Minutes
Page last updated on Friday, February 19, 2010
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16TH FEBRUARY 2010
AT THE CHURCH ROOMS COLBURY
Present:
Councillors S. Arnold (in the Chair), D. Bryant, M. Coaker, C Hubbard, K. Kershaw and A. Sturgess.
In Attendance:
Parish Clerk L. Griggs, District Councillor L. Puttock and 5 members of the public.
Apologies
had been received from District Cllr Tipp and Cllrs Frost and Sopowski.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for turning out on such a cold wet evening.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM
The Chairman reminded Councillors that if there was any item on the agenda which would warrant a Councillor submitting a Form C. they should do so now. None were produced. The Chairman also reminded Councillors that if any item arose during Public Participation which warranted a Form C they should declare it immediately.
MINUTES
The minutes of the last Meeting, which had previously been circulated to all Councillors, were approved unanimously and signed by the Chairman.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Chairman said before inviting comments from the Public she wished to read a statement following comments made at the last meeting.
At the last meeting there was concern both by Councillors and the general public about the work of the Friends of the Park. I wish to make clear to all that there will definitely not be pitches marked on the ground, this is just one of the reasons that there is only one set of goalposts. The character of the Park will not change as the work that the Friends of the Park have suggested is just drainage, levelling and general well being for the Park.
As you are all aware Councillor David Bryant is the Chairman of the Park Committee and no work will go ahead without consulting him first. I hope this has put to bed the concerns of you all.
There were no other items from the Public.
POLICE REPORT
The Chairman said that Pc White and PCSO Quinn had given their apologies so she would make the report for them.
(1) A man was seen stealing a cycle from a garden shed at Beech Road, The informant went after the offender but lost sight of him. Ten minutes later the offenders were located in a nearby road, but the cycle was discarded and the offenders ran off.
(2) Canaries were stolen from a shed in a back garden in Ashurst.
(3) A property at Dene Road had a forced entry into the rear of the property via a ground floor window. A search of all the rooms was made and items were stolen.
(4)There was a forced entry to a house on Lyndhurst Road, a tidy search was made of all rooms in the house and items were taken.
(5) Local convenience store in Ashurst was subject to shoplifting.
The Chairman added that a report from Safer Neighbourhoods said they are experiencing an increased number of cycle thefts in the Ashurst and Colbury areas. It appears that owners of cycles are being watched and when the opportunity arises cycles are stolen. Please ensure cycles are always secured in sheds or garages, never leave them unattended.
District Cllr Puttock said Netley Marsh had also experienced cycle thefts and he had been advised that when claims had been made on insurance for the theft the Insurers had said that unless the cycle was fastened to a secure metal pole they would not pay out on claims of thefts from sheds or garages even if locked.
HIGHWAYS MATTERS
a) Street name plates.
The Clerk reported that NFDC had the name plates which would be installed within a few days.
b) Dibden Container Port project
The Clerk reported that he had not been able to find the file of the previous response to this issue among the papers passed to him by the former Clerk. It was agreed to leave this item for the time being.
c) Draft Traffic Management Plan from NFDC.
Cllr Kershaw said the Plan contained many inaccuracies, was confusing in its content and format and did not mentioned the Dragons Teeth in Foxhills which were to be installed this financial year.
The Plan was Noted and the Clerk asked to write pointing out the inaccuracies and omissions.
d) Retendering of bus services.
Cllr Kershaw said that the 35 bus route to Ringwood and Southampton was of little use to residents in Ashurst and Colbury. There are better alternatives to Southampton and only the 11.10 actually provided a service to Ringwood as the 14.10 had no corresponding return service as the second bus from Ringwood leaves at 13.09!
As the 11.10 gets to Ringwood at 11.48 it means residents only have one hour twenty minutes in Ringwood which hardly provides any service at all. He could find no case for a subsidy on this route.
Comments received from former councillor, Mrs Judd, had also been distributed.
The Council agreed that there was no case for a subsidy for such a poor service.
e) Parking in the Parade.
