BARKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Page 05/417

Minutes of meeting of the Barkham Parish Council held on 10^th May 2005

in Barkham Village Hall at 8.00 p.m.

Present: Mrs P. Stubbs (in the Chair), Mr. M. Clark, Mr. C. Clarkson, Mr I. Couper, Mr. S. Goldring,

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

Apologies: Mr.J.Shepherd (on holiday), Mr. R. Newman (work commitments), Mr F. A. Scott (family commitments)

05/660 Election Of Chairman

Proposed:  Mr. M. Clark

Seconded:  Mr. F. Postlethwaite

Mrs Stubbs was duly elected as Chairman.  Unanimously.

05/661 Election Of Vice-Chairman

Proposed:  Mrs. P. Stubbs

Seconded:  Mr. M. Clark

Mr. I. Couper was duly elected as Vice-Chairman.  Unanimously.

05/662  To Discuss The Workings of the Planning Committee

A proposal was made to create a Planning Committee to meet as required who will make decisions on behalf of BPC and to report any comments and decisions to WDC.  Other members of BPC will be welcome to attend the meetings but will not be able to contribute.  The Planning Committee will report back any significant planning developments/ decisions to the full Council. There will be five core members, with a quorum of three.  The Planning Committee will meet at 7.30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month before the full Council meeting which will commence at 8.00 p.m. and on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7.30 p.m.

Proposed by Mr. Goldring

Seconded by Mr. Postlethwaite

Carried with a unanimous decision.

Mr. Goldring will amend the Standing Orders to accommodate these changes.

05/663  To Discuss the Creation of a Finance Committee

A proposal was made to create a Finance Committee which will meet twice a year in order to involve more members, the main topic will be to discuss the precept before it is submitted to the main council for agreement.  There will be a core membership of five people with a quorum of three.  Any member will be permitted to attend the meetings if they so wish.  There will also be a mid term meeting to review the finances which will co-inside with the Annual Internal Audit.

Proposed by Mr. Couper

Seconded by Mr. Clarkson

Carried by the majority.

The Clerk will amend the Standing Orders to accommodate these changes.

05/664 Appointment Of Representatives

All appointments by unanimous vote

Barkham Village Hall Management Committee – Mr. Clark and Mr. Oxbrough

District Parish Liaison Conference – Mr. J. Shepherd

BALC – Mr. J. Shepherd

WDALC –  Mr. J. Shepherd

Parish Planning Control – Mr. I. Couper, Mr. C. Clarkson, Mr. S. Goldring, Mr. F. Postlethwaite and Mr. R. Newman

Finance Committee – Mr. I. Couper, Mr. S. Goldring, Mr. R. Newman, Mrs. P. Stubbs, Mr. C. Clarkson

Parish Footpaths – Mr. J. Shepherd and Mr. D. Oxbrough

Trustees for Barkham Charity Trust – Mr. Clark, Mr. C. Barrows.  There is one vacancy for which it is the responsibility of BPC to appoint somebody.  Clerk to invite Dr. Firth.

Page 05/418

05/665 Minutes of meeting held on 12^th April 2005 were approved and signed as a true record.

05/666 Matters arising

05/642  Reply received from Mr. McDonnell from Traffic Management at WDC concerning the Vehicle Activated Sign at Barkham Bridge, he states that he has checked the activation of the sign by traffic going towards Barkham Bridge and it appears to be working correctly.  However they will be instructing the sign supplier to check the settings and orientation of the radar detector on the sign to determine whether this may be an intermittent fault.  He is also states that the vehicle activated signs on Biggs Lane are being activated by vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.  The sign supplier is aware of this problem and has promised to rectify within the next few weeks.

05/647  Mr. Goldring submitted a response to WDC on behalf of BPC regarding Developing A Land Use Planning Strategy For Wokingham District, Consultation on Options for the Statement of Community Involvement.  This is a consultation regarding use of land and where people want the development to be located.  BPC expressed concern on the impact on rural amenities, impact on areas designated for their scenic or natural attributes, loss of green breaks between communities and changes of use surrounding agricultural land should be considered as applications likely to generate large amounts of local interest.  Similarly issues that may be considered uncontentious in urban situations e.g. late night opening may have a higher profile in rural or semi rural situations.  BPC also requested a wider involvement than present.

05/626  The footpath sign has now been erected outside the Post Office and has already been admired and referred to.

05/643 It was agreed that the provision of two gates at the old village hall site would be beneficial for the refuse lorry to pull off the road, also the area would need levelling and the brambles cutting back.  Agreement must be sought from the Village Hall Committee and if approved will be funded by BPC.  Mr. Clark to propose this action to the Village Hall Committee at the next meeting.

05/643 Mr. Clark was pleased to report that the incident with paint being removed from the skip and used to spray the bench in The Junipers park had been resolved with the young person concerned apologising to Mr. Carter (Chairman of the Residents Assoc.) and making good the bench and litter bin.

05/667 Planning

F/2005/4571                           331 Barkham Road                                                                      Delegated

                                                Proposed erection of replacement dwelling.  Demolition        No Comment

                                                of existing dwelling.

F/2005/3841                           32 Barkham Ride                                                                            Appeal

                                                Proposed erection of 5 new dwellings and demolition                 Lodged With

                                                of existing dwelling.                                                              Planning Inspectorate

                                                Adjoining Parish Consultation.

