Minutes of the Hurstbourne Priors Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 29th March 2017 in the Hurstbourne Priors Village Hall at 7.30pm.
Present: Cllr Mrs S Wyatt-Tilby – Vice Chairman Cllr Mrs S Sorby Cllr Mr J Broomfield Cllr Mr A Milne Cllr Mr P Smail Richard Waterman – Parish Clerk Borough Councillor Mr K Watts
Apologies: Cllr Mrs C Read – Chairman, Borough Councillor C Ashfield and Mr Graham Finlayson.
WELCOME Cllr Mrs S Wyatt-Tilby took the Chair and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
DECLARATION OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest recorded.
TUFTON. Report from Cllr J Broomfield:
1. The Tufton Vicar has announced that he is leaving. 2. The road markings at the Tufton Lane junction need re-painting especially the ‘Slow’ as you approach from Longparish. 3. The Traffic Mirror that has been placed by the Bee House is in the wrong place and needs repositioning. 4. The pothole on Papermill Lane (between the bridges on the straight section) has still not been repaired. 5. There is no sign of the A34 road sign being repaired
The above highways issues will be forwarded to Steve Goodall.
Cllr Mr J Broomfield suggested that a Highways defect check list be compiled so that issues reported to Steve Goodall can be monitored.
BOROUGH COUNCILLOR MR K WATTS. Cllr Mr K Watts reported that Basingstoke and Deane have increased their budget and that Elected Representatives will now be bound by the Code of Conduct.
Cllr Mr K Watts spoke about “Cressington 2” and indicated that he was in support of the likely refusal by BDBC to the application. He stated that the Parish Council’s support of the planning application would not be recognised in the absence of a neighbourhood plan compiled by the Parish Council. Cllr Mrs S Wyatt-Tilby sought clarification from Cllr Mr K Watts on his comment.
Cllr Mr K Watts reported that there is to be major review of the Apsley Bio Digester Planning Application. Cllr Mr K Watts stated that he supported the original everything that flows from that. He stated that he remains in support of the development and pending applications on the basis that there has been little change from the original application that was approved. He commented that St Mary Bourne Parish Council are interested in this planning application as the vehicle movements are impacting on their parish and that they are now being consulted for their views. He stated that he was going to ask for a plan to be drawn up that clearly shows where the parish and district council boundaries are within the site. There is to be a viewing party for the officers from Basingstoke and Deane and Test Valley Borough Councils.
Cllr Mrs S Wyatt-Tilby reported that the Parish Council have submitted a detailed objection to the latest Apsley application and asked Cllr Mr K Watts if he could please inform the Parish Council of the date of the viewing meeting. Cllr Mr K Watts was not in a position to provide the date.
Cllr Mr K Watts reported that there is £9,800 allocated for Hurstbourne Priors in the Community Infrastructure Fund.
BOROUGH COUNCILLOR C ASHFIELD Cllr Chloe Ashfield sent in the following report:
I would like to comment on the Apsley Biodigester application. You are likely aware that I have been lobbied extensively from both Ward residents and neighbours regarding the application. I remain an advocate of green energy as a principle but I am aware of the specific objections from both Parish Council and those living in the proximity. Unlike most applications for future developments, as this is looking retrospectively, then hard evidence can be obtained and supported, or otherwise those objections raised. I have been advised by Brian Conlon that a multi-agency meeting has been scheduled between BDBC, TVBC, HCC and the Environment Agency. I welcome this collaboration on an application of this scale.
Once this review has taken place I will meet with Brian Conlon to ensure that your points of objection have been addressed.
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING. Cllr Mrs S Wyatt-Tilby signed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record. Matters arising from those minutes:
TUFTON - The Chairman has reported that she has notified Steve Goodall about the lopsided sign, pothole on Tufton Lane and the new pothole at the crossroads.
LITTER PICKING – The Chairman has not heard back from Lengthsman Cluster.
WAITROSE TOKEN SCHEME – The Chairman has got the application form from Waitrose and will discuss with the cricketers next week at RC Ground Meeting
FOOTPATH MAP - Amelia French has agreed to do a simple sketch for the front cover. Cllr Mr A Milne produced a draft layout for the back page of the Footpath Map.
