Annual ReportChineham Parish Council Year Review 2009-2010I would like to share the events and activities of the Parish Council over the last year with you all. It has been a very busy year with lots of activity; with new facilities opening and others being planned for Chineham. However the year was tinged with sadness when one of our members, Brian Sperring, sadly passed away in November. He will be missed as one of Chineham’s characters. Putting us back up to full strength we welcome Steve Oakley as a new member of the team. 2009 was my fifth year as Parish Council Chairman and I am able to say that the Parish has decided to put up with me for another one! Thank you for your support and confidence …………… I thought the year before last before was busy – well this year has topped that. Once again we reduced the precept– in recent years we have had no increases – and once again passed our Audit. Thanks to the Finance Committee led by Cllr. Les Fryer. I feel that we continue to offer Chineham value for money with the work that we do on the community’s behalf. I feel sure that I need not remind you that the Parish of Chineham is served by a talented team of Parish Councillors who really do do the best for Chineham; giving up their own time to make it a great place to live and, of course supported by our hard working Clerk team; Karen and Eunice. Thank you all. So, what has been achieved in the last year? Recreation A busy year of achievement:- The Binfields recreational area was successfully opened last Autumn and I have to say that I believe it was worth waiting for. The covered ballcourt is a superb facility and is augmented by other activity stations that have been well received, by all ages. In February the extension to the Scout Hall was officially opened and this now provides enhanced community facilities and extra room for Scouting activities. The project benefited from Parish Council funds and money from developers funds – fully supported by the Parish Council. Then, after much hard work by this Parish Council setting up, leases agreements and rules we have at last seen the Hanmore Road allotment project start the building phase. Last week the first “sod turning” event took place and we look for completion in 6 – 8 week s time. We will be holding an allotment allocation meeting on June 19th for all those residents eagerly waiting to take up a plot. In November the Parish Council agreed to support spending Developer’s fund money on a ballcourt rebuild project at Four Lanes School to provide a much needed facility for use in the “northern” end of the parish. Hopefully this will be delivered by the end of this year. We are continuing to work with the Borough to add more recreational facilities to the parish. The next priorities are:- 1) to re-work the skate park within its existing site as we cannot take any more of Tollhouse Meadow as it has a permanent SINC status and must be conserved as is. We have engaged with a group of users to ensure what is wanted is delivered. 2) To find a suitable site for a senior play park and exercise facilities. We are working with the Village hall team to see if the field site can accommodate such a project. The recreation team is developing a planting scheme within the Parish so that we should see more bulbs and a greater range over the coming years. The Parish Council took a stand at the Four Lanes Fete in July to “meet the people” and show plans and forthcoming projects. We will be repeating this on Sat. June 26th as feedback encouraged us to continue. Lookout for our Gazebo. We also took our Gazebo to Tollhouse Meadow to support the summer activities “pond dipping” event last August, led by the Borough Council and provided a welcome drinks facility. Taylor’s farm has had its sports pitches laid and the Parish Council are currently seeking representation in their management as they are a facility that, by design, are to be shared with the resident’s of Chineham. As in other years several grants have been made to various organisations that have applied to the Parish Council. We have given to Chineham WI, Relate, netball groups, Country Watch and Neighborhood Watch to name but five. We also paid a substantial amount towards the rewiring of the Village Hall. Environment Brian Beckley continued as our rapid response warden and once again interestingly notes that the streets are cleaner when the School children are away from school. Sadly Brian has recently offered his resignation as he intends to move away from the area. We thank him for his work over the years and hope that we can find a replacement to match his enthusiasm. Between Brian and our Borough street cleaner we continue to keep Chineham clean and generally supermarket trolley free! The SLR (speed limit reminder) sign which moves around Chineham every month has been with us for the year and continues to show that there are still over 50,000 triggers for above 30 mph each month. I continue urge motorists to keep the speed down before we see mass 20mph limits inflicted on us. The bus shelter at the Chineham centre has at last been replaced and all others have been cleaned and painted where necessary. After the cold winter we have applied to the County Council for more salt bins following their incentive scheme. Should this not materialize then we will consider purchasing our own for the sites that you all told us about. Petty’s brook clearing is a topic in itself. Just trying to determine who is responsible and making things happen keeps our Clerk busy. However various blockages have been addressed and we fully supported a study completed by a local resident which identified where works are needed. Some progress was made but this is a continual activity to chase those responsible. The Parish Council continues to represent Chineham on the Incinerator liaison committee. Andy MacQueen, the site manager is dedicated to keeping the plant in top condition and is ready to resolve any issues fairly – but still nobody from Chineham is complaining. Planning Cllr. David Thornton’s team, supported our Assistant Clerk, Eunice Jones had a busy year overseeing planning issues that came along to challenge Chineham. There has been a noticeable downturn in domestic planning applications but currently we have a Borough Council Local Development Framework consultation to respond to as we are facing potential housing developments all around our borders. Battles continue to protect our listed trees Taylor’s farm is ever closing on Chineham and applications for the realignment of the extension to Hanmore road and the last building phase have been approved. Now that we have this new facility, the Community Rooms, the planning committee is going to experiment with E-planning meetings embracing new technologies to eliminate paperwork. Policing PC Jim Charlton and PSCO Keith Patching are working to keep Chineham safe and secure and have had success over the last year reducing crime and disorder. We continue to look forward to all working together. In Conclusion The Parish Council goals for the coming year:- § We must establish the Allotments and see them up and running with their own management committee established. § The major projects this year will be the Skate park extension and the senior play park. § Enhance the environment with planting schemes. § Robustly defend Chineham’s interests in the LDF § Continue to make use of our base in the community as a regular venue for meetings enhanced by the office as a location for informal meetings with residents and councillors as required. And finally - As last year, I must thank the Clerk, Karen, for her efforts all year in keeping us all correct, paying the bills, keeping the web site going and working towards the Parish Council gaining Quality Parish Status.
|
