Pangbourne Parish Council

DraftPANGBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL

A meeting of the Parish Council was held at Pangbourne Village Hall on Tuesday 10th July 2012, commencing at 7.30 pm.

Present:Mrs E.White (Chairman), Mr G. Child,Mrs F.Pethica, Mr J.Higgs,

Dr K. Hawkins, Mr R. Holden,Mrs J. Power, Mr G. Beckett,Mrs B. Kerr Muir (from 8.30pm)

Apologies:Ms F. Hope, Mrs H. Leighton-Jones

Mrs. P. Bale, WBC District Councillor, was also present.

Action
215. / DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST RELEVANT TO AGENDA ITEMS
None.
216. / TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM IAN TAYLOR, ROYAL BERKSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE COMMUNITY CO-ORDINATOR
Mr Taylor said he was concerned at the number of fires at the meadows last year and wanted to work with us and give advice. There had been fires in the large plastic bins last year and the Parish Council has already ordered two metal bins with metal lids. Unfortunately, these had a long lead time and will not be in place this summer. He also suggested that the Parish Council consider having a designated area for barbecues.
Mr Taylor has already put up some arson notices at the River Meadow and Recreation Ground and left some leaflets on Fire Safety Outdoors which are available in the Village Hall.
217. / MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 12th JUNE
The minutes of the meeting held on 12th June 2012, having earlier been circulated, were agreed as a correct recordand weresigned by the Chairman.
218. / MATTERS ARISING ON THESE MINUTES
204. As already mentioned, two metal bins have been ordered.
205. it is understood that amended plans will be received for Bere Court Farm Bungalow.
Inspection on the resurfacing work at Thames Avenuehas taken place and the issues will be identified and the problems resolved.
206. WhitchurchBridge Footway Feasibility Study – a meeting will be arranged with WBC to discuss this.
Graham Tandy, WBC is looking at the umbrellas overhanging the pavement at The George.
St. James Close is in the resurfacing schedule for 2014/2015. In the interim, WBC will inspect the damaged areas close to the junction with Station Road.
209. Mrs White has spoken to Mal Sandham of Pangbourne Youth Football team and advised him that Adventure Dolphin are happy for the club to use their premises for teas after matches.
Mrs Leighton-Jones will meet the sports clubs and finalise the leases and licences. / HLJ
219. / PLANNING

The planning applications reviewed since the last meeting were reported to the council (See attached list). Acceptance of these responses was proposed byMr J. Higgs, seconded by Dr. Hawkinsand unanimously agreed.

