Parish Council minutes 16 May 2006

These minutes are published for information purposes only, and are not an official record of the meeting.

Present:

Minutes of a meeting of Barton Stacey Parish Council held on Tuesday 16th May 2006 at Barton Stacey Village Hall

Public Participation

None

1. APOLOGIES

None

2.APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of the meeting of 18th April were approved, proposed by Cllr Gibson and seconded by Cllr Glenister, after Cllr Lovell noted that with outgoings of £18,000 and a precept of £15,000 the precept would need to be increased in the coming year.

3. CO-OPTION OF PARISH COUNCILLOR

Vacancy Notices for vacancy on the Parish Council had been received and were being posted in the parish for general information. It was again noted that a candidate from the Kings Elms area to replace Mr Dewey would maintain overall representation in the village but all applicants would be considered on their merit.

4. ROLLING ACTION PLAN

Items were discussed as detailed.

The Clerk suggested future inclusion of ‘Matters Arising’ to avoid inclusion of minor points in Rolling Action Plan, and to ensure that no matter was overlooked. It was agreed that these points should be listed separately at the end of the Rolling Action Plan.

5. FINANCE

The monthly financial report and Statement of Income and Expenditure was presented to the Council and approved. Bank interest of £48.16 had been received and a cheques written to Test Valley Gardencare for £270.00, Nick Goodall for payment of items required for playground repairs for £42.00 and to Cllr Hebden for refreshments at the Annual Parish Meeting. A further cheque was required for S. Electric for £21.49, leaving a balance carried forward of £16,474.39.

The Clerk noted that the 7th Edition of ‘Local Council Administration’ had now been published and was available at a cost of £60. It was agreed that any order for this be held in abeyance for the present time.

5. COUNCILLORS ISSUES

Cllr Lovell: Following approaches made, he reported that the cutting of the grass on the Green and playing field at Roberts Road was not up to its usual standard and that strimming around the Dragons Teeth was needed. Clerk to write to the contractors.

Cllr Slaughter: Raised the question of the Bus Shelter in Bullington Lane which served Roberts Road, in particular the rubbish which was collecting in the shelter and not in the fixed dustbin (which was apparently never emptied.) This shelter is the responsibility of the Parish Council, but since a change of bus route would now appear to be redundant. Cllr Sherwood to confirm.

Cllr Oliver: Children had requested that goal posts be sited on the Recreation Ground in the summer. This was agreed. It was noted that the goal posts sited in the Roberts Road play area had been in situ for seven years and had been well used.

Cllr Glenister: Noted the request from the Police to publicize the new 101 non-emergency number. It was suggested that it could be distributed through Neighourhood Watch – and noted that Mrs Jean Savage had resigned from her post with this organisation. Cllr Glenister to speak with Peter Wood / Mike McCracken.

Cllr Goodall: was concerned at the condition of Newton Road, in the vicinity of the new churchyard, where potholes were appearing. He also asked for a letter to go to Highways regarding the new Bransbury sign on the A303, sited on 4” posts, to check if these constitute a greater danger in the event of a collision – and had the safety factor been considered.

Cllr Gibson: A quotation had been received for the treatment of the Recreation Ground with herbicide and to harrow and spike it for a total of £350 plus VAT. He proposed that this be shared between the Football Club and the Parish Council at a sum of £175 each. Agreed unanimously. Clerk to accept quotation.

He also noted that draft Rules for the hire of the Recreation Ground and Pavilion were being drawn up and the Clerk would circulate these to all members for consideration and comment prior to the next meeting.

Cllr Hebden: read to the meeting the appended letter from Mr Dewey on the subject of his resignation as he had requested. He expressed his hurt at the need for his premature removal from the Parish Council, and that the matter had not been raised at the previous meeting when it was announced that his letter of his intention to resign following the Annual General Meeting on 16th May had been received.

Cllr Lovell stated that nothing had been said because he was not totally sure of his facts, and needed to check on the content of the Local Government Act, but in the event could not be party to an illegal act. Members of the Parish Council were concerned over this regulation which appeared to counteract the normal practice of written notice and wished their views to be made known to the appropriate authority. There was no mention of the regulation in the Good Councillors Guide and at the very least all Parish Councillors should be made aware that a written resignation would take immediate effect from the date it was received. Clerk to write accordingly

6. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 2nd MAY

The clerk confirmed the names of those to be invited to speak including Cllrs Woodhall and Neal, and representatives of the Police, the Cygnet Playgroup. Football Club and Village Hall Committee, Transport Liaison, Tuesday Club, Tree Warden, Village Charity, Parish Plan and Neighbourhood Watch. Cllr Hebden would purchase light refreshments to the value of £15 and Cllr Gibson would arrange for wine and soft drinks.

7. AFFORDABLE HOUSING

It was reported that the scheduled meeting took place on 26th April attended by representatives from Hyde Housing Association, MOD, and TVBC, John Lancaster, enabler for Affordable Housing and Councillors Hebden,, Lovell, Gibson, Goodall, Slaughter, Glenister and Sherwood and chaired by Cllr Hebden. (Meeting notes attached).

In response to a question posed at the meeting, Pat Brooks, Housing Initiatives Manager TVBC wrote to explain the legal agreement, Section 106, but nothing further had been received from John Lancaster or Highways. To fill in the background to this issue, the Clerk was asked to write to Testway Housing to establish how many houses they have for rent in Kings Elms, are any vacant or is there a waiting list, and also to write to Hyde Housing to ascertain costings as well as likely timing for both letting and selling of units.

Cllr Lovell had subsequently spoken to the Planning Officer who indicated that as a professional he would support the preferred Site 1 and it was suggested that if planning permission were obtained the MOD would be more susceptible to an offer to buy. The site in question would not affect the Training Area as it fell within the 200 metre zone. There could be a chance that Hyde Housing could be persuaded to put in a planning notice in the hope of moving this forward.

Site 2a could eventually lead to yet more development that side of the road sooner rather than later and there were problems over telephone reception in Gravel Lane.

After discussion it was agreed that an assessment into need and affordability was required to determine split between part purchase/rent of property or fair rent houses which could be more practical. Parish Councillors to view all sites prior to next meeting so an informed discussion can take place and the effect on the village determined.

Clerk to also write to make Hyde Housing aware of the views of the Planning Officer and Cllr Lovell to establish the qualifications needed to get onto the housing list, how points are allocated and the number of points required

8. PARISH MATTERS

Youth Group. Cllr Sherwood noted that a meeting was due soon to re-establish the youth group in the village.

9. CHAIRMAN’S INITIATIVES AND CORRESPONDENCE

(a) A letter had been received from the Constabulary noting additional limited resources for provision of a Police presence and asking where, when and what time 2 police officers could be deployed in the village for four hours. Form completed requesting presence during travel to and from work time to monitor problems.

(b) New 101 non-emergency number to be used in cases of Anti-Social behaviour. Notices to be placed on Boards.

(c) List of keyholder to Village Hall and Church and names of First Aiders to be passed to Clerk to incorporate into notices for notice board for action in a major emergency.

(d) An application for funds had been received from Magpie Scanner Appeal. £1000 had been donated following last year’s Ball and no acknowledgement had been received. Clerk to decline.

(e) HCC had requested assistance with a footpath survey in June. Clerk to confirm possible assistance and pass details to Cllr Slaughter who would co-ordinate.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 22.15 p.m.

The next Parish Council meeting would be held on Tuesday 20th June 2006 commencing at 7.30 pm