Parish Council Meeting 22 November 2011 Minutes

MIDGHAM PARISH COUNCIL 21 Swan Drive, Aldermaston. RG7 4UZ Email – angela@midghamparish.co.uk Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 22 November in the Village Hall at 7.30pm. Present were Mr H Long (Chairman) (HL) Mr R Norris (RN) Mrs H Hutchins (HH) Mr D Lombardo (DL) Mrs A Spoor (Clerk) Mrs I Neill (IN) (District Councillor) Plus 3 members of the public 1. Apologies for absence Mr J Carey (JC) sent apologies due to personal commitments 2. Declarations of interest - none declared 3. Minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday 27 September 2011 were approved and signed 4. Matters arising not on the agenda Salt bin request: Clerk advised that WBC have approved a new salt bin on Church Hill subject to the PC paying for this and seeking the approval of residents near the proposed site for the new bin. RN will seek the approval of Mr Rogers/Taplin and advise the clerk. ACTION: Clerk to order new bin once these approvals obtained. 5. Alms Houses – update from HL: WBC are still seeking contact with the owner of the land adjacent to the Alms Houses requesting that drain is scoured out. JB of WBC will see if the council’s contractors will blow the drain through. Water is getting into GPO line and water collects above the inspection cover which is likely to freeze. GPO contacted the Water board who claim it is not theirs. Progress is slow but the Council are not obliged to spend public money on drains on minor roads but they have the power to serve a notice on landowners to do the work and if the required work is not done then to charge the owner if necessary. HL will advise A Jackson the relay the message. 6. Village Hall improvements – RN updated on improvements new door and lock, signage is coming, rotten floor at rear have been replaced. Funds from Greenham Common Trust have been received to match the payment from the parish council to pay for the improvements. A new key will be provided to the clerk. 7. Emergency Plan – RN is attending a meeting at WBC on 29 November. RN is developing a plan for Midgham using the WBC template to assist; this will extend to emergencies other than extreme weather conditions. This will be presented at the next meeting. RN has concerns re the storage of personal data and will seek advice. ACTION: All parish councillors to speak to residents in their ward to ascertain if they would require assistance or are able to offer assistance in the event of an emergency. 8. District Councillor’s report Newbury Parkway – Phase 1 is open – new shops opening in future. Waste site is now open although not busy. WBC are working on next year’s budget looking for potential savings 4 Dec Shaw House Xmas crafts/activities Youth activities are available on the website Nursery Copse – developments expected shortly - Gordon Curry (GC), the enforcement officer is writing a report presenting options to take the case forward. GC has been off long term sick for a while hence delay. 9. Broadband Improvements – The Government have put forward money to improve broadband speeds in rural areas to link with BT improvements in the main urban conurbations. WBC have agreed to match this money but need additional contributions from parishes. Midgham PC has been requested to put £1641.00 forward over the next 3 years starting 2012/3. IN suggested that parish councils seek feedback from residents to assess if there are problems and willingness to pay a small amount extra as part of the precept. Also to identify local businesses that may be willing to contribute. This work could be undertaken at the same time as the Emergency Planning initiative. More information is available on the website http://www.superfastberkshire.org.uk ACTION: Clerk to respond to WBC confirming that Midgham PC agree in principal to the contribution. 10. Public Time – no questions 11. Clerks’ report: Financial statement: C/A £413.31 credit D/A £19814.87 credit Amounts to be paid CPRE renewal subscription £29.00 (agreed at meeting) 12. Planning: - Applications .. 11/02245/TELE56 Telecommunications Mast Erection of structure on Brimpton Road – ACTION: Clerk to respond to WBC with Midgham PC response – Subject to the fact that local residents have been fully consulted the parish council have no objections. Adjacent Parish – 11/01978/COMIND Formation of materials storage compound, incl new fencing and external lighting – Xtrac, Gables Way, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 4ZA ACTION: Clerk to respond to WBC with Midgham PC response – Midgham parish council have no objections. 11/01996/MINMAJ Grundon Sand And Gravel Limited Kennet Holme Farm (was received between meetings) – the application was believed to be invalid however WBC were keen that Midgham PC submit their comments – these were collected by email and returned to WBC prior to the meeting as follows: ‘The application appears to be invalid – reference the letter from Matt Meldrum dated 12 October 2011. The main covering letter for this application is missing with the documents. However having seen these on WBC website there are no objections to the removal or variation to the conditions 12 & 19 and conditions 14 & 15 being carried out in accordance with the revised drawing No: 05-001/004 REV A. However we object to the removal or variation to condition 16 Maintenance of Access, 18 Culvert following completion and condition 13 Wheel Cleaning. The clerk advised the following decision: 11/01693/XHOUSE Toad Hall renewal of planning permission – APPROVED 13. Correspondence: 13.1 Newbury and District Association of National Trust – request for donation was declined 13.2 Queens Diamond Jubilee Beacons – guide to taking part given to RN to pass to the Jubilee committee. 13.3 2013 review of Parliamentary constituencies – IN advised that Midgham was not affected 13.4 Campaign to Protect Rural England – request to renew subscription of £29 pa.was agreed by all present, cheque raised ACTION: Clerk to return to CPRE 13.5 Royal Berks Fire & Rescue Service consultation period on risk management annual action plan – circulated for reading 13.6 Rights of way improvement plan and working with parishes – ACTION: HL will review this 13.7 West Berks Local Development Framework consultation 4.11.11 to 16.12.11 – clerk made councillors aware of this no action taken 13.8 Berkshire Broadband Improvement Programme (Superfast Berkshire) dealt with as point 9 (above). 14. Play area: Monthly check – OK. DL requested that the Hawthorn hedge at the rear be cut as part of the annual tidy up. ACTION: RN to liaise with Odin Manners to request for this work to be undertaken. The meeting closed at 8.55pm No meeting will be held in December. Next meetings: 10 January 2011 followed by 28 February 2011