HIGHCLERE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a meeting held at Highclere Village Hall on Tuesday 14 January 2003 commencing at 7.30pm.

 

Present:

Councillor J Pearson – Chairman

Councillor R East

Councillor D Langan

Councillor T Farmer

Councillor F Somerset

Councillor R Drew

Councillor Mrs M Davies

Councillor Mrs A Hosie

 

Also Present:

Borough Councillor T Jardine

Mrs P Clarke

 

01/03 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING AND TWO EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS

The minutes of the meeting held on 12th November 2002 and the minutes of extraordinary meetings on 9th and 17th December 2002 having been circulated were taken as read, agreed by all, and signed by the Chairman.

 

02/03 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

1.      Review of Planning Obligations and Community Infrastructure
The Clerk is to check whether, and if so when, a consolidated document will be forthcoming from BDBC following submittal of a response from this Council to the consultation process.

 

03/03 BOROUGH COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

Councillor Jardine appraised Councillors of the proposed Bus Service consultation exercise being planned as a joint effort between BDBC and HCC.  It was envisaged that the service would be complementary to existing services such as Stagecoach, perhaps even using the latter’s bus stops in some of the more remote areas.  A key issue to address would be service connectivity between operators.  Councillor Jardine advised that he would be involved in the consultation exercise regarding routes.  He further advised that this would be a commercial venture and would only operate during daytime.

 

04/03 CORRESPONDENCE

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

1.                  Information on biodiversity issues within BDBC and possible involvement with forthcoming Landscaping Strategy.

2.                  Shaping the Future of Newbury to 2025 – Invitation to a Seminar on 27.1.03.

3.                  BDBC Mayor’s Ball – invitation to all Councillors wishing to attend.

4.                  HAPTC feedback from Hampshire Flood Response Group on the emergency planning briefing.

5.                  Reminder from HAPTC that responsibility for clearing ragwort infestation rests with local authorities (including town/parish councils).

6.                  Reply sent to BDBC within time stipulated regarding an application to fell trees subject to a TPO at Penwood Heights.

7.                  Draft Community Strategy Framework – responses required by BDBC by 20.1.03.

8.                  Grant application from Hillside Farm.

9.                  Audit of Annual Return year ended 31.3.02 – completed with no issues arising from the audit.

10.             Receipt of a thank you letter from the Earl of Carnarvon for the QGJ picnic in the park photograph.

 

05/03 TO APPROVE A RESPONSE TO THE STILWELL BELL SURVEY OF CAR PARKING AT WOODLANDS AND HEATHLANDS

Councillor East has produced a research document which contains a factual profile of the two estates for submission to Stilwell Bell.  Key aspects of his findings relate to number of houses versus residents versus vehicles (both cars and lorries), plus where they are situated, so that when the parking situation becomes critical there is a master plan that has been developed.  Whilst this document is not intended to provide solutions to the problem (as BDBC have commissioned Stilwell Bell to do this) one short term measure could be to shave the curbs and get rid of the grass verge.  Document to be submitted to Stilwell Bell to aid their efforts.

 

06/03 TO CONSIDER REQUESTING A GRANT TO DEVELOP A PARISH PLAN

Whilst it was acknowledged that the Village Design Statement had been produced first, there was unanimous agreement to apply for a grant to develop a Parish Plan.  The Parish Clerk is to complete the necessary paperwork.  Councillor Langan expressed an interest to lead this project and has documents from Councillor Pearson from a meeting he attended relating to this.  Councillor Drew indicated his interest in being involved with this project.  The Parish Plan sub-committee will consider what level of funding should be applied for and furthermore aim to involve the Highclere Parish Society for voluntary assistance in producing the plan.  Councillor Langan will speak to Kingsclere PC as they are already advanced in the development of their plan to see what learnings can be shared with Highclere.

 

07/03 TO CONSIDER A TRAFFIC STRATEGY WITH REGARDS TO SAINSBURY LORRIES

Councillor East provided correspondence for circulation amongst all Councillors for a considered response.  In the short term it was suggested and agreed that the Parish Clerk should issue a short note to other adjacent parishes affected by potential “rat-running” from not just Sainsbury but other developments as well.

