Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall on Monday 17 September 2007

 

 

    PRESENT:

 

Councillor Edward Neish (Chairman)

Councillor Ian Gibson

Councillor Peter May

Councillor Norman Miles       

Councillor David Woodroofe                                             

Councillor Gill Young

Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council            

 

 

07.37   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received and accepted from Anne Burridge.

 

07.38   CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of Council Meeting held on 16 July 2007, copies of which had previously been circulated, were confirmed.  Chairman Edward Neish signed them as a true record.

 

07.39   REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I)      Finance & General Purposes Panel

                    Next meeting to be held on Monday, 12 November at 7.30 pm

           II)     Development & Planning Advisory Panel

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

                        be confirmed as follows:

                        i)   35921/003/RES   148a Medstead Road    Reserved Matters to 35921/002       NO OBJECTION with

                             comment:  Council welcome the provision of new and refurbished storm-water                                                                                alleviation ponds in the lower part of the site alongside Medstead Road.

                        ii)  24697/004/FUL    Kingswood, 45 Kings Hill   Pitched Roof to Rear           NO OBJECTION

                    b) Previous Applications: EHDC Decisions NOTED:

                       i)   F37851/009/LBC   Donkey Wheelhouse, Wellhouse Road  

                             Re-clad existing structure with timber featheredge.                                        CONSENT

                    c) EHDC – Electronic Consultations on Planning Applications from April 2008.

                        Council considered recent letter from Daryl Phillips, Head of Planning Services and its response.

                        Norman Miles and Gill Young advised that the matter had also been discussed at a recent District

                        Association meeting.  Agreed that Clerk would advise Mr Phillips that Beech Parish Council was

                        strongly opposed in principle to such a change in the planning applications consultation process and the

                        speed with which it was being imposed.  However, it had considered the practicalities of how it could                            best serve its electors if this change came about. As previously advised to Mr Phillips, not all Councillors                               or public had access to the internet and even those that had, often preferred to work with hard copies (at

                        their original size and scale) were considered as necessary during debate at meetings.  Consequently,

                        there are three problems with which Beech Parish Council would require assistance:

                        i)   Significant financial assistance to procure specialist equipment to produce copies larger than A4

                        ii)  Assistance with on-going costs of printing – paper, print cartridges, Clerk’s time, etc

                        iii) Amount of supporting documentation with applications – the ease of electronic data transfer has lead                             to a significant increase in the amount of information provided with each application.  Beech Parish

                             Council requests that applicants/planners provide condensed reports/limited drawings – full reports,

                             etc could be requested, if required.

                    d) Tree Preservation Order

                        i)   Provisional TPO EH 743 2007 at 148a Medstead Road     NOTED.

 

 

 

 

          

                                                                                                         Minutes September 2007 continued….page 2 of 3

 

 

 

           III)Highways and Footpaths Advisory Panel:

    a)         Ian Gibson reported on meeting held on 10 September 2007 including:

            i)   Damage to roads caused by July storms

            ii)  Traffic calming – recommendation to investigate temporary speed signs

            iii)  Concern about pedestrians using section of A339 without a footpath to access car boot sales at Valley

                 Nurseries.  Clerk to contact Hampshire Highways to raise awareness and ask whether there are plans

                 to extend footpath.

     b)    Road Condition Survey – a report produced by Ian Gibson, containing a number of recommendations for

            the improvement of Beech’s roads, was considered at length.  Proposed and agreed that this be sent to

            Hampshire Highways with copy to County Councillor Mark Kemp-Gee for their comment/response.

     c)         Term Highways Contract for Hampshire County Council – correspondence noted.

     d)    HCC Hampshire downs Countryside Access Plan

            Agreed Beech Parish Council should participate in this work.  Clerk to request relevant map sheet.

IV)Community and Environment Advisory Panel

     a)         Ian Gibson reported on meeting held on 10 September 2007 including:

            i)   It had been noted that some Stagecoach buses had been driving aggressively.  Council agreed letter of

                 complaint to be sent to Stagecoach Bus Company.

            ii)  Cemetery – a meeting with representatives from the Abbey was expected to take place in early                        October. 

            iii) Panel had discussed the desirability of a footpath route being provided at the top of King’s Hill.

                   b)  Post Office Closure Programme – consultation NOTED.

                   c)  Village Hall Report:

                             i)   AGM to be held on Tuesday, 25 September 2007 at 7.30 pm

                             ii)  Big Lottery funding - BVH application has been short-listed for consideration and decision by

                                 December 2007.  If successful, the hall’s development plan would progress to Stage 2, to include

                                 seeking planning permission.

