The Chairman reminded the members of the sequence of events leading up to the resolution with amendment, to contribute towards the maintenance of the cemetery, as recorded in the minutes of the meeting held 14 March 2000.

The estimate of £980.00 was then considered, and Councillor Mrs Roberts advised other Councillors that the cost allocated for path improvement was part of an ongoing program.

Councillor Pearson felt that any cemetery fund accumulated through fund raising events should first be utilised. Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts felt that the P.C.C. should continue to identify and apply for any grant monies available for cemetery upkeep.

A request for £500 towards the refurbishment of toilets has been received.

Councillor Farmer expressed concern that this would set a precedent and that the Council should therefore also grant funds towards refurbishment of Highclere Village Hall.

Councillor Pearson felt support should be given as the management trustees were trying so hard to raise funds. At the recent carol service £120 had been raised from a raffle and £20 from teas. A request for a grant of one third of the cost has been made to H.C.C.

£500 be made available in the form of an interest free loan to be repaid after 2 years.

Councillors unanimously agreed to offer these funds as a loan and to make provision for this amount within the precept.

After two years the financial position of the hall could be reviewed and the repayment period extended if necessary. It was hoped by then that the hall would be thriving again. As monies set aside for traffic calming would not now be payable until spring 2001, it was agreed to make the loan available immediately on evidence of supporting invoices.

At the meeting held 14 November 2000 the Council agreed in principle to seek a grant to erect a bus shelter at Penwood bus stop. Councillor Pearson had costed an "Arun" design by Queensbury. The brochure has since been circulated and Councillors discussed the merits of, and alternatives to the design. After much debate it was agreed that this was the preferred design, and that all paint work including the perch-seat should be in forest green. A grant request for this to be included in the budget for 2001/2002 has already been made to Hampshire County Council. As soon as the grant is confirmed, approval will be sought from the Highways department.

The Clerk supplied a copy of Email correspondence between herself and BDBC community services regarding developers' contributions. This capital fund presently stood at £9000 available during 2001/2002, for enhancement/improvement of community facilities to meet the extra demand created by residents in association with new housing.

BDBC said that they welcome suggestions on how best to allocate these funds.

Both village halls could possibly qualify but we would have to demonstrate to the developers how the works carried out would benefit those people in the new housing.

All Councillors agreed that a meeting should be arranged with June Balcombe of community services as both village halls hosted recreational facilities for residents.

1. WEBSITE ADDRESS

The Chairman drew the Councillors' attention to Email correspondence from the website committee member Horace Mitchell proposing that the village's website address be added to the village signs. If the Councillors were in favour in principle, then an amount would have to be determined and provided within the precept.

The Chairman moved the resolution that:

The village's website address is added to the village signs.

There were no votes in favour and the resolution was dismissed.

(b) LEGAL COSTS

The Clerk updated the Council on the progress of a new lease for Penwood Village Hall. Mr Gary Gibbons had not replied to this Council's letter dated 27 October 2000, but in a telephone conversation with June Balcombe the following information was supplied:

A draft lease will be sent to this Council, which recognises it's role as custodian trustee.

The lease will be a lease of land and at present they are considering a rent of £1350. However subsidy on a land lease is only 75%! i.e. £337. p.a. rent is payable.

The Council will be required to consult a legal advisor on the lease, after which all parties must meet, i.e. management trustees of Penwood Village Hall, BDBC including director of community services Gordon Holdcroft, and ourselves (with or without advisor) to negotiate, agree etc. This meeting will probably be in January.

The Chairman proposed that we make an allowance within the precept for this legal expense. There was then debate on the amount to be allowed.

A BRIEF ADJOURNMENT WAS CALLED AS BOROUGH COUNCILLOR PATRICK HEDGELAND INDICATED HE WISHED TO SPEAK.

THE MEETING THEN CONTINUED

158/00 TO SET THE PRECEPT FOR 2001/2002

2. LEGAL COSTS continued

During the adjournment Councillors were advised that the cost for legal advice on a lease could be as high as £2000.

The resolution was therefore proposed that:

The sum of £1500 is set aside in the precept for legal advice

A vote was taken and the resolution was passed.

As monies set aside for traffic calming would not now be payable until spring 2001, this money could be available, if required during the present financial year.

3. VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts felt that although BDBC had advised that the likely cost of preparing a "Village Design Statement" was £3000 (of which £1500 was provided in the form of a grant), this amount could be greatly reduced to £500.

Councillor Farmer felt that as the guidelines had been given, it would be wise for the Parish Council to set aside £1500 for this project. Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts wanted it clear that although the funds were set aside, the "Village Design Team" would still have to apply and show the need for any monies requested.

The resolution was therefore proposed that:

The sum of £1500 is set aside in the precept for the "Village Design Statement"

A vote was taken and the resolution was passed.

4. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

Regular annually recurring expenses were evaluated and agreed by all Councillors. The Total figure for all anticipated expenditure for 2001/2002 was £10,321.00. The Clerk explained that BDBC gave a general grant of £500.00 towards the Council's running costs, and so the amount required as precept would be £9821.00

Councillors then reviewed all the costs to see if savings could be made.

Demolish existing building and erect 2 new dwellings.

The proposed buildings are too overpowering, not in sympathy with adjoining buildings and spaces, and of inappropriate design and scale which does not respect adjoining properties. It was felt that a smaller footprint was required. The footpath at the rear of the properties was a local amenity that would be visually deprived by such tall dwellings. It was observed that the photographic examples the developers had put forward to support this application were all of buildings in more open aspects and therefore not appropriate to this site. The plans had also been shown to the "Village Design Team" which identified this type of development as unsuitable.

The Council has also received notification from Thames Vale (the developers) that they are prepared to discuss the proposed development. Councillor Mrs Sue Roberts felt that she would first like to have some guidelines from Basingstoke and Deane planning department, especially in light of the preparation of the Village Design Statement. All Councillors agreed that she should instigate a meeting with the case officer or other representative.

Erection of 12, 2 and 3 bed detached, semidetached, and terraced houses and 115 sq Metres of B1 accommodation with access and open spaces.

The location is outside the local development plan and prevailing planning policy. This development would also be detrimental to other vulnerable sites.

Erection of double garage

Extension to provide Grandparent annexe (appeal)

Erection of a pavilion

Erection of Extensions and alterations

Erection of a single dwelling

2 Storey side extension

Rear extension for laundry and breakfast room

S Roberts, H.Snipp, HPS, HCC

W Bendle, C Corrall

P Clarke,

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED