Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall on Monday 20 NOVEMBER 2006

 

        PRESENT:                                                                    

Councillor John Henderson (Chair)                               

Councillor Ian Gibson

Councillor Edward Neish

Councillor Norman Miles                                             

Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council                                Two members of the Public

 

 

          

06.57   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Councillors June May, Councillor Patrick Burridge and Councillor Jenny Poole.

 

06.58    CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

  The Minutes of the Council meeting held on 16 October 2006, copies of which had previously been circulated,

  were confirmed.  Chairman John Henderson signed them as a true record.

 

06.59   MATTERS ARISING

          a)       EHDC Environmental Health Officer advised that blanket DFOLA would not be invalidated by local

DCOs.

 

06.60   REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I)   Finance & General Purposes Panel

                 a)    Chairman John Henderson gave a report of meeting held on 14 November 2006 including items for

                        Council approval:

                        i)   Grant Requests:

                             Beech Village Hall for new tractor, tables and chairs

                             Recommended that £1,500 be given towards tractor and £1,000 towards purchase of new table and

                             chairs.  Beech Village Hall Committee to be advised that the payment of these grants in the same

                             financial year as the request had been received was exceptional and that in future, whilst any grant

                             requests for capital items are likely to be favourably considered, Council would prefer an indication

                             of any future needs in early October each year so that provision can be included in the Council’s

                             budgetary process.

                             St Peter’s Church for building repairs.

                             Recommended that a £2,000 grant be made under the provision of Section 137 due to the building’s

                             architectural, social and historic significance within the village. (See Finance).

                             ii)  Review of Financial Regulations and Standing Orders

                                  Subsequent to discussions, Clerk to provide Council with detailed proposals for amendments and

                                  additions to both Financial Regulations and Standing Orders for consideration/adoption at

                                  January/February meetings.

                             iii)  Regional Assemblies – Response from Ruth Kelly MP via Michael Mates MP NOTED.

                             iv) Local Government White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’ – NOTED. 

                                  Chairman John Henderson to attend free Seminar at South East Employers on 28 November

                                  2006.

                             v)  Code of Conduct – proposed changes were NOTED.

                             vi) Budget/Precept for 2007/08 – see Finance.

                 b)    Meeting of F&GP Panel to be arranged to discuss Council’s input to EHDC’s Local Development

                        Framework Core Strategy Development Plan required by 30 December 2006.    

 

           II)  Development & Planning Advisory Panel

                 a)         One application had been considered: Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED: That Council’s comments

                        be confirmed as follows:

                        i)   F30797/014/FUL   Rear of 10 Kings Hill   Two dwellings following demolition of units

                                                                                               OBJECT for following reasons:

                                                1.       The application does not include a clear statement of the planning history.  We 

November 2006 Minutes continued/…Page 2 of 3

 

 

 

 

                                                         are not satisfied from the details provided that the Certificate of Lawfulness is 

                                                         relevant or correct or that the site already has the benefit of 3 dwellings as

                                                         proposed.

                                                2.       The application’s covering letter and design statement raises a number of relevant

                                                         issues but fails totally to address them ie:

·         Reference to “non-conforming” buildings; What is the relevance of this statement?

·         Topology is mentioned.  The site slope is about 1:8 yet this is not considered in the design – no retaining walls or proposed, and levels are not given in sufficient detail.  More detail is essential to adequately evaluate the proposal.

·         It refers to “housing demands” of this location.  Where is this information?

·         The design statement refers to “access” but does not quantify vehicle movements.  The drive is long and only single track width.  Three full and separate dwellings will generate excessive vehicle movements and conflicts.

                                                3.       The design statement implies in paragraph 2 of section “use” that future

                                                         applications may be submitted for this site.  This statement and the level of detail

                                                         are more akin to an outline application than a “full” application.

                                                4.       The application refers to “lost affidavits” which have been rediscovered.  These

                                                         are not included and we cannot comment on the relevance of this statement to the

                                                         present application. 

                                                5.       No mention is made of landscaping, surface finishes or building materials other

                                                         than to be agreed.  This is contrary to the Beech Village Design Statement.