                             iii) Open Morning – an opportunity for Village Hall Development Plans to be viewed, likely to be held

                                 some time during October/November.

 

07.40   CODE OF CONDUCT

              Proposed Ian Gibson, Seconded Norman Miles and RESOLVED that: Beech Parish Council adopt the new Code

              of Conduct with effect from 1 October 2007 including Paragraph 12(2).    

              Clerk to inform necessary authorities and to arrange for notice to appear in the Alton Herald, as required by            legislation.

              In light of guidelines issued by NALC, F&GP to discuss and make recommendations to Council concerning

              public participation and any necessary amendments to Standing Orders.

 

07.41   HAPTC AGM – Saturday, 13 October 2007

              Council nominated Norman Miles to represent Beech Parish Council.  Council discussed the two resolutions to be            debated and agreed that Beech Parish Council would support Resolution 1 but on Resolution 2, Councillor Miles

              was asked to listen to debate and vote or abstain as he felt appropriate.

 

07.42   SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK

           Norman Miles had attended a briefing/seminar at EHDC on new proposals for the park on Thursday, 26 July.

            He reported that many groups supporting the creation of the Park are opposed to the recommendations of the

            Inspector to substantially reduce the area of the Park by excluding the A3 corridor (includes Petersfield, Liss and

            Greatham).  This had also been discussed at the recent District Association meeting which supported the inclusion

            of this area.  Chairman thanked Councillor Miles for attending on behalf of BPC.

         

07.43   SOUTH EAST PLAN  

            GOSE’s panel report was made available to Councillors.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                         Minutes September 2007 continued…..page 3 of 3

 

07.44   TRAINING

           a)          EHDC Planning Training – to be held on 16 October 2007 at the Alton Assembly Rooms at 7.00 pm.

              Norman Miles, David Woodroofe, Peter May and Sheron Gillard to attend.

 

07.45   FINANCE

           a)   Clerk requested any project bids for 2008-09 to be advised by next Council meeting.

           b)Payments authorised: 

               Proposed Gill Young and Seconded by Ian Gibson RESOLVED:                                                     

              i)    Mrs S Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary, Allowance and Administration Expenses (Sept 2007)        £447.39

               ii)  HCC – Pension Payments (employer’s & employee’s contribution for Sept 2007)                   £86.34

               iii) Information Commissioner – Annual Registration                                                                   £35.00                           iv) J Legg – Medstead Road footpath maintenance                                                                        £120.00

              v)   Chairman’s Allowance                                                                                                        £19.00

 

07.46   HAPTC Representatives

           Councillors Norman Miles and Gill Young had attended the District Association meeting on 12 September 2007.

           Gill Young reported on the items discussed including:

           i)    Code of Conduct

           ii) Electronic Planning Application consultations

           iii)  Main speaker: Police Chief Inspector Kedge who spoke of a 32% reduction in crime in East Hants making it

                 the second safest district in Hampshire and the intention to involve communities more in their own policing

                 and setting priorities for policing.

           iv)  Changing roles of SEEDA and SEERA

           Gill Young and Norman Miles to attend next meeting on 5 December 2007.

                                                    

07.47   CORRESPONDENCE

           The following items were formally received:-

                                      EHDC – Local Development Framework Statement of Community Involvement

                                      HAPTC – Selborne winners in National Calor Village of the Year Competition

                                      Alton CAB – Annual Report

                                      Hampshire Playing Fields Association Newsletter Summer 2007

                                      HAPTC – New Guidance Relating to the Licensing Act 2003

                                      Local Council Review

 

07.48   DATE OF NEXT MEETING

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

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

 

CLOSURE OF MEETING  

Chairman thanked all present for their attendance and closed the meeting at 9.16 pm.

 

           

 

                       

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

                                                                                                              Chairman Beech Parish Council

     date: 15 October 2007