Date:

02.11.’09

Time:

7.00pm

Place:

Village Hall (Annex)

Present:

Richard Walker (Chair)
Charles Bradshaw
Daphne Prosser
Michael Maxwell
Alan Owencroft
Judy Brine
Kathryn Kidby, (Clerk)

Attending:

PC Andy Reid
Jantiene Rosenbloom
Cllr Mark Ruffel

Members of the Public:

Apologies:

Karen Gilly
Sabrina Gurling

1

To sign and confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council

1.1

The minutes for the 05.10.’09 meeting were confirmed and signed.

2.

To consider matters arising from the previous minutes of 05.10.’09

2.

New Councillors. KK has passed on information on training days for new Councillors and Judy Brine is able to go the one on 30^th November ‘09.

KK to book the core skills course

2.2

Recreation ground. RW has spoken to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council regarding the grass cutting at the Recreation Ground, but thus far has heard nothing back from them.

2.3

Potholes AO met Colin Hooper outside Gobley Hole, Nutley, Mr Hoper explained that his resources and man power were cut to the bone and would get to the potholes on the Wield Rd and the Recreation signs as soon as possible, but was unable to specify a time period. MM stated that a lot of the minor Roads in neighbouring Parishes had a lot of road signage put up and this Parish had signs put up and quite a lot of the potholes done, all be it not the Wield ones and were as far as he was concerned doing a good job. CB stated that some of the repairs were not all that effective, RW said the PC had done what they could at this point.

2.4

DP was appointed the Parish Representative for the Recreation ground and was asked to keep an eye on it, as she lives so close. RW advised that DP chat to Ken Green every now and then, particularly in the light of recent fly tipping of builder’s materials, which PC Andy Reid kindly reported and dealt with.

2.7

Bus Shelter. Concerning the repair of the bus shelter, MM will get Graham Turner, a local craftsman to look at the problem and provide a quote for the work needed..

MM to get a quote

2.8

HCC would like each Parish Council to nominate foot paths that need attention, however MM thought that all the foot paths were ok.

3.

Dickers Field Proposal.

3.1

Jantiene has drawn up a simpler plan, whereby there is a winding track cut through the long grass, two large specimen evergreen Holm Oaks, (25-30 cm in girth 5m tall) with three benches beneath them within the open area.  There are also two English Oaks on the allotment side of the plot, these two are to the North of the houses so shade is not a concern and they are far enough away not to cause any problems and a hedge comprising of native species between the land and the houses on the far side of the plot. There will be a further bench, currently owned by the PC to be sited. There is still a gate to the allotments, but there will be no access for cars.  There needs to be a gate to allow access for maintenance vehicles. Depending how funding etc. works out there is still the possibility of a fruit tree within the site.

The cost of the scheme depends on the size of the trees, the transportation and planting of them and the height of the hedge row saplings bought in along with the irrigation requirements of such large trees. It is estimated that the proposed plan will cost around £5000. However Jantiene has been in contact with Ken Brown at Winchester and about the various funding and grant possibilities and has compiled a data base of possible sources and thinks this project will be easy to fund as it complies with many of the requirements; especially the ‘Pride of Place’  CEEF environment grants and Jantiene has already spoken to Keith Frost on this matter.

3.2

All were in favour of the revised plan, and to work out the management plan according to what plants come up, from the existing seed bank i.e. if rare/ interesting or ecologically rich plants appear, then obviously the bulk of the long grass should not be cut until after they have finished flowering and dropped their seed. However at this point it is thought that the primary grass areas will be cut once a year and the sinuous path through the long grass will be cut once a month. The area is to be treated as a nature reserve and will need walking once a month and new species of plant, insect and wildlife noted down; it maybe that Jantiene can do this and put a cane in to mark things that need mowing round. The management will evolve with the development of the plot. MM suggested that Jantiene speak to Katie Harris Head Mistress at Preston Candover School to discuss the possibility of involving the children in the project.

3.3

MR questioned the change of use of the land, from Agricultural to recreational and thought perhaps that the PC should run it by the planning department, however Jantiene assured him that the land was to remain Agricultural as the PC was planning to take a hay crop off it as in other years and this was one of the reasons for simplifying the plan, so that the machinery could get in there. Allowing the public access should make no difference as the PC were not looking to establish Rights of Way through it (the nature reserve will be open 364 days a year) with the right to with draw access if needs be. The Parish Council already has 3^rd party indemnity insurance, to cope with public access. There will be display boards honouring the agricultural heritage.

MR suggested that there was a great need for actual allotments and there was funding available from Basingstoke and Dean, MM assured him that the allotments already on site were in full use and the Trust had the funds to upgrade the existing ones and hopefully create new ones in the future.

