| 35/05 To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 8th March 2005 The minutes of the meeting held on 8th March 2005 had been circulated, were taken as read, agreed by all, and signed by the Chairman, Councillor Pearson. 36/05 Matters arising from those minutes The only matters arising were already agenda items so would be dealt with later in the meeting. 37/05 Borough Councillor’s Report The Borough Councillor’s report in full is at the end of the minutes, the main points from the report are: B&DBC has asked SEERA to exclude the area to the west of the A339 from the main western corridor for the SE Plan; Councillor Mitchell had also represented B&DBC at a meeting at which ‘rest of Hampshire’ councillors had agreed this. B&BDC had also asked that the middle figure should be the maximum housing target and that the ‘as is’ rather than ‘sharper focus’ option should be taken. Although this was satisfactory he felt that overall the B&DBC response had been weak, and at the Council meeting he had urged that the Chief Executive should write to SEERA to the effect that the consultation process had been inadequate. Changes in the planning regime had overlooked or ignored Village Design Statements; our existing VDS would continue to be regarded as valid but Parishes working on VDSs (including East Woodhay and St Mary Bourne) might be frustrated. He was taking this up through GOSE and also via the Member of Parliament, since it also means Highclere would have great difficulty amending or updating our VDS.. At the North Hampshire strategy meeting the Penwood Cross roads was discussed and it was reinforced that this is now high priority. However there are insufficient funds to allow all priority projects to proceed, so this still needs an active public campaign. 38/05 Update on Village Plan Councillor Langan reported on the event held at Highclere Village hall on March 23rd, which had been a success, with some forty people attending, many completing the expression of interest forms. The Steering Group were busy analysing the outcome of the meeting. One clear point was that there was insufficient representation from some parts of the village and from younger residents. Steps are being taken by the steering group to widen the base of participation before finalising the focus groups. Councillors were again asked to make an effort to identify potential participants and either speak to them personally or pass their details to the Clerk. 39/05 Highclere Traffic calming and Penwood Cross Roads – response to latest letter received from HCC The Clerk having circulated copies of the past correspondence, Councillors agreed that rather than further letters with long lists of grievances the Council should focus for the time being on two main concerns: the agreed repositioning of the 40mph limit South of the village and signage in Andover directing traffic to Newbury along the A343 when it should use the A34. This would match the signage in and around Newbury which already directs Andover traffic onto the A34. On this point we would cooperate with Hurstbourne Tarrent Parish Council. The Clerk was asked to write to the County Councillor with these two concerns and the Borough Councillor undertook to lend his support and to seek the support of our MP and County Councillors. Councillors also agreed that HCC should be asked to improve visibility at the Northbound entrance to A34 from A343 where there are no bollards and no lights. The Clerk had spoken to HCC about this and she would raise it again. 40/05 Changes in responding to Planning Applications The Clerk handed the Council a draft of New Procedures for Planning Applications. The Council had a quick look at it but decided that they needed more time to assimilate it and therefore it would be an agenda item at the next Council meeting in May. In the meantime if there was an objection to a planning application, when the clerk received the application back she would type up the objection and email it to the planning committee for any comments and wait for 24 hours before emailing it to B&DBC; Committee Member who wish to make changes should discuss these with the Chairman, who would then liaise with the Clerk. 41/5 Annual Assembly - 20th April The hall at Penwood had been booked for the evening of 20th April for the annual meeting. Giorgio Framalicco, recently appointed Development Control Manager at B&DBC had agreed to speak and would arrive at Penwood Village hall by 7.00pm on the evening of the meeting. Councillor Wall would be attending the meeting but had then to go on to another meeting; it was agreed that he should speak as early as practicable. The agenda was then agreed. Councillors also agreed to distribute a flier (to be produced by the Clerk) on a house-to-house basis. The Clerk would buy and set up light refreshments as well as hiring glasses for the evening. 