Minutes 9th November 2009

PRESENT

Chairman: Cllr Mr A Manship
Councillors: Mrs J Chase, Mrs T Meads, Mrs P Sharpe & Mr G Tull

IN ATTENDANCE

Clerk: Mrs E Manship
County Councillor: Mr P Mason
District Councillors: Mr R Humby
PC Clive Barham and PS Dorian Chapman

170/09 APOLOGIES

Councillors: Mr J Chapman & Mr R Page
District Councillor: Mr L Ruffell

171/09 DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS FOR AGENDA ITEMS

Planning Application 09/01917/FUL and 09/01918/FUL Woodland View Stables
Cllr Page – as a neighbour declared a preferential interest.

172/09 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 12th October 2009 had been circulated. The Chairman signed the minutes.

173/09 POLICE CONSTABLE REPORT

a) Occurrence Summary

PC Barham reported the Occurrence Summary for Owslebury Parish, 14th September to 12th October 2009.

 

This summary gives a simple snapshot of those incidents occurring within the parish, which are most liable to affect local residents. It is not intended to be a complete list of all occurrences recorded; identities are omitted.

 

For detailed statistics by cost code, go to the Hampshire Constabulary website: http://www.hampshire.police.uk scroll down to the bottom left of the page, and in the CADDIE space enter the post code of the area of interest.

 

• Burglary other than in a dwelling

Between 14:30 Friday 16th October and 10:00 Saturday 17th October 2009 – Whaddon Lane – Person(s) unknown entered storage yard in secluded location.  Chippers and tree stumpers stolen from metal storage container and removed using a stolen lorry (44090452329)

 

• Burglary other than in a dwelling

Between 17:00 Monday 12th October and 08:00 Tuesday 13th October 2009 – Yard off Longwood Road– Un-known person(s) entered yard overnight.  Cover of plastic bulk fuel tank forced open and electric fuel pump removed and stolen.  Barn entered by damaging lock – nothing stolen from barn (44090445496)

 

Anyone with information that might assist police enquiries into these or other crime incidents is requested to make contact by phoning 0845 045 45 45. Alternatively, information can be given to Crime Stoppers (anonymous & free) on 0800 555 111.

 

PC Barham thanked the parishioners for 5 reports of suspicious incidents involving people and vehicles.  He confirmed these reports are valuable and asked that they continue.

 

Sgt Dorian Chapman introduced himself as the new Sergeant for the area, as from September 2009.   He reiterated PC Barham’s request for notification of suspicious incidents to continue and confirmed that people should feel comfortable in using 999 if witnessing an incident.  E.g. lights in the middle of a field in the middle of the night.

 

If a patrol car is free it will attend. If it is not an emergency, to phone 101 or use the
mobile phone numbers allocated to PC Barham and PCSO Carthew.  PC Chapman thanked the Council for 3 police priorities for the parish and confirmed these would be used to focus their work. Ongoing discussions took place regarding potential poaching within the parish and overtaking on the C9. 

 

Sgt Chapman confirmed he isn’t going to make promises he couldn’t keep but his priority is to reduce crime, he welcomed ongoing communication with the Council and parishioners to support this and confirmed any incident reported would be followed up.

 

PC178 Clive Barham & PCSO14039 Helen Carthew
Meon Valley Safer Neighbourhoods Team,

Meon Valley Police Station,

Hoe Road,

Bishops Waltham.

S032 1DS.

Tel: 0845 045 45 45.  Fax: 023 8074 5307

Email: clive.barham@hampshire.pnn.police.uk Mobile: 079 0110 2498
Email: helen.carthew@hampshire.pnn.police.uk Mobile: 079 0110 2497
Email: dorian.chapman@hampshire.pnn.police.uk Mobile: 079 0110 2292

174/09 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Cllr Manship thanked everyone who had helped clear up after the storm damage, in particular known to him Marwell Wildlife, Cllr Tull and Southern Electricity, but a general thanks to all involved.

b) Website Photographic Competition 

Cllr Manship thanked Cllr Chapman for his work in organising the competition enjoyed by all. He confirmed the winning photos could be viewed on the website.

