MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BEECH HILL PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE MEMORIAL HALL, BEECH HILL, ON 6th DECEMBER 2006 COMMENCING AT 8 PM AND CONCLUDED AT 9 PM

 

 

Present:          D Barr-Miller (Chairman)      

                        C J S Bridges (Vice-Chairman)                    

                        D Price

                        Mrs M Carter

                        Mrs L Draper (Clerk)

                        Mrs S Ilsley (new Clerk wef 1st January 2007)

                       

Apologies:      R Joy

                        Cllr Keith Lock  (West Berkshire Council)

                        Cllr Sandra Harding  (West Berkshire Council)

 

                       

7.01/06            MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 5th OCTOBER 2006

 

The Minutes, having been previously circulated to all Councillors, were taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

7.02/06            MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES/CLERK’S REPORT

 

With reference to Item 6.12/06 (ii), it was agreed that the wording be amended from “be downgraded to pedestrian use” to “be changed to no through access for any motorised vehicles.”

 

All other Matters Arising are covered in other sections of the Minutes.

 

7.03/06            NOTIFICATION OF ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

The following items of Any Other Business were notified to the Chairman:

 

(i)         The Village Common/Recreation Ground

(ii)        Police Neighbourhood Watch

(iii)       Beech Hill Allotments Trust

(iv)       New Clerk

(v)        BHPC Savings Account

 

7.04/06            PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

No members of the public were present.

 

7.05/06            REPORT OF WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL

 

The Chairman read the following report submitted by Councillor Lock:

 

“Firstly, planning matters – the Planning Application from Prudential to build 7,500 dwellings north of the M4 and west of the Mortimer to Reading railway line has been withdrawn but I cannot believe that an alternative application will not follow shortly.  Prudential must have already invested too much money to abandon the idea.

 

The Planning Application at Trunkwell Farm has now gone to Full Council and will be decided on 14th December.  This is because approval is considered contrary to policy so once again the Eastern Area Planning Committee was not allowed to make the decision.

 

We had an interesting meeting with Sovereign Housing recently at which I raised the point about disposal of housing sites to the private sector and they agreed that in order to raise money for new construction, they would continue to dispose of some sites and in fact be reducing the overall number of rented dwellings for some time.  A number of Councillors raised similar points and it is obvious that they are neglecting rural areas.  The only way of ensuring that local village needs are met is by insisting on a local lettings policy on new developments or by providing small schemes on so-called exception sites which can be done through the Village Plan process.

 

I reported previously that the budget for vehicle-activated signs would cover about 15 this year and 165 had been applied for.  The final number of applications is 176 and the Officers believe that about 18 can be provided.  I understand that the final priority list does NOT include any in the local parishes but where parishes have said they would contribute to the cost, their cases are still being reviewed.

 

The Government have informed the Council that funds are being made available to rebuild one secondary school in the District under the Schools for the Future Programme.  St Bartholomews in Newbury was chosen from a shortlist of four schools.

 

On another education matter, there is a plan to rebuild Denefield School and to put Long Lane Primary and Brookfield Special School and Local Council services all on the same site.  We have £12 million in the Forward Budget for this scheme but the cost will be £26 million and the difference is to be made up from asset disposals, eg selling the Brookfield site, etc.  However, planning applications for building in that area are always very controversial and if the Council fails to raise the £14 million, the knock-on effect on the rest of the Education Programme would be severe.

 

I reported at the last meeting that I had served on a Working Party looking into how the Highways Department work.  We want to speed up their procedures and I am pleased to say all our recommendations were approved so now we have to ensure they are carried out.”

 

7.06/06            BNAG (BURGHFIELD NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION GROUP)

 

No further developments were reported.

7.07/06            VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN WORKING GROUP

 

Mr Price reported that work continues on the Village Plan and Design Statement.  A letter from CAWB (Community Action West Berkshire) invites Councillors to a Parish Plan working event to be held in Chieveley on 3rd February and Mr Price agreed to attend on behalf of the Parish Council.

