Full Council Minutes

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Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the above Council held at Wickham Community Centre on Monday 14th May 2007 at 7.15pm. 

Parish Councillors present: Angela Clear (Chairman), Sue Roger-Jones (Vice-Chairman), Trevor Astbury, Mike Bennett, Mike Carter, Thérèse Evans (District Councillor), Di Frost, Justin Gamblin, Jenny Hollis, Neil Jackson, Michael Sadler-Forster

Freddie Allgood (County Councillor), Sue Fitzgerald (District Councillor), two members of the public, Parish Clerk Nicki Oliver

1.      To elect a Chairman of the Council: Cllr Angela Clear elected.

2.      To receive the Chairman's declaration of acceptance of office: received.

3.      To elect a Vice-Chairman of the Council: Cllr Sue Roger-Jones elected

4.      To receive apologies for absence: none.

5.      To appoint representatives to outside bodies: appointments agreed.

6.      To appoint committees and sub-committees: appointments agreed.

7.      To receive declarations of interest regarding agenda items: none.

8.      To adjourn meeting to allow participation by members of the public

8.1 Report from County Councillor: please see attached report.

8.2 Reports from District Councillors: please see attached report.

8.3 Questions from members of the public: none.

9.      Meeting resumed to approve the minutes of the Full Council meeting 16^th April 2006: minutes approved and signed.

10. Matters properly arising from those minutes: included below as appropriate.

11. Meeting resumed to consider the following agenda items:

11.1 Proposal to carry out review of Parish Council procedures, policies and strategies as attached list. It was agreed to progress review.

Notwithstanding the above:

11.2 To immediately progress proposal that the Parish Council set aside a specific date/time for a preliminary discussion on strategic issues related to the future of the village.

11.3 To immediately progress proposal that the Parish Council nominates a ‘working group’ to examine and then propose steps needed to carry out an impact assessment of the likely effects of all development proposed in the next 20 years  (including North Fareham SDA, North Whiteley MDA, West of Waterlooville MDA and Hedge End/Eastleigh SDA) on the communities of Knowle and Wickham. It was agreed to progress.  Action: Cllr Michael Sadler-Forster

11.4  To receive update on Market Town Health Check. (Chairman/Clerk) Evidence gathering is progressing.

11.5  Village Design Statement review progress report (Cllr Sadler-Forster) Refer to next meeting

11.6 To receive update on European Market proposals for 2007 (Cllr Carter) Nothing to report this month.

11.7 To receive a report on Knowle issues: Cllr Neil Jackson thanked District Cllr Thérèse Evans for her substantial input with Knowle issues.  Residents are requesting play space is made available while the recreation ground is out of action. A meeting has been arranged for 17^th May to discuss the proposed layout of the community facility. Thanks also to all involved in the resiting of the war memorial, a service will be held in June. 

11.8 Youth Club Committee report (Cllr Carter) The Drums for Fun team will be performing at Wickham Festival and may need to ask the PC to underwrite the costs.  Every effort is being made by the Youth Club to secure independent funding.

11.9 General Purposes Committee report: no report this month, date for next meeting 23^rd May.

11.10 Lighting Committee report (Chairman): The new light for Roberts Close should be installed shortly. Proposals for additional lights in Buddens Road to be progressed

11.11 Planning Committee report (Chairman) Next meeting 23^rd May

11.11.1 To receive minutes of meeting 23^rd April  2007: Minutes received.

11.12 Recreation Committee report  (Cllr Roger-Jones) date for next meeting 11^th June

11.12.1 To receive minutes of meeting 18^th April 2007: Minutes received. 

11.12.2 To receive update on proposals for Knowle recreation facilities: meeting arranged for 17^th May.

11.12.3 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: no further progress to report. 

11.13 Traffic and Highways Representative's report (Chairman). Drainage work near the Shell Garage should start soon.  A number of repair requests have been made.

11.14 Water Meadows Committee report. (Proposed date for next meeting 11^th June)

11.14.1 To receive minutes of AGM 18^th April 2007: minutes received.

11.15 Finance Committee report: no report this month, date for next meeting 25^th June

11.16  Cemetery Committee (Chairman) no report this month.

11.17 Report on recent meetings attended by Councillors/Clerk: no reports this month.

12 Recent correspondence: list circulated prior to meeting.

13 Accounts for payment: it was resolved to pay accounts as detailed on page 4

14 Questions and comments from Councillors: none.

Meeting closed 9.10pm

8. Reports:

8.1 Report from Freddie Allgood County Councillor

Climate Change

Hampshire County Council has set up a Committee of Inquiry into Climate Change and is seeking views on the key issues to be considered and what our priorities should be for action.

The Commission is headed by the Leader of the County Council, Cllr Ken Thornber, the Executive Member for the Environment and the Leaders of the Liberal Democrat and Labour groups.  Representatives from the health sector, businesses and the universities will be added to the Commission when nominated.

The Commission is focussing on what can and should be done to prepare the county for the social, economic and environmental impact of climate change.  It will consider evidence from a wide range of sources, and parish councils will be encouraged to make comments on issues relating to their areas.

Written evidence is being requested on the impact of climate change on such factors as biodiversity, health, land management and how buildings can be adapted for use in a different climate.  Some who make submissions will be invited to expand on their views in person to the Commission.

The report of the Commission is expected by the end of 2007.

Changes to School Admissions

Changes in admission procedures for Hampshire schools have been agreed and will come into effect for applicants wanting their children to enter schools in September 2008.

The County is introducing an equal preference system instead of the current first preference system.  Parents will still have an opportunity to nominate three schools of their choice.  Under the current system, parents’ application  for a school place for their children goes to the first choice on the form.  If this is unsuccessful the form goes to the second choice and sometimes the third.  This has meant that some parents who nominate a school outside their catchment area may not be successful in this choice and find their catchment area schools is full by the time their application arrives.

Under the equal preference scheme their application will be sent to all three schools which it is hoped will widen the opportunities for parents.

Chief Executive to retire

Peter Robertson, Chief Executive to HCC, has decided to retire in December when he reaches the age of 60 after 11 years service.

Help for Historic Vessel

HCC has stepped in to secure the future of M33, a World War 1 gun boat and one of the few vessels surviving from the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.  The county is leasing Number One Dry Dock at Portsmouth Dockyard where the gunboat is berthed.  Dr Colin White, director of the Royal Naval Museum said M33 is one of the country’s most important historic ships.

Slipper Campaign Successful

Hundreds of pairs of slippers have been swapped for safer footwear as part of the county’s Slipper Swap held in the county for the past three months.

Many falls at home by elderly people are the result of tripping while wearing old slippers.  Most of the slippers handed in had been stuck together with sticky tape or had large holes in them.

Village Speed Review

The Hampshire Action Team for Winchester district will be meeting on 21^st May to sift through the requests by villages to have their speed limits reviewed.   A sum of £320,000 has been set aside for the speed reviews in Hampshire and this is enough to carry out 40 such reviews in the first tranche.  Altogether 121 applications have been received in the county so approximately one third will be given the go ahead.

It was decided that each district will be allocated a certain number of reviews, based on the number of applications.  As 21 requests have come from parishes in the Winchester district, our allocation will be seven reviews.  We will make our decision based on the weight of community evidence presented.

8.2 Report from District Councillor Thérèse Evans

Welcome to newly elected District Councillor Sue Fitzgerald and thanked Phil Clohosey for serving as District Councillor for the last five years.

A new Mayor has been elected, Cllr Chris Pines who will be the first Labour Mayor.

A public meeting with WCC Engineers and residents will be arranged to discuss the yellow line proposals.