Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall Lounge on Monday 16 NOVEMBER 2009

 

        PRESENT: 

      

       Councillor Anne Burridge                                             Linda Munday, EHDC Community Planning

       Councillor Ian Gibson                                                            Co-ordinator

       Councillor Peter May

       Councillor Norman Miles                                              Approx. 30 Members of the Public (6 remained

Councillor Edward Neish (Chairman)                                               for Council Meeting)

Councillor David Woodroofe

Councillor Gillian Young

Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council

District Councillor Patrick Burridge                     

 

                                      

PARISH PLAN MEETING

Prior to the main Council Meeting, approximately 30 members of the public joined the Council to hear a presentation by Linda Munday, Community Planning Co-Ordinator from EHDC on the reasons why the Parish should be considering the production of a Parish Plan and ways to start the process.  It should be a community led plan, supported by the Parish Council but not owned by it (they can choose to adopt it once produced). 

It was stressed that the Parish Plan would not replace the Village Design Statement but look at a wider range of issues for the village – social, economic and environmental – and would feed into the East Hants local development framework documents.  It would also ensure that contributions from developers could continue to be levied – new legislation only allows for this if need had been identified.  Viable projects for the village would be more likely to benefit from a variety of funding sources if identified by this planning process.  Projects could be Community or Parish Council led.

Before taking questions, a short film showing a Shropshire Village taking part in this process was shown as an example.

Chairman Edward Neish thanked Linda for her presentation and all those present for attending and hoped that all would get involved in the production of the Beech Parish Plan.  A further meeting for those prepared to form a steering committee would be arranged shortly.

 

09.57  CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

  Approved that the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 19 October 2009 be amended as follows: item

  09.53 Parish Plan, to read ‘Linda Munday’ not Murray.  The Minutes, copies of which had previously been

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

 

09.58  DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 

           There were no declarations of interest.

 

09.59  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

           Mr Colin Britchford and other members of the NHW, had been pleased to hear that under the HCC Protocol, it

           would now be possible for the village to have driver feedback signs and wished to know why the Council had not

           yet purchased units.

           Chairman Edward Neish explained that the protocol had only been available since late March and that the            Council had many aspects to research before committing public funds.  These included i) the type of unit to be

           purchased, whether it should be a Speed Limit Reminder sign (as on A31 in Ropley, flashing the speed limit at            that point) or a Speed Indicator Device (as at north of Basingstoke) which gave the speed being travelled and            could also provide statistics to support future police enforcement; ii) whether it would be possible to share a unit            with another parish to spread the not insubstantial costs, since HCC recommendations for greatest effectiveness            are for temporary deployment of units at any given location; iii) to ascertain the effectiveness of the Village 30

           programme, which was to include the deployment of a HCC SLR unit (although this now seems unlikely) by

            arranging for a speed survey; and iv) obtaining land owners’ consent to place posts for units on their frontage            (sites would also require Highways’ approval). 

                                                                                                        Minutes November 2009/continued...page 2 of 4

 

           He assured all present that the Council had been actively taking this matter forward and trying to resolve the

           various difficulties and would be making further decisions during the meeting.

 

09.60  REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

           Patrick Burridge reported that:

           i)   EHDC were seeking 6 sites suitable for gypsy families.  He stressed that Beech was highly unlikely to

                 be identified as meeting the requirements.

           ii)  District forums were changing.  Area plans are to be developed and he hoped the Parish Council would get                  involved.

           iii) Planning – he thanked the Council for their timely and sensible responses to applications.  This ensured their

                 views were considered by District.

                

                 A question from the public regarding Highways was answered by the Chairman since Highways are a County                             issue not a District responsibility.

 

09.61  REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR      

           Chairman read an e-mail from Cllr Mark Kemp-Gee advising i) he was following the SLR/SID correspondence            and possible actions with interest (including liaising with Medstead and Bentworth) and offered advice/help, if

            required; ii) He looked forward to seeing Council’s representatives at Highways meeting on 2 December; and iii)       advised that he is on the Hampshire ALC Revised Charter Working Party being co-ordinated by HCC.

09.62  REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I)      Finance and General Purposes Advisory Panel

                    A meeting had been held between Edward Neish, Peter May and Clerk on Monday, 9 November 2009. 

                    Their recommendations were considered later in the meeting under relevant topics.

           II)     Development and Planning Advisory Panel

                    a)      One application was considered.  Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED that the comments of the                              Council be forwarded to EHDC as follows:

                             i)  37920/005  51 Wellhouse Road   Detached garage/store.  NO OBJECTION with following

                                  comment: An adequate scheme for the prevention of surface water discharge onto the public                                 highway should be included and approved.

           III)    Highways and Footpaths Advisory Panel report:

                    a)      Traffic Calming – Chairman Edward Neish reported on a meeting held with Medstead Parish Council                              on Monday, 9 November to consider the possibility of sharing the costs of the purchase of a SLR or

                             SID unit with Medstead and possibly Bentworth.  This would give Beech 6 or 7 two-week

                             deployments throughout the year.  Whilst the additional functions of a SID were recognised, given

                             the restrictions applied by the new HCC protocol to use them, it is likely that Medstead would favour

                             the use of SLRs which could be purchased and managed through HCC/Amey.  Capital costs would be 

                             £2650 per unit, £569.73 per post and socket and £112.50 for each deployment by Amey.