42/05 Anti Social Behaviour There had been rather a lot of problems recently with some of the youngsters at Penwood. All incidents were being sent to PC Miriam King and the Clerk was also logging each incident. The Clerk would speak to the Police, B&DBC, Sentinel Housing and the Anti Social Behaviour Officer to set up a meeting hopefully in early June; the Borough Councillor would also help with and support this. It would be a private rather than a public meeting at which the parties would agree appropriate actions. A significant problem is the reluctance of residents to come forward and make statements that could be used to support ASBOs. 43/05 Membership for the Council for Protection of Rural England (CPRE) The Council had been urged to become members of the CPRE, annual cost £25. The Clerk was authorised to proceed with this. 44/05 Feedback from the South East Plan Meeting held on the 6th April This had been a well attended and well organised meeting. The Borough Councillor was thanked for his work in organising it. There were six speakers, Cllrs’ Kirk and Wall from HCC, Cllrs Green and Mitchell from B&DBC, Patrick Hedgeland from the Highclere Society and Julian Pilcher from the CPRE. the meeting being chaired by the Council Chairman, Councillor Pearson. The meeting ran to time, including a lively questions and open discussion session of well over half an hour. After the formal close a majority stayed on for a further hour with refreshments and to discuss the future of the plan. The Chairman had written a letter to B&D with our concerns and the Clerk would send a copy of this to SEERA. The Clerk had thanked all speakers for their time and input into the meeting 45/05 Correspondence 1. Post Watch – The Chairman had received a second letter from Post Watch following up on his previous letter received. They were still plugging away at trying to get the postal address changed at Penwood from Burghclere to Highclere but it is going to take a long time but at least they are working on it and hopefully it will eventually be changed. 2. North Wessex Downs - Annual meeting – May 20th - Councillor Langan had attended the last Annual Meeting but was unable to attend this one as it clashes with a training session on Village Plans on the same day. The Clerk will let them know that no one is able to attend. 3. B&DBC - Issues Concerning Standards & the Code of Conduct - B&D will visit to talk about this subject if we wish. 4. HCC - Hampshire Minerals & Waste Development Framework – The Council had received a questionnaire to be completed - the Clerk would complete the questionnaire and return it to HCC. 5. HCC - ‘Planning Hampshire’s Future’ – Spring 2005 edition - the Clerk had one copy for any Councillor to borrow if they wish 6. Newbury 2025 - Conference on 19th April 9.30 to 1.00pm - The Chairman had attended earlier conference that Newbury had held on ‘Newbury 2025’. He will be able to attend this meeting so the Clerk will let them know. 7. Hampshire Constabulary - National drive to reduce distraction burglary – From Monday March 7th the Hampshire Constabulary are taking part in a national drive to reduce distraction burglary. The Clerk would publish their notices. 8. B&DBC - Clear Recycling Sacks – B&D are looking into ways in which they are able to improve the kerbside recycling collection service. Recycle sacks are delivered twice a year but often people need more sacks in between these times. It was mentioned that if one asked the refuse collectors when they came to pick up the weekly rubbish they often carried spare bundles of the sacks and this would be the most convenient way for extra deliveries. If they did not have them on them on the week that they were asked for them they would be able to deliver them the following week. 9. West Berkshire Local Development Framework – Draft Statement of Community Involvement. Comments were asked for this by 29th April. The council had no comments to add. Other Correspondence (available for Councillors to review) HAPTC Bulletin – The Councillors took a copy of this Defra - Extra funding for Quality Councils – no comment Hampshire Highways – News Sheet – extra copies for any one interested. Vol dot Comm – Spring issue HCC - Hampshire Now magazine – the Clerk has spare copies of this Defra – CD-ROM on using Broadband – Defra are trying to get more people to use broadband and therefore had sent a CE-ROM. There were no comments on this. HCC – Thatch in Hampshire - publication by the Landscape Planning and Heritage Group. The Clerk has a spare copy of anyone wishes to look at it. 46/05 Accounts For Payment The following accounts were passed for payment. BT (telephone) £24.89, Highclere Society (web site) £30.50, Highclere Village Hall (use of hall) £60.00,Viking Direct (Stationery) £1,59.53, Allianz Cornhill Insurance (Insurance) 476.72, D Mitchell (expenses, mileage, meeting costs) £197.81, HAPTC (training) £20.00, Inland Revenue (PAYE + NI) £160.31, W Bendel (litter warden) £151.08, L. McClelland (litter warden) £60.40, C Corrall (litter warden) £128.76, D Mitchell (Salary) £607.19. 47/05 Councillors’ matters arising to be included in the next agenda Planning Procedures. Feedback from Annual Meeting. |