Kingsley Parish Council Thursday 23rd

You are requested to attend a meeting of Kingsley Parish Council on Thursday, 23rd November 2017 in the Kingsley Centre at 7.30pm

AGENDA

1. Chairman’s Opening Remarks
2. Apologies for Absence
3. Declarations of Personal/Prejudicial Interest
4. Public Question Time
Public Questions
Consideration of agenda items which will be open to public participation

5. Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held on 26th October 2017
6. Matters Arising
7. Planning Applications
Applications ongoing:
TAG Farnborough Airport Air Space Change Proposal
To receive an update from Cllr Lowe
51188/001 Kingsley Quarry, Forge Road, Kingsley
Scooping Opinion – Extend the quarry to the east, extend the end date for operations and amend the restoration scheme for the existing site
The correct reference number for this is SCO/2017/0431(Application for Advice submitted to HCC)
Advice given in Decision Report dated 07.08.2017
26242/058 Former Dean Farm Golf Course, Forge Road, Kingsley, GU35 9NG
Farriers/blacksmith forge with shoeing bay and parking
57470 Sheds adjoining Nightingale Cottage, Forge Road, Kingsley
Prior approval for proposed change of use from agricultural building to a dwelling house (class c3)
22246/009 Sickles House, Forge Road, Kingsley GU35 9NA
Addition of utility room, ground and first floor adjustments, change of main access, new garage/home office/hobby workshop
22246/010 Sickles House, Forge Road, Kingsley GU35 9NA
Listed building - utility room, ground and first floor adjustments, change of main access, new garage/home office/hobby workshop
54919/004 Land at Kingsley Golf Club, Forge Road, Kingsley
Six garages and associated works
30633/032 Groomes Farm, Frith End Road, Frith End, Bordon, GU35 0QR
Variation of conditions 4,10,11 and 18 of permission 30633/026 to enable the implementation of the planning permission without prejudicing the council’s ability to review and approve details reserved by condition at an appropriate stage.
New applications:
26718/022 2 Sandrock Cottages, Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon, GU35 9LS
Two storey side extension and extended front porch following demolition of conservatory
22246/009 Sickles House, Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon, GU35 9NA
Addition of utility room, ground and first floor adjustments, change of main access, new garage / home office / hobby workshop [amended proposal]
22246/010 Sickles House, Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon, GU35 9NA
Listed building - utility room, ground and first floor adjustments, change of main access, new garage / home office / hobby workshop [amended proposal]
SDNP/17/05558/HOUS
Christmas Cottage (formerly Foxes) Green Street Kingsley Bordon Hampshire GU35 9NN
Oak framed carport and log store
57573 Land and Buildings South of Kingsley Tennis Centre, Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon
Change of use of land and building to storage associated with a landscape contractor

8. St Nicholas Cemetery & Cemetery Chapel
To receive an update from Cllr Rigden

9. Transport, Highways and Road Safety
Speedwatch
To receive an update from Cllr Lowe

10. Commons, Village Greens and Rights of Way
Upper Green
To receive an update from Cllr Gregory
To consider quotations received from contractors for replacement of bench at the bus stop

11. Community Resilience
12. Environment and Biodiversity
To consider the annual payment of £350 to the Landowner of the Allotment Site for the year 2018

13. Kingsley Village Forum
To consider a grant application from the Trustees of the Kingsley Organisation for £2731.60 for the purchase and installation of external lighting for the Village Centre.
To consider a grant of £420 covering the purchase of external decorations to support village Christmas activities.

14. Housing, Business & Commerce
15. Review of Capital Projects
16. Communications
The correspondence received this month was listed & circulated to all Cllrs prior to the meeting.

17. Broadband
To receive an update from Cllr Coury & Cllr Clayton

18. District Councillor
19. Procedures, Finance and Payments
Preparation of budget for year 2018/19
Clerk contract of employment to be signed

Payments to be made & Accounts to accept
To consider the payment of invoices on the schedule included in the agenda of the meeting
November 2017 Payments to be authorised
Payment Date
Payee
Payment Mode
Description
Amount
17/11/2017
MacDonald Oates
BACS
Inv 36673 Wayleaves/Easement to SSE Power Distribution
1500.00
28/11/2017
Paul Grace
BACS
Inv dated 15/11/17 ground maintenance Upper & Lower Green
3948.00
28/11/2017
Richard Thorpe
BACS
Inv E26312 St Nicholas Chapel extinguisher annual service
48.24
28/11/2017
Karine Nana Yonko
BACS
Clerk's November 2017 salary
414.60
28/11/2017
Karine Nana Yonko
BACS
Clerk's November 2017 expenses invoice 0008-2017/18
90.50
Date of Next Meeting of Kingsley Parish Council –
Thursday 25th January 2018 – 7.30 pm at the Kingsley Centre

Autumn

It’s the time of year again when my routine changes quite dramatically all the way through until the end of the winter. Autumn is with us and that, for me and many others, means the beginning of the shooting season. The truth is, I don’t actually do much shooting these days, I have the odd day here and there and that suits me nicely. My particular love is beating. Once again, as with so many things in life, that love began in my childhood at Kingsley in a time when there were quite a lot of shoots in the area and, then as now, young boys were welcome. I was going on to write, well behaved boys, but in those times all boys were well behaved! Not least because the game keepers would not have minced their words and a clip around the ear was, by no means, out of the question. Somewhat different from today’s attitudes, although a good old fashioned "rollicking" is still a distinct possibility the ear clipping option is long gone. Parents these days would probably get a lawyer involved. Although, true to say, most of the younger lads that come out beating that I have met are pretty good, there have been the odd one or two that have been sent home. Usually because they think they know more than the keeper and are prepared to argue a point, something we would never had done. We knew our place, as the saying goes!

