Whitehill Town Council

UPTON GREY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF UPTON GREY PARISH COUNCIL held on

THURSDAY 17th November 2016 at 7.30PM in the VILLAGE HALL, UPTON GREY

Draft minutes subject to confirmation

In Attendance / Apologies / Absent
Cllr J Wallinger / √
Cllr P Gray / √
Cllr Miss T Reffell / √
Cllr D Janaway / √
Cllr N Ralls / √

Also in attendance – Borough Cllr Mark Ruffell, Elizabeth Ford (Clerk), George Hiller (Parish Lengthsman), PC Andy Reid, 1 member of the public

161101 / To receive and accept apologies for absence
Apologies were accepted from Cllr Ralls.
161102 / To receive and note any declarations of interest relevant to the agenda
Cllr Gray declared a pecuniary interest in 161106.
161103 / The Chairman to sign as a correct record the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 20th October 2016
Cllr Gray signed as a correct record the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 20th October 2016
161104 / To open the meeting to the members of the public
One resident requested information on the felling of the dead willow tree and the proposed highway drainage works. He also voiced concern that the proposed development of 17 houses on Weston Road would aggravate flooding in the central part of the village. The resident was invited to take part in discussion of these issues under the relevant item on the agenda.
161105 / To receive reports
PC Reid presented his report which is included as Appendix A. The speed of laden agricultural wagons travelling through the village was discussed. It was agreed that estimation of the speed was difficult but the use of mobile phones while driving was unacceptable. The Parish Council asked that residents include specific information in reports to the police, such as time, date, registration number and/or phone number on vehicles and photographs.
Borough Cllr Ruffell advised that two planning applications were in progress locally for motorway service stations (ref. 16/02767/ENSC between junction 6 and 7 north of Farleigh Wallop; ref. 16/03945/ENSC land immediately south of junction 6). Concern was voiced about the close proximity to the Grade 1 listed house and park, Hackwood Park, location in the floodplain, increased risk of traffic accidents as the new M3 junction 6 Black Dam roundabout improvements had not been configured to accommodate access to services, noise and light impacts. There were no traffic issues to nearby villages as no routes of access onto the non motorway roads were currently planned. There was a new proposal for a major housing development at Greywell (near the football pitch on Deptford Lane) with 200 houses plus shops. There was concern that this would join Greywell with North Warnborough and could be expected to increase traffic levels on the access from Upton Grey to the M3. The revised draft CIL schedule would be examined by inspector in January 2017 and the Borough Council was preparing draft supplementary planning guidance for developers.
Finally Neighbourhood Planning was discussed with the option of Upton Grey being part of a single plan for the whole ward or a cluster of parishes. Recent permissions could be credited in the Neighbourhood Plan towards the 50 new houses required under the B&DBC Local Plan for the whole ward.
The Parish Lengthsman Report for November is included as Appendix B. The Parish Lengthsman requested a meeting with the B&DBC playground inspector.
161106 / Report of Parish Council comment submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on new planning documents submitted for 16/03058/FUL, Erection of 17 dwellings, including affordable units, together with the creation of a new access to Weston Road and associated landscaping at Land At Weston Road, Upton Grey
The Clerk advised that a letter was prepared and ready to send to the Planning Authority. At the time of the meeting the planning application was due for consideration at the December 7th Development Control Committee. It was agreed that, due to Cllr Ralls not being able to attend this meeting, that Cllr Reffell would make a presentation at the meeting on behalf of the Parish Council.
161107 / Further report on works by statutory undertaker adjacent to the Weston Road development site
The Clerk would contact Scottish and Southern Electricity to request that the ditches were unblocked and whether further works into the site were planned.
161108 / Updates on previous planning applications
Since the last meeting T/00378/16/TCA. Proposed works to trees in a Conservation Area. At Keepers Way, Basingstoke Road had been granted. Planning application 16/01216/FUL Demolition of existing dwelling and garage, and erection 5 dwellings etc. At The Road House, Weston Road and planning applications 16/003398/FUL and 16/03399/LBC, Conversion of existing barn etc. At Shoot Barn, Hoddington Farm, Upton Grey were still ongoing.
161109 / To note the current financial situation and sign bank statements
The current financial situation was NOTED and can be found as Appendix C. The bank statements were reconciled and signed with the balances being:
Current Account: £7,887.45
Savings Account: £10,274.01.
161110 / To approve Schedule of Expenditure
The schedule of expenditure as listed below was approved for payment
FOR / ITEM / AMOUNT / INVOICE / REF
Staff / Salary (Oct) / £320.00 / 17/11/16 / EP
Staff / Expenses / £51.57 / ditto / EP
Staff / Salary / £44.20 / Nov / EP
Inland Revenue / Tax and NI / £11.20 / Nov / EP
Saunders Landscape / Maintenance (Nov) / £204.00 / 864 / EP
TOTAL / £630.97
161111 / To agree Parish Council budget for 2017-2018
B&DBC were proposing the phased cancellation of two grant payments to Parish Councils. For Upton Grey this meant a reduction in income by £1,213 in 2017-2018 with a further reduction in 2018-2019 of £125. If the Parish Council increased the precept payment to compensate for the 2017-2018 reduction this would mean an increase in the precept of 6.8% above last year’s level. The Parish Council expenditure was discussed and no potential cuts identified. It was also agreed that a provision for cost increases was made in the 2017-2018 budget. This would mean a total proposed budget of £18,166.49.
It was proposed that this budget would be financed by a 16% increase in the level of precept collected on behalf of the Parish Council by the Borough Council as part of the Council Tax charge. This would result in an increase in Council Tax per household as shown in the table below.
Approx monthly payment to Parish Council for 10 months, for each household (collected with Council Tax)
Council Tax Band / 2016-2017 / 2017-2018
Proposed
A / £2.70 / £3.13
B / £3.16 / £3.67
C / £3.61 / £4.19
D / £4.06 / £4.71
E / £4.96 / £5.75
F / £5.86 / £6.80
G / £6.76 / £7.84
H / £8.11 / £9.41
161112 / To consider for adoption revised Standing Orders
This was deferred to the next meeting.
161113 / To report on felling of dead weeping willow by the village pond
The tree would be felled on Friday 27th January 2017. Concern was noted on the safety of the listed wall bordering the pond area. Cllr Reffell would remove (using gloves) and dispose of the mushrooms now visible beneath the tree as good practice to reduce the spread of the Honey Fungus.
161114 / To consider HC Highways update on the proposed drainage works in the village
HC Highways survey work indicated that the ditch behind the phonebox was a soakaway receiving waters from both the pond and in the opposite direction from the drain which surfaced opposite the Hoddington Arms. Ditches along the Bidden Road were understood to be independent soakaways and not a “joined up system” leading anywhere. Topographical survey work would be carried out to identify if pipe drainage down the Bidden Road was possible but current thinking was that this was unlikely and that new hollow soakaways would be installed. These findings were discussed and the Clerk would respond to HC Highways that the Parish Council preferred the option of piped drainage taking waters along the Bidden Road out of the village because:
· there was a lack of confidence in soakaways as, even shortly after the desludging of chambers, surface waters still overflowed the drainage system and caused flooding;
· over a long period the ditch behind the phone box had never been seen to be dug out;
· the houses along the Bidden Road originally had a roadside ditch running along the frontage with a small foot bridge across to each property. This ditch was filled about fifty years ago to create driveways;
· final discharge of waters was possible as surface flows ran along the Bidden Road to the scaffolding yard and then via open ditches to an old gravel pit;
· cutting grips into the pond was expected to increase the solids entering the pond, which was not wanted, and to be of no benefit for the extent of flooding experienced at the crossroads.
161115 / To consider response to developer-led consultation on Rye Common New Village Proposal
It was resolved that the Parish Council would respond to the consultation that it supported the comment submitted by Odiham Parish Council.
161116 / To report on new email address for Parish Council
The new email address would be linked to the existing Parish Council website at no extra cost and transferable on change of Clerk.
161117 / To confirm the date of the next meeting as 19th January 2016
The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 19th January 2017 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.15pm

