Full Council Minutes

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Minutes of a meeting of the above Council held at Wickham Community Centre on Monday 19^th June 2006 commencing at 7.15pm.

Present: Mrs A Clear (Chairman), Mrs D Dudley, Mrs T Evans (District Councillor), Mrs J Hollis, Dr M O’Connell, Mr E Pickering.

Mr F Allgood (County Councillor), Mr P Clohosey (District Councillor), six members of the public, Parish Clerk Mrs N Oliver,

1        To receive apologies for absence: Mr M Carter, Mr M Coles,

      Mr F Duckworth, Mrs J Mallett, Mrs S Roger-Jones.

2        To receive declarations of interest on agenda items: none.

      3        To adjourn meeting to allow participation of members of the public:

The Parish Council was congratulated on its very comprehensive and professional response to the South East Plan consultation. (copy available from Clerk on request, also on Parish Council website)   

Concern was expressed regarding the behaviour of some young people on the Water Meadows.  It was noted that the Parish Council has asked the police to include the site in their Friday evening and weekend rounds.  Residents are advised to call the police if problems are witnessed.

Concern also expressed regarding the incidence of wheelie bin fires and car tyre slashing.  It was noted that the Parish Council has raised this issue at a recent police liaison meeting and that operations in this respect were ongoing and expected to be long term.

3.1 Report from County Councillor: please see attached report.

Cllr Allgood was asked to chase up the resurfacing of the Church Crossroads ‘temporary road surface’ and also the removal of yellow developers signs.

Mr E Pickering raised the problem of children from Knowle having to pay for the school bus as it is too far to expect the children to walk, the cost is a problem for some parents.

3.2  Reports from District Councillors: please see attached reports.

3.3 Other questions from members of the public: included above.

1        Meeting resumed to approve the minutes of the Full Council AGM  15^th May 2006. Minutes approved and signed.

          2   Matters properly arising from those minutes: included below where appropriate.

3        Meeting resumed to consider the following agenda items:

6.1 To receive report on the Annual Parish Assembly 25^th May (Chairman.)

The Assembly went well, compliments were received, there was a good age range of local people attending and the Youth Club made a very professional presentation.

6.2 To receive a progress report on Quality Parish Application (Clerk.)(refer to next meeting)

6.3 To agree response to South East Plan consultation (circulated by email) Agreed response available from Clerk on request, also on website.  Cllr Mike Carter was thanked for preparing the draft response.

6.4 To approve contents of Annual Report for the July/August Parish Magazine. (circulated by email) Report approved.

6.5 To receive a report from Knowle Community representatives

(Cllr Pickering).  The revised planning application for Phases 3, 6 and 8 has been submitted.  The next Planning Committee meeting will be held at Knowle to allow residents to view the plans

6.6 Youth Club Committee report (no report this month)

6.7 General Purposes Committee report (Cllr O’Connell )  Groundsman, Paul Collins, has cleared the verge along Winchester Road, letters have been sent to residents asking the very small minority not to dump rubbish over their fences onto the verge.

6.8 Lighting Committee report (Chairman). Ongoing repairs have been reported.  Residents of Roberts Close have requested an additional street light which will be pursued.

6.9 Planning Committee report.

6.9.1 To receive minutes of meeting 22^nd May 2006. Minutes received.

6.9.2 Proposal that Wickham Parish Council should support SHUV (South Hampshire’s Unheard Voice) acting in opposition to the proposals for 80,000 houses in South Hampshire as proposed by SEERA in the South East Plan.) It was agreed the Parish Council should support SHUV’s action with regard to the proposed SDA North of Fareham.

6.10 Recreation Committee report  (Clerk). Work on the new play area for The Circle and new equipment on the recreation ground will start on 3^rd July.

6.11 Traffic and Highways Representative's report (Chairman).

The Winchester Road verges have finally been cut, the footpaths still need to be cleared.  Road repairs have been requested at the Mill Lane / Blind Lane triangle. HCC will be pursued again.

Following the suggestion that there should be a 20mph speed limit at The Circle, HCC has advised that it would not be practical as it would be very difficult to enforce.

6.12  Water Meadows Committee Report. (Chairman)

6.12.1Proposal that the Trust should consider finding another tenant for the Old Forge. Refer to next meeting.

6.12.2 Proposal that it should be investigated whether the Old Forge could be used by the parish in another way. Refer to next meeting.

6.13 Finance Committee report: (no report this month.)

6.14 Cemetery Committee (Chairman)

6.14.1 To receive report from meeting 19^th June  2006.  It was agreed to employ Sam Weller from the Burials Authority to advise on the initial concept proposal at an estimated cost of £1680.

6.15 Wickham Tourism Group –update if appropriate (Cllr Duckworth)

6.16 To receive update on proposal for a Folk Festival in Wickham Refer to next meeting. A grant request has been made towards the cost of events that will be free for local residents. Councillors wished to note that the request was rather late and the organiser had stated that the festival would not require PC funding.  However it was agreed that £500 sponsorship should be made available and the PC Chairman should have delegated authority to select appropriate events to sponsor.

6.17 Report on recent meetings attended by Councillors.

Chairman Angela Clear and Cllr Diann Dudley attended the first Police Parish Liaison meeting.  Only nine delegates from the policing region attended, but Cllr Clear and Cllr Dudley felt the meeting to be useful and they should be pursued.  A suggestion was made at the meeting that community committees should deal with specific policing issues.

7 Recent correspondence

Request for grant towards Wickham Festival

Request made to police to monitor the Water Meadows on Friday and Saturday evenings for underage drinking and drug problems.

