THE MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 13th OCTOBER, 2015 IN THE KEN STAINER SUITE AT DURLEY MEMORIAL HALL, DURLEY AT 7.30 p.m.
6 Parish Councillors, County/District Councillor Humby, the Clerk and 2 parishioners were present. Kirstie Baines (Headteacher) was in attendance to give a School Report.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies were received from District Councillor Ruffell
and Cllr Smith.
2. ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT. There
were no Declarations under the Code of Conduct.
3. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 8TH SEPTEMBER, 2015
WERE READ, CONFIRMED AND SIGNED.
4. MATTERS ARISING:
(a) Update on faster broadband – CC Humby reported on the progress that has
been made to achieve better broadband for rural areas. There is still a way to go, but HCC is putting pressure to get BT to provide rural villages with a faster broadband, or find an alternative provider.
(b) Drainage at the Sawmills. Cllr Pitter will chase up the quote and get back to Councillors.
(c) Agree Action Plan produced by the Parish Plan Team. Councillors discussed the Action Plan and made a few minor amendments and then agreed that the Plan should be adopted. Cllr Farr proposed that we adopt the Action Plan and Cllr Burton seconded this proposal. All Councillors present were in agreement.
(d) Report on Sharing Parishes Recycling Meeting – Clerk and Cllr Farr attended the Meeting and said that Rob Heathcock explained how the recycling contracts were agreed and worked out. Schemes operating in the Winchester District were working well, but could always be improved and assessed. The Scheme has to be cost effective.
(e) Report on Quiet Lanes signs Meeting – Cllr Watts and Clerk attended the Meeting in Bishops Waltham and were informed that a Project has been in discussion for 10 years to open the former railway line to Botley. Councillors were surprized that this is the first time Durley PC has known of this venture. It is probably because the Quiet Lanes do come through Durley. Councillors agreed that they could see little point in the Scheme as the 30 mph signs are already in place in the Durley lanes and cyclists cause many of the complaints about speeding and not being considerate when racing down Durley lanes often two abreast. The Clerk has spoken to Owslebury PC and they are piloting the Quiet Lanes Scheme, but they do not have restricted speed limits along their lanes which is mainly why they offered to participate in the Scheme. A footpath which has a wet section is to be investigated, the Clerk has contacted the landowner and it appears that this particular section is wet because it goes over the pipeline and there is nothing that the landowner can do at present – it would be Esso who would give the permission for any work to be carried out.
(f) Parking at entrance to Manor Road/Beech Corner/Pay Phone sign. DC Ruffell chased up WCC to get a response to our e-mails. Corrine Phillips has now responded saying that due to lack of finance and low priority the double yellow lines will not be placed at Beech Corner or Manor Road. Councillors were very disappointed that she has taken so long to respond and agreed that this matter should still be pursued as it is of great concern to Durley residents who are trying to come out of Stapleford Lane/Church Lane and Manor Road. After many requests the Pay Phone sign at the end of Church Lane has still not been removed.
(g) Planning Coach Tour – Cllr Chares reported that the Tour was well supported
and he would recommend other Councillors attending in future if they have the opportunity. He gave Councillors an idea of the sites that were visited.
(h) Code of Conduct Training – Cllr Delmege and Clerk attended the Training and
found it valuable, although nothing has changed since the previous Training.
(i) Report on HALC AGM – Cllr Charles said that the AGM was well attended and
he found it very informative. Cllr Roy Perry (Leader of HCC) was in attendance. Devolution was also discussed as the way forward for the future.
5. COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT: CC Humby reported that he had attended a
Rural Forum Network Meeting in Cheltenham and items on the Agenda included Affordable Housing, Broadband and Rural Isolation. He has also attended a Town & Country Planning Association Meeting. Cllr Humby also spoke about Andover Mind – which helps understand dementia patients. Cllr Charles asked a question about affordable housing and what “affordable” actually means, as some rents still appear to be on the high side.
6. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS: DC Humby did not give a separate District Report.
7. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ITEMS BY INVITATION OF THE CHAIRMAN. There were
no items brought up which were not already on the Agenda.
8. CORRESPONDENCE:
(a) Flooding at Beech Corner. A resident showed Councillors photographs of
recent flooding again at Beech Corner. Properties are at risk of flooding again and something needs to be done by HCC Highways. Residents are getting very frustrated at the lack of support and action from HCC Highways. Patrick Aust has met with one resident to try and find a solution. Mr Duff has met on the site and it has been suggested that a larger pipe is required under the road to take the amount of water which comes off the fields. CC Humby will contact Lisa Davis and the Environment Agency to see what can be done.
(b) Open Spaces Funding. It was agreed that any funding available would be used
towards the cost of drainage in The Sawmills play area.
(c) Letter from WinAcc. Councillors agreed to support a letter to parliament
regarding recycling.
(d) Publicity for Veolia Trust. Cllr Watts offered to put this notice in the Pavilion window as the Veolia Trust supported the play area renovations.
(e) Parish Connect – October, 2015 Newsletter. This was sent to Councillors via e- mail.
9. SCHOOL REPORT: Kirstie Baines gave a School Report and started by giving out
details of a Survey that had been carried out at the School about the way in which children get to School. Kirstie then informed Councillors of the present situation with the revised footway and drop-off lay-by at the School which is proposed with funding from HCC. CC Humby has secured some HCC funding, but final plans have not been drawn up yet. The School will also inform the Clerk of dates which large events are being held at the School which might mean that parents park in the Memorial Hall car park. The Clerk can then inform the School if the car park is available or not according to the bookings.
10. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT: There was nothing to report.
11. HIGHWAYS REPORT: Cllr Farr said that all pot holes have been filled in. Cllr Pitter has reported the pot holes on-line and there are none outstanding at the moment. He will go around the village and check for any new ones. Councillors were concerned that a large oak tree has been felled at the Oakmore Park entrance. Although there is nothing that can be done Councillors agreed that HCC should be aware of the removal and we should ask if permission was granted before it was felled. Clerk will ask HCC.
12. FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS: Councillors agreed invoices presented by the Clerk and signed cheques. Clerk has received a response from the External Auditor apologising for error in the Audit which was an input error on their part. A Notice was received confirming that there are no issues with the Audit.
13. HALL: Hall foyer refurbishment quotes. County Councillor Grant towards cctv system – this has now been approved and £500 was received towards the cost. The cctv system will now be ordered. Sound system is now working, but the microphone is still not working properly – Upfields will be asked to repair it. Deep clean of toilets – Clerk has still not received a response from PHS Washrooms. Cllr Burton has a contact for a Company and will pass this onto the Clerk. Risk Assessment update was approved for the Hall. Clerk asked if there was baby changing facilities in the disabled toilet as she believed that there were plans for this when the refurbishment took place. Councillors believed that the facilities were perhaps taken down when decorating took place. Councillors agreed that this should be provided and Cllr Charles will look at prices when ordering the same equipment for his Church.
14. RECREATION GROUND: Guttering will be reinstated when Cllr Charles and Peter are available. Play Area repairs to rope climbing frame – Clerk has ordered the part required and Cllr Charles offered to fit it.
15. PLANNING:
15/01885/FUL. Mr J Gosney. Agricultural storage building with adjoining hard standing. Land opposite L’Eglise, Durley Street. No comments were made by Councillors.
15/01700/FUL. Mr and Mrs Scivier. Proposed extension of outbuildings to serve as ancillary accommodation to main cottage to form bedroom and playroom (RESUBMISSION). Corner Cottage, Sciviers Lane, Durley. PERMITTED.
16. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE CHAIRMAN DECLARED THE
MEETING CLOSED AT 10.00 p.m.
