New Alresford Town Council

Meeting of Town Council

Held at the Arlebury Park

7.30pm Thursday 17th January 2008

 

Present:                   Cllrs Gentry (Chair), Middleton, Cattle, Phillips, Yeldham, Evans, B.Jeffs, Power, Read

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

Apologies:                Cllr. Luckham

598

 

599

 

 

600

 

601

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

602

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

603

603.1

 

603.2

 

 

 

603.3

 

 

603.4

 

603.5

 

 

604

604.1

604.1.1

 

 

604.2

604.2.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

604.3

 

 

 

 

 

604.3.1

 

 

 

605

605.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

605.1.1

 

 

605.2

605.2.1

 

 

606

606.1

606.1.1

 

606.1.2

 

606.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

606.3

 

 

606.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

606.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECLARATION OF INTEREST  - None

 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF  29th November 2007

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

 

ACTIONS CARRIED FORWARD - Embodied in minutes below.

 

CITY AND COUNTY CLLR. REPORTS

Cllr. J. Porter - Sent her apologies

Cllr.G.Hollingbery - Sent his apologies.  His report is attached

Cllr. E. Jeffs - Report attached

Cllr. Jeffs stated the results from the core strategy workshops would take a while to assimilate.

Cllr. Cook - Informed the Council that the Enforcement Team had been reduced but that action was being pursued in respect of major enforcement issues with the expectation of a full strength enforcement team being operational sometime in May.  He stated that the Linden Homes application had been rejected by WCC.

 

ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC QUESTIONS

Mr. Atkins –  Informed the Council of potential liabilities that, he stated, the Council must consider when setting the precept.     Mr. Atkins was thanked for his comments.

 Mr. Goodman – Reported on the Issues and Options meeting stating there was a good turn out.  He felt that those in the main hall groups suffered due to noise and that consideration should be given to moving groups into class rooms for future workshops.  He requested City Cllrs. supply the Alresford working parties with their analysis of the district as a whole as the overview would give a true representation.  City Cllrs. agreed with Mr. Goodman and stated they would forward the overview to the working party. 

Mr. Rees – Stated that he was concerned to see that the Council were committing £5,000 to deal with one member of the community.  He stated that when he had written a letter to individual members of the previous administration, harassment had been claimed and police action had been adopted. He suggested this could be an alternative action to adopt.  Mr. Rees was informed that consideration would be given to his suggestion.

 

FINANCE

Payments  Resolution: To approve payments for December 2007 of (£7,390.08)

Proposed Cllr. M. Power.  Seconded Cllr. Phillips (AGREED)

Precept    Resolution: For the 2008/09 precept to be set at £250k. Proposed Cllr. Middleton Seconded Cllr. Phillips

(AGREED 7 to 2). 

Cllr. Yeldham (abstained) stating this was an excessive leap and that it could be a financial struggle for OAP’s.

Cllr. Evans (against) stating that servere cut backs and spend reviews should be undertaken.

Finance Update -  The forecast was an anticipated under spend of  £6.5k   No additional costs are expected to be taken from reserves during 07/08.  The Tourism expenditure increase reflects the hanging baskets but that hanging basket income balances expenditure.

Internal Auditor Resolution: To retain Ken Abraham as the NATC Internal Auditor on a 4 yr. contract.

Proposed Cllr. Read.  Seconded Cllr. Power (AGREED).

Technical Support - Clerk to obtain comprehensive details regarding Green Frog Systems to enable the Council make an informed decision.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Recreation

Resolution: To ratify the appointment of AMB Sports as the contractor for the resurfacing of the Tennis Courts at Arlebury Park being best value of all tender applications received. Proposed Cllr. Middleton Seconded Cllr. Phillips (AGREED)

Meeting for commencement of project scheduled 25th January, 2008.

Tourism

Resolution:  To replace 20,000 millennium leaflets destroyed by flood at a cost of £970 (less money reclaimed for damage from insurers).  Proposed Cllr.  Phillips  Seconded Cllr. Yeldham (AGREED).

Hanging baskets sponsorship was being canvassed and flyers would be distributed in March.  Similar, if not increased, sales of baskets were expected for 08/09.

 

 

 

Planning

Two applications had been rejected by NATC.  Linden Homes and the Running Horse. Both NATC and WCC had made objections to the application received for 50, Broad Street. An objection was made to planning meetings held earlier than 7.30pm.  The schedule was designed to tailor the WCC program and clashes with NATC meetings had resulted in earlier meetings but this situation would be avoided in the future.

 

Resolution To establish a working party comprising of representatives from NATC, Alresford Society and Town Partnership to develop the NATC response to the WCC Local Development Framework.

