Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 7 April 2008 at 7.30pm in the Pavilion Committee Room.

 

PRESENT:  Mr S Godesen (Chairman); Mr D Clark; Mr A Fendall; Mrs V Lickley; Mr S Marks; Mr K Nuttall; Mrs J Savage; Mrs B Waller; Mrs S Wilson.

 

1          TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies received from: Mrs A Archibald; Mr A Renwick.

           

2          MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of 3 March 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

            Mr Godesen welcomed PC Stroud, the local beat officer. She reported that the first surgery held on 19 March had been successful and it is intended to continue running these on a monthly basis for at least another four months. Arising from the surgeries, the top three priorities for action will be identified and a panel of key community people will be appointed to deal with these. The first meeting of the panel is scheduled for 26 June.  Mrs Savage has already agreed to sit on the panel. Mr Nuttall volunteered his services and agreed to work with Mr Clark and Mr Fendall on behalf of the Lychpit Ward.

            In response to a question, PC Stroud advised that there has been a delay in obtaining the court order to remove the travellers from the Hampshire Clinic site but this is in hand.

 

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 reminded members of their agreed duties for the Chairman’s Picnic event.

6.2       The chairman informed members that Stage 2 grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for Grange Farm will be submitted in October.

6.3       As only one nomination has been received for the vacant parish council seat in the Old Basing Ward, an election will not take place.

6.4       The chairman reported on a meeting with Hampshire County Council officers which had been arranged at their request to explain the street lighting scheme for the A30. The chairman had requested that the lighting shields to the four columns adjacent to the Hatch mobile home site are fitted with shields to protect the residents from unwanted glare but had been told that this would only happen in the event of complaints being received.  It was decided to pursue this – clerk to arrange.

 

7          REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS

7.1       Apologies were received from Councillor Mrs Still, a written report was submitted.

 

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 7 April 2008 cont:

 

7.2              Councillor Marks reported verbally.

           

8          MATTERS RELATING TO FINANCE

8.1       Balances at the end of March: Deposit Account: £53390.33

Current Account: £127.67; Treasury Deposit Account: £133531.48

Petty cash expenditure for March: £63.92

8.2       Total cost of wage and salaries for March: £6051.72.

8.3       The following invoices were approved for payment:

Amount £

Payee

Details

50.00

S Rachmann-Davies

Refund of damage deposit, Lychpit Hall

50.00

L Dykes

Refund of damage deposit, Lychpit Hall

32.86

J Savage

Prizes for Chairman’s Picnic

17.99

AOL

Internet Provider fee

359.54

South East Water

Recreation ground charges

57.25

SCATS

Stakes for landscaping scheme

40.74

Tesco Fuelcard

Fuel

50.00

N Stroud

Relief caretaker duties, Lychpit Hall

176.25

Axis Fire & Security

CCTV maintenance contract & call out to workshop alarm

101.18

Jewson

Materials for landscaping scheme

25.00

J Collins

Reimbursement for OS maps for planning application

50.00

A Archibald

Refund of damage deposit, Lychpit Hall

104.11

South East Water

Lychpit Hall water charges

102.11

Richard Thorpe Fire Safety

Maintenance of fire equipment, recreation ground

99.88

Zurich Municipal

Local Council Advisory Service renewal

763.75

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Purchase of gang mowers

50.00

Basingstoke Silver Band

Hire for Chairman’s Picnic

671.95

J Collins

Reimbursement for newspaper ad (£650.95) and travelling expenses

240.00

P Brickell

Emergency repair to workshop door

330.17

Avoncrop Amenity Products

Horticultural supplies

156.00 + 746.00

Hampshire ALC

Local Council Review subscription and affiliation fees

71.28

South East Water

Cottage water charges

70.00

 

Cash


Minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 7 April 2008 cont

 

158.16

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council

Cottage Council Tax

50.00

N Stroud

Relief caretaking duties

113.66

J Collins

Reimbursement (£77.38 parish award gifts; £35.88 postage)

400.00*

Basinga

Donation

130.00

Hampshire County Council

Lychpit Hall lease

41.08

Viking Direct

Office supplies

166.66

K Davies

Pavilion cleaning

47.49

New Hampshire Country Store

Machinery parts

58.75

Axis Fire & Security

Workshop alarm maintenance contract

3795.25

Larkstel

Lifting & re-laying of bowling green surround & relief groundsman duties

100.00

J West

Refund of damage deposit, Lychpit Hall

51.00

S Turner

Refund of damage deposit, Lychpit Hall

245.76

Southern Electric

Energy charges, Lychpit Hall

            * approved under S137

8.4       Further details of the Street Lighting Private Finance Initiative were circulated to all members. It was resolved to leave the matter in abeyance until a preferred bidder has been selected and then to request that a representative comes to a meeting to explain the scheme.

8.5       Details of the Small Scale Environmental Renewal Scheme were copied to all members and tabled for discussion.  Several possible schemes were considered to put forward for funding. It was resolved that Mr Nuttall and Mrs Savage should examine these and recommend a scheme for application.

8.6       Mr Fendall drew members’ attention to the format of the council tax bill which does not clearly show the changes from the previous year and the parish council precept.  In addition, he expressed concern at the 8% increase in the Hampshire Police Authority charge with no clear justification.  It was resolved to request changes to the council tax bill demand to clearly show changes, total charges and parish council precept and to issue a letter to the Hampshire Police Authority requesting a fuller explanation of the reasons for the higher than inflation increase.  Mr Fendall to provide a draft for the latter.

8.7       Clerk advised members that the internal auditor is recovering well from his recent illness and hopes to be back at work in May.  He does not envisage any problems in completing the annual internal audit on time.

 

9          MATTERS RELATING TO CORRESPONDENCE

9.1       Invitation to the annual general meeting of the Campaign to Protect Rural England circulated. Noted – no action.

 

 

 

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 7 April 2008 cont:

 

10        MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

10.1     It was resolved that the administrative staff should compile the documentation required for the application for Quality Status.

10.2     Mr Nuttall reported the parking arrangements for Alan Gibson staff at the British Legion are working to the satisfaction of both parties.

10.3     Arrangements for parish councillor representation at the Lychpit Spring Fayre were finalised.

 

11        MATTERS RELATING TO COMMITTEES

11.1     PLANNING:

Minutes of the meetings of 25 February and 10 March and sub-committee meeting of 25 February tabled and ratified. 

11.2     RECREATION:

Minutes of the meeting of 5 March tabled and ratified. In respect of item 7.1, Mrs Wilson requested that consideration is given to removing the large spur of the tree scheduled for crown reduction despite the tree surgeon’s opinion that this would unbalance the tree. Clerk to ask the borough Council’s tree officer for advice.

11.3          LYCHPIT HALL:

Minutes of the meetings 20 February tabled and ratified. 

 

NEXT MEETING

The next ordinary meeting will be on Tuesday 6 May 2008 at 7.30pm, immediately following the annual meeting in the Pavilion Committee room. 

 

Meeting closed at 8.45pm.