MINUTES OF ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PARISH OF HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE HELD ON TUESDAY 21st APRIL 2009 AT 7.30PM AT THE VILLAGE HALL |
|---|
IN ATTENDANCE
Peter Bysouth, Rob Lloyd, Kevin Margetts, Bill Turner, Robin Carpenter, Malcolm White, David Beckley, Hannah Lefeuvre, Lesley Boucher (District Councillors), Jane Woodcock(Clerk) James Divall Community Play Officer SSDC ,Ernest Kong and 35 members of the public.
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cathy Bakewell (County Councillor), Brian Bower (Neighbourhood Watch) Brian Dodd (Website).
- MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY HELD ON TUESDAY 15th APRIL 2008
The minutes were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. - MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
There were no matters arising. - CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
The Chairman reported that the Parish Council had met 12 times in the year – 11 regular meetings plus 1 extra meeting to discuss planning applications. Three speakers also came to the meetings including Francis Jones to talk about tree planting.
The year had started in May with the Launch of the Parish Plan and issues arising from this including the Recreation Field, Village Hall and Affordable Housing were considered throughout the year.
There were 11 Planning Applications in the year slightly less than normal but two applications – The Stables in Partway Lane, and Woodentop Farm (in West Coker but just on our boundary on Coker Ridge) raised a number of issues and took up quite a bit of our time.
The subject of a Recreation Field was considered at most meetings. The members of the Council met with officers of SSDC to investigate their views on a potential site in North Lane. Ernest Kong the owner of that land is at the meeting tonight to share his views for the site with us - -both as a recreation site and as a potential site for a village Hall. We also had two visits from James Divall, SSDC Community Play Officer, who has carried out a play Audit in the Village and who is here to report on his preliminary findings tonight.
Time was also spent considering the Village Hall and we were pleased to see the formation of a Village Hall Redevelopment Committee, on which David Beckley is the Parish Council’s Representative.
Little progress was made on Affordable Housing. This was always going to be a long term project, and we are arranging for the new planning officer to visit the village to look at potential sites.
The Council is placing monies into its reserves for eventual use in all these projects.
The Council would like to thank Rob Lloyd for being our highways representative and Robin Carpenter for being out footpath representative. These were both regular items on the Agenda. The main events last year were the replacement of the water main in Barry Lane and the completion of the footpath survey. Last September the Highways dept indicated that they might sort out the drainage problems in the High Street this year. The Chairman hoped that this would be an item he could report on next year
During the year Diane Howes resigned as Clerk after almost 5 years and Jane Woodcock was welcomed as her replacement. Peter took the opportunity both personally and on behalf of the Council to thank Diane for her contribution as Clerk (and also previously as a Councillor).
PC John Watson came to the October meeting. He was very open about how stretched his resources were and, because of the lack of crime in our area, he does not visit often.
The website continues to expand and the Oil Consortium has been very successful due to the work of David Beckley.
There was still progress to be made in the areas of Neighbourhood Watch, Computer Classes, Young People’s activities, Recycling, a First Response Team and a Village Welcome Pack.
Finally, the Chairman, on behalf of the Council, thanked our District Councillors and County Councillors for their support during the year and offered a big thank you from the Parish to all those groups and individuals who contribute so much to village life.
- SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS THE MEETING
Ernest Kong said he had now lived in the Village for 22 years and felt very accepted by the community. He hoped his presentation would be looked at with an open mind and would stimulate debate. He had initially been approached by Cathy Bakewell (County Councillor) about his land at North Lane. She told him Hardington is one of only a very few Parishes without a play area and he has a nice flat piece of land! Ernest believes that to use this land just for a recreation area would be a waste. The current Village Hall was small, without many facilities and with no parking, and on a dangerous bend. He felt we were lucky that there had been no accidents. His vision was to create a new, possibly larger Hall on the site, with all the modern facilities needed such as computer access, small meeting rooms, stage for theatre, changing rooms for sports etc. This would also include parking, a sports field and play area. Ernest then showed some slides of his ideas. He thought his plans would cost in the order of half a Million Pounds which he felt could be achieved by grants, funding, or perhaps by selling off the existing Village Hall and grounds. He wanted the village to look with an open mind at the possibilities of a vision that, if the whole Village were involved, could be achieved. He wished it to be a legacy for the whole Village, and indicated that he would possibly donate the land for a village hall to fulfil this vision.
There was then the opportunity for the public and Councillors to comment and ask questions. Some people wished to keep the existing hall, and felt that this view had been clearly supported by the results of the Parish Plan. On the other had, the village had not been aware of Ernest’s vision for a new village hall and recreation area at that stage, and perhaps we needed to go back to the village with more details and ideas. If the existing hall was sold there was opposition to it being demolished, although a sensitive conversion was felt acceptable.
A redevelopment committee had been established to investigate the options for the future of the hall. This was still examining how to provide the desired facilities. Traffic and parking had been identified as a major problem. Generally, people appeared to want improved facilities mainly for village use, although the need for a steady income for the hall was appreciated.
