Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall Lounge on Monday 15 MARCH 2010

 

        PRESENT: 

      

       Councillor Anne Burridge

       Councillor Ian Gibson

       Councillor Norman Miles                                             

Councillor Edward Neish (Chairman)                                              

Councillor David Woodroofe

Councillor Gill Young

Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council                              1 Member of the Public

 

 

 

09.98  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

           Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Peter May (work commitments).

 

09.99  CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

  The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 8 February 2010, copies of which had previously been

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

 

09.100 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 

           There were no declarations of interest.

 

09.101 REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I)      Finance and General Purposes Advisory Panel

                    Those present approved the appointment of Cllrs Edward Neish and Peter May or Ian Gibson to panel to

                    consider matters including:

                    a)      review of Annual Accounts for 2009-10

                    b)      review of Standing Orders and Financial Regulations (preparatory work begun by Clerk to be discussed

                             with Cllr Peter May, Councillor responsible for Council’s internal controls, before panel meeting).

           II)     Development and Planning Advisory Panel

                    a)      Two applications were considered.  Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED that the comments of the

                             Council be forwarded as follows:

                             i)   52230   The Coppice, 184 Medstead Road   Single storey extension to side, porches to front and rear

                                                                                                                                                        NO OBJECTION

                             ii)           28390/008   Land adjacent to 116 Medstead Road            Renewal of extant permission 28390/006

                                                                                                                  Dwelling with associated parking and access

                                                                                                                  NO OBJECTION provided conditions attached

                                                                                                                  to 28390/006 are included.

                    b)      Previous applications – EHDC Decisions NOTED:

                             i) 51068/001   86 Wellhouse Road  Retention of double garage converted to habitable space.

                                                                                                                                                        PERMITTED

           III)    Highways and Footpaths Advisory Panel report:

                    a)      SLR Parish Partnership

                             The Chairman reported that following discussions with Bentworth and Medstead, Cllrs Ian Gibson, David

                             Woodroofe and himself had reviewed potential sites for SLR posts identified last year and prioritised

                             them.  Their report was circulated.  They had spoken with the land owners adjacent to these sites, who had

                             all supported this initiative.  Before progressing further, the sites in Beech, Bentworth and Medstead

                             would need to be ratified by the Highways authority.  Clerk to send report to Clerk to Medstead

                             (partnership leader) for forwarding  to HCC along with partnership’s application for an SLR.

                

                    b)      Following receipt of a letter from the Leader of HCC confirming the provision of additional salt/grit bins                     

                             in the County,  Councillors agreed that an additional bin be made available at the top and middle of

                             Wellhouse Road.

 

                    c)      HAT Highways Meeting – Monday, 29 March 2-4 pm at the Maltings, Alton

                             Clerk to attend, if available.

                                        

           IV)     Community and Environment Advisory Panel report:

                    a)      Terrorism presentation to be held on Monday, 19 July 2010 at 7.00 pm.

                    b)      East Hampshire Road Safety Council – before considering the appointment of a representative to this

                             Committee, Councillors requested further information regarding timing of meetings and matters

                             discussed.

                                        

09.102 PARISH PLAN

            a)     Grant monies to be obtained from HCC would be held by Council until Parish Plan Steering Committee had

                    been established and opened its own bank account.    

            b)     The first meeting of the steering group would be held on Monday, 22 March 2010.

 

09.103 VILLAGE HALL       

            The official opening on 6 March by Alan Titchmarsh had been well attended.  The Council were pleased that the

            Village Hall Committee had been successful in obtaining a further £6,250 from Developers’ Contributions for

            external works to the hall.  It was noted that the Lottery, HCC and EHDC had plaques in the hall recognising their

            contributions.  Council requested Clerk to investigate costs for providing a similar plaque for the Parish Council.

 

09.104 HAMPSHIRE RURAL FORUM    

            No Councillors were available to attend the ARF Annual Conference to be held on Tuesday, 20 April from 9.30 am

            to 4.00 pm.

 

09.105 TRAINING

            a)     Cllrs Anne Burridge, Peter May, Ed Neish, David Woodroofe and Gill Young and Clerk to attend EHDC

                    training on Planning on Tuesday, 30 March.

            b)     Council approved Clerk’s attendance at Hampshire ALC Governance and Accountability Training on Friday, 19

                    March.

            c)     Council approved attendance of Cllr Peter May on Hampshire ALC’s Chairmanship training on 18 June at a

                    cost of £25.

 

09.106 REPORT FROM HAMPSHIRE ALC AND REPRESENTATIVES

            a)     Neither Cllr Norman Miles or Gill Young had been available to attend District Association meeting and AGM

                    held on Wednesday, 10 March.  Clerk reported that Susan Halstead had been re-elected as Chairman and that

                    the Clerk to Buriton had been appointed as Secretary to the District Association.  Next meeting is on

                    Wednesday, 9 June at Liss Village Hall with a Highways update from Amey.  There would be a liaison meeting

                    with EHDC officers on 23 March.

            b)     Council considered and completed the Hampshire ALC Annual survey of Councils, including questions relating

                    to continued membership of NALC.  Council agreed that, whilst difficult to clearly identify what benefits Beech

                    parish gets from membership of NALC (and aware that NALC had, to date, not answered criticisms directed at

                    them), the actual cost of membership to NALC to the Parish (£25) was relatively insignificant and therefore

                    considered it better to remain in membership whilst continuing to lobby for better service. 

 

09.107 FINANCE

a)  Appointment of Mrs Sandie Fisher as Internal Auditor for 2009-10 Annual Accounts confirmed.

b)  Council requested Cllr Peter May to carry out further Internal Controls check at year-end.

c)  Local Council Review Publication – agreed one copy sufficient as information can now been obtained via

     website.

                                                                                             Minutes March 2010 continued……/page 3 of 3                                    

d)  Grant request: Proposed Anne Burridge and Seconded Gill Young and RESOLVED that a donation of £100 be made to                                                                                              Community First East Hampshire for ‘Culture in the Park’ event to be held at Queen Elizabeth Country Park on 4 July                                                                                                  using Council’s power under Section 145 of the Local Government Act 1972 to support the arts, including festivals and celebrations.

e)  Payments authorised:      

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

                 i)   Mrs Sheron Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary, Allowance and expenses (March 2010)          £457.84

                 ii)  HCC - Pension Payments (employer’s & employee’s contribution for March 2010)   £111.93

                 iii) HMRC – Tax payments Jan-Mar 10 inclusive                                                               £37.20

                 iv) Beech Village Hall – hall hire Jan-Mar 10 inclusive                                                      £45.00

                 v)  Community First East Hampshire – as approved above                                               £100.00   

                 For payment after 1 April 2010 (upon receipt of invoice):

                 vi) Hampshire Association of Local Councils – Annual Affiliation Fees 10-11                £183.00

                

09.108 CORRESPONDENCE

            The following items were formally received:

                   Proposed Closures of South West Trains Station Ticket Offices Public Consultation exercise

                   Local Council Review – Spring 2010

                   Local History Group – Beech Archive (contact Gill Young)

 

09.109 MEETING DATES

            Confirmed the next scheduled Council Meeting would be held in the Village Hall on Monday, 19 April                          

            at 7.30 pm (Public Question Time 7.15 pm).

 

CLOSURE OF MEETING      

Chairman thanked all present for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.35 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

                                                                                                                   Chairman Beech Parish Council

                    date: 19 April 2010