c) Parish Policing Partnership Forum – Wednesday 21st October – Feedback

Cllr Tull reported a useful meeting with the opportunity to share experiences and discuss the way forward.  He confirmed that many of the problems faced in Owslebury were the same in neighbouring parishes e.g. speeding through village, dangerous junctions etc. which confirmed road safety should be a priority for the Winchester area.

d) WDALC Meeting – Thursday 22nd October – Feedback

Cllr Manship reported the focus of the meeting was Climate Change and that the target is to reduce emissions 30% by 2015.  A strategy to support this is to be incorporated in planning guidance.

e) OMCA Meeting – Feedback

Cllr Chase reported that discussions took place around whether mini-bus trips for the young people in the parish would be welcomed in the same way that they have been for the elderly. In the past the village has supported a successful youth group and if the mini-bus can be used to support the young people of the village access leisure activities safely OMCA would like to make this provision available.

 

Cllr Meads confirmed that CRB is of course an important issue and a couple of adults with overall responsibility would be required.  But further to this she would be willing to support a mini-bus trip a couple of times a year as part of a rota of supporting adults and wondered whether a request from OMCA in the Newsletter for interested young people and adults would be helpful.

f) Tree Training – Feedback

Cllr Manship reported that he had attended a useful training session covering TPO’s, Conservation Areas, Tree Management etc.  And most importantly had been introduced to the new tree officer for WCC who can be called out to survey trees etc.

g) Do you know what your residents are thinking? – Feedback

Cllr Chase reported on the above workshop attended, which discussed ways to encourage people to become involved. The actions other councils are taking to support young people are of particular interest e.g. Hedge End are offering a night buss scheme etc.

h) Charter between HCC and Local Councils

This survey was to inform HCC of the priorities and communication channels that need to be in place to support the work between HCC and the Parishes.  Three Councillors completed the survey, Cllrs Sharpe, Meads and Manship. The Clerk agreed to co-ordinate these and forward to HCC on behalf of the Council

175/09 PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

a) Planning Application 09/01885/FUL – Marwell Activity Centre

The Manager of the activity centre explained the purpose of the application – to increase the bunk house facility to support residential courses. They currently have to use Lyons Copse in Shedfield as a secondary bunkhouse and bus the young people across each morning and evening. In the summer they use tents in the grounds.

 

They are not increasing the numbers of young people they support, simply enabling them all to stay on site overnight.

b) Planning Application 09/01875/FUL – Baudelaire Ltd

Mrs Harfield asked for information with regard to this application. The Chairman briefly outlined the plans

c) Greenhill Farm

Mr Emmans informed the Council that the majority of the new house could be seen and he was concerned whether surrounding trees had been cut down.

d) Traffic in Lower Baybridge Lane

Mr Emmans stated that further to all the discussions in the Newsletter regarding the intended sign in Lower Baybridge Lane, he would like to confirm that the amount and speed of traffic in the lane had significantly increased over the years, particularly commuter traffic through to Winchester. However, putting that aside, he is concerned about the affect on the lane of the closure of Whaddon Lane for the kerbing.

176/09 COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS

Cllr Humby spoke on various planning events that he had been organising. Cllr Page had attended a recent event for farmers, growers and planners to share information, which had been successful. He confirmed he had put the Clerk in touch with Ken Brown regarding Leader funding and hoped we would be able to access funds from the Leader funding to support the play area project.

 

Cllr Mason briefed the Council on Winchester Democracy Week, the recent HATS meeting and his recent highways meeting with Colin Taylor.

177/09 HIGHWAYS

a) Longwood Road
The Chairman confirmed the first stage of the improvements at the crossroads outlined 7 weeks ago had started. He reported he had been informed it would take about a month. He felt they would need to pursue the cutting of the hedges.

 

Cllr Meads raised the question as to whether the apparent visibility down the C9 that gave drivers a false sense of security would be accepted as mitigating circumstances for double white lines.

b) Whaddon Lane

Mr Tull, as landowner, confirmed he had not received any legal documents.  He confirmed Mr Peach had said the matter was with HCC Legal Team and out of his hands.  He felt it unlikely the work would start before Christmas.  He confirmed that he had been in discussion with Highways regarding the measurements. 

