NEWTOWN PARISH COUNCIL
Hampshire
Minutes of a meeting of Newtown Parish Council held on
Monday 13th January 2025 at 7pm, Newtown Village Hall
Present: Meeting Chair: Tom Reseigh
Councillors: Jo Exelby, Karen Sirett-Kelly, Bob Ward,
In attendance: Clerk: Rebecca Cloke
1 member of the public
59. Apologies
None
60. Declarations of Interest
None
OPEN FORUM
61. Approval and signing of the minutes of the meeting held on 11th November.
The minutes were approved by the Council and signed by the Chair. Proposed by Cllr Exelby and seconded by Cllr Sirett-Kelly.
Carried forward actions:
C/Fwd Total number of Slow and 5mph speed signs needed to be established so the Clerk could order the signage. TR / RC
C/Fwd Cllr Reseigh to contact Cllr Harvey regarding litter grants. (Clerk to forward previous email chain) TR / RC
C/Fwd Cllr Reseigh to follow up email PC Martyn Evans regarding an update on implementing speed enforcement measures on the B4640. TR
C/Fwd Cllr Exelby look into an annual parish party / event. JE
C/Fwd Cllr Ward to initiate the project in Spring 25 to update and reprint the residents book. BW
62. Report for “News from the Villages”
Cllr Reseigh had previously circulated a Parsh Council submission for New from the Villages. He stated that the current editor was retiring and a committee was looking at whether the magazine would continue in its current format. It was agreed that councillors would take tunrs in compiling the NPC submission each month.
ACTION: Cllr Sirett-Kelly agreed to compile the March edition and it was agreed that it would be published on the Newtown Parish Council website “News from Newtown” page each month.
63. Report from borough and/or county councillor
Cllr Thacker – absent but had sent a written update on the fast track plans regarding devolution.
Cllr Izett provided an update on the proposed devolution of Hampshire County Council. He stated that there would be no county council elections if Hampshire were in the first wave and a mayor would be elected in 2026. Cllr Izett briefed that services currently carried out by B&D would migrate to the new authority.
Cllr Izett raised the dangerous conditions at the Newtown Court Farm building site and stated he would pursue his previous correspondence to push the planning conditions.
Cllr Izett briefed the councillors on the recent call for development sites for the Local Plan. The recent increase in housing target imposed under the Labour government, has increased the shortfall, further increasing the likelihood of speculative development.
64. Report from PCSO / CSPO
PCSO / PC unable to attend meeting and had not sent report updates.
CSPO Drew Mechen introduced his new colleague CSPO Jiya Patel. They stated that with the increase in personnel, they were able to reduce each of their areas and therefore focus more on each area.
CSPO Mechen briefed the councillors on the ongoing investigation into several reported incidents of indecent exposure at the Herbert Plantation.
He further briefed that he had been patrolling the common and Jonathan Hill and had spoken to a resident regarding a vehicle parked on the common. He stated he would return the following day to check it had been moved.
Cllr Reseigh briefed the CSPO’s on the work being carried out to update the bylaw breach penalties.
65. Highways and traffic issues
B4640
Cllr Reseigh had emailed PC Martyn Evans in September and October but had yet to receive a reply. He resolved to visit Basingstoke Police station if no response received.
ACTION: Cllr Reseigh to try to visit PC Martyn Evans regarding an update on implementing speed enforcement measures on the B4640.
Cllr Reseigh briefed he would place another Freedom of Information request to HCC t o get some more speed data for the B4640.
ACTION: Cllr Reseigh to place another FOI request for speed data for the B4640 in March / April.
The clerk stated she had not heard anything further from Hampshire Highways about the process for a Village Gateway.
ACTION: Cllr Sirett-Kelly to follow up on the email sent to Hampshire regarding installing village gateways if nothing heard by mid-March
C45
Cllr Reseigh briefed the councillors on the extensive repairs that had been carried out by Hampshire County Council. The repairs had resolved the issue of the spring water but further down the road there had been a blockage on private land which was causing surface water to accumulate.
ACTION: Cllr Reseigh to contact landowner (field adjacent to The Swan) and request ditch / drain clearance.
Jonathan Hill
Cllr Reseigh advised that he had not received a response from Cllr Thacker with regards to traffic calming measures for Jonathan Hill.
ACTION: Cllr Reseigh to follow up correspondence with Cllr Thacker regarding traffic calming at Jonathan Hill.
66. Planning and development control
16/02230/FUL Hill Farm Erection of 8 dwellings Withdrawn Returned (unlikely to be det.)
22/01781/LBC The Swan Inn Replacement of weathered and worn roof tiles Awaiting decision (bat survey)
23/01045/FUL (WB) Land South Of Abbottwood Retrospective change of use to a Gypsy / Traveller site PC oppose – Awaiting decision.
22/02754/OUTMAJ (WB) Land East of Newbury College Retail unit, Care home and 75 residences PC oppose – referenced Burghclere PC submission – awaiting decision
24/00290/FUL Land south of Threeways Erection of a detached dwelling. PC objection – awaiting decision. (amendment 30/8)
24/00677/FUL Newtown Court Barn Conversion of barn PC objection – awaiting decision. Contaminated land concerns
24/02780/HSE The Lodge, Horris Hill Addition of extension following demolition of outbuilding PC support with conditions
It was agreed that no response was required to the call for sites for the Local Plan.