The Chairman said that one of the businesses had asked the Council to enforce the two hour parking limit more efficiently. She had explained that the Council had made repeated representations to have more visits from Traffic Wardens but it was not viable to expect them to spend all day on a very modest parking area. Cllr Bryant commented that many businesses had their own vehicles parked there all day so they could not complain about others until they obeyed the rules themselves.
f) Gritting bins.
The Clerk reported that this was under consideration by HCC on a county wide basis and he would follow up with HCC in a month or so.
g) Land Draining.
The Chairman asked Cllr Coaker to report. He said that he, David White (resident) and Stuart Beaton, NFDC Drainage Engineer, had ‘walked’ the ditches around the area subject to flooding. Mr Eden said the ditches were to keep surface water clear and he did not have authority to enforce clearance, however he would urge people to help themselves to prevent flooding by keeping ditches clear. They also visited 58 Woodlands Road where the garden flooded.
The Chairman said that as Cllr Coaker was active on this issue and also lived in Peterscroft Road she wished to resign from the Flood Committee and ask that Cllr Coaker be appointed in her place. The Council approved the changes.
RECREATION GROUND
a) Cllr Bryant reported that he had spent a lot of time in the Recreation Ground over the weekend and the fallen tree had been removed, the seat renovated and the area tidied up. He hoped that some of the wood from the tree could be used in the park.
b) The Chairman said it had been hoped that Alan Ings from the Friends of the Park would be present to report on progress but he had not arrived. Cllr Sturgess said he was on holiday.
c) Timberline project. Cllr Bryant said the Committee had spent a lot of time considering various options and prices and had now settled on a much reduced project from Timberline as being the best value for money and actually also the lowest quotation. The price was now confirmed at £5,345 plus VAT which of course the Council could recover.
The layout had been given to all Councillors and they could see it nestled in the trees close to the other play equipment. Parents sitting on the benches could easily keep an eye on their children but it would not intrude on residents view and enjoyment of the park. It was made of wood and fitted well into the park environment. It also met requests by children and their parents for slightly more adventurous equipment for older children plus meeting the Actions in the Parish Plan.
An effort would be made to get a grant to cover the cost and if approved and successful other pieces could be added in the future. He recommended the quotation from Timberline to the Council.
District Cllr Puttock said similar equipment had been installed in Netley Marsh and had proved successful. It was good to keep up to date with equipment and the needs of the youngsters.
After discussion the project was approved and the Clerk instructed to sign the quotation and move ahead.
PLANNING
In the absence of Cllr Sopowski the Chairman read the report on planning activities since the last meeting.
The Chairman added that she had attended the NPA meeting which was considering two applications in Ashurst.
The application relating to 84 Lyndhurst Road was to remove Condition 5 in a previous application which restricted the occupancy to people over 55. NPA Officers recommended approval. The Council had opposed this application and she had spoken at the meeting to reinforce that objection. The application had been refused.
The application relating to 60 Woodlands Road was to build single storey side and two storey rear extensions plus a new garage. Again NPA Officers had recommended approval. The Council had objected on five grounds:
1) there was a condition made in relation to an application in 1979 which required that when a new entrance was made the old entrance was to be closed. That had not happened and the old entrance was in fact to be made the entrance for the new application.
2) the garage had been built over a 2ft by 70ft natural drainage site
3) there is a covenant which states that no building shall be in front of the building line but the new garage was well in front of the building line.
4) a diagram was produced to the NPA comparing the height of the fence to the proposed new lounge. It was ignored by the NPA using instead a diagram showing the building as it is now and without the proposed new lounge.
5) no consideration was given to the Council’s request for the use of obscured glass and fixed windows.
Despite all that the application was Approved by NPA. She said it is difficult to know how to proceed when the NPA ignores so many key issues which leaves the Council with no way to protest or make any appeal
Cllr Kershaw said he had attended the meeting and supported the Chairman in her comments. He also wished to congratulate the Chairman for her presentation in regard to 84 Lyndhurst Road which had overturned the Officers recommendation.
ACCOUNTS
On a proposal by Cllr Coaker, seconded by Cllr Bryant the accounts paid since the last meeting were approved.
