1. Amport Website

This is now up and running smoothly and grateful thanks were expressed to David Preston for all his help in creating and managing the website so far.

He felt 2 decisions were now needed from the parish council, firstly a policy on advertising he suggested that this should be both local and low key and not overwhelm the website. The parish council were in agreement on this issue. Secondly he informed the council that Quarley would like to occupy some space on the website to be accessed via www.quarleyvillage.co.uk or www.quarley.org.uk, this was also agreed. The chairman asked if the numbers of people accessing the website could be determined, David said this would be possible. Information concerning the Amport Website would be placed in the April copy of the Parish Magazine

2. Play area on the Green

The Chairman announced this item and informed the meeting that the presentation would be given by Ian Morrison and that no public discussion would take place tonight as he felt it more appropriate that this should take place at the Annual Public Meeting in April.

Ian Morrison started by thanking everyone for his or her patience over this matter he stated that he felt a tenuous unanimity had been reached concerning the upgrading of the play equipment.

	The terms of reference accepted on Sept 4th 2002 were used.
	No preconceptions on numbers or position of equipment were used
	Finance was not a primary concern, although care was applied when selecting equipment.

All members of the committee were able to express their opinions, the following criteria were assessed

	Impact on the Green – numbers, size, colour and position
	Use of the Equipment – children’s ages (deterring youths) and abilities, maintenance and RoSPA.

Agreement was reached to use Mattas as the safety surface beneath all equipment where necessary, this is recommended by TVBC, it looks like grasscrete but is made of rubber. The cost is £60 sq m.

The following pieces of equipment were decided upon.

1.  Replacement tree house – this is wooden and can be self coloured, it comes with a 15year guarantee it has a 1.5m square base is 2.5m high where children are visible and has a total ridge height of 3.2m. The price will be approx £1920 erected, this will need 35 sq.m of mattas adding £2130 to the cost. The house will have 2 ways up, steps and a scramble net and 2 ways down, slide and fireman’s pole.
2. Balancing beams, these are 2m long, wooden and will not require mattas; the cost will be £240.
3. Storks Nest, this piece is a hexagonal structure on a 2m base, the play piece is designed to promote strength, balance and a sense of rhythm. The cost will be approx £5095.
4. The Junior Swings should have the chips replaced with 11 sq m of mattas this would add a further £660

The cost of removing the old tubular structure needs to be included.

Further low-profile toadstools could be made from local timber but this could cause grass-cutting problems.

The total bill will be approx £10,000. The money in hand will result in a shortfall of £3,000, only £1500 would need to be raised as TVBC would match money raised.

Several other problems were mentioned these included the condition of the track and the provision of more movable telegraph poles to protect the play area. The TVBC aboriculturist could be asked to assess the impact on the trees.

The Chairman thanked the Committee under Ian Morrison for there hard work in producing the proposals

Comments were invited from the Parish Council on the plans

Charles Stephens commented that dog walkers on the green will need to deviate around the tree house, this was acknowledged however walkers can walk over the mattas and all dogs should be under control when on the Green.

Simon Dixon-Green asked for the floor area of the mattas, Ian Morrison supplied this information.

The general opinion of the Parish Council was declared as being in favour of the plans and a public discussion will take place at the April Meeting.

3. Village Design Statement

Oliver Sutton has contacted TVBC concerning their refusal to accept as satisfactory our Village Design Statement. We were not given any indication 2 years ago when this was submitted that a problem occurred with the statement. Only when Ian Morrison took the issue up on our behalf as part of the Draft Borough Review did the matter come to light. Oliver Sutton has an imminent meeting with TVBC on this matter and will report back at the next meeting.

The Design Statement is to provide a local bias on planning.

4. Improvement to verge by Sarson Wood.

The Chairman asked for views on whether any improvement to the verge at Sarson Wood was felt necessary, it has become very muddy and cut up this winter but that was mainly due to the ongoing building works at 2 properties along that stretch of the road.

Charles Stephens felt that any pavement or curb was unnecessary, impractible and unacceptable.

Tim Southern asked why that was so, and Charles explained his views on creeping urbanisation.

Simon Dixon-Green stated that the road was reduced in width by 2-3feet due to mud and silt and that drainage was a problem

Tanya Garman felt there was no need for a pavement but that the problem of the mud should be addressed.

Oliver Sutton felt there should be no need for a pavement when the building work was finished

The public were asked for comments and safety of children was expressed as a concern, the parallel footpath was suggested but this is uneven for pushchairs and at the moment very muddy.

It was agreed that the mud and silt on the road should be dealt with, as such the Parish Council will write to the owners of Sarson Mill and Robins to ensure they keep the road tidy during work and thoroughly clear up when work has finished.

Caroline Unwin said standing water was becoming a problem in the winter and the Parish Council will write to Hampshire Highways to see if gulleys or small tunnels can be constructed to help prevent flooding.

5. Forthcoming Elections

The Chairman opened this item with the news that both he and the Vice Chairman will not be standing for re-election in May. He felt that after 12 years on the Parish Council, 8 years as Chairman it was time to step down and pass the job onto new blood. He had thought long and hard but felt the time was right to step down. The Vice Chairman had announced he would not be seeking re-election last year; therefore the Chairman expressed the hope that remaining councillors would remain committed to the Parish Council at least in the short term.

The Clerk distributed election forms to those wishing to have them and emphasised the latest date for submission to TVBC Beech Hurst, namely APRIL1st at 12 noon.

Posters advertising vacancies on the council will be displayed on the notice boards and on the website.

The following cheques were presented for signing by the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman 

	Smiths of Derby ( clock maintenance) £156.28
	Mr Horne cleaning Bus Shelters £30.00
	Annual Hire of the Classroom for meetings £55.00
	HAPTC for training New Councillors £40.00
	SA Hoare clerk Salary £ 590.99+expenses £40.41= £631.40
	GDP Associates (website) £109.65

The attached budget was discussed and approved by councillors, proposed by Tim Southern and seconded by Oliver Sutton and carried unanimously.

The balances after taking tonight’s cheques into account amount are

£ 19,313, which includes £4,652 in the Stroud’s Field, account leaving a balance for the general account of £14,661.