HELD ON TUESDAY 22nd JUNE 2004
IN EAST WOODHAY VILLAGE HALL
AT 7.30 P.M.
APOLOGIES: Councillors Mrs. J. Powell, Mr. M. Ross.
ALSO PRESENT: Ms. J. Meredith, Newbury Weekly News.
CLERK: Mrs. A. Davidson.
ITEM 1: MINUTES OF LAST MEETING.
The minutes were accepted
as a true record of the May meeting and were duly signed by the Chairman.
ITEM 2: MATTERS ARISING.
In
response to Cllr Holdcroft’s query at last month’s Annual General
Meeting, the Clerk confirmed that it is not necessary to annually re-recognise
School Minor Authority Governors.
The Council is only required to do this, at the request of the schools,
at re-election time.
Cllr
Farmer has not been able to get a Map of the Parish produced on CD. However, she now has copies in paper
format, which Councillors can look at later.
ITEM 3: PLANNING.
There has been much local
opposition to the proposal to erect a Telecoms Mast at North End. Despite invitation, local
parishioners did not attend at site meeting with Vodafone
and the Parish Council,
which was very helpful and positive. A cherry picker was brought along and moved
around to establish the best site for the mast, while at the same time being as
hidden from sight as possible.
The Chairman is unhappy that Cllr Elsden has been receiving some rather
nasty emails from Parishioners opposed to the erection of the mast. This is the first mast in this Parish,
but the Chairman feels that, the way things are going across the country, it
may not be the last. In
light of this he has asked Cllr Johnson to join the Planning Committee, with
special responsibility for Masts.
All were happy about this. Cllr Preston added that it is not necessarily
the case that others will follow Vodafone’s lead. However, Cllr Elsden knows of
other Parishes currently dealing with applications for second and third
masts. The Parish
Council will not be objecting to this application, as this would leave the risk
that Vodafone would then proceed with their initial application, which was less
favourable.
Cllr Elsden attended the
recent Development Control Committee meeting where the proposed development at
Gore End Road was on the agenda.
The main issue she raised in opposition to the development was the height
of the proposed buildings.
Although there was some very lively debate, the application was approved
on a vote of 6 to 4.
However, a meeting with the developer followed, which has opened up a
good line of communication there.
A new Application has been
received to demolish Redwood House in Tile Barn and develop the site with a mix
of 6 properties of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms (the previous application was for 5
5-bedroomed properties). There are
many inconsistencies and factual errors in the application and drawings, and
whilst the Parish Council would not object to development in principle, this
application needs careful consideration.
A retrospective application
to build an extension at Rabbit Pit Farm has been refused.
ITEM 4: AMENITIES.
Cllr Heather distributed a
copy of his Play Area Safety Report to all Councillors, as well as a copy of a
new Responsibilities Chart.
Areas for concern include the Pineapple Whirl Roundabout, where
clearance is an issue. It was
acknowledged that this item needs to be replaced at some time in the future,
but for now the position will be monitored. Although it did meet the required safety standards at the
time it was installed, these safety requirements have since changed.
A post in Woolton Hill Car
Park has been removed and used as a battering ram on the Skateboard Ramp,
causing damage which has cost £205 to repair. Cllr Kyle-Lawrence said that the damage is being
caused by some young people coming out from Newbury and not the young people
using the ramp, who actually want to be involved in doing it up. This was felt to be a good idea,
as it would give the users a sense of ownership of the Ramp.
Dog ban, skateboard
ownership signs are needed at Woolton Hill, as well as a notice giving details
of who to contact and where the nearest telephone is should there be any
problems. Traffic calming
and play area signage will also be required, but it may be possible to
incorporate these in with the proposed road traffic plans. Cllr Kyle-Lawrence
felt it would also be good
to have a hitch post where people can leave their dogs, as many parents walk
their pets to school and have no-where to leave them when they take their
children in.
Cllr Johnson said that
there was a problem with the sightline in and out of the Recreation
Ground. When work was being
carried out to enlarge the car park Cllr Preston asked for the hedge to be
lower than it is at present, but was told it could not be. However, it could be thinned
down. Cllr Kyle-Lawrence
said that the current height means that parents are not able to see from their
cars if there are any spaces available before they turn into the car park,
causing them to need to reverse out into the main road if all spaces are
full. Cllr Sutton noticed that
there were quite a gang of young people in the car park when she passed last
week, and that they were quite intimidating.*
*ACTION: CLLR PRESTON TO CONTACT WPC MIMS KING TO MAKE HER AWARE OF THE SITUATION.
Cllr Johnson asked if it would not be best to take
the hedge down altogether.*
*ACTION: CLLR HEATHER TO LOOK INTO POSSIBLE COST OF THIS.
Cllr Holdcroft has ordered
a new seat for the Pineapple Whirl roundabout, as well as keys for fitting
it.
Concerns about access to
and from the play area at Heath End are also being looked into.
Julia Calvert is doing a
great job as Litter Warden, and has proved very useful at identifying problem
areas, such as fly tipping.
However, a broom and shovel would help her greatly for picking up small
items such as cigarette ends. Cllr
Preston has seen long-handled flip up dustpan things which would be very
good. Cllr Sutton will tell
Julia it is okay to buy one.
