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Minutes of a meeting of the above Committee held at Wickham Community Centre on Tuesday 11th December 2007 at 8.00pm.

Present: Thérèse Evans (Chairman), Mike Bennett, Angela Clear,

Justin Gamblin, Sue Roger-Jones.

1.    To receive apologies for absence: none.

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

3.    To adjourn meeting to allow participation by members of the public: not required.

4.    To approve minutes of previous meeting (approved previously)

5.    Agenda

5.1 Report from the Safer Neighbourhood Panel held prior to this meeting.

The Panel aims to enable local people to report crime/antisocial behaviour etc and to understand how it is subsequently dealt with.  There are proposals for ‘suggestion’ boxes to allow concerns to be gathered.

It is proposed that an agenda item for Community Safety is placed on the Full Council agenda to raise awareness of the improved opportunities for reporting problems. Action Clerk

5.2 Update following order placed with Blackwell and Moody to clean the war memorial. The work has been completed to a very high standard.

5.3 Report from Christmas light switch on event. The event went well, improvements can be made in the future and the team of volunteers will meet for a ‘wash up’ meeting in due course.

5.4 To receive update on current committee projects:

5.4.1 Yellow lines to village roads (Chairman/Clerk)

The proposals will be formally advertised in January.

5.4.2 Map of parish (Clerk) The first draft for the artwork has been received, input from other organisations such as the primary school and History Society for finer detail will be pursued.  Inset maps for the villages of Wickham and Knowle were suggested. Approval for funding of £1200 for the artwork in this financial year to be sought.  Grants may be available for the project and will be researched. Action Clerk.

5.4.3 Tourism leaflet (Chairman) Refer to next meeting, progressing slowly.

5.4.4 Review of parking permit system in The Square (Chairman)

Cllrs Thérèse Evans, Angela Clear and Mike Carter met with WCC Parking Manager Basil Davies and WCC Head of Access and Infrastructure Andy Hickman to discuss the current permit system.  Andy Hickman will initially write to all permit holders to determine how much parking they have with their properties.  The current visitor parking system is not working well and a new scheme is being investigated.

5.4.5 New benches for the village (Clerk)

The Clerk has not had a response to a request for permission from Atlantic Housing who manage the houses adjoining the proposed site for the new seat. It was agreed to progress the installation without permission as it was unclear who the land belongs to. Action Clerk.

5.4.6 Badge of office for Chairman (Clerk)

Members viewed a selection of designs from Fattorini and selected Design Ref B07-10-13-06 with a ribbon collarette. Approval to for funding of approximately £800 in this financial year to be sought. Action Clerk.

5.4.7 Best Garden Competition 2008 (Chairman) It was agreed that entries should be received by the end of May and for judging to begin in early July.  A trophy will be presented in July with a certificate and plaque presented at the Annual Parish Assembly the following year.  Two categories were agreed: best garden and best container or hanging basket. Action Clerk to advertise details in Parish Magazine, notice boards and website.

       5.5 To consider supporting the following new project proposals:

5.5.1 Investigating the possibility of generating electricity at Chesapeake Mill (Cllr Bennett) Cllr Mike Bennett advised that the mill has a generator installed already but the Environment Agency will not allow it to be used as it could lower river levels and endanger fish.  Cllr Bennett is to pursue this decision with the Environment Agency.

5.5.2 To progress project to refurbish railway bridges (Cllr Bennett)

Cllrs Mike Bennett, Angela Clear and Parish Clerk Nicki Oliver met with HCC Cllr Freddie Allgood to discuss how this project could be progressed.  A meeting with HCC engineers is to be arranged on site.  Cllr Allgood suggested that the project should be adopted by a (non council) voluntary local organisation as such an organisation is more likely to attract grant funding.

5.5.3 To consider requesting that WCC devolves some responsibilities to the PC: verge and green space maintenance, possibly management of parking in The Square. (Clerk) It was agreed that any devolution should have funding attached if at all possible.  Action Clerk to pursue research with HCC/WCC.

5.5.4 Proposal to fund four new ‘Welcome to Wickham’ signs in this financial year at an approximate cost of £1000 each, total cost to supply and install four signs £4000.  It was agreed to seek approval for funding in this financial year. Action Clerk.

6 Recent correspondence: none.

7 Questions and comments from councillors: none.

      Meeting closed 9.35pm