Minutes - 18th November 2008
Page last updated on Thursday, 29-Jan-2009
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 18th NOVEMBER 2008
AT THE CHURCH ROOMS COLBURY
Present:
Councillors S. Arnold (in the Chair),
D. Bryant,
A. Holdsworth,
R. Judd
and A Sturgess.
In Attendance:
Parish Clerk L. Griggs,
District Councillor L Puttock
and 19 members of the public.
Apologies
Councillors K. Kershaw, P Sopowski and District Councillor D. Tipp.
The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM
The Chairman asked if there was any item on the agenda which would warrant a Councillor submitting a Form C. None were offered. The Chairman reminded Councillors that if any item arose during Public Participation which warranted a Form C they should declare it immediately.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Clerk was asked to read out a letter from the Editor of the Newsletter who was unable to be present. The Chairman said that no discussion could take place as it was not an agenda item.
Councillor Holdsworth intervened to say the Council should give full support to the Editor, a view that was agreed by all present.
A resident enquired if anything can be done to enforce the 30mph on the A35 and The Chairman said that would come up under Highways.
The Chairman of the Community Plan Group asked the following:
a) if there would be any consultation on the Welcome Pack which was being prepared. The Chairman said she had sent copies to the names submitted to her and also to the enquirer himself. She would be happy to have a joint meeting after Christmas.
b) if members of the Group would be able to ask questions when the Community Plan was discussed. The Chairman said she would allow the Chairman to speak then.
c) Will discussions take place on the NPA Plan this evening. The Chairman pointed out that the document had already gone to NPA, the deadline being 14th November, and the agenda item was only for formal confirmation that the response had been approved.
MINUTES
On a proposal by Councillor Bryant, seconded by Councillor Sturgess, the minutes of the meeting held on 21 October, which had been previously circulated to all Councillors, were approved unanimously and signed by the Chairman.
HIGHWAY MATTERS
a) Barriers by the railway bridge
Councillor Bryant reported that the Council had met on site on Saturday last and suggested that:
i) the panelling be extended to the end of the horizontal poles on the North side to the steps and on the South side to the Woodlands Road side.
ii) the Council find its own contractor to do the work. Nothing was proposed for the East side of the steps and Woodlands Road.
iii) the final pole which angled down at the Woodlands Road sign be kept horizontal with a further vertical post.
Councillor Judd asked if the remaining poles which were a dirty white could be painted green to meld in with the surrounding foliage. The Clerk was asked to take up these suggestions with HCC.
b) Green and silver barriers at the bridge.
The Clerk reported that he had not received any further response. Councillor Bryant said he had looked at the barriers and felt that it was unlikely any reduction in height would be allowed as the height was governed by statute. It was agreed to leave this item off the agenda.
c) A35 Crossing
The Clerk reported that he had received the plans for the crossing and also associated cycle routes which were displayed on the back wall. In addition the Council had received the planning application for the resiting of the Colbury Memorial Hall entrance. The Chairman said the work was scheduled for next year but Councillor Puttock said he understood it would start in March.
d) Councillor Bryant asked that a walk or drive round the village with Rob Millar of Highways was now necessary to point out the work required to be done. He added that the people who painted the road signs had not done a very good job. The Clerk was asked to arrange a meeting
RECREATION GROUND
Councillor Bryant said the maintenance work was ongoing and also the work resulting from the inspection. He had met with the Community Plan Group to discuss their proposals for a fitness trail in the park and would now be consulting with relevant people over the issues which needed to be clarified.
The Chairman said consultation would also be necessary with the neighbours who could be directly affected by the trail. Councillor Bryant added that the tree maintenance work was now complete.
PLANNING
In the absence of Councillor Sopowski the Clerk read the report on planning issues since the last meeting.
ACCOUNTS
On a proposition by Councillor Bryant, seconded by Councillor Sturgess, the list of cheques paid since the date of the last meeting was approved. The Chairman said that because agreement could not be reached between NAFLC and SLCC the matter of the annual increase for Clerks was going to an independent tribunal.
In had been agreed by both sides that Clerks should receive an interim increase for the year of 2.45%.
NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY DRAFT PLAN AND RECREATION STRATEGY DOCUMENT
The Chairman proposed and Councillor Holdsworth seconded that the responses prepared by the Clerk be formally accepted and approved by the Council. The proposal was carried unanimously.
The Chairman of the Community Plan Group asked to speak and said he found it frustrating that there had been no public meeting in the village on this issue. Other villages had held meetings.
It was important that the Community Plan Group were involved in these issues as while the Council may have spent much time on the discussions the time is spent for the future not the present and the CPG needed to be involved. It was important to keep communication open and the Newsletter issue showed there were different opinions in the Council.
The Chairman asked the Clerk to speak and he said that the Council had done all it could within the restrictive timetable. Villages who had held meetings had their own hall but this Council did not and arranging meetings at short notice when you did not know how many would attend was difficult.
The Council needed to read the document of over 180 pages and see the CD of equal volume before deciding what points should be raised at a public meeting otherwise it could become a talk shop without making progress.
The timetable for responses did not permit a properly planned public meeting. The Chairman said the Council was the only body elected to represent the village and had dome what it felt was best for the village.
It had also worked with other villages to provide a strong response. Councillor Bryant said, in response to the comment about differences within the Council, the response document had been endorsed by the whole Council.
GRANTS
The request from the Hampshire County Youth Band for another grant was refused.
SEERA PLAN FOR ACCOMMODATION FOR GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS.
The draft response prepared by the Clerk after discussion by the Council was agreed and on a proposal by the Chairman seconded by Councillor Bryant it was formally accepted and adopted unanimously.
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Councillor Bryant had attended a meeting at Copythorne on the subject of flooding. While it had been useful on a general level it was not helpful on local issues as the speaker had no idea about the local problems.
Council Holdsworth had visited the Age Concern pop-in centre who was holding its Christmas Bazaar.
Unfortunately workman were laying new tarmac on the road outside so it was impossible to park nearby and the noise was terrible. The number of visitors was very low and she felt for the ladies who had organised it particularly as they had been told the work would be complete two weeks previously.
She added that the application for funding for a foot clinic in the Fenwick2 suite was being considered by Hampshire PCT. Although she had the promise of temporary funding she did not want to start something which may have to close if HPCT did not provide long term funding.
Councillor Judd had attended the HCC Transport Seminar and a report is attached to the minutes.
Councillor Arnold had attended the following:
| 22nd October | Meeting to finalise NPA draft |
| 25th October | Meeting with Parish Plan Committee regarding the playground for adults. Councillor Bryant has already reported this meeting. |
| 5th November | Met with Clerk and the new Web Site managers |
| 6th November | Meeting with NPA and representatives of the four Service Villages |
| 6th November | Council meeting re Gypsy Policies |
| 11th November | Copythorne Parish Council for speaker on Flooding. |
| 15th November | To discuss improvement to barriers over railway bridge. |
| 18th November | Police Assurance Van at Lyndhurst. |
Councillor Puttock said the District Council was having to review its spending due to the decline in revenue from planning applications and surveys due to the economic climate. A shortfall of some £700k was forecast. The Council tax for next year had to be kept low and other economies would have to be found.
CORRESPONDENCE
The list of correspondence had been circulated and copies were available at the meeting. The Clerk drew attention to a letter from Gordon Richardson of Community Action Hampshire regarding a meeting to discuss two sites in Ashurst which could be developed for affordable housing. He would be attending the January meeting to discuss the matter.
JUBILEE TREE PLAQUE
Councillor Bryant said he had traced all the permissions and photographs but nothing had shown the actual wording on the plaque. He was still hopeful that one man who had been involved in the matter originally might still be able to recall the wording and would report to the next meeting.
WEB SITE MANAGEMENT
The Clerk reported that there had been delay in moving the domain from NFDC but that was now in progress. As soon as that happened a front page would say that the site is being redeveloped and would be active again shortly.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING
None
The Chairman gave the following reminders:
[1] History Exhibition 13th December from 10.30 a.m. - 4 p.m. - any willing helpers would be gratefully received.
[2] Carol Service - 19th December with the New Forest Brass Band.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.25pm.
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18 November 2008
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