Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 17th November 2008
at 7.30 pm at Kings Worthy Community Centre, Fraser Road, Kings Worthy
Present:
Councillors: P. Warrener (Chairman),
D-M Cox, I. Gordon, N. Pidduck, R. Sign, D. Smithers, D. Welstead and S. White
Also present:
WCC Councillor Stan Howell
PCSOs S Brazier & C Martin
Clerk: B. Fairbrother
Press & Public: 1
PC/08/108 Apologies
Apologies were sent by Councillors L James and J Marshall and HCC Councillor J Porter
PC/08/109 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 20th October 2008
The minutes were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman, Cllr Warrener
PC/08/110 Matters arising from the Parish Council Meeting on 20th October 2008
None
PC/08/111 Reports from Police/County Councillor/City Councillor/School Governor
Police Report – PCSO Brazier presented a verbal report on incidents over the last two months.
| 4 sheds broken into |
3 protesters/demonstrators |
| 3 minor assaults |
5 rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour |
| 2 criminal damages |
2 thefts from vehicles |
| 2 drugs offences |
3 cars – non insurance |
| 2 neighbour disputes |
1 vehicle nuisance |
County Councillor J Porter – Cllr Porter sent apologies. No report provided.
City Councillor S Howell – Cllr Howell presented a verbal report. Cllr Howell outlined the procedures with regard to investments by WCC in an Icelandic bank. He explained that there would not be an increase in Council Tax to cover the amount tied up in the bank as WCC have a general fund to meet the shortfall, if required. WCC procedures have covered everything that can be done.
Scams – Cllr Howell also drew attention to two scams currently active, notified by the Trading Standards Officer. The first is a parcel scam whereby a card is delivered from the Parcel Delivery Service to say they had tried to deliver a parcel and the recipient should ring 09066611911. This is a premium rate number linked to a scam from Belize that charges £15 immediately the call is put through.
The second scam is to mobiles whereby a person calls purporting to be a mobile technician and requests that you press ‘09 hash’ or ‘90 hash’ to check the line reception. Doing this will transfer the details on your SIM card to the technician.
High Street – the High Street is to be re-surfaced next year, and an exhibition is being set up prior to the works to show what materials will be used.
Cllr White – School Governor’s Report – Cllr White commented that the official opening of the new build had taken place last week. The press had attended and there is a short video of the event on the Hampshire Chronicle website.
The children had participated in raising funds on Friday, 14th November for Children In Need, and information on it was on the South Today Website.
Councillor Smithers – Parish Plan – Cllr Smithers had attended two meetings, one with Jo Dixon from ACH, and one at a Parish Plan Surgery at Alresford and met people who had completed their Plans.
Cllr Smithers has organized the publicity for the Parish Plan meeting at Tubbs Hall on Friday, 28th November 08 at 7pm. He requested help with refreshments at the event – Cllrs Cox and Sign said they would be available to help.
Cllr Cox and Cllr Smithers – HALC second Finance training event – The councillors commented that it had been informative.
Cllr Warrener and Cllr Cox – ‘Lit Signs’ meeting – Cllr Warrener and Cllr Cox attended a meeting to discuss the provision of illuminated speed signs – ‘lit signs’ – in the village to make drivers aware of the speed limits.
It is anticipated that the signs would be shared with other Parish Councils and used in Kings Worthy/Abbots Worthy for 16 weeks of the year. The cost will be £1,800 for the sign with £800 maintenance costs. Also, there will be the cost of moving the sign from place to place. The Council discussed the effectiveness of them, and if it justified the cost.
Cllr Warrener is to make enquiries with the Road Safety Unit about the effectiveness of the signs. Cllr Cox proposed that it should be discussed at the Budget and Finance meeting to see if funds were available for the project.
Cllr Cox – Tubbs Hall Management meeting – Saturday, 22nd November 08. Cllr Cox will be attending the meeting.
Cllr Warrener – Local Development Framework Hubs meeting and Transport meeting. Cllr Warrener attended both meetings and will forward minutes to the meetings when available.
