HELD ON TUESDAY 23rd
NOVEMBER 2004
IN EAST WOODHAY VILLAGE HALL
AT 7.30 P.M.
APOLOGIES: Councillors Miss S. Elsden, Mrs. N. Farmer.
ALSO PRESENT: Mr. N. Powers, Footpaths Officer and 3 members of the public.
CLERK: Mrs. A. Davidson.
ITEM 1: MINUTES OF LAST MEETING.
Suggested amendments were
presented to the Council, after which these were accepted as a true record of
the October meeting and were duly signed by the Chairman.
ITEM 2: MATTERS ARISING.
Letters have now been
distributed to those living around the Parish Field. New Padlocks and Keys have been purchased for the gate at
Woolton Hill Recreation Ground.
Two members of the public
are interested in filling the vacancy left by Robert Preston, both from North
End.*
*ACTION: CLERK TO ADVERTISE THE VACANCY IN TIME FOR APPOINTMENT TO BE MADE AT THE JANUARY MEETING.
The dead tree at Copnor
will be looked at by Hampshire County Council to try to establish whose
responsibility it is.
A letter has been
received in response to the CouncilÕs complaint to Basingstoke about a recent
Development Control Committee meeting.
All Councillors were given a copy.
Cllr Ross also wrote in his capacity as Borough Councillor and has
received a separate response. The
Scrutiny Committee, along with the Head of Development Control, will look into
the matter.
The Skateboard Ramp will
be demolished shortly.
The Clerk has spoken to Diana Mitchell, Highclere Clerk, regarding the
naming of the road commonly known as Penwood Hill as FoxÕs Lane. Apparently this road has, historically,
always been called FoxÕs Lane. The signs have been erected recently to aid
emergency vehicles who have, on occasions, had difficulty in locating
properties due to lack of signage.
The Chairman thanked all
those who turned up for the Remembrance Day Poppy Laying ceremonies.
ITEM 3: PLANNING.
In her absence, Cllr
Elsden had emailed a Planning Report to the Clerk, and all Councillors were
provided with a copy.
Main issues of concern include an application from Peters Cottage, North
End, to demolish existing building
and erect replacement one, on a different footprint, further back from the
road. Strong objection from
neighbours due to increased size, it being out of character with the area and
inappropriate change of access.
Also of concern is
application for outline permission to erect 2 storey dwelling in rear of garden
at 6 Greenlands, Woolton Hill.
Again, strong objection from neighbours to this application,
particularly in relation to separate application to fell tree with a TPO on it
in order to make space for the dwelling.
Many justifiable arguments against this application. Cllr Johnson has written to Basingstoke
objection to the tree felling.
In both of the above
cases Cllr Elsden has met with the concerned residents to discuss the
applications. Two residents
concerned about the Greenlands application, Mr. and Mrs. Souter, were present,
and the Chairman invited Mr. Souter to speak for a few minutes, which he did.
Local Plan Enquiry start
date for unresolved objections to Local Plan Review is 11th January
2005. Plan is scheduled to
be formally adopted by 2006.
Proposed two storey
front extension to 2 Falcon House Gardens has been refused.
Mr. Ward has not yet
moved out of his mobile home at Birchills Copse, and Cllr Ross informed the meeting
that he has 21 days from the date 19th November to do so. His application to erect 5 residential
caravans there is currently being considered by Basingstoke. Mr. Ward was present at the
meeting but, although invited, did not wish to speak.
ITEM 4: AMENITIES.
As a result of the
development at Gore End Road, a pot of money has been made available which is
earmarked for ÔCommunity HallsÕ and the Parish Council has been asked for
suggestions as to what this could be spent on.*
*ACTION: CLERK TO ENSURE EAST WOODHAY VILLAGE HALL AND WOOLTON HILL CHURCH HALL REPRESENTATIVES HAVE COPY IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN RESPOND.
An application form has
been received to enable the Council to apply for an Environment and
Regeneration grant. This would
provide 90% of the cost of the project involved. Cllr Johnson suggested the proposed improvements in
the Masons Court Area be considered.
Letters and emails have
been received in response to the CouncilÕs request for suggestions about the
Skateboard Ramp, and these will be considered by the Amenities Committee.
Basingstoke and Deane
have now doubled the funding available for CCTV from £26K to £52K. Applications need to be in by 15th
December.
Cllr Johnson raised the
issue of the ÔDogsÕ Bylaw, and asked if we have notices regarding this. Cllr Powell reminded him that
there are notices on the Recreation Ground gates stating ÔNo DogsÕ but Cllr
Johnson felt that if we are covered by BasingstokeÕs Bylaws then they should
supply us with notices.*
*ACTION: CLLR HEATHER TO CHECK.