Environment  Agency details of survey work to carry out on new burial ground

Kompan – starting work on play areas on 3^rd July

Hampshire Constabulary invite to Partnership Parish Council Forum – emailed to all councillors

Hampshire Constabulary invite to Wickham Fair debrief – Paul Collins attending

WCC Parish Newsletter – emailed to all councillors

WCC invitation to Effective Community Planning conference 14^th July, emailed to all councillors

HAPTC Training Module 4 invite

HAPTC June News

HAPTC updated car allowances

HAPTC request for proposed resolutions for AGM

Invite to WDAPC meeting 21^st June

Request for nominations to HAPTC and DAPC executive

HCC invite to Service of Thanksgiving Queen’s 80^th birthday email to all councillors

NALC £1000 for sharing the experiences of your council to help others.

HCC South East Plan newsletter

HCC Community Transport newsletter

Highways Agency – helping you to plan your journeys June-Sept 06

8 Accounts for payment

It was resolved to pay the following accounts

9 Questions and comments from Councillors: none.

Meeting closed 9pm

 Accounts for payment June 2006

Reports

3.1 Report from County Councillor Mr F Allgood.

Fairer  School Transport

Hampshire County Council has reviewed the way it assists pupils to travel to school. The county normally only assists pupils if they travel to their nearest or catchment area school where the child’s home in not within walking distance. However an exception has been made in the case of pupils travelling to Roman Catholic or Anglican schools in that they receive free transport to the school of their choice

This support for pupils going to religious schools has been discretionary and costs council taxpayers £565,000 a year. There have been protests that it is unfair that 1400 children receive free transport to go to the school of their choice while others who prefer a school outside their catchment area do not receive equal treatment.

The county council has therefore decided to phase out free transport to church schools and make a charge in future.

Huge Hampshire Read

The county council wishes to encourage more people to enjoy the pleasure of reading and is starting with a book by its best-known author. One hundred copies of Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion have been deposited in public places such as park benches, phone boxes, pubs, trains and coffee shops. Inside each book is a message urging the finder to read the book, log on to a website to make comments on the book and then leave it in a place for someone else to find it

The programme called Huge Hampshire Read, started on May and continues until 15 July.

Silver Surfing Week

Silver Surfer Week ahs been hailed as a great success in Hampshire. It is a programme encouraging senior citizens to learn how to use the world-wide web to keep in touch with their family and to learn new hobbies. Sessions were held in libraries, community centres and schools, one of which was at Wickham Community centre.

Walking on the Wild Side

Thousands of pupils across Hampshire left their classrooms last week to take part in a wildlife survey organised by the county council. As part of National School Grounds Week 15,000 pupils from 200 primary schools ventured into their school grounds to make notes on wild plants, animals and habitats.

Teachers received a pack on how to conduct the survey and relate it to the curriculum themes of food webs, living things and habitats.

The School Nature watch is part of the county council’s action plan for biodiversity which aims to protect Hampshire’s special wild areas.

Denmead Junior School has embarked on a new ecology project on land adjacent to the school where a large pond has been created with support from Asda.

Hampshire’s Heath Lands

Hampshire Heath Week takes place from 1-9 July to give residents an opportunity to visit heath lands that are often closed to the public. Although 90 percent of Hampshire’s heathlands have been lost in the last 100 years, the county still supports 25 percent of Britain’s remaining lowland heaths.

Guided walks are being arranged during the week and local experts will be on hand to point out nightjars, woodlarks and sand lizards.

The full list of events is available at www.hants.golv.uk/biodiversity/healthland or by telephoning 01962 846859.

Support for Festivals

Many festivals and arts projects in Hampshire are receiving grants to help them deliver an exciting range of visual arts, music, crafts and literature. They include a grant to Wickham Community Association to support the Wickham Festival in August, the Portchester Arts Festival,  and the PainT Art Trail in Petersfield.

Crackdown on Car Clocking

A second-hand car dealer in Hampshire has been fined £25,000 for several offences of car clocking – reducing the car mileage so they could be sold at a higher price.  The county has a duty to protect consumers from abuse and has investigated allegations of interference in car mileages at second hand showrooms.

Good Prospects for a New Whiteley School

Residents in Whiteley have expressed their delight in hearing that Winchester Citv Council is prepared to transfer land to the Diocese of Portsmouth with certain conditions  so that a new school can be built in Whiteley. Parents at Whiteley have made it clear they want a new school to be built in the community as soon as possible to avoid four-year-old children having to travel long distances to the nearest available school. A final decision on the school will be made on 19 July.

3.2 Reports from District Councillors

Mr P Clohosey

Affordable homes

Funding of £2.4 million is available for affordable homes in Winchester District which will provide 40 homes over the next two years.  Hyde Housing Association will be carrying out the work.

Parking in The Square

Parking Manager, Basil Davies, attended a meeting with Wickham Chamber of Trade.  Members were generally happy with the three hour parking.  Mr Davies will chase up the promised upgrading of the Station Close car park.

Grants for Wickham

Winchester City Council has agreed grants to the Summer Play Scheme and also the Wickham Festival.

South East Plan

Responses to the South East Plan must be received by 23^rd June, there will be an Examination in Public in the autumn and the Plan is expected to be ratified in early 2008.

Mrs T Evans

Wickham Festival

Winchester City Council has granted a premises licence to the Community Association to hold the Wickham Festival, the police and environmental heath officers are satisfied with the plans in place.

Knowle issues

There is, as yet, no commitment from the new City Council administration to provide the proposed enhanced community building and pavilion at Knowle.