DRAFT

BAUGHURST PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on Wednesday 19 May 2010

7.30 pm, Wolverton Village Hall

PRESENT:         Cllrs M G Slatford (Chairman), G and M Adams (fr3), J C Ayre, P E Garrett,

                        J Hewitt, F Langley, G Round, S E Terrett

                        Also present: County Councillor M Tucker, Wpc M Edwards and 1 member of the  public

                        Apologies for absence received from Cllr P R S Postance

                        In attendance:  Mrs P J Waterfield

129.      Election of Chairman and signing of Declaration of Acceptance of office

Cllr M G Slatford was unanimously elected to the Chair, and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

130.      Declarations of interest

Councillors were reminded that for those with any interest to be disclosed in relation to any item included in the agenda for this meeting, it was their duty to do so at the appropriate agenda item (as required to be disclosed by Section 96(1) of the LGA 1972, and in accordance with the Parish Councils Order 2001). 

131.      Election of Vice Chairman

Cllr J Hewitt was unanimously elected to the role of Vice Chair.

132.      Minutes of the last meeting

The Minutes of the meeting of 29 April 2010, copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read and approved, with the following minor amendment:  (124) Planning – Weston Cottage – enforcement to be asked to visit site. 

133.      Matters arising

(119)    HCC Traffic calming measures

Plans showing the original suggestions put forward by HCC, together with amendments, can now be found on this Council’s website.

(120)    Wolverton Lane

Those residents affected by proposals put forward by HCC were not in agreement with the suggestion.  It is hoped that the Environment Agency will be able to act on the new legislation recently enacted.

(112)    Copier

The new copier was now working perfectly.

(122)    Resignation of Councillor Surtees

Plans for a gesture of thanks to Cllr Surtees are to be investigated.

(125)    land to rear of Hurst Community College

a)         Both fences had been replaced, and use of the right of way by wheeled vehicles had diminished.  Problems were still being encountered, however, with children riding bicycles along the right of way, and the Hurst Community College and Police were in liaison to address this issue.

b)         London &Quadrant had agreed that the prices quoted for the sale of the land related more closely to those charged for building land.  It was agreed that a meeting of Playing Fields and Open Spaces committee should be convened to consider the best way forward.

(125)    Wolverton field

RSS had thus far not responded to requests for quotation.  Maintenance contractor to be asked to

carry out those works which fall within his remit, and efforts still to be made to ask the

manufacturers for a replacement wooden seat for the ‘Fox springer’.

(125)    Pineapple field

Plumber had been asked to investigate the lack of hot water in the pavilion.

(125)    Kissing gates

Formal approval for the installation of 3 kissing gates had been received from the owners of the

relevant areas of land involved along the length of FP31.  Maintenance contractor to install these in

due course.

(125)    Parish online

AGREED that this facility would not be purchased, following investigation.  It is understood that OS mapping is now available for free.

(126)    Highways and rights of way

All outstanding items had been requested of HCC.

134.      County, Borough, Police and BDAPTC reports

County Councillor Tucker apologised, on behalf of HCC, for the delay in the repair of potholes and

eroded verges on many of the minor roads in Baughurst.  The cost of repair to Hampshire’s roads following the extreme winter falls in the region of £12.5m.  Roads are being repaired following a roster, and it may take some time for all repairs to be effected.  New Chairman of HCC – Carol Laversha, and Vice Chairman Anna McNair Scott.  Cllr Tucker had also been in contact with BDBC regarding this Council’s application to an environmental improvement scheme for improvement to the privately owned forecourt and layby at Heath End Road shops.

Borough Councillor Round reminded Council of the need to respond to a survey on travellers, and the current SHLAA consultation (Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment).  There are no contentious sites within Baughurst.  He also commented upon the final outstanding highways works near Hillside, Baughurst Road.  New Chairman of BDBC – Keith Chapman, and Vice Chairman Cllr Heath.

Cllr Slatford advised the next meeting of BDAPTC (Basingstoke and Deane Association of Parish and Town Councils) to be held on 3 June 2010 and invited all to attend. 

Wpc Edwards gave her report for the year. 

 DWELLING BURGLARIES

3 dwelling burglaries were reported – 2 at Wolverton and Wolverton Townsend, and 1 at Pitt Hall.

 NON DWELLING BURGLARIES

23 non-dwelling burglaries were reported, to outbuildings, sheds & garages.  Mainly gardening machinery stolen.

Baughurst – 11 ; Stoney Heath – 2 ; Browninghill – 3 ; Wolverton – 6 ; Inhurst - 1

VEHICLE CRIME

8 occurrences involving vehicles were reported – 2 damages at Pitt Hall and 1 damage in Baughurst.  There were 5 thefts from vehicles – Inhurst – 2 ; Baughurst – 2 ; Browninghill – 1      

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

4 reports of general damage were made – all in Baughurst.

ROWDY & INCONSIDERATE BEHAVIOUR

9 reports were received – some involving persons in vehicles, some involving snowballs!

