Mapledurwell & up Nately Parish Council Meeting

Mapledurwell & Up Nately Parish Council Meeting

Date: 9th July 2014. Venue: The Village Hall. Commencing: 8pm

Present: Chairman – Lorna Cuthill Councillors – Robin Best, Alan Hutton, David Ellison, Tom Horsey Clerk - Alison Edwards PC Andy Reid – for part of the meeting Adrian Hamilton and Terence Lyons – for the planning section of the meeting

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed by Lorna Cuthill.

3. ACTIONS FROM THE LAST MEETING

3.1 The clerk confirmed that she had sent off the council’s Accounting Statement to the external auditors by the deadline.

4. PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

(a)Recent/New Applications:

14/01193/HSE Kingfisher, Tunworth Road, Mapledurwell, Basingstoke. Erection of Pergola.

14/01455/GDPOFF Peacock House, London Road, Old Basing, Hampshire. Notification of proposed change of use of Class B1(a) office to Class C3 (dwelling) consisting of 10 no. one bedroom flats and 12 no. two bedroom flats.

T/00367/14/TCA Arlings, Tunworth Road, Mapledurwell. Notice of intent to fell 1 no. Ash.

(b) Granted:

14/000601/HSE Pepperpot House, Tunworth Road, Mapledurwell, RG25 2LU. Raising of roof to provide first floor living accommodation involving construction of 3 no. dormer windows and 2 no. roof lights.

T/00215/14/TCA Conservation area: Mapledurwell. Range of tree notices relating to fallen or dangerous trees. MVTS Technologies, Waterside, Frog Lane.

14/00950/HSE 4 St Stephen’s Close, Up Nately, Hook, RG27 9PP. Erection of rear conservatory.

For Signature 4.1 No objections were raised to the applications listed above.

4.2 Adrian Hamilton shared his plans for the building of a barn-style house for retirement purposes within the curtilage of Blaegrove House, Blaegrove Lane, Up Nately. Alan Hutton declared an interest in planning matters in Up Nately and withdrew from the discussion. Tom Horsey explained the council’s planning policy which is that, in general, the parish council will take a positive view to developments which do not detract from the appearance of that area of the village or do not detract from a village amenity enjoyed by other existing residents. In this context the parish council will seek to maintain the Conservation Area together with the rural and agricultural aspect of the parish. Lorna Cuthill explained that, because the proposed development was within the Conservation Area, the council was honour-bound to object to the development to ensure that its Conservation Area principles were upheld and to ensure that no precedent for building in the Conservation Area was set. David Ellison informed Adrian and Terence that BDBC hold drop-in sessions where planning proposals can be discussed with a planning officer. The council suggested that Adrian’s next step would be to speak a planning officer at such a session about the likelihood of obtaining planning permission for his proposed development and his options. Tom Horsey informed the council that a 12-page document was available on the internet with maps depicting the parish’s Conservation Area and giving details of its history.

5. FINANCE.

5.1 Payments were approved:

Chq. No 000643 Martin Gosling £780.00 Garden Services

Chq. No 000644 Alison Edwards - clerk £533.80 Salary May & June 2014; stamps

Chq. No 000645 Lawrence Young Ltd £120.00 Payroll services 2014/15

Chq. No 000646 Martin Gosling £276.00 Garden Services (Nov & Dec o/s)

Chq. No 000647 David Ellison £19.00 Keys for sports pavillion

5.2 The bank reconciliation up to 20th June 2014 was agreed and signed by the Treasurer, Robin Best, on the understanding that some of the expenditure on play equipment was moved from the “recreation” column to the “capital” column. Action: clerk to make change to play equipment expenditure on finance spreadsheet once breakdown between capital and recreation spend received from David Ellison.

6. VILLAGE HALL/PARISH COUNCIL LIAISON

6.1 Robin Best explained that he had been looking at the village hall committee’s (VHC) lease. There are elements which are not currently being adhered to (such as having two parish council representatives on the committee) and the lease needs updating. There are ways in which the VHC can be reconfigured – such as the parish council becoming sole trustee of the VHC charity or winding the VHC up and absorbing it into the parish council – which would enable VAT to be recovered on VHC financial transactions, but the way in which this For Signature would be done is convoluted and there are no other obvious benefits. Action: It was agreed that Robin Best would look at updating the lease, working with Matt Heywood (Treasurer to the VHC), and that Robin would ask Jane Kromrower or Matt Heywood whether a member of the VHC would like to come to the beginning of parish council meetings to update the council on the work of the VHC.

