Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall on Monday 21 APRIL 2008

 

 

    PRESENT:

 

Councillor Edward Neish (Chairman)                                

Councillor Ian Gibson                                                                      

Councillor Anne Burridge                                                                

Councillor Norman Miles       

Councillor David Woodroofe                                             

Councillor Gill Young                                                         District Councillor Patrick Burridge

Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council                           One member of the public

 

 

07.101 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of Council Meeting held on 19 March 2008, copies of which had previously been circulated, were confirmed.  Chairman Edward Neish signed them as a true record.

 

07.102 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

           Cllr Ian Gibson declared a Prejudicial Interest in planning application 21720/003/FUL, 36 Wellhouse Road, his

           interest being that the applicants are clients of his employer.  Cllr Gibson left the room during the Public

           Participation session, when representation was being made, and again during the item’s discussion and decision

           by Council.

           Chairman Edward Neish declared a Personal Interest in planning 39081/002/FUL, 44 Wellhouse Road, his

           interest being that he is acquainted with the applicants.  He remained in the room during the item’s discussion and

           decision by Council.

 

07.103 REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I) Development & Planning Advisory Panel

                    a) Four applications were considered.  Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that: Council’s comments be

                        forwarded to EHDC, as follows:

                        i)   23495/002/FUL   Beech Village Hall   Single storey extension to rear and porch to front.

                                                                                                                                                   NO OBJECTION. 

                             Council fully supported this application for the improvement of the Village Hall.

                        ii)  21720/003/FUL   36 Wellhouse Road   Five dwellings and garages following demolition of                                             existing dwelling                                                                  NO OBJECTION. 

                             Council were satisfied that the issues and objections previously raised had been addressed.

                        iii) 39081/002/FUL  Beechmount , 44 Wellhouse Road  Detached dwelling with detached double garage

                                                                                                                                                   OBJECT for the         following reasons:

                             1.  Existing ground is liable to flooding – levels are below Wellhouse Road.  Any proposal must

                                  address loss of flood plain and disposal of surface water on site.  Therefore, the applicant should      be required to provide a flood risk assessment to support application and to ensure no surface               water is discharged off-site.  (The problems of surface water run-off onto Wellhouse Road

                                  are well documented and would affect this property.)

                             2.  The development would result in the equivalent of ‘backland development’ which would have a

                                  detrimental effect on the rural character of the area (contrary to Item 3 of the Beech Village

                                  Design Statement Landscape and Setting Guidelines).

                             3.  Council unable to ascertain whether proposed plot sizes meet H10 Policy due to lack of scaling on

                                  drawings.

                        iv) 28390/007/FUL   116 Medstead Road      Dwelling with detached garage.           OBJECT for the

                             following reasons:

                             1.  The development would result in the equivalent of ‘backland development’ which would have a

                                  detrimental effect on the rural character of the area (contrary to Item 3 of the Beech Village

                                  Design Statement Landscape and Setting Guidelines).

                             2.  Existing and proposed levels are insufficient to adequately assess possible flooding risks.

                                                                                                              Minutes April 2008 continued….page 2 of 3

 

 

 

                             3.  Details of the tree protection zones are not clear ie. tree circles not plotted and drawing is marked

                                  NTS.          

                    b) Previous Applications - EHDC Decisions were NOTED:

                        i)   25121/007  43a Wellhouse Road   Dormer windows to front and rear, extension to balcony                                                                                      and car port to front                                PERMITTED

                        ii)  30797/016    10 Kings Hill      Two dwellings following demolition of units to the rear of                                                                                 10 kings hill (revised scheme to 30797/014)    REFUSAL

                        iii) 32030/002   Copper Beeches, 32 King’s Hill   Detached double garage with ancillary accommodation/study over following demolition of double garage                                      PERMITTED

                        c)  Tree Preservation Order (EH743) 2007 re: 148a Medstead Road – withdrawn.  Replaced by (EH790)

                             2008 – NOTED.

           

                 II)   Highways & Footpaths Panel

                   Councillor Ian Gibson reported on meeting between representatives of Hampshire Highways, the Chairman,

                   the Clerk and himself on 4 April 2008 to discuss the Council’s Highways Report.  The issues concerning

                   flooding on Wellhouse Road and A339 junction were clearly understood by Highways.  It was agreed the,

                   providing Council can obtain consent from land owner, Hampshire Highways are prepared to provide labour

                   and materials to create an attenuation pond on farm land at top of Wellhouse Road which would help prevent

                   erosion of footpath and flooding of Wellhouse Road.  The outfall ditch on A339 to be cleared of silt.

