Minutes Minutes of Parish Council held in the Council Chambers
On Tuesday, 14th December 2004 at 7-30pm.
Present: C?llr Williams in the Chair, C?llr Betteridge, C?llr Beard, C?llr White,
C?llr Winterton, C?llr Giles, C?llr Newman, C?llr Cope, C?llr P Richardson, C?llr R. Richardson, C?llr Bale & C?llr Skidmore. Representatives: C.C. Connolly, Sgt Wood, Mr N. Clarke ESP Ltd, & S. Dancey press reporter.
The chairman welcomed everyone to the December meeting.
1. Apologies for absence were received and accepted from C?llr Gardner (prior engagement), C?llr Gibbs (work) & C?llr Blackmore (PC business)
2. General Public ? Questions
Sgt Wood.- reported 1) Break in at the Queens Head. 2) A child knocked down outside Castle Primary School, thankfully not seriously injured, however police presence outside school to ensure sensible parking by parents. 3) Youth nuisance- slight improvement, press coverage has worked to a degree. An ASBO will be issued to a Tidworth youth next week. 4) Spot checks will be carried out in the run up to Christmas and New Year. The Chairman thanked Sgt Wood & his officers for organising traffic control on Remembrance Sunday. Sgt Wood left the meeting at 7-40pm.
Mr N, Clarke, ES Pipelines Ltd - gave an update on recent mail survey to 1300 properties asking if residents wished the gas network to be extended in Ludgershall. The response was very low with only 6% requesting gas and 6% not interested. Transco has the capacity but positive response from 25% is required to proceed. Next course of action ES Pipeline Ltd will arrange a Road show Day early in 2005 on a Saturday in Ludgershall. Mr N. Clarke left the meeting at 7-50pm.
3. Minutes of the last meeting had been circulated; the following matters raised: - 3.6) Permission received from KDC for Christmas Lights Licence ? C?llr Blackmore arranging date to erect the lights. 3.7) Post Box ? confirmation received from Royal Mail that arrangements are already in hand to provide a mail box outside new PO location however due to searches etc this will not be in time for opening on 6th January 2005. 4) C?llr White reported on Paper Kerbside Recycling briefing at KDC ? DEFRA money for this project made available until March 2005, KDC had little time to arrange publicity & delivery of information and black boxes was inefficient leading to poor response from residents. One point of warning do not put any papers with personal details into recycling box for security reasons. D.C. Richardson explained short notice was not deliberate KDC took the initiative and problems will now be addressed at committee level. 5) Presentation of Kingfisher H.A. donation will be made on 15th December 2004, C?llr Gibbs will attend. 7) Headstone ? Mrs Smith phoned the clerk; unhappy with PC decision on football logo asked to write to the Chairman, no further contact to date. 9) SHA tenants ? litter, untidy gardens not improved, clerk to write to Mr A. Higgins, Manager of local SHA officer.
Parish Councillors raised £23-00p for Remembrance Poppy Appeal.
A proposal from the Chair, C?llr Williams that these minutes should be accepted and signed as a true copy, C?llr Newman declared an interest, proposal seconded by C?llr Giles, carried.
4. Correspondence a) Information sheet received from KDC of a vacancy on the Standards Committee for a Parish/Town Councillor.
KDC notify of new developments in dealing with Planning Applications & new services on the web site. A presentation on new legislation is offered to PC?s at Browfort, invite accepted named representatives will be confirmed when a convenient date & time is arranged.
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KDC thank PC?s for responding to the recent consultation on the Local Development Scheme & Statement of Community Involvement Consultation ? a copy of comments made at workshops received for information.
KDC Compact Codes of Good Practice; web site details ? deadline for comments 31st January 2005.
b) Standards Board for England ? Copies of Guidance for members on Lobby groups, dual-hatted members and the Code of Conduct & Guidance for monitoring Officers & standards committees on Local Investigations received for information.
c) WCC ? Tidworth Community Area Transport Study consultations & Issues report received for information and comment by 31st December 2004.
Ludgershall sign A.3026 ? WCC confirms Ludgershall sign will be re-sited at the start of 30mph speed limit as semi-temporary measure as revised junction changes possible within plans for Castledown Business Park. They could include the legend ? please drive carefully? by the addition of a supplementary plate of the same width, at a cost of £75-00p payable by the Parish Council. It was agreed unanimously not to contribute for additional legend but request ?Ludgershall sign? is moved as soon as possible.
d) Mr & Mrs G. White, letter of complaint received concerning farmer?s damage to Footpath 11, litter at Ludgershall Castle site & belisha beacon out of action in High Street, clerk to send appropriate reply.
e) Newsletter, Christmas cards and other correspondence received given to relevant committees, who will report back if necessary. Interesting item in LCAS newsletter spot fines extended in crack down on petty crime.
