BARKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting of the Barkham Parish Council held on 13^th March 2007

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, Dr. R. Loader,

Mr. P. King, Mr. R. Newman, Mr. D. Oxbrough, Mr. F. Postlethwaite, two members of the public and the Clerk.

Apologies: Mr. S. Goldring (work commitments)

Declarations Of Interests: None

07/916 Minutes of meeting held on 13^th February 2007 were approved and signed as a true record.

Meeting adjourned in order that any members of the public can address the Council on any matters or concerns relating to Barkham

07/917 Report from Major Lince from Arborfield Garrison

The Government have decided that it is more economical to have all the training for all three services Land, Air and Sea consolidated in one place, that being St. Athan in South Wales.  REME plan to leave Arborfield around 2011 providing the infrastructure at the new location is all in place.  Until such time Arborfield Garrison will continue to train 800 – 1000 new recruits each year.  Rowcroft Barracks has since reopened as Aldershot is currently being refurbished.  The future past 2011 is unknown.

07/918  Youth Workers Report – Report received from Louise Morris attached

Brian Matthews from Childrens Services at WDC met with Mr Newman, Mr Postlethwaite and the Clerk to discuss a roving play scheme for the summer holidays.  He explained that he hoped to obtain a Lottery Grant to fund the scheme which is aimed at 5 – 12 year olds.  The scheme would have 5 sites Barkham, Charvil, Hurst, Wargrave and Swallowfield and would meet on the same day of the week at each venue.  There would be numerous activities and work shops for the children to participate in, and the sessions would be 10.00 – 12.00 and 2.00 – 4.00, this is not a childcare scheme and the children must be collected at lunchtime and returned for the afternoon session to discourage parents from using it as child care.  It is to be for Barkham children and the Clerk will issue application forms in order to monitor addresses.  The ideal venue would be the village hall with the benefit of the field area and a large safe car park.  Clerk to speak to the Village Hall Committee.  This to be advertised in the BVRA magazine.

07/919  Report from Mr Newman and Mr King who attended the Meeting at WDC on 28^th February 2007 regarding District proposed actions from the Government Threat To The Local Post Office Network.

It is still unknown what the criteria will be to decide which post offices will be closed, it will not just be based on turnover but also on how a closure will affect people should this be the case.  It was suggested that a questionnaire be undertaken asking people why they are using the post office and where they would have to travel to if it should close and mileage undertaken. Positive ammunition is needed, not just emotional thoughts.  Possible alternatives were suggested such as having a post office in a library or local pub but the problem of security then arises.  Mr King volunteered to represent BPC at any meetings on this subject.

BPC have written letters to The Post Office Network Consultation, Post Watch and John Heggadon who sits on the Post Watch Committee for our Region.  Post Watch have replied stating that the consultation will end on March 8^th 2007, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Minister for Postal Services states that the Government intends to make an announcement following the consultation by the end of March 2007.

07/920 Planning – Report from the Planning Committee

F/2007/0220                           Sparks Farm, Barkham Road                                                                         Proposed

                                                Proposed change of use to include equestrian use in

                                                addition to agricultural.

Clerk to write to WDC stating that approval should be limited to own usage and not for other people's horses, whether for business or pleasure.

Page 07/531

F/2006/9281                           Land At Junction of Park Lane and Hogwood Lane                                       Approved

                                                Application for temporary changing facilities including canteen,

gym, physio, groundsmans store and alterations to car park.

Clerk wrote to WDC asking for an explanation as to why this application was approved when application no.

F/2006/7772 was refused when it appeared to BPC that the applications looked to be identical.  The reply received from WDC was :-

The application above was conditionally approved on the 3rd January 2007. The previous application F/2006/7772 was recommended for approval, but was subsequently refused on the grounds that a deed to vary the section 106 agreement for the previous application was not completed. The reason for refusal was as follows:

The proposal does not secure appropriate mitigation of the service, amenity and infrastructure needs which would result from the development. As such the proposal is contrary to Berkshire Structure P-Ian 2001-2016 Policies DP4, T1 and T 4; and Wokingham District Local Plan policies WOS4, WT2 and WTB.

Prior to the determination of application F/2006/9281 it was confirmed that the S 106 required by a previous application had been paid. Therefore there was no longer a requirement for a deed for variation. As the reason for refusal had been overcome the application was approved in accordance with the original recommendation for application F/2006/7772.  Clerk to write to WDC requesting what the Section 106 money will be utilised for, as the planning application falls within Barkham, BPC would expect the monies to be used within the Barkham area.

07/921 Highways

Report from Mr  Newman who attended the Highways Board Meeting to discuss Variable Speed Limits and Quiet Lanes

This proved to be very disappointing, no further news of the Variable Speed Limits.  The purpose of the introduction of Quiet Lanes is to try to protect a rural road which must have very low usage, by reducing the signage in order to reduce traffic.  There are no roads in Barkham which fall within this category.

