| OWSLEBURY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON
14TH May 2007
AT 7:30 PM IN OWSLEBURY PARISH HALL
PRESENT
Councillor Mr A Manship Chairman
Councillors: Mrs J Chase, Mrs T Meads, Mr R Page, Mr J Seabrook and Mr G Tull.
IN ATTENDANCE
County Councillor Mr P Mason
District Councillor Mr L Ruffell
District Councillor Mr R Humby
Clerk to the Parish Council: Mrs E Manship
The Chairman welcomed City Councillor Mr R Humby to the meeting, further to his recent appointment.
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from:
Councillor Mrs J Ruffell
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 8th May 2006 had been circulated. Mrs T Le Voi proposed the minutes were an accurate record. This was seconded by Mr C Le Voi. The Chairman signed the minutes.
PARISH PLANS AND VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENTS PRESENTATION BY MR STEVE OPACIC, HEAD OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, WCC
What is a Parish Plan?
- It identifies local needs and aspirations (usually through a Parish questionnaire / appraisal)
- It seeks to improve quality of life (identifies issues / areas for improvement)
- It Promotes `sustainable development' (quality o of life for future generations)
- It can deal with any issue that may come out of the questionnaire / appraisal, e.g. affordable housing, recreation, policing, health, traffic, environment
- It could be for a `cluster' of smaller parishes with close links or centred around a larger settlement.
How do we do a Parish Plan?
- WCC has just produced `Community Planning Guidance' and protocol
- WCC and Community Action Hampshire can provide some help
- A national guide to doing Parish Plans is available through Community Action
Hampshire
- The Parish Plan process takes 12-18 months
- There are essentially no hard and fast requirements it is a plan for the Parish, by the Parish
- It needs to influence others if actions are to happen (HCC, WCC, PCT, etc)
- It is therefore important to liaise with other organisations early on and feed into their strategies / programmes / budgets.
What is a Parish Plan NOT?
- A way of preventing change it is more likely to identify what should change.
- A formal planning document it can contribute to future planning policy and could include a Design Statement
- A village history, guidebook, etc. it's more of an action plan for the future.
What is a Village Design Statement?
- A planning document that seeks to identify and protect/improve an area's character
- It contains policies about the protection of features and design of new development
- It is formally adopted as part of WCC's Local Development Framework (LDF)
- This requires a rigorous process, including consultation and sustainability appraisal
The Planning Policy Hierarchy
- Government Policy e.g. Planning Policy Guidance notes / Statements (PPG's and PPS's) Produced by Dept of Communities and Local Government (CLG) 07/01
- Regional Spatial Strategy South East Plan. Produced by South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA)
- Local Development Framework. Produced by Winchester City Council.
- Supplementary Planning Documents. Produced by Council, local communities, etc.
How do we do a Village Design Statement?
- WCC has produced a guide: `An Introduction to Village / Neighbourhood Design Statements'
- WCC officers can provide guidance and financial help towards producing documents
- Lots of examples nationally and locally
- Village Design Statement process often takes 18+ months.
What is a Village Design Statement NOT?
- A way of changing Local Plan policies
- A means of preventing change or development that the Local Plan permits
- A village history or tourist guide
- Based only on opinions
- A `NIMBY' charter
What does Owslebury Need?
- It's your choice perhaps following a SWOT analysis
- Owslebury isn't particularly `threatened' by development the proposed South Downs National Park Local Plan only allows limited infilling.
- But still scope for changes / improvements in which areas?
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Councillor Manship read his report:
Dog mess continues to be a problem. The District Warden now regularly patrols the village. He has supplied dog bags for village use.
Footpath 46 Enquiry. This took place in August and recommendations were made. These were that the new bridleway take place. But now there may be a 2nd enquiry to discuss width restrictions.
Country Kerbing. Stage 1 is now complete. Stage 2, for the remainder of Main Road, was due to start in March 2007. Councillors have carried out stage 3 consultation with remaining areas of the village. Sadly, communication from Hampshire Highways has been very poor. Non-reply to request to meetings with Councillors and non-reply to e-mails made monthly.
Rights of Way. Footpath 49, 23 and 30 has all been looked at for various problems. Styles being blocked with electric fences, broken gates and controversies have all been resolved.
Highway Repairs Broken Road Signs, potholes and Broken Bollards have all been reported. Many of which have been repaired, but some remain outstanding due to staffing shortages in Hampshire Highways.
HGV's continue to be a problem in the village due to Sat Nav devices. The Council is currently working with WCC Traffic Management to address the problem.
Sports Facilities were requested. But after careful consideration there was not enough village demand.
A meeting took place at Marwell Zoo to discuss their long term planning aims.
A county scheme for Access Boards was started for all villages that wished to take part. Owslebury entered, led by Mrs J Hancock and a few villagers.
Improvements around the village have continued. Updating the play area gate and cleaning the graffiti from inside the bus shelter.
We have purchased a replacement picnic bench with disabled access for the Glebe Field, a joint venture with OMCA.
A request for a website was considered and this is now under construction, a year later. Another project jointly funded with OMCA for 2 years.
A long standing problem with bridleway 12 and the site lines from the C9 has been resolved. Following a meeting by Councillors with HCC trees were felled, scrubland reduced and shingle laid.
Meetings have continued by Councillors on Southampton Airport traffic movements, affecting Owslebury flight path.
The Annual Audit gave us all recommended new procedures to adopt. The Council went for External Audit. Both Audits were approved with New Agenda and Financial Reserves explained.
