Minutes 14th November 2011

Chairman: Cllr Mr A Manship
Councillors: Mr J Chapman, Mr M Cryer, Mr R Page, Mr M Pallant, Mrs P Sharpe & Mr G Tull
County Councillor: Mr P Mason

IN ATTENDANCE

 

Clerk: Mrs E Manship

171/11  APOLOGIES

District Councillors: Mr R Humby & Mr L Ruffell
PCSO Sarah McCulloch

None

173/11 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES

The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 10th October 2011 had been circulated. The Chairman signed the minutes.

174/11 POLICE CONSTABLE REPORT

None as the PCSO who had planned to attend had been called away on an emergency.

Anyone with information that might assist police enquiries 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.

PCSO Sarah McCulloch, Meon Valley Safer Neighbourhoods Team, Meon Valley Police Station, Hoe Road, Bishops Waltham. S032 1DS. Tel: 0845-045-45-45.  Ext. 643-234.  Fax: 023-8074-5307
Email: sarah.mcculloch@hampshire.pnn.police.uk Mobile: 079-0110-2509

PC24208 Jon Radcliffe, Countryside & Wildlife Crime Officer
Email: winchester.countryside@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
Tel: 0845-045-45-45.  Ext.  643-126.   
                            

175/11 TO HEAR PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

a) Planning Applications – Statement of Intent from Owner or Agent and Public Comments 

i) Old Tin Barn

The landowner confirmed he had recently acquired the site and wished, as previously discussed with the Parish Council to improve the building and move his Naval Architectural business to the site.  He presented drawings for initial comment. 

 

He confirmed that externally there would be little change to the appearance of the property.  The shutters will be removed, replacing them with slotted windows in keeping with the style of a barn.  He planned to retain the current storage permission and replace the asbestos roof with slate. 

 

This would necessitate the ridge height being slightly raised but he had discussed this with Puffins who had no issue.  The parking area would remain unchanged.  He would be looking to recruit a bookkeeper and groundsperson from the village. The leylandi at Puffins had been removed to improve visaibility.  Traffic will primarily access the business from the Morestead side. He was gradually speaking with neighbours to seek their agreement for the plans.  

The Chairman invited comments or questions from the Council.  None were made.  The Chairman thanked the landowner for his time and presentation and confirmed the Council looked forward to viewing the final plans once submitted.

 

176/11 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

a) Meeting with George Hollingbury MP – 28th October 2011 – feedback
Councillors Manship and Cryer attended, two of fourteen delegates from local councils.  A presentation was given on planning and housing though little detail was available as to how this would operate.  GH indicated his disappointment regarding the recent decision at Barton Farm.

 

b) Woodland View Stables

Cllr Tull confirmed he had not visited the site with regard to the alleged building at the site as life had been hectic.  He still planned to visit the site. 

 

Cllr Chapman confirmed he had attended the Planning Inpectorate Appeal Hearing.  He felt it was a very fair hearing, the Planning Inspector giving all parties time to present their case.  We are awaiting the outcome.

 

c) WACA AGM – feedback

Cllr Pallant confirmed 47 people attended. Chief Inspector James Fulton outlined his strategy, as Cllr Tull had fed back at a previous meeting. Time after the meeting to network was particularly useful.  He was able to discuss the tyre slashing with CI Fulton and Dial a Ride with Jackie Lee of Community Transport.  Details of which he had forwarded to the Clerk to follow up.

 

177/11 COUNTY AND CITY COUNCILLOR REPORTS

Councillor Page joined the meeting.

No reports received from District Councillors Humby and Ruffell

a)    Owslebury Primary School
Cllr Mason reported that he had forwarded a letter of congratulations to the Head Teacher at Owslebury Primary   School in regard to the high standard of education delivered at the school over the last 5 years.

 

b)    Minerals and Waste Consultation
Cllr Mason confirmed the minerals and waste plan was out for consultation, the nearest large site being in Hamble Lane and the next at West Moors Country Park.

 

c)   TV/Audio Equipment upgrade – HCC Council Chamber
Cllr Mason reported that the Leader of HCC had put forward a plan to spend £220,000 on TV and Audio Equipment to upgrade the Council Chamber.  Comments from the Council were made as to how this would be better spent on the buses.

 

d) Winter Gritting Arrangements

Cllr Mason reported that 15 continuous days of salt is available.  Grit bins are still available and can be ordered from Highways.  New spreaders and a new snow plough has been made available and additional farmers have been placed under contract.

