Bramley Parish Council Minutes 28th July 2011

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Minutes of Bramley Parish Council
held in the Village Hall on 28^th July 2011, at 7.30pm.

Parish Councillors present were:

John Ferguson, Richard Wood, Philip McCorry, Janice Spalding, Allan Douglas, Hugh Tottenham, Cllr. Holland

Also present were:

The Clerk, Borough Cllr. Rhydian Vaughan, PC Geoff Fermor-Dunman, 5 members of the public

ITEM         COMMENT                                                                                                     ACTION

1.0             Apologies

Claire Penfold, County Cllr. Chapman, Borough Cllr. Jayawardena, Cllr. Hopkins, WPC Mandy Jewell.

2.0             Minutes of the last meeting

Proposed Cllr. Holland, seconded Cllr. Douglas.

3.0             Matters arising

Cllr. Spalding asked about the bollards at Lane End, it was noted that this was to be discussed under agenda item 9, ‘Environmental’.

4.0 Finance

All ok.

4.i              Accounts for Payment

Approved, proposed Cllr. Douglas, seconded Cllr. Spalding

It was explained by the Chairman that the salary cheques for the Clerk and the Litter Warden were to be signed for both of the months July and August as there is no meeting during August.

4.ii             Financial Regulations

Cllr. Ferguson requested that the Financial Regulations be reviewed by the Finance Committee  over the summer.

RW, HT, JS

4.iii Proposed Expenditure

Cllr. Ferguson asked for the PC to approve the purchase of a notice board for the Burial Ground, so that we could adequately display the terms and conditions. It was noted that several Parishes have had problems as reported in the National Press, over disputes with families who were not adhering to the Terms and Conditions and we needed to put everything up clearly in order to prevent this difficult situation. The proposal was to purchase a new notice board, including the cost of installation, at an estimated £1,185. Cllr. McCorry wanted clarification about why it was needed, and Cllr. Ferguson explained that there are occasional breaches of the T&Cs including instances whereby people are placing glass vases on the plots which is dangerous and makes it difficult for the grass to be cut.

Clerk

Proposed Cllr. Wood, seconded Cllr. Douglas.

The second item for approval was for some display boards, so that the PC would be able to display information at PC meetings and any future public meetings. Cllr. Holland asked what the Chairman expected would be put on them, and he explained that he wanted the PC to be more professional and be able to display such things as Highways studies, feasibility study information etc.

Proposed Cllr. Tottenham, seconded Cllr. Douglas, all in favour.

Clerk

Cllr. Ferguson asked the PC to consider whether they felt it would benefit the Council to purchase an overhead projector also. This was not intended for immediate purchase but for general consideration for the same reasons as above.

The third item for approval was to create a new website for the Parish Council. He explained that a local resident had volunteered to assist at no cost, and that the Clerk would set up a new website which would be more flexible and dynamic, and easier to update than the current website. The costs involved would be around £35 per year for hosting, and around £3 per year (purchased in 2 year blocks) to register the domain name. Cllr. Holland asked whether there could be an area where councillors could log in to access information/documents, and the Clerk would discuss this in more detail once the initial set-up was in hand.

All in favour.

Clerk

5.0 Planning

See appendix.

6.0             Police Report

PC Geoff Furmer-Dunman reported that the most recent crimes were stolen bikes, which was an emerging trend, but that they had some local intelligence which was pointing in one direction. He explained that there had been an attempted break-in at Cufaude Lane. There had been no reports of antisocial behaviour.

Cllr. Ferguson explained that a resident who lives adjacent to the railway had complained about bad behaviour including damage to the bike racks. PC Furmer-Dunman felt that this information was historic and not current, but that there was an ongoing issue with people coming out of the pub, heading for the platform, and using the pedestrian access to the platform as a toilet.

Borough Councillor Report

Cllr. Vaughan explained that Cllr. Chapman had informed him that the A33 would be closed for around 25 weeks starting in September, for resurfacing.  He explained that the road was not wide enough for the new equipment which can do the road in large sections, and that the work would essentially be carried out overnight and at weekends.

