Minutes - 16th June 2009
Page last updated on Friday, 28-Aug-2009
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16th JUNE 2009
AT THE CHURCH ROOMS COLBURY
Present:
Councillors S. Arnold (in the Chair), D. Bryant, A. Holdsworth, P. Sopowski and A. Sturgess
In Attendance:
Clerk L. Griggs, District Councillor L. Puttock and 8 members of the public.
Apologies:
had been received from District Councillor Tipp and Councillors Coaker and Kershaw
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
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. 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.
MINUTES
On a proposal by Cllr Holdsworth seconded by Cllr Bryant, the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 19th May, which had been previously circulated to all Councillors, were approved unanimously and signed by the Chairman.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Chairman said the Chairman of Foxhills Action Group wished to speak but as it was an agenda item she would ask him to speak when that item was reached.
The Chairman read a letter from Mr Rogers of The Herb Pot seeking the Council’s support in sorting out the parking problems around the parade. The Council gave full support to the request and would work with the traders to try to resolve the issues.
Cllr Sopowski pointed out that there was substantial room within the hospital for parking which, if used, would free up the free car park which was filled with staff and patients cars.
It was also noted that the area opposite the Happy Cheese could be made into a parking area. The Clerk was asked to take the necessary actions.
A resident had advised the Chairman that:
a) the hedge along Whartons Lane was overgrowing the footpath.
b) The 30/40 speed sign at the entrance to Whartons Lane from the A35 had been turned round showing the speed in Whartons Lane as 40mph.
c) The 30 mph sign approaching Ashurst from the East was obscured by foliage.
The Clerk was asked to take action on these points
HIGHWAY MATTERS
1) Safety poles by the railway bridge. The Clerk reported that HCC would be replacing the broken posts and poles. It was on their work schedule but no date for the work was available yet. The poles would also be painted but that would have to compete with other priorities many with higher priority ratings.
2) Proposed parking restrictions around the school. The Chairman invited Mr Davis to comment.
He said the group had held a meeting and set out some possible options which were:-
a) No parking on the North side of Foxhills
b) Introduction of a one way system in the area.
c) Have a specified drop off area.
The situation is currently unsafe for everyone particularly if emergency vehicles need access.
Relations between residents and the schools needed to improve and the Group had put out a questionnaire and hoped to meet the School Governors when the responses were to hand.
The Chairman thanked Mr Davis and said the Council would be represented by Cllr Kershaw on this issue and would work with the Action Group to seek to resolve the matter.
District Cllr Puttock said this was not a problem unique to Ashurst. Many schools had similar problems. There is really a need for a parking lot and maybe the school could revisit the proposal put forward by the Parish Council for the use of a nearby field.
Cllr Bryant said the school could use their playground as a drop off zone between say 8.30 and 9.10 which would greatly contribute to solving the problem. It was quite large enough and there was already a suitable one way system at the school.
PC Andy White said that once the lines were in place outside the school the police would take action, initially warning people but handing out tickets if they persisted in contravening the law.
3) Yellow lines in Chestnut Drive. The Clerk reported that it was not possible to have yellow lines just to deter people from parking in this area. Any obstruction or potential danger should be reported to the police. He added that in fact the vehicle concerned was now parked elsewhere.
Regarding restrictions in Vixen Close, this was with NFDC.
4) Parking outside the Happy Cheese. This came about after a telephone call from The Herb Pot who made a complaint that the Happy Cheese were leaving notes on cars to say that the parking outside of their premises belonged to their clients.
P.S. Andy White will investigate.
Cllr Bryant said that the two car parks behind the Happy Cheese had been leased by them so they were entitled to restrict parking there to their customers. The area on the road outside their premises and the area opposite were public highway and available to anyone. Parking restrictions should apply all along that road and the Clerk was asked to write to NFDC asking them to revisit the matter.
