AT the December meeting of Abbotts Ann Parish Council the following items were discussed:

Newly adopted telephone kiosk: Cllr Lorna Haigh reported she had helped to clean the newly-adopted telephone kiosk. She had enquired about replacing the discoloured Perspex. The clerk said there were firms that supplied replacement parts for these kiosks. Several ideas for its use had been received, including using it as a library, a webcam site, re-housing the defibrillator, or just leaving it as it was.

Parochial church council (PCC): The vice chairman of the PCC expressed concern that his answers to detailed queries from the parish council over the last few months had not been acknowledged. He mentioned several outstanding issues, such as the broken latch on the burial ground gate, and dangerous church footpaths.

He agreed there were valid reasons to have a general maintenance contract but some unplanned matters needed to be dealt with more quickly. For example, there was a mole in the burial ground. The clerk should have authority to arrange a mole-catcher when necessary.

Maintaining the churchyard paths needed expert advice. If help was needed from the Diocesan Advisory Committee, the vice chairman of the PCC would be happy to assist.

The clerk was asked to find someone to deal with the mossy paths and the gate latch. Councillors did not know who had erected the gate originally, or who had made the gates at The Green.

Hampshire County Councillor’s report: Cllr Andrew Gibson said he felt that some of the money collected in fines by the county council from vehicles using ‘barred routes’ should be used for schemes to protect villagers. Imaginative trial schemes might be considered, such as road closures, one-way systems, or 20 mph limits. He agreed that navigating St John’s Cross was perilous.

Test Valley Borough Councillor’s report: Cllr Graham Stallard thanked Lorna Haigh for her delivery of the parish council’s comments to the recent Northern Area Planning Committee meeting concerning Goodman’s application to modify the business park traffic regulations. The application has been rejected. Graham also reported that the borough council had won a High Court challenge to its Local Plan. Speculative developers were now withdrawing applications across the borough.

Planning: A sycamore tree, the subject of a felling application the previous month, was now protected by a Tree Preservation Order imposed by the borough council. A further application to fell it had, however, been received. The parish council voted ‘no objection’, to be consistent with its previous decision.

Councillors objected to an application for a side and rear extension to a property in Manor Close on the grounds of inappropriate materials being used. Burial ground: A report on the recent meeting of the Burial Ground sub-committee was deferred.

Budget: Councillors approved the budget.

Maintenance contract: Councillors discussed various offers received from contractors to look after the play areas on a regular basis. Weekly inspections would still be needed to fulfil insurance requirements. Cllr Tim Abram was carrying out visual inspections of the playground at the War Memorial Hall but had not kept a written record. Lorna Haigh volunteered to inspect the play area at Bulbery sports field. They would now keep their findings in a note book.

Village Action plan: Lorna Haigh suggested that each councillor could adopt one of the proposed projects that had arisen from the village consultation in 2013. Lorna would consolidate the projects for the next meeting. Cllr Colin Teasdale asked if it was a parish or village plan. Lorna said it should be a parish plan, including Burghclere Down.

Next meeting: 12 January, Abbotts Ann War Memorial Hall.

Rosemary Groves