DRAFT MINS OF MEETING TOWN SECTION OF ATM CLLR. ATTACHMENTS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

NEW ALRESFORD TOWN MEETING

Held in the Community Centre

Wednesday  21st March 2007

 

Present:                Town Councillors: Steve Middleton (Chair, General & Policy), Robin Atkins (Vice-Chair, Recreation and Finance),John Cattle (Environment), Barbara Jeffs (Design Statement), Len Orton (Facilities and Planning), Malcolm Philips (Tourism),Roy Gentry (NATC Website),Ken Yeldham

                                Winchester District Councillor: Ernie Jeffs

                                Hampshire County Councillor: Jackie Porter

                                Electors: over 40  

                                Town Council Staff: 2

 

Apologies:             None

 

1            Introduction

            Mr Steve Middleton as Town Council Chairman took the Chair and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

            He stated that until the case against the former clerk Mr. W. Stevens had been resolved NATC were

            unable to make comment on this matter.

 

2                    Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting of 16th March 2006

Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting of 16th March 2006 (Excluding Item 13)

(For reasons of  sub-judice details of Item 13 had been omitted from the 2006 minutes)

Proposed Mr. Robin Atkins  Seconded Mr. Malcolm Phillips (REJECTED)

Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting of 16th March 2006 (Including Item 13)

Presented and distributed by Mr. Gareth Rees.

Proposed Mr. Gareth Rees  Seconded Mr/ Nigel Wooham (AGREED)

The following amendments were (AGREED)

2.1            Present:- Mark Phillips to read Malcolm Phillips

2.2       Item 14 Public Participation (Mr. Peter Pooley) To include Mr. Robin Atkins comment that the town could expect mayor increases to be levied for some years to come. 

 

3                    Mr Tony Bravery (Chairman, Alresford & District Community Association)

            Mr Bravery explained that the Community Centre was gifted to the Town and did not fall under the jurisdiction  of NATC but was governed by an autonomous  Management Council.  He informed the meeting that after an unsuccessful lottery application for £240k the Community Centre funding for essential repairs and refurbishments had been reliant upon the Goodwill of the district.  The Committee had compiled a phased refurbishment programme and each year grants and funding are sought to carry out the work. As the hall is a Grade II listed building additional costs were often incurred to meet the heritage officers criteria..  The 2007 priority had become the hall’s boiler and heating system and funding was being sought to enable this work to be completed.

                        Mr. Bravery gave a history of the hall and the events that had taken place in the building.  He went onto outline the variety of current date lettings and events.  Lettings and fund raising went towards both the running and upkeep of the building and he thanked the Council and town for their immense goodwill.  

 

4        Launch of the New Alresford Website (Mr. Roy Gentry)

Mr. Roy Gentry stated that he was very pleased to announce the formal launch of the Town Councils web site –www.newlaresfordtc.org.uk.  It was the Council’s intention to use the site as a communications tool with residents of the town.  It will not replace the regular newsletters, which will continue, but it will provide more up to date information on those matters in which the Town Council is involved.  Items had  already been published on the site of meetings and agendas and it is intended to publish minutes of meetings, hopefully within 10 days of the meeting, in the near future.  Items of particular interest will be highlighted on the home page so that visitors will not have to trawl details minutes unless they wish to do so.  It is also hoped to include statements, comments and recommendations made gy the council to other bodies such as Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council on matters that effect the Town.

The site is not intended to compete with the Chamber of Commerce site – www.alresford.org but to be complementary to it.  We believe there will be synergy between the two sites and that visitors to both or either will cross seamlessly between the two without realising they have done so.  There are embedded links in both sites which lead visitors naturally to the other site and back again quite simply and the similarity of designs will add to the perception of a comprehensive information package. For more information you can contact me by telephoning 01962 733893 or roy.gentry@alresdford.org.

             

 

5            Reports by Chairpersons of Town Council & Committees

            Resolution : That as this was a Town meeting and not a Council meeting Item 5.2 to Item 5.9 should be removed from the Agenda.  Proposed Mr. Gareth Rees

            Mr. Roy Gentry stated that as this was an election year it would be prudent for the Town to allow the Councillors to report on the last 12 months.

Mr. David Hughes stated that he felt it important that the Town hear the reports.

A vote was taken and Mr. Rees resolution was (REJECTED).

 

                5.1            Chairman’s report (Cllr. Steve Middleton)                   [attached]

            5.2            General and Policy (Cllr. Steve Middleton)                   [attached]

            5.3            Environment (Cllr. John Cattle)                                      [attached]

            5.4            Recreation (Cllr. Robin Atkins)                                     [attached]

            5.5            Tourism (Cllr. Malcolm Phillips)                         [attached]

            5.6            Planning (Cllr. Len Orton)                                      [attached]

            5.7            Facilities (Cllr. Len Orton)                                      [attached]

            5.8            Design Statement (Cllr. Barbara Jeffs)                            [attached]

            5.9            Finance (Cllr. Robin Atkins)                                     [attached]

 

6.         Public Participation

                       

Mrs. Janet Barker reported to the Town the proposal to pump treated sewage effluent into the River Itchen and informed the meeting of the detrimental effect this proposal will have on the wildlife and ecology of a natural chalk stream.  She reported that a number of Councils had written objecting to this proposal and asked what measures NATC were taking regarding this action.  Mrs. Barker stated that she had written to the office and as yet had received no reply.

