Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday 15th January 2007 at 7.45 pm in Amport School Hall.

1. Present
Mr I. Morrison, (Chairman), Lt Col Stephens, (Vice Chairman), Mr Bill Gore, Mrs Carolyn Mallam, Mr Ian Long, Mr Maurice Hardy, Mrs Sarah Hammer, Mr Neville Geake( 8pm ) and Mrs Suzanne Hoare (Clerk)
The village correspondent was present plus 3 members of the public.
Apologies, Mrs Diana Preston and Mr Tim Southern, these were accepted.

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes were agreed and signed, having been proposed by Maurice Hardy and seconded by Ian Long

3. Matters Arising from the last meeting
The new slim line grit bin has arrived and the clerk will follow up Hampshire Highways to position and fill the bin.
A letter of thanks has been received from Mr Horne with regard to his presentation at last month’s meeting.

The Green
Discussion took place on Maurice Hardy’s comparison of the contractor’s bids for cutting the Village Green this year.
Two contractors stood out in terms of potential value and service Mr Welch and Mr Hutchinson. After careful consideration it was unanimously agreed that the contract for 2007 should be awarded to Mr Ray Welch.
The clerk will write and let unsuccessful contractors know and telephone Mr Welch to let him know a copy of the final contract will be with him in a few days.
Sarah Hammer asked if she could view the final contract before it was sent, it will also be checked by Maurice Hardy. Clerk to arrange
Carolyn Mallam has had an offer of help with maintenance of the play equipment on the Green, this was welcomed.
The Goal post sockets have been positioned at the car park end of the Green and the posts themselves will hopefully be erected this week.
The ‘Dog Sign’ is to be moved to outside the Old farm on the narrow verge to improve the safety of cars in this area. In addition Hampshire Highways will be asked if a section of permeable kerbing could be laid to indicate to drivers the edge of the road, this it is hoped may avoid drivers slipping into the ditch. IM

VDS
This issue is ongoing.
No information has been received from Mr Bibby –Norman Arnell will be asked if he can update the Parish Council on this issue. IM to contact

Footpaths and Highways
The sewer outside Flagons is overflowing – the clerk to contact Southern Water regarding this matter.
Mr George Chinga attended a site meeting to discuss the potential pavement from the bridge by the Green up to Sarson Mill. Mr Chinga highlighted several problems including land width and mature tree roots. He will submit a request for the path and this will be considered if feasible by Hampshire Highways on a financial basis.
This issue led to a discussion on traffic calming and exchanges of ideas. This will need to be considered in the future as a separate agenda item.
Maurice Hardy has been in touch with Paul Walsh from Hampshire Highways regarding several pot holes and deep ruts in the Parish.
Bill Gore had nothing to report on the Footpaths at this time.

Stroud’s Field
Mr Van de Pette has reported another fallen tree; this has yet to be confirmed.
A new Stroud’s Field sub-committee was proposed at the last meeting and David Horne has volunteered to lead this group, the Parish Council thanked him for his interest in the project. Charles Stephens and Rose Wareham will remain on the committee and others including Jill Constable and John Van de Pette have expressed an interest, it will now be for the sub-committee to work out membership and report back to the Parish Council.
Stroud’s Field under the new sub-committee will be known as Amport Fen and initially help will again be sought from the Hampshire Wildlife trust or from Susan Simmonds, an ex-employee of the organisation with local connections.
A further 5-year plan will be produced and it is hoped to move swiftly on some clearance work before the growing season recommences.
Mowing of the front section if needed will be covered in the cost of the village Green cutting.

7. Finance
Charles Stephens and Ian Morrison signed the following cheques before tonight’s meeting-
S A Hoare   December salary   £220.84

8. AOB and Correspondence
The date of the next meeting was queried as it fell at half term, the school will be contacted regarding this issue and the meeting may be changed to Monday 26^th February.
Carolyn Mallam suggested that the village fete this year might be run jointly with the School PTA on 21^st July.
Sarah Hammer asked if the neighbouring Parish Councils to Fyfield could be asked if they had problems with speeding as a joint imitative might be more effective IM/Clerk
Maurice Hardy felt the Parish Council should respond to the Bus service query from Jackie Gallop offering our support but stating that at present we as a Parish Council were happy with the Bus Service currently supplied. Clerk
A letter had been received from David Wilkinson asking that a note from the Parish Council be put in the Parish Magazine regarding the dumping of garden rubbish in drainage ditches, he felt this was inappropriate and could also lead to flooding at this time of year. Clerk to arrange

Meeting closed at 9. 25pm.

Date of the next meeting February 26th 2007 at 7.45pm at Amport School