Minutes - 17th February 2009
Page last updated on Thursday, 19-Mar-2009
ASHURST AND COLBURY PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD
ON 17th FEBRUARY 2009 AT THE CHURCH ROOMS COLBURY
Present:
Councillors S. Arnold (in the Chair), D. Bryant, A. Holdsworth, R. Judd, K. Kershaw and A Sturgess.
In Attendance:
District Councillor L. Puttock, Parish Clerk L. Griggs and 12 members of the public.
The Chairman opened the meeting and said:
Good evening and welcome to you all. Tonight we have Rosemary Rutins (Democratic Services Manager at NFDC), and Councillor Mike Short, (Hythe & Dibden Parish Council), who are part of the NFDC Standards Committee. We welcome you both and hope that you enjoy your evening with us.
Apologies
District Councillor D. Tipp
Disclosure of Interests in an Agenda Item
The Chairman asked if there was any item on the agenda which would warrant a Councillor submitting a Form C. There were none. 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 Chairman read a letter from a resident thanking the Council for its efforts in getting the grass verges restored in Peterscroft Avenue.
A resident referred to the path from the railway station carried out by HCC and the Railway authority some years ago. On a recent visit to that area he had seen a Notice saying the path was Private and only for the use of Railway Personnel.
It was a very easy and convenient way into the forest. The Chairman said it may well be for safety reasons.
Minutes
On a proposal by Councillor Bryant, seconded by Councillor Kershaw, the minutes of the meeting held on 20th January, which had been previously circulated to all Councillors, were approved unanimously and signed by the Chairman.
Affordable Housing
The Chairman said at the last meeting we had speakers with their proposal for affordable housing on three sites in our village, Knellers Lane, Foxhills and the railway site. For the least disruption for the village the railway site is the best.
It was suggested that it may be too noisy but that site is no nearer to the track than some of the private houses in Ashdene Road, Fir Road, Rye Dale and Foxhills.
The NPA have indicated they would not want high density housing on the Knellers Lane site and this Council would wish to see detailed plans for any development of Foxhills for affordable housing beyond the seven dwellings already approved for private housing.
Councillor Kershaw supported the provision of affordable housing and agreed that the railway site should be considered as proposals had already been put forward.
Bearing in mind that seven dwellings has already been accepted by NPA on the site the Council should receive detailed proposals as to what Hyde Housing Association planned for the site before making any decision.
Councillor Holdsworth supported the use of railway site and the suggestion of more information on the other sites.
Councillor Bryant supported that view.
Councillor Judd said the proximity of the Foxhills site to the school could give rise to further traffic problems. If the railway was developed the Council should press for parking facilities to be included in the plans. If that was not done parking for railway users could become difficult.
Councillor Sturgess supported developing the railway site but not Foxhills which was already densely packed.
The Clerk was asked to write to Hyde HA accordingly.
Fitness Trail
The Chairman said as you know we have asked for residents views on this matter and those who have contacted the Clerk on this matter give the following figures:
44 residents opposed to the trail and 5 residents supported the Trail I have included Messrs Jeffery and Hutchin as they gave the presentation.
It therefore falls to the Council to decide whether to make a decision now or have one more attempt to get a wider representation of residents’ views. Perhaps the best way to start is for Councillor Bryant to tell us the outcome of his meeting with some of the Lakewood Road residents.
Councillor Bryant said he had met residents and they would be happier if the equipment was moved from the Lakewood Road side to other areas in the park.
Councillor Kershaw said he understood that the trail had been mentioned in the plan even if not in that precise wording and additional equipment had the support of over 600 people.
The reason given by those against the proposal was vandalism but in his view the Council should not concede to the vandals. It could be said that it is the park that had brought in the vandals and if vandalism is the reason for not having the trail maybe the park should be given up to building development to get rid of the vandals altogether.
The trail is the right way to go and the Council should go ahead. The Chairman said the objections received were much wider than just vandalism.
Councillor Sturgess said she was not opposed to the trail but said it would not be usable in winter because of the water that lay around during those months. Indeed it was often wet at other times also. She suggested there should be a proper track round the perimeter of the park which could be used by joggers.