Councillors report of matters of concern with regard to the public highways.

Highways Department at WDC will arrange a 24 hour 7 day speed survey to be carried out outside the Post Office along the Bearwood Road ..  The cost is in the region of £200 per survey, BPC have agreed to pay half towards the cost on the understanding that we receive the full results not just a summary.

The repairs to the road at the junction of The Woodlands and Sandy Lane and at The Woodlands and The Junipers have been very poorly repaired, the surface is breaking up already.  Clerk to notify WDC and request that they return and refill the holes.  Also complaints have been received about the grass area at Barkham Road and Sandy Lane where the tree was sawn up after the recent gales, Clerk to request that WDC tidy up this area which is now covered in saw dust.

The two lights on the priority sign at Barkham Bridge have still not been repaired, Clerk to report this to WDC.

The yellow lines in Langley Common Road in the vicinity of Oaklands Caravan Park , the tyre centre and car sales garage still have not been painted, Clerk to ascertain from WDC when this will be carried out.  Also the additional parking bays in School Road have long been outstanding.  The pavement in this area is very overgrown, again Clerk to remind WDC and to request that the brambles are cut back from the pavement in this area where children are walking to school.

07/922 Finance

J.P. Neuhofer – expenses and postage 1.4.06 – 31.3.07                                          61            £98.80

WDC – charge for 1 skip at the Junipers and 1 refuse lorry                                      62            £259.68 (£221 exc VAT)

Neat Ideas – stationery                                                                                                    63            £87.51 (£74.48 exc VAT)

Standing Order for Clerk’s salary for March                                                                   £485.76

Standing Order to Royal Bor. Windsor – Pension Fund for Clerk                               £89.76

for month of March  (Employee & employer contribution)

To date 819 books have been sold, an income of £4294.24, thus leaving 181 unsold, and the Council is now in credit to the amount of £328.57.

07/923 To discuss the future provision of skips and the refuse lorry within Barkham

Mr Newman and the Clerk met with Mr Baveystock at WDC to discuss the skips and refuse lorry.  The skip which is positioned at The Junipers on the fourth Thursday of every month collects on average 1 tonne of waste.  The cost for this service is £106 per visit (6 x £106 = £636).  The refuse lorry which was for a trial period on a Saturday morning once a month is not being well used, cost is £139 per visit.  Plan is to scrap the lorry and retain the skips.  The idea was raised of having an alternative site for the skip but finding a safe location where cars can park and unload is proving difficult.  The negative side of providing skips is that as they are unmanned it can encourage trade waste.  With the introduction of green bags by WDC where garden refuse is now collected for recycling there is no longer the demand for residents to be disposing of so much garden rubbish.  It was decided to have one more refuse lorry for April and then to revert to one skip per month at the Junipers on the fourth Thursday of the month.  Notices to be displayed at both sites advising residents of the forthcoming changes to the service, also to be placed on the BVRA web site.  A vote was taken in favour of this decision, carried by the majority.

07/924 Unitary Authority Councillor's Report

Mrs Stubbs reported that the Council Tax had been set with a very small increase of 3.2%, this was one of the lowest.  Wokingham District Council is now formally known as Wokingham Borough Council.

07/925 Correspondence

07/926  To Discuss the format of the Agenda

The majority of Councillors found the format of the new style Agenda informative and helpful, it was therefore decided to continue in this format.  “Matters Arising” would no longer appear on the Agenda but topics will be individually itemised.  Any councillor wishing to place a topic on the agenda must contact the Clerk in advance in order that any necessary research can be undertaken.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Planning Committee 21.2.07.

WDC Minutes of Committee Meetings for the period 17.1.07 – 7.2.07.

WDC Agenda for meeting of the Council 22.2.07.

WDC Medium Term Financial Plan 2007/2008.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the executive 22.2.07.

Insight.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Personnel Board 26.2.07.

WDC Staff Bulletin Issue 4.

WDC Notes from Meeting of the Post Office Forum held on 5.2.07.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 5.2.07 – 16.2.07.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Highways Consultative Board 5.3.07.

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WDC Environment Bulletin No. 19.

Local Council Review March 2007.

WDC Staff Bulletin Issue 5.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 19.2.07 – 23.2.07.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Planning Committee 14.3.07.

Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service – 5 Year Integrated Risk Management Plan.

WDC Agenda for Special Meeting of the Council Executive Committee 15.3.07.

Meeting closed at  9.55  p.m. .

Next meeting of full Council will be held on 10^th April at 7.30 p.m. followed by the Annual Parish Assembly at 8.00 p.m.

Next meeting of Planning Committee will be held on 27^th March 2007 at 7.00 p.m.