HIGHCLERE
PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting held at
Highclere Village Hall on Tuesday 13 November 2001
Present
Councillor Mrs S Roberts,
Chairman
Councillor I Davidson
Councillor J Pearson
Councillor T Farmer
Apologies for absence
Councillor R East
146/01 MINUTES OF THE LAST
MEETINGS
Minutes of Council meeting held 9
October and planning meeting held 30 October, having been circulated
were taken as read, agreed by all, and signed by the Chairman, Councillor Mrs
Roberts.
147/01 MATTERS ARISING FROM
THE ABOVE MINUTES
Parish Quiz 15 October:
The team from Highclere, which included the
Chairman and Clerk were the quiz winners
"Farthings"
meeting 24 Nov at 1100 am:
This has been confirmed with Mr Simon Lewis
Reducing vandalism and Youth
facilities:
Councillor Mrs S Roberts has contacted Mr
Stephen Bryers and Mr Jonathan Gates, who is now the Community Safety Officer
for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
Overhead wires behind the Spar Shop at Penwood will be laid
underground. The youth facilities project
is scheduled for the next financial year after consultation with residents. .Mr
Gates has suggested a further meeting between appropriate Youth Officers, Crime
reduction officers and representatives from the Parish Council to formulate a
five year plan, and the Chairman has agreed to organise this.
Councillor Farmer's meeting
with Steve Goodall from HCC Highways:
Mr Goodall has conceded that a portion of the
A343 near Westridge studio should be dug up and re-laid in order to eliminate
the rut in question. The manhole cover
at this location is the responsibility of Thames Water, which has informed a
parishioner, Mr Robert Wood that cover and frame will be replaced.
148/01
CORRESPONDENCE
The following correspondence
has been received and relevant information copied to Councillors:
1.
Penwood Village
Hall Minutes of meeting held 14 September
2.
BDBC Draft
Countryside Design Summary. Report passed first to the
Chairman
3.
BDBC
Environmental Grant Bus Shelter survey. The
Clerk has completed and returned this
4.
HAPTC seminar for new Councillors 12 December
5.
BDBC Industrial
Development Draft Planning and Design Guidance
Report passed first to the Chairman
6.
BDBC Mayor's
reception 4 December This coincides with the
Council's finance meeting
7.
List of fund
raising events Mayor's Charity Appeal
8.
BDBC quarterly
bulletin Planning and transportation (one to each Councillor)
9.
HCC Annual
meeting of Public Transport Representatives 24 November
10. NALC update on National Training Strategy for Parish
and Town Councils
11. CAH Road Shows for funding in 2001 The Clerk has enquired if more events can be held in North Hampshire
12. NHS Consultation documents Passed first to Councillor Pearson
13. Gardner Leader:
Notice of application for transfer of Jusitices' licence, Highclere
Castle
14. HCC notice
of public inquiry into proposed extinguishment of footpath 5 in the Dunlop room
on December 4th
15. The Standards Board: leaflet for each Councillor
explaining it's role and responsibility
16. BDBC Review of the Borough Rural Strategy (comments
by 24 December)
17. CAH Rural Housing in Hampshire conference 22
November
18. DEFRA Consultation Paper - Quality Parish and Town
Councils as put forward in the Rural White Paper report
passed first to the Chairman
149/01 PLANNING MATTERS
Notice of approval has been
received for planning application BDB 51472 Messengers Cottage, Highclere
150/01 REPORTS FROM MEETINGS
ATTENDED
Meeting with HCC (Julian
Higgins) re: lighting at Penwood bus stop, 22 October
The Chairman and Councillor Pearson attended
and discussed the viability of lighting at the bus stop. Mr Julian Higgins stated that it was against
policy to light up rural areas unless there was a specific evidence of a
security issue, or a great number of people presented a petition. The Parish Council could still apply for a
scheme, but it was doubtful if it would be approved. The Chairman proposed therefore that no request be made for
lighting at this location, and this was agreed unanimously.
Meeting with BDBC and
Penwood Village Hall management committee re: Lease, 12 November
The Chairman and Councillors attended this
meeting. Also present were the
Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer of Penwood Village Hall Management
Committee; the Community Services Officer, the Legal Officer and Property Services
Officer for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council: and the ACRE solicitor Mr
Jonathan Dawson representing the Penwood Village Hall Charity.
Penwood Village Hall with grounds and car
park is currently rented under the terms of an expired lease at a rent of £11
per annum. Notice under section 24 was extended, and repairs to the property
demanded. Basingstoke and Deane Borough
Council have now presented a new 21year draft lease demanding a rent of £1350 per annum with rent
reviews, based on a valuation by Mr Gibbons, the Property Services
Officer. The Charity could however
apply for a 75% discount, and then the rent payable will be £337.50.
Councillor Jim Pearson considered that the
management committee could not afford to pay this.
All Councillors were concerned that the
members of the management committee, being the management trustees were not
aware of their liabilities.
It was felt that the Chairman of the Village
Hall Management Committee wanted to go ahead and accept this new lease. It was however noted that he has expressed
his intention to retire, and the fear of the responsibility of a higher rent
could mean that no one else is willing to become a committee member, and the
charity will fail.
In Mr Dawson's opinion there were several
points in the lease which needed amending, and only a nominal rent (i.e £100)
should continue to be charged in any new lease.
Mr Gibbons maintained that the Borough
Council is required to charge a market rent.
Mr Dawson had countered this by stating that Local Authorities are under
no obligation to charge a market rent, and quoted the relevant local
government act and DETR Consent. The
Borough representatives had no knowledge of these laws but maintained that it
was policy to charge a market rent.
After much discussion Mr Dawson recommended
that an attempt be made to change the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane's policy
to benefit all village hall charities with leases. He also queried the manner in which the site was surveyed and
valued, and recommended that the management committee have it's own valuation
undertaken.
Councillor Farmer suggested that the Parish
Council approach the Borough Councillor, Patrick Hedgeland, to take the first
steps in requesting a Community Development policy change on village hall
leases by the Borough Council. The
Chairman put this to the committee and it was unanimously agreed.
The Clerk will also put this forward as a
question to the Borough Executive at the next Clerks' liaison meeting.
It was felt that the method of valuation
should be challenged, and after discussion it was agreed to recommend this
action to the Management Committee. The
Clerk will also write under separate cover and seek assurances from the
Management Committee, that they are all aware of their financial liabilities as
Management Trustees.
A discussion then took place as to how the
Parish Council could give further support to Penwood Village Hall and
Councillor Farmer will put forward a resolution at the finance meeting on 4
December.
151/01 TO RECRUIT A VOLUNTEER TO ATTEND THE BDBC
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL BRIEFING SESSION 20 NOVEMBER
The Chairman felt this was an important event
and Councillor Pearson agreed to attend.
152/01 TO CONSIDER HAMPSHIRE
CONSTABULARY COUNTRY WATCH FUNDING REQUEST
This was a request for funds to purchase an
off road vehicle for use in remote rural areas. The Council considered that it would be more appropriate to spend
funds on reducing vandalism locally, and following through with a youth
facilities programme
153/01 TO REVIEW "LIST OF CONTACTS"
The Chairman and Clerk jointly have produced
a list of contacts, which was presented to members for approval. This was welcomed with some amendments. It will be placed on the website and
available for distribution
154/01 CEMETERY FUNDING
The Chairman had consulted the treasurer for
Highclere Parochial Church Council.
Following receipt of a further invoice it was evident that the estimate
for grass cutting and hedge cutting will be exceeded, and the work on the paths
was not yet begun. Councillors agreed
that up to £560 could be paid for grass and hedge cutting together, leaving
£420 for path improvements. There
followed a general discussion on the cemetery
155/01 COUNCILLOR'S
QUESTIONS
Councillor Farmer commented on lack of
progress with the traffic calming following receipt of a letter from
parishioner, Mr Wood. The Clerk had
requested an update from Hampshire County Council and was advised that the
officer in charge had been on sick leave for one month. The officer has now returned to work and the
Clerk will continue to pursue the matter.
156/01 ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
The following accounts were approved for payment:
Between Meetings: P Clarke, HPS,
Autocross
At this meeting: C Corrall, W
Bendle, Highclere Village Hall Management Committee, Highclere Parochial Church
Council
AS THERE WAS NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED
There will be a finance
meeting on 4 December 2001
The next Full Council
Meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 January 2002
Planning Meetings will be
called when necessary