Present:
Cllr C. Neville - Chairman
Cllr S. Carryer
Cllr M. Herbert
Cllr R. Seeckts
Cllr A. Blaber

None.

(a) Removal of rail at Coldharbour
The Clerk reminded Councillors that she had clarified the location of the rail with Phil Allen and explained that highway rights still applied, so that there could be no objection to opening up a right of access by horses. Phil Allen had replied that the Parish Council’s request had been put on a list and would be dealt with in accordance with HCC’s agreed priorities for the maintenance of the rights of way network, based on the severity of the problem, the use of the path and the resources available. Following discussion it was agreed that the Clerk should e-mail Phil Allen and ask for a timescale on action to be given. Cllr Herbert said that she would also attempt to clear some small trees which had come down and were blocking the path in places so that it would be ready for use once the rail was removed.

(b) Response from HCC re request for land (CL132) to be cleared adjacent to Sickles Lane
For the duration of this item, Cllr Blaber left the room. Cllr Neville asked Mrs Comber, present at the meeting, if she had contacted Open Spaces Society concerning the response received from HCC about action to clear this land. Mrs Comber said that the Open Spaces Society had advised that Natural England, a DEFRA body, were at present putting together teams whose role it would be to persuade landowners to take action in cases where rights of access to Common Land were being impeded. Cllr Neville reminded Councillors of the contents of HCC’s letter which stated that the County Council had a power but no duty to enter into negotiation with the landowner and that it was a very low priority for action. He asked Councillors what they wanted to do. Cllr Herbert said she felt that Common Land should not be lost to the village and that this was a matter that should be followed through. Cllr Carryer agreed and said that she would like to see the scrub cleared and the pond restored which would make the entrance to the village from Sickles Lane appear more attractive. It was agreed that the Parish Council would write to the landowner requesting that the area should be made accessible on foot to the public. At Cllr Herbert’s suggestion, this request would be supported by information about the Countryside Access Forum’s small grants scheme which might provide funding to help with the clearing and drainage of the land. It was further agreed that the Parish Council should write to HCC again, explaining that a request had been made to the landowner, and asking for this matter to be placed on a list for action and some timescale to be given.
Proposed: Cllr Carryer
Seconded: Cllr Herbert

(c) Proposal by Kinglsey Benefit Fund to install noticeboard in two bus shelters owned by Kinglsey Parish Council
Kingsley Benefit Fund had suggested installing noticeboards, at KBF’s expense, in the two bus shelters in the centre of the village. The aim was to keep the shelters looking tidier and to provide a better surface for notices to be attached. It was agreed that KBF’s proposal should be accepted.
Proposed: Cllr Seeckts
Seconded: Cllr Carryer

The Clerk advised that she had spoken to Cllr Mark Kemp-Gee, having e-mailed him to express concern over the inadequacy of the repairs to the B3004. Cllr Kemp-Gee had suggested that the Parish Council should write to the Chief Engineer of Hampshire Highways East. A draft letter was circulated for Councillors to consider and it was agreed to send this, subject to an amendment suggested by Cllr Seeckts to formally demand a response to the points made.
Proposed: Cllr Carryer
Seconded: Cllr Seeckts

Cllr Neville said that Hampshire County Council had now adopted a new policy on speed limits, in response to the revised government guidelines issued last year. He was awaiting further details on this to be sent to him but it was possible that there might be a way forward from this. He was hopeful of getting the information from Dockenfield PC on the next day that he had been trying to get for a long time which might provide an alternative route forward.

The consultation document containing the proposed amendments to the model code of conduct had previously been circulated to Councillors. Cllr Neville asked if Councillors had any questions. Cllr Seeckts sought clarification of the reasons for allowing disclosure of confidential information where it was in the public interest. The Clerk advised that she believed this was to allow for “whistle-blowing”; currently there was no provision to allow Councillors to disclose confidential information even where it might be considered this was in the public interest. The suggested amendment would allow this but there would be guidelines to follow for what would be regarded as a matter of public interest to ensure this was not abused by Councillors merely seeking to make political capital out of confidential information they had received. It was agreed that the Parish Council had no representations it wished to make in respect of this consultation.
Proposed: Cllr Seeckts
Seconded: Cllr Blaber

The Clerk advised that during an election year, the annual parish council meeting must take place within 14 days of the election date. This had been discussed at the last meeting and it had been the view of the Councillors present then that they would prefer to hold this meeting separately from the usual May meeting, otherwise the latter would take place too soon after the April meeting. It was therefore suggested that the meeting should be held on Thursday May 10th and all agreed to this date.

