AMPORT PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 14th April 2003 at 7pm in Amport Primary School.

Present: Lt Col Wilkinson (Chairman), Mr Sutton ((Vice Chairman), Mrs Preston, Lt Col Stephens, Mr Dixon-Green, Mrs S.Hammer, Mrs C Mallam, Mr Southern (8pm), Mr Morrison (TVBC), Mr Arnell (TVBC) Suzanne Hoare (clerk)

Apologies: Elaine Edwards, Mrs Garman
In attendance: Mrs Unwin (Village Correspondent) Speakers HCC Councillor Mr P Pierce and 14 members of the public.

  1. Apologies and Welcome

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave the apologies of those who were not able to attend. He introduced Sgt Phillips and PC Robinson from Weyhill Police, Mr Freeman Smith from Neighbourhood Watch and the 2 TVBC Ward Councillors.

  1. The minutes of the previous Parish Meeting had been agreed at the May 2002 meeting and no matters were currently outstanding.

  2. Police Report

Sgt Phillips reported that crime in the local area had reduced last year; he reported that a reduction of 3% is proposed for this year.  1 officer has been lost from Weyhill, however a 4-wheel drive vehicle has been swapped into the fleet and this should improve the response capability in the more remote areas of the locality.

Pc Robinson stated that the biggest problem encountered locally was the opportunist thief and advised householders that outbuildings and sheds should be kept locked.

The Police now have the capability to video suspects; this appears to deter repeat offences. Community intelligence from Neighbour Hood Watch and the Parish helps enormously with local crime.

Speeding in the village was raised as an issue - the traffic division at Whitchurch is focusing on main roads such as the A3057 and the A343 and therefore mobile speed patrols in the village were unlikely, Mr Freeman-Smith reminded the meeting that local people were shown to be in the majority in a recent survey of speeding in the village.

Mr Freeman-Smith raised his concerns over vandalism, he feels this is likely to be local and urges everyone to keep a watch out for suspicious behaviour.

The Highway Agency are considering closing the Gap at the top of Sarson Lane and Rose Wareham stated that the Hawk Conservancy needs this junction, could they provide a bridge?  The Parish Council has supported a split-level junction in the past

Maurice Hardy said that new white lining was imminent at the junction, and a consultation process would then take place over the possible closure of the junction.

Most problems seem to be associated with u-turns and local people do not feel that the Mullen’s Pond Junction is safe, given its extremely short eastbound slip lane.

There were no more questions and the Chairman thanked the police officers and Mr Freeman Smith of Neighbourhood Watch who then left the meeting.

  1. Play Area on the Green

Mr Ian Morrison reported on the progress made by the committee formed to decide on improvements suggested for the Play Area

The Terms of Reference agreed by the Parish Council at its meeting on September 16th were read out.

To determine the ideal quantity, quality and location for the play equipment on the Green

To recommend the extent to which upgrading this equipment is acceptable to the committee

The report to be presented to the parish Council no later than February 17 2003

Attendance of the committee meetings was good and everyone was able to express their concerns, no consultations were sought but 8 letters were read out to the committee.

Modern equipment was selected for today’s children, age groups and disabilities were considered The surface was readily agreed as Mattas, at £60sq m, expensive but essential and will blend well with surroundings.

A map of the Green was then displayed and individual pieces of equipment discussed;

  1. Timberline – replacement tree house, 15yr guarantee, between 8 foot and 10 foot 6 at gable, natural wood, with Mattas this will cost approx £4,000

  2. Pair of balancing beams, 2.5m long, 50cm off the ground, cost £240

  3. Lapset hexagonal structure, 6 foot 10 high, cost £2500 + £600 delivery and erection + Mattas.

The surface under the Junior swings should change to Mattas at a cost of £660. The Total cost of the project is Approx £10,044. Funding currently accessed leaves a balance of £1500.

