Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday January 19^th 2004 at 7.45pm at Amport School

1. Present
Mr I. Morrison, (Chairman), Lt Col Stephens, (Vice Chairman), Mrs C Mallam, Mr Neville Geake, Mrs S.Hammer, Mr T.Southern, Mrs Diana Preston
Mrs Suzanne Hoare (Clerk) and Mrs Unwin, the village correspondent plus 5 members of the public.
Apologies Mr Maurice Hardy, Mr Ian Long and Mr George Bacon

2. Minutes of the Previous Meetings
These were agreed and signed.

1. Amport TalkBack
   Ongoing discussions have taken place since the last meeting and Ian Morrison felt more were needed to develop the priorities behind the communications initiative. In principle it was felt that the chat room forum would be developed first. A sub-committee meeting was planned for Jan 26^th at 10am. at the home of David Preston.
   
2. The Green and Play area on the Green
   Ian Morrison was pleased to report that the new play area on the Green was 99% complete and thanked Carolyn Mallam for her work on this project. The grant from Hampshire Playing Fields may be dependent on the total spending on the play area reaching £12,000. This needs to be confirmed with Ian Long. Routine inspections of the new equipment are needed and councillors would like to take Maria Long up on her offer to inspect the play equipment regularly. Clerk to contact Maria to confirm her willingness to undertake the inspections. The invoices have been received for the Mattas and the Storks Nest; these invoices will be forwarded to TVBC to apply for the 50% grant- Clerk
   
   Correspondence has been received from the legal dept at HCC which states that Amport Parish Council registered a claim for ownership of the main Green VG150 on 27^th June 1968 and that this became final on October 1970, it advises the Parish Council that they are responsible for checking the current position. It was agreed to try and avoid legal bills on this issue unless necessary .The Clerk will file searches at the land registry on both Village Greens VG150 and VG208. It was also felt that a village solicitor might help, if this was found to be needed.
   
   It was reported to the clerk during the Christmas holidays that the tap on the Green was leaking, as a result the water was switched off in the road. The Clerk to contact Len Locke at Lombard to ask if he will repair/ replace the leaking tap.
   
3. Village Design StatementThe next meeting of the Village Design Statement team is on February 10^th - 8pm at the Amport Inn meeting Room. The questionnaire will be finalised and analysis of the responses will need to be undertaken thereafter. Neville and Charles asked how to access the available funds at TVBC for this project- the Clerk to investigate.
   
4. Footpaths
   Maurice Hardy sent information to the meeting regarding the plaque for the memorial tree. The quote for a plaque 12 inches by 9 inches was £70 for the sign and the plinth; it was decided to hold over discussions on this matter to the next meeting.
   Mr Freeman-Smith reported concerns he had received on the narrowing of the gap at the entrance to the footpath from the Cottage on the Green to Sarson Mill. Mr and Mrs Wyles agreed to slightly widen this gap but said no changes had occurred at this point during their time at the Cottage on the Green.
   Diana Preston reported problems with a footpath on the Amesbury road in Thruxton, Tim Southern offered to investigate this problem as it was outside the Parish Boundary.
   The flooding outside Guyatt Cottage was discussed and it was agreed that Ian Morrison would speak to the owner about clearance of the ditch.
   Tim Southern had received complaints about the accessibility on Footpath 23 at Middlecot. This matter will be passed to Maurice Hardy to follow up with Peter Watson at HCC Clerk to check for correspondence on this matter and pass it on to Maurice.
   
5. Kieron Beattie`s Land
   A letter dated the 22/12/ 2003 has been received from Kieron Beattie detailing vandalism on the site at Green Lane. Mr Beattie proposes to install CCTV. Clerk to express the Parish Councils regret on this matter and pass the information on to Monxton PC.
   Mr Beattie has also sent his proposals (9/12/03) for the building on his land; this was not a planning application so no discussion took place.
   On the 8<sup>th</sup> of January correspondence was received concerning Mr Beattie`s quotation from Southern Water to connect the lower end of his Green lane site to the Mains supply. This would involve going through the stream and crossing the footpath. Diana Preston asked if thought had been given to the inlaid flints on Footpath 6. Clerk to write to Patrick Pierce our HCC Councillor to ask if this is a matter, which should involve Hampshire County Council.
   Mr Beattie offered a site meeting and this will be taken up by Ian Morrison, Mr Calderly and possibly Mr Gobel.
   