Proposed Cllr. Jeffs Seconded Cllr. Yeldham (AGREED)

 

ARLEBURY PARK

Arlebury Park Sports and Social Club Update

A written statement was issued regarding APSSC to avoid misquoting (Statement attached).  The club’s liabilities to NATC  together with club assets to be obtained and circulated.  A debt of gratitude was again expressed to the Directors of the club for keeping it going.  Minor damage had occurred over the holiday period which was unsatisfactory but less than expected. This was seen as resulting from the volunteer capacity of the Directors and bar staff not in a position to keep discipline.  The Directors had shown a willingness to run the club until March 2009. 

Grave concern was expressed regarding the discipline of club which resulted in the following resolution.

Resolution:  To close the Arlebury Park Sports and Social Club.

Proposed Cllr. Cattle Seconded Cllr. Power (Agreed 6. Against 1 Abstention 2).  

Discussions with the Directors to be held regarding the closure of the club.

40 Pound Hill

Resolution: For occupant of 40 Pound Hill to repair a section of flint and brick wall adjoining Arlebury Park and 40 Pound Hill in accordance with conservation offices guidelines.  Proposed Cllr.Yeldham Seconded Cllr. Jeffs (AGREED)

 

OUTSIDE BODIES

Perins

Resolution: For NATC to have representation on Perins Trust Status Committee. 

Proposed Cllr. Cattle  Seconded Cllr. Yeldham (AGREED)

Resolution:  For Cllr. Read to represent NATC on the Perins Trust Status Committee.

Proposed Cllr. Cattle Seconded Cllr. Yeldham (AGREED)

Watercress Committee

A constitution has been written for Alresford Watercress Festival Association.  The festival is scheduled for 11th May.  There will be a full road closure of East Street, West Street and Broad Street.  The event will be published in the WCC What’s on.  Programs and posters are expected to be displayed by Easter.  There is anticipated to be 40 stalls in additional to the Hants Fair stalls.  This is the  200th anniversary of Watercress and Anthony Worrel Thompson is publishing a book to commemorate the event.  Stallholders are responsible for their own insurance and the Watercress Alliance will review stall holders without cover on a risk analysis criteria.

Chamber of Commerce

This was reported as a quite time.  The Chamber is actively involved with the Perins Car Park and it’s current over and above award for customer service.

Town Partnership

The Bank account is now through to the Partnership.  The health check analysis is anticipated by end of January 08.  The

Housing group had not issued its final decisions.  WCC needs to re-analysis its mix of people with regard to affordable housing.   Confirmation had not been received on mix between social and affordable housing.  There was a known 65 units needed in Alresford and the affordable housing needed in the town were 2 and 3 bedroom properties not 1 and 2 bedroom.  Mansells  (affordable housing agents) had taken over the control of Robins Court (Coal Yard site).  It was felt that the financial base of affordable housing needed to be changed to ensure that the housing demand can be sustained.  If the base remains too high this demand will not be satisfied due to of lower income’s inability to purchase.

Parking

The Perins site is going ahead.  No objections were raised from Perins parents and approval is expected from the Education Department for using the land for parking.  The SEEDA grant has been approved in principle and is required for 4th March this could slip to May.   If the March date is missed work cannot proceed in the School Summer holiday but Perins have agreed that work can proceed during term time if funding is not approved until May to ensure that the project completed this year.  There are two options regarding size and the selection is dependant upon funding.  Option 1 = 40 - 60 bays(£90k)/Option 2 = 50 -70 bays(£100k).

Discussions are being held with regard to parking in Alresford Town Centre but no decisions will be made without all options being formally put before the Council and other bodies for authorisation.  Under discussion is daily 4 hr parking enforcement monitoring where WCC will act as enforcers and receive all income with the difference of income received and expenditure, if any, being funded by Alresford.  Ticket machine (environmentally located and approved by appropriate organisations) with first ½ hour free.

The free time was considered insufficient by some Cllrs.   It was agreed that full discussion must take place prior to any formal decisions and that the community should be encouraged to park in current parking facilities.  It was pointed out that building contractors of some Broad Street residents are occupying more than the allocated 2 bays and that marking bays (4.5 meters per bay) would result in less inconsiderate parking and additional spaces.

 

 

 

MEETING DATES (Date of Next Full Town Scheduled Meeting)

2008/09 Meeting Schedule -  Clerk to revise dates of Full Town meeting for May 08 until April 09.  Revised dates to be issued and agreed. 

Next Meeting of Full Town Council

7.30pm Thursday 7th February, 2007 at Town Offices, Upper Meeting Room, Arlebury Park.

Meeting Closed  8.50pm

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SK