Minutes
Page last updated on Friday, November 18, 2011
ASHURST AND COLBURY PARISH COUNCIL
AT THE CHURCH ROOMS COLBURY
Present:
Cllrs S. Arnold (in the Chair), D. Bryant, M. Coaker, C. Hubbard, K. Kershaw,
P. Sopowski and A. Sturgess.
In Attendance:
Parish Clerk L. Griggs, District Cllr D. Tipp and 7 members of the public.
Apologies:
County Cllr Mans, District Cllr Puttock and Cllr Frost
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.
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 been circulated to all Councillors, were approved and signed.
Matters arising
Cllr Sturgess enquired about maintenance on the allotments and, in particular, the over grown grass. Cllr Bryant said the matter had been dealt with this day.
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A `resident asked if the council had any plans to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee. The Chairman said that the matter had not yet been discussed by the Council but she fully expected that the occasion would be marked in some way.
The NHW Coordinator asked if any special items, not routine notices, could be posted in the Council’s notice boards. After discussion it was agreed that, provided there was room, such special notices could be given to the Chairman to place in the notice boards.
4. HIGHWAYS MATTERS
a) Parking issues. The Clerk said he had nothing to report as yet. Cllr Kershaw asked that he and Cllr Coaker be kept informed as this was a matter which came up at the Community Group meetings being in the Parish Plan.
b) SID data. The Clerk said the SID data received from NFDC for the Woodlands Road deployment showed that of 875 vehicles clocked only 186 complied with the 30mph speed limit. The figures would trigger police action.
Cllr Kershaw asked if the next agenda could include a discussion on acquiring a SID or similar device.
c) Cllr Coaker said he was pleased to note the pavements in Peterscroft Avenue were being repaired. This was an issue noted during the village walk round with Rob Millar of Highways and it was good to see the action taking place.
d) The Chairman noted that HCC had issued a Transport Self-help Kit – which was designed to support the village in creating the transport services which are most appropriate to the needs of our local community. It is in the hands of the transport representatives
5. RECREATION GROUND
a) Cllr Bryant reported
(i) that the NFDC Tree Group Officer had looked into issues raised by a resident adjacent to the northern end of the recreation ground. His conclusion was that there was no action needed at this time.
(ii) the work carried out by contractors for the FoP project appeared satisfactory.
b) FoP project. Cllr Coaker (Chairman of the Friends of the Park) reported the work was now virtually complete and everyone appeared to be content with the outcome. It was a good job done. The Official Opening would take place in March.
6. PLANNING
a) Cllr Sopowski gave a report on planning activities since the last meeting.
b) The Chairman said she now had the information on Householder appeals.
It was introduced in 2009.and the critical differences are:
- The time limit for making a Householder Appeal is 12 weeks from the decision date.
- Third parties are not given another opportunity to comment although they are notified of the appeal.
- The report (delegated or committee) and decision notice form the basis of the Planning Authority’s appeal case. No further written statements are submitted.
- The Planning Authority will provide the Planning Inspectorate with an electronic case file. This includes the appeal questionnaire and all the documents referred to, including third party letters of representations.
c) National Planning Policy Framework Consultation.
It was noted that Cllr Sopowski would respond on behalf of the Council
7. ACCOUNTS
The cheques issued since the last meeting were approved.
8. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Cllr Hubbard attended a meeting with the NPA on the Village Design draft document.
Cllr Coaker attended a meeting of the FoP project
Cllr Sturgess attended the NE Quadrant meeting
Cllr Arnold had attended
– History Exhibition. This was successful with people from Southampton and Hythe
giving useful documents and photographs for our collection.
- Meeting with National Park on the Village Design appraisal.
- NE Quadrant meeting. An interesting talk on Flood risks in the areas and the riparian ruling and government planning proposals.
District Cllr Tipp reported that the proposal to close the Woodhaven psychiatric centre in March was still under discussion. He urged anyone who had used the centre and knew the great work it does to write in and say so. Only people pressure could keep it open.
9. COMMUNITY PLAN
a) Cllr Coaker said the next meeting was on 1 November.
10. VILLAGE DESIGN AND CHARACTER APPRAISAL
Cllr Hubbard reported that she, with the Chairman, had met with NPA officers and she was now considering the comments they had provided.
