New Alresford Town Council

Meeting of Town Council

Held at the Arlebury Park

                                              7.30pm Thursday 10th  April ,2008                                   4TC

                                                                                                                                                                                      

Present:                        Cllrs Gentry, Middleton,Yeldham, Read, B .Jeffs, Power, Phillips

In Attendance:            Cllr. Cook, Cllr. E. Jeffs,

Apologies:   Cllr. Cattle, Cllr.Jackie Porter

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DECLARATION OF INTEREST   - Cllr. B. Jeffs declared an interest in the grant application for the Community Centre (Item 640.4 below).

 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 6th March 2008 and 19th March 2008

Proposed: Cllr Middleton, Seconded Cllr. B. Jeffs (AGREED)

 

ACTIONS CARRIED FORWARD  - None

 

CITY AND COUNTY REPORTS

Cllr.E. Jeffs- Reported back on questions asked to him at the meeting of 6th March 2008

WCC Salary Scales for Female Employees:  WCC made no differentiation between male and female employees.  WCC  did  need to make adjustments in respect of lower salaried employees.

Olympic Training Facilities:   The university were supplying the facilities so there would be no cost to WCC.

Community Centre Grant: The NATC cascading portion must be paid from the precept.  Loans may be take to spread the cost and the cascading portion may be spread over more than 1 year.

Design Statement: This had been passed by WCC on the 3rd April and WCC had contributed £1000 for the publication. 

 

Meeting adjourned                     PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mr. Goodman.  asked when the Design Statement would be published.

A.                 It would be available by the next meeting and will also be available on the WCC and NATC

               website.

Mr. Goodman stated that it would be a useful document for some planning applications currently being processed.

Meeting reconvened

 

VACANCY FOR CLLR.

A Councillor vacancy had arisen due to the 6 months absenteeism of Cllr. Byrne.  The process was explained that 10/12 members of the public can call  an election  but that this right is not usually exercised as it costs the Alresford rate payer  approx. £1,500 to £2,000 and the co-option process involves  no cost and no disruption.  If no election is call co-option notices will be posted within 14 days for nominees.

 

FINANCE

Payments  Resolution: To approve March payments of  £40,068.77

Proposed Cllr. Power Seconded Cllr. Yeldham (AGREED)

  • Negotiations over the water bills had been satisfactorily concluded and it is expected that future bills will be correct.
  • March payment costs in respect of the cooker had resulted in the cooker now conforming to corgi standards and a certificate had been issued.
  • Clerk to check paid to date of street lighting payment.

Financial Update

The expenditure budget was met with £5000 to spare, which will be transferred to reserves.

Accruals shown on the report would be made for 2007/08 in respect of the Water Bill, Bike Stands and the Bus Shelter.

Reserves at the commencement of 2007/08 the reserves were £42k.  This is anticipated to increase to £48k at the close of 2007/08, this is greater than expected.  The signing off of Accounts would be ready for council approval by June.

Congratulations were given for the improvements made in respect of the Finance Reports.

Town Map Resolution: To produce a new A4 town plan.

 Proposed Cllr.Yeldham Seconded Cllr.Read (AGREED).  Clerk to produce new map.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRANTS

The following resolution was introduced in order to equitably distribute grants

Resolution: That substantial grant applicants, for a forthcoming financial year, give notice of the estimated grant request by 1st October in order that provisions are included in the precept.  Published dates for all other grant requests will be 1st April and 1st October.

Proposed Cllr. B. Jeffs Seconded Cllr. Read (AGREED)

Resolution: To approve grant for £500 in respect of initial costs to establish the Alresford Greening Campaign. (Application rejected).  Clerk to suggest the applicant resubmits in 6 months.                                                                [Resolution:  To approve grant for £5,000 to Town Trust in respect of Minibus and associated running costs.