THEFT

7 reports of theft – including a trailer, farm equipment, caravan gas, hay, diesel, a staddle stone top and an old washing machine

In order to establish close contact with residents in the more remote areas of the beat the Police are carrying out a house to house visit programme with their Newsletter and the ‘Your Voice Counts’ Questionnaire. The object of this is to meet residents and get their views about what is need, and more simply to make sure the Police have been seen and that residents have had the opportunity to express themselves freely. The beat’s PCSO, Geoff Fermor-Dunman, has already made a start in Wolverton and received a good deal of feedback.  Please feel free to make use of the internet to send  responses to the questionnaire and to let the Police have any information regarding incidents that you may have seen which you feel are suspicious. They will be continuing with the house to house visits and look forward to meeting everyone in due course.

‘Your Voice Counts’ is a means to obtaining the three community priorities which the community think the Police should be tackling.  These short forms are available via their web page, and are distributed at public meetings and to victims of crime when we visit. 

There is a very strong Neighbourhood Watch on the beat, with Bruce Barnes currently spearheading the Baughurst District schemes.  Wpc Edwards actively promotes NHW, and believes that the community is both eyes and ears when the Police cannot be a visible presence.   Residents are considered lucky to live in a very safe place, and the parish itself has a very low crime rate.  However, this should not be a reason for complacency, which is borne out by the calls received from residents reporting suspicious vehicles and persons.  Through the medium of NHW alerts, vigilance has definitely increased and residents are forthcoming in ringing the police to report such incidents.  The current incumbent is looking to retire from his post as main co-ordinator, so if there is anyone who would like to take on this role, please let the Police know

In this parish and the surrounding parishes, areas, and indeed across the county border into the Thames Valley policing area, burglaries to outbuildings increased last winter.  Several operations were mounted, and residents may have noticed a lot of police activity on occasions.  These operations were launched in response to information received from the community which helped identify suspicious people and their vehicles and disrupt and deter them from committing crime in the area.  Since the end of March, the incidents of non-dwelling burglaries have decreased dramatically.  Whether this is due to the lighter evenings, or the success of the operations, at least it is a decrease.

With regard to speed enforcement, this has been tackled periodically by our colleagues in the Roads Policing Unit.  A query was raised with regard to residents erecting their own ‘speed limit reminder’ signs – for example on gateposts and dustbins.  The Police are in favour of any (legal) measures which can be used to remind motorists of speed limits.  Any complaints of excessive speed need to be reviewed by means of installation of a speed data recorder, to collate evidence to show whether the complaint is real or ‘perceived’ in order to justify speed enforcement.   Parish Councils can request this course of action if complaints are received from the community.

135.      To confirm appointment of representatives

136.      To confirm appointment of committees

137.      Finance

a)         financial statement

The latest financial statement was received and noted.

b)         reinvestment of half yearly precept

APPROVAL given to the reinvestment of the half yearly precept.

138.      Planning

a)         to receive and consider the latest planning applications

b)         decisions by BDBC

c)         Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)

Invitation to take part in consultation had been received, but AGREED that no comment would be added.

139.      Playing fields and open spaces

a)         Pineapple field

AGREED that weedkilling of the field should take place at a cost of £250.00.

b)         Wolverton field

AGREED that a quotation of £175 should be accepted for the rolling of the field.

c)         land adj 105 Long Grove

AGREED that payment of the latest invoice for £764 should be paid.  Further information from Rowberry Morris indicated inquiry into the purchase of an adjacent strip of land to that in debate. 

140.      Highways and rights of way

Agreed that potholes and road edge erosion proliferate throughout the parish, but all items are recorded on the rolling programme of request submitted to HCC.  (See County Council report above). 

The Clerk advised, in her role as Chair of Governors, Burnham Copse Primary School, of their failure in attempting to incorporate a children’s crossing in Heath End Road near the junction of Woodlands Road and Shyshack Lane.  HCC’s refusal was based on lack of numbers of children crossing at the time of their survey.  It had been pointed out that traffic was two-way – children from Tadley attending The Hurst Community College, and those from Baughurst common estate attending Burnham Copse.  A triple-pronged attempt to persuade HCC to provide, at the least, a crossing or crossing station in Heath End Road, is to be made by Burnham Copse, Hurst College and this Council, based on the numbers of children crossing Heath End Road, including those using Long Grove play area.  An inquiry is to be made whether Section 106 monies could be used for this purpose. 

FP31 Wolverton Common

Recent remedial works by adjacent owners have resulted in the greater definition of an unadopted path leading to the left of Holt Lane.  Initial enquiries are to be made into the formalisation of this path.

140.      Open forum

There were no comments made in open forum.

141.      Acccounts for payment

Received:  £1.36 interest; £1100 BDBC General Grant; £13,500 half year precept BDBC; £12.50 footpaths booklets

To pay:

142.      Date of next meeting

The next meeting of BAUGHURST PARISH COUNCIL will be held on Thursday 24 June 2010, 7.30 pm, Wolverton Village Hall.

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