BARKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting of the Barkham Parish Council held on 10^th January 2006

in Barkham Village Hall at 8.00 p.m.

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

Mr. R. Newman, Mr. D. Oxbrough, Mr. F. Postlethwaite, four members of the public and the Clerk.

Apologies:

06/747 Minutes of meeting held on 13^th December 2005 were approved and signed as a true record.

06/748 Matters arising

05/683  Letter received from Mr. Clausen, Senior Planner for public transport at WDC informing us that the bid for the package of service for the Kickstart Bus Challenge Scheme Service 144 (Wokingham – Reading) was unsuccessful.

05/445  Reply received from Ms Fuller regarding the highways issues, she wishes to know which roads we are considering for the “speedwatch” in order that the relevant information can be provided.  BPC would like to implement speed watch along The Lilacs, Ms Fuller will contact us when the relevant information is available.   Also, to request the SID to be positioned in Barkham Street either in the early morning or between 5.30 – 6.00 p.m. and in Langley Common Road between 5.30 – 6.00 p.m.  The police camera van to be parked on the forecourt of the Post Office in the early morning when the majority of speeding occurs.   The map of Langley Common Road with the waiting restrictions drawn in where the problems of parked cars occur will be added to the Traffic Regulation Order report to be considered by the Highways Consultative Board in the new financial year.

05/741 Mr. Newman reported that he has started to complete the application for the lottery funding for the Teenage Youth Club, this would be for £5000 to fund the cost of the youth workers, the cost of the hall would be met by BPC.  The problem which does arise is finding a slot at the village hall, possibly a double session on a Friday, guidance will be sought from Richard Ferguson, the senior Youth Worker at WDC if successful.  The plan is to start in the next academic year, September 2006.

06/749 Planning

  VAR/2005/6087                   331 Barkham Road                                                                               Approved

                                                Proposed relaxation of condition 4 of consent F/2005/4571

                                                to allow occupation of dwelling prior to bonding surface

                                                of access.

F/2005/6491                           12 Somerville Close                                                                              Delegated

                                                Proposed single storey side and rear extensions to dwelling.      No Comment

F/2005/5826                           69 & 71 Bearwood Road                                                                     Approved

                                                Proposed erection of 3 detached dwellings and associated

                                                access.  Demolition of existing 2 dwellings.

Conditions:-  No windows or similar openings shall be constructed at first floor level or above in the side elevation of dwelling A facing 67 Bearwood Road .

VAR/2005/6482                     Meadowside, Park Lane , Finchampstead                                         Delegated

                                                Proposed variation to condition 2 of consent 99/70806/F             No Comment

                                                to allow an additional mobile home on site.

                                                Adjoining Parish Consulation

CLE/2004/1493                      Meadowcroft, Wood Lane, Barkham                                                Approved

                                                Proposed Certificate of existing lawful use for the storage of

                                                shopfittings and furniture.

Clerk to write to the Chief Planning Officer regarding the Local Development Framework  Strategy.  This document refers to an area as” Barkham Hill” as an area for potential development which clearly it is not as it is located within The Coombes and is an area of unspoilt countryside and therefore not an area for potential development.  The area that it is assumed is meant is “Coppid Hill” which is the area around the junction of Bearwood Road and Barkham Road . Clerk to request clarification is requested.

06/750 Highways

Light number 102 outside Barkham Manor is not working, Clerk to report to WDC.  Also the residents of The Junipers have requested a bin is positioned at the hammerhead where the youngsters gather and rubbish is dropped.  Clerk to contact WDC stressing that this is problem as the residents have been picking up the rubbish.

There is a lot of rubbish in a gateway by Penrose Park in Arborfield, WDC state that it is on private land and will not remove it, Clerk to contact Arborfield PC and request that they contact the land owner and clear the rubbish.  Also, along Commonfield Lane rubbish is accumulating, this has been reported to WDC who will clear.

The Parish Clean Up will take place on Sunday 30^th April, Clerk to advertise the event in the BVRA magazine.

