DRAFT

New Alresford Town Council

Meeting of Town Council

Held at the Arlebury Park

                                              7.30pm Thursday 12th February, 2009                                   02TC

                                                                                                                                                                                      

Present:                  Cllrs. Yeldham, Gentry, Evans, B .Jeffs, Cattle, Power, Mansfield, Middleton, Phillips, Luckham

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

Apologies:            City Cllr.E. Jeffs, Cllr. Read,  

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Declarations of Interest on Agenda Items - Cllr. Gentry declared an interest in 43, West Street  

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 15th January, 2009

Resolution: To approve the Minutes of 15th January, 2009 as true and accurate.

Proposed: Cllr. Evans  Seconded Cllr. Phillips (AGREED)

 

Actions Carried Forward from 15th January, 2009 - None

 

District and County Councillor’s Report

Written reports were received from Cllr. Porter, Cllr. E. Jeffs

Cllr. J. Porter Confirmed that there were now plans for Salisbury Road which she considered showed no significant changes. She would forward these plans to the office and would arrange a public meeting in respect of this matter.  A document ‘Preparing for an Elderly Population in 2026’ is being released which reviews the planning needs for the eventuality of an increased elderly population.  The provision of public toilets is stated as a key required in this document. 

Alresford is on the list for one lit sign for the next financial year.

Cllr. Cook Stated that the new mayor was being selected.  The cost of the Theatre Royal was being transferred to the Winchester electorate.  WCC leader has stated that Winchester would stop paying for New Alresford Public conveniences after 6 months during 2009/10.   Bad weather had resulted in icy pavements and complaints had been received from residents.  This was the responsibility of HCC. NATC confirmed that the pavements had been hazardous and that the grit bins were insufficiently equipped.  Planning had suggested that the temporary Travellers site at Bishop Sutton be extended and it was felt that this extension could affect Alresford.  WCC had approved grants for both the Community Centre and the Eel House but the grant for West Street had not appeared on the grant list.  The land adjacent to Arlebury Park would not be allocated for housing development.

 

Public Participation (meeting adjourned)

Q. Mr. D. Goodman Considered it to be good news that the land adjacent to Arlebury Park was not being zoned for housing and that the CPO could proceed.       (meeting reconvened)

 

Finance 

Payments -  Resolution: To approve payments  for January 2009 of £34,374.99

Proposed: Cllr. Gentry  Seconded Cllr. Power  (AGREED)

Year to Date Figures -   It was expected that £31,225 would be transferred to reserves at the end of the financial year, the minimum reserve level was capped at £30k.  This was less than expected due to unexpected election costs and high audit fees.  Movement between budgets had been made throughout the year.  The launch cost would be fully fund from 2008/09.  Further Audit costs were expected but these would be contested. 

Grants

Resolution: To grant Wednesday Conservation Volunteers £500 for new equipment

Proposed: Cllr. Gentry  Seconded Cllr. Phillips  (AGREED).

NATC stated that the Wednesday Conservation Volunteers go out in all weathers and do a splendid job.

Resolution: To Grant Hants Youth Band a donation of £250 towards soprano cornets

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

Resolution: To Grant Town Trust £1000 towards mini-bus garage costs

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

Funding of Alresford Public Convenience - No formal response had been received from WCC.  The conservative party were considering their budget proposals and although this gave an opportunity to review the local councils funding of public conveniences it was considered unlikely that they this budget cut would be rescinded.

Resolution: To refurbish Mitford Road and Broad Street notice-boards up to a cost of £186.

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

It was anticipated that planning development will result in the demise of the shop at Dickinson Walk making this notice-board obsolete.  The notice-board to remain until commencement of works after which to be abandoned.

Resolution: For NATC to match any funding from outside villages to support administration costs of the Town Partnership.  Proposed: Cllr. Gentry Seconded Cllr. Yeldham  (AGREED)

 

West Street Design Report

There was no update in respect of this project.  Full plans were on display at the library and the co-op. The consultation period had passed and no further comments were being invited.  Funding for the project was now being actively sought.

 

Alresford Parking Update

On the 30th January Perins gained Trust status and the Perins Trust agreed to sign the lease with WCC.  An additional ‘winding-up’ clause had been overlooked but has since been included whereby in the eventuality of the trust winding-up WCC would fund the process.

