Minutes
Page last updated on Wednesday, November 17, 2010
ASHURST AND COLBURY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 21st SEPTEMBER 2010
AT THE CHURCH ROOMS COLBURY
Present:
Councillors S Arnold (in the Chair), D. Bryant, M. Coaker, P. Frost, K. Kershaw, P Sopowski and A. Sturgess.
In Attendance:
Parish Clerk L. Griggs, District Councillor L. Puttock and 8 members of the public.
Apologies
had been received from County Councillor Mans, District Cllr Tipp and Cllr Hubbard who was unwell
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and added ‘before we commence the meeting I want to thank my Vice Chairman Cllr Sopowski for standing in for me in July, and also the support from fellow Councillors, District Councillors and Parish Clerk during my rehabilitation’.
1. 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
2. MINUTES
The minutes of the last Meeting, which had previously been circulated to all Councillors, were approved unanimously and signed by the Chairman.
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident thanked the Council for its efforts in getting some solution to the problems of flooding in Peterscroft Avenue with the fitting of non-return valves by Southern Water. He also asked if something could be done about signs on the footpath by the garage opposite the parade.
Another resident said tree works were being carried out in Whartons Lane but no notification had been given to residents. On enquiry to NFNPA he was told that only the Clerk was notified. The Chairman said all tree work applications received were included in Cllr Sopowski's reports to the Council meetings.
4. HIGHWAYS MATTERS
a) Sign clutter hot spots. The Chairman said she had listed 137 signs on the A35 in our village and a copy of the list was given to the Clerk. She asked other Councillors to let the Clerk have their lists so he could prepare a response to NFNPA.
b) Transfer of responsibility for concessionary fares from NFDC to HCC. The Chairman thanked Cllr Coaker for the response he had sent on behalf of the Council.
Cllr Puttock said discussions continued on such things as whether the passes should be available from 9.30 or 11am and whether the ferries were included and that would not be resolved until the Government decided on funding.
November was a likely time for clarification. Discussion followed and Cllr Puttock was asked to ensure NFDC lobbied HCC for a 9.00 start time.
c) Traffic during the NF Show. The Clerk circulated a letter from HCC replying to the issues raised at the last meeting. After discussion the Clerk was asked to write to HCC again making the following points:-
- the congestion was not just three days but for many days prior to the show when exhibitors were preparing for the show and, more particularly, the Friday after the show when exhibitors vehicles were leaving the site with no stewards or police on duty
- traffic should only be routed via the A326/A35 on the variable signs when the A337 from Cadnam was seriously congested.
- fixed signs, including the AA signs, must not routinely direct vehicles off the M27 at Junction 2. That applies to traffic coming along the M27 from the west as well as the east.
The Clerk was also asked to write to Cllr Kendall reminding him of the undertaking given not to route traffic via the A326/A35 when the new junction was under construction and to remind his successor on highway matters of this undertaking. The Clerk was also asked to write to the NF Show organisers.
d) SID deployments in Woodlands Road. The Clerk had circulated the data from the deployment which showed that in the 30mph stretch the 85 percentile was 40mph northbound and 41mph southbound which were sufficient to trigger police surveillance.
5. RECREATION GROUND
a) Cllr Bryant reported that the ground was in good shape although due to machinery breakdown the area had not been mowed in time for the Fete. A new tree survey had been carried out by NFDC which again was very thorough and indicated only minor works required.
b) Cllr Coaker reported that the Trees and Ecological surveys requested by NPA were now to hand and the group was proceeding with the Planning Application to NPA
c) Cllr Bryant reported that the renovated Notice Board in the Recreation Ground should be in place soon and apologised for the further delay
6. PLANNING
a) In view of the length of the report Cllr Sopowski circulated a copy to residents present
b) Railway site – affordable housing. The Chairman reported that the developers had advised that the environmental health team at the NFNPA have stated they will not support an application to develop this site due to the train noise; however the acousticians’ report has shown that the sound insulation measures will easily achieve building regulations standards.
