Item 5

AT A MEETING of the YATELEY COMMON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in The Rose Rent Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley on 15 February 2006.

PRESENT :

Hampshire County Council

p Councillor A. P. Collett (Chairman)

a Councillor J. Glen.

a Councillor P.R.C. Hutcheson

a Councillor D.E. Simpson

Yateley Town Council

p Councillor D. Benham

p Councillor R. E Harward

a Councillor Rita Jenkins

p Councillor D Murr

Observers

P M Mann

P P.J. Tipton

20 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where the believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should declare their interest and , having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9,10,11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed. Any declaration to be made at the time of the debate. There were no declarations of interest.

21 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2005 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Minute 5 Site Manager's Report

The Site Manager reported that the accumulation of brushwood on County Council land bank land had been disposed and that grass in the area would be cut as soon as possible. He had undertaken to pursue the disposal of top soil with a local firm.

22 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman congratulated Mr. Davidson on securing a part time secondment as a Conservation Officer. Nicky Hetherington would be acting as Site Manager in Mr. Davidson's absence. It was intended to seek funding in the Autumn for a six month post to look after scrub management and this proposal was to be included in the Work Place Plan.

23 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

24 SITE MANAGER'S REPORT

The Committee considered and noted the report of the Site Manager ( Item 5 in the Minute Book ) on work undertaken since the last meeting.

Minute 6 Yateley Parish Plan

Mr. Tipton reported on progress made by the Yateley Society on the Yateley Parish Plan. The Society had been encouraged to carry out a "Health Check" on the Yateley area. He was to liaise with the Recreation and Heritage Department for information to be included in the Parish Plan.

Mr. Tipton sought clarification on what measures were being considered to bring the Common up to the standard required by English Nature by 2012. He also questioned whether English Nature could visit and that landowners meet that standard. He wondered if English Nature might therefore seek to enforce against the owners of Blackbushe Airport and whether the County Council had taken this into account in connection with the section 52 Agreement. It was thought that the Commons Bill might address these issues. The Chief Executive was to check English Nature's powers and appeal mechanisms.

Councillor Murr reported that the Yateley Society were to consider the re-introduction of grazing on the Common at their meeting the next evening.

Fly tipping was still occurring on the site, although it was proving difficult to trace those responsible.

The possibility of using CCTV to identify fly-tippers on the Common was discussed, and the purchase of equipment up to the value of £1,000 was to be investigated. If used, it would be necessary to indicate their presence on the common by erecting signs.

Mr. Tipton again requested that any display of the Byelaws include English Nature's wording making reference to the ability to impose fines of up to £20,000 on successful prosecutions in Special Protection Areas.

The Rights of Way review had been completed, although some encroachment issues had yet to be resolved by Estates Practice.

Limited tree surgery had been carried out, but only where trees were considered to be unsafe due to damage or disease.

Several requests had been made for an engineer to investigate deterioration of the bridleway surface along the top of the dam at Wyndham's Pool. These requests had not received a response and the Chairman asked to be informed if this was not actioned in the near future.

The Committee wished to record their appreciation for the help and assistance of volunteers, and in particular of Mr. Mike Young, who had single-handedly cleared 1.5 acres of the Common. A total of almost 300 volunteer days had resulted in good progress with scrub clearance and track maintenance.

The Committee noted a 50% increase use of Yateley Common by schools and other groups during 2005 over 2004 figures. This was attributed to the range of walks and quality of the schools education pack produced by the Northern Area Team.

Archaeologist, Carol White, was to make a presentation of findings on the Common at Yateley Library to coincide with the resumption of excavations in August 2006.

Councillor Murr suggested that the next edition of the Yateley Town Guide should have a cover picture of a Dartford Warbler and contain information about Yateley Common.

A request had been received from the Highway Agency to tarmac an area of the Common for a telecommunications mast. Although the land in question was not in Highway or other County Council jurisdiction, any further developments should be notified to the Area Manager North.

Mr. Tipton reported problems with gas distributors tarmacing access at the Common.

The Sites Manager North drew attention to a planning application for change of use from stables to a dwelling at Cobbetts Lane. Exclusion zones for development were embodied in the Local Development Framework, which was at consultation stage.

25 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED :

That, by virtue of Paragraph 12 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following item

26 138 ACRES AT BLACKBUSHE AIRFIELD, SECTION 52 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1971.

The Committee considered the confidential report of the Chief Executive (Item 9 in the Minute Book ), and noted progress since the last meeting.

27 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, 13 June 2006 at 7.15 p.m. in the Rose Rent Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley.

The meeting was to be preceded by a site meeting at 6.00 p.m. at the West end of the Common.

4cM030206