Item 5

UNCONFIRMED

AT A MEETING of the YATELEY COMMON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in The Gallery Room, The Tythings, Reading Road, Yateley on 6 June 2007.

PRESENT :

Hampshire County Council

p Councillor A. P. Collett

a Councillor J. Glen.

a Councillor P.R.C. Hutcheson

p Councillor D.E. Simpson

Yateley Town Council

p Councillor D. Benham

p Councillor R. E Harward

p Councillor E Dawson

a Councillor D Murr

Observers

a M Mann

p P. Tipton

p Mrs. A. Hughes

Councillor Rita Jenkins was in attendance.

42 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

That, Councillor D. Simpson be appointed Chairman for the ensuing year

COUNCILLOR D SIMPSON IN THE CHAIR

43 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

That, Councillor R. Harward be appointed Vice-Chairman for the

ensuing year.

44 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.

45 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2007 were agreed as a correct

record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon :

Councillor Simpson asked whether a press-release, requested at the last

meeting, could be issued to publicise action taken against flytippers. The

Team Leader North undertook to do this.

46 SITE MANAGER'S REPORT

The Committee considered and noted the report of the Site Manager ( Item 4 in

the Minute Book ).

The Site Manager reported that fly-tipping was still occurring on site.

Incidents of fly tipping had remained constant since the last meeting and over

100 tyres had been dumped near the scrap yard entrance track. Members

asked if CCTV were in use at the scrapyards in that position. Mt. Tipton again

advised the Committee that action could be taken against those caught

damaging the environment and that it was possible that fines of up to

£20,000 could be imposed if court action were successful. Dumping of heavy

metals with high toxicity could damage the Common and it might be worth

persuing. The Hampshire Fire and Rescue would remove batteries if asked,

althoughat present these had a scrap value and were disposed of locally.

There had been five vehicles abandoned between February and May 2007, in addition to two motorcycles. Quad bikes and motorbikes had also been active on the common. Police were patrolling the Common regularly.

The site map boards had been produced and a manufacturer was being sought for the mounting frames. Mr. Tipton praised the sighting of the boards and felt that these would be effective.

Further surfacing had taken place behind Strood Pool on Bridleway 30. Work had taken place to open up part of Bridleway 20 and the remaining rights of way on the Common were being reviewed. Some anomalies remained, but it was stated that the Welsh Drive would not be affected.

Work had continued to remove dens near the Business Park as soon as they

were constructed. Dragons' Teeth had been installed at Brandy Bottom and the

inner Gravel Pit car park to deter vehicles damaging the bank. Scrub

clearance had also been carried out at Brandy Bottom.

Fires had already broken out in various parts of the common and vigilance

would be exercised, especially in the event of another hot summer period.

Discussions had taken place with the developers; Hart District Council and

Hampshire Highways on how the access track to the Heathcroft Nursing

Home site might be re-surfaced using acceptable materials. The developers

now understood the requirement to ensure that the character of the common

was unaffected. Councillor Simpson wished it to be recorded that expressed

no views one way or the other on this subject.

Councillor Collett expressed the importance that future plans and agreements took into account of the need to protecting the surface of the access track to the Nursing Home and similar roads on the common. These requirement should be embodied in planning conditions, which could be enforced.

It was emphasised that local residents should bring breaches of conditions to the attention of Hart District Council, which could then take action. It was noted that the lane was a Bridleway and that this would be referred to Rights of Way Section.

Mr. Allen was to investigate the access rights held by the developer.

An SPA bird survey was being carried out between March and June to monitor

Woodjar, Dartford Warbler and Nightjar. It was thought possible that the close proximity of building or dog walkers might account for the decline in numbers

of the Dartford Warbler which were ground nesting birds.

Concern was expressed that the District Council were not applying planning laws on SPA issues.

The Vice Chairman; Councillor Collett and Mr. Davidson would peruse future planning applications and respond to the District Council where issues of commons protection arose.

The closed season at Wyndhams Pool would be in force until 16 July. Barley Straw had been added to the pond to reduce the blue-algae. The Environment Agency had declared the water to be below the toxic threshold.

The site had continued to attract volunteer effort, with visits from Community Service; the Yateley Society and Berkshire Conservation Volunteers. Mick Young and Roger Harris had received letters of appreciation from the Yateley Town Mayor and it was suggested that formal presentations be made to them.

A Heathland Harvest and Spring Morning Birdsong walks had been successfully held, and the Yateley May Fayre had also proved popular. The schools education programme was in hand and session fully booked up to 9 July,

The Secretary was to follow up advice sought by the Committee on safeguarding the Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and how it related to people volunteering to work on the Common.

Resolved :

That the report be noted.

47 VISIT TO YATELEY COMMON BY REPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

The committee received the report of Mr. P. Tipton, Yateley Commoner on

the visit of representatives of the Department of Environment. Food and Rural

Affairs.

Mr. Tipton reported on the days activities and circulated a copy of the Minutes relating to the visit. ( Attached to these Minutes. He described the days

activities in some detail. )

It was agreed that the ` Steering Group ` meet again with representatives

Of BCA; Yateley Town Council ( to also provide secretariat ) and local

Interest groups. It would be important to involves those with legal and

Management interests in the land.

48 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC - EXEMPT

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.

49 138 ACRES AT BLACKBUSHE AIRFIELD, SECTION 52 OF THE

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1971


The Committee received the oral confidential report of the Director of

Recreation and Heritage regarding 138 acres land at Blackbushe Airfield.


50 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 23 October 2007 at 7.00pm The Tythings.

07 Yateley Common Mins 06 06 07

05/06/2007 11:22:29