Councillor Judd asked if a further notice could be put in the Newsletter saying it was the last chance to give opinions. She added that people who chose to live near the park to benefit from the beauty should accept any downside from living near the park.
Councillor Holdsworth said that people who lived near the park were entitled to their opinion. In her view the areas proposed were too wet even for walking dogs however she supported the proposal to have another attempt to get more residents to give their view.
Councillor Kershaw said the Newsletter had only just been delivered to Whartons Lane so those residents had not had a chance to give their view.
Councillor Bryant agreed that the bottom end is very wet partly due to the removal of shrubs during the tree work. He was planning to use the shrub chippings on the dog walk but that would have to wait for better weather. If residents wished to meet him at the park to talk through the proposals he was willing to meet them.
It was agreed to put another notice in the Newsletter and make a decision at the next meeting.
Highway Matters
1) Bridge works.
The Clerk said he was still awaiting a quotation for painting the poles by the railway bridge.
2) Deployment of the SID
The Clerk said that the deployment of the SID was now with NFDC.
3) Councillor Judd said the need for a disabled parking space by the shops was emphasised during the bad weather and asked the Clerk to pursue the matter
4) Councillor Bryant said the painting of the island kerbs on the A35 was very necessary. A motorcyclist had said it was impossible to see the kerbs during bad weather. This was a safety issue...
Recreation Ground
Councillor Bryant said the safety inspection had shown only minor works necessary. Tree works have been stopped during the bad weather.
On the replacement of benches Councillor Judd said additional information and quotations had been provided. After discussion it was agreed to make a decision at the next meeting.
Planning
In the absence of Councillor Sopowski the Chairman read the report on planning issues since the last meeting.
The Chairman added that a plot of land on which planning approval had been objected to by this Council as unacceptable infill, but approved on appeal by NPA, for a bungalow for the owner’s son to live in as he could not otherwise afford to live in Ashurst, was now on sale as a building plot with planning permission at £90,000.
Councillor Kershaw said it depended on which, if any, conditions NPA may or may not have put on the application. After discussion the Clerk was asked to draw the NPA attention to the matter.
Accounts
a) The list of cheques paid since the date of the last meeting was approved.
b) The Clerk said he had put in hand the repainting of two metal bus shelters and renovation of two wooden shelters at a cost of some £800. If the work was satisfactory the other shelters would also be renovated.
Grants
The Council considered requests for grants from:
- Romsey and Totton Swimming Club and agreed a grant of £100
- Colbury Memorial Hall and agreed a grant of £500
Co-Options of a Councillor
The Clerk advised that the interviews for the five candidates were set for 27th February. The Clerk gave copies of the relevant papers to all Councillors present.
Reports from Representatives on Other Bodies
Councillor Kershaw attended the annual NFDC Transport Forum and the Community Action Group reported as follows.
Transport Forum. The forum was held at the New Forest District Council Offices, Lyndhurst. Approximately 30 representatives from Town and Parish Councils and other organisations were in attendance.
The Forum was conducted in two parts - Officer Presentation, Participant Workshops Officer Presentation
The presentation was led by Kevin Haynes of HCC. It consisted of an update of the HCC role in providing and supporting passenger transport services and the challenges such faced in the present financial climate.
Examples of the County Council work with partners and other stakeholders in providing passenger transport were given.
Participant Workshops
Participants were split into a number of working groups each charged with considering and reporting back to the full Forum on an aspect of passenger transport.
The overall objective was to strengthen the role of the community in identifying future needs and working with HCC in developing solutions and providing more effective passenger transport services in the local community.
Community Action Group. The meeting was mainly devoted to considering:-
- Adoption of Parish Plan
- Constitution
- Fitness trail
- Update of Parish Plan Action Plan
Adoption of Parish Plan - It was reported that the adoption of the Parish Plan by the Parish Council was pending advice from NFDC concerning the 1:4 protocol for Parish Councils. This would be considered at the next Parish Council meeting.