 

e) Bus Cuts

Cllr Mason reported that the Head of Transport had noted the amount of concern arising from Owslebury residents and he had come to the consideration that he would need to sit down and discuss how the situation can be alleviated.  New tendering arrangements are being considered at the end of November.  He hoped the situation would improve.

 

f) Southampton Police Station

Cllr Mason reported that he had attended a recent event at Southampton Police Station where he had the pleasure of meeting Princess Anne.

178/11 BUS SERVICE CUTS

a)   Feedback from Winchester Transport Forum – Cllr Mike Cryer
Cllr Mike Cryer attended the meeting.  HCC confirmed the cuts were now in place and buses operating to the new timetable.  A video was shown to explain why the cuts were necessary.  Most parishes have been affected. HCC confirmed the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the “self-help kit” with Parish Council representatives.  HCC hoped affected parishes would communicate and arrange shared mini-buses or alternative forms of shared transport etc.  To action a self-funded service would require a meeting with concerned parents.

 

Cllr Mike Cryer confirmed that he had spoken with Colin Wright before the meeting.  Colin Wright has confirmed that he will monitor the situation over the forthcoming months, however, if an additional service is to be re-introduced it would have to be at the sacrifice of another within the village.

 

Cllr Cryer raised the difficulties currently experienced, particularly the overcrowding, the 2 boys being left at Winchester Station, not allowed to catch the last bus home as it was full and the danger of picking children up from the other side of the road. Colin Wright acknowledged these issues and others raised by parents in recent correspondence. 

 

He acknowledged receipt of the projected numbers of young people seeking and potentially seeking both Westgate and Peter Symonds received from Mr Chris Rambler and agreed to look into these concerns. 

b)   Feedback from Local Parish Councils – Clerk
The clerk reported that the surrounding parishes are concerned regarding the bus cuts, particularly during holiday periods and at weekends, but seemingly not to the level of Owslebury residents and no planned way forward has as yet been identified.  Upham and Durley agree smaller buses would be preferable on the country routes.   The Clerk confirmed she would keep in touch with the neighbouring councils as plans progress.

c)   Feedback from the Parish Council Questionnaire – Clerk
The Clerk confirmed 300 questionnaires had been hand delivered throughout the Parish.  One week since their delivery 23 had been returned.  The majority of residents who had returned the questionnaire were clearly reliant on the buses in order to get to work, to the shops or to the GP Surgery and the cuts were significantly affecting their day to day lives.  However, many of these residents acknowledged that other than the school run the numbers did not make for a viable service.  

 

A number of residents had returned surveys stating that they never used the buses, though they would wish the service to remain for those who were reliant and to know that it was there should they ever need it in an emergency. 

 

The Clerk noted the small number of returns from elderly residents and all were asked to encourage friends and neighbours to return the survey.  Additional copies of the survey can be obtained from the Clerk if required or if a dwelling was inadvertently missed. 

 

The Chairman asked the Clerk collate a full report for the next Parish Council meeting by when he anticipated the majority of residents who wished to contribute to the survey would have done so.

d)   Feedback from meetings / correspondence undertaken by Parishioners / District and County Councillors
Mrs Cathy Fox reported that further to the offer of an all-age mini bus run to Winchester on a Saturday, by a volunteer driver, she had received one indication of interest from her note in the Owslebury Newsletter.  She was hopeful more would reply to make this offer viable.  

        

Mrs Betty Harfield raised the suggestion that a rota could be compiled of willing volunteers to drive people to the GP Surgery.

 

Mrs Janet Jones reported that Colin Wright, through an e-mail exchange had led parents to believe that Peter Symonds has funds to provide transport for students wishing to attend college.  However, further to contacting Peter Symonds the Principal confirmed this is not the case.  Rather, for students 16 – 18 he indicated this responsibility lay with HCC.  It was noted that in 2013 the statutory school leaving age increases to 18 years. 

 

Mrs Lisa Watson informed the Council that the two boys who had been left at the railway station were her 13 and 17 year olds.  Three boys were waiting at the stop.  One passenger got off and the bus driver allowed one student onto the bus, leaving the other two behind.  She was just relieved for her 13-year old that her 17-year old was present.  

