Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2022/23

Download PDF : AGAR Form 2 Electronic Version – Northington Parish Council

Northington Parish Council Grant Awarding Policy -15 Nov 22

Completed AGAR form 2021:2022 – Northington Parish Council

Smaller authority name: Northington Parish Council

NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS AND PUBLICATION OF UNAUDITED ANNUAL GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY RETURN

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Sections 26 and 27

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)

Southern Water Planning Application 

Plan LK/WRG042 aka 20/00731/HCS

1. NORTHINGTON PARISH COUNCIL OBJECTS TO THIS APPLICATION.

There are many important questions requiring answers, before this application is allowed to proceed.

2. Southern Water (SW) is proposing an act of, what appears locally to be, environmental vandalism. The company intends to:

• Install over-ground, 8 miles of black 500mm polyethylene piping
• Stockpile at a local beauty spot, 4.4 miles of black polyethylene pipes on a 40 meters x 40 meters hard-core slab
• Install metal guard fencing to protect the dump
• Build a Water Booster Pumping Station (WBPS) with hard core base on agricultural land near a cluster of dwellings
• Install metal guard fencing to protect a newly built WBPS compound.
• Pay Scant Regard to environmental and residential sensitivities (see below).
• The rejection of viable alternative schemes in favour of a cost-saving, quick-fix solution to a statutory obligation.

3. General Comments on SW’s Application

1. Alternative Scheme.

Based on its own comprehensive survey dated June 1979, the Southern Water Authority company established a pipeline linked to boreholes near Axford.  The scheme delivered water in time of drought through the Candover valley with minimum pipework and minimum damage to the environment.  In 2020, a similar scheme would have the support of landowners and locals alike and the environmentally friendly principles on which the 1979 scheme was based are still valid today.

N.B. Application PASS 2.7 reads  “To secure a Drought Order for the Candover scheme, Southern Water will need to meet Habitat Regulations Assessment tests and demonstrate imperative reasons of overriding public interest (IROPI) for the project to proceed. This process includes an acceptance that there are no feasible alternatives available.”   But there is an alternative and it is set out in the 1979 scheme.

1. Environmental Impact.

The overground pipeline is made of Polyethylene Black Plastic.  It is 0.5m in diameter and will run for approximately 4.4 miles (7 kms) of which 3.8 miles will pass through Northington.

Safety regulations require that it is fenced and lit at night.

The effect of noise and exhaust pollution from increased traffic flows, during set up and dismantling, and subsequent light pollution will be detrimental to the wealth of wildlife along the proposed route of the pipeline. The roadside verges of Kites Hill are largely native chalk grassland and reflect our floral heritage. Among many plants, Dark Mullein grows here, the food-plant of caterpillars of the Striped Lychnis moth, a nationally scarce and local rarity. Ivy bees have colonized the hedgerows of the downland.  White helleborines and chalkland orchids grow in the deep shade beneath the beeches of Kites Hill Copse.

1. Risk of Permanency.

SW’s bases its assurance of a 10 year maximum duration on a Section 20 Agreement scheduled to expire in 2030 but the agreement is ‘contingent on the successful implementation of new permanent reliable supplies’ (PASS 3.2).  The
 Candover Drought Order scheme is also included in the Southern Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP), which covers the period 2020-2070.  Should ‘reliable supplies’ not be found within 10 years, the Candover scheme affords SW a comfortable cushion, and an opening for a further application for an extension, even permanency.

1. Local Disruption Caused By Engineering Works

SW will require:

• Eight months to assemble and dismantle the pipeline, causing severe disruption along narrow country roads.
• How long will SW need to test the pipeline?
• How often will the pipeline be deployed for testing – annually, every 2 years or only when required by a Drought Order?
• How often will it be used based on data of the last ten years?

1. Community Involvement – Public Consultation.

On 21 January 2020, Southern Water chose to hold a consultation meeting, not in Northington Village Hall as local residents might reasonably have expected, but in Itchen Abbas three miles away.  SW’s representatives proved unable to speak to important details.

1. Local Detail

Main Site Compound on Kites Hill.

When the pipeline is not in use, SW propose to store the pipes in a specially built compound on Kites Hill at the entry to Northington village.  SW plans to site the new build in a beech copse and will need to fell trees.  Permanent hard standing will cover an area of 40 meters x 40 meters to a height of 2.5meters and be screened by 1.8meters of metal palisade fencing but this screen will not completely hide the pile of pipework.  Access provision means that the total area required under this application is 40 meters x 80 meters.

BUT

• SW already owns a pumping station and storage at Totford, which has recently been upgraded with toilet, shower, drying room and canteen.

• There is ample storage space at SW’s own Otterbourne depot.

• There is also storage space at the HCC Chipping Depot near Micheldever Woods.

Drought conditions build up over several weeks, allowing SW ample time to deliver the pipes from an existing storage site to the “pipe lay down areas” for assembly.  This will avoid:

• the expense of building a compound.

• the destruction of a green-field site/copse of valuable natural beauty.

• causing disturbance to wild life and to the surrounding

N.B. The plans show “pipe lay down areas” at intervals along the pipeline to be used when assembling/dismantling the pipeline (Lawn House, Totford/Kites Hill corner).

1. Traffic Concerns

The road entrance to the main site compound is half-way up Kites Hill, a road that police and HCC records show, already has severe traffic problems when used by large vehicles.

The entrance to the proposed Water Booster Pumping Station (WBPS) site is at the corner of the field adjacent to Totford Saw Mill.  A recent application by the owner of the Saw Mill for a larger entrance was rejected by HCC Highways Department because the proposed entrance has inadequate sight lines.

1. Water Booster Pumping Station (WBPS)

Located in Totford, this site, like the main compound, is to be built on a green-field site.  It requires a 40 meters x 40 meters area with 20 meters x 20 metres of permanent hard standing.  There are plans for three generators on the site.

The pumps, oil tanks and associated equipment will be 2.75 meters high, well above the height of metal fencing.  Two reinforced concrete slabs are required to support the three pump sets and MCC Kiosk.  There is to be storage for 12,000 litres of fuel.  How much of this hard structure will be left behind after the initial try out of the scheme?

There is a sense of permanency about these destructive proposals.

1. Noise and Heavy Traffic Pollution

The proposed WBPS site lies

1. 40 meters from the boundary of Chapel Cottage.
2. 200 meters from four dwellings in Northington.
3. 230 meters from the Woolpack Inn and four neighbouring
4. 210 meters from The Old Rectory.

Three generators, running 24/7, pumping 27 million litres of water per day and needing 12,000 litres of fuel, is not a small operation. The generators will certainly cause noise and traffic pollution to these properties.

Summary

To meet its statutory obligations, SW wishes to put a black plastic illuminated pipeline on the road margins round Northington.  The company proposes to store a large quantity of the same pipes on a greenfield site and beauty spot at the entry to Northington village.  In addition to this reckless destruction of the Hampshire countryside, SW also proposes to build, very close to local housing, a compound for three booster pumps with the dire prospect of severe noise pollution.

SW has presented the planners with proposals, which will inflict permanent damage on the environment and disfigure an attractive rural village in the heart of Hampshire’s countryside.   It is worth noting that in early 2020 SW did not see fit to come to Northington to explain their plans.  Covid-19 has allowed the company air-brush out of its planning history this signal dereliction of community duty.

At SW’s consultation on 21 January 2020 in Itchen Abbas Hall, it emerged that SW had rejected a less destructive but more expensive water augmentation scheme.  SW have instead chosen a cheaper and more brutal engineering alternative, demonstrating a breath-taking disregard of local sensitivities.  SW’s planned defacement of the Hampshire countryside beggars belief.

This overground pipeline proposal has all the hallmarks of a cost saving solution, at the expense of the residents of Northington, Itchen Abbas and the Hampshire countryside.

Planners:

Northington Parish Council and Northington’s residents, who have had a chance to comment on this draft, ask you introduce a note of common sense into this debate by rejecting this application and requiring SW to radically rethink their plans.

The Candover Valley Store and Post Office is open and as well stocked as possible in these unprecedented times.  We are delighted to see so many customers shopping locally.

Keeping open and safe

We have two prime objectives over the next (no doubt very challenging) weeks:

1. We will aim to keep the store and post office open and as well stocked as possible, for as long as possible, to serve our local community.   
2. We must, at the same time, observe government guidelines – to keep our staff, volunteers and customers as safe as possible and observe good practice.

To achieve these objectives we have introduced a few changes to our opening hours and operating procedures.

Revised opening hours

From Monday 23 March, the opening hours of the store will be as follows:

 Social distancing 

In line with recommended advice and best practice, from Monday 23 March, we are allowing 3 customers in store at any one time.  For the safety of all, customers are respectfully asked to observe the 2m rule and distance themselves carefully. 

The store is following all recommended advice and best practice in this health crisis. Our cleaning and hygiene regime has increased and is robust.  

Takeaway drinks

Hot drinks will be sold in disposable cups only.  

Help for the most vulnerable and those self-isolating  

We are currently considering how best to help our friends and neighbours that may be self-isolating or those more vulnerable customers who do not want to leave home during this time.  Prescriptions may now be collected and signed for by third parties.

We know many of the local villages already have a network of neighbourhood supporters in place to assist the vulnerable and those self-isolating and we plan to work with these to ensure we support our friends and neighbours in the most helpful way.  

If you are able to assist us, by either volunteering in the store or by helping with any shopping and deliveries for your immediate neighbours do contact Jane Laws on 01256 389491. We would warmly welcome anyone who feels able to help in the short term, even in an ad hoc capacity.  However please consider your own circumstances before offering your kind services.  If you have underlying health issues, are in the vulnerable categories, then you must look after yourself and your family first and foremost.

We would like to thank all our staff, volunteers, customers and supporters for their fantastic support as we go forward.  Please bear with us while we develop (and test out) our plans and get to grips with how to handle a rapidly changing situation.  We will keep you regularly updated.

Proposed Easter opening hours 

Good Friday 10 April  Store open 8.30am – 4pm  

                                                Post office closed (bank holiday)

Easter Saturday 11 April  Store open 8.30am – 4pm  

                                       Post office open 9 – 12.30 (normal Saturday hours)

Easter Sunday 12 April Store open 8.30 – 12.30 (normal Sunday hours)

Easter Monday 13 April Store open 8.30 – 4pm.  Post office closed (bank 

 The Alresford Surgery

Station Road

ALRESFORD

Hampshire

SO24 9JL

Telephone: 01962 732345

Website: www.alresfordsurgery.co.uk

Newsletter – April 2020

Covid-19

PLEASE DO NOT COME INTO THE SURGERY

If you have:

• A high temperature or fever
• A new continuous cough

Please stay at home and use the following website for further help.

111.nhs.uk/covid-19

If you require further assessment after 7 days of self-isolation, please call the Surgery & you will receive a call back from a GP. 

The current situation with COVID-19 is leading us into unchartered waters but the staff at Alresford Surgery continue to be committed to providing a responsive service to our patients.  We will be making some big changes to the way we operate our appointment book in order that we can continue to care for everyone in a responsible way.  Our aim is to ensure that only those patients who really need to be seen face to face attend the surgery.

The situation is changing daily and we already have a number of clinical staff who are having to self-isolate which is impacting the way in which we work.  There is a strong possibility that we will be operating with minimal staffing at some point in the next few weeks.  We will prioritise urgent and acute illness.

GP appointments

If you have an appointment booked in the next week or two you will receive a phone call from our reception team to convert that appointment to a telephone consultation with the GP.  This will be on the same day and at the same time as your face to face appointment.  If, following this call, the GP still needs to see you they will book this with you.

For the foreseeable future we will be offering a same day telephone triage system for ALL GP appointments:

Decide which GP you want to see

• Decide when you will be available for a call back (Morning or Afternoon)
• Call the surgery on 01962 732345
• State which GP you would prefer to speak to
• Explain briefly why you need an appointment
• Wait for a call back within the timeframe given by the receptionist
• Discuss the issue with the doctor who will decide if a face to face consultation is needed. If so they will agree a suitable time that day.

Obviously not all GPs work every day, to help you plan your call see below.

Please keep checking our website and Facebook page for updates in the coming weeks.

Retirement of Sister Sally Denniss
Sally Denniss, who has been a Practice Nurse here for 20 years and a District Nurse here for 10 years before that will be sadly retiring at the end of April.
Over her time at the Surgery she has seen lots of changes and seen lots of patients.
Sally will miss seeing patients and working with the wonderful team at Alresford but feels it’s time to start a new chapter in her life.

Good Friday & Easter Monday closure
Please make sure you have sufficient supplies of your usual medications to last over the bank holiday period which you can order in a number of ways;

• In person at the surgery
• By post
• By fax (01962 736034)
• Via Patient Access (www.patient.co.uk/access) 

The surgery will be closed on Friday 10 April and Monday 13 April. If you need urgent medical care you can access the Out of Hours service for advice, a face to face appointment or, if it is necessary, a home visit.
The number to call is 111. 

111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It’s fast, easy and free. Call 111 and speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. They will ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care for you.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

Retirement of Dr. Cribb 

Dr Richard Cribb will be retiring from Alresford Surgery in early May.  Dr Cribb joined the surgery in 1993 and will have given 27 years service to the town of Alresford and surrounding villages.  We are currently recruiting to fill the gap he will leave and we hope there will be more news about this next month.

Waiting room blood pressure machine

We now have an automated blood pressure machine in the waiting room.
This can be used by non-patients & patients, as long as you live within the local community, so feel free to come down to the surgery and measure your blood pressure at your leisure. Please ensure that you complete your details on the bottom of the printed slip & then hand your result to reception who can then update your records.

This facility can be a very convenient alternative to booking an appointment, especially if you require an up to date blood pressure for a referral for example.
We hope that this will save patients time as well as making more appointments available.

If you require any assistance in using the blood pressure machine please ask a member of the reception team who will be happy to assist you.

The new waiting room blood pressure machine was very kindly purchased by the Edward Pay Medical Fund and New Alresford Town Council for the Surgery.