Minutes March 2010

Minutes of the Meeting of St Martha Parish Council held at Chilworth Church of England Infant School on Monday 8 March 2010

The meeting was opened at 7.15 pm

Present:

Chairman                     Mr David Bunting

Cllrs                             Mrs Patricia Allen

Mr Peter Burt

Mr Colin Hayward

Mr Mike Lunnon

Mr John Peake

Mrs Barbara Winkworth

SCC Cllr Keith Taylor

GBC Cllr David Wright

Parish Clerk                 Mr Chris Karney

37.1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Cllr Roy Hogben GBC

37.2 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 25 January 2010, having been circulated to Cllrs, were approved.

37.3 DECLARATION OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST

Mr John Peake declared a personal interest, as a governor of Tillingbourne School, in item 37.8.1

Meeting adjourned

There was a short presentation followed by questions by PC Lloyd Votter (Community Police Officer). Among the points made were:

1. There was a regular police surgery at the Shalford Parish Office on the second Thursday in the month between 10 am and 11.30am.
2. On 16 March 2010 at 7.00pm there would be a meeting aimed at young people.
3. There was a police officer dedicated to rural crime.
4. Country Watch was a self help scheme aimed at rural areas where a local contacts list was maintained.
5. Due to cuts in funding, the training of Speedwatch volunteers had been deferred from March to April.
6. An opportunity for the public to meet the local Police Community Team would be provided at the next Parish Meeting on 10 May 2010.

Meeting resumed

37.4 MATTERS ARISING

1. a. Parish Website

Cllr Winkworth stated that she no longer wished to have any responsibility for the website. The Chairman appealed for volunteers to undertake training to maintain the new website when it was installed.

ACTION All

b. Tree Preservation Orders for selected trees in Blacksmith Lane

Cllr David Wright has arranged to inspect the designated trees with Stuart Bee (GBC Trees Officer). The Clerk would contact Mr Bee to determine the outcome of the inspection. 

ACTION Clerk

c. Overgrown hedge on the East corner of the junction of Blacksmith Lane and Dorking Road

Cllr Peake reported that he had approached the owner of No 3 Dorking Road and made the suggestion that an informal meeting could be arranged between the owner and the parish council chairman David Bunting. The suggestion was declined by the owner.

d. Trees beside footpath which runs between the school and No 51 Dorking Road

The Clerk had written to Mr James Browne (SCC Rights of Way) pointing out that following his onsite inspection, where he concluded that the trees presented no danger to the footpath, one of the trees had subsequently fallen down blocking the footpath and damaging the school fence. Mr Browne has not responded.

e. Kissing Gates on Field on South slope of St Martha’s Hill

Cllr Burt reported that the East gate had been repaired by securing the closing post with a large iron plate. However he also reported that one of the risers on the steps leading to the gate had collapsed. Cllr Burt volunteered to deal with the matter. The meeting expressed its thanks to Cllr Burt.

ACTION PB

f. Mud on footpath FP578 (Vera’s Path)

The Clerk had brought the matter to the attention of Mr James Browne (SCC Rights of Way). If the mud was caused by a spring it would be the responsibility of the landowner if the source could be identified. Cllrs AGREED that the parish council could not progress the matter any further.

g. Gunpowder Mills – Oxford Archaeology’s Conservation Management Plan

The Clerk had written to Mr Jonathon Gill (Oxford Archaeology) expressing the Parish Council’s wish for involvement in the consultation exercise over the conservation management plan.

h. Parish Newsletter

The Clerk had produced an advertisement for a volunteer editor for the newsletter. The advertisement had been displayed on the parish notice boards and in the village shop and the village post office. There had been no response. Cllrs discussed the possibility of getting a secondary school interested as a pupil project.

The end of April is the deadline for articles for the newsletter.

ACTION All

37.5 CHAIRMAN’s REPORT

Chairman had attended a SALC Chairmanship course on 20 February 2010. The timescale involved in booking had meant that it had not proved possible to obtain prior approval from Cllrs. The Council retrospectively APPROVED the expenditure.

The Chairman had received an invitation from Nick Morris (Chair of Wonersh Parish) to attend the annual Wonersh Parish Assembly on Tuesday 22 April 2010 at 7.30pm in Blackheath village hall.