5. County & District Councillors Report
C.C. Connolly reported: - 1) New partnership with bus companies operating bus route 7, 8 & 9 & simpler timetables to be produced. Transport survey- 780 replies showing car owners would like to use more buses. 2) Council tax ? WCC looking at a low increase for 2005/2006 with 6.9% increase in funding share scheme and a 9.4% increase in its actual allocation from Central Government. Overall WCC has £4M more in funding than it had planned for so a rise of less than 5% should be achievable. 3) Request from PC for a width restriction in Chapel Lane, reply from Highways there has to be an exemption for access to any property on the length of the restriction.
D.C. P Richardson reported: - 1) Public conveniences a copy of the presentation handed to all members outlining KDC proposals to give ownership of these properties to Parish Council with them taking over responsibility of cleaning and maintaining. C?llr Richardson gave a full report on this window of opportunity and asked all members to consider options, remit as agenda item at January meeting.
6. Committee Reports
Allotment & Cemetery Management Committee ? C?llr Newman reported in the
absence of C?llr Gibbs, minutes had been circulated: - 3.4d) No offers received for old strimmer, approved the clerk may dispose of this item. 3.6a) KDC confirms they will give a grant of 17.1% = £86.18p towards further planting at Jubilee Gardens during financial year 2004/2005. C?llr Newman proposed this report should be approved, seconded by C?llr Bale, carried.
Recreation, Environment & Leisure Committee ? C?llr P. Richardson reported in the absence of C?llr Blackmore, minutes had been circulated: - 3) Letter concerning early presentation of refuse sacks has been sent to Enforcement Officer KDC. 10) Mobile skateboard available on loan from Test Valley BC ? KDC will be asked to investigate this situation. C?llr P. Richardson proposed this report should be approved, seconded by C?llr R. Richarsdson , carried.
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Planning Committee ? C?llr White reported in the absence of C?llr Gardner, minutes had been circulated: - 2 applications viewed; Outline Planning for six cottages at junction Biddesden Lane/Crawlboys Lane- PC objected contrary to Policy HH10 & site borders Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Renewal of Public Entertainment Licence for The Crown Hotel - concerns raised about continuing noise and nuisance caused to nearby residents outside the Pub at 2am. C?llr White proposed this report should be approved, seconded by C?llr Giles, carried.
Finance & Policy Committee ?C?llr Giles reported, minutes had been circulated: -
6b) Renewal Public Entertainments Licence for Crown Hotel ? committee recommends a formal objection is raised due to the continuing disruption caused to local residents by revellers leaving the establishment at 2am. The police confirm they are not making any objections. 7). Amendment to minutes insert ?internal? in front of fences to be removed around this vacant plot of land. 10) Precept 2005/2006 ? committee recommends £70,000-00p is requested as the total precept required for Financial Year 2005/2006; requests of funding required by committee?s listed on Appendix A. The following payments were approved and the necessary cheques drawn: - Wilts Waste skip rental £17-63p, KDC ¼ ground maintenance£1107-14p, Mr O. White travel expenses £19-40p, RBS Accounting training day £173-31p, Allianz Cornhill Additional premium £32-42p, B.T. ¼ charge £36-30p, S. Water ½ year charge Pavilion £37-12p, LCAS annual subscription £305-00p, Brady Corp. safety signs Pavilion £50-75p, Memorial Hall Committee grant £3500-00p, Mrs J. White salary £629-88p, Inland Revenue tax & insurance £260-78p, Mr P. Richardson travel expenses £20-37p, Mr M. Betteridge travel expenses £37-36p, Chairman?s Fund £10-88p,. A transfer of £5000-00p from Business 30 day account requested for signature. C?llr Giles proposed this report and recommendations should be approved, seconded by C?llr Bale, carried.
7. Any Other Business Hedge encroaching pavement in Biddesden Lane at eye level, clerk will contact landowner Sarsen H.A.
Residents of Castle Street are pleased the seat is not to be replaced.
Memorial Hall car park ? two television sets have been deposited after refuse lorry refused to take them, Wilts Contractors will remove them.
The extra cleaning of litter by KDC has made a vast improvement ? clerk to send a letter thanking KDC for their efforts (it was mentioned a pity not all landowners keep to Kennet standards), a copy of letter to Chief Executive.
C?llr Betteridge gave a report on his visit to ?Sustain the Plain? open day and also meeting on Community Emergency Volunteers, C?llr Betteridge is drawing up an emergency list of names, addresses and telephone numbers for Ludgershall.
Web site ? C?llr Skidmore reported that recent difficulties with The Local Challenge seem to be solved, if minutes/agendas and other articles are e-mailed to him he will ensure Ludgershall site is kept up to date. He will also start taking photos of litter hot spots for an article. A training date for input on web site has been arranged for Wednesday 12th January 2005.
An application for an opal pink headstone for a baby has been received for Parish Cemetery, no objections raised.
The Chairman wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
There being no further business to discuss the meeting closed at 9-45pm.