Minutes of the Parish Council 22 February 2011 held at Copythorne Parish Hall (7:00pm - 9:29pm)

 

22 February 2011
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PRESENT:

Councillor Lady Kara Hawks (Chairman); Councillors I Mansell, M Moriarty, J Samways and G Stenson

 

Hampshire County Council: Councillor Keith Mans
New Forest District Council: Councillor Henry Forse
Councillor Les Puttock

Hampshire Constabulary: PC Dee Faulkner PCSO Lisa Quinn

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors James, Milsom and Tipp

 

137. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 

Members of the public raised the following matters during this session:
Praise for the Newbridge resident, Jennifer Howard, who carried out litter picking in Copythorne on a regular basis. Agreed, Council to write a letter of thanks to Ms Howard.

Highway obstructed by hedge cuttings between Biddlecombe Farm and Springers Farm, Kewlake Lane: Agreed, Clerk to pass details to Councillor Mans for action.
Stones from gutter spreading onto footway in Winsor Road between the Haywain junction and the Pound Lane junction.

 

Agreed, Clerk to pass details to Councillor Mans for action.

 

138. MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meetings held on 25 January and 8 February 2011 were approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendment:
Minute 136 (8 February): Substitute 'April 2010' for 'April 2011'

 

139. MATTERS ARISING

 

North East parish quadrant meetings: Agreed, Copythorne to host the next quadrant meeting on Tuesday 29 March 2011 at Copythorne Parish Hall.

Rural Assistance Grants: Councillors Forse, Puttock and Tipp had jointly approved a grant of £500 for the replacement notice board in Winsor Road.

 

140. COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS

 

Councillor Mans reported on the following:

 

HCC council tax frozen for 2011/12

Changes to the concessionary fares scheme (principally, bus pass to apply only to non-peak travel (except disabled persons))

The ongoing review of the mobile library service

 

Councillor Moriarty also raised the following queries:

Are HCC using reserves to freeze the council tax?: Yes, to a limited extent, albeit some reserves are ring-fenced for specific purposes

What facilities are available for the safe and green disposal of energy-saving light bulbs?: Councillor Mans will make further enquiries

 

141. DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS

 

Councillor Puttock reported on the following:

NFDC's continued commitment to carrying out weekly refuse and recycling collections
A £3m reduction in government grant for both 2011/12 and 2012/13; staff savings and income from the lease of accommodation to the NPA would help to avert major service cuts

Support for the proposed speed limits currently being advertised

Councillor Samways also asked if refuse collectors could carry a receptacle for energy-saving light bulbs. Councillor Puttock agreed to raise the matter with the Environment Team but referred to the need to avoid extra costs.

 

Councillor Forse commented on the improved traffic situation following introduction of the new 50 mph speed limits between the Cadnam roundabouts

 

142. CORRESPONDENCE

 

Local policing: PC Dee Faulkner presented the January crime summary for the local beat and provided an update on recent incidents. Members and residents also raised the following queries:

Level of attendance at beat surgeries?: Fairly low, with Bartley higher than others

 

Success in solving dwelling burglaries?: Three arrests made in connection with six recent incidents

 

Should there be more focus on police patrols rather than surgeries?: Patrols already take place, albeit there were eleven villages to cover in the beat area. Meetings of Neighbourhood Watch schemes were also attended.

 

Councillor Stenson commented that the public perception was that there was a good police presence in Copythorne.

 

Traffic Orders: Members received a copy of a draft traffic order for new speed limits in Copythorne. These included new 30 mph limits for Romsey Road (Cadnam roundabout northwards to Pollards Moor Road) and Southampton Road (from Cadnam roundabout eastwards to the Haywain junction).

 

Agreed, no comment

 

Future management of England's Forest Estate: Julian Johnson, Chairman of the NFNPA, had invited Ministers to visit the New Forest to discuss the consultation on this topic (copy letter circulated with the agenda).

 

It was still hoped that a visit would take place notwithstanding the government's decision to halt the consultation. Agreed, Clerk to enquire whether the meeting would be open to the public or whether parish councils could attend.

 

Poppy Appeal: Denise Wiltshire and Helen Kinley had written to introduce themselves as the new Copythorne Poppy Appeal Organisers and to enquire about the Council's Remembrance Day wreath requirements.