ITEM 5: HIGHWAYS.
Cllr Johnson met with
Steve Goodall, Area Surveyor recently to discuss Highways issues in the
Parish. Following recent
requests, a dropped kerb will be put in around Blindmans Gate and a new
ÔHampshireÕ sign will be erected at the far end of the Ball Hill Road. The hedge at Palmer Paddock has
been cut well back.
ITEM 6: FINANCE.
Cheques.
A list of income and
expenditure was presented and cheques duly signed.
2005/06 Budget.
Following a recent
meeting of the Finance Committee, a proposed budget for the next financial year
has been drawn up and a copy given to all Councillors for approval. Acceptance of a request to
Basingstoke for a Precept of £17,000 for 2005/06 was proposed by Cllr Ross and
seconded by Cllr Holdcroft.
Acceptance of a request for the General Grant of £1,000 was proposed by
Cllr Heather and seconded by Cllr Johnson. All were happy with this.*
*ACTION: CLERK TO COMPLETE RELEVANT FORMS AND RETURN TO BASINGSTOKE BEFORE DEADLINE.
ITEM 7: VILLAGE
DESIGN STATEMENT.
Cllr Heather reported
that the document is now taking shape and will hopefully be coming together
very soon. The main issue of
difficulty is the issue of telephone masts.
ITEM 8: MEMBERS REPORTS.
Cllr Powell.
Cllr Powell asked if it
would be possible for her to have a copy of the Lease of the Parish Field.*
*ACTION: CLERK TO DO THIS.
Also, it is believed
that West Berkshire are applying higher fees to planning applications for
demolition and build - are Basingstoke and Deane doing the
same?*
*ACTION: CLLR ROSS TO INVESTIGATE.
Cllr Kyle-Lawrence.
The Youth Club has
obtained a grant of £4,950 from the National Lottery to allow professional
artists to come and do workshops for 5 weeks, culminating in a performance in
Winchester.
Cllr Johnson.
Cllr Johnson recently
attended meeting of local Parish Transport Representatives. £21 million was spent last year in
Hampshire on bussing children to and from school. Cllr Johnson spoke to the lady responsible for the Cango Scheme
which operates in this parish and adjoining ones. She reported an increase of 39% in usage during the six
months from May to September when compared to the previous six months from
October to April. However,
numbers using this facility are still low. Nationally the usage of bus services is down 4%, but
it has been shown that, where improvements are made, this results in increased
usage, as proved in Southampton. £30 million is spent per annum on public
transport in Hampshire.
Chairman.
The Chairman informed
Councillors that he will be standing as the Conservative Candidate in the
forthcoming County Council elections. Should he be successful, this may mean he would stand
down as Parish Council Chairman.
ITEM 9: NORMAN POWERS.
Footpaths.
The Parish Council
invited Norman along to the meeting to report on what he does in his capacity
as Parish Footpaths Officer.
He tries to get around all paths and bridleways twice a year, noting and
carrying out necessary repairs, transporting the various tools he uses in a
Golf Trolley. He records
everything he does, and keeps in regular contact with Michael Johnn, Footpaths
Officer at Hampshire County Council. Many horse riders have been using a path up
under the Downs for a while, and are currently trying to get this recognised as
an official bridleway.
Cllr Johnson said he would be happy to help Norman at any time, should
this be required. The
Chairman thanked Norman on the CouncilÕs
behalf for all he does
in keeping the footpaths and bridleways in good order. Cllr Ross
suggested the Parish
Council should organise and promote a formal walk around the Parish. The meeting felt this was an
excellent idea, with some time during the month of September being regarded as
the ideal time.
Remembrance.
It has been brought to
light recently that Norman acts on the Parish CouncilÕs behalf in organising
the non-ecclesiastical part of the Remembrance Day Service at St. Thomas Church
in Woolton Hill. Norman
also stated that he is also the Parish CouncilÕs representative on the
committee of East Woodhay Charities. It was felt that the Council should re-recognise
Norman as its representatives in carrying out these duties, and all were happy
to do so.
Norman asked what was
happening about the idea of having Maps of the Parish at various points around
the Parish, and he was informed that, due to fear of vandalism and the high
cost, it had now been decided to include a map in the Village Design Statement
Document which will be given to each household. However, it was suggested that copies could be put
into picture frames and displayed in buildings such as public houses and
churches in the Parish. All thought
this was an excellent idea.
Norman also said he
would be happy to help with the proposed WW II commemoration events.
NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY 25TH
JANUARY 2005