The Council was informed that the school bus was so overcrowded students were standing in front of the sign that states “no standing in front of this sign”.   Owing to the change in routes it is particularly overloaded from Teg Down.  The Chairman confirmed that PCSO McCullock had confirmed she would be asking the Winchester Neighbourhood Team to make spot checks on the school bus.

 

Mrs Tickle reported that she had asked Colin Wright whether the single decker (shorter than the original service bus) could be replaced with a double decker.  

A student at Peter Symonds explained to the Council that when purchasing their bus pass at the beginning of term, at a cost of £600 for the year, there had been no mention of the intended bus cuts.  Since the cuts the number of days she had been able to use a bus had been significantly reduced as the last lesson at Peter Symonds finishes at 4.35pm, after the last bus home. Both parents work which causes difficulty.

Comment was made with regard to HCC’s responsibilities to children and young people, in education, employment and in the NEET group (Not in Education, Training or Employment) as outlined in ‘Every Child Matters – Change for Children’*.  E.g. regarding the means for children and young people in rural parishes to undertake after school activities and post school, to access VI-form College and employment.

* ‘Every Child Matters – Change for Children’.  This document follows on from the Government Green Paper entitled ‘Every Child Matters’ and the subsequent Children Act passed in November 2004. This act raises the degree of accountability, especially at Local Authority level.  For children and young people there are five outcomes that are key to well-being in childhood and later life – being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being. These five constitute the focus of government attention for all pupils. 

 

Every Child Matters: Change for Children sets out a national framework for 150 local programmes of change to be led by Local Authorities and their partners to enable this change.  The main focus areas are early intervention, a shared sense of responsibility, information sharing and integrated front line services. 

 

Emphasis is placed upon the idea that, for each child to fulfil their potential, there must be a greater deal of co-operation, not only between Government agencies, but also between schools, GPs, Sports organisations and the Voluntary and Community sector.  The document gives case studies as examples of how this can be achieved.

It was generally agreed that if one additional service were prioritised, it would be a late bus, at about 17.15 (though this would need to be confirmed with those who would use it as whilst about the right time for school children and students, it may not be late enough for those in employment). 

 

Cllr Manship confirmed he had spoken with Brijan to gain an idea of the cost of a contracted private service, funded by parents.  Brijan had confirmed that as an indicator, an 80-seater, running 40 weeks of the year, from Winchester to Owslebury with two stops, Westgate and Peter Symonds would cost £19,800.  Whilst this compares favourably with the costs quoted by Stagecoach, this is still a significant cost.

179/11 HIGHWAYS

a)   Highways Concerns

• Cllr Chapman asked Cllr Mason whether he knew how long the bollards would remain at the top of Hurst Lane.  Cllr Mason confirmed he would take this up with Peter Eade. 

• Cllr Tull reported that he had watched Amy putting tarmac into the mud in the gullies in Whaddon Lane outside Owslebury Garage and treading it in with their boots. Cllr Mason confirmed he would take this up with Peter Eade.

• Cllr Tull noted the speed of traffic driving up and down Whites Hill

• Cllr Tull noted that the grips had still not been cleared outside Marwell Zoo and at Baybridge Pond opposite Coach Cottage.  The Clerk confirmed that both Marwell Wildlife and Hampshire Highways had confirmed these would be cleared.

b)   Missing Signs

• Hurst Lane – Missing ‘Beware of Horses Crossing’ sign from existing pole
• Whaddon Lane – 3rd Passing Place signs.  Poles are in Cllr Tull’s yard.

• b)   Fly Tipping

Cllr Cryer confirmed he had reported the tyres dumped in Baybridge Lane and that he would report the TV’s dumped in Portsmouth Road.

• Cllr Cryer reported cidar and lager tins continue to be chucked into the hedge tops in Lower Baybridge Lane.  Last month he collected 50 tins!
  
  

180/11 RIGHTS OF WAY

None

181/11 PROJECTOR

Cllr Chapman confirmed that OMPHC had agreed to donate £200 after towards the cost of a projector, but felt he had to report the lack of optimism as to the need.   Cllr Sharpe reported that OMCA had stated they would not contribute to a projector that cost £1000 and they were concerned that it would only be available for the Parish Council to use and not for the rest of the community. 

 

She also reported her disappointment that OMCA felt it perfectly satisfactory for the Clerk or herself to borrow a projector from their employers, though she explained that this facility was no longer available. 