 

The Chairman asked the latest situation regarding the kerbing, further to Mr Tull’s discussions with Highways about installing 12” high industrial kerbing instead of the double kerbing agreed in the specification. Cllr Tull confirmed the specification for double kerbing in a country style but in a harder material, had not been changed.

c) Hedges Blitz
Cllr Tull felt this was all in hand.

 

d) HGV’s

Cllr Meads reported HGV’s driving down Whaddon Lane.  The Chairman reminded everyone to take names, registration numbers and times and to forward the information to the Clerk to follow up.       

178/09 2010/11 BUDGET AND PRECEPT

The Clerk presented the previously circulated half-yearly budget and questions were taken from the Council.  The Clerk confirmed she had put money aside from this year’s budget to purchase the notice board for Marwell and that to date no money had been transferred to St Andrew’s Church towards the Wainscote Project but it had been set aside for when it was required.

 

The Clerk alerted the Council that the budget was extremely tight this year owing to general increasing costs.  She suggested an increase to the precept of £1k but noted this would only just cover the predicted rise in Council expenses.  Cllr Meads noted the decrease in reserves and suggested that some of the money held in the kerbing fund could be held for reserves or to reduce the need to increase the precept in future years. 

 

Cllr Tull stated this money had been put aside for Traffic Calming and must be held for this purpose. The Council agreed the budget and precept as presented.  Of particular import for the minutes include the rise in green fees for the Football and Cricket Clubs of £6 per annum and the agreement of the Clerk’s annual increment in line with JNC rates.

The following donations were agreed for the 2010/11 financial year: -

• St Andrew’s Church - £100
• Morestead Church - £50
• Owslebury Newsletter - £100
• Winchester CAB - £150
• Toddlers Playground Equipment Fund - £300
• Wainscote Project - £600 (as per the Council’s original agreement of £3000 over 5 years in 2007).

A request for support from Home Start Meon Valley was considered and the Council agreed a one-off donation of £150.
 
179/09 BT TELEPHONE BOX

The Clerk reported to the Council that a letter had been received from BT inviting the Council to purchase the box, minus the telephone for £1. 

180/09 PARTIAL REVIEW OF THE SOUTH EAST PLAN: GYPSY AND TRAVELLOR ACCOMMODATION NEEDS

The Council discussed the plan, which had been circulated.  The key concern was whether the views of the Travellers had been taken to account and whether sites were being proposed where the travellers did or did not wish to reside.  It was generally felt that any funds available should be used to enable the Travellers to help themselves as opposed to providing sites for the Travellers.

181/09 RECREATION GROUND – VANDALISM PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Cllr Meads reported that a sub-committee comprising representatives from the Football Club, the Cricket Club, Cllr Tull and herself had met to discuss options. 

 

The proposal of the sub-committee is to peg down additional logs around the boundary, sufficient to prevent vehicles driving onto the ground without preventing the gang mower access.   Hopefully this would make the ground less inviting for vandals but if this did not work a low swing barrier would need to be considered. 

 

Cllr Meads felt this is within the works allowable under ‘Village Green’ status, as access to the Green is not being restricted for the purpose for which the Green is intended. 

 

Councillor Tull kindly agreed to donate his time to install the logs and confirmed he could approach a colleague whom he hoped would donate the logs.  The only cost to the Council would possibly be the pins to fix the logs to the ground. The Council supported the proposal and thanked the sub-committee for their work.

182/09 PLANNING

a) To discuss pre-application consultations

b) To discuss planning applications

c) To hear planning decisions

183/09 TO CONSIDER MATTERS ARISING FROM CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: FOR INFORMATION ONLY

a) South Downs National Park Briefing Session – Rogate Village Hall, Friday 20th November @ 7.30pm

b) Winchester Annual Housing Forum – Wednesday 25th November, 9.30am – 1pm, The Guildhall

No one available to attend

c) The Hampshire Playing Fields Association – 83rd AGM – Tuesday 10th November @ 1.45pm, The Winchester Tennis & Squash Club Bereweeke Road, Winchester

No one available to attend

184/09 FINANCE

November payments were approved in accordance to the budget.

185/09 DATE OF THE NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The next Parish Council Planning meeting will be held on Monday 14th December 2009 at 7.45pm

The meeting closed at 10.30pm