Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 24^th April 2006 in Martyr Worthy Parish Hall.

The meeting was chaired by Alison Matthews and attended by about 40 members of the public .County Councillor Jackie Porter and the Mayor of Winchester Neil Baxter were also present. 

Alison Matthews opened the meeting by welcoming all present. 

Apologies: Helen and Ron Allan, Mike Bolton, Lucinda and Simon Ffennell. Fiona Parry. Andrew Robson, Head Teacher Itchen Abbas Primary School. 

Minutes of the 2005 Annual Parish Meeting

The minutes of the 2005 Annual Parish meeting were agreed and signed. 

Alison Matthews welcomed the guest speaker, Fiona Tebbutt, Head of Planning Control.

Fiona spoke about her personal background which had been in the private sector as well as the public sector.

The three main areas of her role are:

            1) Development Control

            2) Enforcement

            3) Landscape

Fiona explained which issues are taken into account when granting planning permission. Loss of view and proximity to boundaries are not issues.

The Planning Performance Improvement Plan will change the way applications are considered.

James Ekins asked that people be informed of any changes.

David Compton stated that as planning officers are the experts why do applications go to Parish Councils? Fiona replied that this is the law. Planning training sessions are ongoing.

Ken Taylor asked who reads the letters of objections and does the VDS carry any weight? Fiona replied that it is taken into account as supplementary guidance.

Jackie Porter said that on larger developments with no mains drainage land use is taken up with waste development. There is no policy but this does need better guidance.

Angela Wheeler asked about too much signage. This is not a planning issue and it needs to be taken up with the Highways Department.

Alison Matthews stated that there is a change to community involvement. Developers will contact local people first.

Alison thanked Mrs Tebbutt for her presentation.  

Financial Report

Joyce Edgell presented the annual accounts which had not been audited. She explained that the bank balance was high as £1983 has already been received towards swings at the Old School Field. Also £2000 is expected to be paid towards the traffic calming in Easton. The audit commission have called the accounts in for August after which time any interested member of the public will be able to view these accounts at the clerk’s house. 

Chairman’s Report

Alison Matthews report has been circulated with the newspapers. She added that since her report the planning application for construction of a motocross course had been refused. However 14 days are allowed without planning permission.

The Pop Festival will go ahead for the increased time of 2 nights. A donation will be given to the Upper Itchen Valley Society. In previous years no record of complaints has been received. Alison urged people to complain when they are unhappy with the noise as one reason for allowing the extra day was the lack of complaint in the past.

Alison introduced Jo Cleary who is a traffic consultant who IVPC may engage to do an independent report on the B3047.

James Ekins commented about aeroplane noise. Flybe are introducing a new plane which is quieter.

David Compton said he had written to the MOD about Chinook helicopters flying over low at night. The reply was that this is necessary for training purposes. 

Report by County Councillor, Jackie Porter (Report attached)

Jackie said her emphasis this year has been the provision of an adequate number of school places, adult services, and traffic management along the B3047, which has been noted with provision in the 2006/07 works plan.

Jackie reported that there is new legislation on Motorised Vehicles’ Access to Green Lanes. This will close the loophole whereby unsurfaced tracks could become Byways Open to all Traffic (BOATs).

Jackie ended by thanking the parish Councillors for their work especially the chairman.

James Ekins thanked Jackie Porter for all the work she does for the parish. 

Report by the Mayor of Winchester, City Councillor Neil Baxter (Report attached)

Neil said how much he has enjoyed his time as Mayor of Winchester. He has had 350 engagements. His charity fund is standing at £25,800 so far. His chosen charities being The Stroke Foundation, Make a Wish Foundation and Adult Care. He thanked the residents of the valley for their support through the Lenten lunches. This had given his charities £1000.

Neil says he continues to press for the sewage works at Couch Green and Itchen Abbas.

Alison Matthews thanked him for all his work and said the valley is proud to have him representing us as mayor. 

Report by Andrew Robson, Head Teacher of Itchen Abbas Primary School (Report attached)

In his absence Linda Compton, chair of the governors, spoke about the progress the school is making. Academic standards are increasing all the time. The new addition to the building has enabled the administration block to be at the front of the school and not hidden away upstairs at the back. She said how friendly the children are and the numbers have risen.

There is now a dedicated bus route, calling at Easton, Avington and Martyr Worthy.

In view of the new housing Linda was asked if the school would be able to accommodate the children. She said that it was hoped it could.

Linda urged everyone to attend the Open day which is on Thursday June 29^th at 1.30pm.

Questions

Yvonne Butler asked when the damaged pub sign was going to be removed. Steve Gapper said the road needs to be closed and a crane brought in.

Yvonne asked if the phone box could be painted. IVPC will ask for this to be done when the box is repaired.

Alison Matthews thanked the editors of the village magazines, Diana and James Ekins and Peter Bell for their help in publishing items for IVPC sometimes at the last minute.

As there were no other questions, Alison thanked everyone for coming. 

The meeting closed at 9.25pm