HIGHCLERE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Council Meeting held at Highclere Village Hall on Tuesday 11th November 2003 commencing at 7.34pm.

 

Present:

Councillor Jim Pearson – Chairman

Councillor Robert Drew

Councillor Ray East

Councillor Tom Farmer

Councillor Don Langan

Councillor Fitzroy Somerset

 

Apologies:

Councillor Russ Castle

Councillor Amanda Hosie

 

 

143/03 To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on October 14th 2003

The minutes of the meeting held on October 14th 2003, having been circulated, were taken as read, agreed by all, and signed by the Chairman.

 

144/03 Matters Arising from the Minutes

Item 132/03   Councillor Farmer had sent a note about the previous Council meeting suggesting a possible correction to item 124/03.  Councillor Farmer’s personal notes suggest that “the parish Council decided to ask the HCC (sic) to remove the bins altogether.” 

After discussion about the earlier meeting and the outcome, the Council decided that the ball was in B&DBC’s court but they, the Parish Council, would have no objections if it was decided that we would not have recycling bins back and everyone had to dispose of their own rubbish, whether by putting it in their own bins or taking it to the tip.

Councillor Farmer also suggested that the Clerk bring to each Council Meeting a copy of the correspondence that had been sent out the preceding month on behalf of the Parish Council and add a list of these items to the correspondence sheet.

 

145/03 Borough Councillor’s Report

Borough Councillor Tim Jardine was not present at the meeting and had sent no report.  Several Councillors were disappointed not to have seen Councillor Jardine for a few months, although he had attended the September Council Meeting.  There is no stipulation that the local Borough Councillor has to attend the local Parish meetings.  It was suggested that it would be a good idea if he could attend about 3 to 4 times a year and send a report when not attending.  Clerk will pass this information on to Councillor Jardine.

 

146/03 To Note The Minutes Of The Planning Committee Meeting Held On 13th October

Each Councillor had been given a copy of the minutes of the Planning Meeting held on 13th October 2003. 

The Chairman explained to the meeting that at the last planning meeting Mr R Snipp, Chairman of the Highclere Village Hall had attended.  He had put to the meeting proposed changes and extension to the village hall, that the Village Hall Committee were hoping to submit to Basingstoke Planning Department.  He had asked if the Parish Council would support the application.  This  had been agreed at the meeting on the 13th October.  Since then the plans had been submitted to Basingstoke.

At the next B&DBC Development Control Committee on the 19th November, Hitchmans Yard was on the agenda having been postponed from 22nd October.  Councillor Langan will check with Councillor Elsden, Chairman of Planning for East Woodhay, whether they will be attending and speaking.  If only four minutes are allowed to put forward views it would be better if Councillor Elsden did all the talking but Councillor Langan hoped to attend.

The date of the next meeting of the Planning Committee will be decided when further applications are received.

 

147/03  Correspondence

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

1.  North Wessex Downs -  Appointment of Advisory Members to the council of Partners,

2.  BDBC – New Greenham Park/N Hampshire Cross Border Working Group.  

3.  HCC – Annual meeting of Parish Public Transport Representatives.

4.  BDBC – Borough Rural Strategy – Review of Action Plan.

5.  HAPTC – Audit Commission reduces fees for Small Councils.

6.  SLCC – one day Conference – Quality Councils December 4th. 

7.  BDBC – Parish Grants and Precepts 2004/05.  Clerk to complete the form when the precept is decided at a Meeting on 9th December.

8.  HAPTC – Standards Board for England Update – Thursday 27th November. 

9.  BDBC – Local Plan Review – Revised Deposit. 

10. HCC – Vehicle Count Summary sheets May – July. 

11. BDBC – Office Closures/Admission of Public to Meetings.  

12. HCC – Carriageway Strengthening Scheme, Hollington Lane. 

13. SLCC – Quality Councils – One day Conference 8th December.

14. BDBC – Proposed fencing of Little Pen Wood.  The Council were in agreement with B&DBC and the Clerk would write to B&DBC and inform them.

15. Audit Commission -  Completion of the Annual Audit.  The Clerk would post a copy of the signed copy on the Notice Boards

16. Gardner Leader – Application for Transfer of the Justices Licence – Highclere Castle.  The Clerk had signed the letter acknowledging receipt and returned it to Gardner Leader

17. Community Actions – Home Start Clere.

18. WaterVoice Southern – Water and Sewerage Customer Survey. 

19. Sepco plc – Solarite Street/Transport infrastructure form Sepco. 

20. BDBC – A Three Year Plan – High level proposals. 

21. BDBC – Christmas Tree Recycling Campaign 2003-04.  It was decided that there was no suitable facility for recycling at this moment in time. 

22. SSAFA Forces Help.  Unfortunately there were no monies in our budget to support them.

23. Passenger Transport Website user guide. 

24. Local Heritage Initiative – News. 

25. CHC Basingstoke & North Hants Community Health Council. 

26. NALC – Local Council Review November. 

27. BASE – Trojan Youth Shelter.  This gave the Councillors some idea of costings for a Youth Shelter if this is what is decided at Penwood.

28. West Berkshire Museum – Shaw House, restoration project.  The Clerk will put a copy on the notice boards.

29. Hampshire Playing Fields – Newsletter for information.

 

148/03 Highclere Garage Development – Street Naming

The Council had objected to the developer’s proposed names, Kingsfield Road and Baytree Court.  The Council felt the names should have some relevance to the village.  The Council decided on Rutherford Road and Hamilton Court.  These two gentlemen had worked at the old garage and had built an experimental car to run on paraffin before the First World War.  The Clerk would write to Basingstoke with the above suggestions and the reason why these are preferred.

