AT THE December meeting of St Mary Bourne Parish Council, the following topics were discussed:

School pick-up/drop-off area at Batsford: Planning permission had been granted and a revised quote received from one contactor. The clerk would obtain another quote before applying for possible s106 funding and local infrastructure funding (LIF) from Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council.

Bells Meadow: Hyde Housing had reported that they had been instructed by Hampshire Highways to plant grass instead of the replacement hedge required by the planning application. The clerk would write to the borough council’s planning departmentt to see if any enforcement action could be taken.

Speed Indicator Device: This had been serviced and would be in operation in the parish within weeks.

Broadband: Following the clerk’s letter to all households outside the current improvement scheme, she had received a number of requests for further information which had been passed on to Clem Jones.

Borough councillor’s report: Cllr Graham Falconer reported on waste collection and recycling matters, LIF, the boundary review and cuts, council tax, broadband in Ashmansworth and an open meeting on 8 February in Highclere to discuss a Neighbourhood Plan to which members of SMB’s Long Term Planning Group have been invited.

United Charities Trust (UCT): The chairman of the council, Cllr David Peart, would write to Robin Mackenzie thanking him for serving as a parish council representative on the UCT from 1984 until he moved from the parish in 2017. There was now a vacancy for a parish council representative on the trust.

Annual Parish Assembly: This would be held on 24 April and the format would be discussed at the next meeting.

Standing orders and financial regulations: Having been circulated, these were agreed and signed by the chairman and vice-chairman, Cllr Bridget Culley..

Neighbourhood Plan: The borough council had reported that the referendum on this was likely to be held in February 2018. The parish council would fund a poster to be put up in the Summerhaugh.

Flood Emergency Group: Sarah Cooney and Clem Jones had produced detailed groundwater, well levels and river flow statistics for Stoke and St Mary Bourne.

The clerk reported that she had received a cheque £1,500 from Vitacress for flood protection work. The council expressed thanks for this financial support.

Bourne Rivulet Project: Silt removal from under the bridges had been started by Hampshire Highways. Cllr Katie Dixon would inform Hampshire County Council about the deteriorating condition of Gangbridge Lane. Grants had been received from the Environment Agency and SSE. Sarah Cooney was thanked for her work on this.

Footpaths: Cllr Tony Styles would inform the county council’s countryside access team about the five rights of way in the parish which would most benefit from priority cutting. Caroline Hoyes would also be consulted ab out this.

Recreation Ground: The chairman and vice chairman had met with John Coney of the Hampshire Playing Fields Association to get information about upgrading the play equipment and providing adult fitness equipment.

Ruth Widén