Full Council Minutes

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Minutes of a meeting of the above Council  held at Wickham Community Centre on Monday 19^th March 2007 at 7.15pm. 

Present: Mrs A Clear (Chairman), Mrs J Mallett (Vice-Chairman), Mr M Coles, Mrs D Dudley, Mrs T Evans (District Councillor), Mrs J Hollis, Mr N Jackson,

Dr M O’Connell, Mr M Sadler-Forster, Mrs S Roger-Jones

Mr F Allgood (County Councillor), five members of the public, Parish Clerk Mrs N Oliver

1                    To receive apologies for absence Mr M Carter

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

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

3.1.           Report from County Councillor: please see attached report.

Cllr Allgood was advised of the poor state of Mayles Lane (much of which is privately owned), which is making access for emergency vehicles difficult.

Assurance was sought that cuts in the library budget would not affect Wickham’s mobile library service.  Cllr Allgood confirmed the service would remain.

A further request for the A334 to be down graded to a B road was made.

Cllr Evans asked for confirmation that the government grant formula for council tax was based on fair calculations not political status of the MP’s constituency.  Cllr Allgood confirmed this was the case.

3.2     Reports from District Councillors: please see attached report

3.3     Other questions from members of the public

4                    Meeting resumed to approve the minutes of the Full Council.  meeting 19^th February 2007. Minutes approved and signed.

5                    Matters properly arising from those minutes: included below.

6                    Meeting resumed to consider the following agenda items:

6.1 Proposal to carry out Market Town Health Check (or parts of) or review of the Parish Plan during 2007. (Chairman/Clerk)

The Chairman advised that a Market Towns Health check meeting is to be held on 29th March at Greens at 11.00am. Lynn Johnson, Carol Duckworth and fellow councillors may attend. The Chairman believes the Health Check will help provide information for future strategies including the Village Design Statement. It should help the community to be better informed and give a stronger mandate for action. The Chair advised that she believes it could help with funding to get local projects off the ground with opportunities for working in partnership with community groups, voluntary organisations and neighbouring Parish Councils which should in turn benefit our community.   The work will progress with or without the Parish Council, which has no duty to lead the project, but its support would be warmly welcomed.

6.2 Village Design Statement review progress report (Cllr Sadler-Forster) Refer to next meeting, a paper has been prepared for the Planning Committee to consider.

6.3 To receive update on European Market proposals for 2007 (Cllr Carter). The organiser has confirmed that using the Recreation Ground for a food fair is not considered to be appropriate.

6.4 To receive a report on Knowle issues: Knowle war memorial has been replaced outside the village hall.  Work has started on the recreation ground, it is no longer useable, planning permission has not been granted. 

6.5 Youth Club Committee report (Cllr Carter) Twenty four members of the Youth Club took part in a public performance of African Drumming for a Hampshire Youth Clubs event.  The young people were excellent ambassadors for Wickham and are to be congratulated for their performance and behaviour.

6.6 General Purposes Committee report (Cllr O’Connell ) Flooding issues were raised which are being dealt with by the Chairman as Highways representative.

6.7 Lighting Committee report (Chairman) The new light for Roberts Close has been ordered following consultation with residents.

6.8 Planning Committee report (Cllr Mallett).

6.8.1 To receive minutes of meeting 26^th February 2007. Minutes received.

6.9 Recreation Committee report  (Cllr Roger-Jones).

6.9.1 To receive update on proposals for Knowle recreation facilities (refer to next meeting)

6.9.2 To receive update on proposals to construct new Scout headquarters on the Recreation Ground with a facility that would include changing rooms and shared kitchen for the sports pitches.  Meeting to be arranged to update committee members and discuss options. Action Clerk

6.9.3 Proposal to extend Scout lease for building on the Recreation Ground to same date as PC lease with Rookesbury  Agreed. 

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

Yellow line proposals -  initial feedback from residents. Some residents of Tanfield Park are unhappy with proposals.  Further consultation to be carried out. Action Clerk   

Other issues:

Parking on verges is making turning right out of Tanfield Lane dangerous. Action: Chairman will view site.

Pothole repairs around the village are very unsatisfactory.  Star Corner lay-by road surface is in a very poor state of repair. Action: Clerk to contact HCC. 

6.11 Water Meadows Committee report. (Cllr Mallett) Picnic bench has been removed and is in the side stream, un-repairable.  The steps onto the railway embankment need major repair, meeting to be arranged to discuss further. Action: Clerk.

6.12 Finance Committee report:

6.12.1 To receive minutes of meeting 26^th February: minutes received.

Proposal to accept quotation from Zurich for 2007/8 insurance following review and consideration of an alternative quote. Resolved.

            6.12.2 To receive minutes of meeting 14^th March: minutes received.

To consider grant application from Wickham Festival towards community events as letter received 9^th March 2007 copied to all councillors:

• A grant of £1000 towards free admission community events

or

• A grant of £2000 towards free admission community events and a free ‘Family Fun Day’ for all Wickham residents (Wickham Parish which includes Knowle)

      It was agreed to make a grant of £2000 as detailed above.         

