MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
Date: Thursday 24th July 2025 Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: Village Hall, Northington
Present: Juliet Balnshard Chair
Andrew Bason
Gail Taylor
Rhona Hatchley
Margot Power District Councillor
Claire Pinnger District Councillor
Wendy Simson Clerk
Apologies: David Corney
Jackie Porter County Councillor
Russell Gordon-Smith District Councillor
Welcome and apologies.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Cllr Porter and Cllr Gordon-Smith sent apologies. David Corney also sent apologies.
Declaration of Pecuniary & Personal Interests to note any conflict with any item on the agenda.
None were declared.
Co-option of New Councillor
The Clerk reported that no applications for the vacant Councillor role had been received by Winchester City Council. Two interested parties from the community had enquired about the role, David Corney had agreed to stand as the only applicant. Cllr Hatchley proposed that David was co-opted on the Parish Council, Cllr Bason seconded this, all Councillor voted to co-opt David onto the Parish Council.
Action: Clerk to send David a register of Interests forms to be completed.
Action: Clerk to inform Winchester City Council that David Corney had been co-opted to fill the vacant position.
Any additional agenda items
The Chair asked if there were any additional agenda items for the meeting, none were proposed.
Minutes of the last meeting
The Councillors reviewed minutes for the meeting on 20th May 2025 and agreed the minutes as a true representation of the meeting. The Chair proposed that the minutes be formally accepted, Cllr Bason seconded this, the minutes were approved.
Matters arising from the last meeting
These items included actions from the Annual Parish Meeting and Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council.
Southern Electric updates – This action was to contact the electricity supplier and ask for a scheme of maintenance work annually including tree work to reduce the number of outages due to avoidable faults. The Clerk is to email the energy provider to request this information.
There has been one power cut since the last meeting with the electricity off for half a day, this was likely to be weather related as it was lost during a thunderstorm.
Action: Clerk to contact energy supplier.
Positions for speed indication device – This action was to agree locations and circulate to the community prior to applying for permission to install the sign. The Chair and Clerk agreed to meet to photographs suitable existing posts to site the device on. The Clerk informed Councillors that some may need to be extended which could be done by Hampshire Highways at a cost.
Action: Clerk and Chair to meet and photographs the proposed posts before sending to the community for approval.
Replacement of the millennium bench – At the Annual Parish Meeting it was agreed that the bench could not be repaired and should be replaced using the CIL funding held by the Parish Council. The Chair agreed to get three quotes for replacement benches which incorporate the design on the original bench but do not need to replicate the bench.
Action: Clerk to send photograph of bench created by Jono, local carpenter.
The site for the bench needs to be cleared and Councillors agreed to ask the Lengthsman to do on the next visit (23rd September).
Action: Cllr Bason to book with Lengthsman to ensure they have the correct tools.
District Councillors Reports
The Councillors reports were circulated to the Parish Council earlier in the month. The main topic is the proposed changes to Unitary Authorities in Hampshire and possible mapping and number of Unitary Authorities. There are two surveys open, and the District Councillors recommended that Parish Councils complete both. The links for the surveys are:
Hampshire County Council survey – http://www.hants.gov.uk/lgr
Winchester City Council survey – https://ourplaceourfuture.commonplace.is/
The Councillors all agreed to complete both surveys and to circulate to the community and encourage others to do the same.
Action: Clerk to forward details of both surveys to all Councillors.
Financial Update
The Clerk listed the payments to be approved at the meeting, they are:
- Insurance – £241.00
- Clerk’s salary (April to June) – £300.00
All payments were approved by Councillors.
Village Hall Update
Cllr Hatchley has received the following update from the Chair of the Village Hall Committee:
The recent BBQ was a successful and happy occasion.
The next social event will be a Harvest Lunch in October.
Future Projects –
Repair, sand down and re-polish the parquet flooring. (There are loose pieces and damage from damp in places.)
A grant is being sourced for a fenced area in the field for the Little Learners’ use.
General business and income generation continues steadily, although there is usually a dip over the summer holiday season.
In a more serious note, could we ask that some serious consideration is now given by your good selves over a precept on the Council Tax, at the next opportunity, to enable the Village Hall to go ahead with establishing a contract for the re-roofing project. It has been mooted from time to time in the past. Other Parish Councils have undertaken similar moves. We can move forward with it as stated at the AGM but need the financial backing of the NPC to help support the process. To know that a worthwhile amount of money will be coming in April would certainly reinforce what we propose beyond a deposit to a roofing company.
The hall is technically the only asset in common ownership in the parish, is held in high regard by the parishioners and used for a multitude of purposes.
Further discussion on specifics will need to follow. This is a mark in the sand now that we are ready for the off!
The Councillors discussed the request to increase the precept for 2026/27 and agreed that the Village Hall Committee should gain three quotes for the work to ascertain the costs of the work. The Councillors also asked that details of grant opportunities which the Village Hall Committee intend to apply for should also be given to the Parish Council to ensure support can be given where needed.
Action: Cllr Hatchley to request this information from the Village Hall Committee in time for the budgeting meeting on 20th November 2025. A member/members of the Village Hall Committee to be invited to join the meeting on 20th November.
Planning applications & related matters
The Paris Council received on application since the last meeting; it is:
- Northington Down Farm (25/01069/LDP) – proposed erection of an ancillary static caravan. The Clerk contacted the Planning Officer following the meeting as requested by the Councillors and received the following response:
The application is for a certificate of lawful development. It is for development that is intended to meet the conditions of the relevant Permitted Development class. Customers submit an application for a lawful development certificate if they want a legal decision from ourselves that the proposed development meets the requirements of permitted development – often useful for when selling a property etc.
There is no requirement to notify neighbours or display a site notice for this type of development (with some exceptions, although these would be dealt with by prior approval applications and not a lawful development certificate). This is because the development either meets the requirements of Permitted Development and automatically receives consent under that legislation, or it does not. It is my understanding that we notify Parish Councils as a courtesy on these types of applications.
Action: Councillors to agree if any action is required.
Lengthsman
The dates for the Lengthsman visits in 2025/26 are:
- 18th June 2025
- 23rd September 2025
- 15th December 2025
- 10th March 2026
Councillors agreed the work to be completed at the next visit earlier in the meeting.
General Correspondence
Village Emails – The Chair informed the Councillors that Simon has been in touch about handing over sending out the Village Emails. Cllr Hatchley agreed to work with the Chair to send out the message in the future using the Northingtonparishcouncil@gmail.com account.
Action: Clerk to send password for account to Cllr Hatchley and Chair
Northington Crossroad – Cllr Bason has cut back to vegetation on the approach to the Northington Crossroads from Northington Road. The topography of the road in the area meant that road users in particular cyclists who are unfamiliar with the road did not see the “give way” sign until late and approaching at speed down a steep hill. The Councillors thanked Cllr Bason for this work.
Accident on B3046 – Councillors were informed of an accident on the bend at the entrance to the Grange on the B3046 which involved just one vehicle.
Defibrillator checks – Cllr Bason agreed to check the defib after each meeting.
Date of the next meeting
The next Parish Council meeting will be on Tuesday 23rd September.
The meeting ended at 7:45pm