HURLEY PARISH COUNCIL

Held at Burchetts Green School, Burchetts Green on Thursday 9th July 2009 at 7.30pm.

PRESENT: Cllr Steve Harrington (Chairman), Harry Sparrow (Vice Chairman)
Cllrs: John Addiscott, Sandra Baker, David Jarvis and Kim McLaren.

ALSO PRESENT: 15 members of public and Cllr Maureen Hunt. Minutes taken by Harry Sparrow.

099/09  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies were received from Cllrs G. Hill, Chris Westacott, David Burfitt, Tom Pratt and the Clerk, Janet Wheeler.

100/09 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow members of the public to speak in Open Forum.

OPEN FORUM Mr Martin asked if the Council could assist in monitoring expirations of planning consents that had not commenced, or that had been started after consent had expired. Cllr Addiscott responded that the Parish Council had limited resources and could not assist beyond responding to specific complaints.
Mr John Iles presented a petition of 65 signatures of objections to the plan to put down yellow lines and permanent notices of parking restrictions at the north end of the High Street in Hurley Village. He went on to complain that no further consultation had taken place after the initial plans that relied on temporary cones had been implemented and that the overwhelming majority of residents, evidenced by the petition, opposed the latest changes.
Several residents of Shepherds Close complained of problems they were having as a result of the visitors parking in the Close since being unable to park in the High Street and had collected in a short period over 35 signatories to a petition demanding resident only parking in the Close. No one spoke in favour of the proposed restrictions and it was suggested that further efforts and consultations were needed to explore alternative solutions involving more of the affected residents
Open Forum was closed at 8.30pm

The Chairman reconvened the Council Meeting.

101/09  PLANNING APPLICATIONS CONSIDERED AND DISCUSSED

1  Planning ref. 09/01097
Demolition of existing outbuildings and erection of a pitched roof car port and store at HURLEY HOUSE, High Street, Hurley.

NO OBJECTION proposed by Cllr Addiscott, seconded by Cllr Baker
Vote:  IN FAVOUR = UNANIMOUS

2  Planning ref.09/01169 and 09/01170
Planning and listed building consents for the removal of three windows and brickwork and insertion of three timber doors and two windows in a barn at YE OLDE BELL HOTEL, High Street, Hurley.

OBJECTION on the grounds of unnecessary and out of keeping with the building in a Conservation Area proposed by Cllr Addiscott seconded by Cllr Jarvis.
Vote: IN FAVOUR = 5-1.

3  Planning Ref. 09/01172 and 09/01173
Planning and listed building consent to convert loft space within the brick barn and insertion of roof lights in north and south elevations at YE OLDE BELL HOTEL, High Street, Hurley.

Two letters of objection had been received from close neighbours
OBJECTION proposed by Cllr Addiscott seconded, by Cllr Baker on the grounds of being out of keeping and unnecessary with a presumption against roof lights in a conservation area and an informative regarding additional parking requirements in a problem area.
Vote: IN FAVOUR = UNANIMOUS

4  Planning ref. 09/01158
Construction of a tennis court with perimeter fencing at BROAD REACH, Warren Row Road, Warren Row

SUPPORT proposed by Cllr Harrington, seconded by Cllr Jarvis
Vote: IN FAVOUR = UNANIMOUS

Tree Works
Planning ref. 09/01296
Removal of tree covered by TPO and work to a Cherry Tree at LONG REACH, High Street, Hurley.
DEFER to Tree Officer proposed by Cllr Addiscott, seconded by Cllr Sparrow.
Vote: IN FAVOUR = UNANIMOUS

102/09  BOROUGH CONCILLORS REPORT
Cllr Maureen Hunt updated the meeting regarding efforts to provide post office services at Knowl Hill so far unsuccessful as outreach provision could not be provided when other facilities were available within 3 miles
Cllr Hunt mentioned progress with an East Arms resident's problems with noise disturbance, and updated the meeting on possible future developments at Grundon's works in Knowl Hill and her responses to them. She had missed the last liason meeting but Cllr Baker reported that it had been a good meeting
Cllr Hunt confirmed that the RBWM was in discussions with The Forestry Commission regarding the access gate at Ashley Hill Woods and the demand to move the fence and gate back off Highway land and reinstating barriers to parking
Cllr Hunt was asked to take up with the relevant dept at the RBWM the problem raised in Open Forum with lapsed planning consents.

