BARKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting of the Barkham Parish Council held on 11^th April 2006

in Barkham Village Hall at 7.30 p.m.

Present: Mrs P. Stubbs (in the Chair), Mr. M. Clark, Mr F. A. Scott, Dr. R. Loader, Mr. S. Goldring,

Mr. R. Newman, Mr. D. Oxbrough, Mr. F. Postlethwaite, one member of the public and the Clerk.

Apologies: Mr.J.Shepherd (on holiday)

06/783 Minutes of meeting held on 14^th March 2006 were approved and signed as a true record.

06/784 Matters arising

06/774  Reply received from Mr. Bedingfeld of Traffic Management at WDC regarding the proposed Prohibition of Waiting Order in The Junipers.  The objection of BPC will be reported at the next meeting of the Highways Consultative Board on 5^th June 2006.  The meeting is open to the public and there will be an opportunity to speak by prior arrangement.  Mrs Stubbs will attend the meeting on behalf of BPC.

06/774     Reply received from Mr. Bedingfeld of Traffic Management at WDC regarding the proposed waiting restriction outside the car sales garage in Langley Common Road .  BPC completed a map requesting that yellow lines be introduced to stop obstructive parking.  At the eastern end the double yellow lines should extend to the start of the double white lines and at the western end they should extend beyond the entrance to the caravan site.  A site visit was undertaken by WDC and a scheme designed for the introduction of waiting restrictions on the section of road between the double white lines and the entrance to the caravan site.  To introduce waiting restrictions it is required to implement a Traffic Regulation Order, the next meeting of the Highways Consultative Board is 5^th June 2006.  Mrs Stubbs will attend the meeting.

05/734  Mr Newman reported that the first draft of the Village Design Statement was virtually ready to go out for public consultation, to the local residents (possibly in the form of a Residents Newsletter) and the Parish Council.  Also, a one day presentation is being considered for people to come along and see what a Village Design Statement actually means with positive feedback and suggestions being encouraged.  He also said that the team of people working on the project all had excellent skills which were varied and the whole project was progressing very well.

06/785 Public Session

None.

06/786 Planning

F/2006/6962                           14 Bearwood Road                                                                               Delegated

                                                Proposed two storey side extension to dwelling, removal of       Opposed

                                                existing garage and single storey rear extension.

                                                Revised plans show garage brought forward.

Clerk to write to WDC with the same comments as the previous application.  The garage appears to be too small for a car to enter.  BPC have concerns over the impact the proposed extension will have on the adjoining property which is a bungalow.  The description on the plans state that the extension is a two storey side extension to dwelling, when actually the extension also continues across the whole of the rear of the property virtually doubling the size of the existing house.

F/2006/6874                           3 Whitebeam Close                                                                              Refused

                                                Proposed erection of a detached garage and conversion of

                                                integral garage to family room and utility room, and

                                                erection of two single front bay windows with mono

                                                pitched roof.

Reasons:-  The layout of the proposed garage does not comply with the Local Planning Authority’s standards in respect of vehicle turning.  The proposal would lead to reversing movements along the private driveway leading to the main part of Whitebeam Close adversely affecting road safety.

AG/2006/7186                       Randell’s Farm, Edneys Hill                                                               Approved

                                                Application for prior approval determination for the erection

                                                of a timber framed barn for agricultural use.

Plot 6 Coppid Hill, Barkham Road

A new amended site plan has been received from WDC which now correctly shows plot 6 located in the designated development area and not in the adjoining field which is agricultural land.

Mr Lettin the Enforcement Officer at WDC reported that he has given Mr. Atkinson until 4^th May to clear the field of all building materials.

28 Langley Common Road – Mr. Lettin the Enforcement Officer at WDC has made repeated visits to the site, instructing the owners to remove the clay which is piled up against the trees, they were given until 7^th April but to date the clay is still there.  Clerk to contact Mr. Lettin again asking him to enforce his powers to remove the clay.

It was discussed that a major problem with Enforcement is lack of cover at weekends.  If trees are being cut down at a weekend nothing can be done until Monday morning by WDC.  Clerk to write to the Chief Planning Officer at WDC (copy to Arborfield PC) suggesting weekend cover as a beneficial service for the future.

06/787 Highways

Letter received from Kate Fuller (Traffic Management at WDC) regarding the Highways Consultative Board.  She would like to know what items parishes would like discussed at future meetings.  Items so far include speed limit policy once new guidance is received from the Department of Transport, an additional bridge over the Reading to Waterloo line and integration/impact studies of developments upon key traffic routes.

Two service trenches have been dug in School Road and are not properly repaired, Clerk to write to WDC asking them to request that the contractor return to the site and make good the repair to the road.

Mrs Stubbs reported that the traffic warden had consulted with her regarding the problems at the car sales garage along Langley Common Road (2 parking spaces on the forecourt have been designated for customer parking) but there are continually cars parked on the pavement causing an obstruction.  In future any car parked on the pavement will be given a parking ticket and any car with no tax which is parked on the pavement will be reported to the DVLC.