Constitution – A new constitution for the Group was adopted
Fitness Trail - Consideration of the adoption of the proposed fitness trail as encompassed by the section E/6 of the Parish Plan had been deferred by the last meeting of the Parish Council. It was suggested members might like to lobby their Councillors prior to the next Council meeting.
Update of Parish Plan Action Plan – The tabulation of Actions points from the Parish Plan were reviewed. Of the points in the plan some 5 had been full achieved, 12 either achieved or no longer relevant and about 20 still in progress.
Of note were the adoption of the A35 speed limit and the agreement to set pedestrian crossing adjacent to Colbury Hall. The Group thanked the Parish Council and in particular Cllr Rita Judd for this.
Councillor Sturgess attended a seminar on Planning Permitted Development. Rights for Householders. It was very interesting and revealed the complexity of the subject.
Councillor Holdsworth reported that she still awaited a response from Hampshire PCT on funding for a foot clinic at Fenwick 2. Everything else was in place but until funding was assured it could not commence work.
Councillor Judd suggested asking for Grants from local Councils.
Councillor Puttock said one of the problems in raising funds was that people knew Fenwick 2 as a NHS hospital and still considered it should be funded by the NHS although it was now a private venture.
Councillor Puttock reported that the new technology for handling planning applications had proved to be not as good in practice as proposed by the consultants.
In addition NFDC were finding that income from planning and associated matters were significantly reduced making it necessary to consider how to make savings. Despite that it was hoped to keep Council Tax increases down to 3% and the County levy was likely to be 1.9%.
Everyone was trying to help residents during these difficult times. In regard to the Planning seminar referred to by Councillor Sturgess he wished to make it clear that restrictions still applied particularly as Ashurst &Colbury was in the NPA area.
Conservation areas still required consent for many planning matters.
Councillor Bryant added that a Tree Surgeon had reported to him a case where a resident had asked NPA if they could have work carried out on a tree and were told they could go ahead as no TPO was involved. The Tree Surgeon knowing better pressed the matter and finally it was confirmed by NPA that a TPO was in place.
Councillor Bryant said that most trees in Ashurst and Colbury had TPOs on them so if any resident wanted work done on a tree they must make application to NPA. If they were advised no TPO was in place then that should be confirmed in writing by NPA as otherwise heavy fines could be imposed. Telephone conversations could not be verified.
Councillor Arnold reported as follows:
Due to illness I had to cancel meetings this month. However I did manage to get to a house in Woodlands Road which had been flooded with sewage coming from the drains into their garden. After lengthy phone calls Southern Water did arrive.
NFDC Environment Health Department acted swiftly and although the flood had dispersed gave assurances to the resident that they would respond immediately to any phone call should the problem recur. The situation is very similar to that which occurs in Peterscroft Avenue, contaminating Bartley Water. Non return valves have been fitted but that does not solve the problem it only moves it from one place to another.
Correspondence
The list of correspondence had been circulated and copies were available at the meeting. The Chairman said the item on the Youth Bus in Ringwood was interesting and maybe a similar project could be started by a group of Parishes in this area.
Web Site Management
The Chairman said I hope you are all as impressed as I am with the new site. It is very professional and will be updated as necessary. All entries will be dealt with through the Clerk. The weekly stats will be useful to us to know how many people visit the site and whether they are first time visitors, what pages they visit etc.
Community Plan
The Clerk advised that a revised Information Sheet 1.4 had been agreed between Ringwood Town Council and NFDC which incorporated most of the requirements of this Council. However NFDC had still not issued the revised version.
The Chairman said the matter of adopting the plan had to be resolved and the Council needs to decide whether to adopt the plan in whole or in part and how to deal with the outstanding issue of Sheet 1.4.
After discussion the Chairman proposed, and Councillor Kershaw seconded, that the Council adopt the Community Plan with the exception of Actions to which it is not party and subject to agreement of and acceptance by this Council of a revised Information Sheet 1.4.
The proposal was passed unanimously.
Items for Discussion at the Next Meeting
Fitness Trail
Information Sheet 1.4
Police Response Van
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.02 pm.
Signed S. R. Arnold - Chairman
Dated 17th March 2009
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