Minutes of the Parish Council 27 January 2009 held at Copythorne Parish Hall (7:00pm - 9:44pm)

 

27 January 2009
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PRESENT:

 

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

County Councillor M Kendal - by invitation
District Councillor H Forse - by invitation
District Councillor D Tipp - by invitation
PC M Bemand - by invitation

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Stenson, Puttock and Heron

 

336. MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meetings held on 25 November & 9 December 2008 and 13 January 2009 were approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman.

 

337. MATTERS ARISING

 

New Forest Today:

 

A letter from NFDC confirmed that the autumn edition of the newsletter had received full circulation in Copythorne. However, investigations into alternative distribution arrangements were under way.

Recycling bags:

 

Further comment on the delays in the supply of bags and inadequate supply. Councillor Tipp referred to the budget implications of increasing the number of bags.

Hedge in Old Romsey Road:

 

Now cut.

 

338. DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS

 

Councillor Forse reported on the following:

Bramshaw PC Council meetings were now on the same day as Copythorne’s (4th Tuesday).

Rural Assistance Grant funds still available for the current year.

 

Councillor Tipp referred to:

 

NFDC budget likely to have a £3m shortfall, particularly due to reduced income and investment returns
The ‘101 telephone number’ to be financed from the Police budget next year. Cllr Tipp to investigate publicity arrangements

‘Surviving the Recession’ events organised by the New Forest Business Partnership to be held at various venues during February

Abandoned vehicles service likely to be affected by reduced metal prices

 

339. COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS

 

Councillor Kendal reported on the following:

Revenue savings will be necessary in order to limit Council Tax increase. Expenditure on highway infrastructure will have to reduce, with deferral of projects.

Members also raised the following:

Street lamp ‘switch-off trial:

 

Dimming of 25% to take place after midnight in low crime areas. No reductions elsewhere

Bartley crossroads:

 

Vehicle/pedestrian movements fail the DV2 test by considerable margin. Cllr Kendal has asked whether crossing can be signalled and will pursue options through the HAT team.

 

Village 30 scheme:

 

Reference to request from local resident for 30 mph limit on Southampton Road. This would need to be pursued through the general A and B roads review.

 

340. CORRESPONDENCE

 

Local crime:

 

PC Bemand presented the November and December figures for the Copythorne area and updated members on recent incidents. Cllr Samways referred to a parking issue outside Wellington Place and a vehicle parked without lights in Woodlands Road. PC Bemand agreed to pursue.

Bartley crossroads, A336:

 

Members received the results of the pedestrian and vehicle survey carried out on Friday 8 February 2008. As noted in minute 339 above, Cllr Kendal was pursuing options for safety improvements through the HAT team. Following the decision to install a pedestrian crossing on the A35 at Ashurst, the Clerk was also asked to obtain details of the pedestrian/vehicle survey. In addition, PC Bemand agreed to obtain accident fatality figures for Southampton Road.

Copythorne CE Infant School:

 

Members considered proposals for federating the Copythorne CE Infant School with Netley Marsh CE and Lyndhurst St Michael and All Angels schools. Group discussions had been arranged at the respective schools on dates in early February. Agreed, Council to consider the matter further at the Planning meeting on 10 February.

Affordable housing, Cadnam:

 

A note from the Rural Housing Enabler advised that the landowner had now withdrawn the offer to sell the land at Old Lyndhurst Road for affordable housing. It was uncertain whether the land would become available in the future but the Enabler would continue to work with the parish to identify other suitable alternative sites in the village.

Village 30 scheme, Southampton Road:

 

A local resident had enquired whether Southampton Road could be considered for a 30 mph limit under the Village 30 scheme (see also minute 339 above). Cllr Kendal advised that the scheme was now nearing completion and that any further limits would need to be considered as part of the general A and B roads review, due for completion in 2011.

