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A meeting of West Dean Parish Council was
held at 7.30pm on 2nd December 2003 in King George's Hall.
Present: Mrs S Gruzelier (Chairman), Mr
P Dawkins (Vice-Chairman), Mr P Hargrave, Miss C Warry,
Mrs J Gimpel, Mr R Parsons (Clerk), District Cllr Chris
Devine, District and County Cllr Bill Moss and one member
of the public. Apologies were received from Mr M Rowe,
Mrs P Parsons, PC Colin Rothwell and PC Chris Day.
73/03 Matters raised by the Public: None.
74/03 Declaration of Interest: None.
75/03 Minutes of the PC meeting held on
9th Sept, having been circulated, were agreed and signed
by the Chairman.
76/03 Playing Field Safety: There is a
requirement for a sign to indicate ownership, appropriate
age range limitations and contact information for
emergency services and the reporting of serious damage. A
pictographic format is preferable and the location of the
nearest public telephone should be identified. Hags Play
Ltd is able to supply 'age signs' that can be affixed to
items of playground equipment. Action:
High priority by the Clerk.
77/03 Information on the Internet:
Members agreed that minutes of meetings, once approved,
could be published.
78/03 Mobile Phones: Reception is still
poor and the Clerk was asked to make further attempts to
persuade service providers to extend coverage. Action:
The Clerk will ask the Vicar about reception in Lockerley.
79/03 Broadband Internet Service: The
Lockerley exchange will be enabled during December.
80/03 War Memorial: The WW2 tablet had
been refurbished and reinstalled. There was concern that
it was still too level and this will be queried with the
stonemason. The SWAG application has been deferred until
2004/5. Action: The Clerk will confer
with Cllr Parsons to determine if the positioning of the
WW2 tablet is as expected.
81/03 Noticeboard: It was agreed that
the Clerk should provide a precise specification to
Burnbake Trust and that the SDC Planning Department
should be consulted regarding siting within the West Dean
conservation area.
82/03 Village Map: Cllr Dawkins reported
that West Tytherley PC is proposing to incorporate West
Dean into a map that they are planning to install for
their Parish. They are also offering WDPC a financial
contribution for a map. Action: Cllr
Gruzelier agreed to liaise with members of West Tytherley
Parish Council regarding issues that effect those who
live in West Dean but are electors within Test Valley.
83/03 Police Identity Marking: Cllr
Gruzelier agreed to discuss property-marking arrangements
with PC Rothwell.
84/03 Report: PC Colin Rothwell had
prepared a report that identified one offence of theft at
Woodside Farm since the last PC meeting. He urged
villagers to be vigilant and report any unusual activity
to Alderbury Police.
85/03 Parish Plans: Cllr Gimpel advised
that West Dean has registered their interest in the
Countryside Agency project being organised by East Dean. Action:
Cllr Gimpel agreed to keep in touch with the East Dean
initiative.
86/03 MoD Dean Hill: The survey
conducted in August revealed substantial local support
for a visitors' centre and nature reserve with public
access. Defence Estates has now appointed a selling agent
and 'expressions of interest' are being invited, however,
former owner's rights have yet to be resolved. A further
meeting with planners and the working party will take
place in January. Cllr Gruzelier proposed a vote of
thanks to Cllr Gimpel for organising and contributing to
the activities of the working party. Action:
Cllr Gimpel will continue to organise the working party.
87/03 Housing at Hillside Close: Cllr
Dawkins reported that seven of the twenty-two houses
occupied by tenants are likely to be purchased by a
housing association. The remainder will probably be sold
on the open market.
88/03 Sandbags: The Clerk will seek
alternative storage facilities that will be needed from
February onwards.
89/03 Flower Tubs: Since SDC has
withdrawn funding, it was agreed that WDPC should budget
for this in 2004. Action: The Clerk will
obtain quotations from local nurseries.
90/03 Finance: * The Independent
Internal Audit had been completed and the Annual Return
sent to the External Auditor. * Members noted the new
arrangements for claiming travel expenses and subsistence
allowances. Although they agreed not to seek attendance
allowances at present they anticipated that travel
expenses and subsistence allowances should be in line
with those agreed by the SDC remuneration panel for
District Councillors. * The Clerk had prepared a budget
that accommodated the PC's risk assessment and the
increased s137 allowances of £5.14p per elector. *
Members noted the SLCC advice on the implementation of a
code of practice for handling complaints. Action:
Members agreed to study the budget, the implications of
members' allowances and expenses and the code of practice
for handling complaints so that these matters could be
resolved at the next meeting.
* The following payments were approved:
Royal British Legion - Poppy Appeal --------------- 156
-- £25.00p
Lockerley Stone and Masonry Ltd - War Memorial - 157 - £260.80p
King George's Hall - Hire for meetings -------------- 158
-- £80.00p
91/03 Transport, Roads and Footpaths: *
It was noted that the WCC Rights of Way officer had
organised surface maintenance for footpath no.6 at Dean
Chase and would be prepared to assist with the clearance
of footpath no.9 towards Dean Hill. * The next WCC
lengthsmen's visits on 16th/19th January. * Members noted
that the Planning Inspectorate had reported the outcome
of the Public Inquiry held on 25th February and 21st
March and as a result had made an interim modification
order to the definitive map. A final decision is still
awaited. * WCC Highways Dept had replied to the PC's
letter regarding safety issues on the C323 road to East
Grimstead. There being few reports of incidents along
this stretch of road it has a low priority for the County
Council's limited financial resources; nevertheless an
attempt will be made to improve signage should funds be
available at the financial year-end.
92/03 Planning: * S/2003/2249
- PRIOR NOTIFICATION - ERECTION OF BARN/SHED TO BE USED
AS WORKSHOP/STORE at DEAN FARM WEST DEAN - No Objection.
* S/2003/2026 - FULL APPLICATION -
CONVERSION OF EXISTING BARN FOR EQUESTRIAN/STUD USE at
WINDRUSH FARM DEAN ROAD WEST DEAN - Members object to
this change of use.
93/03 Correspondence: Members noted the
schedule of available correspondence that will be
circulated.
94/03 Youth Development: Cllr Gruzelier
reported that she had been discussing with the WCC Youth
Development Co-ordinator how the money awarded by the
Community Safety Partnership could best be used for the
benefit of village youths. A visit to Pewsey had been
arranged to see how other communities are developing
facilities to encourage youth involvement. Cllr Hargrave
suggested that there was a disused hard surface next to
the Hillside Close Club building. Cllr Dawkins agreed to
discover if it would be possible to make use of this site.
Action: The WCC Youth Development Co-ordinator has agreed
to visit West Dean each month as long as one volunteer is
available to assist.
95/03 The next PC meeting will be held
at 7:30pm on Tuesday, 10th February 2004.
The meeting closed at 9:25pm
Signed without amendment by the Chairman, Cllr Gruzelier,
on 23rd March.
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