OM 1/10

Present: Cllrs. Woodman; Goff; Kay; Osselton; Savin; Smith. Sheila Thompson (Clerk) Fiona Sawyer (Minutes Secretary)
21 members of the public; 2 members of the press; Borough Councillor Osselton

Action

1/10.1

APOLOGIES: Cllr Chapman; Cllr Bates (course)

1/10.2

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Savin ((ref item 8, member of PCC) Cllr Osselton (ref item 12); Cllrs Woodman & Goff (ref.item 12)

1/10.3

MINUTES

3.1                    

The minutes of General Purposes committee held on 18/1/10 were amended to show one member of the public present, then signed as a true record.

3.2
3.3

3.4

The minutes of the Finance & Establishment Committee meeting held on 16^th November 2009 were accepted as a true record
The minutes of the Extraordinary Ordinary Meeting held on 16/11/09 were amended to show that Cllr Woodman left the meeting after proposing the ratification of the precept figures, and then signed as a true record
The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 30^th November 2009 were signed as a true record

1/10.4

MATTERS ARISING
OM 11/09.8  Cllr Goff to meet with Steve Goodall on February 2nd

1/10.5

REPORT ON FINANCIAL REVIEW
On 8.12.09 Cllr Savin and Len Potts carried out the review with the Clerk and Acting Chairman, Cllr Goff, in attendance.  The inquiry showed that incorrect figures had been used to make the allegation and that there IS no ‘black hole’ in the council’s finances and the reserves are in good order. Recommendations will be made as to how the figures can be best presented in future. Cllr Goff and the Clerk gave their full support to the inquiry.
Cllr Kay asked that in future all documents circulated be given a V (version) number to avoid confusion.  This was agreed.
Cllr Peach invited all councillors to join him in thanking the Clerk for the speedy resolution of the matter.

AS

1/10.6             

SPENDING RESTRICTION IMPOSED AT THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING 16/12/09
A proposal to lift the spending embargo was agreed unanimously.  Cllr Woodman said that the bridges project should always have been exempt as none of the money came from PC funds, and it had to be spent by the end of March.

1/10.7

TO RATIFY TENDER SPECIFICATION AND CONDITIONS FOR THE MOWING & MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
Three amendments had been made to the existing contract: the verges in Dell Lane at FP90; the area round the tennis courts in the Holding Field; the hedge around The Maltings.  Ideally five quotes would be sought, but three would be sufficient to proceed.  It was agreed to go out to tender.

Clerk

1/10.8

CONTRACT FOR CHURCHYARD TREES
The faculty had been received and 8 copies of the tender had gone out, but only two quotes had been received.  Clerk wished to know if we could appoint a contractor and agree a schedule.  Cllr Peach said that the council should try for another quote, but the timescale is short, because of nesting birds.  Cllr Peach to work with the Clerk

RP/SMT

1/10.9

VACANCY FOR A PARISH COUNCILLOR
Statutory notices will go up on 26/1/10.  If an election is sought by at least 10 parishioners, Basingstoke & Deane will then decide timescales, etc. Clr Woodman proposed that if there is no election, a co-option process should begin.  Notification was in the Tower.  This was agreed

1/10.10

SEEDA GRANT
Papers will be circulated.£100,000 was granted for capital costs for the youth building, which has to be spent and claimed by KYPC Ltd.  The Council will have to sign on their behalf but it is acting only as a conduit for the money (which HAS to be spent on this project) and does not constitute a financial commitment to the Council.

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1/10/18

REQUEST FOR SALT BINS AT ANCHOR ROAD & POUND GREEN
Are these needed anywhere else?  Request in next Tower.  Cllr Chapman has said that HCC are to provide an additional 6.000 grit bins, so Kingsclere should get some.  Should they be padlocked to prevent householders from taking the grit for their drives?  Spaces will need to be found for the bins.

Cllr Osselton offered special thanks to Clive Taylor for all that he did during the snows.
PLANNING
12.1   The Youth Centre plans are the old application reinstated.  Showers will not be installed as they cannot be used by children under 10.  There will be toilets, but boots MUST be taken off before children go into the centre.
12.2   20 Swan Street: all councillors are asked to look at these plans, which are for the only Grade 2* listed building in the village.  Will the development be of the right quality? A Basingstoke & Deane architects panel will make the final decision
All councillors to respond to the Clerk by 27^th January
ROLLING LIST:

(i) The bridges project is ongoing

(ii) The greening of Kingsclere: needs re-allocating to a Cllr.

(iii) Twinning meeting 29/1/10 @the Fieldgate Centre

(iv)  A report on the SLD trial is awaited

(v)  A report on the pony paddocks is on its way

(vi)   It is taking an inordinate time for the railings outside the school to be installed.  It is chased every couple of months, but Ameys work to their own schedule. There is a meeting with them shortly, so a list of matters outstanding should be made.

(vii) Cllr Kay said thank you for the Basingstoke Road sign

At 7.58  recess was resolved

(i)  Stacey lorries were regularly mounting the pavement in Swan Street

(ii) Likewise West London Composting lorries (though they do respond to a phone call)

(iii) The figure quoted in the NWN of £12,000 to employ an auditor is incorrect: it should read £1200

(iv)   HCC must find money and means to grit pavements in snow.  Those unhappy with the situation could raise it with the MP at his surgery on Saturday 30^th January in the Village Club.

(v) There is a drain in Love Lane higher than the puddle behind it!  This could be a trip hazard

(vi) The money for the cutting of trees on the Holding Field mentioned at the extraordinary meeting is being recovered. 

The meeting came out of recess at 8.08
POLICE LIAISON
Two items to note:
A roofing scam: anyone approached by un-solicited roofers should contact 01862 833666
A telephone caller claiming to be a Crime Research company: this is a very high pressure sales scam

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
Thanks to all the retailers and others who kept things going during the snow.  It was agreed that a letter be sent to Clive Taylor thanking him for his wonderful work during this period

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR

(i) Thanks to Clive Taylor for getting in a digger to clear the school playground of snow

(ii) A new STS bus service-56- ‘use it or lose it’

(iii) Anthony Greayer is conducting research into traffic in Swan Street: During the snow the number of cars parked, meant the snowplough could not be used.

(iv) The drain at the junction of North Street/ Cedar Drive footpath is backing up again

COUNTY COUNCILLOR: ABSENT
CLERK’S REPORT

18.1  The maximum agreed grant of £200 was granted to the Fun Run

18.2   Before making another grant to the Hampshire Youth Band, the council should establish if there are any Kingsclere members

18.3  It was agreed to look at the complete list of subscriptions beforemaking a payment to the Open Spaces Society

18.4  It was agreed to carry out repairs to the war memorial

18.5  It was agreed to invite John Lawsons Circus to come and take a look at spaces available, with no financial commitment from the Council

18.6  A letter has been circulated re HALC withdrawal from NALC.

18.7  Sir George Young has signed the Sustainable Communities Act

18.8  A ‘Vanishing Tea Party’ is being held by the Mayoress on 3/2/10

18.9  Bus passes will be distributed on 24/2/10 @ the Methodist Hall from 9.30 – 12.00

18.10 A Gold Rings Challenge meeting to be held at Whitchurch on 10.2.10

ALL

1/10.19

ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT AND BANK RECONCILIATION were considered and approved.  Chairman stated that the general reserves are £28,194

1/10.20

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Monday 22^nd February @ 7.30