The architect cannot progress the design further until this issue is resolved. This information was contained in an email on 31st August and no further correspondence has been received. Therefore the planned presentation to the Council and residents is deferred until this issue is resolved.
c) Cllr Frost advised that NPA were aware of the need to protect the oak tree on the verge outside 12 Dene Way while construction work was undertaken and would keep it under review.
7. ACCOUNTS
a) The cheques issued since the last meeting were approved. It was noted that the cheque issued for Display Boards had been financed by a grant from HCC by Cllr Mans.
b) The Council noted that the Audit Commission had given an unqualified report on the Council’s Annual Return.
8. GRANTS
The Council noted the request from NF CAB to take note of their funding needs when preparing the precept. Cllr Kershaw noted that with pressure on public spending and residents concerns on the precept this year all grants would have to be even more carefully considered.
9. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Cllr Sturgess had attended meetings of the Fete Committee and also the New Forest Museum embroidery display.
Cllr Coaker had attended meetings of the Fete Committee, the Community Group, the Friends of the Park and with the Water Board and others regarding the flooding issues in Peterscroft Avenue.
Cllr Kershaw had attended the Community Group meeting.
Cllr Arnold had attended the following:-
Final meeting with John Cockram for the Ashurst at War Book which will be launched at the History Exhibition on Saturday 11th December.
Meeting with Barker Mill
Meeting with Rev. Kate Wilson
Invitation to New Forest Museum to view the embroidery by Lady Montagu.
Meeting with Southern Water re flooding.
Fete Committee meeting
She also advised that The AGM for NFALC will take place on 30th September, where it appears most likely that NFALC will fold. The Chairman of NFALC has resigned. A new group called ‘The Association’ is in the process of replacing NFALC. Terry Simpson of Ringwood Town Council and David Shimpe of Hythe and Dibden are leading this new Association. Ashurst & Colbury will then have to decide if they wish to become members of this new group
10. CORRESPONDENCE
The list of correspondence had been circulated and items were available for anyone to see.
11. COMMUNITY PLAN
Cllr Coaker reported that a number of issues were raised at the recent meeting including the question of safety for pedestrians at the Co-op, and the group felt that both the Village Fete organised by the Council and the Apple Day had been very successful.
12. VILLAGE FETE
Cllr Sturgess reported that the fete had been very successful and a donation of £2,300 would be handed over to the RNLI shortly. The sun had shone and a great number of people had attended the event. Pat Wyeth, Chair of the District Council had been an excellent judge of the competitions and the painting donated by Cllr Frost had gone for £160 in a silent auction. A full report would be in the Newsletter.
13. VILLAGE DESIGN AND CHARACTER APPRAISAL
In the absence of Cllr Hubbard this item was deferred.
14. FOREST WATCH
The Chairman said as printed in the September newsletter this will take place on Thursday 7th October at 7pm at Lyndhurst Community Centre. The Clerk tried to book our local halls but none were available.
In addition to the Forest Watch, Steve Avery and Alison Barnes from the National Park will be giving an update on the current and future work programmes, including progress on the Management Plan, Core Strategy and training programmes and on all aspects of National Park planning. She asked all Councillors to attend as this Council is the Host.
15. OTHER ITEMS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN DEEMS IMPORTANT
The Chairman asked to discuss the HALC Affiliation Fee as the document had only just been received and the AGM at which a decision would be taken was on 9th October, which was before the next Council Meeting. The potential increases were 4% to 8% or, if HCC cut their contribution by 25%, a hefty 42%.
Considerable discussion followed and it was finally decided to accept the smaller range of increases but if the Special Levy of 42% came about the matter should come back to the Council
16. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING
Cllr Bryant asked that an item on HCC Highways and Deerleap Lane should be listed for discussion.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.05pm
Signed S. R. Arnold - Chairman Dated 19th October 2010
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