 

07.104 DRIVER FEEDBACK SIGNS    

           HCC have advised that as EHDC does not have a traffic management agency arrangement with them, it is   currently not possible for them to provide Speed Limit Reminder signs.  The issue of parish councils purchasing

           and managing driver feedback signs independently is currently under consideration by HCC, requiring input from      the Highway Authority, its agents plus the Police.  Hampshire ALC is currently co-ordinating discussions

           between the relevant parties.

           Council agreed that its report on Vehicle Actuated Speed Signs be sent to Hampshire County Council (with

           copies to Steven Lugg, Director at Hampshire ALC and County Cllr Mark Kemp-Gee) requesting their comments

           before Council proceed with approving the purchase of signs.

 

07.105 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – Matters referred to Council

           a)   Fallen trees along Forestry Commission land – Clerk had been informed that this work would be carried out

              shortly.

           b)   Litter – Clerk contacting EHDC to request a litter pick.

           c)   Signage for Village Hall – Clerk to investigate.

           d)   Parish Council Newsletter – Council to continue with regular articles in Beech Newsletter and would consider

              publishing its own newsletter in the next Council year.                                                                                                                   

07.106 EHDC – Social Justice Board

            There were no Councillors available to attend event on 8 May 2008.

 

07.107 Report of DISTICT COUNCILLOR

           District Cllr Patrick Burridge highlighted the 0% increase in EH District Council Tax.  He was pleased that BPC

           had recently responded to EHDC’s Core Strategy consultation as this will form the basis for the Local

           Development Framework (taking the place of the current Local Plan) which should be agreed next summer. 

           E-planning – Cllr Burridge encouraged Council to contact the Head of Planning Development at EHDC to discuss

           requirements for when paper plans are not longer available.  Councillors spoke of scaling problems on drawings;

           Cllr Burridge advised that, under its local planning requirements list, it may be possible for EHDC to require

           scale rule to be included on drawings.

 

07.108 HAMPSHIRE ALC REPRESENTATIVES

           Cllr Norman Miles reported on the Executive meeting held in early March and the District meeting and AGM

           held on 12 March 2008.  Sue Halstead had been re-elected as Chairman, with Norman Miles as Vice-Chairman.

          

                                                                                                             Minutes April 2008 continued….page 3 of 3

 

 

07.109 CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS

           Proposed Ian Gibson, Seconded Gill Young and RESOLVED that: members of the public and press be excluded

           from the meeting for Part II so that matters of a confidential nature can be discussed.

 

07.110 ANNUAL REVIEW OF CLERK’S EMPLOYMENT

           Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED: That with effect from 1 April 2008:

           a)   Clerk’s salary to be increased by 3.256% on 07/08 rates for NJC Scale LC1 Point 25.

           b)   All other terms and conditions to remain unchanged.

 

07.111 FINANCE

           I)    Summary Receipts & Payments for 4th quarter to 31 March 2008 – NOTED.  

           II)  Insurance Renewal – Cllrs Anne Burridge and Gill Young to review and report at May meeting.

           III) Payments authorised:   

                  Proposed Edward Neish and Seconded by Gill Young RESOLVED:                                             

                  i)      Mrs S Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary, Allowance and Administration Expenses (Apr 2008)     £400.78

                 ii)    HCC – Pension Payments (employer’s & employee’s contribution for Apr 2008)               £94.91

                   

07.112 CORRESPONDENCE

           The following items were formally received:-

                        Victim Support – Letter of thanks

                        Alton Citizens Advice Bureau – Letter of thanks

                        Hampshire ALC Bulletin 225 (Spring 2008)

                        HCC – Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework: Forthcoming Public Consultations

                        Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service – Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008-2011

                        South East England Regional Housing Board – SEER Housing Strategy 2008-2011 (on circulation)

                        EH Community Partnership Conference – Invitation (no Councillors available to attend)

                        HCC – Hampshire County Council Annual County Service Sunday, 8 June 2008

                        HCC – Hampshire Pension Fund – 2007 actuarial valuation report and certificate

             

07.113 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

  Confirmed that the Annual meeting of the Parish Council to be held in the Village Hall on Monday, 19 May 2008     at 7.30 pm preceded by Public Question Time at 7.15 pm.

 

 

CLOSURE OF MEETING  

Chairman thanked all present for their attendance and closed the meeting at 9.24 pm.

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

signed: ...........................................................

                                                                                                              Chairman Beech Parish Council

     date: 19 May 2008