MINUTES of the Meeting of WESTLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL held in the Village Hall , Westleigh, on Wednesday 1st Sept 2004 at 7.30 p.m.

Present. Cllrs. M. Hudson Chairman, P.Fronteras M.Cumiskey. M.Parks, B.Marshall, A.Samphier.

Also present. Cllr R. Cann. DCC. Cllr. L. Brown NDDC.

0904/1 Apologies for Absence. Cllr. J.May.

0904/2 Police Report. PC. J. Parker reported that apart from a minor traffic accident on Westleigh straight, there was no recorded crime in the Westleigh parish over the past two months.
Once again the problem of traffic speeding through the village was raised and PC Parker offered to visit the location from time to time in order to monitor the situation and perhaps deter persistent offenders.

0904/3 Minutes of the Meeting held on 7th July. 2004.
Resolved that the minutes of the Meeting held on 7th July 2004 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

0904/4 Matters Arising
Memorial Garden / General Maintenance.
The clerk was asked to contact Mr M.Harris and request a comprehensive programme of maintenance throughout the parish, including as a matter of urgency, the repair of the Eastleigh Notice Board.
The Chairman, with the unanimous support of the council proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs. Sylvia King for her determined effort to keep the parking bays and bus shelters clear of litter.

Westleigh Website It was reported by Cllr Fronteras that the cost of maintaining the Website in 2004/5 was likely to be £250.00 per annum.
It was important therefore that further financial assistance is sought to help fund the scheme and members were asked to continue to seek sponsorship at a local level.
A discussion took place on the letter received from Mr R. Coldwell criticising the display of photographs of properties on the Westleigh Website without the owners or tenants permission.
Although Cllr. Fronteras had spoken to Mr. H. Christie prior to the photographs being taken, it was generally agreed that the letter of apology and the immediate withdrawal of the details from the Website was the correct procedure to follow.
Cllr M. Cumiskey suggested however, that more members should have been consulted before any response was given.
The Chairman noted the comment and would ensure in future, liaison between chairman and councillors would be improved.
The Chairman also thanked Cllrs R, Cann L.Brown and Parish Cllr Mr. A.Samphier for their generous donations towards the running costs of the Westleigh Website.

Undergrounding of Cables Nothing further to report.

Parish Alliance. Date of next meeting. ( Provisional ) Wednesday 12th January 2005 at 7.00 pm. At Westleigh Village Hall.

Westleigh Parish Heritage Forum
Grant funding is still being investigated.
Disappointment was expressed on the poor response to the questionnaire concerning the historical details of local properties.

0904/5Parishioners Questions.
Complaints were received regarding the excessive noise from the event held at Tapeley Park over the Bank holiday weekend, particularly when it extended late into the night and into the early hours of the morning.
Clerk to pass on complaints to NDDC.
Continuing complaints of speeding traffic through village.
Support on council’s thanks to Mrs Sylvia King for litter clearance.

0904/6 County & District Reports.
Cllr L.Brown NDDC informed the meeting that The District Council have been on their summer recess and although there was nothing directly concerning Westleigh, Cllr Brown gave a brief summary of NDDC business that was of general interest.

Cllr R. Cann DCC.
In response to the question of traffic speeds through Westleigh village, Cllr. Cann reminded the meeting that a proposal for a 30mph. Speed restriction had been turned down by the council
Cllr Cann whilst accepting the council’s reasons for rejecting the proposed traffic order, did offer to investigate the possibility of a more comprehensive road marking scheme, which may help to reduce traffic speeds.

The previously reported situation indicating that householders would have the choice as to whether they wanted to be included in the proposed Wheelie bin collection system was corrected by Cllr. Cann.
The reasons for excluding properties from the new system would be based on criteria such as, difficult location /access, physical disability of householder etc. and not based on the desire not to take part.
Westleigh Conservation area.
Proposals for an extension to the Westleigh conservation area still under consideration by NDDC.

0904/7 Parking / Play Area.
A letter received from Mr. Hector Christie setting out his preliminary proposals for housing development in Westleigh village was submitted to the council.
Following a debate on the matter it was proposed to reply to Mr Christie to indicate that any opinion offered by the parish council at this stage would be premature and we should await a more formal proposal before making further comments.

It was also proposed that following information obtained on the background to Langmead housing development, the clerk should include in the letter, a response to the accusation of “selling off “ land that was given to the council by Christie Estates some years ago, for use as a car park.

0904/8Correspondence.
A copy of all correspondence was made available to all Councillors. Resolved that correspondence be noted.

0904/9 Finance.
A copy of expenditure was presented to Councillors. Resolved, that the expenditure totalling £64.12 be approved and accounts be paid accordingly.
The audit of the accounts for the year 2003-2004 has been concluded.
A completion certificate has been issued by the External Auditor.
Notice of the conclusion together with copies of section 1-3 of the annual return to be displayed on the parish notice board from 3rd – 17th Sept 2004.

0904/10 Planning
Planning Ref. No.37848 Erection of replacement Garage at Rosemary cottage Westleigh. Planning Permission …GRANTED

Planning Ref. No.37855 Listed Building Application for Barn Conversion.
Weach Barton, Westleigh.
Planning Permission :- REFUSED.

Planning Ref. No. 37854 Barn Conversion
Weach Barton , Westleigh.
Planning Permission :- REFUSED.

Planning Ref. No. 36844.
Torr House Westleigh.
Appeal against decision of the Local Planning Authority to refuse permission for the erection of a dwelling at Torr House, Westleigh.


0904/11 Any Other Business at Chairman’s Discretion.
There was none.