MINUTES OF THE SMANNELL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 4TH NOVEMBER 2019 AT THE SMANNELL AND ENHAM CHURCH OF PRIMARY SCHOOL, SMANNELL

Cllrs. Present: Cllr. Rod Bowker (Chairman), Cllr. Richard Budge, Cllr. John Pickford

1. APOLOGIES Cllr. Peter Holt County Cllr. Kirsty North Borough Cllr. Phil North

2. PUBLIC QUESTIONS NOT ON THE AGENDA None recorded.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None recorded.

4. TO RESOLVE THE MINUTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING – 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 The Chairman reviewed the Minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 2 September 2019. Members unanimously RESOLVED to accept the Minutes as a true and correct record. The Chairman signed them accordingly.

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM MEETING – 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 The Chairman considered the action points accordingly. In pursuance of Minute 9, the Chairman advised that he spoke to Will Brook in relation to the rotting gate post and he is willing to carry out remedial works accordingly.

No other matters were raised for further debate or update.

6. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED The Parish Clerk advised members of all matters of correspondence received to date, which were noted without further comment or necessary proposed action.

7. TO RESOLVE EXPENDITURE OF THE PARISH COUNCIL FOR NOVEMBER 2019 The Parish Clerk advised members of the expenses of the Parish Council to date, which amounted to £1,111.28 and scheduled below together with the latest financial position of the Parish Council.

£200.00 – Kevin Glyn-Davies – September Salary £200.00 – Kevin Glyn-Davies – October Salary £140.00 – Parochial Church Council of Smannell with – Parish Oak Renewal £500.00 – Parochial Church Council of Smannell with Enham Alamein – Contribution to maintenance of churchyard at Christ Church, Smannell – Invoice 910102 £71.28 – Enham Trust – October Gardening Services at Little London Play Area – Invoice 20189

SMANNELL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF 4 NOVEMBER 2019 – PAGE 2 (CONT’D)

Members unanimously RESOLVED the expenditure of the parish council as prescribed.

8. TO DISCUSS AND RESOLVE THE BUDGET FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2020/2021 The Parish Clerk referred to an earlier circulated budget report, which was also tabled at this meeting. Members considered the budgetary analysis and report coupled with the budget figures for 2019/2020 and those proposed for 2020/2021. It was reported that there is a provisional reduction in the taxbase proposed by Borough Council from 150 to 146, which would result in a reduction of 2.67%. The 2019/2020 Average Band D Council Tax for Smannell Parish Council is £18.32 on a precept of £2,748.00. To deliver a frozen Council Tax for parishioners (£18.32), the Parish Council would have to decrease the precept by 2.67% to £2,675.00 (due to the reduction in the taxbase), therefore losing revenue.

Members unanimously RESOLVED to maintain the same level of precept requirement as at 2019/2020 financial year at £2,748.00 and could not reduce the precept to £2,675.00 on the lower provisional taxbase level. This therefore results in an increase in the Council Tax of 50p (rounded) to £18.82 at 2.67% for 2020/2021.

ACTION: The Parish Clerk to advise Test Valley Borough Council that the Smannell Parish Council precept requirement for the financial year 2020/2021 will be £2,748.00 at the same level against the financial year 2019/2020.

9.TO RESOLVE WHETHER TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PARISH OAK AND CHURCHYARD MAINTENANCE CONTRIBUTION Members discussed the feasibility of continuing to sustain the support of the Parish Oak and Churchyard Maintenance at Christ Church. It was felt that for this financial year 2019/2020, the Parish Council would maintain the contribution and honour the invoices accordingly. Members agreed to include a £500.00 amount in the budget for 2020/2021 but were keen to ensure that the Parochial Church Council cannot assume or expect that contributions will be sustained in future years. It was RESOLVED to support the Parish Oak and Churchyard Maintenance contributions for 2019/2020.

10.TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE LLPF COMMITTEE AND ACTIVITIES. The Chairman advised members that he has arranged for a Christmas Tree and a lights switch-on to take place at Little London as in previous years and stated that he urgently requires volunteers. He advised that a raffle will also be held with donated prizes and tickets being sold at £1.00 each.

11. TO DETERMINE PLANNING APPLICATIONS None received.

SMANNELL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF 4 NOVEMBER 2019 – PAGE 3 (CONT’D)

12. FOOTPATH AND ROADS UPDATE Members reported that there was a significant and large pothole located at Malthouse Lane that needs to be brought to the attention of County Council for remedial works and urgent action. ACTION: The Chairman advised that he will report the pothole via the Hampshire County Council Website soonest. 13. BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCIL REPORTS There being no Borough or County Councillor present at this meeting, no report was received.

14. COUNCILLORS QUESTIONS None recorded.

There being no further business to transact, the Chairman closed the meeting at 20.13 hours.

The next meeting of the Smannell Parish Council will take place on 6th January 2020 at the Smannell and Enham Church of England Primary School at 19.15 hours.