5) SID deployment. The Clerk had circulated the results of the SID deployment on the A35 which clearly showed a large majority of vehicles exceeding the speed limit. NFDC would be passing the figures to the police for action.
6) New Toucan crossing. The Clerk reported that a safety audit had to be completed before the formal opening could take place..
RECREATION GROUND
Meeting of the Park Committee Saturday 23rd May 2009
Present:- Councillors David Bryant [Chairman of the Park Committee] Ann Sturgess and Sally Arnold
Discussion took place of the pending fete on 5th September. David has suggested that we contact Mr. Whitehorn at least 3 days before the event to enable the ground to settle. This is for the grass cutting.
Ann gave a list of some of the events to both David and Sally and the best sites were discussed.
We all agreed that the wet pour now laid in tiles should be replaced by a one surface. This applied to under the rustic climber and the nodding dog.
We also felt that for a good all round appearance the surface under the 2 slides and the junior swings need to be resurfaced or just topped up.
The grass is coming through and the edging has deteriorated.
The top bar on main swing is loose and needs Wickstead to come back and readjust, David said that this was warrantee work.
New apparatus was discussed and the committee were impressed by the Timberline catalogue. Their apparatus was rustic and would not look out of place in our Park.
If the full council are in agreement with this, Sally will go ahead and make arrangements for the meeting with the representative from Timberline.
a) Cllr Bryant said the Committee had met on 23 May and discussed possible new equipment. A supplier would be contacted for some robust and rustic style items which would be more appropriate to a village park. The supplier had installed similar equipment in Lyndhurst.
The maintenance items identified in the recent Inspection Report were in hand.
b) Friends of the Park. The Chairman said that as the Chairman of that group was on holiday it would be deferred till the next meeting.
c) It was reported that the rubbish bin on Whartons Lane had been vandalised. The Clerk was asked to take action.
PLANNING
Councillor Sopowski gave a report on planning applications processed since the last meeting.
The Chairman reported that she had attended the NPA planning meeting in regard to Oak Tree Lodge Care Home. The Planning Officer had omitted to mention the petition by 57 residents opposing the application, and then went on to say he had no knowledge of it. There was also a discrepancy over the plans. The NPA Committee were not looking at the same plans as the Parish Council had been given.
Fortunately I had my files with me so could verify the difference.
I reminded them the surprise that Parishes feel when an NPA Planning Officer phones and ask us to reconsider our decision.
The outcome was not a ‘grant’ as Officers had recommended but a referral to the net meeting.
ACCOUNTS
The list of cheques paid since the date of the last meeting was approved.
GRANTS
None
POLICE REPORT
PC Andy White said that there had been two burglaries in Ashurst. A cycle had been stolen from Chestnut Drive and two cars had been entered into and items stolen. Unfortunately both cars had been left unlocked.
He was pleased to announce that all pubs in Ashurst had now signed up to Pub Watch. Therefore anyone evicted from one pub would not be able to go elsewhere in Ashurst and would have to go wider afield if they wanted to drink.
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Councillor Holdsworth reported that the foot clinic opened in the Fenwick2 had been very busy.
In the absence of Councillor Kershaw the Chairman gave his report as follows:-
there is nothing to report on the Community Group now but it is important that the Council meet with the group to consider who handles which projects.
Councillor Arnold had attended the following:
20th May – Police presentation at the Church Rooms, it was good to see so many residents interested in this presentation and from this we hope to have monthly Police Surgeries immediately before each council meeting. Our appreciation goes to Sergeant Paul Newman for his time and explanation.
23rd May – Meeting of the Park Committee already mentioned
8th June - Meeting with the executive of New Forest Association of Local Councils.
- [1] It was a concern that Zoning and service village’s reports to NPA may be in jeopardy as Mr. Richard Lemon has resigned. The question being will the new officer take on board the reports from workshops? The Vice Chairman Peter Smith from Hordle said to put on hold any action until the second draft in October comes out, but did say there will only be 2 weeks to comment.
