Category Archives: News

St Mary’s Monxton

by davidbaugh4btinternetcom

Apologies to those who may have seen the church notice below in the April Parish Magazine. However only 40 houses in the parish of Monxton subscribe to the magazine, so we hope this will widen the distribution.

On Monday April 7th at 4pm in the church, St Mary’s church council is holding their annual parochial meeting. It is fair to say that the situation has become critical. For 5 years now we have been without any church wardens, an office usually covered by two people. Both the secretary and treasurer intend to step down this year after many years of service in various roles. Those two posts are provisionally filled for which we are both delighted and grateful, but in both cases by people outside the parish. As in many churches numbers attending services are falling and although we have standing room only on Christmas Day average attendance is often in single figures and there is only one regular church-goer who actually lives in Monxton. Perhaps the services provided are not what is required of this generation, but we would love to attract the younger people and families to become part of the local church. Many rural churches have been forced into closure, let’s not let this happen here, but we need your help. All small, rural churches struggle to find people to be on the PCC. We understand that a church not used and loved quite quickly becomes damp and in even more need of building works. Those who have loved the church for many years cannot carry the burden alone any longer. To keep it open and running requires people for the proper governance. People willing to give a few hours four times a year in a PCC. To be on the PCC you need to be baptised and either live within the parish of Monxton or attend the church regularly. Monxton church would love your help in other ways, too: there are no such restrictions on those who may wish to help maintain the beauty and serenity of the Churchyard for the benefit of the whole village.

Monxton PCC

Grass Cutting & Strimming in Monxton

by wrightjanetbtinternetcom

Calling all LOCAL gardeners/landscapers/maintenance companies

Monxton Parish Council would like to invite you to bid for the 2025/26 grass cutting and strimming contract. Relevant experience and insurance is required as well as a degree of flexibility. Closing date for expressions of interest is 7th March 2025.

For further information please contact the Clerk on mobile number 07453322139 or email clerk@monxtonparishcouncil-hants.co.uk

Pillhill Pan Parish Forum Quarterly Meeting held with Southern Water

by wrightjanetbtinternetcom

Summary of Januray’s Pillhill Pan Parish Forum Quarterly meeting with Southern Water can be found here. For more details of what was discussed at the meeting and the slides presented by Southern Water please visit the Pillhill Pan Parish Forum webpage.

Southern Water – a Tanker Free Christmas!

by wrightjanetbtinternetcom

Even though groundwater level at the Environmental Agency’s Clanville Gate borehole exceeded the 84 m on 21 October 2024 Southern Water’s water pumping stations have not needed any support from tankers. For more information click here.

Pillhill Pan Parish Forum Quarterly Meeting held with Southern Water

by wrightjanetbtinternetcom

Summary of October’s Pillhill Pan Parish Forum Quarterly meeting with Southern Water can be found here. For more details of what was discussed at the meeting and the slides presented by Southern Water please visit the Pillhill Pan Parish Forum webpage.

Parish Council Minutes

by heatherbourner

Minutes of the Monxton Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 9th July 2023, 7.30pm at Thruxton Village Hall

Present: Cllr Mike Cleugh – Chairman    

               Cllr Hugh Corroon -Vice Chairman

               Cllr Cathy Barbone

               Cllr Camilla Elwell

               Heather Bourner – Parish Clerk                  

               0 Members of the Public

Apologies:

Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Rupert Staines.

 1.WELCOME.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2. Register of interest forms.

All Councillors present confirmed there were no amendments required to register of interest documents.

3.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

There were no members of public present.

7.MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The Chairman agreed to sign the minutes of the previous meetings of 14th May 2024 as a true record. All agreed.

4.VILLAGE HALL REBUILD UPDATE

Cllr Cleugh summarised progress with the project as follows

The windows have now been fitted

The oak beams have been sand blasted which has removed all the black water marks.

The internal frame for the kitchen and toilets has been erected

The pipe works for the underfloor heating has been installed and the floor has been screeded.

There is still a shortfall of funding and efforts continue to fund raise. The Clerk will meet with hall trustees to discuss finance shortly.

The Clerk summarised the village hall management finance as below

Village Hall Bank Reconciliation

Held in Barclays account-

Current account £3635.41

Savings account £35.72

It was noted that the balance of funds raised from previous fetes had now been donated to the re build of the hall. In addition, funds from a recent fun run event were also to be allocated to the rebuild fund although the final sum was as yet unknown.

No progress had been made to engage new committee members including a new treasurer which was currently being dealt with by the Parish Clerk. A Monxton villager has stepped forward to research a bookings system for the new hall.

5.PLANNING.

Applications since previous meeting: –

  1. 24/01233/FULLN- erection timber outbuilding for use as home gym and guest bedroom- the Lodge, Monxton Nurseries-no objection

Applications to be considered

  1. 24/01447/TREEN- fell 1 conifer-Whitmoor, Chalkpit Lane-no objections
  2. 24/01453/TREEN- tree works, Middle Orchard, Green Lane-no objections

Confirmation of outcome from TVBC

  1. 23/02579/FULLN- change of use to residential, Black Swan, High Street-permission

6.SUNNYBANK & FOOTPATHS

Cllr Barbone reported as follows

Sunnybank-an issue has arisen with traffic speeding at Sunnybank. A villager from Sunnybank who has raised concerns has been asked if he would be prepared to monitor the traffic speed data, a response is awaited.

Footpaths -Public paths have been strimmed and will be cut again at the end of July. HCC has been asked for assistance in cutting the long grass on hook lane as this is out of the Parish Council designated cutting area.
The farmer has been asked on several occasions to cut the hedge around the horse paddocks at Manor Farm. Requests have been ignored and the area is becoming impassable and dangerous. HCC confirmed that the land owner is responsible for ensuring hedging on their land is cut back in public areas.

7.TRAFFIC MONITORING

There was no data to review, Cllr Elwell will share the software she has been able to locate with Cllr Cleugh. A full discussion took place about what can be done to help reduce speeding traffic. Over the years all the initiatives possible have been tried and it was agreed downloading data from the speed machine was the best option as repeat offenders can them be reported to the police.

8 ENVIRONMENT

Cllr Cleugh reported the bulk of the work by Southern water to reline sewers has now been complete and a volunteer group (Pilhill Brook Association) are now regularly testing the local streams and rivers. Data will be shared with Councillors and the community once the PBA website is online.

9.FINANCE

To note balance in Lloyds bank as at 14/05/24

Treasurers account £962.02

Instant online £108614.79

Resolved: that the following payments be approved and transactions authorised

Payments to agree-

Clerks’ salary £154.93 per month and HMRC £38.80 payments by SO July, Aug & Sep

Shaun Rushton £490.00 & £247.50

Do The Numbers £400.00

Janet Wright £6.25

Mike Cleugh-Monxton Matters website £97.33

Payments to be made

Clerks’ expenses (May & June) £15.00

Cllr Cleugh proposed applying for a bank debit card for the Parish Council bank account. The matter was discussed and it was agreed Cllr Cleugh should make an application.

Audit Action Plan

Following the internal audit a report compiled by the auditor had been circulated along with an action plan drawn up by the Clerk. The most pressing matter was the lack of a suitable website on which Parish Council documents should be published in order that the Parish Council meets the requirements of the Transparency Regulations. The matter was discussed at length and the Clerk gave details of a website provider used by several Parish Councils, a site could be supplied and operated with ease by the Clerk at a cost of £9.99 per month. After some discussion it was agreed, the Clerk should proceed to set up a functioning website

The internal audit also recommended all Councillors used dedicated email addresses for Parish Council business in order that the obligations of the Data Protection act were met and to avoid difficulties should a request be made under the Freedom of Information Act. The Clerk said she had organised specific email solutions for other Parish Councils and could put one in place for Monxton with an approximate cost of £100 per year. This was also agreed.

Submission of the audit return to BDO had also resulted in further questions from the external auditor along with the need to alter the 2023/24 governance statement. The Clerk explained the issue and it was agreed a fresh statement answering no to questions 2 and 4 should be signed by the chairman. Proposed Cllr Cleugh, seconded Cllr Barbone. All agreed. The Clerk will arrange for this to be re submitted to BDO.

14.BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORTS

HCC Chris Donnelly was not present.

TVBC Councillor Maureen Flood was not present.

15. CORRESPONDENCE

The Clerk noted the official notice to re-enrol for The Pensions Regulator which needs to be complete by October 2024.

A letter from Lloyds bank regarding funds not being covered by the Financial Compensations Scheme.

An email requesting a bleed control kit be fitted at the new Village Hall

An appointment with Octopus Electricity to fit a smart meter at the Village Hall has been made for Wednesday 7th August

16.Items for next meeting

There were no items noted for the next agenda

17.CLOSE OF THE MEETING

The Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting.

18.DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 8th October 2024, 7.30pm Thruxton Village Hall