Archived decisions
UNCONFIRMED
Item 3
AT A MEETING of the YATELEY COMMON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in the Rose Rent Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley on 13 February 2007.
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.
p Councillor R.E. Harward ( Chairman )
p Councillor Rita Jenkins.
p Councillor D. Murr.
Observers
a M. Mann.
p. P. Tipton.
a Mrs. A. Hughes.
45 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.
46 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2006 were agreed as a correct and signed by the Chairman.
47 SITE MANAGER'S REPORT
The Committee considered the report of the Site Manager ( Item 4 in the Minute Book )
The Site Manager reported that fly-tipping was still occurring on site. She had recently received details from the Chief Executive of the County Council's procedure on CCTV. Members enquired whether the Environment Agency might be able to assist and were advised that the Agency only had one camera on the Common. Action had been taken against the contractor who had been fly tipping in December 2006 and who had been invoiced for its removal at a level aimed at deterring further tipping. Members requested that the County Council issue a press release to publicise that action would be taken to serve as a deterrent where appropriate.
Police had been reluctant to take action regarding three vehicles which had been dumped on the Common. Members were to speak to the Police about this as they were conscious that members of the public would lose respect and possibly take the law into their own hands if the situation worsened.
Members were informed that Police attention had been diverted away from the Common to other areas experiencing anti-social behaviour problems. The Police Authority budget was to fund an additional 84 officers in rural areas, which included Blackwater and Yateley. Members of the Yateley Common Rangers team were in touch with local Beat Officers, which provided a channel of communication.
Mr. P. Tipton said that a number of the newly erected sign boards did not have Byelaws fixed to them, and was advised that Bylaws were affixed to signs in the most prominent positions on the Common for maximum effect and visibility.
No progress had been made on Byelaws. Mr. Tipton drew attention to his requests that signs contain Natural England's warning stating that fines of up to £20,000 could be imposed if offenders were prosecuted, but that it was his understanding that it was a requirement that the appropriate wording be displayed before action could be taken. This has been taken up with Natural England, who had explained that in order to prosecute successfully, it would be necessary to send a written warning letter to alleged offenders first. Mr. Tipton was to investigate new European legislation which might be applicable.
Councillor Murr in his capacity as Town Mayor undertook to write to Mick Young and Roger Harris expressing the appreciation of the Yateley Common Management Committee for their voluntary work on the Common.
Mr. Tipton explained that Mr. Mann of the Yateley Society had written to Mr. Davidson; Yateley Society members and to the Chief Executive seeking clarification on aspects of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 with particular reference to volunteers on the Common. Mr. Knight had forwarded copies of the letter to Miss Ellam for her consideration and to Councillor Collett. Advice was requested before the June meeting of the Management Committee and Mr. Davidson was to contact Miss Ellam to discuss the issue.
Following the agreement between the County Council and Sims Metal Mr.Davidson was to seek funds to enable tarmac to be removed from a road across the land; removal of a bund and diversion of an adjacent Right of Way.
There was also a need for a fire safety access into the site.
The condition of the top of the dam at Wyndhams Pool was regarded as poor. The face of the dam was to be surveyed and soil samples taken to test its stability. Work to restore the dam might cost in the region of £100,000.
RESOLVED :
That the report be noted.
48 FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF YATELEY COMMON
The Committee received the oral report of Mr. Tipton exploring aspects of the
Commons Act 2006.
He outlined his understanding of how the Act would replace previous
legislation and deal with control of vegetation and erection of fences on
Common land. He advocated the establishment of a Commons Council
similar to the former Yateley Conservators. This would be a forum for
exchange of management information; policing of boundary fences and
encroachments . He felt that the consequences of not having such a body
would be the further decline of the Common. The main issue would be the
recovery of the Common by 2010 to Natural England's criteria. A meeting
had been arranged for Friday 16 February to discuss the new legislation and
would be attended by Mr. Tipton, Councillors Collett and Simpson, Mr.
Davidson, Mr. Allen and Miss Ellam.
He explained that DEFRA were sending a five man team to Yateley on 14
March 2007 to carry out a pilot study on lowland common land. This would
be attended by : Councillor Murr representing Yateley Town Council;
Councillor Simpson for Hart District Council; Councillor Collett for the
County Council; Mr. Davidson; Mr. Nigel Smith and Hampshire Wildlife
Trust.
Members were concerned that any new arrangements would not prejudice
the service provided by the Recreation and Heritage Department.
49 SIMS GROUP UK LTD - ACCESS ACROSS YATELEY COMMON
The Committee received the report of the Chief Executive ( Item 6 in the
Minute Book )
Members welcomed the report.
Mr. Tipton sought information regarding whether there would be an exchange
of land for the access road across the Common.
RESOLVED :
That the report be noted.
50 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC - EXEMPT
RESOLVED :
That, in relation to item 8, 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.
51 138 ACRES AT BLACKBUSHE AIRFIELD, SETION 52 OF THE
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1971.
The committee receive the oral confidential report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage regarding 138 acres land at Blackbushe Airfield.
52 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
Wednesday 6 June 2007 at 7.00pm
07 YATELEY MGT CTTEE MINUTES 130207