- [2] Mr. Smith said that NFALC needs to be more proactive, and ways were discussed to achieve this.
- [3] There are new plans and changes to the number of houses to be built in Hampshire.
- [4] A leaflet called Parish Plan News was presented to the committee and the Vice Chairman commented that parishes had to challenge the NFDC more strongly, look at guidance notes and get views from other parishes on the relationship between the NFDC and unelected groups.
- [5] Viridor had sent the Secretary their 2009 brochure giving details of their landfill communities grant fund. This is offered to communities that are within a radius of 10 miles of their landfill sites. The nearest site to the New Forest appears to be Squabb Wood outside Romsey.
12th June Meeting with Standards Board this will be reported later.
16th June National Park Committee for planning. Results reported under Planning
CORRESPONDENCE
The list of correspondence had been circulated and copies were available at the meeting.
The Chairman reported the following:-
- It was reported to me on Thursday 11th June that the protected Oak Tree in Vixen Close had workmen working on it. After speaking with our Clerk who then contacted the authority, we are told that the School had reported dead branches over their playing field and had asked HCC Schools Division to take action. The work is classed as classical development work for oak tree survival.
- Message from Mr. Tony Truckle of Moviola, they are donating £100.00 towards the Fete and they are willing to assist Ann. He also said that the Ashurst W.I. will also give their support.
Mr. Truckell confirmed that Moviola would be ordering the daffodils for the village in September for the Spring of 2010. Suggested sites are around the gate sign at the entrance to the village, in front of Colbury Memorial Hall, corner of Deerleap Lane and on the bank at the Church. HCC will plant bulbs next to highway but the Church would like to plant their own.
It was suggested by Cllr Bryant that as there were already bulbs in the Deerleap lane site perhaps it would be better to plant bulbs at the. Whartons Lane junction with the A35 where new gas pipes had been laid. That was agreed.
The other question put to me is if any Parish Councillor wishes to be involved in this project or leave to Moviola? The Council was happy for Moviola to handle the project
- Letter sent to Verderers Court from this Council by Cllr Sopowski against having mobile campsite shops in the Forest.
- I have a letter from the PCT regarding the Chapel.
COMMUNITY PLAN
Nothing further to report.
VILLAGE FAIR
Councillor Sturgess reported that everything is coming along beautifully. The local Vet had agreed to judge the dog show and there would also be a Bonny Baby Competition., lots of stall and stands and people wanting to take part. It would be a fete for everyone in the village. If anyone wanted to volunteer to help she would be pleased to hear from them.
The date was 5th September and the venue the Recreation Ground.
CO-OPTION PROCESS
The Clerk reported that he, Cllr Sturgess and the Chairman had attended a meeting with the Monitoring Office and Mr Alex Lander following the report by the Assessment Sub Committee on the complaint made against Cllr Sturgess by Mr Barnes, one of the applicants interviewed to fill the vacancy for a councillor.
The meeting had been requested in the Report. The procedures they recommended the Council to follow in future interviews were outlined, although it was accepted that the Council had done its best to ensure fairness.
Both Ms O’Rourke and Mr Lander stated clearly that Cllr Sturgess had not breached the Code of Conduct. It was pointed out to the Monitoring Officer and Mr Lander that the procedure whereby Cllr Sturgess was not provided with the name of the complainant nor the nature of the complaint until after the Assessment Sub Committee had met and given its decision was contrary to justice as practised in this country. The defendant had no opportunity to provide any evidence and a decision was reached without hearing anything from the defendant.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING
Talk by Mr Hewitt from Friends of the Park on their proposals for the Park
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.37 pm
Signed S. R. Arnold - Chairman
Dated 21st June 2009
• PDF File
16 June 2009
(31.0 kB PDF File)
• Adobe Acrobat reader
Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download it using the "Get Adobe® Reader button above.
• Also see