PLANNING The Parish Council have submitted their comments on the Apsley Environment Statement and are unhappy with the way the planning has unfolded relating to this site over the last 7 years.
The Parish Council have responded to a recent Planning Process Questionnaire sent out by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
The Clerk reported that he had contacted the planning department regarding enforcement relating to the caravan. Enforcement action is pending.
COUNCILLORS REPORTS CLLR MRS C READ – Wished to thank everyone for all their help with the Village Clean Up at the beginning of the month. A good turnout. We dropped 32 bags of rubbish, a broken deckchair and plastic crate at the tip.
Cllr Mrs C Read has reported that she and Susie Sorby organised a card, signed by many of her friends in the village, and a box of narcissi was sent to Jean Chalk’s new house. A box of narcissi has also sent to the Butchers to say thank you for his work on Neighbourhood Watch.
We now have a vacancy for a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for the village. A successor was suggested. Cllr Mrs S Wyatt-Tilby will follow this up.
CLLR MR P SMAIL – Reported that the Apsley Sign on the B3400 looks as though it is about to fall over. This will be reported to Steve Goodall.
CLLR MRS S SORBY – Reported that a welcome letter has been delivered to new residents in Watercress Cottage.
CLLR MR J BROOMFIELD – Suggested that a master list of the requests for the Lengthsman would be most helpful. This was noted.
FOOTPATHS All clear as far as the footpaths officer was aware. Thanks to Testbourne Estate for the extensive clearing of footpath 19 alongside the old railway and installation of the new kissing gate.
RECREATION GROUND. The Clerk reported that there are now two match fees outstanding for the 2016 Season. There is a committee meeting next week. The Chairman has asked TVBC to do a grass cut this week and then one more towards the end of April so that it is ready for the May Fair. The cesspit will also be emptied in the next few weeks in readiness for the May Fair.
VILLAGE HALL Cllr Mrs S Sorby reported that a recent leak has been repaired. A £1100 grant from Cllr Mr T Thacker will help to finance the cost of a new Village Hall notice board.
FINANCE CHEQUES AND PAYMENTS ISSUED - February and March 2017 Aviva Insurance - DD - F+M £199.30 Eon Electricity Pavilion - DD - F+M £16.00 R.N. Waterman Wages - DD - F+M £320.00 TVBC Grass Cutting £47.24 Southern Water Pavilion Water £34.12 R.N. Waterman Refund for Storage - D Yates £55.00 Mrs C Read Expenses £10.00 PGPC Hire of Office £55.00 SBPC Telephone and Broadband £50.00 Vision Tec Web Site £210.00 D Haggar Mole Control £160.00 £1,156.66
PAYMENTS RECEIVED Fees - Guy Weston £100 VAT Refund £1,056.74 HCC - Grant £1,000.00 – Towards Flashing Slow Down sign.
BANK ACCOUNT BALANCE AFTER ABOVE - £8,825.90
MAY FAIR. Plans are going well and the Committee has been working very hard. A full list of stallholders is already confirmed. There is a meeting in the village hall for all helpers on April 24th at 7.30. Anyone who would like to offer help will be warmly welcomed.
CORRESPONDENCE. The Chairman has received a telephone call from a resident regarding the increase in the Precept and explained the reasoning behind the increase. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in the next two years are phasing out the grants they give to Parish Councils to assist in Village Maintenance etc. The Precept has been increased to maintain the current level of Parish funding.
PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY The Parish Council have a vacancy. An advert will be placed in H & V.
SAFARI SUPPER Cllr Mrs S Wyatt-Tilby thanked Cllr Mrs S Sorby and her team for the recent Safari Supper - another success.
CLOSE OF THE MEETING The Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting.
DATES FOR THE 2017 MEETINGS Planning - 26th April Parish Council – 31st May Planning - 28th June Parish Council – 26th July Planning - 30th August Parish Council – 27th September Planning - 25th October Parish Council – 29th November Planning - 20th December