He explained that the bollards have been in place at Lane end for around a week, and that they had sown grass around them. They were hoping that this would stop the cars using this route but PC Furmer-Dunman explained that this was still a sensitive point as he had witnessed a 4x4 driving over the pavement into the German Road estate. Cllr. Wood reiterated that from the left, coming up lane end, there was just a curb to drive over. The developers have been asked to place concrete drainage tubes there in addition, to fully close this off to traffic.

Cllr. Vaughan explained that there had been some confusion about the works to replace the Culvert in Bramley Lane. There had been notification that the work was to be postponed, but the Parish Council had since received a letter stating that works to the water pipes was to begin on 1^st August this year. Cllr. Vaughan would seek clarification on this matter.

RV, Clerk

Cllr. Ferguson explained that a meeting had been scheduled with HCC Highways on the Wednesday of this week and he had invited the Borough Councillor, the Local Police and two Parish Cllrs. He explained that he will take notes and circulate them to other Cllrs. over the summer. He added to the subject of the work to the A33 and explained that there would be major disruption as it was a big job. It was thought the work would start at the roundabout for Taylors Farm and go back to the turning to Rotherwick.

Cllr. Vaughan explained that Sherfield-on-Loddon were not planning to hold a fete next year, and were having a street party to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee instead.

7.0 Community feasibility study update

Cllr. Ferguson reminded the Council that, a long time ago, the Parish would append the employment of an architect to oversee the study into a possible new Community Centre. He explained that he’d had the first meeting with Mark Penfold, whose firm had looked into the replacement Village Hall at Forge Field some 10 years ago. Cllr. Ferguson explained that Mr Penfold was anxious to get under way and he felt that he should work with the Parish Plan Committee. The next stage would therefore be to attend a meeting of the Parish Plan Group. He would discuss all alternative sites within the village, and when there was more ‘meat to the bone’ of the investigation, there would be a public meeting for people’s views to be made known. Cllr. Tottenham explained that Mr Penfold had also worked with the Clift trustees regarding an extension to the Pavilions.

JF

Public Comments

See appendix

8.0             Transport, Highways and Parking

Cllr. Tottenham reported a problem while out cycling, whereby he had encountered 20 or more cars blocking the end of Cufaude Lane, to an extent where a bike could not even pass, as a truck had got stuck. It was felt that the truck had been lead that direction by Sat-Nav, and it was suggested that a sign could be erected at the entrance to Cufaude Lane, and questions were asked about what the weight limit was for that stretch of road. It was felt that there was unlikely to be a current weight limit and that as there are industrial units in the vicinity, trucks would require access to deliver. It was felt that no solution for this issue was available at present.

9.0 Environmental Matters

Cllr. Penfold had sent her apologies, but Cllr. Ferguson provided an update into the allotments discussions. Cllr. Penfold had been making enquiries about the land being sold through Saville’s Estate Agents at Tudor Farm. Cllr. Ferguson explained that the landowners were not prepared to sell the land in smaller pockets as had once been thought, and it appeared that this land was a non-starter for the Parish Council to purchase for new allotments. Meanwhile, Cllr. Ferguson had been in discussions with Borough Cllr. Jayawardena, who now holds the property portfolio for the Borough, who will look into the situation carefully.

CP, JF, RJ

Bramley Stones: At a previous meeting, some comments had been made about the untidy state of the Bramley markers at each end of the village, which had been put in place to mark the Millennium. Cllr. Ferguson had looked into the possibility of setting some flag stones around the base so that mowers can get around the stones. He had received an estimate of £350 to supply and lay the flagstones, which would put an end to the problem. Cllr. Tottenham commented that this was a good price and proposed the expenditure. Cllr. Wood seconded.

JF

Cllr. Vaughan then suggested that the one at the Sherfield end may have been flattened, and the Clerk would look into this.

