Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday July 18^th 2005 at 7.45 pm in Amport School Hall.

1. Present
Mr I. Morrison, (Chairman), Lt Col Stephens, (Vice Chairman), Mrs Diana Preston, Mrs Sarah Hammer, Mr Maurice Hardy, Mrs Carolyn Mallam, Mr Bill Gore, Mr Ian Long and Mrs Suzanne Hoare (Clerk).
No members of the public attended.
The village correspondent was in attendance.
Apologies. Mr Neville Geake and Mr Tim Southern

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
These were agreed and signed.

3. Matters Arising from the last meeting
Charles Stephens has investigated the worth and work involved in producing a Parish Plan.
It would take a considerable amount of work to produce a Parish Plan and would follow on from the Village Design Statement. Charles Stephens commented that he would not wish to produce a Parish Plan. Ian Morrison asked Ian Long if he would consider undertaking the task. Ian Long felt that it could serve as a framework for the future but was probably too complex as it stood. The Parish Plan concept was very community led, the Parish Council does not set the agenda. An item to consider in the future.

4. Reports
The Green
Rob Walker from Test Valley Gardencare arrived to give a review of the grass cutting on the Green so far this year.
Mr Walker stated that 2 cuts of the Green per month in the growing season is not enough.
The water table is very high on the green and this makes the grass grow more quickly in the warm weather. The clippings are very profuse and he currently has to cross cut the Green, which is very time consuming for him. He would like 3 cuts per month when grass in growing actively.
Ian Long asked if it would be possible to pick up the clippings from a ‘pitch’ sized area. Rob Walker replied that his machines blow the grass about 12 feet so that would not be practical.
Ian Morrison asked the council how they felt about the current standard of cutting on the green The feeling of the Council was that the standard was much better than last year and that spending had already increased considerably - 50% more than last year. A budget to allow 3 cuts of the main Green a month would increase spending by £62 each month. Sarah Hammer asked if the cutting of the Green could be done when the school was in session rather than at arrival /departure time.
Ian Morrison asked if the Council felt the Green should have an extra cut ahead of the weekend fete – this was approved.
Mr Walker said he would do this, Ian Morrison then thanked him for his time and Mr Walker left the meeting.
Ian Long felt that the School might be prepared to pay for some additional cuts in the summer months so that sports such as cricket could be played on the Green.
Ian Long to follow up suggestion of part funding by the School or PTA.
Maurice Hardy felt that Clive Hutchinson the footpath contractor might be interested in the contract in the future if Test Valley Gardencare became too expensive.
Ian Morrison proposed to leave the contract the same this season and review it before cutting starts in 2006, as hopefully the growth of grass on the green will begin to slow in August.
Ian Long reported that the School were interested in erecting a shed to store large PE equipment on the back edge of the Green. Ian Morrison felt the Parish Council needed to establish whether it was empowered to grant consent (subject to planning) for such a project. All councillors agreed to this approach.
Ian Long will approach the school for a siting / design plan, before the matter was considered further.
Ian Long asked if the Rospa report had commented on the senior swings - Carolyn Mallam replied that the report stated they were in excellent condition.

Village Design Statement
In Neville Geake`s absence Charles Stephens reported on a letter from David Bibby suggested that the role of the VDS in planning considerations was being changed, it remains to be seen how this will affect the role of the VDS.
Diana Darbyshire will be asked to produce some design work for the VDS.

Footpaths and Highways
Maurice Hardy produced the invoice from Clive Hutchinson who has completed the first cut of the footpaths. Maurice Hardy stated that he was very happy with the quality of the work provided. The Parish Council agreed.
Bill Gore will now be taking on this role.

Highways
The A303 gap closure at the top of Sarson lane is confirmed. Maurice Hardy will write to remind them about the dangerous slip roads at this junction.
Village hedges are getting overgrown again and several were cited as making driving dangerous. Ian Morrison will write to Flagons, Sarson Farm, Little Bec, Sheppards Spring House and Woodside. IM/Clerk

1. Litter management
   Ian Morrison asked if anyone felt there was litter within the Parish. Replies included the Green and underneath the A303. It was decided not to take this matter any further at the present time.
   
2. Amport Green Track
   The solution to excessive wear on the track could be to extend the grasscrete to the turning area of the car park. This has been costed by Chappell Builders at £8,500+VAT for an area 4.5m by 43m. A capital grant from TVBC could pay for half this, leaving approx £4,250 to be divided between the 6 interested parties. Maurice Hardy will now take this matter further and report at the next meeting.
   
3. Welcome Pack
   Ian Morrison asked if a sub- committee could be formed to take this issue forward. Suggested members were Carolyn Mallam, Maurice Hardy, Caroline Unwin and perhaps a further PCC member. This will be an agenda item for September.

6. Planning Applications

TVN.03389/3 Provision of outdoor riding area Amport Riding centre Furzedown lane Amport Permission

The following cheques were presented for signature by Ian Morrison and Charles Stephens;

S A Hoare July salary                                 £208.78
Test Valley Gardencare June cut                 £160.00
Test Valley Gardencare extra cut                   £62.00
Hampshire County Youth band -donation        £25.00
M J Startup Internal Audit charge                 £100.00
Clive Hutchinson footpath cut                       £800.00

All of the above cheques were approved by those Parish Councillors present.

At the internal audit meeting held on the 8^th July, a review the accounts of 2004/5 was undertaken. Martin Startup made no major comments.
A copy of the statement of assurance was circulated to all councillors present and the 8 sections were positively approved. This was then duly signed.
The accounts for the year ended 31st March 2005 were fully approved by councillors present.

9. AOB and Correspondence
The Citizen’s Advice Bureau has written a letter of thanks for the donation.
Ian Long reported that the lights at Amport Inn were still too bright. Maurice Hardy will follow this up.
Ian Long asked about the diminishing flow in Pill Hill Brook. Ian Morrison replied that the English Nature report had put the reduced flow down to insufficient winter rain and not cattle damage in the water meadows.

Meeting closed at 9 130pm.

Date of next meeting September 19th at the AMPORT SCHOOL - 7.45pm