Minutes of the Parish Council 24 February 2009 held at Copythorne Parish Hall (7:00pm - 8:48pm)

 

24 February 2009
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PRESENT:

 

Cllr Lady Kara Hawks (Chairman); Cllr R Good, Cllr G James, Cllr I Mansell, Cllr M Moriarty, Cllr J Samways and Cllr G Stenson

County Councillor Mrs K Heron - by invitation
District Councillor H Forse - by invitation
District Councillor D Tipp - by invitation
PC M Bemand - by invitation
PCSO L Quinn - by invitation

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Puttock

 

353. MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meetings held on 27 January and 10 February 2009 were approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman.

 

354. MATTERS ARISING

 

Bartley crossroads, A336:

 

Members received a report to the HCC Roads and Development Sub-Committee showing vehicle/pedestrian movements in the context of the newly-installed pedestrian crossing at Ashurst. As agreed, Councillor Kendal would raise the matter of a pedestrian crossing or signalled junction for Bartley at the forthcoming HAT meeting (Clerk to copy Cllr Heron into the e-mail correspondence). PC Bemand had also supplied injury collision statistics for Bartley crossroads for the period 1 January 2003 to 31 October 2008.

Grants:

 

Grants had now been agreed as follows:

Parish Hall lighting	£815	(Councillor Heron’s devolved budget)
Splitwind Pond improvements etc	£1000	(Councillor Kendal’s devolved budget)
Parish Hall display equipment	£500	(District Councillors’ Rural Assistance Grant)

 

Empress of Blandings:

 

Redundant sign re lack of road markings to be removed. Car park sign to be relocated but Surveyor queries the need to move the 40 mph sign.

Ditch at Bolnore, Newbridge:

 

Environment Agency advise that the ditch is not their responsibility. Clerk therefore pursuing with Surveyor.

 

355. COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS

 

Councillor Mrs Heron reported on various highway matters, including road safety issues. Following approval of the 2009/10 budget, extra resources had now been found for highway maintenance, particularly in the context of the winter weather.

 

356. DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS

 

Councillor Forse reported on the following:

His proportion of the Rural Assistance Grant for planning display equipment (£165) should be paid shortly.

The Highways Agency had written to Julian Lewis MP concerning road noise from the M27 at Cadnam (see also minute 357 below). The letter was in similar terms to the one sent to the Parish Council. Cllr James suggested that the issue could be pursued by encouraging interest among Cadnam residents.

 

Councillor Tipp referred to:

Sale by NFDC of 4A Pundle Green, a vacant Council property. The Council had considered the dwelling uneconomic to repair.

The NFDC Council Tax would increase by 2.7% for 2009/10.

Bus pass facilities would continue in 2009/10, with free swimming for the over-60s available from April.

On the 101 telephone service, Cllr Tipp agreed to ensure publicity in the New Forest News.

 

357. CORRESPONDENCE

 

Local crime:

 

PC Bemand presented the January figures for the Copythorne area and updated members on recent incidents. As advised previously, a demonstration of the Police Community Reassurance van was available on request. Leaflets had also been circulated about the local ‘street meets’ and PCSO Lisa Quinn was spending time in villages, concentrating on vulnerable people. The Chairman referred to recent flooding in Old Romsey Road which would have benefited from the display of ‘Slow’ signs. PC Bemand also agreed to follow up further complaints about speeding motorcyclists at Cadnam.

M27 Cadnam – Road Noise:

 

Following complaints from Cadnam residents about road noise from the M27, the Clerk had written to the Highways Agency requesting remedial action. In reply, the Agency advised that lower-noise surfacing materials were only utilised as part of programmed maintenance work and that no work was planned for the Cadnam area within the next 4-year rolling programme.

 

However, there were proposals to install acoustic noise barriers alongside a section of the M27 between junctions 1 and 2, with design work planned during 2009/10 subject to funding. Extensive environmental impact assessment work would be needed in the context of the National Park but it was hoped that construction could take place in 2011.

Bus shelter, East Wellow:

 

A resident of East Wellow had asked if the Parish Council could install a bus shelter on the Salisbury-bound side of the A36 near Whinwhistle corner. Wellow PC already provided and maintained a shelter on the Southampton side, albeit the site was in Copythorne. Members agreed that a shelter could be considered provided one could be sourced at reasonable cost, possibly a second-hand one from the Highways Agency. The Clerk was also asked to seek the Agency’s view on a suitable site for a shelter.

Other correspondence:

 

Members also noted the following:

- an e-mail from NFALC inviting attendance at a Code of Conduct training session at Boldre on 4 March 2009

- other correspondence as shown in the list circulated with the agenda.

 

358. MATTERS PENDING

 

Members reviewed the outstanding items list and noted the following:

506 (Management Plan for Splitwind Pond): Draft in progress. Clerk to order copies of publications “Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines” and Great Crested Newt Conservation Handbook”.

490 (Footpath 502) and 510 (Footpaths 3, 9, 14, 15 and 16): Combine with new item 511 (see minute 359 below).

 

359. PARISH FOOTPATHS

 

Cllr Moriarty tabled a report on the condition of various footpaths, with action required as shown (to be referred to Rights of Way):

 

Footpath
1	Generally clear – muddy in parts
2	Initially overgrown at northern end
7	Fingerpost lying in hedge at stile at 312 128. No markers on intermediate gates
8	Generally clear – muddy in parts
13	Clear
18	No bridleway sign at Beechwood Road

Cllrs James and Stenson reported on the following

 

Footpath
5 & 6	Clear
11	In reasonable condition
17	In reasonable condition but muddy at Lyndhurst Lodge
501	Clear
502	Clear

 

The Clerk agreed to inspect footpath 10.

 

360. FINANCE MATTERS

 

Copythorne Parish Hall – Grant request:

 

Consideration was given to an enquiry from the Parish Hall Committee regarding a possible financial contribution for replacement uPVC windows at the Hall (estimated cost £12,000). Members agreed that the Council was unlikely to be able to offer any meaningful contribution towards a project of that size. However, Cllr Mrs Heron agreed to enquire about a possible HCC community grant.

 

Campaign to Protect Rural England:

 

Agreed, renew subscription for 2009 (£29).

 

Current balances:

 

Deposit A/c £6509.21

Current A/c £721.24

 

Payments:

 

The following expenditure was approved:

Cheque
683	M Derrick (Clerk’s salary and expenses – February)	£419.11
684	CPRE (Annual subscription)	£29.00

 

361. MEMBERS’ REPORTS

 

Councillor James:

 

Apologies for Annual Parish Meeting, 11 March.

 

362. PLANNING MATTERS

 

Members noted the following:

- details of planning decisions and new appeals, as shown in the list tabled at the meeting (appendix 1 in the minute book).

- a copy of a letter sent to the NFNPA by Roy Farmers concerning outstanding enforcement issues at Copperfield, Pollards Moor Road

- an e-mail from Jayne Reed thanking the Council for its assistance in respect of the appeal at The Old Brick Yard, Salisbury Road, East Wellow

 

CHAIRMAN

 

DATE

 

 

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