Litter Clearance: The Chairman explained that the Parish had been in talks with the Borough Council to ascertain whether it would be possible to provide some fuel/phone allowances for the litter warden, to enable him to perform his duties. He noted that the village has expanded, but there would be no increase in Grant from the Borough. If we were to support the payment of a small allowance, it would have to be paid from the Parish Council’s own budget. It was suggested that the PC pay an allowance of £10 a month towards fuel expenses. Cllr. Tottenham proposed, all in favour.

Longbridge Road: The application made by residents for the land at Longbridge Road to be made ‘Village Green’ has been approved. The residents have agreed that they will do nothing for 3 months as they have to await a potential appeal. Looking ahead, decisions will need to be made about who will manage the green. The land will remain privately owned unless they sell/give it away. The land has to revert to an open state, with the gate unlocked, and residents feel the land should be levelled. They are looking into the possibility of obtaining a grant to restore the area.

10.0           Parish Plan Update

As Cllr. Penfold was absent there was no update into the Parish Plan

11.0 Representative Reports

Hugh Tottenham gave his report and explained that the Clift Meadow Trust had held it’s AGM. He explained that no members of the public attended, so there was no input from the community. He explained that he had advertised it, and put letters through doors, so this was disappointing.

He went on to explain that work is continuing.

He explained that they had bequeathed some surplus chairs and wondered whether it would be possible to store them in the granary for occasional use. He explained that they were lightweight stacking plastic chairs. There were no objections to this request.

Cllr. Douglas explained that there was a diseased tree on the corner of Minchens Lane, which was not felt to belong to the Clift Trustees nor the Parish Council. He would pursue Highways on this matter as he feels that they are the landowners.

12.0 Diamond Jubilee

There is to be a party at Clift Meadow on 2^nd June. This is to be a ‘Village Affair’ and Cllr. Tottenham is hoping to pull together a kick-off meeting with representatives from St James’ Church, The School and The Clift Trustees, who are the three main stake-holders. Other organisations will be involved at a later stage, but it was felt that there should not be too many ‘Chiefs’ at the outset. He confirmed that the date had been booked, and that there may be an appeal to the Parish Council for a donation to help to fund the event. The Mayor and the Local MP have been ‘booked’ for the occasion.

13.0           Correspondence/Consultations

Nothing to report.

14.0           Items for the next meeting

Cllr. Holland requested that the Community Speed Watch Initiative be presented to the Parish Council at the next meeting. He wished to invite Peter Coe, who he had been dealing with regarding the scheme, to attend the next meeting to advise and discuss the pros and cons of the scheme.

Before closing the meeting there were some final comments:

Cllr. Ferguson wished to congratulate Simon and Tracy who had been running The Bakery for 10 years. He explained that the Bakery has been good for the village, and that the owners have been good at getting involved in activities.

Cllr. Spalding commented that the grass at Bramley Green had been cut, but that it had not been strimmed around the signs and looked messy. The Clerk would look into whether anything had changed in the way the contractors cut the grass.

Clerk

There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.50pm.

Chairman ................................................................................................Date.................................

Appendix - Public Comments

Ray Morton spoke to reiterate his complaints about the Parish Precept, and read a response he had received from James Arbuthnot in which he explained that in the House of Commons it had been stated that Parish Councils should exercise constraint. He asked the PC for a formal apology, and Cllr. Ferguson extended an apology but reiterated that the PC were doing it for Bramley, and that there had been several meetings now where this matter had been publicly discussed and the budget explained.

Judith Foyle explained that a ditch at Churchlands had become overgrown and she was concerned because the area had flooded in the past. The Clerk would look into this.

Phil Davies explained that she wished the Council to know that there was continuity among the volunteer groups despite the withdrawal of travel tokens/vouchers, and that with an organisation called the good neighbour service and other voluntary groups, of which there are many, they would be looking forward to the future and wondering how they would cope with further funding cuts.

5.0             Planning Applications