ITEM 1

AT A MEETING of the YATELEY COMMON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in the Rose Rent Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley on 23 October 2001.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: A P Collett; J Glen

Yateley Town Council

Councillors: E Dawson; R E Harward

Observers

M R Mann; P J Tipton

1 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT

Councillor Collett explained that the Management Committee had not met during the year due to Foot and Mouth disease and the new decision-making process which had taken a toll on staff's time and the new decision-making structures.

The Secretary was requested to supply seven copies of the Agenda paper so that Yateley Town Council could display one on each of their public noticeboards in the Yateley area to promote greater public awareness of the meetings.

The future of the Committee was discussed and it was suggested that meetings revert to a four monthly basis of February, June and October, with a site visit two weeks after the June meeting. Mr Tipton enquired whether Observer's status could be upgraded to full membership. Members were advised that the future of some committees and panels was under review.

2 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2000 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Site Manager's Report - October 1999 to March 2000 - Minute 30

The Site Manager reported that the new owners of Cottage Farm had indicated that they would be willing to seek ways to minimise impact of their activities on the Common in conjunction with the Rights of Way review.

Councillor Collett had received a legal briefing note from the Head of Legal Services regarding the impact of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. The County Council would be further considering the position regarding access to properties situated on the Common. The Commoners expressed concern about access over common land and implication for development.

A tour of the Common was to be made with the Town Council in the Spring or Summer.

3 SITE MANAGER'S REPORT

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Arts, Countryside and Community outlining work undertaken on Yateley Common between January to September 2001 (Item 2 in the Minute Book).

The Site Manager reported that, during the Foot and Mouth disease crisis, some areas of the Common had remained open and that MAAF's advice had been taken. Conservation work had continued as programmed on the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

The managers of the Cricketers' Public House wished to meet the Site Manager to discuss improvements to their access track across the Common. Legal advice was to be sought regarding the effectiveness of enforcing byelaws and who should take action. It would be necessary to achieve a balance between access for dog owners to the Common and the need to protect wild life. The question of dog control measures would be investigated once the implications of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act were known.

Mr Tipton reported that his researches in the Winchester Cathedral Library had found reference to Strood Pool in 1607 and the activity of fish farming.

A report was to be made to the next meeting of the Committee on progress achieved over the past three years measured against strategic objectives of the Management Plan over the longer term.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

4 REPORT ON THE FORMER CAR PARK OFF VIGO LANE

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Arts, Countryside and Community (Item 3 in the Minute Book) regarding the former Car Park, south of Vigo Lane, Yateley.

The closure of the car park had been made to prevent illegal encampments by travellers. No funding existed to re-open the area and it was not considered a priority. Councillor Dawson reluctantly accepted these conclusions but requested that the decision be reviewed with the Management Plan.

RESOLVED:

That the former car park off Vigo Lane remain closed for the reasons outlined in the report, and that this be reviewed at the next review of the Management Plan.

5 REPLACEMENT COMMON LAND

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Arts, Countryside and Community (Item 4 in the Minute Book) setting out the mechanism by which the County Council fulfils its legal duties concerning the replacement of common land lost, due to legitimate and authorised works impacting upon Yatelely Common Country Park.

The Commoners accepted the validity of the information contained in paragraph 3.3 of the report, setting out the extent of land bank land used in exchange for highway schemes, as set out below:-

(a) 1,334 square metres in the late 1970's for the E249 Dungells Lane scheme.


(b) 390 square metres required in the late 1970's for the A327 Extension (Darby Green to A30 Junction)


(c) 12,320 square metres required for the early 1990's improvement to Vigo Lane and Cricket Hill Lane


It was pointed out that Hall Lane Roundabout had not been listed.

Mr. Tipton requested that an audit be undertaken to establish the extent of any land which might have been missed from the records. In particular he listed:

- Land at Pond Farm, Darby Green
- Minley Roundabout - actioned in the 1940s Clarification was to be sought regarding the date and exact purpose?
- Hall Lane/Reading Road.

This was accepted by the Committee and Estates Practice were to be asked to supply the missing information. The Chief Executive was to take an overview of the transactions.

Mr. Tipton had submitted a list of questions to the Chief Executive. These would receive a reply in writing.



RESOLVED:


1. That confirmation that the procedures by which the County Council
fulfils and monitors its legal obligation so far as exchange Common
Land was concerned, be welcomed.


2. That regular updates on the amount of replacement Common land that
is retained by the County Council within the Land Bank be presented to the Committee.


3. That a full audit of all land be undertaken bi-annually, when the County Council resumes the chair of the Committee.


4. That any future highway land exchanges be recorded and reported.

6. 138 ACRES BLACKBUSHE AIRPORT

It was suggested that a joint meeting be held between the County Council, Hart District Council and Yateley Town Council to agree a strategy for moving forward issues relating to the Section 52 Agreement.

7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 19 February, 2002 at 7.00 p.m. The Rose Rent Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley.

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