GRANTS
The Council considered an application for an grant from New Forest North Citizens Advice Bureau. The Clerk read a proposal from Cllr Sopowski that a grant of £300 be made. Cllr Kershaw seconded the proposal. Cllr Bryant said after looking at the figures for grants from other local councils he would propose a grant of £200 with a review when the next figures were available. After discussion it was agreed by all that the grant be £200.
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Cllr Kershaw had attended a Transport Forum and there were two items relevant to Ashurst. One was the rail services in the New Forest. There were no major changes to the main line services but there were changes to the Brockenhurst/Lymington branch line. New rolling stock was to be introduced and the timetables amended to tie in with train connections rather than ferry times which could be quite variable.
The other was the retendering for bus services which had been discussed earlier in the meeting.
Cllr Sturgess attended a meeting on the 2010 Village Fete, which she would comment on later in the meeting, a meeting of the Friends of the Park and a meeting of the Recreation Ground Committee
Cllr Coaker had attended the Transport Forum with Cllr Kershaw and also the flooding meeting referred to earlier.
Cllr Bryant had attended the meeting of the Recreation Ground Committee
Cllr Arnold attended the following:
20th January – NAFLC executive – To discuss the future of NFALC and its bridge with the NPA and NFDC
25th January – Meeting with the Parish Clerk to enlighten Councillors of misleading statements in the minutes of the Community Group meeting.
27th January – Meeting with NPA and NFALC on funding and the way forward
29th January – Meeting of the Recreation Ground Committee – To select equipment for the Recreation Ground from Timberline.
2nd February – Meeting with Romsey Golf Club concerning articles and advertisements in the Newsletter.
3rd February - Meeting with FOP and the Community Space Facilitator.
5th February – Meeting with NFDC following the meeting with NPA and NFALC. Both groups are willing to help NFALC get back on its feet. Financially and practically.
11th February – Meeting with Land Drainage at Woodlands Road and Peterscroft Avenue. A constructive meeting for the residents affected by flooding and sewage.
15th February Collective meeting with John Cockram, Dave Hall, Arthur Jeffery and Len Griggs. New material has come to light, but we still have a lot of work to get through.
16th February National Park Planning meeting.
District Cllr Puttock said he had been on holiday but the Council had continued working on plans to improve efficiency and reduce costs. When the departments were brought together in Appletree Court there would inevitably be changes in personnel and NPA will take over the NFDC accommodation in Lymington. These changes will take time. It was hoped that any increase in the Council Tax for 2010/11 would be small although the figures were still being worked on.
He added that he had enjoyed his nine months as Chairman of the NFDC and it had been a very enjoyable and enlightening experience. He hoped the remaining three months would be equally enjoyable and rewarding.
CORRESPONDENCE
The list of correspondence had been circulated and items were available for anyone to see.
COMMUNITY PLAN
Cllr Coaker reported that the ongoing issues were the allotments and the website.
The AGM would be on May 11th. The litter pick would take place on 27th March not during the NFDC litter pick week. The notification of funds for small projects available from NFDC had been received from the Clerk and he was trying to arrange an urgent meeting to decide if the Group could identify any suitable projects.
District Cllr Puttock reminded the meeting that he and Cllr Tipp had some community funds available for small projects.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
The Clerk reported that the collection for Help4Heroes raised £146 and he had received a letter of thanks from the organiser.
After discussion with the Band Secretary the date for next year would be Friday 17th December as the Band would find the Saturday difficult. The venue was still to be decided.
VILLAGE FETE
Cllr Sturgess said the Fete would be on Saturday 4th September and she was looking forward to a bigger and better fete this year. A Committee had been formed and she would be acting as coordinator. The Committee would meet on 4th March at her house.
She urged anyone interested in participating to contact her as soon as possible. Input from villagers as to what they would like to see and to take place would ensure it was an enjoyable day. She proposed the charity to benefit to be the RNLI which was agreed by the Council.
OTHER ITEMS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN DEEMS IMPORTANT
None
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING
Design and Character Appraisal of the village
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.35 pm
Signed S R Arnold – Chairman Dated 8th March 2010
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