Minutes
Page last updated on Friday, October 21, 2011
ASHURST AND COLBURY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 19th JULY 2011
AT THE CHURCH ROOMS COLBURY
Present:
Cllrs S. Arnold (in the Chair), D. Bryant, M. Coaker, P. Frost, C. Hubbard, K. Kershaw, P. Sopowski and A. Sturgess.
In Attendance:
Parish Clerk L. Griggs, District Cllr L Puttock and 10 members of the public.
Apologies District Cllr Tipp
The Chairman invited PC Andy White to make his report.
PC White reviewed the June report and commented especially on entries to garages and sheds which had been left unlocked. He asked residents to look out for suspicious cars circling areas or individuals wandering around looking for easy targets and to phone the non-urgent line to alert him and PCSO Quinn.
A group of youths had been the cause of the burning of bin bags and uprooting plants as a result of being turned out of the Ashurst camp site and returning home to Totton via the village.
Three stations were to be closed, Fordingbridge, New Milton and Lyndhurst. The timing was not yet known.
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
The Chairman reported as follows
- As instructed by this Council - Councillors Hubbard, Bryant and myself completed the forms for Travellers and sent it direct to Communities and Local Government. If any Councillor wishes to see the completed document then please see me after the meeting.
- Work has progressed for a softer surface for notice boards
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
4. HIGHWAYS MATTERS
a) Speedwatch. The Chairman reported that it has been advertised in two notice boards and published in the monthly newsletter. There has been no response from this village
b) Rat infestation. The Chairman reported that there has been another complaint and is now in the hands of the NFDC. This resident’s garden backs on to an unkempt garden with old cars etc. left to deteriorate. The advice of our district councillors is that the law states that the authority cannot insist that a resident must keep their garden tidy. However if the rubbish accumulating encourages rats then the environment protection department can take action
c) Unauthorised notices. The Chairman said you may have noticed a large advertisement placed on the boards near the letter box on the corner of Wood Road. This is not permitted; it was on highways land and was reported.
The owner was made to take it down, before further action taken. No posters especially of that size is allowed on highway equipment without permission
5. RECREATION GROUND
a) Cllr Bryant reported that the July inspection showed all was in order.
b) The Chairman said that at a recent meeting of the Friends of the Park the following issues had been raised which required Council responses.
- Permission to move the notice board. The Council decided that was not acceptable due to electrical lines and safety fence requirements
. - The purchase of rador keys for the disabled to enter the park. The Council decided to offer a combination lock as a better means of security.
- To provide a key for the contractors. Cllr Bryant would make a key available when required.
- To provide benches in the park. The Clerk said that as previously agreed and provided funds were available from this project’s grants benches could be installed subject to the location being agreed with the Recreation Ground Committee. The Council confirmed this agreement.
Cllr Coaker reported that the paperwork was almost complete and the project would start after the fete with the Official Opening scheduled for Spring.
c) The Chairman announced that there would be no NFDC Road Shows this year due to the cut backs.
d) The Clerk advised that the new notice board was now installed in the park
6. PLANNING
Cllr Sopowski gave a report on planning activities since the last meeting.
7. ACCOUNTS
The cheques issued since the last meeting were approved.
8. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Cllr Bryant had attended the Allotments on several occasions, dealt with the Travellers document with others and attended the New Forest Consultative Panel meeting. The main discussion at that meeting had been the Forestry Commission structure proposals for the New Forest District which would be amalgamated with the SE Region with some 24 job losses locally.
A presentation by the Land Management Advisory Service showed they still had cash available for grants. From the NPA minutes it seemed new flood area maps had been issued but they seemed to show areas known to have flooded were now shown as non flood areas and vice versa.
Cllr Coaker attended the Friends of the Park meeting, the HCC Transport Network in the New Forest Seminar and the Fete Committee meeting. He reported that at the Transport seminar Cllr Kendall had said there would be no cuts in bus services but the following day the local papers reported cuts of £2m. It was also \noted that John Sorrell is our point of contact for road matters especially re-routing of excess Lyndhurst bound traffic off M27 Junction 2 via A326/Ashurst.
Cllr Kershaw had attended the Transport Seminar. He noted that the buses had reduced their carbon footprint but only by saving fuel through fewer journeys.
Cllr Sturgess has attended the ALCNF meeting, the Fete Committee and the Friends of the Park meeting.
Cllr Arnold reported that at the recent new ALCNF meeting she was very surprised when a vote was taken for a Councillor to represent the Parishes on the Standards Board. Names were put forward and a vote taken. This means that although Clllr Ker Kershaw showed interest at our last meeting, the opportunity is no longer available.
There was a paper from NALC concerning Parish Councillors registering with the Information Commission and the payment of £35.00 per year. If Cllrs carried names and addresses of other people on your computer they could be subject to the Data Protection Act.
At the meeting it was agreed by Dave Yates (CE of NFDC) and Terry Simpson (Ringwood Town Clerk) that NFDC would reimburse this money if any Councillor should feel they have to pay this sum.
However in the subsequent minutes it states “It was agreed to contact NFDC to see if it would be possible to introduce an allowance to cover this specific activity” so the matter is still in abeyance.
Following a review of appointments to the NFNPA the Chairman stated there is no reason why co-opted Parish Councillors should not take up a seat on the New Forest National Park. Since that meeting the results have been announced. There were no elections for the quadrant in which Ashurst & Colbury are placed. This was because the Councillor from Wiltshire who have no elections until 2012.
District Cllr Puttock advised that a Council meeting seeking to manage the cut backs had decided to consider increasing car park charges and bringing into that category some currently free parking areas, both on and off road. It was noted that some commuters were filling up free car parks by parking all day leaving no room for shoppers and other short term users. The Chairman intervened to say that would only drive commuters into nearby village streets. Cllr Puttock continued many bus services would be cut as surveys showed they were not being used sufficiently to justify the subsidy.
9. COMMUNITY PLAN
Cllr Kershaw attended the recent meeting which had been very good and quite short. The main items discussed were footpaths, notably the one by the station, and the Council’s proposal for a review of the parish plan.
10. VILLAGE DESIGN AND CHARACTER APPRAISAL
Cllr Hubbard thanked all Cllrs for their comments on the draft which had now been finalised and prepared for printing. Cllr Frost had kindly agreed to produce one printed copy for a Council review before proceeding to a full print.
11. ALLOTMENTS
The Clerk reported that the allotments were to be available for tenants to access from Saturday 23rd July. The Official Opening would be on August 20th at 11am and it was hoped that all Cllrs would attend.
The Chairman said it has been decided by the committee to plant a tree to commemorate this occasion. The spade used will be used as the trophy for the best kept allotment each year
12. ANNUAL PARISH FETE
Cllr Sturgess reported that the fete arrangements were now in place and the last write up would be in the next Newsletter together with the Timetable of events.
13. ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS IN THE NEW FOREST
This is covered under item 8 above.
14. DIGITAL SWITCHOVER
The Clerk reported he had received documentation, a DVD and leaflets issued to allow Councils and other bodies to organise meetings to inform residents of this change and how to manage it. After discussion it was decided not to hold a public meeting but to put a notice in the Newsletter advising people that the Councillors and Clerk could advise where to gain help on the switch if required.
15. OTHER ITEMS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN DEEMS IMPORTANT
Village Agent.
The Chairman reported that several meetings had been held with the Church on this subject and there was no interest. She spoke with the Age UK representative on the telephone and explained the situation.
18. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING
None
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.58 pm
Signed S R Arnold - Chairman
Dated 20 September 2011
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