ii Recent applications:
PangbourneCollege – No Objection proposed by Mr Higgs, seconded by Mrs White and unanimously agreed
Cross Keys–Objection proposed by Mr Higgs and seconded by Mrs White and unanimously agreed
2 Picketts Lane – Objection proposed by Mr Higgs seconded by Mrs White and unanimously agreed
41 Reading Road – The Parish Council ask that all conditions on original application are adhered to.
220. / FINANCE
i. Accounts reconciliation for period ending 30th June 2012 was accepted. This was proposed by Mrs. E. White, seconded byDr. Hawkins and agreed by all.
ii. Accounts for Payment
Resolved - that the list of items appended to the minutes be authorised for payment, such sums, amounting to £6,527.86, to be debited to the accounts of the Parish Council, proposed by Dr Hawkins seconded by Mrs Pethica and agreed by all.
Iii To approve emergency expenditure of £100 to erect new bollard at the allotments. Following several thefts from the allotments the recently formed Allotment Association asked if they could purchase and install a bollard at the entrance. Mr Holden proposed expenditure of £100 for this purpose. This was seconded by Mrs Pethica and unanimously agreed.
iv. Dr Hawkins proposed and Mr Child seconded that the RFO be authorised to take such steps as are necessary to make payment of regular bills during August. This was agreed by all.
221. / TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
Mrs Bale said that a meeting with the Whitchurch Bridge Company and various officers from West Berkshire Council will take place on 20th July to discuss the footway feasibility study. The Parish Council will also attend.
Mrs Bale reported that the WBC Core Strategy was found by the Inspector to be sound. It will be formally adopted at a meeting of WBC on 16th July. The next stage will be looking at the SHLAA –Strategic Housing Land Allocation Assessment – to give an indication of where houses are likely to be built to satisfy the requirements of the Core Strategy.
Mrs Bale reported that PagesGardens would be put up for sale as the site was not suitable for use by Sovereign Housing. Good progress is being made on Purley Way development and it is hoped to have a start date soon.
Mrs Bale has had queries about the work being carried out on trees on Pangbourne Hill but assured people that this was just thinning out and tree management.
Mrs Bale has received a complaint from Chiltern Walk about parking restrictions on Kennedy Drive.
The River Meadow Task Group has resulted in a Youth Worker going to the area once a week. Dave Treagus of Adventure Dolphin has reported a lot of abusive language from young people on the meadow. The police have visited all the local schools to try and prevent the recurrence of ant-social behaviour and there have been more ticket inspectors on the trains.
Mrs Bale said that she would put in a Members Bid for funding towards a possible skate park. This idea is still in the early stages and several issues have to be resolved before it is considered if it is a viable proposition.
There have been technical problems with the CCTV cameras with the wireless connections causing intermittent problems. These are being investigated.
Mrs Bale reported that during the recent WBC Library week a prize had been won by Pauline Adams of Pangbourne.
The Olympic Torch will be in Theale and Thatcham tomorrow.
222. / TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND AGREE ANY ACTIONS NECESSARY TO TAKE MATTERS FORWARD
Mrs White reported that an ambulance had difficulty in gaining access to the River Meadow. Luckily the situation was not an urgent one. At the recent Task Group meeting, a representative from the Environment Agency had said they will provide a padlock and keys. This padlock is of standard issue and the emergency services hold keys for this type of padlock. This padlock will be installed at gate at entrance to River Meadow and keys provided for owners of Meadow Farm, Dolphin Centre and PC Grass cutters. South Central Ambulance control will be informed about this.
Mrs White has asked the Environment Agency to send a planning advisor to look at a possible area for a skate park.
Mrs White has not yet received a new date for her visit to the CCTV control room.
Mrs White congratulated Mrs Kerr Muir on receiving the OBE in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Mrs Kerr Muir received her award for services to Ophthalmology.
Mrs White has looked at the parking at Adventure Dolphin and has confirmed that one of the parking spaces is still to be removed. / ML
223. / TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS
Mrs Power expressed concern at the amount of ground elder in the area at the corner of St. James Close where it is proposed to improve the landscaping. it was agreed that this would be discussed at the next Grounds Committee meeting.
A complaint has been received about overhanging hedges at Polythechnic Lane. The Neighbourhood Wardens will be asked to look into this.
Mr Higgs also reported overhanging hedges on Reading Road. The magazine article will ask people to cut these back. Mrs Bale also took note about these. / ML
PB
224. / REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND WORKING PARTIES
Meeting of the Grounds Committee and Village Hall Committee will be held on 25th July.
225. / CORRESPONDENCE

Details of CPRE Luncheon – 5th November 2012
Letter of thanks form Berkshire multiple Sclerosis Society
Letter of thanks from Air Ambulance
Nomination Form for 2012 Community Policing Awards
WBC Highways Improvement Programme 2012/13
Code of Conduct Training 0 30th July
Flood Leaflets. Environment Agency & Thames Water
Big West Berkshire Summer Bike Challenge
West Berkshire Countryside project – Upstream
North Wessex Downs AONB – Bountiful Landscape Market – HungerfordTown Hall 21st July 10.00am to 5.00pm
Carebus AGM – 19th July 7.00pm at the Dorman Rooms
E-mail about puddle outside Boathouse Surgery
AONB Photography Competition
Licensing Act Notice – Cross Keys
Natural England – Paths for Communities grants
WBC Standards Committee – appointments
Neighbourhood Development Plans Presentation
West Berkshire LINK e-Bulletin
Superfast Broadband for Berkshire Event – 17th July 2012 ay 7.00pm in Council Chamber, Newbury
Neighbourhood Wardens report – May
West Berkshire Heritage Forum – notes of AGM and Note on Local Listing in West Berkshire

226. / ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY
The next meeting of the Finance & Compliance Committee will be held on 10th September instead of the 19th September. Dr Hawkins has given his apologies
227. / CLOSURE
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.05p.m.

______Chairman______Date

File: PPC 10th July 2012.doc