Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall on Monday 20 JULY 2009

 

        PRESENT: 

         

       Councillor Anne Burridge

       Councillor Norman Miles                                                                         

Councillor Edward Neish (Chairman)                                    

Councillor David Woodroofe

Councillor Gill Young                                        

Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council                    Mr Peter Cox, Village Hall                        

 

 

                                      

09.23  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

           Apologies were received and accepted from Councillors Ian Gibson (annual leave) and Peter May (work

           commitments) and District Councillor Patrick Burridge.

 

09.24  CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

  The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 15 June 2009, copies of which had previously been

  circulated, were confirmed.  Chairman Edward Neish signed them as a true record.

 

09.25  REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I)      Development and Planning Advisory Panel

                    a)      One applications was considered.  Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED that the comments of the

                             Council be forwarded to EHDC as follows:

                             i)  21720/004   36 Wellhouse Road   Five dwellings with garages following demolition of dwelling

                                 (variation of pp. 21720/003)                  NO OBJECTION with following comment:  Council again                                                

                                         applauded measures included to ensure the disposal of surface water run-off on site.

                    b)      Previous applications – EHDC Decisions.

                             i)   25172/003   Hill Brow, 61 Medstead Road   Detached two storey dwelling with access and                                      

                                                                   parking, three bay car barn for 61 Mestead Road.                  REFUSED

.           II)    Highways and Footpaths Advisory Panel:

a)        Village 30 Update

   Clerk advised Council that a post-Village 30 speed survey is expected within the next 2-3 months.

                    b)      Bus accident – Clerk to write to Stagecoach to express concern regarding buses being driven at speed

                             and aggressively.  It was reported that an accident between a bus and car had occurred on Tuesday, 7

                             July at approximately 7.15 am.

                   c)       HCC Highways Annual Report and Stakeholder Survey

                             Chairman Edward Neish to read and complete survey on behalf of Council.

           III)  Community and Environment Advisory Panel

                   a)       Beech Cemetery

                             Council were encouraged by a letter received from Abbot Giles confirming the Abbey’s intention of

                             making land available to the village for the purpose of a cemetery.  The Abbey had passed the matter                             

                             to the Charities Commission and therefore timescales are indeterminate.

 

09.26  REPORT FROM HAMPSHIRE ALC AND REPRESENTATIVES.

           a)     HALC have advised that the Local Government Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 had been enacted. 

                   S.76 would have direct implications on Parish Councils by:

                   i)       allowing appointed councillors onto local councils (additional to elected and co-opted councillors)

                   ii)      allowing only elected councillors to become Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen

                   iii)     requiring 5 elected councillors in order for a council to operate and be quorate

                   It was again noted how important it would be to ensure members of the village come forward for election to

                   the Parish Council in 2011.

           b)     2009 NALC Leadership Academy -No Councillors available to attend.

          

 

 

                                                                                                                  Minutes July 2009 continued…./page 2 of 3

          

          

           c)     Hampshire ALC AGM Saturday, 10 October at St Swithun’s School, Winchester.  Two delegates to attend –

                   Councillor Gill Young available, Councillor Anne Burridge to advise Clerk of her availability.

                   Clerk to contact Steven Lugg, Director of County Association regarding resolutions to be put to meeting,

                   particularly in response to S.76 above.      

                                                                                     

09.27  TERRORISM PRESENTATION

           From September, Council meetings would be held in the new lounge bar area of the hall, rather than main hall          

           (which would be regularly let to Alton Bridge Club).  Given concerns on the space that would be available,

           Council agreed to cancel the proposed Special Branch presentation before its October meeting and re-consider

           when and where to hold this meeting once space in the lounge bar area had been properly assessed.  (It was noted  

           that, from September, due to regular bookings, the main hall would only be available for use on Friday evenings).

 

09.28  BEECH PARISH PLAN        

           a)     Councillor Peter May had produced a report following a meeting he had held with Chairman Edward Neish

                   and Councillor Ian Gibson.  It contained proposals to produce a draft plan from information already held

                   which could then be presented to the village for consultation together with a questionnaire.  Nominations to

                   a committee to lead the production of the Plan to be postponed until Councillors Peter May and Ian Gibson

                   were in attendance.

           b)     In the meantime, Council were asked to consider projects which could be advised to EHDC by 1 September

                   for which Developers’ Contributions could be collected. 

                   Standing Orders were suspended to allow the Chairman of the Village Hall, Peter Cox, to contribute to

                   this discussion only.

                   Council agreed that the following projects be advised to EHDC:

                   i)       Creation of open space and pathways within proposed new cemetery site

                   ii)      Improvements to Recreation Ground

                   iii)     Further landscaping and improvements to Village Hall green

                   iv)     Creation of new and improvement to existing pathways linking village facilities

                   v)      Grounds and roof of Church.

                  

09.29   FINANCE

a)  2009 – 2010 Accounts – Summary Receipts & Payments for 1st Quarter to 30 June 2009 NOTED.

     Councillor Peter May to be asked to carry out internal control checks before next meeting.

b)  2008 – 2009 Accounts – Chairman presented report from Mrs Sandie Fisher who had undertaken an Internal

     Audit of the Council’s 08/09 annual accounts.   Points raised were noted and Council considered concerns

     about the level of funds being held in one banking institution.  Clerk advised that Parish Council funds were     

     not covered by the Government’s £50,000 guarantee.  The following comment to be included with Annual

                 Return: Whilst Beech Parish Council understands that its funds are not covered by the Government’s £50,000

                 guarantee, it will, in future, regularly consider, address and record the risk of holding all its monetary assets       

                 in one banking institution.  Council agreed that Councillor Peter May be asked to consider what action, if any,

                 the Council should take regarding bank deposits at HSBC when he carries out internal control checks.

c)  Grant Request – Proposed David Woodroofe, Seconded Anne Burridge and RESOLVED that Council to

     make a grant to Victim Support Hampshire & IOW of £60.00.

d)  Payments authorised:      

                 Proposed: Cllr Norman Miles, Seconded Anne Burridge and RESOLVED:

                 i)                    HCC - Pension Payments (employer’s & employee’s contribution for July 2009)       £111.94

                 ii)  Mrs Sheron Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary and Allowance (July 2009)                             £493.58

                 iii) Mrs S Gillard (from Chairman’s Allowance re: gifts for Reception 18 May 2009)         £23.52

                 iv) Hampshire ALC (Clerk’s Forum, 28 September)                                                            £10.00

                 v)  Victim Support Hampshire & IOW – grant, as approved above                                      £60.00

 

09.30   CORRESPONDENCE

            The following items were formally received:

                   EHDC – South Downs National Park briefing notes

                   EHDC – Standards Committee Workshop

                   HCC – Hampshire Minerals & Waste Development Framework Consultation On Integrated Sustainability                                      

                                      Appraisal Scoping Report.

 

 

                                                                                                                  July 2009 Minutes continued...../page 3 of 3

 

 

 

09.31   NEXT MEETING

            Confirmed that the next scheduled Council Meeting would be held in the Village Hall on Monday, 21 September

            2009 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 8.33 pm

 

 

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

                                                                                                         Chairman Beech Parish Council

date: