Present:
Mr G Bisson (Chairman), Mr M Abbott, Mr F Alexander, Mr M Böckle, Mr P Boyes, Mrs A Butcher, Mr J Charlesworth, Mr M Rollé, Mrs A Trend and Mrs P Wyeth.
Clerk to the Council:
Mrs M H Weston
County Councillor M Kendal (part of the meeting)
Mr B Craig (Advertiser and Times)
3 members of the public
1. Election of Chairman
The Clerk asked for nominations for the position of Chairman for the ensuing year.
Mr Boyes nominated Mr Bisson and this was seconded by Mr Alexander. There were no other nominations.
RESOLVED: That Mr Bisson be hereby elected Chairman of Lyndhurst Parish Council for the ensuing year.
2. Election of Vice Chairman
The Chairman asked for nominations for the position of Vice Chairman for the ensuing year.
Mr Charlesworth nominated Mr Rollé for the position of Vice Chairman and this was seconded by Mr Boyes. There were no other nominations.
RESOLVED: That Mr Rollé be elected Vice Chairman of Lyndhurst Parish Council for the ensuing year.
3. Public Participation
A resident from Pemberton Road drew the Parish Council’s attention to the fact that members of the Lyndhurst Football Club were burning noxious substances on the football field and had refused to desist when requested by nearby residents.
He was advised to contact the Environmental Health Department at NFDC and also the Forestry Commission as owners of the land. Mrs Wyeth also offered to take the matter up if necessary.
4. Appointment of Committees
(a) Method of Appointment of Committee Chairman
RESOLVED: To defer a decision until the next meeting to give Councillors time to consider this matter.
(b) Committee Structures
RESOLVED: To defer a decision until the next meeting to give Councillors time to consider this matter.
(c) Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies
RESOLVED: To defer a decision until the next meeting in order that the Clerk could seek clarification from HALC regarding any conflict of interests that might occur.
5. Standing Orders
RESOLVED: Having first received full agreement from Councillor Kendal, the Parish Council Standing Orders would be amended to state that unless there were any important matters appertaining to the parish the County Councillor would be invited to attend meetings on a quarterly basis.
6. Disclosures of Interest
Mrs Wyeth declared an interest in Agenda item 9(b) and took no part in the discussion.
7. Apologies for Absence
None (all present).
8. Minutes of Previous Meeting
The Minutes of the meeting dated 8 April 2008, having been circulated, were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
9. Matters Arising
(a) Trailers – Marchwood Recycling Centre
Mr Abbott explained that there had been a further development. Oversize trailers would now be allowed into the Recycling Centre at Marchwood providing a permit had been obtained and this would be limited to twelve visits per year.
(b) CCTV
The Clerk explained that she had spoken to Martyn Powell regarding this matter and it had been explained that unless the Parish Council paid for the CCTV camera in the main car park it would be removed.
RESOLVED: The Parish Council considers that the removal of the camera would be a retrograde step but they would, under duress, consider paying their share of the CCTV costs in the following financial year providing a realistic forecast of any increase envisaged could be obtained.
That the Clerk write to NFDC explaining that the sum involved of £700 had not been precepted for 2008/09 so payment could not be made in this financial year.
10. Minutes of Committee Meeting
The minutes of the following Committee meetings held since the date of the last meeting were received:
(a) Planning Committee – 22 April 2008
Mr Bőckle enquired whether the newly replaced sign at the Crown Hotel was larger than the previous sign. This was not thought to be the case.
(b) Amenities Committee – 23 April 2008
Mr Alexander asked if there was any update regarding the bus shelter and the Clerk replied that she had received a letter from the insurance company today and would be looking further into the matter. It was hoped to recover the full cost of a replacement from the perpetrator’s insurance company.
(c) Allotment Committee – 28 April 2008
Mr Alexander said he understood that figures were to be provided by the Clerk showing the anticipated revenue that might be forthcoming if the rents were increased to the amounts indicated in the minutes and also figures for previous annual expenditure in the allotments.
The Chairman said this information would be provided at the next Allotment Committee meeting.
11. Reports from Representatives of Outside Bodies
Mr Abbott had attended a meeting of the New Forest Consultative Panel. Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre had been reappointed to the post of Official Verderer.
Other topics had been Natural England, the New Forest becoming a special area within SEEDA and Steve Avery, NF NPA, had given a presentation on planning enforcement matters in the New Forest.
Re-tendering had taken places for buses with a new contact being given to Black Velvet. With regard to concessionary bus travel there had, so far, been a 50% take up.
Mr Charlesworth reported that the Community Centre had formed a “Young Lyndhurst” group to get younger people involved.
Mr Boyes reported that the Twinning Association had hosted a successful visit from fifty of their French counterparts. A tour to Bath had been organised and a traditional Sunday lunch had been provided. Mr Bisson was thanked for all his hard work on the Association’s behalf.
12. Correspondence
Hampshire Constabulary – Letter stating that the Clerk’s letter regarding the Parish Council’s opinion that the village was not receiving adequate policing had been passed to Chief Inspector Gary Cooper for attention. Email response attached from Inspector David Moore.
Lyndhurst Parish Council – Letter to John Bull, NFDC stating that the Parish Council felt that the request by NFDC for PC funding towards the CCTV camera in the Car Park was unacceptable and asking for further clarification. It had now been clarified verbally by Martyn Powell, NFDC, that if the Parish Council did not make the requested contribution the CCTV would be removed.
NFDC – CCTV figures for March 2008.
NFDC – New Forest District Local Development Framework – Supplementary Planning Document. The provision of car parking space in residential development (outside the New Forest National Park).
HCC – New bus services from 27 May 2008 – Black Velvet No 35 – Ringwood/Lyndhurst/ Southampton.
HCC – The new face of highway maintenance in Hampshire. Amey have taken over the Highway contract for Hampshire from 1 May.
TLC-Online – Statistics for the PC website. Statistics will now be supplied on a weekly basis.
HCC – Questionnaire regarding Community Archives. This information was passed to Mrs Trend for the information of the Lyndhurst Area Plan.
NFDC – Information regarding new website for 11-19 year olds “in:fo” to improve services for young people.
Ringwood Town Council – Email regarding the Town Council’s view that it was necessary to make yellow zig-zag lines outside schools enforceable.
RESOLVED: That an email of support be sent to Ringwood Town Council.
Chief Supt Wakefield – Letter regarding car parking problems in Pikes Hill and Hampshire Constabulary’s plans for more car parking on site to try to alleviate the difficulties.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk write to Supt Wakefield stating that the Parish Council would be pleased to see a copy of the proposals when they became available.
Mrs Pat Wyeth – Email correspondence regarding Lyndhurst Traffic Management meeting. Mrs Wyeth stated that she was not happy that Mr Woolley had been asked to represent the Parish Council at this meeting as he was not a councillor and although he had been a member of the bypass committee this had now been disbanded.
Mr Charlesworth explained that the Parish Council had received very little notice of the meeting, it had not been possible to send a representative from the council and Mr Woolley, who had very wide knowledge on this subject, was already attending the meeting on behalf of the Residents Association.
13. Accounts
(a) The Clerk submitted details of the following account which had been paid since the date of the last meeting:
Inland Revenue
Employer’s NI Contribution (Voucher No 1416) £168.96
(b) The Clerk submitted accounts which had become due for payment since the date of the last meeting as detailed on Appendix A for payment.
RESOLVED: That voucher numbers 1417 to 1423 as detailed in Appendix A in the sum of £2,519.16p be approved for payment.
14. Village Walk
Mr Bőckle explained that plans were ongoing and a further report would be made when more information was available.
15. NF NPA Planning Consultation
Mrs Wyeth explained the possible implications of the NF NPA Core Spatial Strategy.
RESOLVED: That copies of the consultation document be obtained for the Parish Council.
16. Lyndhurst Area Plan
Consultations were taking place with the village youth at present.
17. Handy Person
The closing date for submission of applications for the position of Handy Person was 31 May. Several enquiries had been received to date.
18. Vacancies for Parish Councillors
It was noted that it would not be necessary to hold an election and applications for the vacancy could now be made in writing to the Clerk.
19. County Councillor’s Report
Mr Kendal reported that the first meeting with regard to Lyndhurst Traffic Management had taken place. It was agreed to try to improve the traffic flow at the left turn from the High Street into Romsey Road and to try to alleviate HGVs at peak times.
Investigations would take place to see if a camera and sensory devices could be used to detect lorries approaching this junction. It had been agreed that Great Mead should not be used.
Another idea suggested had been to place signposting on the M27 on peak days to inform drivers intending to go through Brockenhurst to use Junction 2/3.
Mrs Trend drew attention to the problems in Emery Down when traffic was heavy in Lyndhurst. Mr Boyes asked how the HGV ban would be imposed and Mr Kendal admitted that this was not possible.
Mr Alexander stated that one of the provisos when the traffic lights had been installed was that there would be no continuous flow of traffic in Romsey Road as this made it difficult for traffic to exit adjoining roads, eg Pikes Hill.
Mr Kendal gave an assurance that there would be breaks. Mr Charlesworth said it had been stated in the press that there would be an extra 2,000 vehicles from the ferries and asked if these could be diverted along Beaulieu Road.
Mr Kendal said that the Verderers and NF NPA would be against this and he did not believe there would be such an increase in traffic although another route was being considered.
PC Andy White presented his report and said that there had been vandalism in the Recreation Ground. He suggested that, in order to combat vandalism, the wooden sides of the skateboard ramp could be replaced with metal and asked that a sign be put up at the entrance to the children’s play area clearly stating an upper age limit of child allowed into the play area.
He could then ask anyone over this age, who was clearly not supervising children, to leave. The new PCSO would be arriving shortly.
20. Dates of Future Committee Meetings
Planning Committee |
27 May |
7.15 pm |
Community Centre |
Recreation Ground Committee |
– to be arranged |
21. Items for Discussion at the Next Meeting
Agenda items brought forward from Agenda for May meeting.
Any other items brought to the Clerk’s attention by 2 June 2008.
22. Rumour Corner
None.
In the absence of any other business the Chairman thanked those present for attending and closed the meeting.
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