6.13 Cemetery Committee (Chairman)

6.13.1 To receive verbal report from meeting held 19^th March: The Committee recommends due to the difficulties obtaining permission from the Environment Agency for burial, that the site be used for the internment of ashes.  Plots of a similar size to grave plots could be provided with the opportunity to place a headstone or other memorial.

It was agreed that the Chairman should speak to the landowner who gifted the land to discuss the proposal and that a report for residents should be prepared outlining the costs of other options.

The church has confirmed there are 25-30 burial plots remaining in the church yard.

6.14 Report on recent meetings attended by Councillors/Clerk including:

WCC Parish Planning event ( Cllr Sadler-Forster)

HAPTC Clerks conference (Clerk)

Wickham Fair Police Liaison meeting (Cllr Mallett) See reports below.

6.15 Annual Parish Assembly –to receive update on proposals: date 25^th April, Primary School and Youth Club to provide performances/presentations.  PCSO’s have asked to attend. Catering booked.

7 Recent correspondence: list circulated.

8 Accounts for payment

It was resolved to pay the following accounts:

9 Questions and comments from Councillors

Kutis to be asked to remove building materials from entrance to Water Meadows  Action Clerk.

Signed

Date

Reports

3.1 Report from Mr F Allgood County Councillor

The proposed closure of Springles Lane will be determined on 20^th March.

HCC Chris Wilson is looking at flooding issues across Winchester District and a priority list is being prepared.

The next HAT meeting will look at prioritising highway issues for the next 12 months.

HCC is keen that highway priorities are based on community lead evidence of need.

HCC Council tax increase will be 4.9%, Hampshire receives a much lower government grant than some other areas.

3.2 Report from Mrs T Evans District Councillor

Apologies from Phil Clohosey

WCC Council tax increase will be 2.9%. WCC has agreed capital funding of £400K over two years towards Knowle pavilion.

WCC is holding a Year of Sculpture in Winchester, which will include an exhibition by Damian Hirst.  Sculptor Alice Kettle has a work in progress exhibition in the Guildhall Gallery. More information on the website http://www.yearofsculpture.com/

6.14 Report on recent meetings attended by Councillors/Clerk including:

Parish Plan seminar report from Michael Sadler-Forster

Seminar: ‘Understanding Parish Plans’ Shawford Parish Hall, 5^th March 2007

Organised by Community Action Hampshire in association with WCC.  Attendance: representatives of WCC, Community Action Hampshire and Parishes (14)

1. This is a brief report on an event that might be seen as largely irrelevant to Wickham, which already has a parish plan.  As the title suggests the purpose of the seminar was to help those parishes about to start a plan, and to outline the support that is available.

2. However, in the event, and in addition to the obvious value of networking, the sessions were useful in providing an update in WCC’s latest thinking on the value of community led, evidence based plans, in relation to the content of the Council’s Local Development Framework.  This latest thinking is backed up by a proposed ‘protocol’.

3. ‘Toolkits’ to assist in the preparation of plans are now available from WCC. There was also reference to a single officer contact for each parish.

4. The relationship of parish plans to ‘health checks’ to village design statements was discussed and the advisability of incorporating each in a single publication agreed. In fact this is Shawford’s intention.  As we know only the VDS section can be adopted by WCC and then only if it meeting the most recent content criteria.

Clerks conference 15^th March Marwell Zoo Hotel

HAPTC organise an annual conference for Hampshire Clerks, it is a good opportunity to meet other Clerks and to see if there are things we should be doing that we haven’t managed yet!

Graham Smith from the Information Commissioner’s Office gave a presentation on ‘Freedom of Information and Town and Parish Councils.

The Parish Council has a publication scheme which lists information that is available and any charges.  Most of the information is freely available on the website and we have received no official requests.

Mr Smith outlined information that could be requested – this could include copies of notes made at meetings, emails between councillors and much more.  It was recommended not to keep draft copies of minutes or notes taken at meetings.

We were advised that there is no need to list correspondence received in minutes, if it is recorded it can be requested for ever more!

Michael Chater the Vice Chairman of NALC (National Association of Local Councils) outlined the possible benefits to parishes of the Strong and Prosperous Communities White Paper.  The paper proposes giving parishes the ‘power of well being’.  This could provide enhanced powers through devolution from higher authorities but is unlikely to come with funding attached.  Councillors will need to be brave enough to raise precepts to provide better services.

Wickham Fair Police Liaison meeting.

The funfair is booked to attend Wickham on Monday 21^st May, horses could start arriving on Saturday 19^th May.

The Square will be closed from midday on Sunday.

Tanfield Lane will be closed with permits issued to residents to allow access.

The Police have carried out a Community Impact Assessment as required for such events.