Archived decisions

Item 3

AT A MEETING of the YATELEY COMMON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in the Rose Rent Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley on 27 June 2006.

PRESENT :

Hampshire County Council

p Councillor A. P. Collett.

a Councillor J.K. Glen.

a Councillor P.R.C. Hutcheson.

p Councillor D. Simpson

Yateley Town Coucnil

p Councillor D. Benham.

a Councillor R.E. Harward

a Councillor Rita Jenkins.

p Councillor D. Murr.

Observers

a M. Mann.

a. P. Tipton.

p Mrs. A. Hughes.

28 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

That, Councillor R.E. Harward be appointed Chairman for the ensuing
year.

      ___________________________________________________

COUNCILLOR COLLETT IN THE CHAIR in the absence of the Chairman

____________________________________________________

29 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

    Members were mindful that, where they 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.

30 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

That, Councillor A. P. Collett be appointed Vice-Chairman for the

ensuing year.

31 MINUTES

    The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 February 2006 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

32 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman congratulated Nicki Paton on her recent marriage. He also
welcomed Mrs. Anne Hughes, who was deputising for Peter Tipton..

33 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

34 SITE MANAGER'S REPORT

The Committee considered the report of the Site Manager ( Item 5 in the
Minute Book ).

The acting Site Manager reported that fly-tipping was still occurring on the
Common and that an attempt at further tipping had been interrupted. Several

vehicles had also been dumped on the Common.

    The Chairman reported that it was intended to fill the gap in Police cover at

    Yateley as soon as possible. Hart District was to receive 20 Police Community Support Officers as these became available.

    Dragon's Teeth were now in place in Bridleway 21. It only remained to open those Bridleways, which had now been legally defined but which required clearance to bring them back into use.

    Mrs. Hughes stated that the Commoners had offered to make good the

surface of Stranges Lane. Plans were in hand to reinstate the ditch opposite

Darby Green House.

    A Gypsy Fair was to take place on the Green in July. This would be useful in educating and familiarising local people. Attention was drawn to vehicle
    dumping at Penny Hill and Star Hill Traveller Sites. Management issues
    were to be taken up with the Ministry of Defence regarding the dangers

    of fire. Thanks were extended to those who by their prompt action prevented
    travellers establishing on Cricketers Green.

    Surveyors had suggested that vegetation be cleared from Wyndham's Pool to enable core samples to be taken, to establish remedial action to the damaged area.

    The Countryside Service had taken a display stand at the recent May Fair. It was considered important to publicise local facilities.

    It was suggested that talks to 6th form colleges in the area would increase awareness of the importance of the archaeology on the Common. The British Museum had shown interest in recent findings and regarded them as significant.

    Carol White was to carry out further archaeological work on the Common around Brandy Bottom in August this year.

    A request had been received from the Royal Mail for the relocation of a post box onto the edge of the Common in a less dangerous position. Members agreed that this should be permitted.

    RESOLVED :

    1 That the report be noted;

    2 That approval be given for the relocation of a post box from Cricket Hill Lane to the County Council owned land at the corner of Cricketer's Green.

35 FUTURE ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF YATELEY COMMON

The Committee considered the oral report of the Director of Recreation and

    Heritage concerning the future ecological management of Yateley Common.

    The Yateley Society had written to the County Council drawing attention to
    their concerns that the ecological quality of the Common might deteriorate

    below the minimum standards required by English Nature under the European Habitats Directive. The Committee welcomed the letter sent by The Yateley Society

    It was reported that scrub management was being undertaken using volunteer and community service manpower. It was intended to re-establish grazing in the long term. Sheep had been grazed at Blackbushe, but this would raise fencing issues if proposed on the Common. The letter from The Yateley Society was read out and is appended to the Minutes.

    The Site Manager considered that some areas of the Common would not recover but accepted that there was a divergence of view. The SSSI and SPA status was secure. Mrs. Hughes recognised that the opposite side of the A30, in Army ownership was an easier site to renovate.

    Mrs. Hughes pointed out that tree cutting had increased the visibility of the A30 and asked whether logs could be produced for sale. She was advised that it was not economical to process logs for sale, but that these could be left on site, for people to remove.

    The new Commons Bill would enable Associations to raise money for these works, whereas the County Council would not have this ability. It was important to acquaint the public with such issues and the fact that the site management budget had been reduced to £10,000.

    Members were reminded that the County Council only managed one Common at Yateley - the Country Park. A Trust working along side the County Council would be able to bid for funds, and it was suggested that The Yateley Society be approached to see if they would be willing to undertake this role.

    The Management Committee were appreciative of the volunteer effort during the year, and particularly sited Mr. Mike Young for his clearance work of a large area of Common.. Councillor Simpson would make an appeal to the Royal British Legion for volunteers.

    Mrs. Hughes sought information regarding progress with CCTV on the Common. Information was being sought from Rushmoor Borough Council

    and this was to be progressed by Nicki Paton.

    Members supported the proposals that The Yateley Society be approached to form a Trust to raise funds for the restoration of the Common and that the County Council work with the Society to resolve issues associated with the future ecological management of Yateley Common.

36 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED :

    That, in relation to item 10, the press and public be excluded from the meeting, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present during the item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the report.

37 138 ACRES AT BLACKBUSHE AIRFIELD, SEFTION 52 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT, 1971

The Committee considered the oral confidential report of the Chief Executive
regarding 138 areas of land at Blackbushe Airfield.

38 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 25 October 2006 at 7.00pm The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley.