MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
Date: Thursday 23rd January 2025 Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: Village Hall, Northington
Present: Simson Walker Chairman
Rhona Hatchley
Andrew Bason
Juliet Blanshard
Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith District Councillor
Cllr Jackie Porter County Councillor
Cllr Margot Power District Councillor
Wendy Simson Clerk
Apologies: Gail Taylor
Cllr Clare Pinniger District Councillor
Welcome and apologies.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Cllrs Taylor and Cllr Pinniger sent apologies.
Declaration of Pecuniary & Personal Interests to note any conflict with any item on the agenda.
None were declared.
Minutes of the last meeting
The Councillors reviewed minutes for the meeting on 21st November 2024 and agreed the minutes as a true representation of the meeting.
Matters arising.
Clerk to look at prices and design for village sign
The Clerk explained to Councillors that there was a huge variation in the costs of Village Signs. Cllr Porter also informed Councillors that HCC would charge a licence fee of approximately £500 and fee of the service check of £400. The Chair informed the Council that the sign that was in this position has been damaged and is in the hedge. It was agreed that Cllr Blanshard would report the sign as damaged including photographs and ask if the posts could be replaced and the Parish Council be allowed to purchase a new sign.
Action: Cllr Blanshard to report the damaged sign.
Cllr Blanshard to speak to the resident about speed data
Cllr Blanshard reported that she had spoken to the resident who had the speed check completed but it had been some years ago. The outcome of the test was that most vehicles were travelling on average at approximately 40 mph. The resident did suggest that the Parish Council speak to the member of the HCC team who they had booked the speed check through, he no longer works for HCC but offers a consultancy role to Parishes looking to change their speed limit.
Councillors agreed Cllr Blanshard would make contact and ask about the services offered and prices.
Action: Cllr Blanshard to bring update on consultancy offer and prices to next Parish Council meeting.
Chair to speak to Chair of Candover Parish Council about how they got set up.
The Chair explained that the Chair from Candovers Parish Council had been away but he would make contact prior to the next meeting.
Action: Chair to bring report to next meeting.
Chair to send an email to the community asking about installing a SID
The Chair informed the Council that he had drafted questions to ask as part of the communication to the community. Cllr Hatchley suggested that residents had been asked about speeding as part of the Village Plan update. It was therefore suggested that the communication should be to confirm that residents wanted the Village Name signs, Drive Carefully signs and signage to alert drivers to school children.
Action: Chair to draft and circulate to all Councillors.
Clerk to investigate having a children sign installed by the entrance to the Grange where the school bus collects them.
The Clerk apologised this had not been completed. Councillors asked if a second sign could be requested for the turn to the Village Hall where the school bus also stops to collect and deposit children.
Action: Clerk to file request to HCC.
District and County Councillor updates
The Clerk had forwarded the County and District Councillors reports prior to the meeting.
Cllr Power asked if the Councillors had been invited to the Parish Connect Briefing: Local Government Reorganisation on 5th February. The Clerk agreed to check all the email files as it had not been received and forward to all Councillors. Cllr Power asked that the Parish Council did not just send the Clerk as a representative but as many of the Councillors as possible attended.
Action: Clerk to access the invite email and circulate to all Councillors
Action: All Councillors to confirm that they can attend
Cllr Porter gave the Councillors an update on HCC’s move to becoming a Unitary Authority. All staff are working to continue to delivery services as usual whilst agreements about the changes are decided.
An additional £500million has been allocated from Central Government for schools up to 2028. Part of the funding will be used to create spaces for pupils with special needs across the County.
HCC are also asking that any questions are only asked of the Directors in each department and that Officers are not named or contact details shared. This is due to reorganisation and redundancies.
The Local Plan is now at the Inspection stage; however, the new update is being developed which will include the new Government housing targets.
Cllr Gordon-Smith reiterated that the devolution of Local Government is going to impact Parish Councils which is why it is important that Councils join the meeting on 5th February.
Financial Update
The Clerk informed the Councillors that the Clerk’s salary for October to December had been paid along with the hall hire for the November meeting.
Cllr Porter confirmed that the Lengthsman Project has been approved for 2025/26.
The Councillors discussed the precept request for 2025/26 and agreed to an increase of 3% from £5,346 to £5,508.
Action: Clerk to complete and return Precept Requestion paperwork.
Community Plan Review
Cllr Hatchley informed the Council that residents had confirmed that they had read the updated plan and were pleased with the content.
Cllr Porter informed Cllr Hatchley that the plan needed to be sent to the planning team at Winchester City Council to be adopted. The email address given is afox@winchester.gov.uk
Action: Cllr Hatchley to send Village Plan to Winchester Planning team
Village Hall Update
Cllr Hatchley has not received an update from the Village Hall Committee.
Cllr Porter suggested that there may be Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding available along with grants specifically for Village Halls. Cllr Porter offered her support to the Village Hall Committee to identify and apply for funding as required.
Action: Cllr Hatchley to ensure Villag Hall Committee are aware of funding opportunities and support offered.
Planning applications & related matters
There has been three planning application since the last meeting.
- Ravenswold (24/02749/HOU) – 2 Storey rear extension, along with removal of the existing main roof, build up ground floor walls to create full height first floor accommodation, along with the addition of a new roof for storage. All existing windows and external doors to be replaced with new, all walls to be rendered. Create a front entrance porch, internal alterations throughout. The Councillors raised concerns about the impact on the view from the church of the historic landscape. The comments made as part of the Village Plan review were about the desire to protect the rural views in the Parish.
Councillors asked the planning committee to consider the visual impact of the proposed development from St Johns Church, a listed and important building to the village. This is consistent with the parish’s Community Plan stated aim to not unduly impact the special nature of our villages rural setting.
- Cherry Tree Cottage (24/02784/HOU) – Single storey rear extension
with internal alterations. No objections from the
Parish Council.
- Apple Tree Cottage (24/02352/HOU) – Construction of a detached timber frame building, replacement of approved application with a smaller building. No objections from the Parish Council.
Lengthsman
The final date for the Lengthsman Scheme in 2025 is Thursday 13th March.
Cllr Bason suggested that the Village Litter Pick be booked for Sunday 23rd March.
Action: Chair to publicise on the Village email.
Action: Clerk to book litter picker, hoops, etc from Alton Town Council.
General Correspondence
The Clerk has circulated contact details for the new Police Constable covering Northington, they are:
PC 28129 Lacey is covering the following area. Winchester Rural East, this covers New Alresford, Old Alresford, Bighton, Bishops Sutton, Kilmeston, Chilcomb, Northington, Cheriton, Bramdean & Hinton Ampner, Beauworth, Tichbourne, Avington & Itchen Abbas and Itchen Stoke & Ovington.
He can be contacted via dalin.lacey@hampshire.police.uk or 07775547805.
Any other business
None
Date of the next meeting
The next Parish Council meeting is Thursday 20th March at 6:30pm in the Village Hall.
The meeting ended at 7:35pm