HIGHCLERE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes
of a meeting of the Parish Council held in Highclere Village Hall on 28th June
2001 for the purpose of considering current
grant requests and planning applications.
Present
Councillor Mrs S Roberts, Chairman
Councillor I. Davidson
Councillor T. Farmer
Councillor J Pearson
Councillor R East
Also present
Mr Ron Snipp
96/01 CURRENT GRANT REQUESTS
Bus Shelter for Penwood
The Chairman informed the members present,
that with the help of Borough Councillor Patrick
Hedgeland, the Parish Council's application for a grant to erect a bus shelter
at Penwood had been reinstated.
The application under the BEST (transport)
scheme was not carried forward to this year, as the decision was taken to only
allow transport grants in major transport corridors, but BDBC forgot to inform
us. However Baughurst successfully
secured an Environmental Grant for 90% of the cost of erecting a second bus
shelter in a location considered to be in a major transport corridor, and this
could be met under the transport scheme.
BDBC will swap the Baughurst scheme over, and allow the monies set
aside, to be used for the bus shelter at Penwood. The sum available is only £2070.00 being 90% of £2300.00 (the
cost of Baughurst's chosen shelter, supplied and erected).
Councillor Pearson and the Clerk went to
look at Baughurst's first shelter, and took photographs that were passed
around. It has a flat roof that would
not be suitable for Penwood is it will be sited under trees. The Clerk obtained a quotation from the same
company for the same shelter but with a barreled roof, and managed to get the
cost down to £2207.50 supplied and erected.
In addition there will need to be a concrete platform on which to set
the shelter. One quote for £355.00 has
been obtained and the Clerk was awaiting an alternative quote. The total cost would be therefore £2562.50
(maximum)
Julian Evans (Environmental Officer) and
Dominic McGrath (Transport Officer) have agreed that if the Parish Council will
fund 10 % of this cost being £256.50, we may have the £2070.00 originally set
aside for Baughurst. Further more,
Dominic McGrath is confident that he will find the balance of £236.00 from
another budget, although he won't be able to confirm this immediately. The Parish Council must apply for this
environmental grant before 11 July and therefore need to agree in principle to
proceed with the grant application on the understanding that the Parish Council
is prepared to contribute £256.50 towards this project.
96/01 CURRENT GRANT REQUESTS
CONTINUED
Bus Shelter for Penwood
continued
The Chairman proposed the resolution that:
The Parish Council will proceed with the grant application to erect a bus shelter at
Penwood and is prepared to contribute £256.50 towards this project.
The Clerk pointed out that when budgeting
for the Precept, provision had been made for framing maps and acquiring a new
notice board. As these were not
essential requirements the monies could be used instead towards the bus shelter
project. Councillor Davidson felt this
would demonstrate a real commitment on the Council's behalf towards improving
facilities at Penwood.
Councillor Farmer felt that in principle it
was wrong to take monies set aside for one project and use them for an
alternative project. For the last three
years he has also understood that Councils were not allowed to provide for
contingencies without identifying a requirement, and such funds should only be
used towards the requirement identified.
The Clerk stated that in her opinion this was incorrect. There followed
a discussion on the use of Precepted funds, and the Clerk agreed to acquire and
provide guidelines for Councillors.
The resolution was put to the vote and
passed by majority vote.
Footpath lighting Woodlands/Heathlands
Borough Councillor Patrick Hedgeland has
again assisted the Parish Council with this grant application. It has now been confirmed by Basingstoke and
Deane officer Peter Hood, in the absence of Martin Bennett that up to £2000.00
will be provided for this project.
Footway Programme (Invitation for Footways
to be included in a Scheme)
A progress report on this was requested by
the Clerk, and Basingstoke and Deane have replied that monies are available for
the project. The nature of the reply is unexpected and it is possible that they
are confusing Highclere's inclusion in their footway programme with the
footpath lighting grant, and the Clerk will seek clarification.
97/01 PLANNING
APPLICATIONS
The following out of area planning applications were
received :
BDB50807/8 Land East and West
of Enborne Row
Variation of Conditions in order to extend the period within which to
begin the development to 8 years and within which to submit the reserved
matters to 6 years from 18 August 1998
The Clerk searched the Parish Council's records but could find no
evidence that the Council had passed comment on the initial applications.
Councillors decided not to pass comment on the current applications
BDB49864 Hillside Farm, Andover Road, Highclere
Notification is received that this application has been withdrawn
98/01 ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
The following accounts were approved for payment
HAPTC
THERE BEING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS THE MEETING WAS BROUGHT TO A CLOSE
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE
HELD ON TUESDAY 10 JULY AT 7.30PM AT HIGHCLERE VILLAGE HALL