With regard to the on going problems in The Coombes it is stressed that residents must supply the police with information of when the motorbikes are likely to be in The Coombes and where they enter and leave, the police will then endeavour to catch them but it is up to us to supply the information to Sergeant Cull who has already offered to help.  It was decided to invite Sergeant Cull to our meetings on a quarterly basis, Clerk to invite him to attend the March meeting at 8.00 p.m.

06/751 Affordable Housing in Barkham – Presentation from Mr. Newman

Mr. Newman and Mr. Postlethwaite attended a presentation by The Rural Housing Trust “Village Homes For Village People”, the speaker was the Princess Royal.  This identifies a problem where people are unable to purchase a home in the village where they have been brought up.  The Housing Trust source land which would not normally be available for housing known as “exception sites”, this land is therefore cheaper to purchase and a block of 8 units would be built, this would be tied up with a Section 106 Agreement which would give the Parish Council power to say who is housed in these units.  The units can be rented from a housing association or part purchased.  The first step is to identify a need, this can be done by conducting a survey of the residents, there would be no cost to the Parish, BPC would deliver the surveys which would be posted back for analysis.

This item to be put on the next agenda, if it is considered worth pursuing.

06/752 To Discuss the Parish Boundary in Barkham

The Clerk had reported that she has spoken to Electoral Services at WDC and was advised that the boundaries are set by the Boundary Commission, not WDC and cannot be altered.  This was discussed and it was felt that the Parish boundaries (not Ward boundaries) are handled by WDC.  Clerk to contact Legal Services at WDC, firstly to ascertain if this is correct and what their responsibilities are to the parishes.  In order to create a more logical community it does make sense to move the boundaries where roads are split down the middle and it is the wish of the residents to be included in that parish.

06/753 Finance & Budget Discussion for 2006/07

Peter Robins – cost of erecting 3 notice board                                               977          £352.50 (£300 exc VAT)

WDC – 1 skip at The Junipers & 1 refuse lorry at OVH for December        978          £238.53 (£203 exc VAT)

Barkham Village Hall – rent September – December                                       979          £84.00

J.P. Neuhofer – 50% of Homecall bills April – Nov                                        980          £124.63 (£107.94 exc VAT)

Standing Order for Clerk’s salary for January                                                 £426.23

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

for month of January (Employee & employer contribution)

The Clerk reported that £499.00 had been received from the Cornhill Insurance Company for the new notice board which was demolished by a car in February 2005.  The cost of the notice board was £586.33 (£499 exc VAT) plus £117.50 (£100 exc VAT) to erect the board.  The sum of £104.83 VAT can be reclaimed at year end, and there is an excess of £100 on the policy which will be lost unless the insurance company can recover the funds from the driver of the car.

To date 796 books have been sold, an income of £4170.74, thus leaving 204 unsold, and the Council is now in credit to the amount of £205.07.

A meeting of the Finance Committee will be held on Thursday 2^nd February in order to discuss the Precept for the year 2006/07, this will be formally agreed at the full Council meeting on 14^th February.  Items for

Page 06/456

consideration will be £1,000 for teenage club, £500 or more towards the Village Design Statement, funding towards the signage in The Coombes.

06/754 Unitary Authority Councillor's Report – Mrs Stubbs did not make a report.

06/755 Correspondence

WDC 148 Bearwood Road – Planning permission approval conditions.

Waterford Times

WD Sports Council – Minutes from meetings held 10^th October & 14^th November.

WDC Staff Bulletin Issue 22.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 5.12.05 – 9.12.05.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 12.12.05 – 16.12.05.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Development Consultative Board 9.1.06.

Consumer Direct

Local Council Review

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Development Control Committee 11.1.06.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Personnel Board 12.1.06.

Meeting closed at  9.50 p.m. .

Next meeting of  full Council will be held on 14^th February  at  8 p.m.  The planning applications will be discussed at 7.30 p.m.

Next meeting of Planning Committee will be held on 24^th January  2006 at 7.30 p.m.