Mr. Roy Gentry stated that Mrs Janet Barker’s letters had been received and passed to the Environment Committee who resolved to write a letter opposing the dumping of treated sewage.  The letter would be forwarded by 18th April and as requested Mrs. Barker would be sent a copy of the correspondence.

Mr. Charles Bazlinton reported that 7 to 9 villages in the South of England had received an application for the pumping of treated sewage.

 

Mr.  Bazlinton registered his thanks to both Councillors and staff for the work carried out over the last 4 years.   Mr. David  Hughes stated that he felt there was a gap between the Council and the Community.  He felt the publicity for the Annual Town Meeting had been inadequate and discouraged public attendance.

 

Mr. Frank Barker reported on two sources of noise pollution which was affecting Alresford.  He requested NATC to lobby for ‘negative texture material’ to be used when the Alresford bypass was next resurfaced as this would minimises tyre noise and that as air traffic control were routing 30% more planes over or close to Alresford the Council mount a  rigorous campaign to reduce the noise levels of aircrafts.

Cllr. Jackie Porter stated that ‘negative texture material’  was not hard wearing and that provision criteria had been established by the highways agency.  Should this criteria be met and subject to  HCC budget the quieter less cost effective material would be used on applicable highways.  She also reported on a meeting with the Airport stating that new routings had been based on the number of complaints.  Few had been received from the Alresford area.

A.  Both items were discussed at the Environment Committee.  The Committee were writing to HCC requesting that they look at using ‘negative texture material’ when resurfacing the Alresford bypass.  Mr. and Mrs. Barker was invited to attend an Environment Committee meeting to put their resolutions to the Committee for discussion.

 

 

 

Mr. David Hughes was concerned with the constitution of NATC.  He stated that there was only one woman on the council and many co-opted councillors.  He was also unhappy with the article regarding racial discrimination within the Council as this was not the 1st occasion that accusations of racism had been made by an NATC Councillor.

Mr. Steve Middleton stated that he was unaware of any racial discrimination on the Council. Mrs. Barbara  Jeffs stated that the racial discrimination allegations generated from one overly sensitive Councillor.  Mr. Robin Atkins stated that he was a Jew and proud of it.  Mr.Roy Gentry stated that he was a co-opted Councillor and that if the Town wished to alter the constitution of the Council they should put their name forward for the forthcoming election.

 

Mr. G. Rees  considered the main beneficiary of NATC were the sports and social clubs and he asked whether the Council should be subsidising Arlebury Park to this extent.

Mr. Robin Atkins replied that. Arlebury Park over 200 members, leased the building from the Council and receive no subsidy.  He stated that Alresford had no majority in any recreational pursuit although over 1,000 people in and around Alresford  supported the  football club.

Mr. Ralph Pointer criticised NATC for not increasing their charges to the sporting bodies and stated that many felt that Alresford Football Club had exclusive rights to Alrebury Park whereas the Park was in fact a public open space. He asked why was fooball so cheap in Alresford as Winchester and other surrounding pitches are almost twice the price.

Mr. Robin Atkins replied that sporting bodies in Alresford carry out certain maintenance duties together with capital cost responsibilities thereby reducing NATC overheads. He stated that if fees were set higher facilities would not be used.  Any person not associated with a sporting club is able to use Arlebury Park as the facilities are available for public use.  Fee comparisons had been carried out with other Councils and were in line when maintenance and capital cost responsibilities were taken into the equation.

 

Mr. Chris Lilliwhite felt that the town was not getting value for money and criticised the  administration.  Mr. Roy Gentry undertook to investigate these matters and address the problems.

 

Mr.Gareth Rees asked the Council to declare the costs of the William Stevens Case, the Charles Bazlinton settlement and the Compulsory Purchase Order.  Mr. Steve Middleton state that he was unable to answer these questions as all 3 items were covered by confidentiality.   Mr. Robin Atkins stated that Open Spaces Monies would cover CPO costs.  Mr. Ralph Pointer stated that the Open Spaces Money stemmed from housing contractors and the Town did not want more housing contracts.  Mr. Robin Atkins stated that NATC do not have jurisdiction to grant planning permission to contractors and that if the Open Spaces Money was not spent then it would be returned to the contractors and we should make best use of its availability for Alresford.

 

Mrs. Thornton informed NATC that Perins were withdrawing their reduced pensioner rates for further education.  Cllr. Jackie Porter stated that she would look into this matter and report back.

 

 

               

The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.05pm

 

 

 

 

Chairman's signature………………………………………date……………………………..