 

The Council was very disappointed with this response as the driver from the outset had been a projector for the benefit for the community – to be available for use by those hiring the hall; for the youth club; for those organising fundraising events and at the Annual Parish Meeting etc. As well as by the Parish Council meeting to support the inclusion of parishioners in presentations and planning application discussions. 

 

The Council felt that there was sufficient need to justify the expense and with the grant from Cllr Mason was affordable.  Cllr Chapman was asked to obtain 3 quotes in respect to projectors that met the specification and purchase the best value for money.

182/11 HEDGES BLITZ

 

The Council note many of the hedges within the Parish have been trimmed, an asset to the village and support to highway safety.  A number of hedges are overgrown, particularly Jackman’s Hill, Main Road and Whites Hill.

183/11 DONATION REQUESTS

a) St Andrew’s Churchyard

Finance has been requested from the Parish Council to support St Andrew’s Church in the maintenance costs cutting the grass in the churchyard.  A guide quotation obtained from Cannon was in the region of £600 for the year.  The Council currently budgets in order to be in a position to give St Andrew’s Church £100 per annum towards church maintenance.  It agreed, for the financial year 2011/12 to give an additional £300 towards grass cutting costs.

b) Winchester Citizens Advice Bureau

The Clerk confirmed that the sum of £150 had been set aside in the 2011/12 budget.  Further to their letter requesting financial support, the Council agreed this sum as a donation.

 

c) Age Concern (Winchester)

In recognition of the voluntary services Age Concern (Winchester) are currently offering elderly residents within the village and their offer to support residents of all ages further through a monthly Saturday minibus run to Winchester the Council agreed a donation for the 2011/12 financial year of £200.

d) Marwell Wildlife

Further to their request for funds to support Rhinos at risk, the Council agreed a donation of £100 towards their preservation work / work in general.

184/11 DRAFT BUDGET 2012/13

 

The Clerk presented the ½ yearly accounts for 2011/12 and the draft budget for 2012/13.  The following areas within the budget are of particular note: -

 

a) Community Annual Donations

     The following annual donations were agreed (cheques to be raised in November 2012): -

• St Andrew’s Church – maintenance costs - £100
• Morestead Church - £100
• Owslebury Newsletter - £100
• Christmas Lights - £100

In addition to the above a sum has been set-aside in the budget to support local community projects / charities within the 2011/12 financial year.  Requests in writing should be made to the Clerk.

b) Play Equipment Funds

 

It is hoped that the Council, with ring-fenced and open space funds, should now have sufficient to purchase one further piece of equipment for the Play Area.  This has been agreed as a surf slide with, if possible climbing equipment to bridge the gap between the toddlers and older children’s play structures.

c) Country Kerbing Funds

With the majority of kerbing now installed, the Council had hoped to re-direct funds towards Virtual Pavements.  However, it is looking increasingly unlikely that Hampshire Highways will agree this.  The Council agreed to begin to discuss alternative uses for funds at the next meeting e.g. to support new ventures that will support parishioners following the recent bus cuts.

d) Staffing and General Expenses

 

The Council agreed all sums set aside to support general expenditure and staffing costs, to include an annual increment for the Clerk / RFO in April 2012.  

e) Precept

The Council agreed to increase the precept by £2000 to £20,000.  £1000 to cover rising costs and £1000 to be set aside to support new ventures that will support parishioners following the recent bus cuts.

 

Further to agreed amendments the draft budget was accepted in its entirety.

185/11 PLANNING

a) To discuss planning applications

OPC: No comment

b) To hear planning and appeal decisions

c) Enforcement Issues – Any new enforcement matters

None

186/11 TO CONSIDER MATTERS ARISING FROM CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: FOR INFORMATION ONLY

a)  Hampshire Playing Fields Association – AGM

Tuesday 15th November – 13:30 – Winchester Tennis & Squash Club,
Bereweeke Road, Winchester.  SO22 6AP

187/11 AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

• Bus Cuts – Way Forward

• Reallocation of Countryside Kerbing Ring-fenced Funds

• Refreshments for December Meeting were agreed.  Cllr Sharpe kindly agreed to make a cake.

 

188/11 FINANCE

Payments were approved in accordance to the budget: -

The next Parish Council Meeting will be held Monday 12th December 2011 at 7.45pm in Owslebury Parish Hall. 

The meeting closed at 10.30 pm.

Chairman………………………………………….   Date…………………………