Signed Chairman______Date______

Clerk Elizabeth Ford

Appendix A : Report by PC Reid, November 2016

Appendix B

UPTON GREY LENGTHSMAN REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2016

LITTER

Normal pick ups, nothing out of ordinary.

PLAY AREA

Shrubs cut back as per last report.

Request meeting with the inspector so that I can identify his problems.

FOOTPATHS

Footpath at top of field opp Weston Close cleared of overhanging branches and fully open.

DRAINAGE

Dan Beasant fixed a meeting between P.C. and operation resilience. This took place and parish clerk will report on outcome.

HIGHWAYS

Repairs to tarmac around drain at pinch point repaired. No other action ref white lines and potholes. Assured “It is in hand”.

Highways demanding drastic cut back of Mr Holroyds hedge

OVERHANGING TREES ON CHURCH STREET.

Full survey carried out and results submitted to P.C.

POND

W.J.Hatt pond constructors have referred me to BOSSJEX to clear pond of silt resulting from non clearance of settlement tankswith ball park figure of £6,000 + VAT .

Duckweed a major problem. Unable to remove with net now that central pond weed has reached surface and duckweed sticking to it. I have obtained a brochure and price list from “AQUAPLANCTON” to kill off the duck weed whist not damaging other water plants. To be considered by committee.

WILLOW TREE AT THE POND.

Sandra Hattingh an arborial consultant has examined the tree and confirms it has Armillaria disease aka honey fungus and so will need to be totally removed root and branch before any replanting considered. Quotes for clearance agreed with PCC and understand removal will take place shortly.

Appendix C

UGPC Minutes 17th November 2016