HIGHCLERE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a meeting held at Highclere Village Hall on Tuesday 9 October 2001

Present

Councillor Mrs S Roberts, Chairman

Councillor I Davidson

Councillor J Pearson

Councillor R East

Councillor T Farmer

Apologies for absence

Borough Councillor Patrick Hedgeland

132/01 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETINGS

Minutes of Council meeting held 11 September and "Local Plan" meeting held 25 September having been circulated were taken as read, agreed by all, and signed by the Chairman, Councillor Mrs Roberts.

133/01 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ABOVE MINUTES

1. Councillor Jim Pearson expressed concerns about the proposal to abolish the three existing local health authorities and create a new single health authority for Hampshire and The Isle of White.

134/01 CORRESPONDENCE

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

1. HCC report on Flooding in Hampshire (retained by Clerk)

2. HCC Community Initiative Street Lighting For next year

A consultation meeting with Julian Higgins from HCC is arranged for 22 October at 1430 at the Penwood bus stop

3. Notice of CAH Conference "Hampshire in 2051" 17 October

4. Notice of CAH Conference "Rural Housing in Hampshire" 22 November

5. HAPTC response to NALC's Corporate Plan and request for Parish Council's attention as the proposals "are radical and costly" Councillor Farmer will consider the documents

6. BDBC "National Tree Week" 21November-2 December with poster

7. BDBC Urban Capacity Study, details on how to obtain a copy

8. NHS Annual Report Passed to Councillor Jim Pearson for observation

9. HAPTC mail 61/01 Contains extract of DETR proposals for a new "participation allowance" for Parish Councillors

10. BDBC Mayor's invitation to Remembrance Sunday 11 November

11. Hampshire Constabulary Police Authority Annual Report

12. Information on Inter Parishes Quiz 15 October - Following a Phone Call from Chris Buckingham. The Chairman and the Clerk hope to get a team together. All other Councillors had prior engagements.

135/01 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The following planning applications were received and considered.

BDB51184 Falkland Farm, amendment, Certificate of lawful development, existing use/condition to allow for unlimited numbers of caravans to be stored on the site

Objection for the following reasons:

• The area of storage should be limited, to only that part of the land hidden from general view, which is currently used.
• The appropriate fire authority should be asked to recommend the maximum numbers of caravans that can be stored in that area.

Comment:

• As caravans have always been stored out of sight, is the appropriate fire authority aware that if they were called to a blaze at that location, they will find caravans stored and each caravan may house two gas cylinders?
• The fire authority should advise on positioning of caravans to provide sufficient distance between each to avoid spread of fire

BDB51472 Messengers Cottage, Listed Buildings Consent, addition of hanging tiles.

No objection, subject to the following conditions:

• A Brick Factor should be employed to achieve the most appropriate match to brickwork
• Re-claimed tiles should be used

BDB51367 Highgates, Highclere Park, Proposed change of use of three redundant farm buildings to workshops for commercial use

Objection for the following reasons:

• This site is outside the settlement policy boundary
• There is no evidence that there is a local requirement for more commercials workshops. Newbury is very close, where there is a surplus of commercial units.

• Highclere is the gateway to the North Wessex Downs AONB. It is an historic Parish and Highclere Castle attracts visitors from around the world. This site is within view of the local parish church and gatehouse to Highclere Park. It is therefore important to maintain the original vista and landscape.

• The council feels that alternative rural uses should be considered including letting out paddocks
• Walkers and horse riders use the narrow lanes, and there are no verges or footways. The increase in vehicle movements that would be caused by this application will be catastrophic.
• This area is very quiet and peaceful and inappropriate for a commercial site.

