Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall on Monday 19 November 2007

 

 

 

    PRESENT:

 

Councillor Edward Neish (Chairman)                                 Members of the Public: Mr Richard Butt

Councillor Ian Gibson

Councillor Anne Burridge

Councillor Norman Miles       

Councillor David Woodroofe                                                  

Councillor Gill Young

Councillor Peter May (arrived during item

District Councillor Patrick Burridge

Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council                          

 

         

07.59   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

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

 

07.60   CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of Council Meeting held on 15 October 2007, copies of which had previously been circulated, were confirmed.  Chairman Edward Neish signed them as a true record.

 

07.61   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

           District Councillor Patrick Burridge expressed his support for the Parish Council in its efforts to provide a

           cemetery for Beech.

 

07.62   REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I) Finance & General Purposes Panel

              Chairman Edward Neish gave report of meeting held on Monday, 12 November.  The following                                           recommendations were considered and approved:

              a)   Cemetery

                    Following a report by Cllrs Anne Burridge and Ian Gibson, Council fully supported the proposal to

                    further investigate the feasibility of providing Beech with a cemetery.  Proposed: Cllr Gill Young and

                    Seconded: David Woodroofe and RESOLVED: That two members of the Council meet with representatives                    of the Abbey to discuss the purchase of an appropriate area of land for use as a cemetery and to see if there

                    is a basis for a contract.  If necessary, a special meeting of the Council to be convened to agree terms.

              b)   Developers’ Contribution – following consideration of the Village Hall’s application to EHDC to use these

                    funds for aspects of the village hall’s planned re-development, it was proposed by Cllr Ian Gibson,

                    Seconded by Anne Burridge and RESOLVED: That Council support this application up to £10,000.

              c)   Grant Requests from Village Hall – the Village Hall Committee had applied to the Parish Council for a

                    grant of £5,000 towards new kitchen units and a further pledge of £10,000 towards proposed re-

                    development.  Before considering these requests in detail, Council wished to view the Village Hall’s

                    audited accounts, full costings for the kitchen improvements (including estimates/quotations) and more

                    detailed information regarding their plans for re-development of the hall.

              d)   Code of Conduct/Standing Orders

                    New Public Participation section had been included on Agenda to ensure this formed part of the meeting, as

                    advised by NALC.  Clerk to review Standing Orders and to advise Council of any required amendments.

              e)   NALC Salary Scales from 1 April 2007 now available.  Council had approved adoption at its June meeting. 

                    Clerk advised additional cost to Council.

             

 

 

 

                                                                                                         Minutes November 2007 continued….page 2 of 3

 

 

              f)   Meeting Dates for 2008

                    Agreed, as follows:

                                                               January        21st

                                                              February      25th   4th Monday to avoid Half-term

                   Annual Parish Meeting

                   plus Council meeting             March         17th

                                                              April            21st

                   Annual Council Meeting       May            19th

                                                              June            16th

  July             21st            

                                                              August         No meeting scheduled

                                                              September   15th               

  October       20th               

  November    17th               

  December    No meeting scheduled

             

           II)     Development & Planning Advisory Panel

               a)   Three applications had been considered: Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED: That Council’s comments

                    be forwarded to EHDC as follows:

                    i)  32221/015/FUL   Lansdales, 108 Medstead Road     Double garage with store over      

                                                    NO OBJECTION subject to garage and store over being used solely

                                                    for garaging and storage, not ancillary accommodation.

                    ii)  29860/007/FUL   45 Medstead Road   Retention of improvements to driveway   

                                                    NO OBJECTION with following comments:

                                                    a)  Council unhappy about retrospective nature of the application

                                                    b)  any approval should be subject to agreement on a rural style finish and a

                                                         landscaping scheme to blend with the natural environment

                                                    c)  Council deplore the use of any material that would increase surface water run-off

                    iii)28390/006FUL    Land adjacent Oakleigh, 116 Medstead Road     One dwelling with associated parking

                                                    & access               NO OBJECTION     

            b)     Previous Applications – EHDC decisions NOTED:

                    i)  21720/001/FUL   Beechwood, 36 Wellhouse Road   Five dwellings and garaging following

                                                    demolition of existing                                                                     WITHDRAWN

                    ii)  36819/004TPO The Limes, 2 Cramptons  Re-pollard to the original pollard points (17)

                                                lime trees located along the south western garden boundary of property.    CONSENT 

                    iii) 30797/014/FUL 10 King’s Hill   Two dwellings following demolition of unit to rear of

                                           10 King’s Hill (as amended by plans received 19/12/06)                                 PERMITTED

                                                                                                                           

           III)    Highways and Footpaths Advisory Panel:

       a) Clerk reported that Alan Todd from Hampshire Highways had requested a police speed check but they

            had advised that there are currently insufficient repeater signs through village.  This would need to be

            addressed before speed check can be carried out.  He had also arranged for the gullies to be cleared.

                    b) Response from Stagecoach – fully supported safe driving through village and requested Council provide                      them with details of any buses not adhering to their standard.

                    c) Correspondence regarding grass cutting on road verges – referred to Panel

        d) HCC Hampshire downs Countryside Access Plan

            Completed by Cllr Ian Gibson and returned to HCC.

IV)   Community and Environment Advisory Panel

                        a)  Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework – Minerals Plan Regulation 26 Consultation –

                             referred to Panel.

 

07.63   TRAINING

           EHDC Planning Training, 16 October 2007 attended by Norman Miles, David Woodroofe, Ian Gibson and

           Clerk.  All agreed had been interesting with good presentations.

                                                        

                                                                                                         Minutes November 2007 continued….page 3 of 3

 

 

07.64   FINANCE

           a)      Budget/Precept 2008-09

                 Proposed Norman Miles, Seconded Gill Young and RESOLVED: That Council accept Finance & General

                 Purposes Panel recommendations to set Precept for 2008-09 at £12,000.

           b)  2006-07 Annual Accounts

                 Clerk reported satisfactory completion of external audit.  Notices had been posted.

           c)     2007-08 Annual Accounts

                 David Woodroofe reported that he had completed a satisfactory interim internal audit on 1 November 2007.

           d)     Payments authorised: 

                  Proposed Ian Gibson and Seconded by Gill Young RESOLVED:                                                   

                  i)      Mrs S Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary, Allowance and Administration Expenses (Nov 2007)    £439.27

                  ii)    HCC – Pension Payments (employer’s & employee’s contribution for Nov 2007)               £91.55

                  iii)    Revenue & Customs Only                                                                                                £0.90

                                                    

07.65   REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

           Cllr Patrick Burridge advised that he anticipates a 0% increase in District precept for 08-09 with no decrease in

           level of services.

           He advised that the second public enquiry on the South Downs National Park will start in February 2007 with

           expected completion in summer 2008.  This will consider the exclusion of Liss/Petersfield.

 

07.66   HAMPSHIRE ALC REPRESENTATIVES

           Next meeting of District Association to be held on 5 December; Norman Miles and Gill Young to attend. 

           Norman Miles and the Chairman of the District Association had recently attended a liaison meeting with East

           Hampshire District Council.

 

07.67   CORRESPONDENCE

           The following items were formally received:-

                   EHDC – Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment

                   Hampshire ALC    i)   Bulletin – Autumn 2007        ii)  New Constitution

                   HCC – Hampshire Rural Pathfinder Final Report 2007

 

07.68   DATE OF NEXT MEETING

  Confirmed that the next meeting of the Council would be held in the Village Hall on Monday, 21 January 2008

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

 

CLOSURE OF MEETING  

Chairman thanked all present for their attendance and their work on behalf of the Council during the year.  He wished everyone a happy Christmas and looked forward to continuing the Council’s work in 2008.  He closed the meeting at 9.11 pm.

                       

 

 

 

 

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

                                                                                                              Chairman Beech Parish Council

     date: 21 January 2008