Littleton & Harestock Parish Council

1

Apologies –. Mr B Everett, Mr M Farrell, Mr D Hickman,

Mr J Pepperell, Cllr K Learney (WCC), Cllr C Bailey (HCC), and WO1 (RSM) P Sydenham (Sir John Moore Barracks)

ACTION

2

Disclosure of Interest – Mr Parker disclosed that under item 9 the applicant at 17 North Drive was his neighbour and he would not comment on that scheme.

3

Minutes of the meeting held 9 June 2008 - The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 9 June 2008 were agreed and were signed by the Chairman.

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Matters Arising

a) Affordable Housing s106 Agreement: A response from Mark Barnett, Enabling Officer to the Council’s comments stated that:

He had made the changes to the s106 regarding the areas, but had not made the changes regarding ft/pt employment in Test iii.  The reasons for this were:

1. The definition of a Local Connection, which includes the

reference to qualification through employment, has been agreed by all 6 LA’s within HARAH and is published in HARAH literature and on their website.

2.The purpose of the s106 heads of terms was to try, as far as

possible, to standardise s106’s across the HARAH area to make

the rather complicated process of supplying rural affordable

housing as simple as possible for the public, Parish

Councils, LA and RSL allocation staff.  

3.More and more employers now offer flexible working

arrangements to suit workers with children.  By excluding P/T

workers one could potentially exclude people working from

home, professional people, most single parent households, as

well as the few teenagers with part-time evening work..  P/T

workers now make up around 25% of the working population,

which is a sizable section of society to discriminate against.

The answer to the question raised about the length of time a local connection should exist for (3 and 1, rather than anything else) is that it was agreed as a standard definition by WCC at the time that the heads of terms were completed by the 6 Local Authorities making up HARAH.  The other LA’s, with exception of New Forest, have abandoned the time limit all together.  WCC felt a time limit was still important so a time limit has been included in all WCC s106’s, but the qualifying period has been reduced to fall more into line with the other HARAH members. 

 He hoped that this was satisfactory, and would now instruct the solicitors to draw up the remainder of the s106 agreement. He finally thanked the Parish Council for the support throughout this project.

b) Repair to cricket nets: Mr Lupton had spoken with Hampshire Playing Fields Association who had commented that they did not know of the contractor and thought that the estimate for the run-up looked high. They would come back with an alternative.

c) The Clerk reported that in the absence of Mr. Hickman he had received information from WCC (Mr Girdler) that the total possible area for planting was 227 sq metres that would require 22,700 bulbs and this would be too many. A bio-diversity grant of £500 was found to be available but needed immediate attention or it would miss the deadline and had been applied for with a matching sum of £500 offered from the Parish. This was considered to be excessive and the Clerk agreed to speak with Mr Hickman on his return and review the bulbs required and the sum offered by the Parish.

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Sir John Moore Barracks

Sergeant Major Darling attended the meeting in the absence of the RSM and told the meeting that from 15 August standard training stops and the new 23 week course with young soldiers begins.

The Annual Balls will take place as follows:

Sergeants         9 August

Corporals         8 August

Both will be held in the gymnasium and notices will be sent to local residents at the time.

6

Public Participation

Mr Welch brought a proposal for a temporary car park for 60 cars on the Littleton side of Harestock Road adjacent to the Down House. This was to be available to the contractors of Sunrise Housing who were building an eighty-bed nursing home in Stockbridge Road. The aim was to reduce traffic problems in the area particularly as it was opposite the Waitrose site. The design had been discussed with the Highways department. The nine inches of topsoil would be scraped back and stock piled and the land re-instated after expiry of the planning permission. The car park was to be made up from crushed concrete and then rolled. Mr Welch was thanked for bringing the plan to the meeting and told that no decision would be made to support or object to the application until the actual planning application was received from WCC.

 DH/BE

7

HCC Matters

Community Transport Review – A letter was received and passed to Mr Highfield for his information.

Cllr Bailey sent her apologies with Cllr Jackson who reported that checks were being made with the Land Agency as to the ownership of the land adjacent to the roadway between the Running Horse and the bottom of the hill. HCC had found £1m for work on potholes and verges and a request had been sent to parishes asking for any suggested sites where work was required. Special speed signs were being tried out and some parishes may buy their own. The 30mph limit work is due to take place in September.

8

WCC Matters

The Clerk reported that complaints had been received regarding the line of refuse bins along the pavement opposite the parked cars in the Harestock shops car park. As they were left there all the time they became a health hazard as they became full and passers by used them as public waste bins. They belonged to the flat owners and WCC had been contacted to see if they could be moved.

Mr Parker raised the question of all day parking at Harestock shops. Cllr Jackson agreed to see if the period could be reduced.