103/09 CLERKS REPORT
As the Clerk was on holiday her written report was considered and progress was reported on the following:-
Cllr Addiscott  Parish play area, Hurley
A quotation from Holdford had been received to carry out work required as a result of the annual R.O.S.P.A. report at a cost of £240.00 plus VAT. The meeting authorised this Quote be accepted and the work be carried out.
Cllr Harrington  Gateway construction at Ashley Hill Woods
See item 102/09 regarding action
Cllr Jarvis  Bainhurst Cottage Parking Area 
The Clerk had ascertained that ownership by the RBWM had been denied and that no work on the pothole problem would be carried out. The meeting resolved to request the RBWM to take responsibility for the car park and resolve the problem.                                Action by the Clerk and Cllr Hunt requested

Other items are covered elsewhere in the agenda

104/09  APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 11th June 2009 were circulated to all Councillors prior to the meeting. On the proposal of Cllr Harrington, seconded by Cllr Sparrow, the Minutes were unanimously approved with no amendments.

105/09  FINANCE
The Financial Report as at 3rd July was presented to the Council along with payments, transfers and Bank Reconciliation Statements. On the proposal of Cllr Sparrow seconded by Cllr Addiscott it was unanimously agreed to approve and sign this Financial Report, the cheques and bank transfer.
It was noted that the 2008/09 Council End of Year Accounts and internal audit results had been provided to all Councillors for study, prior to discussion at the August Meeting.

106/09  UPDATE RE: ACTIONS REGARDING 236 BUS SERVICE
The meeting went on to consider and respond to discussions that had taken place at a meeting held prior to the Council Meeting, attended by Neil Beswick, an officer of the RBWM, and Jackie Fitchitt from Courtney Coaches. Residents of all 3 villages served by the No 239 bus had raised serious concerns regarding the timetable, time-keeping, rudeness of drivers, use of Advantage Cards, fare knowledge, bus-stops and timetable availability.
Mr Beswick stated that due to budget constraints no additional services were possible, but that he and Ms Fitchitt would listen to complaints and take action when possible to improve the service. Unfortunately due to lack of time the session had to be curtailed and Cllr Harrington (Chairman) offered to facilitate further bus user group meetings to finalise a user request agenda, prior to a further meeting to be arranged with Courtney Coaches and the RBWM.
Ms Fitchitt left business cards, and offered to respond to individual complaints bought to her attention.

107/09  UPDATE ON HURLEY PARKING 
The Council discussed the very strong arguments presented by members of the public in Open Forum against yellow lines and, at the North end of the High Street, for the retention of the status quo, namely cones, together with demands from the South end for more thought on ways of keeping the side streets clear.  The Council felt that further work was needed.
It was proposed by Cllr Sparrow, seconded by Cllr Addiscott that Neil Walter, principle parking Officer at the RBWM be asked to delay implementing phase one, yellow lines, and allow time for further discussions and thought after close of the consultation period on the current phase 2 proposals, south end of the High Street. This was unanimously approved
Cllr Addiscott was asked to draft such a request for the Chairman.

108/09  UPDATE ON ACTIVITY AT GRUNDON
Nothing further to report other than points in Cllr Hunt's report.

109/09  MAINTAINANCE OF PARKING AREA AT BAINHURST COTTAGES 
The Clerk has had telephone contact from RBWM stating that they do not own the car-park in question and therefore cannot carry out repairs. The Council resolved to ask the Clerk and Cllr Hunt to request that the RBWM adopt the area and accept responsibility for the upkeep.

110/09  WAYS TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE AT THE PARISH ASSEMBLY 
Due to lack of time this item was deferred to the September meeting.

111/09  UPDATE ON THE PLAY BUILDER PROJECT
The Chairman reported that invitations to tender had been sent to 11 companies with a completion date of 27th July. Two companies had already registered interest and visited the site.

112/09  LATE CORRESPONDANCE 
Cllr Jarvis asked that the Clerk write to the Ordinance Survey Office requesting that the parking symbol on the riverside downstream from Hurley Lock be removed at the next opportunity as it is now erroneous, and creates problems.

113/09  DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS 
6th   August  Council Meeting  Village Hall Littlewick Green
3rd  September  Council Meeting  Village Hall Knowl Hill


The meeting closed at 10:25pm