There were no members of public present.

Before the meeting began, the Town Mayor welcomed Cllr Mrs O’Reilly to her first meeting of the Council.

Apologies

The Town Clerk reported that apologies for absence had been received from Cllr D R Cole.

Declarations of Interest

There were none.

Present:

Cllr B H Terry (Town Mayor)
Cllr P Chambers
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr N R G Clarke
Cllr L C Ford
Cllr J D Heron
Cllr Mrs G O’Reilly
Cllr W S Rippon-Swaine
Cllr M A Steele
Cllr Mrs J Terry
Cllr M J Urwin
Cllr Mrs A C Wiseman
Cllr Mrs B Woodifield

In Attendance:

Mr T Simpson, Town Clerk
Jo Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk

C/4827 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: the minutes of the Meeting held on 28th May 2008, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

C/4828 Recreation, Leisure & Open Spaces Committee

Cllr Chard presented the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meeting held on 4th June 2008.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meeting held on 4th June 2008 be received.

C/4829 Policy & Finance Committee

Cllr Heron presented the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meeting held on 18th June 2008.

F/4287: Cllr Mrs Wiseman was concerned that there was only one vacancy available for Cllr Mrs O’Reilly to fill and felt that she should not be excluded from joining other committees. Cllr Heron said that it was at the discretion of the Council to increase membership of Committees if appropriate.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meeting held on 18th June be received and the recommendations therein be approved.

C/4830 Planning, Town & Environment Committee

Cllr Clarke presented the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meeting held on 20th June 2008.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meeting held on 20th June 2008 be received.

C/4831 Communications To Be Received

The Town Mayor congratulated Cllr Steele on his appointment to the Standards Committee. He also reported that the electric buggy that had been purchased for the late Cllr Cracknell by Ringwood Cheetahs would be presented to Mr Ron Hill of North Poulner Road next week.

C/4832 Appointment to Committees

RESOLVED: That Cllr O’Reilly be appointed to the Recreation, Leisure & Open Spaces Committee.

C/4833 Notice of Motion

Members noted that, following changes to 2007/93 The Excepted Vehicles (Amendment of Schedule 1 to the Hydrocarbon Oils Duty Act 1979) Order 2007, there was doubt about the use of ‘red’ diesel in the Council’s grass maintenance vehicles. If the change was found to be correct it would increase the Council’s fuel bill by about 50%, ie by over £1,500, in addition to the effect of the cost inflation of a further 50%. It would also have a similar adverse effect on all Town and Parish Councils undertaking maintenance of open spaces and recreation grounds.

Following discussion of the issues, Cllr Heron, as Chairman of the Policy & Finance Committee, proposed a Notice of Motion, which was seconded by Cllr Clarke, and

RESOLVED:

1) That the possible adverse effects of The Excepted Vehicles (Amendment of Schedule 1 to the Hydrocarbon Oils Duty Act 1979) Order 2007 be drawn to the attention of the National Association of Local Councils with a view to the National Association taking steps to ensure that this Order does not apply to tractors, ride on mowers or similar equipment used by Town and Parish Councils for maintenance of public open space and recreational areas;

2) That this motion be brought to the attention of Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council with a view to those authorities seeking support for the motion from the Local Government Association; and

3) That the local MP, Desmond Swayne, be made aware of the representations being made and his assistance be sought in ensuring that the changes referred to are not applicable to Town and Parish Councils carrying out the functions referred to in (1) above.

C/4834 Reports from County and District Councillors

District Councillor Ford presented her written report (Annex ‘A’). 

On the subject of abandoned shopping trolleys, Cllr Ford reported that the District Council would be taking action under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.

The Town Clerk informed Members that the Deputy Town Clerk was leading a working group to establish a partnership with the District Council to enable parish and town councils to gain access to its GIS system.

County Councillor Clarke presented his written report (Annex ‘B’).

On the subject of the proposed upgrade to the A31 by the Highways Agency, Cllr Heron asked that Cllr Clarke push for all junctions along the A31 from Picket Hill to Ashley Heath to be looked at, at the same time, as they all had poor sight lines and ‘feed in’ distance.

The Mayor congratulated Cllr Heron on his election to the District Council.

Members received District Councillor Treleaven’s written report (Annex ‘C’).

C/4825 Forthcoming Meetings

There being no further business, the Town Mayor closed the meeting at 7.40pm