F26242/037/FUL/KO ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES ANCILLARY TO EXISTING USE, THE DOME, MAIN ROAD, KINGSLEY
This application refers to additional parking spaces to be provided between the barn commonly known as the Caddy Shack (referred to by the applicant as the PJ building) and Dean Farm Golf Course Car Park, and not to additional parking for the Dome Tennis Centre as suggested by the title given to the application by EHDC. Kingsley Parish Council has no objection to this application provided that there is no impact on the existing road to the tennis centre as a result of the work done.

F20904/001/FUL/SR 2.5 METRE BOUNDARY FENCE TO EAST SIDE, FALDONSIDE, MAIN ROAD, KINGSLEY
Kingsley Parish Council unanimously has no objection to this planning application.

F39854/001/FUL/SR DRIVEWAY AND NEW ACCESS, 1 GOLD HILL, MAIN ROAD, KINGSLEY
Kingsley Parish Council unanimously has no objection to this planning application.

Cllr Neville thanked Cllr Herbert for her work on the Kingsley PCC Pack and for volunteering to attend Kingsley Centre meetings. He asked Cllr Blaber to place a stake where he wanted the Millennium tree re-sited and said he would then try to organise for it to be moved. He reminded Councillors that the Annual Parish Meeting was approaching and that arrangements needed to be put in place quickly. He suggested asking James Arbuthnot MP to address the meeting and this was agreed. Finally he mentioned that there was a meeting of the Whitehill and Bordon Business Breakthrough Group next Tuesday to discuss opportunities presented by the army’s withdrawal; he planned to go and if there was anything useful to report back, would do so at the next meeting.

Cllr Carryer reported that the bollards and traffic lights at the Sleaford junction of the A325/B3004 had finally been repaired on 7th February. She agreed to present costings for the proposed new iron gate for the West door of St Nicholas Church to the next meeting. Cllr Neville asked that it be recorded in the minutes that John Nicholson (who had been contracted to replace the damaged door at the last meeting when Cllr Neville was not present (Minute ref 06/143)) was his cousin and that he had had no contact with him over this matter which had been handled by Cllr Carryer and the Clerk.
Cllr Blaber reported that the pot-hole in Sickles Lane had been temporarily fixed. He raised the issue of the amount of mud on the lanes as a result of the extra traffic during the B3004 closure. The Clerk was asked to e-mail Cllr Kemp-Gee to say that the road surfaces of Sickles Lane and Wheatley Lane up to Binsted required cleaning urgently.
The Clerk advised that Cllr Kemp-Gee had told her work to repair the verges on South Hay Lane was already planned for early Summer.
Cllr Seeckts said that now the bracken had been cleared around the tree stumps on Upper Green, he would deal with these shortly.
Cllr Herbert reported that she had attended a meeting at the Sustainability Centre about Biomap Heating on 8th February. This had been for the purposes of finding out about possible alternative methods of heating that might be relevant for local landowners and farmers. She had also attended the inaugural Hampshire Action Team meeting on 15th February which was intended to improve the partnership between the County Council and Town and Parish Councils. She said that the meeting had agreed that the highest priority was the service received from Hampshire Highways and policy on traffic matters such as speed limits and road signage. The second main priority was identified as improving the clarity of communication between the County Council and Town and Parish Councils. This included issues such as unnecessary jargon in County Council documents, clearer pathways on the HCC website and keeping local councils up to date with progress on reported matters. She advised that there was some asbestos near the Coldharbour entrance to the Common which had been there for a long time and was asked to report this immediately to the Warden as she knew the exact location; it would appear that the Warden was unaware of this since a recent fly-tipping of asbestos had resulted in immediate action by the police to remove it.