With regard to the North Lane site, questions were raised about obtaining planning permission for a new hall / recreation area, and the increased traffic in the lane this location would generate. A preliminary meeting had already taken place with representatives from the District and County Councils about the idea, and the potential problem of increased traffic had been raised as a major issue. However, other villages locally had overcome similar difficulties to establish a successful hall in a problematic location. Concern was expressed that the land between the proposed location and Hardington Moor would be developed if the proposal went ahead.
James Divall then spoke about the work he had done over the last few weeks in the village. He is working in 16 rural areas in the District as a Play Officer. The Play Consultation looked with children and their families at what and where they play now, what were the barriers to play, other locations they play in and want facilities they want. They went to the Moors Valley Country Park as it contained a variety of facilities - play activities, natural play, open spaces. The intention was to get ideas of different sorts play spaces and to see what the children enjoyed and made use off. He then held four play activities in the village hall over Easter Holidays, which were very well supported. He consulted the children during the activities. Some initial impressions were that children wanted a communal area that could be used for picnics and family play, as well as a safe and appropriate place for them to meet and play, and the use of natural materials and features to blend in to or enhance the landscape rather than stand out from it (e.g. wood rather than metal or plastic equipment). A tree house was a very popular idea!
He also made the point that if the children and young people were part of the design, planning and implementation of a play area, they would be much less likely to then vandalise it, which some villagers had expressed a fear about.
He would be presenting a full report to the Parish Council late in May. This could then form the basis of a Parish Play Plan.
Peter Bysouth then invited the representatives of local groups to speak to the meeting.
Ann Lunt (Players) told the Meeting that membership is thriving with 30 members and 20 junior members. They had had a successful year with both the Murder Mystery and The Alternative Panto being well received and supported. Their A.G.M was next Monday, and they will be planning for The Carnival.
Trevor Cherry (Gardening Club). This was set up as a result of the Parish Plan and has 50 members (equal female and male). Activities include monthly meetings Newsletters, and visits to gardens. Have provided the planter outside the Village Hall and planted over 3,000 bulbs this year. A thriving club!
Karen Clotworthy (Village Hall Committee). The Committee had met 6 times in the last year. £5,000 had been raised in hire fees. Have 8 main users. They had bought new crockery, cutlery, and a dishwasher as well as some more tables. They were currently looking for a new bookings clerk. As heard earlier a sub committee to look at Village Hall redevelopment has been set up and met twice.
Daphne Creed (Hardington and Pendomer WI). told the meeting that the WI continues to make a thriving contribution to the Village with over 40 members who enjoy a variety of activities and monthly speakers. This year had seen the introduction of interest groups organized by the members including a walking group, lunch and cinema group and soon both a bridge and book club. Over £5,000 was raised at the Marks and Spencer Ladies night which will be equally divided between St Margaret’s Hospice and Friends of Yeovil Hospital. The Village Breakfast was another success money raised going to both the Village Hall and to St Mary's Church Restoration Fund. Refreshments were organised for both the Flower and craft Show and Manor Farm Open Day. Lastly the WI will be entering a float in the Carnival.
Sarah Quinton (Pre School). told the meeting that currently have 18 children registered with 5 from Hardington. Recently received their Ofstead report achieving 'good' in every category of which they were justifiably proud.
Jonathan Chadwick (St Mary’s Church) told the meeting had 70 services in 2008. A hearing loop had been installed, and the south side pew standing repaired. They will be redecorating the Nave in June and July, so there may be some disruption. Reverend Terrell left after 13 years service but, before he left had organised for people to take the services while awaiting a replacement. It was hoped that a Priest in Charge would be appointed in November. He thanked Brian Dodd, Church Warden, the members and Master of the choir, the PCC, and those who do the flowers and the cleaning. A major fund raising effort is about to start for restoration of the Church, and details will be in the Messenger.
Hannah Lefeuvre (District Councillor) reported that this is the second year for herself and Lesley as District Councillors. Hannah had been the representative for Hardington with Lesley attending some of the meetings. Both had almost full attendance at Area South and full council meetings.
Lesley Boucher (District Councillor) updated us on the situation at Yeovil District Hospital. YDH is the 5th best hospital in the UK for infection control and also in the top 10 of hospitals nationwide. Despite the economic down turn, the Somerset PCT is stable and sound and is giving extra funding of £3 million over the next 3 years .YDH has 12 - 18 months in which to plan for the changes that will be necessary post 201, when it is forecast that there will be zero growth, but the effect of this will be difficult to predict.
Brian Bower (Neighbourhood Watch) via the Clerk. Reported that we continue to have a pretty easy time in the village regarding crime and the Neighbourhood Watch Lookout Team is still growing with about 20 people on the internet list, He can forward any urgent messages from the Police to them as soon as received from both Yeovil and as we are so near the Dorset border He gets messages from the West Dorset Police as well. The Watch was always on the look out for more members of the team and particularly needed someone living to the West of the Village. Walkers, dog owners and people who are out and about could all help. If anyone was interested could they please pass their email address to Brian, and they will be welcomed on the team.
The Chairman invited the public to raise any other issues, but no one wished to do so.
- CLOSURE
There being no further business the Chairman declared the Assembly closed at 9.15 pm.
Refreshments were then served (grateful thanks to Gillian Bysouth).