The aboriculturist at Test Valley will be consulted over the impact to trees on the Green.
Questions from the public were then taken
Q. Could the steps on the Lapset be self-coloured? – Unlikely
Q. Would the insurance change? – The quote is based on value, however third party insurance would be much the same. Cllr Pierce then suggested the Parish Council contact Ken Thornber, Head of HCC regarding the £1500 shortfall, as grants were available through HCC – clerk to follow up.
Q. Bearing in mind the maintenance of the Lapset Hexagon could another piece be substituted? Ian Morrison thought the maintenance could well be worked out.
The Chairman then thanked Ian Morrison for all his hard work and that of the committee.
The Chairman would put the recommendations to the Parish Council at its meeting directly after the parish meeting.

  1. Chairman’s Report

This is my 8th, and last, report as Chairman; I will begin with a brief review of the past 12 months, and then look ahead into the future.

During the year there has been the usual routine business including – Footpaths, Kieron Beatties horticultural plans, Parish Boundary review (resulting in no change), Hawk Conservancy Bird of Prey Hospital opening, Stroud’s Field – progress on clearance, Travellers in Grateley Drove.

The Parish Council was associated with the Jubilee Celebrations which everyone seemed to enjoy.  As always much of our business is taken up in responding to planning applications, a total of 56 this year, ranging from applications for trees in conservation areas to be pruned right up to the massive proposal to develop a large part of Andover Airfield (behind the new DLO buildings), with all the effects this could have on Amport and neighbouring villages.

However this year we began to feel the dead hand of central bureaucracy for the first time. Initiatives on which we have been obliged to act included:

  1. Freedom of Information Act

  2. New Audit procedures now in 2 parts, internal and external.

  3. Register of Members Interests

We now have a village Web Site up and running – this very much adds to peoples access to information about the village and about Parish Council business, so helping us react to requirements of the freedom of Information Act.

For the future, there will be changes on the Parish Council with the Election on May 1st. I said earlier that I was standing down after 12 years on the council with 8 as Chairman. I think this is long enough and in fairness to the village an election will enable new members to be elected – so please turn out and vote!

The old team continues in office until May 1st - there is inevitably some unfinished business which will either be dealt with by then, or else carried forward by the new team. I see no problem arising.

I do however foresee challenges for the future; I think politics by both major parties aims at future centralisation with the danger of marginalizing Parish Councils still further.

County Councils are in grave danger of disappearing – how can an unelected regional Authority based in suburban Guildford be of the remotest help to a small village in rural NW Hants?  At a more local level, the further expansion of Andover is in great danger of putting our villages at risk.  Most of you know of the plans for Andover Airfield and know that we, among many others, have submitted detailed objections.  This will require careful watching.

Finally …. My grateful thanks to Parish Council members for their constant support and hard work on your behalf in particular to Oliver Sutton as Vice Chairman and Ian and Norman for so ably and effectively representing our views to the Borough Council.

Patrick Pierce, for doing the same in the halls of The Castle at Winchester and not least to Suzanne Hoare our Parish Clerk who is now left holding the baby (metaphorically of course) until a new team is elected at our May meeting.

  1. Finance

The clerk distributed copies of the Balance sheet for the year ended March 31st 2003.

This gave details of all income and expenditure for the past year. There were no questions arising from the figures. The overall balance for the year was £20,105.66, which was represented by the General Fund of £15,452.89 and the Village Hall Fund of £4,652.77

  1. Public Participation 

Gina Wyles asked if funds had been earmarked for the Village Design Statement, Oliver Sutton replied that we had originally been informed that it should be a simple statement, however changes at TVBC now mean the document needs updating. Oliver said he is currently meeting with TVBC to redraft our VDS. A village plan could be the way forward as grants of up to £5,000 are available to produce such a plan. Most members of the Parish Council and the public felt the Village Design Statement should be finalised before any new project was undertaken.

Patrick Pierce asked whether we should keep the financial reserves that we do. The Chairman replied that HAPTC had given advice that Parish Councils should keep reserves as many services currently provided by other agencies could well now fall on Parish Funds. However the Parish Council was working to reduce the current balance.

A grateful vote of thanks was given to the Chairman and other Parish Councillors by the public present at the meeting.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and the meeting closed at 8.12pm.

 
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