EAST WOODHAY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF

HELD ON TUESDAY 22nd NOVEMBER 2005

IN EAST WOODHAY VILLAGE HALL

AT 7.30 P.M.

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN:               Councillor Mr. J. Maxwell.

 

PRESENT:                  Councillors  Miss S. Elsden,  Mr. B. Heather,  Mr. A. Johnson,   Mrs. J. Powell,  Mr. M. Ross.

 

APOLOGIES:              Councillors Mr J. Holdcroft,  Mr. J. Kernahan,  Mrs. V. Kyle-Lawrence.

 

CLERK:                       Mrs. A. Davidson.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1:    MINUTES OF LAST MEETING.

 

These were accepted as a true record of the October meeting and were duly signed by the Chairman.

 

 

ITEM 2:    MATTERS ARISING.

 

No formal response has been received from Mr. Winchcombe as yet, following the Council's letter asking him if he wishes to continue letting the Parish Field.   However it is believed that he does not want to continue, and he has been asked to confirm this in writing.

 

A letter has been received from Doctor West, in response to the Parish Council's enquiry about the impact of new development in the Parish on the Surgery.  He states that increased numbers have resulted in the Surgery taking on extra doctors, and a planning application has been submitted to build an extra consulting room.

 

The Chairman thanked those who turned up at the Wreath Laying ceremonies at the Parish War Memorials on Remembrance Day.

 

Clerk has put a notice in Spectrum asking for views on what equipment should be purchased for the Parish Play Areas.

 

Basingstoke and Deane have been informed that the Parish Council supported the idea of having a notice for the Ball Hill Shop on the main road there.

 

Donation cheques have been sent, as agreed.    The Clerk has also completed and returned the necessary paperwork for the 06/07 Precept and General Grant to Basingstoke and Deane.

 

The Senior Citizens Party was a great success, and the Chairman thanked all who contributed.

 

Cllr Ross has given Cllr Kernahan details of who to contact at Basingstoke about dog fouling.

 

 

ITEM 3:    PLANNING.

 

The Inspector's Report on the Local Plan has now been published.  He has recommended that Harwood Paddock be eliminated from the Plan, and that thee should be no Settlement Policy Boundary around Ball Hill.    These recommendations will be considered by Basingstoke and Deane early in 2006, and it is hoped his recommendations will be adopted.   A full copy of the Inspector's report is available at a cost of £40.00, and the meeting felt it would be good to have a copy.*

 

*       ACTION:      CLLR ROSS TO ARRANGE.

 

Cllr Ross added that the main areas for development under the Local Plan will be Basingstoke, followed by Overton and Whitchurch.   

 

In light of the above Cllr Elsden wondered if it was worth writing to the owner of the Paddock, as it is looking rather untidy.   Cllr Ross thought it would be better to speak to Peter Brunsden first, as he is the one responsible for marketing the units which are being built there.

 

Application to develop sites at Clere House and Little Oxleas should be considered at the December Development Control Meeting.

 

 

ITEM 4:    AMENITIES.

 

Following on from the issues Cllr Kernahan raised last month concerning dog poo, Cllr Heather recalled that, after taking advice from Basingstoke in response to a perceived need, a normal bin was installed near the stile in Knights Lane for dog walkers to deposit their dog poo in.  This bin is on the Litter Warden's schedule for emptying.   He therefore suggested that, if it is the case that there is an additional need elsewhere, another bin be installed.  He has a spare in his garage, therefore the only cost would be the concrete base.   This could then be added to the Litter Warden's schedule. 

 

The application to install CCTV at Woolton Hill Recreation Ground has now been submitted to Basingstoke and Deane for consideration.   It is hoped that the main equipment can be installed in the school, in return for giving them a camera.  Cllr Heather has asked Kerridge to submit a new quote based on updated specification, but as yet this has not been forthcoming. 

 

 

 

 

With regard to replacement of seats at the Recreation Ground and the Memorial Garden,  Cllr Farmer has found a company who refurbish metal ones.    She will find out how much these will cost, as it may be better to purchase these instead of wooden ones. 

 

Parish Noticeboards are currently being refurbished and should be completed soon.  However, there has been a delay with getting the hedges cut, but Cooks have promised this will be done soon.

 

Cllr Heather is in the process of completing an 8 page form for funding to enable purchase of skateboard and play equipment.   This is being done through an organisation called Community First, who have a very high success rate.    It was felt to be very important to get the young people in the Parish on-side when this project takes place. 

 

 

ITEM 5:    HIGHWAYS.

 

Cllr Johnson has looked at various road junctions around the Parish which are causing concern with regard to safety.  The hedge at the junction of the Heath End and Ball Hill roads is well cut back, and he feels drivers deal with the junction well when exiting from Heath End.   He feels there is more of a problem when exiting and turning right from Knights Lane onto the Ball Hill.  In addition, there is a nasty bend before the Burlyns junction on the Heath End road, and there is a problem here with speed. 

 

Cllr Johnson has also looked at the junction at St. Martin's.  He is doubtful anything can be done here.   There are no signs, but there are lines on the road which indicate priority, which should be sufficient. 

 

The uneven pavement outside Cllr Kyle-Lawrence's house has been fixed, as has the water which was running down the road from East End to Heath End.   New fencing has been put in at the Milking Bridge, but only at one side,   The damaged post has been replaced at the new Car Park at Broad Layings, and Tony Futrell has reported two damaged posts at the Church Hall Car Park. 

 

The latest Transport Representatives meeting took place on Saturday 19th November, but Cllr Johnson was unable to attend due to the Senior Citizens Party.   However, he has contributed with regard to the Cango Bus.  He feels the bus which was previously used has been replaced by an inferior one.    However, Cllr Ross said he had used the service recently and was very impressed with it.

 

A letter has been received from a member of the public, Mr. Dalton, who is concerned about the area outside the Ball Hill Garage.   He raises several issues, but the meeting felt that these were not matters which the Parish Council could do anything about, but should be passed on to the police.*

 

*ACTION:    CLERK TO INFORM MR. DALTON AND OFFER TO DO SO ON HIS BEHALF.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 6:    FINANCE.

 

A list of Income and Expenditure was presented and cheques duly signed.

 

A letter has been received from Bertha Bates, asking if the Parish Council would make a donation to the Lychgate Fund at St. Thomas' Church.   The meeting agreed in the sum of £250.*

 

*ACTION:    CLERK TO INFORM BERTHA AND RAISE CHEQUE.

 

The Clerk left the room while the Council discussed her salary increase.  The meeting agreed to the increase as recommended by the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks. 

 

 

ITEM 7:    MEMBERS REPORTS.

 

Cllr Heather.

He hopes that the wording of the Village Design Statement will be approved by Cabinet on 6th December.  If this is the case the team will then be able to go ahead with having the document published.

 

Cllr Elsden.

She has noticed that the grass at East End triangle is very mossy, making it look untidy.  The Chairman knows a gentleman from Green Thumb, and will ask him to have a look at it.*

 

*ACTION:    CHAIRMAN TO ACTION.

 

She also wondered what the possibility was of having a seat somewhere around the triangle.*

 

*ACTION:    CLLR HEATHER TO LOOK INTO THIS.

 

Cllr Powell.

The edges of the road from The Holt to East End are very broken up, making the road narrow and dangerous.*

 

ACTION:      CLLR JOHNSON TO GET THE AREA SURVEYOR TO HAVE A LOOK AT IT.

 

 

NOTES:  NEXT MEETING:   24TH JANUARY 2006