MINUTES OF A MEETING OF LONGPARISH PARISH COUNCIL
 held at the
COMMITTEE ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL ON APRIL 2, 2001 at 19.30

PRESENT

Mr R Dawnay (Chairman)

Mr J Barber (Vice-Chairman)

Mr J Woodcock

Mrs M J Darrah

Mr R Bourne

Mrs J Jolliffe

Mr C Dewbury

Mrs G J Goodliffe

IN ATTENDANCE              Mr P H Jarrett (Clerk)

01/36

APOLOGIES – Mr I Bush

 

01/37

APPOINTMENT OF CLERK

The Chairman told councillors that interviews for the post of Clerk to the Council had been conducted on 21 March 2001, and that the interviewing panel recommended the appointment of Mr Paul Jarrett with effect from 1 April 2001.    The appointment was agreed nem con, and Mr Jarrett was formally invited to join the meeting.

 

01/38

CO-OPTION OF A NEW COUNCILLOR

Mrs Jo Clear had indicated her willingness to stand for co-option, and Mr Dawnay believed that she would be particularly valuable to the Council as a representative resident of North Acre.  As Mrs Clear was in attendance at the meeting as a member of the public, Mr Dawnay invited her to address members of the Council.  She said that having lived in the village for 27 years, and having raised four children here, she had an overall general knowledge and deep interest in matters concerning the welfare of the village.  As she was past retiring age, she also had the time to offer. 

PROPOSED Mr Barber;  SECONDED Mr Bourne; and  AGREED NEM CON that Mrs Jo Clear be co-opted as a member of Longparish Parish Council with immediate effect.

Mrs Clear joined the meeting, and was formally welcomed to the Council by Mr Dawnay.

 

01/39

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

The minutes of the meeting were agreed and signed as a true record.

 

01/40

MATTERS ARISING

 

Mr Bourne queried the current position of Council Standing Orders.  The Chairman suggested that change proposals should be included as an agenda item for the next Parish Council meeting.

CLERK

01/41

MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF 12 MARCH 2001

The minutes of the meeting of 12 March were agreed and signed as a true record.

 

01/42

MATTERS ARISING

01/26  Playground 

  1. Mr Dewbury expressed his concern at the state of the playground.  There had been an increase in dog fouling; horseshoe prints were in evidence; and the left-hand boundary fence is being used for access from the cricket field.  Mr Dewbury suggested that the entrance should be made large enough to accommodate prams, but not large enough for horses!   A close watch must be kept.
  2. The vandalism of the chestnut tree has now been repaired.
  3. The chains are still loose on the climbing frame.  Messrs. Dawnay and Barber agreed to effect a repair without the involvement of TVBC.
 

Mr Dawnay suggested that the subject of the playground and its maintenance should be made a specific agenda item for the next meeting.

CLERK

01/43

PLANNING

TVN.04661/3 - Tudor Cottage – Erection of replacement 1.8m high boundary fence and pedestrian gate.

i) Removal of existing fence

DECISION:  NO OBJECTION

ii) Erection of 1.8m high boundary fence.

Mr Barber was unhappy with this proposal.  He considered such a fence not to be in keeping with the property, and it would also be detrimental to the village.  Mrs Darrah agreed with this view.   (It was noted that the Design Statement does not include fences.)  

Mr Woodcock said that the applicant would be likely to feel aggrieved as permission had already been granted to a similar fence opposite.  However it was noted that this earlier application had been approved by TVBC.

DECISION:  OBJECTION

Reason for objection:

“The height and style are not in keeping with the character of the half-timbered cottage in this prominent part of the village.  The Council is also concerned that the proposed fence would impede sight-lines.”

Additional Comments:

  1. Fences in general – The Council considers that the increasing number of 1.8m high close-boarded fences is leading to unwelcome urbanisation of the village. 
  2. The area surveyor is aware of the flooding problem

TVN.013887/1   128 NORTH ACRE – ERECTION OF CONSERVATORY AND PORCH.