                             Proposed Peter May, Seconded Gill Young and RESOLVED: That the Council commission a speed                              surveys at a cost of no more than £600.00; continue to negotiate with Medstead for the acquirement                              of a unit for shared use in Medstead, Beech and Bentworth; approach landowners for agreement to                              place units on their land (at sites previously identified by IG). 

                             Chairman to use newsletter article to identify the only sites suitable for these units (as specified by                              Highway regulations).

                      b)    HCC East Hampshire Local Highways Meeting on Wednesday, 2 December in Winchester from

                             10.00 am to 12.00 to attended by Edward Neish and Ian Gibson (if available).

 

           IV)            Community and Environment Advisory Panel

                      a)    Gambling Act 2005 – EHDC Review of Policy Consultation

                             Council approved comments prepared by Councillor Anne Burridge for forwarding to EHDC by 4

                             December as follows:  Document had considered relevant areas of children, advertising, entrances

                             and monitoring.  It was considered appropriate that each application should be looked at individually. 

                             Council applauded the opportunity for charities to apply for small lotteries more easily.

                                                                                                         Minutes November 2009 continued/...page 3 of 4

 

 

                     b)         Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2010-13: Public Consultation

                             Available at: http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/objectives_for_consultation__download.pdf

                             Comments required by 11 December 2009.  Cllr Gill Young to prepare response on behalf of Council.

                     c)          HCC Hampshire Minerals and Waste Core Strategy – notice of forthcoming public consultation                              NOTED.

 

09.63   EHDC CORE STRATEGY – Preferred Policies

            Council had considered this document and would respond to EHDC as follows:

            i)      This is a good document, well presented. 

            ii)     Beech Parish Council would like to see the strategic gap between Alton and Beech maintained. 

            iii)    That the necessary infrastructure should be in place before any large scale development is undertaken.

 

09.64   VILLAGE HALL

            i)      AGREED Beech Parish Council would support the Village Hall’s application to EHDC to use funds

                    currently held in Developers’ Contributions (approximately £6,000).

            ii)     Council would support Village Hall’s purchase of the BT phone box in Wellhouse Road as long as the box

                    is retained in Beech and the Village Hall assume responsibility for its maintenance.

 

09.65   HAMPSHIRE ALC

a)  Cllrs Gill Young and Norman Miles to attend the next District Association meeting to held in Whitehill on

     2 December 2009. 

b)  Clerk confirmed that it would still be possible to debate resolutions at the County AGM on items of value to

     Hampshire Parishes although as motions could go forward to NALC Policy Committee through County Board

     at any time of year and any issues that parishes have with NALC could be directed to Country representative,   Colin Mercer, it is less likely they would be needed.

c)  A proposal from Hampshire ALC to leave NALC would be considered in the New Year.

 

09.66   LOCAL HISTORY DAYS   

            Local villages had been asked to participate in a local history exhibition to be held at the Assembly Rooms on 15        May 2010.  A meeting for interested parties was being arranged for week commencing 23 November.  It was             hoped that to arrange for Beech to be involved.  (IG and GY).

 

09.67   EAST HAMPSHIRE PASSENGER TRANSPORT FORUM

            No Councillors were available to attend meeting on Tuesday, 8 December.

 

09.68   FINANCE

a)  Precept/Budget 2010-2011 – Following a report by F&GP Panel, Proposed Cllr Peter May, Seconded Cllr      Gill Young and RESOLVED: That a) Budget be approved and b) Precept for 2010-2011 be set at £12,000,      this being a nil increase on 2009-2010.

b)  Following a review of High Interest Bonds held by Council, Proposed Chairman Ed Neish, Seconded Cllr Ian

     Gibson and RESOLVED: That a further 3-month High Interest Bond of £10,000 be purchased early in the      New Year.

c)  Payments authorised:      

                 Proposed: Cllr Peter May, Seconded Gill Young and RESOLVED:          (See Jan 2010 Minutes for details)

                 i)              Mrs Sheron Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary, Allowance and expenses (November 2009)       £474.10 £455.19

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

                 For payment 14 December 2009:

                 iii) Mrs Sheron Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary, Allowance and expenses (December 2009)   £474.10£414.60

                 iv) HCC - Pension Payments (employer’s & employee’s contribution for December 2009) £111.94£111.93

                 v)  Customs & Revenue Only – tax Oct-Dec 09                                                                 £37.20

 

 

                                                                                                         Minutes November 2009 continued/...page 4 of 4

 

 

09.69   CORRESPONDENCE

            The following items were formally received:

                   EHDC – Working together to improve the lives of people in Alton (Conference being held on

                             Thursday, 26 November from 6.00 pm at Alton Assembly Rooms)

                   Alton Citizens Advice Bureau – letter of thanks for recent donation.

                   EHDC – Local Development Framework Newsletter (previously circulated)

                   Hampshire ALC Local Council News – Issue 230 Autumn 2009

 

09.70   MEETING DATES     

            Confirmed that the next scheduled Council Meeting would be held in the Village Hall on Monday, 18 January

            2010 at 7.30 pm preceded by Public Question Time at 7.15 pm.

 

CLOSURE OF MEETING      

Chairman thanked all present for their attendance and hard work throughout a busy 2009 and wished them a Happy Christmas.  He closed the meeting at 9.15 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

                                                                                                         Vice-Chairman Beech Parish Council

date: 14 December 2009