It was suggested that embedded cobbled stones could be implemented in Broad Street as parking bay perimeters as opposed to the painted white lines.  It was felt that provided this is not a trip hazard this was a good compromise and would be in keeping with the historic conservation of the town.  This process could be initiated at the triangle (bottom of Broad Street) and grants could be sought to apply this process throughout the town centre, this proposal to be put to WCC.  As part of the Perins project WCC agreed that the marking of car parking bays must be in place before the completion of the Perins Car Park and indicated the works would be carried out by 11th March. 

Resolution:  For WCC to implement the car parking bay demarcations as agreed.

Proposed: Cllr. Luckham Seconded Cllr. Evans  (AGREED).  Clerk to Write to WCC

In response to a letter received by WCC in respect of Resident street parking.  NATC stated that most Broad Street residence had off street parking and those that did not were aware of this limitation when purchasing their property.  Clerk to inform WCC that NATC remained opposed to dedicated resident parking bays.

 

Committee Reports

Recreation Committee

Tennis

Resolution: To approve the finalised draft of the Tennis Lease for signature.

Proposed: Cllr. Power Seconded Cllr. Mansfield (AGREED)  

Environment Committee

Resolution: To ratify the rejection of the WCC proposed works to the Bus Stop on the south side of West Street. Proposed  Cllr. Cattle Seconded Cllr. B. Jeffs (AGREED)

The WCC proposal is to improve the current position of the Bus Stop.  These works are not in line with the proposed West Street renovation.  The West Street design has taken into consideration the gradient of the street in light of the difficulties encountered by wheel chair/pram and the elderly and feel that the current site does not address these concerns.  A debate regarding the ideal Bus Stop site resulted in agreement to attend the site visit with WCC scheduled for 11th March to investigate this matter.

Resolution: To organise a town litter pick day in conjunction with other Alresford organisations on 21st March.

Proposed  Cllr. Cattle Seconded  Cllr. Yeldham (AGREED)

Clerk to write to organisations in Alresford to request volunteers and to WCC for plastic bags/gloves.

Resolution: For NATC to join the Private Finance Initiative for the maintenance of street lights in respect of those lights retained by NATC after passing responsibility for 23 of the existing street lights to HCC from 1st April, 2009.

Proposed Cllr. Gentry  Seconded Cllr. Cattle (AGREED)

Planning Committee 

Resolution: To ratify the Chair of Planning writing to WCC and if necessary speaking on behalf of NATC in respect of the planning application for 43, West Street.

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

 

Alresford Recreation Centre                                                                          

Resolution: To approve the launch of the Alresford Recreation Centre (ARC) on 30th March.

Proposed  Cllr. Middleton Seconded  Cllr. Cattle (AGREED)

Resolution: To approve a budget of £6k for the launch and associated necessary works.  Expenditure in excess of £6k can be undertaken on approval by Finance Chair.

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

Resolution: To approve the ARC’s revised hall/room hire charges.

Proposed Cllr. Mansfield  Seconded Cllr. Evans (AGREED)

 

Reports from Outside Bodies

Resolution: To nominated Cllr. Gentry as a candidate for election to the Standards Board Committee. 

Proposed Cllr. Power  Seconded Cllr. Cattle (AGREED)

Perins

Resolution: To approve NATC as a Perins Trust subscriber. Proposed Cllr. Gentry  Seconded Cllr. Power (AGREED)

Resolution: To ratify Cllr. Read as the NATC nominated Director of Perins Trust.

Proposed Cllr. Gentry  Seconded Cllr. Cattle (AGREED)

Town Partnership

Resolution:  For NATC to fully support the Town Partnership’s John Arlott plaque project and to be responsible for the unveiling ceremony.  Proposed Cllr. Power  Seconded Cllr. Phillips (AGREED)

 

Meeting Dates and Items for next Agenda

Date of Next Meeting

Thursday,  7.30 5th March, 2009 at Town Offices, Upper Meeting Room, Arlebury Park

 

 

                                         The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.10pm.

 

 

 

Chairman’s Signature…………………………………….Date…………………….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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