Minutes
Page last updated on Thursday, May 5, 2011
ASHURST AND COLBURY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 19 APRIL 2011
AT THE CHURCH ROOMS COLBURY
Present:
Cllrs S Arnold (in the Chair), D. Bryant, M. Coaker, P. Frost, C. Hubbard, P. Sopowski and A. Sturgess
In Attendance:
Parish Clerk L. Griggs, District Cllr D. Tipp and 8 members of the public.
Apologies
District Cllr Puttock, Cllr Kershaw
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.
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident raised the issue of the increasing number of rats in the village and said that while NFDC said they were dealing with the problem nothing was obvious.
Considerable discussion followed and it was pointed out that it can take six weeks or more to get rid of the rodents and that the traps are not always visible. District Cllr Tipp was asked to make enquiries on the matter.
4. HIGHWAYS MATTERS
a) Old shelter by the station steps. The Clerk reported that he had asked Highways again to look into this problem and would report back when there was any definite news.
b) Grass triangle at Woodlands Road. The Clerk reported that Highways were not hopeful of any action on this due to budgetary constraints.
The Chairman advised that HCC had given a general notice of road closures in the village from 5th May. She asked residents to watch the Notice Boards and web-site for the precise details which would be received in due course.
The Chairman also advised that the Forestry Commission had issued letters to residents in Woodlands Road regarding the fly tipping of garden waste on their land opposite the houses. As it applied in general terms to all residents the letter would appear in the Newsletter.
5. RECREATION GROUND
a) Cllr Bryant reported that some incidents had occurred with youngsters making dens out of branches torn from trees and bushes, but otherwise all was in order.
b) The Clerk reported that the Notice Board for the Recreation Ground should be delivered shortly.
c) Cllr Coaker reported that funding was still awaited for the Friends of the Park project.
6. PLANNING
Cllr Sopowski gave a report on planning activities since the last meeting.
7. ACCOUNTS
a) The cheques issued since the last meeting were approved.
b) The Clerk presented the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2011 together with the Annual Return for the same year which had all been signed off by the Internal Auditor.
On a proposal by Cllr Bryant, seconded by Cllr Sopowski, it was resolved that: the Accounts and Sections 1 (accounts) and 2 (Annual Governance Statement) of the Annual Return be approved and signed by the Chairman and Clerk.
8. GRANTS
None. It was agreed that this item would only appear in future if there was any grant to be considered.
9. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Cllr Bryant had attended various Allotment meetings and discussions.
Cllr Hubbard had attended the Committee meeting of the Village Design Plan (VDA) a meeting with NFNPA also on the VDA, a meeting of the NE Quadrant and the Landscape and Bio-diversity seminar at NFDC.
Cllr Coaker attended the A&CCG meeting and also the Fete Committee meeting
Cllr Sturgess attended the NE Quadrant meeting and also the Fete Committee meeting
Cllr Arnold had attended the following:-
22nd May – Meeting of Village Design Statement
25th March – Allotment meeting at Whitchurch
25th March – Netley Marsh Parish Council meeting. They have completed their parish plan on which they should be congratulated with its realistic actions.
26th March – Meeting with Totton Town Council representatives for the Museum at Eling. This was to promote our village in the museum
29th March North East Quadrant meeting – speakers from the New Forest Land Advice Service and National Park Rangers Team.
Presentation on the New Forest Design Guide, Parish Councils asked to take part in the questionnaire.
For general interest it was confirmed that specific rules apply for householders wanting to pave over their front gardens.
No planning permission is required if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses permeable block paving or gravel or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border.
If the surface to be covered by an impermeable surface then planning permission must be sought.
5th April - Meeting with Steve Avery advice with a planning application and the Village Design Statement
6th April - Fete Committee meeting
8th April - Landscape and Bio diversity display and lecture
9th April - History Exhibition at Totton Museum – very constructive and informative meeting with former residents of Ashurst and Colbury.
12th April - New Forest Land Advice Service at NFNPA
10. SAFER NEW FOREST STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT
The email from NFDC was noted but no further action was required from this Council
11. COMMUNITY PLAN
Cllr Coaker reported that some 35/40 people had taken part in the Litter Pick.
The rubbish collected was less than half of that collected last year which was primarily due to action taken during the year, in particular the letters sent to local shops and businesses regarding litter.
He also announced the formal invitation to all Councillors from the Secretary of the A&CCG to attend its AGM on 3rd May at the Longdown Farm Activity Centre.
12. VILLAGE DESIGN AND CHARACTER APPRAISAL
Cllr Hubbard reported that the written text was now well forward and photographs were being selected from a number provided by Cllr Frost. Maps were being provided form the Forest Map site available to us under our membership of the NFDC GIS partnership.
A meeting was scheduled to finalise the draft for presentation to the Council for approval and, if approved, for submission to the NFNPA.
13. ALLOTMENTS
The Clerk reported that the contamination survey had revealed no contamination.
The reports were being sent to the NFNPA together with responses to the other conditions imposed by them, and work would commence as soon as possible after Easter.
14. ANNUAL PARISH FETE
Cllr Sturgess reported that the site was filling up but some spaces still remained.
15. LOCALCOUNCIL ELECTIONS
The Chairman announced there had been no other residents willing to dedicate their time to this village, and therefore there is no election for this Parish and the existing Councillors are duly elected unopposed for the next four years. Part of me is sorry that there is no election but it does show the assurance and confidence of our residents to allow this election to go through without a vote.
16. NE QUADRANT MEETING
The Chairman said this item had been dealt with under agenda item 9.
Cllr Bryant reminded councillors that they had an invitation to attend the South East Quadrant meeting at Denny Lodge
17. OTHER ITEMS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN DEEMS IMPORTANT
The Clerk advised that the new village sign would be installed within the next few days near Colbury Memorial Hall.
18. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING
The Chairman reminded everyone that it was the Annual General Meeting in May and that started at 7pm. The NFNPA Rangers would be the special speakers on this occasion.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.32pm
Signed S. R. Arnold - Chairman Dated 17th May 2011
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