Contact: Bob Edwards, ext 6513

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given for a grant of £12,000 for repairs to the listed boundary wall of the Church of St John the Evangelist, Northington. The grant to be paid on satisfactory completion of the works in accordance with the standard conditions and attached conditions.

2. Reason

2.1 To repair the east section of the historic Grade II listed churchyard wall ensuring that the building is structurally sound and continues to enhance the setting of the listed church and remains an important landscape feature. The wall is recognised as being a building at risk and was entered on the Register of Threatened Historic Buildings in Hampshire in 1999.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to give a grant.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. The boundary wall of the churchyard of St John the Evangelist, Northington is unusual in that it is listed Grade II in its own right. The church and the boundary wall date from 1887-90 and were built by Sir T G Jackson for Lord Ashburton. The wall is mainly flint with terracotta quatrefoil panels at regular intervals. The coping consists of pre-cast lengths of regularly knapped flint set in a cement mortar. The wall and associated lych-gate is an important feature in the setting of the church.

8. The wall is in poor condition due to the lack of expansion joints in the original construction. This has resulted in some of the lengths of coping being lifted by 25-30 millimetres, and failure of the mortar on some of the copings allowing the flints to become loose letting water enter the wall. The terracotta panels are also cracked due to the pressure created by the expansion and contraction of the walling materials.

9. The estimated cost of the repair of the eastern section of the wall alone is £60,982. It is proposed to repair the eastern section as the first phase of repair as this is the side that is most visible when approaching the church. This section also provides the back-drop to a public seating area that allows views across the valley of the River Itchen.

10. The following conditions would apply:

(i) the contractor shall afford reasonable access to works for inspection(s) by appointed officers of the County Council, as required (during working hours);

(ii) no deviation from the submitted drawings and/or specification, other than to secure compliances with these conditions, shall be made without prior written agreement from the County Planning Officer;

(iii) where any work is scheduled to be replaced, it shall be in the same material and to the exact detail of the original work, unless any variation is first agreed with the County Planning Officer;

(iv) any mortar used shall match the existing work (a sample of which will be agreed on site if there are several types existing) in colour, texture and detailing, and shall be softer and more porous than the bricks to be repointed or bedded.

6797/BE