ITEM 1

MINUTES of a MEETING OF THE YATELEY COMMON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in Rose Rent Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley on 17 June, 2003

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: A.P. Collett; J.W. Stocks, P. R. C. Hutcheson, J Glen

Yateley Town Council

Councillors: R. Harward, D.T. Benham; D. Murr, Mrs R. Jenkins.

Observers

Mr. P.J. Tipton.

The following officers were in attendance:

Mr. J. Tickle, Head of the Countryside Service

Mr. A. Davidson, Sites Manager North.

Mr. A.R. Knight, Chief Executive's Department

________________________________________________________

COUNCILLOR A.P. COLLETT, IN THE CHAIR

________________________________________________________

34 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

That Councillor A P Collett, Hampshire County Council, be appointed Chairman for the ensuing year.

35 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 February, 2003 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

36 APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

That Councillor R E Harward, Yateley Town Council, be appointed Vice Chairman for the ensuing year.

37 MATTERS ARISING

Yateley Common

Yateley Common Site Manager's Report October 2002 to February 2003.

Measures were being taken to resolve the problem caused by motorcyclists using the bridleway at Cricket Hill and copies of the Bylaws would be displayed at prominent places.

38 YATELEY COMMON SITE MANAGER'S REPORT - FEBRUARY, 2003 TO MAY, 2003

The Committee considered the report of the Site Manager, Yateley Common outlining work undertaken since the last meeting (Item 4 in the Minute Book).

Mr Davidson reported that DEFRA had agreed to continue the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, tree felling would continue in accordance with the Management Plan on the Common and at Castle Bottom. A new plan would be ready by Autumn 2003. Councillor Hutcheson requested that a map of Yateley Common be displayed at each meeting.

It was reported that the revision of the bylaws would take a year to review and that the present bylaws would be posted on the Common in the Summer as a deterrent.

The Rights of Way Review was progressing and it was expected would go to the Regulatory Committee in the Autumn. Proposals would be posted on the site for 28 days and in the press to encourage further comments. Were objectives to be received, then further consultations could be anticipated. Members were concerned that all consultations should be completed before the Regulatory decision was made.

The situation regarding fly tipping had generally improved although asbestos waste had been removed by specialist contractors at a cost of £650. A horserider had been involved in an accident caused by a motorcycle and the horserider had sustained injuries for which she needed hospital treatment. Site staff were investigating a Berkshire motorcycle action group to see if it would be feasible to start a similar group in North Hampshire. Members expressed concern that the County Council would be held to have a duty of care as landowner for injuries caused due to unauthorised use. It was thought that should any legal action follow in these cases the question of reasonableness would be considered and staff were advised to keep records of all action taken and of conversations on site with alleged offenders.

The Site Manager had been approached by Greene King who were seeking permission to place a sandwich board on the Common along Cricket Hill outside the Cricketers Public House. It was considered that this would create a precedent which might encourage the placement of further signs on the Common. In view of which members were minded to refuse the application. Further signs had been erected on the Common by Blackbushe Business Park. The permission of the Secretary of State would be required for such signs to be permitted on the Common. Instructions were given to officers that signs should be taken down and returned to the owners where known or, left on the Common and not removed as they were not in the County Council's ownership.

Members were informed that there had been a Wood Week event on Yateley Common and this had been poorly attended. It was intended that this would be repeated next year and that prior advertising would be made in schools to create interest.

Mr Tipton reported that a dendrochronological study had been made on another site outside Hampshire to study the age of properties. The Yateley Society wished to study the pollarded oaks of five trees in order to date them and explained that this would be the first such study in Hampshire. The Yateley Society would pay for this study which would have a minimal impact on the trees concerned. The County Council's arboricultural officers would be involved and would monitor the project. It would be necessary to grant a licence and to have the work documented. Members wished to have a report made to the next Committee. They agreed to the study being carried out subject to the grant of a licence; appropriate documentation and a report being made to the next Committee.

The encroachment of a limousine hire business had been reported to the previous meeting of the Committee and members had asked Hart District Council to take enforcement action against the operators, as there had been encroachment on the Common. Members strongly felt that enforcement action should be taken as this matter was long outstanding. They understood that a planning application had been made for the construction of five dwellings, but wished to acknowledge that these were not issues in the Management Committee's purview and therefore could not be considered by them. Their main concern was the impact on the Common of the encroachment of the former limousine business, against which enforcement action was outstanding by Hart District Council.

RESOLVED:


(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) That permission sought by Greene King for the placement of a sandwich board
on Common land at Cricket Hill, Yateley be refused.

39 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 14 October, 2003 at 7.00 p.m. at The Rose Rent Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley.

NB: Tour of the Common - Friday 27 June, 5pm. Members to assemble at Wyndhams Pool.

4cM460703