3.4

The meeting 7^th December will start at 6.15pm to allow the public to view the plans and give their opinions. Jantiene advised that the PC start slowly and see what sort requests come in from the public.

3.5

RW has drafted a notice to go in to the Oxdrove, the shop and the Purefoy Arms inviting the public to the consultation and explaining that the land is owned by the trust for the Allotment of The Labouring Poor, who are giving permission for informal access.

4

Financial Matters.

4.1

Cheques signed:-

Preston Candover Village Hall chq no. 610 £100 donation towards the New Year Party.

KK to send

Southern Electric Contracting Ltd  Chq no. 618 £ 181.41 –final 6 monthly invoice for street lighting maintenance in Preston Candover.

“   “

5

Planning Matters.

5.1

BDB TCA2839 ref T889-09 New House Alresford Road, Preston Candover, reduce Hawthorn to 50% fell 1Norway Spruce, 1 Elder, 1Conifer, 1Sumac, 1Sycamore and re-pollard a Willow. Approved

5.2

BDB/71078 Fawkners Faleigh Rd, Preston Candover, Basingstoke RG252DU Application for Certificate of Lawfulness for use of land as residential land. PC response: - The PC had no objection to the proposed construction of a tennis court in the location indicated. Refused

5.3

BDB/714803 Gobley Hole Cottages, Farleigh Road, Nutley, Basingstoke, RG25 2HN. Erection of a single storey extension and replacement front porch. Council Decision No objection 

5.4

TCA 2849 Ref T936-09 Thorps, Alresford Rd Preston Candover. Crown lift 1 Sycamore to give 4m clearance and fell 1 Cupressus. Council decision- No objection.

5.5

TCA 2850 Ref T944-09 The Croft Alresford Rd, Preston Candover. Crown lift 1 Sycamore and reduce by of 50% the crown of 1 Beech. Council Decision No objection.

6

Correspondence

6.1

Two lots of info. for play ground inspection  Hampshire Playing Fields Magazine and Local Transport News Magazine given to AO plus Basingstoke Weekly Bulletins.

6.2

Play scheme Fund - to send to the school

KK to send to school

6.3

Community Environmental Enhancement Fund, sent to RW and Jantiene Rosenbloom for use on Dickers Field.

6.4

Consultation Questionaire regarding Hackney carriages licensed to BDBC – presented to the Council.

6.5

B & D  getting about Guide given to RW to give to Eric and to the shop.

6.6

Written Thanks from both the Youth Group and the Candovers Cricket Club for the donations, verbally from St Mary’s Church and Miss Dicker.

7

Highways and byways

7.1

MM explained that there was a problem with the footpaths crossing Preston Farms, due to the publication of a book entitled ‘Forty lovely walks in Hampshire’ apparently published by Hampshire County Council, that totally disregards whether the land is private or not; MM hoping to get the book with drawn.

8

Reports from Chairman and Members

8.1

PC Andy Reid attended the meeting and presented a short report on crimes and incidents in the area.

The Parish also appears to be in the Southampton flight path for terrorists and MM came across Terrorist Police on the land adjoining Preston House and Chilton Manor borders, who were ‘checking things out.’ PC Andy Reid had already spoken to them in another part of the Parish.

8.2

Remembrance Service at Brown Candover Sunday 8^th November and a service at the war memorial on the 11^th.

8.3

Cllr. Mark Ruffel attended for a short while, and gave his thoughts on the Dickers Field proposals. He also sort the Parish Councils views on crates for kerbside Recycling of glass, (as well as bottle banks) in an effort to raise the percentage of recycling in the area. Although it will incur a small cost via the Council Tax, most people were in favour of it. Cllr. Ruffel also enquired as to the closed bin policy but it was felt that the current polices worked well and should be left alone. CB raised the point that the ongoing education of the public was probably more effective than introducing more kerbside recycling, especially if its taught in the schools, as the children carry the message home.

8.4

RW had filled in the questionnaire about the priorities of the Parish Council and went through the text for the benefit of the other Councillors who all agreed it. RW also said that thus far everyone had drawn a blank on finding a new Clerk and he was going to contact other clerks in the surrounding areas to see if they could take on a second position; as they would have the advantage of local knowledge and would be conversant with the needs of the position.

RW to ask other local clerks

9

Meeting Closed at 9pm.  Date of next Meeting 7^th December 2009 at 6.15pm – due to the public consultation regarding Dicker’s Field before the Parish Council Meeting.

This is a draft copy awaiting agreement at the next meeting.