Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday 18th January 2009 at 7.45 pm in Amport School Hall.

1. Present
Lt Col Stephens, (Vice Chairman ), Mrs Sarah Hammer, Mrs Jean Arnell, Mr Ian Long, Mr Bill Gore, Mr Ashley Smith and Mrs Suzanne Hoare (Clerk)
Apologies Mr I. Morrison, (Chairman), Mr Nicholas Hoare, Mrs Tanya Garman, Mrs Diana Preston and Mr Tim Southern - TVBC Councillor.
The village correspondent, Cllr Pat West HCC and 1 member of the public were present.

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting.
The minutes were agreed and signed after, having been proposed by Sarah Hammer and seconded by Jean Arnell

3. Matters Arising from the last meeting and Declarations of Interest
Charles Stephens welcomed everyone to the first meeting of 2009, especially Bill Gore who was returning after illness.
There were no declarations of interest for tonight’s meeting.

4. Quarley Boundary Changes
In the absence of Ian Morrison and Diana Preston this item was only discussed in general terms and will be an agenda item at the February meeting.
The Parish map was considered and a potential new boundary at Lains Farm identified. Parish Councillors were concerned that enough consultation had taken place with the residents involved. Further discussions will be arranged with the clerk and Chairman of Quarley Parish Council IM/Clerk

The Green and Amport Fen
Ashley Smith has arranged a meeting with his scientific officer from the Hawk Conservancy and Members of the Green/Fen sub-committee on January 28^th to discuss the way forward. Ashley Smith will then report back to the next meeting of the Parish Council.

Footpaths and Highways
A kissing gate has been erected along Footpath 7 by Mr Wyles; the Parish Council has sought advice from Hampshire County Council on this issue and HCC felt it was lawful to erect the gate but would investigate further should the Parish Council wish them to do so. The Parish Council has taken up their offer of a site visit to consider the gate, as parents with push chairs would be prevented from using this footpath if the gate remains.
Following comments at the meeting Charles Stephens with Bill Gore met on January 22^nd Mr Hawkins-Byas, the landowner of the footpath, which runs adjacent to the Trout Lake and discussed the uneven surface of the path. He has agreed to improve the camber of the path once the weather improves.
The Footpath which runs behind the Amport Inn is narrow due to over hanging hedges where it emerges onto Sarson Lane. The clerk has written to the land owner north of the Footpath and request that it is cut back.
Cllr Pat West updated the Parish Council about the probable costs of joining the PFI lighting scheme, the Council currently has 3 lights maintained by HCC and the projected costs are around £60 per column. This would represent an increase on the current costs. A committal on whether to join the scheme is required by the end of February, therefore discussions on this topic will continue at the next meeting on February 23^rd .

Goodman Application
Pat West reported that no legal 106 agreements were signed as yet and HCC were trying to forbid any site construction until the new road improvements were finished.
Newbury has given permission for a megashed at Greenham Common and Pyestock is expected to report next week.
There is some hope that the proposed scheme at the Andover Airfield may currently be unviable.
Charles Stephens thanked Pat West for her continued support in this matter.

Weyhill Play Area
Playground Services have sent a plan with costings for a new play area at Weyhill. The total cost for the proposed scheme is £52,000.
Sarah Hammer felt that even before considering any expenditure at Weyhill a Legal Agreement should be in place securing the use of the land by the Parish Council. It would need to include a time scale for use. Pat West advised the Parish Council to look at proposals in Apppleshaw where a more rural play area was being considered at a cost of around £30,000.
A meeting will take place between Sarah Hammer and Ian Morrison to decide the conditions to be sought in the legal agreement. Sarah Hammer felt that no further action should be taken until such assurances on the future use of the Play Area were in place.

The following cheques were not signed as only 1 signaturee was present

The above cheques were approved by those councillors present and will be signed by Ian Morrison and Charles Stephens, when they are available.
The Audit Commission have returned the accounts for 2007/8 without comment and these are available as always for the public to view by appointment with the clerk.

8. AOB and Correspondence

Ashley Smith asked if the Footpath contract would be put out to tender for the forthcoming year. The contracts are available for tender and competitive prices are always sought along with quality work. The cutting of the Footpaths will need to be arranged soon with some paths needing more than 2 cuts per year – depending on growing conditions.
Ian Long reported the return of the moles on the Green, pest control will again be sought, before the start of the Grass cutting on the Green.
Pat West replied to Diana Preston’s query on reducing Speed Limits near Pitswarren Cholderton rd, Pat West stated that she felt any change was very unlikely.

The Meeting closed at 9.40 pm.

The date of the next meeting is February 23^rd 7.45pm at Weyhill Fairground Hall.