All the Councillors have taken part in attending both meetings and courses and have participated in supporting improvements in the village. My thanks for their support.
With Travellers visiting Shawford Railway Station, the Council sought legal assistance to protect Owslebury and appointed a Councillor to take a lead in this matter, Mrs Jill Chase and procedures have been put in place.
The Citizens Advice Bureau received a donation of £100, the first for 2 years. This was made due to the district grant being reduced by 10%
A Village Design Statement is being encouraged, as the Local Plan ceases to be statute this year.
A new item was introduced in 2007, recommended by our Auditor. A ``Disclosure of Interests'' to be placed on the agenda. This is for the protection of the Councillors and the Villagers.
A 20mph Speed Limit through the village is now our target, along with neighbouring villages.
An updated Parish Noticeboard is now on order, bigger and better for both Parish and Council notices. This will replace the present one outside the village hall.
Finally I wish to thank the following. Our City and County Councillors for their guidance and support. Also the Clerk, Mrs Liz Manship for all her energies for the Council.
Councillor Mr Anthony Manship
COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
County Councillor Mr P Mason read his report:
Another year has flown by and I am now able to present my sixth annual report. The last 12 months has been the busiest year to date, having now switched from the Health Revue Committee to the Culture and Communities Committee. Along with two outside bodies, namely Twyford Waterworks Trust and Bishops Waltham Citizens Advice Bureau, and the newly constituted Hampshire Action Teams, this has resulted in 75 meetings. This includes attendance at all full Council meetings, seminars, site meetings and briefings.
My biggest postbag from constituents in the last 12 months has been with regard to change in Adult Social Care. It was with some relief that the proposals were dropped with a dramatic announcement made at the AGM of Age Concern in Winchester. The outcry from Mencap, Age Concern and numerous other organisations on this occasion managed to change the decision. The New Hampshire Action Teams have been formed to gather more information from the people of Hampshire. I have attended 3 Listening meetings having written down before the start what the outcome would be. Well would you believe it! The state of the roads and flooding, speed of traffic and Public and Rural Transport came out every time. It is a genuine concern with regards to the condition of the roads at a meeting 3 months ago, Officers openly admitted that the roads were 4% worse than they were last year. As I pointed out, you are certainly starting from a very low base.
I have attended 63 Parish Council meetings which, again, is surprisingly more than last year and I repeat that my regular attendance at these meetings helps me to keep in touch with the local developments and concerns within the Bishops Waltham Division. The range of casework covered still appears to broaden each year. For example, school placements, flooding, requests for speed reduction and the good old potholes that are forever with us! On the morning of 12 March Balfour Beattie, having taken over from Rainsway Construction, the two-man gang came to my road to fill two potholes which they did my shovelling a little asphalt into the hole and treading it in with their boots. They obviously didn't know who I was, standing there watching them do it! I was assured 2 years ago that this practice had ceased and that the cutting out of a square and sealing it correctly would be the norm but I appears that the old practice's of `bodge it and scarper' are still around!
As an established and active serving member of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police Authority I, again, have had a very full year. As Chairman of the Crime Prevention Committee, Vice Chairman of the Community Affairs Committee, Member of the Personnel Committee and Complaints and Professional Standards Committee. I have attended all 7 of the Police Authority Full Meetings and Eastleigh Community Safety with seminars, briefings and inspections resulting in 86 meetings totalling 800 hours on Police business.
I have also attended 6 Attestations. Three for regular constables, two for special constables and one PCSO evening. I am pleased to confirm that the standard of entrants has been extremely high. At each I have been delighted to make a short speech of welcome on behalf of the authority.
I have kept in close touch with Lead Officers from the Police Western Operational Command Unit which covers Eastleigh, New Forest and Test Valley with 12 contacts made during the year.
And can you believe, I've been on Local Radio 5 times this year with regards to the grants given by the Crime Prevention Committee.
As I finish every time by assuring all residents of Bishops Waltham Division that I shall continue to support and represent them at all levels with the utmost vigour.
County Councillor Mr Peter Kent Mason
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR'S REPORT
District Councillor Laurence Ruffell read his report:
I am pleased to present my first report as a District Councillor. It has been a busy year having attended 6 Council Meetings, 21 Planning Committee Meetings and 28 Parish Council meetings to name but a few. This coming year seems to be just as busy. I do now have the help of the new District Councillor Rob Humby.
Southampton Airport continues to expand and modernise, thankfully the expansion includes new aircraft that are up to 30% quieter than existing. As a member of the Southampton International Airport Consultative Committee I will get knowledge first hand of any changes. I will continue to monitor the situation.
Regardless of what is reported in the local press, I am still confident we can obtain a 20mph speed limit in the Village. To that end I am arranging a meeting with the Environment Portfolio Holder for HCC to come and see for himself the problems we have with rush hour traffic.
Waste Recycling, Alternative Bin Collection. This new system will be introduced into this area in June/July. It will increase the amount of recycled material to between 35% - 40%. Since the start, ABC recycling rate has already increased to 28% (April). All Non recyclable household waste goes to Energy Recovery plants for conversion into electricity. The green garden waste will go for conversion into Pro-Grow Compost.
I will continue to support and represent all members of the parish to my best ability.
District Councillor Laurence Ruffell
PRESENTATION OF THE AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 2006
The Clerk presented the audited accounts for the year ending 31st March 2006. These accounts were available for inspection.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None.
The meeting closed at 8.10pm.
Chairman……………………Date…………
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