37.6 HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS

37.6.1Parish Audit of Highway Clutter

A letter had been received from a Mr Rob Fairbanks (Surrey Hills AONB Director) requesting that the Parish undertakes a survey of street signs and other furniture to identify any which were considered to be unnecessary.

Cllrs AGREED that it was a worthwhile project and allocated responsibility as follows:

Dorking Road - PB, ML

Sample Oak Lane, Blacksmith Lane, lower part of Halfpenny Lane – PA, JP

Halfpenny Close, Roseacre Gardens, Pineview Close, Mill Reach – DB

The upper part of Halfpenny Lane and White Lane would be covered by the Tyting Society.

The Clerk would coordinate responses. There would be a progress meeting on 30 March in Gomshal Parish Office.

ACTION All

37.6.2 ‘Newmoor’ Blacksmith Lane

The clerk had received a complaint from a resident that wooden sleepers laid to the front of the property was encroaching on the road. The clerk had reported the matter to Gavin Smith (SCC Community Highways Officer). It was NOTED that the piles had been moved back.

37.7 CORRESPONDENCE

None

37.8 COUNCILLORS’ BUSINESS

37.8.1 Swimming Pool at Tillingbourne School

It was proposed that the present outdoor pool at Tillingbourne school be fully enclosed to provide a year round indoor pool. The pool would be made available to the wider community.

The school has engaged a Grant Raising Firm who would be funded by monies raised only if the project is successfully completed.

Cllrs PASSED the following resolution:

‘St Martha Parish Council strongly supports the proposal to fully enclose the swimming pool at the Tillingbourne School; to provide all-year round use for that school, other local schools and the wider community. We believe this would provide a valuable health promoting local facility and reduce car use to more distant pools.’

37.9 PLANNING

37.9.1 Planning Committee Chairman’s report

The Planning Committee met on Monday 1 March 2010 at 7.00pm at the C of E Infant School to consider the planning application for redevelopment of the Titan Sheds Site. A number of members of the public attended the meeting.

1. A. 10/P/00201and 10/P/00202 - Former Titan Sheds, Blacksmith Lane, Chilworth, Guildford, GU4 8NQ

Erection of three detached two storey buildings to provide 2 x 3 bed, 3 x 3

bed and 4 x 3 bed residential units with associated parking following

demolition of existing buildings and conservation area consent for demolition

of existing buildings.

The Parish Council submitted comments and opposed this application.

PENDING       

1. B.     10/P/00149 - Land at Lockner Holt, Dorking Road, Chilworth

Consultation under the overhead lines (exemption) (England and Wales) Regulations

2009 Electricity Act to re-conduct the existing low voltage overhead lines with Aerial

Bundled Conductor (ABC).

This application was for consultation purposes only.

The Parish Council made no comment on this application.

Guildford Borough Council raised no objections.

PENDING

1. C.    10/P/00231 - “Dunromin” 30 Roseacre Gardens, Chilworth

Erection of side extension with rooms in the roof following demolition of existing

garage.

The Parish Council made no comment on this application

PENDING

1. D. 09/P/02078 – Stable Flat “Brantyngeshay” Sample Oak Lane

Erection of two storey building following demolition of existing building

The Parish Council submitted comments and opposed this application

PENDING

37.10 FINANCE

37.10.1 Bank Reconciliation

Cllr Hayward had checked the February reconciliation before the meeting and signed it as correct. The Council approved the reconciliation.

37.10.2 Invoices paid out of committee

SO Mr C Karney (Clerk’s Nov salary)                                      £442.17

888 Chilworth Vilage Hall (room hire)                                      £25.00

SO Mr C Karney (Clerk’s Dec salary)                                     £459.39

37.10.3 Invoices for payment

None

37.10.4 Clerks Allowances and Expenses

Postage                                                                         £3.00

Photocopying                                                               £0.75

Stationery                                                                     £3.65

Use of home as office (2 mths @ £12.00 pm)            £24.00

Clerk’s IT Allowance                                                  £16.65

Total expenses                                                            £48.05

Total Expenditure                                                                          £991.03

37.10.5 March Forecast

Cllrs NOTED the March Forecast.

36.10 DATE OF NEXT MEETING Monday 10 May 2010 which will be the Annual Parish meeting at 7.00pm followed by the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.