Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall on Monday 20 JUNE 2011

 

        PRESENT: 

         

                   Councillor David Woodroofe (Chairman)

                   Councillor Geoff Cruttenden

                   Councillor David Fazakerley

                   Councillor Ian Gibson

                    Councillor Peter May (part)

       Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council                                       3 Members of the Public

 

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME:

Mr & Mrs Thomas of                 , together with Mr Peter Cox of               , expressed their growing

concerns regarding the speed of traffic through the village and the potential for a fatal accident.  They asked

whether the Council could consider further traffic calming measures such as chicanes.  Cllr Ian Gibson

responded by assuring those present that the Council is fully aware of these issues and has already tried a number

of traffic calming measures such as the white lining and introduction of the 30 mph limit.  However, the most

recent speed survey commissioned by the Council in 2009 suggests that these have had little impact on

average speeds and do not address the problem of the persistent speeder.  Whilst Hampshire Highways have been

reluctant to consider chicanes for the village in the past, the matter could be raised with them again.  Council

asked that members of the public witnessing instances of speeding should make a note of times, etc as this could

be used as evidence for the need for a speed enforcement exercise by the Police.  In the meantime, the Council

reported that a Speed Limit Reminder unit would be in use in the village in the near future, sharing with      

Medstead and possible Bentworth on a rotational basis. The post sockets had been installed and it was hoped that

the order for the equipment would be placed very soon.

                  

11.15  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

           Apologies were received and accepted from Councillor Bryan Harrison and from Cllr Peter May for late arrival.

 

11.16  CO-OPTION OF ADDITIONAL COUNCILLORS     

           There being no candidates, the Council would now need to advertise the vacancy again, giving electors the

           opportunity to call a bye-election before moving to co-option.  Clerk to issue necessary notices and advise

           EHDC.

          

11.17  ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

           Deferred until Council has full complement (7 members).

 

11.18  CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

  The Minutes of the Council meeting held on 16 May 2011, copies of which had previously been circulated, were

  confirmed.  Chairman David Woodroofe signed them as a true record.

 

11.19   DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

            a)     All Councillors’ Register of Interest forms had been lodged with EHDC.

            b)     There were no declarations of interest.

          

11.20  REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR

           Clerk read a message from County Councillor Mark Kemp-Gee which congratulated Chairman on his            appointment and

           mentioned that he plans to make a grant of £750 to the Parish Plan Group from his Devolved Budget.

 

11.21  REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I)     Finance & General Purposes Panel

                    Clerk to arrange meeting with Chairman and one other Councillor (as available) to discuss:

                    a)      Review of High Interest Bonds

                    b)      Localism Bill and abolition of requirement to adopt a Model Code of Conduct

                    Clerk to respond to the Future of Public Audit Consultation after discussions with neighbouring parishes.                                                                                                                   II)                Development & Planning Advisory Panel

                    a)      The Council considered 3 applications.  Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED that the comments of the

                        Council be confirmed/forwarded to EHDC as follows: 

                        i)   49971/002   Stanetty Farm, Basingstoke Road   Over Wintering barn with ancillary storage.

                                                                                                                                              NO OBJECTION                                 

                        ii)  53541   38 Wellhouse Road   Crown thin one purple Beech tree, one beech, one oak and fell one

                                                                            holly and one elm          NO OBJECTION to thinning but OBJECT to

                                                                            felling for following reasons:

                                                                            Loss of Sylvan character and detrimental impact on the environment,

                                                                            contrary to the Beech Village Design Statement.

                             General Comment: The serial impact of these individual applications to thin and remove trees on this

                             site (formerly 36 Wellhouse Road) will have a detrimental effect on the environment and the loss of

                             the Sylvan character of the area, contrary to Beech Village Design Statement.  The original planning

                             application for this site stated that trees were not diseased or in need of remedial works.  Without this

                             development, trees would not have required works.

                        iii) 21720/006  36 Wellhouse Road   Crown thin 8 oaks, 2 ash and one beech                  OBJECT for following reasons: 

                                                1.       Question the need for this amount of work without arboricultural reasons.

                                                2.       Loss of Sylvan character and detrimental impact on the environment, contrary to

                                                         the Beech Village Design Statement.

                                                3.       Query on ownership of this land – according to original planning application for

                                                         this site, land fronting Wellhouse Road is in ownership of Plot 2.

