AT the April meeting of Abbotts Ann Parish Council, the following matters were discussed:

Burial ground: The parochial church council (PCC) had requested the churchyard be tidied before Easter. The clerk reported the previous maintenance contractor was not able to schedule an extra visit. The new contractors had therefore been asked to do the work, despite the contract not yet being finalised.

Two members of the public were distressed at finding a relative’s well-tended grave deliberately covered with chalk. Nearby graves were similarly spoiled. The chairman, Cllr Andrew Hayter, could not ascertain who was responsible and suggested someone might have been trying to be helpful. He confirmed it would be rectified.

Sports field: The chairman proposed preparing a form for the sports field management committee (SFMC) covering insurance risks, pending completion of a formal lease. Cllr Susie Bleeker said the SFMC were taking longer than anticipated to achieve self-determination, and considered a committee of 20 people too large. Discussion of an annual grant was deferred.

Test Valley Borough Council: Borough Cllr Maureen Flood would ask Hampshire County Council to provide posts with better visibility on the traffic build-outs by the school. Existing posts had been knocked over.

Cllr Colin Teasdale suggested sports facility availability be extended beyond just Andover leisure centre, using school swimming pools or village halls, for instance.

Hampshire County Council: County Cllr Andrew Gibson wanted a 20mph speed limit in the village, and a solution to the traffic at St John’s Cross.

He was pursuing concerns about vehicle damage from potholes that had either not been repaired, contrary to claims by the county council or else repaired so poorly that they reappeared within weeks.

Andover Business Park: The chairman had attended a meeting about the automatic number plate recognition system and barred routes. Goodmans’ inability to provide traffic statistics was not acceptable. The matter was being pursued.

Three-year maintenance contract: Susie Bleeker suggested seeking legal advice on the draft contract. Cllr Tim Abram thought this unnecessary.

Risk assessment schedules: Councillors discussed their individual portfolios. Cllr Lorna Haigh asked where she should be looking for dog fouling. Colin Teasdale suggested some favoured dog-walking routes.

Correspondence: The chairman and Tim Abram had attended an informal meeting at the request of the previous parish magazine editorial team. The chairman read out a summary of the team’s views, which they wanted officially documented in the public domain. This stated the team had run the magazine for 14 years, believing it to be for the benefit of the whole village, and donations had been made to village causes. No magazine profits arose as a result of action by the PCC. The team had recently wanted to open a separate bank account to operate BACS for advertisers; a balance of nearly £14,000 from magazine proceeds was held within the church bank account. The team believed this belonged to the village. They said the church claimed it owned the money and had stated there was little likelihood of further donations to village causes. The magazine team had therefore resigned.

The team told the chairman there were no established terms of reference. The chairman said there was thus nothing to say who was right, but clearly the relationship between the team and the PCC had utterly broken down. Some councillors, and, reportedly, parishioners, were unaware the magazine proceeds passed to the PCC. It was suggested the PCC clarify this in future issues. Councillors voted thanks to the team.

Finances: The clerk confirmed she did not include her salary details in the minutes.

Next meetings: Annual Parish Assembly, 21 April; Annual Meeting of Parish Council (‘AGM’) 11 May.

Rosemary Groves