PC/08/112 Public Question Time
The Parish Council was asked by Mrs C Smith, a Governor at Kings Worthy Primary School, to discuss the proposal of a ‘hoggin’ path across Eversley Park from the car park to the footpath alongside the school. It was commented the path had been suggested as part of the ‘travel plan’ for safer routes to school and would be funded by Hampshire County Council. The Parish Council and the school have undertaken surveys to ascertain the numbers of residents and parents in favour of the proposal.
The PC considered the responses received were comparatively low and a further survey of parents is to be undertaken on Friday, 28th November 08, at the end of the school day as parents pick up their children from the school. The majority of Councillors present were in favour of the path, but as there had been three abstentions in the vote it was agreed that the Council would await the result of the survey which will be reported to the January 09 Parish Council meeting.
PC/08/113 Adoption of a ‘Freedom of Information Act 2000 revised publication scheme’
The Clerk circulated copies of the new publication scheme. The Clerk commented that most of the information would be available on the Website, and as there is a lot more information with the scheme she proposed adding it over the next couple of months, although information has already begun to be included. The Parish Council acknowledges the duty placed upon it by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to adopt and maintain the revised Publication Scheme from 1st January 2009.
PC/08/114 To receive the Minutes of the Sub-Committees:
The Minutes of the following Committees were received and discussed.
Planning Committee – 29th October 2008
The Minutes from the meetings were presented by Cllr Warrener, Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee.
(P/08/90) Pre-application Consultation – It was commented and discussed that new planning application rules have come into force whereby applicants of developments are required to obtain comments from the Parish Council before submitting applications to WCC.
This means the Committee has to consider preliminary applications from developers. Applicants will be required to provide information in advance of the meeting outlining the proposal and providing any background information.
Attention was also drawn to the fact that the new regulations means that not all household alterations will be notified to the Parish Council.
Retrospective or revised Planning Applications – It was proposed that when there has been a previous planning application that the clerk should make that information available.
Recreations & Amenities Committee – 12th November 2008
The minutes from the meeting were presented by Cllr Sign, Chairman of the R&A Committee.
(RA/08/110) Budget 2009-10 – It was recommended the proposals are presented to the Finance Committee’s Budget meeting.
Finance Committee – 12th November 2008
The Minutes from the meetings were presented by Cllr Warrener, Chairman of the Committee.
(F/08/105) Chairman’s notices – All members voted in favour of Cllr Cox to take over as Chairman of Finance. Cllr Warrener expressed his concerns regarding his workload and wished to relinquish the Chairmanship.
(F/08/102) It was proposed and agreed that an investment of £105,000 should be invested in the Money Market for five weeks, subject to review of the accounts by the RFO.
Recommendations contained within all the Minutes were agreed and are subject to follow up checks by Councillors and Clerks
PC/08/115 Chairman’s announcements
‘Carols on the Green’ – this will be on Tuesday, 16th December 2008, and will commence at 7pm at Tubbs Hall. All members are encouraged to attend. Singing will take place around the village.
Cllr Welstead has requested that people wear ‘high visibility’ tabards if they have them, and would be grateful if anyone knows of someone who could be provide some.
Cllr Warrener is to enquire with HCC of the availability of the tabards for the Parish Council to borrow.
‘Get together’ – Council members, staff and guests are invited to attend an informal ‘get together’ on Monday, 22nd December 7 – 8.30 pm.
‘Older Driver Skills Scheme’ by HCC – Cllr Warrener recommends the courses as they are informative and helpful.
Winchester District Assoc. of Local Councils meeting – Cllr Warrener will attend this meeting on 4th December 2008.
PC/08/116 Clerks’ Report & Notice of Correspondence Received
The Clerk commented on the correspondence and event notifications received at the office, and asked that Councillors interested in any of the items contact the office.
PC/08/117 Any other notices
Committee membership – Cllr Cox announced that as she can not be a member of all three Committees she will step down from the Planning Committee and will attend as a member of the public.
PC/08/118 Date of Next Meeting
Date: 19th January 2009
Venue: Kings Worthy Community Centre
Time: 7.30 pm
Recreation & Amenities meetings – Cllr Sign gave notice that the R&A will meet on the first Thursday of the month from January 2009 onwards.
All meeting dates – the dates were circulated and agreed for 2009. [See Appendix 1].
Meeting closed at 9.40 pm |