7. RECREATION

(a) Playground refurbishment

7.1 David Ellison explained that Sovereign Design Play Systems Ltd have increased the overall cost of the playground refurbishment project by approximately £1500 since carrying out a further survey of the area. This extra cost is to cover extra wetpour (the springy surface put under and around play equipment for safety), the removal of rotten timber and additional bark. It was agreed that looking to another play equipment provider was not the best option as Sovereign had come out as the best in terms of equipment and value during initial scoping. Furthermore this would delay the project, meaning the playground wouldn’t be ready for use during the school summer holidays, which would be a great shame. It was agreed that the council could make savings by sourcing the new play bark elsewhere. Action: David Ellison to go back to Sovereign with our proposals to source the bark elsewhere.

7.2 Robin Best presented the council with a cheque from The Friends of St Marys for £10,000 towards the renovation of the play area. Robin also asked the council to formally ask the Friends whether they wished their contribution to be acknowledged on a plaque in the play area. Action: David Ellison and clerk to put together a letter thanking the Friends for their contribution, in time for the meeting of Friends to discuss the Fireworks on Thursday 17th July.

7.3 Lorna Cuthill informed the council that the tennis courts were being cleaned this week.

(b) Contract for grounds maintenance

7.4 David Ellison informed the meeting that the grounds maintenance quote provided in 2012 no longer bore any resemblance to the costs incurred. The council therefore needs to re-tender the contract. Action: David Ellison to develop a scheme of work based on what is done at present and seek three quotes to share with the council at the September meeting.

(c) Chineham Tigers contract renewal

7.5 David Ellison reminded the council that the contract for the use of the football pitch and sports pavilion by Chineham Tigers is due for renewal in August. Last year the cost increased by 3%. David has obtained a spare set of keys to the pavilion for the clerk and has spoken to Chineham Tigers about the water bill (which has increased considerably since the installation of a water meter). The Tigers have agreed that the manager will turn off the water when the pavilion is locked up after each match/training session to ensure there is no running water left overnight. It was agreed that it would be unfair to expect the Tigers to pay for the water bills as this water is used for other things For Signature such as cleaning the tennis courts and the renovation work to the play area. It was therefore agreed that the cost to Chineham Tigers for the renewal of the contract should increase by 5% this year, to cover increased costs incurred by the council (water, grounds maintenance). Action: David Ellison to provide clerk with an additional line for the contract and to ask the Tigers for permission to advertise their club to local children in The Villager.

8. ROADS AND FOOTPATHS

8.1 Alan Hutton reported that the damage to the roads in the parish over the winter has been fixed. This has been through top-dressing rather than dealing with ditches.

8.2 Lorna Cuthill informed the council that she has cleaned all the dog mess from the bridge over the M3 after a complaint by a resident. Notices had also been put up but have been taken down, and a notice has been in the last two editions of The Villager reminding people to pick up after their dogs.

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

9.1 PC Andy Reid attended the meeting to give his latest police report for the area. Since the last meeting (19 th May 2014) there have been seven reported crimes: five at The Hollies – criminal damage, theft of a pedal cycle, assault, public order, two non-dwelling burglaries; and in Mapledurwell village, an assault (dog bite) and criminal damage. There has also been a report of cows on Greywell Road, a dangerous driving complaint on Greywell Road, a suspicious vehicle seen driving in Tunworth Road and a report of someone speeding on Greywell Road.

9.2 The council looked at the proposals for a digestate lagoon at Manor Farm, Upton Grey. The council agreed that it would formally comment about traffic concerns at the junction at Pole Cat Corner. Action: Lorna Cuthill to submit comments about traffic concerns.

10. DATE FOR NEXT MEETING

The next meeting is on Wednesday 17th September 2014, at 8pm.

Meeting closed at 9.50pm.

For Signature