BDB51489 Tothill roundabout junction, Erection of monopole telecommunication mast

(out of area information only)

136/01 OTHER PLANNING MATTERS

• BDB50912 Farthings Highclere Street. A phone call has been received from Mr Lewis requesting a site visit on November 24^th, by the Parish Councillors, before he submits a further planning application. Councillors agreed to this and suggested 11.00 am
• BDB49342 Notice that an appeal has been lodged, Land at Highclere Garage, Erection of 13 2 and 3 bed houses and B1 accommodation

136/01 OTHER PLANNING MATTERS continued

• BDB51281Notice of planning approval, 61 Penwood Heights, Erection of a single storey rear extension and chimney
• Letter received from BDBC Tree Officer, advising that a burnt tree at Half Acres will not recover and will therefore be taken down. A young ash will soon grow in it's place.

Councillors asked the Clerk to enquire if a TPO could be placed on this ash tree.

· BDB51254 1 and 2 Crowshott Cottages. An Email has been received from Mr Muchmore criticising the Council's comments regarding his paddock, when considering this planning application on 29^th August. Councillors expressed concern that he had taken offence, but considered that they had acted properly. The Clerk was asked to reply to the Email.

137/01 UPDATES

Penwood village hall lease

The meeting scheduled to take place on 16^th October between BDBC, Penwood Village Hall management committee, and the Parish Council has been postponed by BDBC. The Clerk has advised everyone who had agreed to attend, and has requested BDBC to suggest another date

Transport Grants

The Clerk has applied for a grant to renovate the bus shelter near Star Lane and remove the redundant dilapidated bus shelter at the Blind Man's Gate crossroads. Mr Adam Craig for the County Surveyor has however advised that HCC will take it down for the Parish. The Council decided a notice should be placed on the shelter to advise members of the public that it will soon be removed.

Bus Shelter at Penwood

The bus shelter has finally been erected.

Golden Jubilee

The Clerk has sent an Email to the Parish Society giving details of responses so far. The next step is to set up a committee to decide what event(s) to stage, and the hope is that the Parish Society will organise the formation of this committee.

138/01 RESOLUTION: That, following the initiative begun by Penwood Residents Group, the Parish Council takes over the next stage in the implementation of measures to reduce vandalism, by considering youth facilities

Mr Ray East moved the proposal, which after much discussion was approved unanimously by Councillors. The Chairman suggested that both Mr John Gates, the community safety officer for BDBC and PC Gary Edwards should first be consulted following a recent spate of vandalism, and that if Mr Gates felt that it was appropriate, he should be invited to address the Parish Council. It was also agreed that the Chairman should be the Council's representative for this project.

139/01 REPORTS FROM MEETINGS ATTENDED

Clerk's Training day at Sparsholt 20 September

The agenda included the Human Rights Act, Health and Safety Risk Assessment and a talk by Hampshire Garden's Trust. The day had been very informative.

"Making Meetings Work" training event 26 September

Councillor East attended this event. He felt however that the format for the day was unsuccessful and was generally disappointed.

Joint Parishes Meeting 2 October

The Clerk and the Chairman attended, and the Borough Councillor for Burghclere gave details of the proposed Sainsbury warehouse development at Greenham Common. Sir George Young, who was present, advised the meeting that he was supporting the opposition to this development.

140/01 POLICY TO BE ADOPTED WHEN SENDING EMAILS

The Chairman expressed concern that when Emails are sent to multiple addresses, the recipients are also receiving the Email addresses of others. To avoid this happening she requested that the "blind copy" facility is used. All Councilors and the Clerk agreed that this was good idea, and that this practice should be adopted immediately.

141/01 COUNCILLOR'S QUESTIONS

· A date for the Precept meeting was discussed, and it was decided to hold this meeting on Tuesday 4 December.

· Councillor Farmer agreed to contact Steve Goodall of HCC Highways, regarding ruts in the A343, as he had not heard from him.

· The hedge at Westridge was once again obstructing the view from Star Lane Southwards along the A343, and the Clerk was asked to send an initial courtesy letter to the occupant.

142/01 ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

The following accounts were approved for payment:

HCC, D.P. Cummings, Viking, P Clarke

C Corrall, W Bendle,

AS THERE WAS NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED

The next Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday 13 November

Planning Meetings will be called when necessary