6. Village Hall
   Brief discussions took place on this item but it was felt that the Village Design Statement and financial considerations could influence Parish Councillors so the item will be discussed further at the March Meeting when more information should be available.

1. TVN.LB.00833/ TVN.08969 Two storey and single storey side extensions to no 1 to provide family room with bedroom over, study and cloakroom, erection of detached double garage and post and rail fence; erection of two storey and single storey extensions to number 2 to provide additional bedroom accommodation, en-suite, shower, study, utility and porch, erection of detached double garage, extension to residential curtilage and provision of driveway. 1 and 2 Haydown Cottages Wiremead lane, East Cholderton Amport. No Objection
2. TVN.08478/2 Erection of double garage at front of site and wall along west boundary New dwelling adjacent the Bothy Furzedown lane No objection subject to the roof level being lowered by 2` so as the garage is not visible.
3. TVN.08741/2 Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of replacement five bedroom dwelling, construction of vehicular access and extension to residential curtilage. Downfield, Wiremead Lane, East Cholderton No objection
4. TVN.08987 Siting of a mobile home Doric House, Potters Cross Cholderton No Objection if temporary and linked to employment
5. TVN.01822/6 Erection of garage Thornbury, Dauntsey Lane Weyhill No objection
6. TVN.03524/1 Erection of shed 30 Sarson Close No Objection
7. TVN.07637/2 Erection of single storey front extension to provide extended lounge and porch and 2 storey front extension to provide utility and shower room with bedroom en-suite over and carport. 22 Fairways Weyhill. No Objection

TVN.LB.00269 Retention of satellite dish Marigold Cottage Consideration by committee 15th January
TVN.02002/14 Extend residential curtilage Sarson Farm Refused
TVN.03036/4 Erection of 2 dwellings, West Mead, Weyhill Appeal
TPO.TVBC.00120/14 Fell 1 Beech tree, Kopje, Sarson lane Appeal

Charles Stephens and Diana Preston signed the following cheques on the 21st Dec 2003

CountryWorks Footpath cut in September
Plus £100 worth of work on Stroud’s Field.     £1057-50
Southern Electric                                            £ 25-92

The Parish Council approved these items

Ian Morrison and Charles Stephens signed the following cheques at this meeting

LAPPSET the stork’s nest play equipment        £3911-59
MATTA products (safety matting)                    £4482-63
Graveyard Maintenance Grant to Amport PCC £  100-00
S A Hoare salary for January                          £  203-50

The Parish Council approved these items

Financial Risk Assessment - 4 quotes on interest rates available on accounts suitable for the Parish Council were obtained. The Halifax offered 0.88%, the Nationwide 1.25%, HSBC 1.25% and our current bank, Lloyds/TSB, will give 1.25% in the Business account, the PC cheque book- Treasurers Account has just had a zero of interest imposed on it and therefore a letter was signed giving the clerk authority to transfer money between the two account to maximise interest available. This means that income from invested monies for next year is unlikely to exceed £150 at best.

Correspondence has been received from Alan Maddern (Finance- Amport School Governors) concerning a pledge given in May 2000 by the then Parish Council to give a grant of £1000 towards the new School gates. As most Parish Councillors present were unfamiliar with the proposals the clerk was asked to write to Mr Maddern asking for an updated proposal, so that the Parish Council can decide whether to confirm their pledge to give money to the project. The Parish Council noted that the project was scheduled for completion by April 2004.

7. Correspondence
The Parish Council is no longer able to recommend Governors for Local Schools
Twinning in Amport, a visit is scheduled for May; more information will be available nearer to the visit.
The Potential role of the Boundary Committee was noted.

8 A.O.B
Tim Southern stated that he is trying to organise a local seminar on playground insurance, with a meeting at the Guildhall for Chairman and Clerks of Parish Councils in early March.
Tim asked for an update on Stroud’s Field and Charles replied that this was available on the website and in the recent Parish Magazine.
A risk assessment meeting for all matters applicable to Parish Council responsibility is to be set up IM, TS & clerk.
Neville Geake raised the question of the uneven footpath at the Eights, this was not a parish Council matter but Ian Morrison as an owner will investigate.

Meeting Closed at 9.50pm
Date of next meeting Monday February 16th 7.45pm at the School.