Minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2000 and planning meetings held on 2 October 2000, having been circulated were taken as read, agreed by the Councillors, and signed by the Chairman.

1. Councillor Mr I Davidson (transport officer) advised the meeting that the September Transport meeting which he had hoped to attend was cancelled, because of the action against high fuel prices which had caused petrol shortages. He had however sent an Email to BDBC Transport Department requesting a modification of the timetable for buses through Penwood and a concession for schoolchildren. A bus scheduled to operate at school times could convey children across the busy A343. He has received a reply that BDBC are forwarding his comments to the bus company.
2. Councillor Jim Pearson has sent an Email regarding planning application BDB48611 Orange Mast at Penwood as agreed in minute 120/00 at the planning meeting held on .2 October.
3. Further correspondence has been received regarding road congestion caused by events at Highclere Castle. BDBC planning department has been advised that the Castle Manager was holding meetings with two Parish Councils. Highclere Parish Council has however not been contacted and the Clerk therefore approached Mr Adrian Wiley for further information. Mr Wiley is leaving his post at the end of October and has arranged for his successor Colonel Guy Sayle to meet regularly with Burghclere Parish Council. The Clerk after consulting with the Chairman has written to ask if this can be a tripartite meeting to also include Highclere Parish Council.
4. Councillor Ian Davidson has not yet had the opportunity to consider further the formation of a footpaths committee. Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts requested that "Footpaths" be an item on the January agenda and in particular an update on the dedication of the footpath at Wash Water along the Bypass. Councillors discussed the merits of kissing gates over traditional stiles.

Councillor Patrick Hedgeland advised the meeting that several Basingstoke and Deane Borough Councillors have visited the Greenham Common Development and the A339 corridor, and made comments to West Berkshire.

Borough Councillors are also involved in meetings with Oakfern Housing and concerns about Penwood are being addressed. There will be an estimate for required works and if there is an underspend in this year's budget they will try to implement improvements on security.

The Borough Council Planning Committee has sent out a questionnaire to all the schools on "Safer routes to school". Councillor Hedgeland is liaising with the East Woodhay Borough Councillor (A M Ross) on the introduction of safety measures, but it is acknowledged that the biggest schools with the greater incidents of road accidents will have priority. One option at Blindman's Gate crossroads is for lights to operate only during school journey times. The introduction of a roundabout is believed to be too difficult because of the sloping land.

Members attention was drawn to the Housing Mix Policy. It was pointed out that in small settlements such as Highclere local circumstances can be taken into account.

Councillor Hedgeland expressed his concern that in planning matters, only high quality trees and hedgerows could be protected, as in many instances screening is often beneficial.

Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts stressed the importance of this meeting that she will attend together with the Clerk. She asked for another member to attend and Councillors will consider this and contact the Clerk.

No Councillor is able to attend

Councillor Ian Davidson will study this document and report at the next meeting.

Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts asked Councillors to read this together with the main document that had already been distributed and submit any comments or questions before 20 October. She felt that the proposed "Village Design Statement" would help to influence the mix in Highclere Parish.

No Councillor could attend this event

The Clerk will place this on the Community notice board at Penwood

The Clerk will put details on the Community Notice Board at Penwood and also pass details to Ray East, Ian Sampson and P.C. Gary Edwards

Councillor Jim Pearson will consider this and advise the Clerk

Councillors considered this at length. Concern was expressed that there had been several applications granted for various buildings and the site was growing. The nature of the site could change from tourism to permanent residency. Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts commented that in summer hedgerows provided screening to the site, but not in winter when they were bare. A vote was taken and it was agreed:

Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts wished it to be recorded in the minutes that she voted against approval of this application.

This application is referred back to the Parish Council, as the condition that a parking steward be employed at events is considered unreasonable and unenforceable. The Clerk was instructed to write and ask the school to inform parents to park safely, and be courteous to local inhabitants when arriving and departing by car.

After much debate a vote was taken and it was agreed:

The Clerk was instructed to write to BDBC planning department and confirm the Parish Council's support of the appeal. Councillors had taken a lot of trouble in making a site visit and found it difficult to understand the planning authority's rejection of the Council's approval.

Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts attended the meeting and found it extremely useful.

The importance of the next Parish Liaison Meeting was emphasised and other subjects covered included attendance allowances for Councillors, given their heavy workload, and the relationship between Residents Associations and Parish Councils.

Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts and the Clerk attended the training event with workshop. Good presentations had been given and the planning process had been explained.

A copy of the last minutes of a meeting of the Village Hall Committee was given to each Councillor. It was noted that there was agreement to set up a community information point in the hall. There were no further observations or questions from Councillors

The next "new hall" steering committee will be attended by Councillor Ian Davidson in the absence of Councillor Ian Worth.

Councillors commented on how nice the new curtains looked.

There had been no reply as yet from The Charity Commissioners regarding this Council's query over the proposed new lease. Councillor Jim Pearson has arranged a meeting with the management committee on Tuesday 17 October to understand the problems more fully.

Councillor Jim Pearson advised the committee that the Oakfern annual accounts show a huge profit, and he felt that they should be addressing the security matters on the Woodlands and Heathlands estates as a matter of urgency. He believed also that other funding could be available to Oakfern, possibly from the Police Authorities.

It was suggested that another meeting should soon be arranged between all parties.

THERE WAS THEN A BRIEF ADJOURNMENT TO ALLOW MR RAY EAST TO ADDRESS THE MEETING.

THE MEETING THEN CONTINUED

During the adjournment Councillors learned that Oakfern Housing had written to Mr East to advise that they would install security lighting at the old peoples' flats as soon as possible. Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts felt that we should write back welcoming this first step but push for more action. She felt that it was totally the Housing Association's responsibility to supply improved security measures for Woodlands and Heathlands and not for the Parish to provide any funding.

Councillor Jim Pearson stressed the need for a bus shelter at the Penwood bus stop. The Clerk has obtained costings for the erection of bus shelters and Councilor Pearson will study the details and report back to the committee. The Clerk has made enquiries and a grant could be available from the Transport Strategy Budget 2001/2002, or even for this present financial year 2000/2001 if we moved quickly.

Councillor Jim Pearson felt this linked with the "safer routes to school" initiative. The committee discussed the possibility of a footpath and cycleway from Penwood to Woolton Hill. Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts felt the project could be considered after the Traffic Calming on the A343 was in place. There was a fund set aside from the developers of Byeways, to be used for community facilities. Borough Councillor Patrick Hedgeland agreed to check on it's possible uses and any time limit imposed.

Mr Rodney Kempster, the Senior Electoral Manager from the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane had confirmed by E Mail that five members of a Council is low for an electorate of 1172. A copy of his E Mail was given to each Councillor, and it was decided that the recommendation to increase numbers to eight, being four Penwood Councillors and four Highclere Councillors, was the best option. The Chairman amended the word "seven" in the resolution to "eight". The amendment was passed.

The Chairman has contacted HAPTC for confirmation that a planning committee comprising all Councillors plus two non-voting members is in order. She has not received any reply as yet and will report back at the November meeting.

The Clerk reminded Councillors that the Precept for the following year must be set at the November meeting. Councillors were urged to consider the budget and Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts suggested that the Committee held a finance meeting one half hour before the November Council Meeting. She confirmed that she had requested an estimate from the P.C.C. for the cemetery upkeep.

There were no Councillors' questions

The following accounts were approved for payment:

Colin Corrall , and Bill Bendle

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING WAS BROUGHT TO A CLOSE