11. NE QUADRANT MEETING
The Chairman said this was dealt with under 8 above.
12. NEW FOREST KEEPERS
The email from Howard Taylor was discussed. Cllr Bryant said that as this was now in the public domain he wished to report on certain issues. The keepers issues raised in the email were major issues.
The Keepers were currently the only group providing a 24 hour, seven day a week cover. Having shared night duty at times he knew there were many adverse activities going on at night in addition to poaching.
The keepers, who normally worked in pairs for safety reasons, were being reduced from 14 to 7. despite having a new ‘super district’ to cover.
17 other staff reductions were required.
The Forestry Commission had been asked to make cuts of 25% in its budget. As `a local individual he had real concerns over the future care of the forest if all these cuts took place.
Following a discussion it was agreed that the Clerk should write to the Deputy Surveyor deploring the loss of local knowledge and the likely increase in crime as cover, particularly at nights, was reduced.
13. ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS IN THE NEW FOREST
Proposed Planning Focus group
The Chairman said the Clerk has sent out this document in which the Association of Local Councils is looking for councillors to join this focus group. The aim of this group is to look at the process adopted by the District and National Park for consultation on planning applications.
There were no volunteers.
14. BOUNDARY COMMISSION PROPOSALS
The Chairman said that for the benefit of the public she wished to point out that the 2013 review of parliamentary constituency boundaries will introduce substantial changes. It will reduce the number of constituencies in England from 533 to 502. This is calculated on a constituency average of 80,000 electors.
The proposals can now be viewed at the NFDC Offices at Appletree Court and also at Totton Library. The nearest public meetings are at:-
Portsmouth - in the Guildhall, Guildhall Square Portsmouth PO1 2AB on 27th October 11.00 – 20.00 hours and 28th October 0900 – 1700 hours
and at Bournemouth - at the Royal Bath Hotel, Bath Road Bournemouth, on 14th November 11.00 – 20.00 hours and 15th November 9.00 – 1700hours
Full details can be obtained from the Boundary Commission web site www.independent.gov.uk/boundarycommissionforengland
15. OTHER ITEMS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN DEEMS IMPORTANT
The Chairman raised the following points
a) Deed of variation between Ashurst & Colbury Parish Council and Esso Petroleum Company Limited. The Clerk has sent you all details on this matter. Before you give your views I would ask the Clerk to report and advise please.
The Clerk said that the original deed was with the Barker-Mill trustees and that needed some small amendments now the Council owned the land. Having read the original deed, which had been approved by the Trustees solicitors, and the required amendments he did not feel it was necessary to instruct solicitors.
After some discussion it was agreed not to instruct solicitors.
b) Mental Health Services cut in the New Forest – You may have read about the changes in the care for mental health, but if residents in the New Forest no longer have the facilities for mental health at Calmore and New Milton they will be faced with a long journey to Winchester for treatment. One example in our area is the closure of Woodhaven at Tatchbury. Mount.
A special unit built especially for the use of mentally ill patients only eight years ago and now there is the possibility of this closing. By closing Woodhaven and other like hospitals it will put pressure on the carers; it is totally unacceptable to put further stress not only on the carers but the patients themselves.
There have been public meetings about the closure of Woodhaven and one carer was told that all Parish Councils were informed of such meetings. I have telephoned the Parish Clerks of four councils including ours and no information had been given.
After discussion it was agreed that
i) the Clerk should write saying that this Council did not accept the closure and in view of the failure to notify councils of the consultation process and timing that its views and those of other councils must be taken into account.
c) Crime reports on the map. This venture allows communities to track specific crimes blighting their area. People can find out which crimes have taken place on or near their street in the last month at www.maps.police.uk The maps also show which officers are responsible for their area.
d) Safer New Forest. – A partnership of agencies. One part of its work is to look at crime and anti-social behaviour. There is no questionnaire but would like to know any issues or thoughts Parish Councillors would like to raise with the partnership.
e) The Chairman reminded everyone that the annual carols evening was on 16th December at 7pm. It was also agreed that the tree lights should be installed again this year.
18. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.37 pm
Signed S R Arnold - Chairman
Dated 15th November 2011
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