On Thursday of this week we had a work day on one of the shoots which I attend. These days are great fun, lots of banter and gossip. For the most part, when the season finishes,the beating team don’t see one another until it all starts again in the autumn. There are odd occasions when, at country shows or other rural events, one bumps into a fellow beater but, by and large, the team come from far and wide and so meetings out of season are rare. Consequently, pre-season work days are eagerly anticipated and, generally, a good time is had by all. On these days no money changes hands the work is done on a voluntary basis but plenty of snacks, drinks and a good lunch are all provided by the keeper. There are also added bonuses this week, for example, we had to do quite a bit of tree felling in order to open some of the gun stands. Quite a lot of wood was felled and the logs were shared out between the helpers. I came home with the back of my truck filled with some seriously good burning wood. 

Like many of the beaters and, of course the "pickers up", I get the greatest pleasure out of being able to work my dog. To my mind there is nothing quite like working a decent dog in the fields and woods of the English countryside. Beating gives the dog owner an opening for dog work when, otherwise, getting permission from a landowner or farmer can be(understandably) quite difficult. Most gamekeepers encourage well behaved dogs as they can save a lot of time and effort when it comes to flushing birds from thick hedges, brambles and all manner of other difficult terrain. Having trained my lurcher to respect poultry and not to bother them, I now have to teach him that pheasant and partridge although, of course feathered, are perfectly ok to be flushed and made to fly. Thursday, on the work day, was the first time Bertie had encountered pheasants, lots of them. Somehow he seemed to know that there was a difference with these birds and pretty quickly developed an interest in them. Luckily I was able to let him have a couple of runs at the odd pheasant before the day was over and he didn’t disappoint. 

The forecast for our first day isn’t good so I am hoping the forecasters are wrong and the rain keeps off. The cold doesn’t matter but getting soaked, especially before lunch, is pretty miserable and makes the day seem a whole lot longer. Last season was a very good one and we got away with very little rain and most of it later on in the day so here’s hoping. More to follow later.

Rabbits

Those people who have read my articles in the past might well have concluded that I have a bit of a soft spot for the humble rabbit. Having said that, I have hunted, shot and ferreted rabbits throughout most of my life but I have missed seeing the little blighters hopping around. Having moved, fifteen years ago, to an area in Dorset which didn’t seem to have a rabbit in sight I had all but given up any hope seeing them around. Well, lo and behold, about two years ago I went out as usual to feed the horse and there, at the bottom of my field, as bright as a button was a rabbit. This was cause for considerable excitement, the said rabbit stayed around and grandchildren were taken to see it and we were all highly delighted. However, my excitement was tempered with a large amount of caution as I was well aware we have a pretty healthy fox population in the area. Not least because the railway which passes some distance from us has a man-made embankment which is probably the best fox earth location for miles around. Quite apart from the fact that railways are no longer attended by gangers who once walked the lines and kept them trimmed and in good order, that embankment was constructed of fox friendly material and provided an obvious location for both foxes and badgers. There are few other banks in this area and the soil is a very heavy clay so not at all suitable for any animal that digs it’s home in the ground. This, I guess, is also the reason that there are few rabbits in these parts. 

Well, having lost numerous poultry to the fox over the years I didn’t hold out much hope for the survival of my rabbit. To my great joy, after several months, the rabbit was still around and then one morning there was rabbit number two. I do have a very large bramble thicket in the bottom corner of my field and both rabbits seemed to come and go from within its depths. The months rolled on and for the most part the rabbits kept appearing. There were periods of a few weeks when I saw nothing of them and then all of a sudden there they would be again. Then there were three. Not only have my bunnies avoided the fox but they have also avoided the dreaded myxy. 

Time moved on and the rabbits became a common sight. Then it was, as part of my ongoing garden development, I decided to construct a new flower bed. This was to be stocked with butterfly and bee friendly flowers of the cottage garden type. The new bed was to go in a large area of garden to the rear of the house where my pond, polytunnel and Japanese garden are located. These are separated from the garden immediately bordering the house by a fence and big hedge so the area is quite secluded. The new bed was constructed and the plants in place, all nicely watered in and looking fine. Fine, that was, until about three days later when I went to inspect them only to find that with the exception of two or three, all plants had been eaten down to the ground. The truth dawned, my lovely little rabbits had eaten my plants. There was no question of shooting them, I had given the little devils sanctuary. Plan B was wire netting, this was put in place and the whole flower bed was now secure behind the fencing. I am happy to report that all plants recovered and are now, once again doing well. 

A few days later I planted some Curly and Black Kale in the polytunnel. Nice plants, very healthy and strong. A couple of days later I went into the tunnel to check that the plants had all taken only to find they had all been eaten off to soil level. It didn’t take long to find a hole in the side of the tunnel just about bunny size, the little devils had now gained entry and had before them was an array of veg and salads to gorge upon. The polytunnel is surrounded by a four foot wide raised bed in which, amongst, other things, Rhubarb grows. So, more wire was purchased and the complete outside of the tunnel fenced to a height of four feet. During the process of putting the wire up I almost stepped on one rabbit which was hiding beneath the Rhubarb leaves. Behind the polytunnel is an area where I had been depositing the soil removed from where the new, previously mentioned, hut is being built. This pile of soil is due to be used to create another flower bed. A few days ago I wandered down there to ponder over the shape and size of the proposed new bed only to find my rabbits had moved in. I now have my own rabbit warren, there are holes every where. Don’t you just love them. Sadly, I was talking to my neighbour at the Harvest Supper a few days ago and he told me his colony of rabbits had gone down with Myxy. His farm is opposite me and quite large, his rabbits are at the far end of his land which is quite a way from me so I am hoping the dreaded disease does not reach me, but I am not over optimistic.