Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 3 March 2008 at 7.30pm in the Pavilion Committee Room.

PRESENT:  Mr S Godesen (Chairman); Mrs A Archibald; Mr D Clark;

Mr A Fendall; Mrs V Lickley; Mr S Marks; Mr K Nuttall; Mrs J Savage;

Mrs B Waller.

1          TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies received from: Mr A Renwick; Mrs S Wilson.

2          MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of 4 February had been circulated and were agreed as a true record of the business that took place.

3          TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

            No declarations relevant to items on the agenda were made.

4          PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

            No members of the public were in attendance.

5          MONTHLY MONITORING REPORT

The monthly monitoring report was tabled and noted.

6          TO RECEIVE COMMUNICATIONS THAT THE CHAIRMAN WISHES TO LAY BEFORE THE COUNCIL

6.1       The chairman reported that an election will be held on 1 May to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mrs Noble.

6.2       The chairman informed members that the local beat officer, PC Sam Stroud, will be starting monthly surgeries in the parish and would like to use Lychpit Hall for this. Members had no objection to the first letting being free of charge but would need to review the situation if the usage is to become regular.

6.3       The chairman reminded those standing as candidates for the Borough Council elections that the parish council is non-political and should not be used in manifesto material.  Mr Fendall requested that the political parties do not take credit for parish council achievements in their campaign material.

7          REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS

7.1       Councillor Mrs Still reported as follows:

(i)         Improvements to the Lychpit Centre car park have been hindered by the discovery that the drainage system under the courtyard has been seriously damaged by tree roots and work will be put on hold until this has been rectified. Members asked why work to the car park could not proceed as it is in a separate area to the courtyard. Mrs Still agreed that she would look in to the possibility of white lines, re-alignment of the parking spaces and limited signing.

(ii)        Mrs Still explained the shared footway/cycleway scheme currently under way in Swing Swang Lane which had led to the filling in of the lay-by which, in turn, had given cause for concerns over safety.  She said that a County Council officer would be willing to explain in person the authority’s current policy on lay-bys and suggested that a letter to the County Council may be of use.

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 3 March 2008 cont:

(iii)       Measures in the form of concrete bollards had been put in place at Great Binfields School to deter travellers.

(iv)       Mr Nuttall requested that action is taken to remove the redundant highway signage in the parish as this was agreed some time ago.

8          MATTERS RELATING TO FINANCE

8.1       Balances at the end of February: Deposit Account: £61714.91

Current Account: £595.22; Treasury Deposit Account: £133065.24

Petty cash expenditure for February: £70.49.

8.2       Total cost of wage and salaries for February: £5341.25.

8.3       The following invoices were approved for payment:

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 3 March 2008 cont:

8.4       Following information from the Council’s electricity supplier, members resolved to move to a fixed rate tariff for a period of three years and to pay by direct debit.

9          MATTERS RELATING TO CORRESPONDENCE

9.1       Members resolved to support the local M.P’s M3-Action Campaign in order to secure the investment needed to improve the motorway and associated Basingstoke junctions. It was also agreed to ask for more details of the noise levels mentioned in the request letter.

 9.2      Members debated a response from Maria Miller, M.P, to the Council’s request for assistance in securing changes to the law to permit travellers to be dealt with more effectively. Ms Miller stated that she would not support a new transit site which gave members cause for concern as the provision of this would empower the police to move travellers on speedily. It was resolved to obtain details of the requirements of such a site, i.e size, facilities, with a view to requesting a fairly basic camp.

10        MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

10.1     It was resolved that the following residents should be invited to accept this year’s award for voluntary service:

Mrs Irene Allaway for services to the Basinga magazine, and

Mrs Beryl Viner for services to the Old Basing Carnival and the Girl Guide movement.

Resolved that gifts to the value of £30 each should be purchased from the chairman’s allowance.

10.2     The following agenda for the parish meeting was finalised:

Chairman’s Report;

Address by PC Sam Stroud (to be confirmed);

Address by Trading Standards representative followed by questions;

Presentation of parish awards.

10.3     Mrs Archibald reported that a meeting had been arranged with interested parties to discuss the future of LOB but, owing to a misunderstanding, had not taken place. Another meeting will be arranged. Mrs Archibald requested assistance from councillors with meetings and some members volunteered for this.

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 3 March 2008 cont:

11        MATTERS RELATING TO COMMITTEES

11.1     PLANNING:

Minutes of the meetings of 28 January and 11 February tabled and ratified. 

11.2     FINANCE AND RESOURCES:

Minutes of the meeting of 29 January tabled and ratified.

11.3          PUBLICITY:

Minutes of the meetings 28 January and 11 February tabled and ratified.  The draft newsletter was approved for publication.

NEXT MEETING

The next ordinary meeting will be on Monday 7 April 2008 at 7.30pm in the Pavilion Committee room. 

Meeting closed at 8.46pm.