Before considering the agenda there was a presentation by Mr Jim Soutar from Hampshire County Council Surveyors' department, which was also attended by County Councillor Mr John Wall. A description of this scheme is contained in a separate document with supporting plans made available during opening times at the REDHOUSE PUB, and detailed on the village website WWW.highclerevillage.com

Minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2001 and Planning meeting held 6 February 2001, having been circulated were taken as read, agreed by the Councillors, and signed by the Chairman.

All matters arising from the minutes were covered by agenda items

The clerk wishes to attend and Councillors agreed that she should

This was in response to problems reported by Councillor Pearson in the January meeting.

Randomly selected homes will receive a questionnaire a copy of which was supplied.

The date clashed with the current meeting

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

It was agreed to use HAPTC/NALC as a first consultation on the new lease when received

This was welcomed

The Clerk will keep this on file

Councillor Jim Pearson agreed to attend a meeting between Penwood resident's group and Mr S Bryer, horticultural Technical Officer, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Two copies of this programme have been received and the clerk has asked for two more to pass on to Highclere Village Hall and Penwood Village Hall as there are useful courses available.

This document had identified Highclere as a market town with between 2000 and 20000 inhabitants. The clerk has corrected this information and returned the questionnaire

This was in response to information received from a parishioner

He will consider the document

All Councillors were urged to complete and return the document which ran in tandem with the Local Development Plan, issues report, questionnaire

Extension over the garage

Addition of a conservatory

Use of castle and park for public, private, and corporate events, including catering, retail and office services.

The Chairman advised the meeting that previous information received from HAPTC appeared to have been given incorrectly. HAPTC now advise that any planning committee should be made from a subset of Councillors and "since planning is the function most Councils prize most, it does not seem sound to HAPTC to have non-Councillors doing the work of some elected members".

1. Crime in Rural Areas 17 January

The Chairman attended this meeting which she felt had highlighted the lack of communication between public and police. Superintendent Alison Queen had to leave the meeting early. In general discussion the conclusion was reached that it was unsatisfactory for 999 calls to go through a centralised call office, where training of operators left a lot to be desired.

Councillor Jim Pearson agreed, and felt that on a local basis the best reporting procedure was contact with the Community officer via mobile phone.

2. Meeting with June Balcombe to seek advice on developers' contributions

Councillors Mrs Sue Roberts, Jim Pearson and Ian Davidson attended the meeting together with representatives of both Highclere and Penwood Village Hall, and notes from the meeting are available. A project for the use of the money (£9000) must be put forward but it would be difficult to justify use of the funds for Penwood Village unless a consortium was formed together with Highclere Village Hall. Councillor Ian Davidson felt the two village halls should work more closely together. Councillor Jim Pearson outlined the initiatives, including starting a crèche, which were now being presented at Penwood. Councillor Ian Davidson felt that all initiatives should be followed through and lottery funding should also be explored. An Email has been received from June Balcombe confirming that the monies must be used in the year 2001/2002. The clerk was asked to notify Penwood Hall Management committee and Highclere Hall management and steering committees.

It was agreed that Councillors' responses will be analysed by the Chairman and the Clerk outside the meeting before submitting a response to Basingstoke and Deane. Councillor Ian Davidson was concerned that green fuel for transport did not feature in the report and Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts was concerned there was bias towards development without provision for off-road parking facilities.

Councillors agreed that the annual assembly should be held in Penwood Village Hall, and the Clerk was requested to book the venue. The Clerk and the Chairman would together compile the agenda. It was now expected that the village design statement would take precedence with tree survey and parish paths as further items. It was agreed that the traffic calming scheme should be presented to parishioners earlier than this date to avoid delaying implementing the proposed measures.

On 25 January the Clerk attended the audit of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2000 and received the district auditor's certificate and opinion. The Chairman was given a copy of the memorandum of matters arising, and told the meeting that the auditor had expressed concern that the year-end balance was too low. The Clerk had advised him that the precept for the following year was significantly increased and was based on a budget decided at an extraordinary finance meeting.

Councillor Jim Pearson proposed that the Parish Council apply for lighting between Heathlands and Woodlands around the area of the Penwood bus stop. A grant application has already been made by the Parish Council for a bus shelter at this location. Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts felt that John Gates, the crime reduction officer for the Hampshire Constabulary, should first be consulted. This was supported by other Councillors and the Clerk was instructed to seek his advice.

Councillors discussed the merits and problems of placing salt bins around the village. It has been suggested that one is required in Mount Road for use on the slope and the junctions of Pantings Lane and Tubbs Lane. It was pointed out that Star Lane also becomes very icy and exiting on to the A343 very difficult. Traditionally salt bins are yellow but they can be obtained coloured green. It was decided to first consult parishioners at the Annual Parish Assembly and if the consensus of opinion was in favour and funds were available, they could be in place before the next winter. A small salt bin costs approximately £140 and Hampshire County Council will provide the salt/grit and regularly fill them.

Councillor Tom Farmer expressed concern that the "cats' eyes" still had not been replaced along the A343, and that signs for Hollington House Hotel and Hollington Herb Garden were still in place at Blindman's gate crossroads although both had closed. The Clerk was asked to make representation.

Councillor Tom Farmer was also concerned about the number of cars parked at night along the lanes at several vulnerable locations. He was informed that if a serious obstruction is caused the police can prosecute.

W Bendle C Corrall HCC

Sharpserve Photostatic HVH

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

THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY MARCH 13^TH

AND PLANNING MEETINGS WILL BE HELD WJEN REQUIRED.