 

7.08/06            VILLAGE WEBSITE/EMAIL ADDRESS

 

The Chairman gave the following report, submitted by the Webmasters, Peter and David Simpson:

 

“The number of visits to the Beech Hill village website were 56 in October and 70 during 25 days of November (to the date of this report).  A “What’s New?” page has been added to the website.  This page, accessible directly from the Home Page, is updated every time a change is made to the website and gives direct links to everything that has changed or been added anywhere on the website.  Not only is it a convenient place to see at a glance what has happened, it should also serve to indicate how frequently the site is updated and hopefully prompt users to look at it more often.

 

The web page relating to the Memorial Hall is now accessible from the Home Page.  It includes details of the proposed refurbishment and an email address for villagers to respond with their views.  Last week we set up this email address to automatically forward such emails to all nine Trustees.  All the Trustees have been emailed asking for their comments on the Memorial Hall page but as yet no replies have been received.

 

Notices have been put on the three village noticeboards reminding people of the website with a contact telephone number in case anyone has difficulty in accessing the website.

 

Could we ask that if anything is happening in the village that the organisers contact us directly with full details rather than relying on us getting the information from the noticeboards or any other publication.”

 

The Chairman asked that thanks be recorded in the minutes for the work that continues to be done by Peter and David Simpson in maintaining this valuable village resource.

 

7.09/06            HIGHWAY AND OTHER ISSUES IN THE VILLAGE

 

Councillors discussed the current situation in the Village and the following is a summary of comments made:

 

(i)         Traffic Assessment/Management Survey

 

Discussion took place on a letter dated 17th November received from West Berkshire Council in response to the Chairman’s letter about the lack of any planned future provision for physical traffic calming measures in Beech Hill.  As no headway has been made in discussions between the Parish Council and the Highways Department, a further letter to the Council was approved, with copies to Richard Benyon, MP, and the Rt Hon John Redwood, MP, for their consideration.

 

7.10/06            APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

 

RESOLVED: That the following accounts be approved for payment:

 

1          Clerk’s Salary and Expenses October, November, December 2006:    

                                    Salary                                                                          £300.00                                   Mileage 25 miles @ 45p per mile                         £  11.25  

                                    Postage                                                                        £  11.00       

                                                                                    Total                            £322.25

 

2          Donation to Beech Hill Allotments Trust towards refurbishment

               of Village Green play equipment                                                         £500.00          

7.11/06            CORRESPONDENCE

 

Members received a list of the correspondence and publications received since the last meeting of the Parish Council in October 2006. 

 

7.12/06            ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

(i)         The Village Common/Recreation Ground

 

Discussion took place on the lack of amenities at the village Recreation Ground.  A donation of £500 is to be given towards the renovation of outdated play equipment.  Mr Price agreed to liaise with Graham Bell on the costs involved in the purchase of goalposts and report back at the next meeting.

 

(ii)        Police Neighbourhood Watch

 

Mrs Carter reported that she had met with Angela Money, Police Community Liaison Officer, who advised that there will be a meeting to discuss neighbourhood watch matters on 21st March in Mortimer.  Further details to follow.

 

(iii)       Beech Hill Allotments Trust

 

Approval was given for Helen Hockham and David Barr-Miller to be the Parish Council-appointed Trustees on the Beech Hill Allotments Trust.

 

(iv)       New Clerk

 

Councillors welcomed Mrs Sandra Ilsley who will take over as Clerk to the Parish Council on 1st January 2007, following Mrs Draper’s resignation due to increased family commitments.

 

(v)        BHPC Savings Account

 

The Clerk was asked to supply details of the Council’s savings account held with HSBC at the next meeting.

 

7.13/06            DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The first meeting of 2007 will be held on Thursday, 22nd February, at 7.30 pm in the Memorial Hall.  Dates for the remainder of the year will be agreed at this meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed:  ………………………………………                      Date:   22nd February 2006

                        David Barr-Miller, Chairman