Refused by WDC, the reason being “The increased vehicular use of the proposed access would result in an unacceptable level of noise and disturbance, to the detriment of the living conditions of the occupiers of 36 Barkham Ride, Finchampstead.”  BPC made no comment.

F/2005/4006                           69 Bearwood Road                                                                        Approved

                                                Proposed erection of one detached dwelling with integral

                                                garage and conservatory.  Demolition of existing dwelling

                                                and detached garage.

F/2005/4130                           Coppid Hill House, Barkham Road                                                      Approved

                                                Proposed erection of 2 dwellings.  Plots 7 & 8 altered.

F/2005/4182                           Land Adjoining Barkham Manor, Barkham Road                          Approved

                                                Proposed formation of a ménage to provide riding for

                                                disabled children.

Conditions:-  No external lighting shall be installed on the site or affixed to any buildings on the site.  Within one month of the date of this permission, the vehicle parking and turning space must be provided in accordance with the approved plans and the access shall be constructed in accordance with the approved plans.  The use permitted shall not operate other than between the hours of 10am and 6pm.  The ménage shall not be used for any commercial riding or training purposes.

Page 05/419

F/2005/4212                           333 Barkham Road                                                                           Approved

                                                Proposed single storey rear extensions to dwelling to form

                                                two conservatories plus additional windows in rear elevation.

F/2005/4219                           58 Sandy Lane                                                                                           Approved

                                                Proposed extension to existing dormer and conversion of

                                                loft space to rooms.

F/2005/4288                           8 Broom Grove                                                                                     Approved

                                                Proposed erection of single storey side extension to form

                                                conservatory.     

RM/2004/3319                       Land At Poperinghe Barracks, Wokingham Lane, Arborfield      No Comment

                                                Proposal:  Reserved matters on outline consent O/2002/4221

                                                for the erection of 76 x 1,2,3 & 4 bedroom dwellings and

                                                flats with associated works.

05/668 Highways

 It was noted that the mobile speed camera is very often parked in the bye way leading up to the Old Rectory, this is apparently an accident black spot where many accidents have occurred.

Many motorbikes and off road bikes are using The Coombes as a race track and terrorising walkers, Mrs Stubbs reported that it had become so bad that the police had become involved and if anyone could get registration numbers of the bikes it would be most helpful for the police to follow up.  Also, many of the gates and stiles were broken, Mr. Shepherd had a meeting with Mr. Morris from Dinton Pastures who is now responsible for the maintenance of the footpaths but lack of funding was a problem.

During the Parish Clean Up a footpath notice had been found dumped in Sandy Lane (Barkham Road end) just over the stile, Clerk to write to Highways at WDC to request that it is reinstated.

05/669 To Discuss A Village Design Statement

Unfortunately Mr. Newman was unable to attend the meeting but he had prepared a hand out covering the main

points from a work shop which he had attended.  It was decided to write an article for the Parish magazine

inviting people to attend a public meeting on 12^th July at 7.00 p.m. before the full Council meeting in order to

ascertain support for this venture.   Also to invite Dr. Firth, Mr. French, Mr. Noble and Jane Ireland from WDC

to give a presentation.

05/670 Finance

Barkham Village Hall – hire of hall January – April                                                     927                £84.00

Mlode Ltd. – purchase of 3 year warranty for Computer and Office Jet.                928                £152.75 (£130 exc VAT)

WDC – 1 skip at The Junipers & 1 refuse lorry at Old Village Hall                        929                £238.53

for April.

M. Clark – purchase of laminate                                                                               930  £12.99  (£11.06 exc VAT)

Standing Order for Clerk’s salary for May                                                                                     £426.23

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

for month of May  (Employee & employer contribution)

To date 794 books have been sold, an income of £4136.24, thus leaving 206 unsold, and the Council is now in credit to the amount of £170.57.

Copies of the accounts for the year ended 31.3.05 have been circulated to all councillors, two copies of the accounts have been signed by the Chairman and the Clerk as the Responsible Financial Officer.

Clerk to ask Mr. Harland the Internal Auditor to provide us with an explanation as to why depreciation is not needed in the annual accounts.

05/671  Unitary Authority Councillor's Report

In view of the recent parliamentary election Mrs. Stubbs had nothing to report.

Page 05/420

05/672 Correspondence

WDC Street Naming & Numbering – Plot 4 on Barkham Hill will be known as Villa Field, Barkham Road.

WDC Street Naming & Numbering – Plot 5 on Barkham Hill will be known as Coppid Hill House.

WDC Staff Bulletin Issue 7.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 4.4.05 – 8.4.05.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Council Executive Committee 21.4.05.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 11.4.05 – 15.4.05.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Development Control Committee 27.4.05.

SPISE News 43.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 18.4.05 – 22.4.05.

WDC Staff Bulletin Issue 8.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Standards Committee 11.5.05.

WDC Agenda for Annual Meeting of the Council 12.5.05.

Local Council Review May 2005.

Parish Planning Workshop Information from meeting held on 16.4.05.

Villages Youth Report.

05/673  Public Session

Mrs Naish being Barkham’s oldest resident has sadly passed away and it is the wish of her family that a bench be placed in Barkham for all to enjoy in her memory.  It was felt that the most suitable place would be in the churchyard.  Clerk to write to the Church asking if this would be acceptable and where precisely it is to be located in order that her son can cement it into the ground.

Meeting closed at  9.58  p.m. .

Next meeting of full Council will be held on 14^th June at  8 p.m.

Next meeting of Planning Committee will be held on 24^th May 2005 at 7.30 p.m.