the impact of on-going maintenance costs of the facility. Cllr Bidwell reminded everyone that the earlier policy decision had been taken pending a longer term decision on use of the fields. Trim trails were successful elsewhere although it would not be possible to gauge the success of this one until it was established. It was also noted that no capital costs would fall to the Council but likely running costs would have to be considered at a future date.

12.2 Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Bevan, RESOLVED unanimously to support the concept of providing a Trim Trail facility subject to costs.

13. To receive reports from Members on external meetings at which they have represented the Parish Council or have attended in any other capacity

13.1 Cllr Pidgeon reported that the Scouts were short of qualified leaders and that new doors were needed for the Scout hut; this could form the basis of a grant aid application in the future.

14. Parish Plan

14.1 Cllr Bidwell summarised some of the actions completed in the Parish Plan, all of which would form the subject of a detailed review at the next meeting.Action: All

15. Clerk’s Report

15.1 Test Valley Borough Council had agreed to remove graffiti from the Eldon Road bus stop and the skate ramp at no charge given they would be trialling a new preparation.

15.2 Grass cutting tenders would be tabled at the next meeting.

16. Highway Matters

16.1 It was noted with concern that buses and lorries were gouging out the narrow grass verge along the Winchester Road causing Members to query whether or not a weight restriction existed along this road. Cllr Pearson undertook to investigate with Hampshire Highways.Action: Cllr Pearson

17. Test Valley Borough Council Matters

17.1 Cllr Bidwell commented that the ABC refuse collection scheme appeared to have settled into an acceptable routine apart from occasional reports of smelly bin contents. It was also reported that TVBC was investigating bat roosts in Marsh Court Farm as part of the retrospective planning application. Cllr Bidwell also stated that he had decided to not stand for re-election in the May 2007 Borough elections.

18. Recreational Facilities and Cemetery

18.1 Cllr Harwood expressed concern at the financial state of the Village Hall but was informed that the Hall was no longer on the Charity Commissioner’s defaulters’ list. Consequently, the newly appointed fund raising committee could start work and it was likely that grants would be sought from the Parish Council in due course. Members were reminded of their ability to attend the forthcoming AGM of the Village Hall on Thursday 26 October at 7.30pm. 18.2 Moles had appeared in the King’s Somborne recreation ground and the Clerk would organise remedial action. Compliments had been received on the neat and tidy appearance of the Cemetery.Action: Clerk

19. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

19.1 The next meeting of the Parish Council would be on Monday 6 November 2006 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne. There being no further business, the Chairman closed the Meeting at 8.50pm

Clerk to the Council