67. Newtown Common
Appointment of Common Management Committee Chair
Cllr Exelby was proposed as CMC Chair following Sea Curry’s resignation. Proposed by Cllr Reseigh and seconded by Cllr Sirett-Kelly.
a) Update by Common Management Committee Chair
Cllr Exelby briefed that the timber from the oak tree felled opposite the Jonathan Hill entrance could be sold.
Cllr Exelby briefed the councillors on the ongoing investigation into the upkeep of the track past Primrose Cottage and the upkeep responsibility.
ACTION: Cllr Exelby to contact Wessex Woodlands to see if interested in the purchase.
Cllr Exelby queried whether the PC could invest in a subscription with Parish Maps.
ACTION: Clerk to subscribe to Parish Maps and provide each councillor with a login.
b) Byelaws update and summary signage – Cllr Reseigh briefed on the response received from Tom Payne, Head of Environment and Community Services B&D. He stated he would not be able to review the bylaws before April 25.
c) Additional signage quotes and track slow signs – as per the carried forward action, a total number of Slow and 5mph speed signs needed to be established so the Clerk could order the signage.
ACTION: TR to total number required so order can be placed.
d) Motorised bikes / damage to common – It was observed that there hadn’t been the volume of reports of the vehicles to warrant further action but it was anticipated that this would increase once the weather improved.
68. Lengthsman Scheme
Cllr Reseigh stated that the lengthsman work at Jonathan Hill had been carried out well. He queried whether further posts should be installed. It was agreed that if the oak was able to be sold, the funds could be used for this purpose.
ACTION: Clerk to request Lengthsman co-ordinator correspond with Cllr Exelby going forward.
69. Village Hall
Cllr Reseigh had circulated the minutes from a recent Village Hall committee meeting.
Cllr Exelby queried whether there were plans to install wi-fi and Cllr Reseigh responded that it had been looked into previously but was thought to be too expensive for the need. ACTION: Cllr Ward to forward details of Starlink wi-fi to Cllr Reseigh.
70. Community Infrastructure Levy funding
No update – CIL funding (£16,596)
CIL funding to be utilised for the village gateways proposed.
71. Finance reports
a) To receive the report on the budget for 2024/25
The clerk summarised the main variances to budget, year to date, in the income and expenditure and summarised the reserves held. The Chair checked the bank balances to bank statements. Received and approved.
b) Approval of payments
To approve and ratify the following payments:
72. Succession Planning
a) Cllr Sirett-Kelly was elected Vice-Chair. Proposed by Cllr Reseigh, seconded by Cllr Exelby.
Cllr Reseigh stated that following Sean Curry’s resignation, the process to fill the vacancy would commence with a view to co-opting at the March meeting if possible.
73. Correspondence
Cllr Reseigh had received correspondence form a resident about the post box that had been stolen the previous year and whether it was to be replaced. The Clerk confirmed that Royal Mail had stated it was not to be replaced.
ACTION: Cllr Reseigh to respond to the resident forwarding on the correspondence from Royal Mail.
Resident email re pathways to common from Sheepwash Lane and concern around unwanted access.
ACTION: Cllr Exelby to visit site to review and provide a response to the resident.
The Clerk briefed the councillors that Lloyds had informed the PC that there would be ongoing bank charges of £4.25 per month.
74. Annual meeting – The date was agreed of the 19th May.
75. Date of next meetings
10th March (19th May, 7th Jul, 22nd Sep, 10th Nov, 19th Jan, 9th Mar)
The meeting closed at 8:55pm
Signed ……………………………. Date……………….
Appendix 1 – Summary of agreed actions
C/Fwd Total number of Slow and 5mph speed signs needed to be established so the Clerk could order the signage. TR / RC
C/Fwd Cllr Reseigh to contact Cllr Harvey regarding litter grants. (Clerk to forward previous email chain) TR / RC
C/Fwd Cllr Reseigh to follow up email PC Martyn Evans regarding an update on implementing speed enforcement measures on the B4640. TR
C/Fwd Cllr Exelby look into an annual parish party / event. JE
C/Fwd Cllr Ward to initiate the project in Spring 25 to update and reprint the residents book. BW
Cllr Sirett-Kelly agreed to compile the March edition and it was agreed that it would be published on the Newtown Parish Council website “News from Newtown” page each month.
KSK / RC
Cllr Reseigh to try to visit PC Martyn Evans regarding an update on implementing speed enforcement measures on the B4640. TR
Cllr Reseigh to place another FOI request for speed data for the B4640 in March / April.TR
Cllr Sirett-Kelly to follow up on the email sent to Hampshire regarding installing village gateways if nothing heard by mid-March KSK
Cllr Reseigh to contact landowner (field adjacent to The Swan) and request ditch / drain clearance. TR
Cllr Reseigh to follow up correspondence with Cllr Thacker regarding traffic calming at Jonathan Hill. TR
Cllr Exelby to contact Wessex Woodlands to see if interested in the purchase of the felled oak. JE
Clerk to request Lengthsman co-ordinator correspond with Cllr Exelby going forward. RC
Cllr Ward to forward details of Starlink wi-fi to Cllr Reseigh. BW
Clerk to subscribe to Parish Maps and provide each councillor with a login. RC
Cllr Reseigh to respond to the resident forwarding on the correspondence from Royal Mail regarding the stolen post box. TR
Cllr Exelby to visit site at Sheepwash Lane to review and provide a response to the resident. JE / RC