Other correspondence:

 

Members also noted the following:

- a letter from the Hampshire Probation Office on unpaid work teams

- an e-mail from NFDC on an opportunity for parishes to view the Police Community Reassurance van

- ‘Core skills for Councillors’ seminars on 25 February and 10 March 2009

- a meeting of the Lyndhurst Traffic Management group on Thursday 26 March 2009 (Cllr James to attend)

 

341. MATTERS PENDING

 

Members reviewed the outstanding items list and noted the following:

497 (Road drainage, Chinham Road/New Inn Road): Surveyor states that the problem is not with the gullies but rather with a ditch that needs clearing in Beechwood Road. Clerk to request site meeting.

505 (Mobile broadband service): Delete if Council proceeds with wireless router at the Hall.

506 (Management Plan for Splitwind Pond): Draft in progress.

508 (Internet connection, Parish Hall): Clerk to request quotation from BT

509 (Fence alterations, Empress of Blandings): Fencing altered but “car park entrance’ and 40 mph signs require resiting

503 (Affordable housing, Cadnam) deleted

 

342. PARISH FOOTPATHS

 

No further reports to date on maintenance issues. Councillor Moriarty to inspect various paths as soon as possible.

 

343. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

 

Meeting to be held on Wednesday 11 March 2009 with usual agenda items. Light refreshments to be arranged.

 

344. STANDING ORDERS

 

Standing Order 4(ii) was invoked to allow the meeting to deal with the business in hand.

 

345. FINANCE MATTERS

 

County Councillors’ devolved budgets:

 

Members reviewed the proposal made at the last meeting to use Councillor Kendal’s ‘capital projects fund’ (£1000) for Parish Hall schemes (lighting improvements and internet connection). It was also noted that further funds were available in this financial year - Councillor Heron’s devolved budget (£700) and District Councillors’ Rural Assistance Grants (£500).

Agreed, that grant applications be made as follows:

- Councillor Heron Parish Hall lighting
- Councillor Kendal Splitwind Pond improvements
- Councillors Forse, Puttock and Tipp Parish Hall internet connection and display equipment

 

Grant application, Hampshire County Youth Band Association:

 

Agreed that a grant of £75 be made from the 2008/09 budget.

 

Current balances:

 

Deposit A/c £7259.21

Current A/c £946.63

 

Payments:

 

The following expenditure was approved:

 

Cheque
678	Copythorne Parish Hall Management Committee (Meeting room hire, October 2008 to March 2009)	£130.00
679	Audit Commission (Audit fees, 2007/08 accounts)	£155.25
680	M Derrick (Clerk’s salary and expenses – January)	£493.25

 

346. MEMBERS’ REPORTS

 

Councillor Moriarty:

 

Report on Transport Forum held on 23 January. Budget shortfall will result in reduced bus services. Publicity an issue.
Bus stops display telephone numbers which can be texted to obtain details of next four buses due at that stop.

Councillor Samways:

 

Road sweeping deposits still not cleared from site off Barrow Hill Road. Clerk to pursue.

 

347. PLANNING MATTERS

 

Current planning applications:

 

Members agreed to comment as follows:

 

08/93697 Fair Haven, White Hart Lane, Cadnam (First floor side extension). Support (3)

 

08/93702 Paultons Park, Ower (Rationalisation and upgrading of car parking provision; replacement admissions/retail building with associated service buildings; conversion of existing workshop to retail and new engineering workshop). Support (3)

 

Decisions etc:

 

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

 

Enforcement:

 

The enforcement case for The Haven, Romsey Road did not relate to a ramp but to the size of the building. There were initial concerns that the building was too wide but inspection showed that the development was in accordance with approved plans.

 

New permitted development rights:

 

NFDC had arranged training for parish councillors on this new legislation (5 and 26 February). Cllr Samways agreed to attend the 26 February session – Cllrs James and Moriarty to advise the Clerk of chosen dates.

 

CHAIRMAN

 

DATE

 

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