 

08/03 TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF THE LITTER AND RECYCLING BINS AT HEATHLANDS

Councillor Pearson precised the responses from the survey that had been conducted amongst local parishioners regarding the bins.  Out of 250 surveys issued there were 52 responses.  Of these, 30 were in favour of removal with 6 respondents suggesting removal to another location and 9 suggesting retaining the glass bins only.  21 responses favoured retaining the bins.

 

Councillor Pearson further outlined the fact that the type of lorries that currently collect refuse from North Hampshire parishes are not equipped to deal with kerbside recycling as the required bins won’t fit the lorries.  This situation is unlikely to change until the contract is due for renewal in three years time.

 

It was suggested that the glass recycling bins could be relocated to one of the empty, boarded up housing association garages by the Spar shop in Woodlands for an initial period of one year and then reviewed.

 

The Parish Clerk will contact BDBC and ask them to approach the housing association to discuss the relocation and also ask BDBC to provide a wheeled bin for Penwood Village Hall.

 

09/03 TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THE FEBRUARY MEETING

The new Parish Clerk has an HAPTC new clerks training day on 12th February involving an early start.  It was therefore agreed to move February’s meeting from 11th to 18th February.

 

10/03 TO DECIDE WHETHER THIS COUNCIL SHALL KEEP A COPY OF EACH MEMBER’S REGISTER OF INTERESTS

The last Parish Liaison meeting indicated that is was no longer necessary for the Parish Clerk to keep a record of members’ interests.  When put to the vote, it was unanimously agreed that if this was no longer mandatory (as BDBC keep the main record anyway), the Parish Clerk should no longer be required to keep such a record.

 

11/03 TO ADVISE COUNCILLORS OF MEETING WITH BDBC PLANNING OFFICERS

Councillors were advised that this meeting had been arranged for 22nd January at 7.30pm in Highclere Village Hall to discuss the various points raised in correspondence with BDBC planning officers.

 

Councillors were asked to advise the Parish Clerk if they required copies of the aforementioned paperwork prior to the meeting.

 

12/03 TO CONSIDER A RESPONSE TO THE ELECTIONS 2004 CONSULTATION PAPER

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s paper regarding holding local council and European parliament elections on the same date was discussed.  Councillors were in agreement provided the date was in May.  If this was not acceptable, there was total consensus amongst Councillors that Parish Council elections should remain as a May fixture.  The Parish Clerk advised that the further paper available had been applied for but as yet not received.  The Parish Clerk is to write to ODPM by the closing date of 31.01.03 to express the Parish Council’s views.

 

13/03 TO CONSIDER A POTENTIAL PARISH CYCLE STRATEGY

Following discussion amongst the Councillors, it was agreed that a cycle strategy should form part of the overall Parish Plan but that the plan should be split into short, medium and long term elements with the cycle strategy being part of the shorter term action points.  However, there was consensus that research should be undertaken to determine if specific monies are available currently for cycle strategies.

 

14/03 TO CONSIDER THE PROVISION OF OPEN SPACE AT PENWOOD

There are currently 106 monies available with a reassurance from BDBC that this money is safely allocated for this Parish.  BDBC are due to report back to the Parish Council by w/c 3.2.03 with a cost estimate for burying the overhead cables.  Councillor Jardine indicated that he would like the Parish Council to consider another area within the site where the monies could be used if it proves too expensive to bury the cables.  It was agreed that no further action would be taken until cost estimates are received from BDBC.

 

15/03 TO CONSIDER THE POSTAL ADDRESS FOR PENWOOD

Discussion was held on the requirement for Penwood to be identified as part of Highclere Parish rather than Burghclere.  The key concern was the ability for persons to locate Penwood by road, rather than purely a postal issue.  Steps are to be taken to contact the Post Office again to address this.

 

16/03 ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

The following accounts were passed for payment.

W Bendle, C Corrall, V Bates, J Gumbley

 

17/03 COUNCILLORS MATTERS ARISING FOR THE NEXT AGENDA

Councillor Davies advised that the Tubbs Lane street sign at the junction with Star Lane has disappeared.  The Parish Clerk to contact BDBC to arrange a replacement.

 

 

There being no other business, the meeting was then closed at 9.48pm.

 

The next full Council meeting will be held on Tuesday 18th February 2003 in Highclere Village Hall Jubilee Room at 7.30pm.

 

Planning committee meetings will be held whenever necessary.