(Application rejected).  Clerk to suggest the applicant resubmits in October for consideration in 2009/10. Resolution: To approve grant for £6,000 to Alresford District Community Association for kitchen improvements at the Community Centre. Proposed Cllr. Yeldham Seconded Cllr. Middleton (AGREED)

Cllr. B. Jeffs declared an interested and refrained from the debate and vote.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Recreation

It was reported that the Tennis Project would be completed on time and that AMB Sports were proving to be good contractors.

Environment

Negotiations have taken place regarding the trees abutting the Pound Hill properties.  The trees are not designated as being on Arlebury Park land and the matter has been resolved by the neighbours.

More land was being sought to meet the demand for yet more allotments.

The railings in West Street had been agreed.  The Alresford Society and Planning to inspect the proposal.

The location of all dog fouling bins would be identified on a map.

Planning

A majority of the applications received were either supported or conditional supported.

Linden Homes and Chalk Bank Development were due to give presentations at the next planning meeting on 22nd April.  Public would be asked to direct all their concerns to the Planning Committee in order that they have an informed balance reply

West Street Railings contributions would be sought from highways from their developer’s pot.

The Alresford Society were asked to include the West Street design for public view and comment on their Watercress Festival stand.  NATC to facilitate a working group to comment and review the design.  The Alresford Society were happy to display the scheme and participate in the working group.

 

ALRESFORD RECREATION CENTRE (ARC)

APSSC had ceased trading and providing that in principle NATC will take over the assets and liabilities of the club up to a cash value of £10k and subject to final agreement of the Club they will then be struck off the companies house register.  A solicitors letter relating to these terms is awaited.  This is in effect a tripartite agreement between APSSC/NATC/Greene King.  NATC now had both a premises license and a bar manager.  The bar manager had yet to obtain their personal license.  Upon acquisition of the license it is expected that the club will open from Friday to Sunday. These opening times will be reviewed regularly to establish the viability of them being extended, particularly, during the Rugby/Football season.

Clerk to cost the refurbishment of the lower floor toilets at Arlebury Park and to approach WCC for a grant in respect of this refurbishment.

Resolution: To open a trading account with Greene King Brewing and Retailing Ltd.

Proposed Cllr. Power  Seconded Cllr. Middleton (AGREED)

 

OUTSIDE BODIES   

Town Partnership It was reported that the Health Check was nearing completion which would result in the application for a SEEDA grant.  The car park plans had been finalised and were ready for submission.  No permission was needed for the footpath.  There was controversy regarding the extent of the Barratts commitment to the footpath.  Planning consent had been given without an obligation from Barratts  to provide the path.  WCC were investigating the matter.  The Town Trustees had raised no objection to the path but there was some concern as to who the Trustees would or could ask for an easement payment for the path.  

Town Trust Reported that Cllr. Bryne had ceased to be a trustee due to absenteeism.

Resolution: To nominate Cllr Cattle as a Town Trustee.

Proposed: Cllr. Middleton Seconded: Cllr. B. Jeffs (AGREED)

It was reported that there were no problems in respect of the Town Trust year end.  The Trust had asked WCC for a retrospective grant of £12.5k  for the minibus.  The trust were again running the Thursday market with Southern Market Traders running a monthly Sunday market.  Work on the Broad Street trees were going ahead and would include feathering and removal of lower branches from smaller trees.

 

 

 

Perins A report was given on the composition and strategic role of the trust.  The Partners are:

Rugby Football Union/Sparsholt College/Chichester and Winchester Universities/NATC/HCC.

The strategic role was to look at long term planning, investment and management issues.   The trust would be a charitable company and legal assurance was given that the trustees role and liabilities would be strictly limited.  Its purpose was to improve links within the community and investment decisions and community facilities would become more integrated.

 

MEETINGS

Revised Planning Calendar - The revised 2008/9 planning meeting schedule was agreed and passed.

Next Full Town Meeting  - The next full town meeting will follow the Annual Town Council Meeting

which commences at 7.30pm on Thursday  15th May  2008 at Arlebury Park. 

 

                       The Chairman closed the public  meeting at 8.50pm.

 

 

 

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