HIGHCLERE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Council Meeting held at Highclere Village Hall on Tuesday 15 July 2003 commencing at 7.32pm.

 

Present:

Councillor J Pearson – Chairman

Councillor R East

Councillor F Somerset

Councillor R Drew

Councillor D Langan

Councillor T Farmer

 

Apologies:

Borough Councillor T Jardine

Councillor A Hosie

 

Also Present:

Mr Ron Snipp

 

104/03 To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on June 10th

The minutes of the meeting held on June 10th 2003, having been circulated, were taken as read, agreed by all, and signed by the Chairman.

 

105/03 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Correspondence 3 – Ordnance Survey Explorer map. It seems a lot of Pen Wood is owned by the Carnarvon estate but leased to the Forestry Commission.  It was commented that a lot of trees had been taken down in recent years but it seems this is due to natural cropping.  It was agreed that the Clerk would arrange to have the map framed and hung in the Armoury Room.

Correspondence 10 – Newbury Vision 2025.  The Chairman had attended this meeting.  It appears that the footfall around Newbury Town Centre has dropped over the past few years by about 40%.  He felt that they were trying to compete with the larger towns around and not succeeding and was disappointed in their plans of the future and felt that they were looking far too far ahead. The Chairman had written to Newbury with his comments.

 

99.03  Under this section there was discussion about encroachment of hedges.  These had been cut back down Star Lane but were still overgrown south of the Red House.  This land is owned by the developers of Highclere Garage.  The Clerk would write to them.

 

106/03 COOPTION OF NEW PARISH COUNCILLOR

Only one person, Russ Castle had applied.  He was nominated by the Chairman Councillor Jim Pearson, seconded by Councillor Don Langan and duly coopted.

 

107/03 BOROUGH COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

Borough Councillor Tim Jardine apologised for not being able to attend the meeting but sent the following report, read by the Parish Clerk:

Things had been very quiet on the Basingstoke front so very little to report.

With regard to the Burghclere Cango Bus Service, he had asked Officers to look into the possibility of including the journey from Penwood to St Thomas’ School in the Safer Journeys to School Programme.  He was happy to say the BDBC and HCC hope to include this in their 2003/04 programme.  Engineers will be looking at routes shortly.

He had received complaints from people living to the West of Highclere Castle about the noise from the Vodafone party, had the Council received any complaints?

 

108/03 CORRESPONDENCE

The following correspondence has been received and relevant information copied to Councillors.

1.      NALC – Building for the Future

2.      The Quality Scheme Explained.  Clerk has a copy.

3.      West Berks - Tudor Times at Ufton Court 

4.      HCC Temporary Road Closures – Hollington Lane

5.      Highclere Village Traffic Calming – holding letter, they will reply to our queries!

6.      Barclays Bank – re signatories we will keep the account as is with the same signatories.  To change to an account with more signatories it will cost more in banking charges.

7.      EEWPC – Telephone scam -  this was passed round to interested  Councillors and a brief discussion took place.

8.      The Code of Practice.  Councillors if they wish can borrow the video from the Clerk

9.      Police telecommunications installation – Stoke.  Sent to us for information only.

10. BDBC – Framework for sustainable Drainage Systems.  Does not affect Highclere or Penwood.

11. Protocol on Advice from HAPTC – no comment

12. Guide to Disability Discrimination Act 1995 – Clerk has information if needed.

13. Hampshire Police Authority Annual Report etc – no comment

14. BDBC - Change of House Name.  Windyridge, Hollington Lane will now be called Ashdown House.

15. Samaritans AGM – No Councillor able to attend their AGM.

16. Best Value Performance Plan

17. Consultation Paper – Review of Developer Contributions

18. Eastbury:  A Berkshire Village.  Exhibition at West Berkshire Museum

19. The Local Channel – we have our own Web site in the village so no need for this.

20. HAPTC – Training for New Councillors  -  Councillor Castle will attend this on 19th August.

21. New Ethical Framework Regulations.  Having investigated this, Parliament itself determines standards for Members of parliament.  Our local MP, Sir George Young is currently chairman of Standards and Privileges and is responsible for investigation of any breach of Parliamentary Standards.

22. HAPTC – Councillors’ allowances

23. HCC – Management Photoboard

 

109/03 VODAPHONE BALL – OUTCOME

This had been seen as a great success.  There had been no complaints to the Council.  The noise level was not too high and stopped at 1.30am as had been expected.

110/03 UPDATE ON PROVISION OF OPEN SPACE AT PENWOOD

We are still waiting for the cables to be buried.  This is the land that the Council hope to develop for the youngsters of the Parish.  How many youngsters aged between 10 – 17 years are there on the estate?

 

111/03 UPDATE ON PENWOOD CROSS ROADS

Still no plan for what will happen.  Mothers’ use their cars to take their children to school as it is so dangerous at this point, adding even more to the congestion.  A roundabout would be more attractive.  Traffic lights would be much cheaper and also if all the traffic is stopped at some stage with them, easier for the Mothers’ to cross the road.

 

112/03 UPDATE ON ACTIONS RELATING TO PARISH PLAN

Proposals developed by Councillor Langan and Councillor Drew were presented to the meeting and after discussion the proposals were agreed with some minor amendments. 

 

113/03 CANGO

Timetables would be available soon, with stopping points.  The scheme is already going in Andover and seems successful there.  The scheme is due to start on August 12th but the bus will visit the area before the launch.  Some residents are concerned that Stagecoach will give up if Cango starts so that there will be a poorer bus service in the area than at present.   Flyers will be delivered to residents shortly.

 

114/03 UPDATE ON SITUATION RELATING TO RECYCLING BINS AT

HEATHLANDS

There had been a petition sent to B&DBC objecting to the siting of the bin.   From most points of view the siting of the bins by the Spar Shop was far more convenient and safer than when they had been at Penwood Village Hall.

 

115/03  UPDATE ON 106 FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES

The Clerk had written but had received no feedback so far.

 

116/03 ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

The following accounts were passed for payment.  W Bendle £112.20, C Corrall £112.20, D Mitchell £478.00, HAPTC £3.00, HAPTC £16.99.

 

117/03 COUNCILLORS’ MATTERS ARISING TO BE INCLUDED FOR THE NEXT AGENDA

No matters arising

 

118/03  HIGHCLERE PAST AND PRESENT

Mr Ron Snipp from the Highclere Parish Society gave a brief talk on Highclere Past and Present and the work they have done on the trees and hedgerows in the area.  Highclere Parish Council had helped with a contribution towards the funding.   This research had taken some three years to do and they now knew were all the hedges and trees were in the area apart from the Highclere estate.  There were now maps that covered all the area.  It was agreed that it would be a good idea to find out the cost of having copies made for the Parish Council.

 

The Highclere Parish Society would be holding their AGM in October and they hoped to have all the information available on CD’s which would be for sale.

 

There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 10.25pm.

 

The next full Council meeting will be on Tuesday 9th September 2003 in Highclere Village Hall, Jubilee Room at 7.30pm. 

 

Planning committee meetings will be held as and when necessary.