                             General Comment: The serial impact of these individual applications to thin and remove trees

                             will have a detrimental effect on the environment and the loss of Sylvan character of the area,

                             contrary to Beech Village Design Statement.  The original planning application for this site stated that

                             trees were not diseased or in need of remedial works.  Without this development, trees would not

                             have required works.                                                                                                                                                                      

                    b) Previous applications – EHDC Decisions NOTED:

                        i)   26991/008   Southbank, 95 Medstead Road   Replacement dwelling following demolition of dwelling

                                                                   (double garage/studio to be retained)                   REFUSED

                        ii)  53286   Beechwood, 38A Wellhouse Road   Works to 19 trees                CONSENT

                        iii) 34932/002   1 Cramptons   Fell 6 Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana                  CONSENT

                        iv) 49971/002   Land off Basingstoke Road   Over Wintering Barn with

                                                         ancillary storage             PRIOR APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED

                        v)  Tree Preservation Order (EH861) 2010 – 17a King’s Hill.               CONFIRMED      

                    c) EHDC Conservation and Design Awards 2011 – information NOTED.

                     

            III)   Highways and Footpaths Advisory Panel:

                    a) SLR Update

                        Clerk reported that it was now expected that funds would be made available from HCC to finance cost of

                        SLR purchase and installation in all 3 villages.  Parish would continue to have financial responsibility for

                        redeployment and share of maintenance costs.  This funding was due to come on line shortly, at which

                        time an order for purchase of SLR device would be made by Medstead PC.

                    b) Temporary Road Closure – details NOTED.

                    c) Following Council’s request for works to be carried out to car park at entrance to Bushy Leaze (to

                        prevent loose material getting onto highway) the Forestry Commission had indicated that they would liaise

                        with Hampshire Highways to resolve the matter.

 

11.22  TRAINING   

            a)  Following attendance at the Power of Wellbeing workshop at the recent Hampshire ALC Conference, Cllr Peter May

                 was presented with a training certificate.

           b)  Cllr Geoff Cruttenden and David Fazakerley to attend Hampshire ALC’s Core Skills for Councillors training on Saturday, 25 June 2011 at Chineham.

           c)   EHDC Code of Conduct training:

                 Council approved attendance of Cllr Bryan Harrison at session in Liphook on Tuesday, 28 June and Cllrs

                 Geoff Cruttenden and David Fazakerley at session to be held in Alton on Monday, 11 July.

           d)  EHDC Planning training:

                 Council approved attendance of Cllr Geoff Cruttenden at session being held in Petersfield on Saturday, 9 July

                 and Cllrs David Fazakerley, Peter May and Clerk at session to be held in Alton on Saturday, 23 July.

           e)   EHDC Community Forums – consultation meetings being held on Thursday, 23 June and Monday, 27 June.

                 Due to short notice, no Councillors were available to attend.

11.23  DCLG TRAVELLER/GYPSY CONSULTATION

           Whilst Council had no comments to submit, they share the concerns raised in this document.

          

11.24   HAMPSHIRE ALC AND REPRESENTATIVES

            a)  A report of District Association meeting held on Wednesday, 15 June by Cllr Bryan Harrison had previously

                 been circulated and NOTED.  Cllr Harrison had agreed to join EHAPTC committee considering Global

                 Warming and associated matters.

            b)  The date of the Hampshire ALC AGM was advised as Saturday, 29 October to enable Councillors to check

                 their availability.   Nominations for attendance would be made at September meeting.

            c)  Community Engagement – Hampshire ALC had offered to provide training on this subject if sufficient

                 parishes show an interest.  Clerk to respond to Chair of EHAPTC that Beech may have interested Councillors.

 

11.25   FINANCE

            a)  Payments authorised:      

                 Proposed  Ian Gibson and Seconded by Peter May:

                 RESOLVED:    i)     Mrs Sheron Gillard: Clerk’s Salary, All’w and Admin Exp (July 2011) £472.88

                                         ii)    Hampshire Pension Fund (e’ers & e’ees contribution for July 2011) £113.28

                                         iii)   Local Council Review – Annual Subscription (1 copy)                        £15.50

                                         iv)   EHDC – Election Charges (due for payment by 8 July 2011)            £119.70   

 

11.26   CORRESPONDENCE

                   The Petersfield Society Newsletter (Spring 2011)

                   HCC – Update on Broadband for rural Hampshire

                   Community Right to Build information leaflet

                   EHDC – Local Development Framework Newsletter June 2011

                   Carrying the Olympic Flame - The Search for East Hampshire Torch Bearers

                       

11.27   NEXT MEETING

            Confirm date of next Council meeting as Monday, 18 July 2011 at 7.30 pm with public question time starting at         7.15 pm. 

            Please note that Nick Hazlitt, Area Manager for the Forestry Commission, will be in attendance to update Council and public regarding future works in Bushy Leaze.

 

CLOSURE OF MEETING      

Chairman thanked all present for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.50 pm.

                                                        

 

 

 

 

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

                                                                                                         Chairman Beech Parish Council

date: