Minutes of the Monxton Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 25^th October 2017 in the Monxton Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Present: Cllr M Cleugh – Chairman, Cllr S Dowding – Vice Chairman, Cllr J Balding, Cllr A Stevens, Cllr P Weston, Richard Waterman – Parish Clerk, County Councillor Mrs Z Brooks, Borough Councillor Mr B Few-Brown, Members of the Public – 9

WELCOME – The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS – There were no declarations of interest recorded.

PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY – The Parish Council agreed to co-opt Mr Andy Stevens onto the Parish Council. Mr A Stevens signed the Declaration of Office and was given the Declaration of Interest Forms. The Chairman welcomed Mr A Stevens onto the Parish Council.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC – There were no issues raised by the members of the public.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – The Chairman signed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record.

PLANNING – Cllr Mike Cleugh

• Issues with Nelsons lorries going through Monxton – EA on the case.
• Non-functioning of the ANPR system in Monxton Road.
• Appeal at Plot 5, Andover Business Park: 17/00043/OUTN
  • Goodmans want a Public enquiry re objections to their latest planning refusal. Meeting to be held by TVBC on the 21/11 at 2pm to discuss the appeal process.
• Corner Cottage – 17/01144/FULLN
  • revised planning application by Ross Construction – no objection to new design but concerns regarding the trees, which have been cut down contrary to the planning application and a basement not shown on any plans.
• Black Swan/Village Green update
• Alpine – meeting either 6^thor 7^th November to discuss plans to move from Manor farm site and build houses to pay for a new site & factory on Andover Airfield. Venue – Monxton with attendees from Abbots Ann & TVBC

ENVIRONMENT – Cllr Judith Balding

Tree Works in Monxton Conservation Area

• Test Valley Borough Council must have given their approval, in writing,  before any tree work is carried out within the Monxton Conservation Area.

Southern Water

• SW has announced that, amongst possible ‘ecosystem’ projects for the South East region, they propose an integrated catchment area approach to the River Test to improve environmental resilience, both upstream and downstream and to engage communities in water efficiency programmes.

Fireworks

• We would ask that residents do not set off fireworks, have bonfires or set off Chinese lanterns at their properties, as they all pose a serious fire risk to the thatched houses in the village.
• The laws concerning fireworks
• It is illegal for anyone under 18 to possess a firework in a public place.
• Fireworks cannot be set off by a private individual between 11.00pm and 7.00am except for certain nights of the year. Details on the Monxton Matters website of the organised bonfires and firework displays in Andover and the surrounding areas around 5th November.

Footpaths and Bridleways

• Thanks to Shaun Crowley, who has volunteered to be our new Footpaths Representative.  Details on the Monxton Matters website.
• Lengthsman
• Funding from HCC for the Lengthsman Scheme is now in place.

 VILLAGE HALL – Cllr Sarah Dowding

• The Monxton & Amport Village Hall has been awarded a grant of £4,750 for the Amport & Monxton Community Charity, which distributes profits from the Amport & Monxton Fete.
• This will go towards replacing the ancient boiler with an air source heat pump.

VILLAGE CLEAN-UP

• We’d like to have another autumn clean up to tackle a few areas we didn’t manage before, and also have the opportunity to plant some 500 native wild daffodil bulbs (narcissus pseudonarcissus) around the village.
• Please meet at the Village Hall at 10am on 4^thNovember where we shall provide rubbish bags, gloves and waste paper ‘grabbers’. If you can bring a trowel or tools for bulb planting that would be great.
• We need lots of willing volunteers Jobs include:
  • Litter picking
  • Ivy cut from trees, bridge on Monxton Road, walls etc
  • Village Hall exterior to be tidied

• 500 bulbs to be planted around the village gateways and village greens/pond area
• Please let us know if you’re coming so we know many to cater for. In return for your efforts hot and cold drinks, and bacon butties (or cheese rolls) will be provided for all helpers in the Village Hall from 12noon.
• We would love to see as many people helping as possible, and children and families are most welcome. THANK YOU!

FINANCIAL REPORT – Parish Clerk
Financial Report – 25^th October 2017

INCOME
Opening Balance 1/4/17        = £3,761.80
Precept                                = £5,700.00
VAT Refund                          = £   875.97

= £10,337.77

EXPENDITURE
Wages                                    =    £700.00
Insurance                                =   £393.57
Village Maintenance                 =    £930.00
Administration                         =   £155.00
Dog Bin/Litter Collection           =   £330.60
Audit                                       =   £120.00

= £2,629.17

Bank Balance
Parish Council   £ 5,944.43
Misc Funding    £ 7,430.65

£13,375.08

WEBSITE AND COMMUNICATIONS

• We have set up a new Facebook group for both Monxton and Amport. This differs from a page on Facebook, which Monxton & Amport both have, as users can interact with a group and post their own information. It’s more community-centred.
• Monxton & Amport Villages group – 84 members
• Monxton Matters Page – 200 followers
• The newsletter continues to be sent regularly to around 250 email address in Monxton, Amport, Abbotts Ann, Quarley & Grateley. It is read by around 65% of the recipients each time (61-73%)

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
David James is still looking for a replacement. There has been a burglary in Monxton recently at the bungalow next to the bridge.

SUNNYBANK – Cllr Mr Peter Weston

• Black Swan – we should all be aware of my findings to date.
• Goodmans – didn’t really get anywhere. Crossland (MD) didn’t respond, got a basic response from Glennie who is the director responsible for ABP. Just stating they have no desire to see HGVs in Monxton, the TRO etc.
• Drains – up near the first village sign – blocked (again) – been reported
• Footpath cutting date – asked council to change it from August to June/early July – awaiting response
• Manure & chalk – on Kurt’s farm, manure close to houses, chalk piles appearing from nowhere – appears to be dumping. Emailed Kurt, awaiting response.

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR MR BEN FEW-BROWN
Cllr Mr B Few-Brown reported that it has been confirmed that Monxton, Amport, Grateley and Quarley will be joining the Anna Ward and there will only be two Borough Councillors.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR MRS Z BROOKS
Cllr Mrs Z Brooks reported that Hampshire County Council must find £140 Million savings over the next two years. Possible cutbacks include closing some of the Counties re-cycling centres, Cuts in the Bus and Community Transport schemes, the loss of the School Crossing (lollipop) scheme, dimming the street lights and the loss of 200 corporate jobs. The Council Tax will also rise by 5% each year.

SPEED WATCH
The Chairman reported that the Parish Council are in discussion with Picket Piece after they enquired if they could hire the Speed Watch equipment.

CLOSE OF THE MEETING
The Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting.

DATES FOR THE 2018 MEETINGS
23rd January
17th April
24th July
16th October

An update about Goodman’s appeal to lift traffic restrictions from/to Andover Business Park, putting at risk communities along the A3057, A342, A343, A338, B3048 and Monxton Road.

In 2009 Goodman were finally given permission to construct a huge storage and distribution depot on Andover Business Park amidst vocal opposition which feared our roads and villages would be blighted by a daily (and nightly) flow of hundreds, if not thousands, of HGVs. These fears were partially placated by stringent traffic routeing restrictions being imposed that more or less confined lorries travelling to and from the Business Park to the A303 and A34. These conditions are notionally enforced by a camera system that detects lorries using prohibited routes and by fines for transgressions.

However, in their latest application for yet more storage and distribution sheds Goodman have requested that these traffic restrictions should be lifted and this would immediately put at risk communities along the A3057, A342, A343, A338, B3048 and Monxton Road such as Stockbridge, Kings Somborne, Ludgershall, The Collingbournes, Nether Wallop, Hurstbourne Tarrant, Shipton Bellinger, Tidworth, Longparish, Monxton, Grateley and this is not a complete list.

Monxton Parish Council has, of course, strongly objected to this application.