A post at Woolton Hill Car
Park has gone missing. Cllr
Heather contacted Tony Futrell to see if he had it, and apparently he has
several posts. Steve Batt has now
replaced the wooden posts around the War Memorial and East End, and these look
great. The Chairman would like a
plaque to be put on one of the posts identifying the fact that they were
replaced with the help of the local people. Steve has also reduced the hedge along the front of Woolton
Hill play area, and Cllr Heather will continue to chase him to get outstanding
work at Heath End done.
Damage done to the Tennis
Court at Woolton Hill has been repaired.
Cllr Sutton has taken responsibility for the Noticeboards and will
review their condition and repair appropriately. The siting of the Noticeboards will also be looked at, as it
is felt that some of them may be better if they were in different places.
A fund is available
dedicated specifically for the provision of CCTV, and Cllr Heather has obtained
details of the requirements for funding. Cllr Preston will be dealing, although he feels it may
be a problem getting the three quotes required under the criteria. Cllr Elsden was concerned
about how secure a camera would be.
She wondered how vandal-proof it would be, as we would not want the
additional cost of regularly having to repair it.
Cllr Kyle-Lawrence noted
that Basingstoke and Deane have been back and re-done the grass cutting, which
was not done very well the first time.
ITEM 5: HIGHWAYS.
Cllr Johnson has provided
all Councillors with contact details at Hampshire should they wish to report
any faults.
Repair has been carried out at the junction of the C5 and the Stud in
Woolton Hill. However, there are
big depressions in the road at Moles Cottage in North end and also on the Ball
Hill to Heath End Road.
Cllr Elsden has noticed the edges of the road are bad between East End
and The Holt in Woolton Hill. Cllr
Johnson said that Highways will not do anything until it gets really bad. The problem with many roads
is there is no proper reinforcement.
Julia Calvert has reported
a finger post lying at the side of the road near Gore End, as well as a sign
the contractors have left outside Bourne House on the Ball Hill Road. She has also reported manholes
which are sinking and she feels are dangerous. There are many of these on the stretch of road between The
Holt and East End.
Cllr Preston thanked Cllr
Johnson as Hollington Lane has now been top dressed.
ITEM 6: FINANCE.
A list of income and
expenditure was presented and cheques signed.
The Clerk informed the
meeting that the Internal Audit has now been completed, and notices of the
audit posted on noticeboards.
Councillors were given copies of Bank Reconciliation and Balance
Sheet. However, it was felt
Councillors should all have a copy of the Sections 1 and 2 of the Annual Return
form to enable them to study the information before adopting the accounts and
agreeing to the Statement of Assurance. The Clerk will ensure all Councillors have this
information in order that the required formalities can be completed at the July
meeting. One or
two recommendations have been made by the Internal Auditor, which have been noted
and will be acted on where appropriate. The main point raised is that the Clerk should not be
signing cheques. The
Chairman suggested that Cllr Heather be added to the list of signatories as he
is now Chairman of Amenities, and all were happy with this. The Clerk will sort this out with the
Bank.
ITEM 7: VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT.
A meeting is to take place
in one week’s time to look at the items in the Village Design Statement
which need to be revised as a result of feedback from Basingstoke and
Deane. Sixty one items were
identified, which the team were informed is extremely good for a first
draft.
ITEM 8: RISK ASSESSMENT.
The Chairman, Cllr Farmer
and the Clerk have put together the first draft of a Risk Assessment for this
Parish. All Councillors were given
a copy, and were asked to read and comment before the next meeting in order
that it can be adopted then.*
*ACTION: CLLR FARMER TO PUT IN UNIFORM
FORMAT.
ITEM 9: MEMBERS REPORTS.
Cllr Farmer.
She now had copies of maps
of the Parish. Councillors can
look at them after the meeting.
She is also concerned about
the number of the parishioners living around the Parish Field who are putting
in gates at the bottom of their gardens adjoining the field. The Chairman will walk round there and
take a look. The issue
of getting the field registered was also raised.*
*ACTION: CLERK TO FIND OUT FROM SOLICITORS WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS.
Cllr Elsden.
Cllr Elsden queried whether
anyone had had any problems regarding the work currently being carried out at
Hollington House, as she has received some complaints about noise. Cllr Preston noted there had been a big
pile-driver there, but as this has now gone things should be better.
Cllr Johnson.
He has received some
complaints about the hedge around Palmer Paddock, as it is blocking the
pavement there. The Palmers
have asked Steve Batt to cut it back, and this will be done soon.
Chairman.
A meeting was held recently
to allow the public to comment on the road proposals for the C5 in Woolton Hill
between the schools. Around
35 people came and looked at the plans, with the large majority of comments
being favourable. He has sent
details to Clive Phillips at Hampshire County Council, and has stated that the
Parish Council will support the project.
However, on looking at the
plans Cllr Johnson expressed concern about proposals around the Junior School,
where a pedestrian access is very close to the school entrance and exit, as
well as a lay-by. Cllr
Kyle-Lawrence suggested the lay-by was not necessary. In view of this discussion, the Chairman will inform Clive
Phillips that the Parish Council will therefore now support the scheme subject
to removal of this lay-by and the crossing being moved away from the school
access point.
AUGUST
- NO MEETING