Whiteparish Parish Council

PARISH COUNCIL NOTES
From the meeting held 16th June 2005 in the Village Hall

Visit by new Community Beat Officer
PC Darren Willis attended at the start of the meeting and introduced himself. He gave a brief report on local crime statistics and reported that he is carrying out regular speed checks on traffic through the village. Contact details at the end of this report.

Matters Arising from last meeting
Temporary stock-piling of top and sub-soils as part of the restoration scheme at Biffa Landfill Site, Southampton Road - The Chairman reported on a Liaison meeting held the previous week. Further checks on the substances stockpiled are being carried out; results are awaited before WCC will assess the planning application made by Biffa to increase the heights of the stockpiles allowed from 3m to 5m. The PC decided to check the date on the original planning permission by which the site should be restored to agricultural use and then to write to WCC asking for a timetable for work at the site to ensure this condition will be fulfilled. Damage caused in the village during the diversion of A36 traffic - Bob Twiddy had met the WCC Highways Engineer on 31st May and accompanied him on a survey of Common Road. From the School to the Surgery collapsed road edges will be repaired and holes filled by September. Other damage further out from the village has been noted. Problems, particularly for disabled people, in Ashmore Close were also checked; potholes to be filled and sensible lowering of kerbs carried out by the end of July. The Engineer also commented that the footway/pavement on the A27 by the church wall is too narrow and advised that the contractor who carried out the work should be contacted; this to be done.

Finance
The accounts for the year ended 31st March 2005 were approved. These may be inspected during a set period in July and August; see notice board for details early July. The internal audit report was reviewed; two main recommendations were made: (i) there should be a contract of employment for the clerk and (ii) a risk assessment should be documented. Both items are in hand.

Rights of Way
The WCC Footpath Warden has provided two kissing gates which have been installed at the start of footpath 3 (parallel to Newton Lane, just inside the hedge); the Ramblers carried out the work. There are nettles and various pieces of rubbish at the start of this footpath on the land owned by SDC; they are to be contacted and asked to clear this up. It is hoped to make entrances to the next two fields to complete footpath 3 as soon as possible. Nettles on footpath 6 (opposite Lion Cottage on Common Road) have been reported to WCC. Footpath 8 (opposite the School) has lost its footpath sign; this has also been reported to WCC.

Environment
Garden rubbish is being dumped on common land in a gateway just off Common Road (just past and opposite the School). This is illegal and residents are asked to find some other way of disposing of their garden waste. It is likely that the PC will soon be able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices under new legislation.

Planning
The Chairman reported that at the Southern Area Committee meeting held earlier that day it was agreed to recommend to the SDC Cabinet that the Service Level Agreement for handling planning applications for the part of Whiteparish in the New Forest National Park should not be carried out by SDC. This means that planning applications for this area of the village will be assessed either by the New Forest National Park Authority directly or by the New Forest District Council, depending on the decisions being made by NPA. Plans for a new, re-built village hall have been drawn up for the Village Hall Management Committee and the PC agreed to submit the planning application.

Memorial Ground Trust
Sarah Hornby gave a report of the meeting held 23rd May 2005. The sale of the land behind the Surgery has proceeded to sealed bids and the MGT met to consider the bids. They decided to offer the property for sale to the highest bidder. This is now progressing. The MGT have requested financial assistance from the PC of £4,500 to enable the refurbishment of the children's play area to go ahead. The PC agreed to help and will make an offer to the MGT.

Police
Jenny Foster gave a report of the Police Community Consultative meeting held 24th May 2005. It was a positive meeting.

Next Meeting 
Villagers are very welcome to attend the next Parish Council meeting which will be held at 7.30 pm on Thursday, 21st July, 2005 in the Village Hall where they will be able to speak at the discretion of the Chairman. Please contact the Clerk or any councillor if you can't attend and wish to raise any village matter.

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