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KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meetingheld in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 4 February 2013
Present: Cllr J Werrett (Chairman) Cllr A Brock Cllr R Curtis Cllr J Evans Cllr F Fahy Cllr R HarwoodCllr G Herbert (paras 25 to 28.1) Cllr R Lane
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session C/Cllr Gibson emphasised the importance of everyone registering with the Environment Agency to receive flood warnings for the local area and to be prepared for flooding. He also introduced the 1000 apprenticeships scheme to be introduced in the County over the next five years to enhance the expertise and manpower available with the bulk of these new posts coming online in the early years. A recent initiative had given each county councillor £10,000 to deal with road problems and he was reviewing how best to allocate this money within his ward. Cllr Lane reminded him of the on-going problems with Strawberry Lane flooding because of blocked drains and, in reply to his comment on excessive speeding past the Strawberry Lane junction with Winchester Road, was assured that this matter was under active review.
The Footpath Warden, Mr Haydon, briefed on the new kissing gate being provided by the county council for footpath 14 and that he and Mr Chalcraft would oversee its installation. Mr Haydon had also reported the fallen tree at the end of the footpath.
- Apologies for absence.
15.1 Cllrs Harrison and Reynolds. B/Cllr Ward and Mr Dyke (Open Spaces Warden) also apologised.
- Chairman’s announcements and Councillors’ questions
16.1 The Chairman indicated he had met with Cllr Reynolds to discuss his continuing as a councillor and had agreed that a decision would be made upon Cllr Reynolds’ completion of his retained fireman training. 16.2 The Chairman also intimated that the position of chairman could become available at the forthcoming AGM and anyone interested should make this interest known to the Clerk.
Action: All
- To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7 January 2013
17.1 Proposed Cllr Brock, Seconded Cllr Lane, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 January 2013 be accepted as a true record.
- To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
18.1 Para 8.2 Cllr Evans tabled the results of the dropped kerb survey which the Clerk would forward to Hampshire Highways
Action: Clerk.
18.2 Para 8.3 It was agreed that Cllr Fahy would become the Council’s permanent representative on the Village Hall management committee in lieu of Cllr Herbert.
- Declarations of Interest
19.1 None declared.
- To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
20.1 The Clerk drew Councillors’ attention to other correspondence received but no further action was thought necessary.
- To note the Planning Committee minutes as tabled
21.1 Minutes of the meeting held on 7 January 2013 had been circulated with the agenda.
21.2 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Lane, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 7 January 2013 be noted.
- To receive Councillors’ Reports
22.1 Cllr Fahy confirmed a return had been made to Hampshire Highways on highways shortcomings and areas for improvements, as requested.
22.2 Cllr Evans commented on the issues experienced by those living at Lancaster Green and stated that the site had not yet been handed over from the developer.
22.3 Cllr Harwood expressed his concern, in concert with others, at the increasing number of potholes on the local roads, many of which he had reported and had had acknowledged. C/ Cllr Gibson recognised the frustration felt by many at the inadequate standards of repair and confirmed he was attempting to improve the supervision and technical aspects of the repair procedures.
22.4 Both Cllrs Evans and Brock commented on the recent spate of heating domestic oil thefts occurring soon after a delivery and warned everyone to remain on their guard against the risk of theft.
22.5 Cllr Curtis queried the current situation with the proposed path from Lancaster Green to the school and on to the Village Hall. The Clerk confirmed that action lay with TVBC and B/Cllr Ward and that he would hasten this.
Action: Clerk
22.6 Cllr Herbert briefed on progress with the Test Valley Local Plan informing everyone that a revised plan was about to be issued for consultation and would cover all the previous strategies. We could also expect an individual response to our previous consultation submission and he would brief further when this was received
Action: Cllr Herbert
- To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
23.1 The Clerk drew councillors’ attention to the annual payment now due to TVBC for maintaining the speed indicator device and the fact that when the device was installed we had no option but to agree a maintenance contract with TVBC. It was agreed that given the age of the device and the more modern devices now available that the contractual aspect with TVBC should be queried. Cllr Fahy would investigate the current market for more modern speed indicator devices.
Action: Clerk and Cllr Fahy
23.2 TVBC had confirmed the tax base for 2013 – 14 at 683 which had resulted in a precept of £28,245, some £2,965 short of the precept required of £31,210. TVBC had agreed to make up the shortfall by a grant of £2.965 payable on 1 April 2013. This was noted.
23.3 A budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda and was noted.
- Payment of Accounts
24.1 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Brock, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts for January be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq/Internet
Mr P Storey Salary/expenses 741.37 741.37 BACs
BPC Shared costs 22.00 22.00 BACs
HMRC Tax/NIC 201.29 201.29 BACs
HALC Seminar 30.00 6.00 36.00 BACs
TVBC SID maint 770.00 770.00 BACs
Totals 1764.66 6.00 1770.66
Cllr Herbert arrived at his point
- To confirm the Burial Board charges for 2013 – 14
25.1 The Clerk tabled comparative charges made by other local burial authorities and it was noted that ours compared favourably with many of these.
25.2 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Curtis, RESOLVED unanimously that our Burial Board charges for 2013 – 14 remain the same as for the current year.
- Annual Assembly
26.1 Cllr Harrison’s paper on the newsletter and arrangements for the Annual Assembly had been circulated before the meeting. Following discussion led by Cllr Brock, the structure of the Assembly was agreed and included a decision that no external speaker be invited and that the gathering should be made more interpersonal with a councillor on each table to foster discussion and debate. The Communications Working Group (CWG) would co-ordinate the arrangements.
Action: CWG 27. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
27.1 Note was made of the willingness of managers from the Environment Agency to address a meeting of residents should worries about the flood risk persist. This was noted.
27.2 Cllrs Evans and Fahy, together with the Clerk and others to be confirmed by Cllr Brock, would attend the HALC Annual Meeting on 7 March 2013 where the emphasis would be on communications.
Action: Clerk and Cllr Brock
27.3 As part of the initiative known as ‘Love where you live’, TVBC had introduced ‘Sparkle Days’ when a team of staff members would visit locations to undertake various cleaning tasks in those communities and talk to residents about waste and recycling in their local environment. King’s Somborne’s ‘Sparkle Day’ would be on 25 February 2013.
- Date, time and place of next meeting
28.1 The next meeting will on Monday 4 March 2013 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, Winchester Road, King’s Somborne.
Action: All
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.55pm
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