                                                Comment:

                                                This site slopes at about 1:8 and any design must address this issue in sufficient detail. 

                                                This application does not do that.  In our opinion, the design statement is vague and not

                                                sufficiently specific.

                       

            III)   Highways and Footpaths Advisory Panel: Item referred:

                    b) Previous Applications: EHDC Decisions

                        i)   F29846/010/FUL   New Park Farm   Block of ten stables, ménage, feed store and thirteen

                                                         additional car parking spaces.                                 PERMITTED

                        ii)  F31495/005/FUL   Roughwood House, 22 Wellhouse Road   Detached double garage to front

                                                                                                                            PERMITTED

                        iii) F37851/008/FUL   Land South West of Beech Barns, 61 Wellhouse Road

                                                         One dwelling with associated access                      WITHDRAWN    

                        iv) F39081/001/FUL   Beechmount, 44 Wellhouse Road   Conservatory to Rear  PERMITTED

                    c) Tree Preservation Order

                        TPO (EH712) 2006 – Provisional order on land South West of 61 Wellhouse Road       NOTED

           

            III)   Highways and Footpaths Advisory Panel

                    a) HCC Traffic Order Proposals – A339 Basingstoke Road/C26 Medstead Road

                        40 mph speed limit to be extended.  HCC to be advised that Council fully support these proposals.

                    b) HCC Delegated Fund

                        Details noted and to be held on file.

 

06.61    EHDC LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

            Meeting of F&GP Panel to meet before Christmas to consider Council’s input to the Core Strategy Development

            Framework Document.

 

 

 

Minutes November 2006 continued/….page 3 of 3

 

 

 

 

06.62    VILLAGE HALL REPORT  

            BVH Chairman Peter Cox was present and reported on the success of recent social events and the new Sunday

        School and future social plans.  Council requested that they be kept informed of the progress of the development

        plans for the hall.

 

06.63    FINANCE

            a)  Summary Receipts & Payments for 2nd Quarter to 30 September 2006 – Presented at F&GP and NOTED.

            b)  Interim Internal Audit had been carried out by Councillor Edward Neish prior to Budget discussions.

            c)  Budget/Precept 2007/08

                 Proposed Norman Miles, Seconded Ian Gibson and RESOLVED: that Council accepts recommendation to set the Precept for 2007-08 at £10,500 this being £900 lower than 2006-07.

d)  Payments authorised:        

                 Proposed Ian Gibson, Seconded Edward Neish

                 RESOLVED:    i)     Mrs Sheron Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary, Allowance and Administration

                                                Expenses (November 2006)                                                                 £387.72

                                         ii)     HCC - Pension Payments (contributions for November 2006)                  £79.52

                                         iii)    Beech Village Hall                                                                           £2,500.00

                                                RESOLVED: That the Council in accordance with its powers under

                                                Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972, should incur the following

                                                expenditure which, in the opinion of the Council, is in the interests of the

                                                area of its inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with

                                                expenditure:

                                         iv)    St Lawrence Church, Alton (re: St Peter’s Church repair fund)           £2,000.00

                                         The following for payment end December 2006:

                                         v)    Mrs Sheron Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary and Allowance (Dec 06)           £342.21

                                         vi)    HCC – Pension Payments (contributions for Dec 06)                              £79.52

                

06.64    CORRESPONDENCE

            The following items were formally received:-

                    HCYBA – Thanks and acknowledgement of grant

                   Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service – Consultation

                   SEERA – Update on South East Plan Number 10

                   EHDC – Non Statutory Planning Guidance on the Implementation of the Policy for Affordable Housing

in East Hampshire – adopted 6 September 2006

                   EHDC – Community Forum Minutes (31.10.06)

         

06.65  NEXT MEETING

Confirmed that the next meeting of the Council would be held in the Village Hall on Monday, 15 January 2007

at 7.30pm preceded by Parishioners’ Question Time at 7.15 pm.

         

CLOSURE OF MEETING      

Chairman thanked all present for their attendance, wished them a Happy Christmas and closed the meeting at 8.06 pm.

 

 

 

                                                                  

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

                                                                                                         Chairman Beech Parish Council

date: 15 January 2007