The Casualty Reduction Officer from the police also consulted with Mrs Stubbs with regard to speed cameras in Bearwood Road and Barkham Street, the problem being that a good view point is required and hence the forecourt of the Post Office is not suitable, the best position would be the drive way of 59 Bearwood Road, permission is being sought from the owners.  Also a review of the speed limits along these roads was discussed.

The Parish Cleanup will take place on Sunday 30^th April.  Clerk has ordered a skip which will be delivered to car park of the village hall on Friday 28^th April and collected on Tuesday 2^nd May.  We will borrow additional litter pickers and jackets from neighbouring parishes.

06/788 Report from the Neighbourhood Action Group Meeting by Mr. Newman

Mr Newman reported that a survey had been completed by Finchampstead residents with the main issues for concern being anti social behaviour/youth issues, speeding and traffic.  Mr Newman will report at the next meeting that the concerns of Barkham are also anti social behaviour and the motor bikes riding in The Coombes.  He also said that the Group were looking for younger members to participate but with the meetings taking place in the daytime this is not always possible.

06/789 To Discuss the Parish Boundary of Barkham

Reply received from Arborfield Parish Council

The following points and queries were raised:

1.It was agreed that the area known as Arborfield Green (the section where the residents vote at Parish level in Arborfield and at District level in Barkham) needs to be re arranged so they are either in one or other at both levels.

2. Whilst there are a number of houses which were sold off by the MOD the Garrison has no intentions, certainly within the near future, of becoming smaller (the catering corps have just moved in).

Page 06/474

3. We would be happy to attend a meeting with yourselves and WDC to resolve the issue in point 1. Maps etc would need to be organized.

4. Do Barkham Parish Council have any other concerns with their boundary with Arborfield & Newland?

Shinfield Parish Council telephoned the Clerk to confirm that they recognise there are anomalies and are in favour of changes.  However John Heggadon (Chairman of the Wokingham District Assoc. of Local Councils) suggests waitng for the Boundary Commission Review which is scheduled for 2008/2010.  

Winnersh Parish Council report -   Our members did look at it but thought that as parish boundaries are usually co-terminus with ward boundaries there was probably not a lot that could be done.  We have the same situation with the boundary running down the middle of roads which is not ideal.

Clerk to write to all the parishes again and to include Wokingham Town Council (Evendons Ward) suggesting a joint meeting (2 from each parish) in June to be held at Barkham Village Hall to jointly air any suggestions.

06/790 Finance

J. Neuhofer – postage & expenses for period 1.4.05 – 31.3.06                      986          £110.92

WDC – 1 skip at The Junipers & 1 refuse lorry at OVH for March              987          £238.53 (£203 exc VAT)

Neat Ideas – 2 ink cartridges                                                                              988          £45.21 (£38.48 exc VAT)

Allianz Cornhill Insurance                                                                                  989          £1016.83

BALC – annual subscription                                                                             990          £317.56

Standing Order for Clerk’s salary for April                                                                      £426.23

Standing Order to Royal Bor. Windsor – Pension Fund for Clerk                               £67.77

for month of April  (Employee & employer contribution)

A standing order was signed for £89.76 in favour of the Pension Fund for the Clerk, this replaces the one previously signed for £59.84 which is incorrect.

To date 803 books have been sold, an income of £4205.74, thus leaving 197 unsold, and the Council is now in credit to the amount of £240.07.

06/791  Affordable Housing in Barkham

Mr. Newman reported that the questionnaires are currently at the printers and will be distributed as soon as possible.

06/792  To Amend the Interests section of the Standing Orders in line with the Code of Conduct

All in favour of the new amendment to the Standing Orders in line with the Code of Conduct.   Clerk to update the Standing Orders.

06/793  Unitary Authority Councillor's Report

Mrs Stubbs reported that the Council Tax increase for the forthcoming year had been kept to 2.9% and was one of the lowest in the country.  Elections are due to take place on 4^th May.

06/794 Correspondence

Page 06/475

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee 22.3.06.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 6.3.06 – 10.3.06.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Executive 30.3.06.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 13.3.06 – 17.3.06.

WDC Minutes of Committee Meetings for the period 17.11.05 – 20.3.06.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Council 30.3.06.

WDC Staff Bulletin Issue 6.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Development Control Committee 5.4.06.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 20.3.06 – 24.3.06.

Arborfield News

WDVSF The Volunteer March 2006.

WDC Minutes of Campaign Against Waste Meeting held on 27.3.06.

BALC The Communicator Spring 2006.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 27.3.06 – 31.3.06.

Meeting closed at  9.00  p.m. .

Next meeting of full Council will be held on 9^th May 2006 at 8 p.m.

Next meeting of Planning Committee will be held on 25^th April 2006 at 7.30 p.m.