Cllr Jackson told the meeting that she was now on the Environmental Scrutiny Panel looking at the management of trees and tree preservation orders (TPO’s)

‘Live your Dream’ was a project for raising interest in the 2012 Olympics

KL/JJ

JJ

9

Planning

A planning applications report for June was circulated. The Clerk reported that 08/00966/FUL and 08/00593/FUL had now been received.

10

Motocross meeting 16 July

The meeting with officers and Cllr Wood was now arranged to take place at the City Offices. Representatives from South Wonston Parish Council, and Councillors representing the various parishes have been invited. A number of questions were to be sent prior to the meeting.

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Littleton Post Office – latest information

A response from Essex County Council agreed that the costs charged by Post Office Ltd for re-opening Post Offices was a major sticking point.

12

Littleton Pond – latest information

In the absence of Mr Hickman the Clerk confirmed that the £10,000 grant from HCC had been confirmed. As agreed with Anna Longley  the scheme had been passed to Holmes and Sons for costing. There may be a delay in the scheme if a Health & Safety report is required. In response to Councillors comments it was agreed to bring a copy of the plans to the next meeting.

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Other Reports

a)      Finance committee – The report of the Finance Committee was circulated.

1. Final Accounts 2007-8

The Clerk explained that the accounts will be audited by the Internal Auditor, Annie Manly, who will complete Section 4 of the return and that it will then be sent to the External Auditor, the Audit Commission.

It was proposed by Mr Highfield and seconded by Mr Warren and RESOLVED that the Final Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2008 be accepted and agreed and that Sections 1 and 2 of the Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2008 be agreed.

2.      Employment of a pavilion cleaner

The Clerk reported that the cleaner had resigned due to ill health. He had recommended a replacement whom, unfortunately, had recently had a heart attack and was unable to take up the position. The Clerk was currently doing the work with the help of his wife and that it was intended to put an advert in the August edition of the Parish newsletter. Mr Lupton proposed that if no volunteer was forthcoming then a cleaning firm should be employed. Mr Lupton also proposed that an honorarium should be paid to Mr And Mrs Elsmore for the work done.

It was proposed by Mr Highfield and seconded by Mr Warren and RESOLVED that if no replacement be found for the pavilion cleaner then a cleaning firm should be employed and that Mr and Mrs Elsmore be paid an honorarium for the work done.

b)      Trees/Hedges/Conservation/Dogs – None

c)      Playgrounds – The Clerk reported that the installation of new equipment at Bradley Road was programmed to start that day but had been delayed by the contractors van breaking down. The RoSPA report had been received and would be circulated to the two playground representatives once the new equipment was installed. Mr Highfield asked that the bin at Littleton Play Area be replaced as the current one had been damaged. It was RESOLVED that a new litter-bin can be purchased for the Littleton play area.

d)      Recreation Grounds – Harestock Rd Football Ground – Confirmation was received from Defence Estates of the new rent of £500 but a new lease/agreement was required. In order to save the expense of extra solicitors fees the Clerk would request that the lease could be extended to at least another year even if it meant that only a short notice period was required from Defence Estates.

e)      Traffic and civil engineering – HCC have found an extra £1m to be used for the repair of potholes and areas of verge over-riding. All parishes were asked to recommend two or three locations in the parish. A very short notice was given to respond and the Clerk had suggested the Stockbridge side verge at the turning into Main Road and the continuation of the kerbing at the junction of Main Rd Littleton and Littleton Lane. The pothole at the junction of Priors Dean Road and Harestock Road was considered but the Clerk proposed that that be repaired under the normal procedures. Mr Lupton also mentioned the gully at the junction of Stockbridge Road and Main Road which was always flooded after rain and needed raising but this was not for consideration at this time.

The three house development in South Drive was nearly complete and a request was received from WCC for the Council to agree the new name for the road as it was unable to be called South Drive. The proposal was for ‘Meadow Rise’. After discussion it was RESOLVED to request that the site property name of ‘St Eloi’ should be used

A letter from HCC regarding the ‘Village 30’ scheme was circulated. It stated that the scheme would be implemented without alteration and that a county-wide campaign to encourage respect for the new limit was planned for September. The Road Safety Team will be contacting the Parish Council to invite participation.

f)       Pavilion – None

g)      Sports Club – None.

Littleton VDS Revision – It was moving on with the proposed completion date in twelve months.

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Correspondence

As per schedule.

15

Payments - It was RESOLVED that payments totalling £6433.19

proposed by Mr Walsh and seconded by Mr Warren should be paid.

