AT A MEETING of the YATELEY COMMON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in the Rose Rent Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley on 19 February, 2002

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: A.P. Collett (in the Chair); J.K. Glen; P.R.C. Hutcheson; J.W. Stocks.

Yateley Town Council

Councillors: E.J. Dawson; R.A. Harward.

Observers

Mr. M.R. Mann; Mr. P.J. Tipton.

1 COUNCILLORS HUTCHESON AND STOCKS

Councillors Hutcheson and Stocks of Hampshire County Council were introduced to the committee as new members.

2 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 October, 2001 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the area of land mentioned under (c) in Minute 5 being amended to read 1320 sq metres.

Matters arising:

Chairman's Announcement

(i) Further to Minute 1 it was agreed that new members Councillors Hutcheson and Stocks could be shown around the Common as an initial briefing session shortly whilst at the next meeting of the Committee a date could be fixed for a site visit for all members.


Replacement Common Land


(ii) Further to Minute 5 it was reported that Mr. Tipton had furnished information about Hall Lane and Pond Farm and the County Estates Practice was looking into this information; a meeting would be held with Mr. Tipton to discuss the matter.

3 YATELEY COMMON COUNTRY PARK - SITE MANAGER'S REPORT - OCTOBER, 2001 TO FEBRUARY, 2002

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Arts, Countryside and Community (Item 2 in the Minute Book) on the site manager's report for the period October, 2001 to February, 2002.

The Site Manager drew attention to the winter work having been focused upon the scrub clearance funded by MAFF through the Countryside Stewardship Grant Scheme and by English Nature through the Wildlife Enhancement Scheme. The Environment Agency had prosecuted a person for dumping a car outside the SimsMetal site and the fine had been approximately £1,000 including costs; unfortunately car dumping was still going on. The regulations had not yet been agreed about the dismantling of refrigerators and freezers following the European Legislation and the Chairman advised that he had discussed the matter with waste disposal staff in the County Surveyor's Department and been advised that a corporate County Council policy on the matter was in the process of being drawn up. A further meeting had been arranged for 20 February with the Area Surveyor from Greene King concerning the track leading to the Cricketers Public House; some plans had been put forward which appeared to be acceptable other than some of the dimensions. The Rights of Way Section was currently working on plans in respect of rights of way on the common and these would be submitted to member of the Committee within the next 6 weeks.

Legal issues were discussed as follows:-

(i) The Site Manager was requested to approach the Hart District Council Planning Officer in respect of the taking of enforcement action against the parking of vehicles by the limousine business on Flats Road on the Common.


(ii) Discussions were ongoing between the County Council and the advisers for the owners of the "Hollies" property on Stroud Lane about various matters including the provision of a new gateway at the property.


(iii) In considering the renewal of the licence relating to the SimsMetal site the Environment Agency had raised various points concerning noise and pollution with the company who were looking into the points and the Environment Agency would decide on future action in the light of their reply.


(iv) Legislation would be put before Parliament later in the year on vehicular access across common land in the light of the CROW Act; this legislation would be based on the draft regulations which are being used at present by the County Council if issues arise.


(v) The Committee gave strong backing to the Site Manager in respect of his refusal to allow a temporary signboard on the common for some 6-9 months in respect of housing development at Pond Farm. He was urged to obtain the support in writing of the County Council's Legal Department before removing two unauthorised signs currently in position outside the Yateley Industrial Estate.


(vi) Countryside Service staff should not try and physically restrain motorcyclists from using the Common.


(vii) Proposals put forward by the Pond Farm developers to rectify the situation of the common land in front of the development were felt generally to be acceptable.

4 REVIEW OF THE YATELEY COMMON COUNTRY PARK EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN - JANUARY, 1999

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Arts, Countryside and Community (Item 3 in the Minute Book) on work carried out at the Country Park over the last three years in relation to the long-term management objectives set out in the management plan - January, 1999.

The Site Manager advised that much work had been carried out over the last few years on heathland restoration work which was grant aided. In two years time these schemes would cease and there would be more opportunity for work on other matters after that. He confirmed that there is a rolling programme of action which has to be fairly flexible as quite a bit of the action is reactive. He advised that he would shortly be contacting the new police inspector for the area to see if the profile of the common could be raised and the possibility of sources of revenue to fund supplementary staff would be examined. Members of the Committee expressed their strong appreciation of the work of the staff on the common.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) That the appreciation of the Committee for the work of the Yateley Common staff be communicated to the Head of Countryside at the County Council for onward transmission to the relevant members of staff.

5 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 18 June, 2002 at 7.00 p.m.

4cM110202