 DECISION: NO OBJECTION.

 

01/44

ARRANGEMENTS FOR CLEAR-UP DAY ON SATURDAY 7 APRIL

 
 

Mrs Jolliffe is organising and co-ordinating the operation.  Mr Richard Fry is bringing a shredder, and Mr Paul Knipe will provide a chain saw.  Food is to be provided in the pub between the hours of 10.00 and 13.00, and Messrs Fry and Knipe are to be invited to partake!

JJ

 

Mr Bourne will arrange for a ‘land-anchor’ to tie down the Millennium bench, and this will be placed in position on the day.

RB

 

Mr Dewbury reminded members of the urgent need for advertising, requesting members of the village to assist in the clean-up.    Mrs Goodliffe kindly offered to produce and distribute appropriate material.

GG

01/45

VILLAGE HALL – COMMUNITY PROJECT

The Chairman reported on a meeting held on 16 March to discuss the project.  There is clearly a ‘who does what’ decision to be taken between the participants which include the Parish Council, the PCC, the Church Commissioners and school authorities.   A commitment to £7.5k is needed in order to pay fees, and for the preparation of outline plans.

Mr Barber told the Council that 150 members of the public had given their support.  He added that it may be possible to obtain a grant – but application must be made in advance.  An investigation is also to made into the possibility of a lottery bid.

No architect should be briefed until all such factors have been resolved.

Mr Woodcock asked how many children from the village would benefit from the scheme, and how many would come in to the school from outside the village.  He said that an accurate projection of numbers is essential.

Mr Dawnay noted that during term-time the main hall would be used for lunches; is this likely to cause a clash of interests with public use?  It was believed, generally, that this would not be a problem.

 

01/46

CORRESPONDENCE

  1. Flooding – reply from Mr Perren, HCC to letter of 1 March 2001.
    1. Sugar Lane – Mr Perren had identified the problem as ‘a blocked culvert on private land’.  He added that he would write to the occupier of 1 Gladstone Terrace requesting urgent action.  Mr Dewbury, (the occupier concerned) said that the blockage had now been dealt with, and regretted that such a minor matter had not been resolved at Parish Council level, without involving HCC.  He added that councillors should make as much effort as possible to make contact with local residents.  Mr Dawnay agreed; he said that ‘verbal’ communication would be much more preferable.
    2. The Witheys – Mr Perren stated that the problem here was, ‘high ground water levels’..He noted that, ‘as with other similar sites, this has now dried up…’.  Mr Dawnay, however, believed that this specific problem had been aggravated by the gulleys being filled up with mud.
    3. Mill Lane – Tudor Cottage – Again Mr Perren considered the problem to be ground water levels.  He said that he is ‘looking into resurfacing this junction to lift and reshape the low areas so that water cannot lie on the road surface’.   He could not promise a timescale for this.   The Chairman said that it was his view that the problem had arisen since the former ditch had been converted to pipe work
 
 

It was agreed that the clerk should reply to Mr Perren, thanking him for the information, and giving him the Council’s views

2. The provision of grit bins

Mr Perren conveyed to the council the current HCC policy which is not to install grit bins for a number of reasons.  These include vandalism, environmental damage from spillage and leaching, and that those likely to spread salt are unlikely to have public liability insurance leading to the Highway Authority being held responsible.  They are also considered to be unsightly.

CLERK

 

In the light of these comments, the Council decided to write to Mr Perren to ask for his advice regarding an alternative solution, as the road is a minor road, and accidents are very likely to occur on the incline.

3. Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils

CLERK

 

A letter had been received stating that Parish Councils’ input is not adequately being taken into account.  Mr Bourne suggested, and all members agreed, that the Planning Officer be invited to attend a meeting of Longparish Parish Council, in order to explain the current position.

CLERK

01/47

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Longparish Parish Council will be held in the village hall at 19.30 on Monday 14 May 2001.

There being no other business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 21.45

 

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