16

Items for noting only or inclusion on next meetings agenda

Mr Parker, reporting on the Safer Neighbourhood meeting stated that there was a drastic increase in noisy behaviour in the City Centre. Statistics were not readily available for the Littleton and Harestock area as we were part of ‘North Winchester’

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 11 August 2008 at the Community Lounge, Henry Beaufort School, Harestock at 7.30pm.

1

Apologies –. Mr P Walsh, Cllr K Learney (WCC)

ACTION

2

Disclosure of Interest – None

3

Minutes of the meeting held 12 May 2008 - The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 12 May 2008 were agreed and were signed by the Chairman.

4

Matters Arising

a) Littleton Pond. – The Clerk reported that Serco Ltd had now raised the drain cover to the level of the land.

5

Sir John Moore Barracks

The RSM did not attend the meeting but the Clerk had received notice of the dates of the summer parties which were:

Officers Mess 21 June

Sergeants         9 August

Corporals         8 August

6

Public Participation – None

7

HCC Matters

Cllr Charlotte Bailey raised the possibility of two or three Parish Councils sharing flashing lights.

Mr Pepperell asked when surfacing of Priors Dean Road will take place

Mr Hickman spoke of the danger to cyclists of the loose gravel in Littleton Lane. The Clerk will contact Neil Broadbent.

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WCC Matters

Cllr Jackson confirmed that the scheme for the proposed synthetic turf pitch at Henry Beaufort School had received an offer of a £130k grant from WCC.

Cllr Jackson was asked if Cllr Webb would be attending the Motocross meeting – she agreed to find out.

Silver Hill was moving to the process of compulsory purchase of some of the properties.

The Cabinet had come to a decision on the Local Development Framework.

HCC had indicated that there were enough houses under construction not to need to bring in the Barton Farm site.

The Chimney’s site scheme for Aldi’s was going to Planning Committee on Thursday.

HCC was having a summer of cycling and WCC and local groups were arranging the annual ‘bike week’.

9

Planning

A planning schedule was circulated.

The Clerk reported that the scheme at 30 Burley Road had been refused.

10

Safer Neighbourhood Panel meeting and the Parish Partnership meeting.

Mr Parker attended both meetings. RTA incidents were above the average in Northgate. Those convicted can chose a fine or go on a training course. Parking in Winchester has been decriminalised. A priority choice for investigation was speeding. John Stribley had suggested that the Motocross could be included. There was a website to record complaints. There was a significant increase in distraction burglaries. It was suggested that the burglary sign asking for information could now be removed. Mr Lupton commented on there being only a give way sign at the Sparsholt/ Littleton Lane/Stockbridge Road crossroad – It should be STOP.

11

Littleton Post Office

The Clerk read parts of the letter being delivered to residents. It was unlikely that a realistic commercial deal with the Post Office will be achieved.

12

Littleton Pond

Mr Hickman reported that the Council’s application to HCC for a grant had been successful and a grant of £10,000 was being offered. A meeting with Anna Longley (HCC) will be arranged to progress the scheme further.

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Transport Forum Meeting 19 May

Mr Highfield reported that the meeting was to disseminate information about the provision and development of public transport in the Winchester area.

1.Andy Jones, Operations Manager for Stagecoach described the Stagecoach operation in Hampshire. £1.5billion turnover in 2008. Concessionary fares – Stagecoach receives 37.3% adult fares in Hampshire. 73.6% adult fares elsewhere in the UK. They are repaid for roughly 2 out of every 5 adult concessionary fares.

2. The Concessionary fares scheme. Starts from 9am. Passes can reduce fares on Dial-a-Ride buses. Over last three years costs increased by £250,000 to £1.3m

3.Various information on transport is available from a variety of sources.

4.Winchester Area Community Action (WACA). They can provide support for those who cannot access public transport. Two services: Dial-a-Ride – need to register.

Community Transport (3 minibuses) for hire to groups, committees associations etc. Wheelchair adapted. Price per mile.

It was suggested that an item on transport should appear in the next Newsletter.

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Affordable Housing – S106 Agreement

An e-mail was received from Mark Barnett the Enabling Officer at Winchester City Council setting out the proposals for the key points of the S106 Agreement and asking for comments/changes to it.

After discussion it was agreed that in para iii ‘full time’ employment should be required.

In the cascade mechanism for allocation the following changes were requested:

Paras 5&6 should be only Sparsholt and Crawley

Para7 should be Headbourne Worthy & KingsWorthy

Itchen Valley should not be named and be included in Para 8

Although not asked to be altered it was questioned as to why 3years and 1 year was used and not 5years and 2 years.

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Allocation of duties

The new allocation of duties was agreed and is as per the new schedule attached.