 

Agreed, one wreath required.

 

Other correspondence: Members noted the following:

- notice of a meeting of the Lyndhurst Traffic Management Steering Group on Monday 21 March 2011 ( 2pm at Lyndhurst). Cllr James to attend?

- an allotments seminar at Whitchurch Parish Hall on 25 March 2011

- copies of concessionary travel documentation received from HCC

- other correspondence as shown in the list accompanying the agenda

 

143. HIGHWAY TOUR

 

Members received a summary of the topics discussed on the highway tour with Rob Millar on 11 February 2011 and the action proposed. With regard to the possible traffic priority change at the Chinham Road/Bourne Road junction, it was agreed to seek the views of Netley Marsh Parish Council in the first instance.

144. MATTERS PENDING

 

Members reviewed the outstanding items list and agreed the following:

511 (Footpath matters): Add Footpath 7 (Electric fence)

518 (Enforcement, Copperfield, Pollards Moor Road): Further update from Rob Ainslie states that the land investigation is due to start on 2 March 2011 and take up to 13 weeks (subject to weather conditions).

 

Agreed, update to be posted on website

 

145. FINANCE MATTERS

 

Current balances: Deposit A/c £6682.69 Current A/c £711.26

 

Payments: Agreed that expenditure be authorised as shown in Appendix 1 in the minute book (cheques 789 to 791).

 

Appointment of Internal Auditor: As agreed previously, the Council reviewed the arrangements for internal audit. In this context, the Clerk tabled a note showing quotations from three qualified auditors. Agreed, that John Murray be appointed as internal auditor for the 2010/11 accounts.

 

Finance Committee meeting to discuss new Standing Orders and Financial Regulations: This item was deferred in the absence of Councillor James.

 

146. MEMBERS' REPORTS

 

Councillor Samways: Noted that the hardstanding requested for the bus stop in Winsor Road opposite Winsor Lane has now been installed.

Councillor Mansell: Vehicles apparently being sold on the highway at CC Cars, Romsey Road. Agreed, refer to the Police.

Councillor Moriarty: Workshop on New Forest landscape to be held on 8 April 2011
Next meeting of New Forest Consultative Panel to be held on 3 March 2011
Local mobile shelter having an electrical supply installed.

Councillor Lady Kara Hawks: Provision of bus shelter on A36 opposite Whinwhistle Road junction (west bound side). Noted that previous enquiries had shown the proposal was unlikely to be viable in terms of cost etc.

 

147. STANDING ORDERS

 

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

 

148. PLANNING MATTERS

 

Current applications: Members agreed the following responses to current applications:

 

11/96091 Bartley Mount House, Shepherds Road, Bartley (Two-storey extension replacement roof; alterations to fenestration (demolition of single & two-storey elements)). Support (3), subject to the comments of the Conservation Officer

 

11/96092 Glendale, Newbridge Village, Cadnam (2 two-storey rear extensions; single storey side extension; detached outbuilding). Support (3), subject to compliance with the small dwelling limit.

 

11/96119 Forest Cottage, Old Lyndhurst Road, Cadnam (Single storey extension; pitched roof to replace flat roof above; replacement garage). (5)

 

11/96121 Littlecott Farm, Brockishill Road, Barley (Application for a certificate of lawful development for an existing DIY livery stables). (5)

 

(The Council has insufficient information to comment. However, NPA to be advised that, in respect of the applications in 2001 and 2002 for a change of use from stables to a single dwelling, the applicants were believed to claim that the stables were not viable).

 

Decisions etc: Members noted recent planning decisions, together with appeal and enforcement matters, as shown in the list tabled at the meeting (Appendix 2 in the minute book).

 

New Forest Core Strategy: The Clerk reported on the briefing session held on 17 February on this topic. One of the matters raised was a proposal to speed up the issue of briefing notes for planning applications.

 

However, in the process, this might result in the notes citing only the principal policy issues, with the Case Officer's comments following on separately. Members agreed that it would be preferable for comprehensive notes to be issued even if this might take slightly longer.

 

The Clerk had requested a debate by parishes on the issue at an appropriate time.

CHAIRMAN

 

DATE

 

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