SHERFIELD ENGLISH PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Held on Wednesday 1 April 2009

at Sherfield English Village Hall

PRESENT

Cllrs. Pybus (in the chair), Dovey, Kirkwood, Kulkarni and Leigh.

ALSO PRESENT

Ward Cllr. G. Bailey, County Cllr. R. Perry and 4 members of the public.

APOLOGIES

Received from Cllrs. Newman and Dixon and Mr. J. Hartley (Parish Plan Co-ordinator).

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2009, which had been circulated, were approved and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

There were none.

OPEN FORUM

30 mph speed limit

A deputation of parishioners was dissatisfied that the new speed limit does not extend far enough along Newtown Road. County Cllr. Perry said that the County Council had decided the extent of the speed restriction without consulting the Parish Council and undertook to make a request for an extension, should the Parish Council wish. All members present were in agreement.

Other highway matters

Cllr. Perry reported generally on various highway matters. A list of repairs is scheduled to be completed by the end of April and the work on the footpath/cycleway alongside the A27 is scheduled to be started within approximately 6 weeks.

Following discussion, RESOLVED that a request be made to the Director of Environment, Hampshire County Council, for additional speed limit indications to be painted on the road surfaces on Newtown Road, from the A27 to Carters Clay Road as well as roads as already requested. Copies to be sent to Cllrs. Perry and Bailey.

Action Clerk.

Report by Ward Cllr. Bailey

• Council tax
• Redundancies at Test valley Borough Council
• Housing in the South East
• Rural settlement boundaries
• Liaison Panel for Hill Farm Caravan Park – meeting with the owner arranged for Saturday 4 April

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

No planning applications had been received from Test Valley Borough Council since the last meeting.

PLANNING DECISIONS

There were no decisions by Test Valley Borough Council to report.

PARISH PLAN

Mr. J. Hartley had sent a printed report. The web site now has a comprehensive listing of all regular activities in the village and a link from the hants.gov web site. Mr. Hartley had attended the planning appeal hearing for the stockman's dwelling at Gambledown Farm to present evidence of local opinions and values within the framework of the Parish Plan.

HIGHWAYS MATTERS

The Chairman will make up a fresh list of defects and other highways issues and submit these to Mr. D. Irving at Hampshire Highways.

Action Chairman

VILLAGE MAINTENANCE

The Clerk reported that the £500.00 grant towards the cost of groundworks for the recycling bank at The Hatchet had been received. The Chairman will contact the landlord and ask for documentation.

Action Chairman

Mr. M. Eastwood had cleared the overgrown area around the bus shelter.

CORRESPONDENCE

SERP 2000 – acknowledgement and thanks for grant

Noted

Allied Westminster – insurance

Noted

REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS

SERP2000

Reported that Test Valley Borough Council will match the grant made by the Parish Council Two fundraising events to take place in May.

Footpaths

Nothing to report.

Village Hall

Nothing to report.

Press Officer

Nothing to report.

FINANCE

(a) Requests for funding

Romsey Rugby Club

Cllr. Kirkwood declared an interest in this matter and took no part in the ensuing discussion and decision.

Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr. Dovey and RESOLVED that a grant of £100.00 be made towards improving facilities at the Club's centre.

Children's Garden project

The Chairman and Cllr. Kulkarni both declared interests in this matter and took no part in the ensuing discussion and decision.

Proposed by Cllr. Leigh, seconded by Cllr. Dovey and RESOLVED that a grant of £265.00 be made towards the project

Ashburton Ringers

Cllr. Dovey declared an interest in this matter and took no part in the ensuing discussion and decision.

Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr. Leigh and RESOLVED that a grant of £200.00 be made towards the cost of a minibus to transport the team and equipment.

(b) Payments to be authorised

Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr. Kulkarni and RESOLVED that the following items of expenditure be discharged:

Information Commissioner (renewal of data registration)                                            £ 35.00

Audit Commission (external audit fee)                                                                            £155.25

Mr. M. Eastwood (trimming, mowing etc.)                                                                        £232.00

(c) Annual review of Clerk’s salary

The Clerk declared an interest in this matter and took no part in the ensuing discussion and decision.

The national negotiations for Local Authority annual pay awards had finally been completed. Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr. Dovey and RESOLVED that the Clerk's salary scale be advanced to point SCP 24 on Scale LC1 (£10.734 per hour) backdated to 1 April 2008 in accordance with the national pay award.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING 

Wednesday 6 May 2009. This is the Annual Parish Meeting, followed by the Annual General Meeting. All parishioners are cordially invited to attend to hear reports of the work of the Parish Council and other village groups.

Chairman 

These minutes were approved at the next meeting, on 6 May 2009