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Other Reports

a)      Finance committee – A meeting to agree the final accounts will be arranged in early July.

b)      Trees/Hedges/Conservation/Dogs – Daffodils - Mr Hickman reported that he could order daffodils from Ivan Girdler at WCC. The area required for planting was needed and will be calculated with the help of the Gardening Club. An assortment of bulbs has been requested. An item in the next newsletter for volunteers for a planting team will be needed.

c)      Playgrounds – A request was made by a local resident for the provision of a skate-board ramp. The Clerk reported that such ramps would cost in the region of £20,000 and were often found to be noisy. It was agreed that proof of demand was needed before even investigating and a possible contribution from those using the equipment would also be required. The Clerk would respond in those terms.

The contractor cutting the grass at Bradley Road was experiencing problems getting into the site as cars were constantly parking in front of the double gates. A sign had been ordered stating ‘No parking in front of these gates’ and WCC had been asked to paint hatching in the lay-by.

d)      Recreation Grounds – The Clerk had received an estimate from Serco Ltd for laying kerbing around the shrub bed by the Post Office building. The cost was £1240 and it was RESOLVED that the estimate be accepted without acquiring more estimates. The Clerk reported that in two years time all land must be registered. It was therefore sensible that while the boundary work on the land in the overflow car park area was taking place the total Recreation Ground land should be also registered. It was RESOLVED that the Council’s solicitors should be asked to register all the Recreation Ground land while working on the agreed boundary line at the overflow car park area. An estimate was received from the contractor who had installed the new cricket nets, for work to the run-up area that was torn and dangerous. After discussion it was agreed that it was too high a cost and Mr Lupton agreed to investigate an alternative.

e)      Traffic and civil engineering – None

f)       Pavilion – The Clerk reported that the current cleaner of the pavilion, Frank Robins, had decided to retire. A replacement was suggested and will be asked to contact the Clerk to discuss the work.

g)      Sports Club – None.

h)      Littleton VDS Revision – The group were meeting next on 3 July.

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Correspondence

As per schedule.

18

Payments - It was RESOLVED that payments totalling £8,421.26

proposed by Mr Highfield and seconded by Mr Parker should be paid.

19

Items for noting only or inclusion on next meetings agenda

Mr Hickman and Mr Farrell gave their apologies for the July meeting.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 14 July 2008 at the Community Lounge, Henry Beaufort School, Harestock at 7.30pm.

1

Apologies –Mr M Farrell, Mr J Pepperell, Mr G Wilkins and Mr P Walsh,

ACTION

2

Disclosure of Interest – None

3

Minutes of the meeting held 14 April 2008 - The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 14 April 2008 were agreed and were signed by the Chairman.

4

Matters Arising

a) Littleton Post Office. – Mr Lupton reported that the Post Office was very unhelpful and a substantial administration charge had been quoted. The group were now looking at other ways of providing the service. Mr Hickman asked if there was a possibility that the Post Office building could be used for storage during the refurbishment of the Millennium Memorial Hall during August. It was agreed that if it was not needed for any Post Office business it could be used just for that period.

b) Littleton Pond. – The Clerk had asked for a quotation from Serco Ltd for raising the drain cover to the North of the pond but nothing had yet been received.

c) Meeting re motocross. – The Clerk read a letter received from Fiona Tebbutt (Head of Planning Control) stating that she would be contacting the Council towards the end of May with some suggested dates.

d) Play area equipment – As agreed at the previous meeting, Mr Farrell, Mr Pepperell and Mr Warren had met with the Clerk at Bradley Road play area and agreed that from the three quotations, the quotation from Wicksteed should be accepted.

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Election of Chairman and Vice - Chairman

The Clerk confirmed that although not present, Mr Farrell and Mr Pepperell had both confirmed that they were willing to stand for another year.

Mr Lupton proposed and it was RESOLVED unanimously that Mr Farrell be Chairman and Mr Pepperell be Vice-Chairman for the coming year.

6

Planning

The report for April was distributed. Mr Hickman had attended the Development Control Meeting for the Affordable Housing site in Main Road. He reported that both Mr Welch and Mr Hindle had raised the question of the legality of the Housing Survey as reported last month. The WCC solicitor had stated that there was no concern, this was confirmed at the meeting by Mr Opacic.

The Clerk reported that he had received an e-mail from WCC asking for the Council’s comments on proposals for the S106 agreement and this would be sent to all Councillors for agreement at the next meeting.

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Harestock Road Football Ground

A letter was received from Defence Estates stating that “ Due to the current Defence Training Review, the current use of land is under consideration for the time being”. They were prepared to offer a further licence for 12 months.

It was agreed that this should be accepted but that in order to avoid excessive costs an extension to the current lease should be requested.