 

149/03  Mayor of Basingstoke – Invitation to a reception on Tuesday 25th November.

Councillors Pearson and Langan are available to attend and will.  The Clerk to write to the Mayor’s office to let them know.

 

150/03  Quality Status

This had been discussed briefly at the October Council Meeting.  Councillors had been given copies of the criteria and the application form.  As the Council meets the majority of the requirements it was decided that we are heading towards Quality Status.  By the year 2007 the Clerk will have to be qualified to meet all the requirements.

 

151//03 Member’s (Councillors’) Allowances

This had been raised as an agenda item at the October Council Meeting.  As several Councillors had been absent it had been decided to leave the outcome to the November meeting.   The paperwork relating to this item had been circulated to the Councillors.  The Chairman outlined the various options that were available:

  1. Chairman to be paid
  2. Chairman and Councillors’ to be paid
  3. To take it occasionally
  4. Not to be paid

A committee at B&DBC will decide what the payment will be, at present there is no indication whether they are thinking of a very small payment, or something on the same level as Councillors at B&DBC receive.  If the Council decided that they would like to be paid this would affect the precept and therefore the Council Tax paid in the Parish, as the Council Tax would have to cover any costs incurred.  The Councillors unanimously felt that they wished to give something back to the village and did not wish to be paid.  They were volunteers and were happy with that.

 

152/03 Village Plan

Councillors Langan and Drew had attended another meeting about the Village Plan.  They felt they were now on the way to completing the questionnaire.  Some of the questions can only be answered when things are underway and yet one of the stipulations is nothing should be done till the money is confirmed.  The Clerk had been asked to write to the Police and other local Parishes informing of them of what we are hoping to do.  They are also looking for support from local communities.  They had had difficulty trying to find our what the ‘Rural Community council’ is and even B&DBC could not help them.  In the end they found out it was Jo Dixon’s department under a different name!

The Village Plan will be about an 18 month project with each of the different focus groups needing to meet about 10 times.  Also a questionnaire will need to be devised and sent out.  All of this needs to go into the budget for the project. The majority of the work will be done by volunteers, this will also have to be costed into the project.  The budget will also need to allow for a contingency for legal or other advice in case it is needed.

 

153/03 Penwood Cross Road update

There had been several very serious accidents at this crossroads in the last few weeks.  The danger at these crossroads has been raised many times before with Councillor John Wall and HCC.  Councillor East has been quoted in the Newbury Weekly News about his concern about the danger at these crossroads and that no action seems to be taken.  This junction is very busy at school times with mothers and children trying to cross the road.  Councillor East quoted the traffic count on this part of the road and the increase is well over 25% up on the same time last year.  What will it be like next year?  JAG have offered their professional help in deciding what should be done.  The Council need first to do a traffic count, and then ask JAG what they suggest.   

The Council is still waiting for the rest of the traffic calming to be done on the A343 through Highclere.  They had been informed that this would start in early October.  The Clerk would look into this.

 

154/03 Lighting for Foxs Lane, Penwood

A letter had been received from HCC regarding Community Safety Initiative (CSI) Street Lighting.  HCC were willing to fund 50% of the total cost of successful schemes up to a maximum contribution of  £2,500.  Councillor Pearson had had a meeting with Mr Simon Bushell on the 29th October at Penwood.  The area was viewed with the idea of getting lights on the pavement between the two estates and by the bus shelter.  HCC policy is not for street lighting but they are happy to support pavement lighting.  There are three Southern Electricity posts between the estates on Foxs Lane that have been identified for possible use.  If the scheme goes ahead the Council would have to take on the power of a “Parish Lighting Authority”.  The Parish Council all agreed that footpath lighting would be a very good idea as it is very dark on this part of the road and it will make it safer for people walking from one estate to the other.  An estimated contribution to cost is to be included in the 2004 precept.

 

155/03 Date to be agreed for meeting at Penwood Village Hall to discuss with residents the open space and its use

January 21st 2004 was agreed for this meeting at Penwood Village Hall.  The Clerk would book Penwood Village Hall for this date.  This would give the Council time to invite someone from the Hampshire Police and also several people from B&DBC.

 

156/03 To consider the budget and authorise the Precept for the year 2004/05

The Clerk produced an up to date record of the spending for this year.  The Clerk would produce the precept papers for last year and distribute to the Councillors’ for a meeting to be held in December.

 

157/03 Accounts for Payment

The following accounts were passed for payment.  Highclere PCC (grass cutting) £100, D Mitchell (Telephone expenses)  £94.94, W Bendle (litter warden) £177.20, C Corrall (litter warden) £117.20, D Mitchell (Parish Clerk salary) £478, Audit Commission (audit for 2002/03) £141.00.

 

158/03 Councillors’ Matters Arising to be Included for the  Next Agenda

Agenda for the meeting at Penwood Village hall on the 21st January.  Village Plan.  Road update and traffic calming.

 

 

 

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 10.00pm.

 

The next full Council meeting will be on Tuesday 13th January  2004 in Highclere Village Hall, Jubilee Room at 7.30pm. 

 

Planning committee meetings will be held as and when necessary.