AMPNEY CRUCIS PARISH COUNCIL
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2009 IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors Barry Dent, David Vessey, Adrian Grazebrook, Frank Skinner, Alan Lewis, Peter Kelly and Gerald Gaden.
District Councillor Edward Horsfall
Presiding: Councillor Barry Dent
Clerk: Jayne Webster
Observers: Janet Campbell and Harold Stevens
|
1. Apologies for absence
County Councillor Fiona McKenzie
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2009
Resolution 45/09 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes, as amended, of the meeting held on 7 July 2009 be signed and adopted.
3. Matters arising from the meeting held on 7 July 2009
3.1 Highways
3.2 War Memorial
Councillor Lewis reported that he was still trying to contact Wells Masonry, to discuss a quote for providing a permanent repair to the area of spalling on the War Memorial which had been temporarily repaired by the company. Councillor Lewis agreed to contact Wells Masonry again, for a quote, for the next meeting.
The Chairman advised that he should have the quote before he approaches the Schroder Trust for a further contribution towards the cost of the remaining repair.
3.3 The Pleydells
The Clerk wrote to Fosseway Housing asking for their current policy when allocating tenants to The Pleydells. The Housing Manager advised that there was no allocation policy except for the two bungalows which give priority to retired tenants. However, on a purely informal basis Fosseway Housing does try and give priority to the over 50s but all housing is allocated on a basis of housing need and in liaison with CDC who manage the waiting list.
The Chairman reported that when the CEO of CDC visited Ampney Crucis (see item 4) he was shown The Pleydells and is now acquainted with the problems of anti-social behaviour and sympathetic to the Parish Council’s concerns over the housing allocation policy. The Chairman suggested that Councillors should use their personal contacts in The Pleydells to advise residents to report any further incidents of anti-social behaviour to Fosseway Housing or if they preferred anonymity they should report the incidents to the Clerk.
3.4 CDC Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)
The Clerk (Mrs Helen Tonks) replied.
4. Reports from County and District Councillors
On 21st August the CEO of CDC, accompanied by District Councillor Horsfall, visited Ampney Crucis for an hour. The Chairman and Councillors Vessey and Kelly pointed out the key issues in the Parish and visited The Pleydells, Butchers Arms Lane, Stoneleigh and the proposed Cripps site off School Lane.
District Councillor Horsfall gave the following report:
In response to the Parish Council’s concerns regarding the allocation of properties to tenants in The Pleydells he stressed that since CDC had sold its housing stock they had no influence over the allocation of properties, although do manage the waiting list in the sense that they keep the computer records. However, he agreed that CDC did have a statutory requirement to house the homeless and in these circumstances would be able to influence Fosseway Housing’s decision.
District Councillor Horsfall also advised that the appeal for Waterton House had been lost, there are major road works planned for the London Road A417 and finally he wanted it noted that he had tried to persuade the planning department at CDC not to refuse the application for Half Acre as he felt there were often inconsistencies with some planning decisions.
5. Questions from the Public
Mr Harold Stevens (Trustee of the Village Trust) asked why the Parish Council would not accept the result of the Referendum on the Cripps proposals which he suggested showed that 232 residents voted in favour. The Chairman replied by explaining that the Parish Council had to take into account the balance of views in the village and noted that 278 residents either voted against the proposals or did not vote at all. The Parish Council could not have got involved in any discussions about the proposals in advance of the applications being made public because of the danger of creating conflicts of interest.
Mr Stevens attested that future generations of villagers would feel that the present Parish Council had been dilatory in not supporting the proposals. He indicated that Mr Cripps needed money from the development of the land and would be prepared to sell to any developer if the present proposals did not go ahead. As a result he suggested there could be a significant change of land use. The meeting, through the Chairman, reminded Mr Stevens that the Parish Council neither determined planning policy nor made planning decisions and had to abide by the decisions of CDC.
District Councillor Horsfall revealed to the meeting that the planning applications would almost certainly go before the Planning Regulatory Committee at CDC in October and that the Planning Officer had recommended refusal.
6. Planning matters
6.1 Decisions
458 APP/F1610/C.08/2086278 Park Close Appeal Allowed 472 09/00948/FUL Ampney Cross (Half Acre) CDC Refuse 473 09/00949/FUL Ampney Cross (Half Acre) CDC Refuse 477 09/01574/FUL The Old Sheephouse CDC Permit 478 09/01248/TCONR Ampney House CDC Permit 479 09/01579/FUL Nurse’s Cottage CDC Permit 480 09/01580/FUL Nurse’s Cottage CDC Permit 481 09/02004/FUL Mistle House CDC Permit
There was some discussion regarding ACP 479 and 480 since work had started prior to planning consent. It was agreed no further action would be taken.
6.2 Outstanding applications
461 09/00095/FUL Crown of Crucis No objection 465 08/02944/FUL Land parcel north of London Road Objection 466 08/02945/FUL Land parcel north of London Road Objection 467 08/02946/FUL Land opposite Gorston House Objection 468 08/02948/FUL Land at The Pleydells Objection 470 APP/F1610/A/092101500/NWF Waterton House No comment 476 09/01340/FUL Crown of Crucis No objection 482 09/02257/FUL Shepherds Cottage No objection 483 09/02258/FUL Shepherds Cottage No objection
District Councillor Horsfall asked for the Parish Council’s thoughts regarding ACP 482 and 483. The Chairman confirmed there was no objection.
6.3 Amendments
465 08/02944/FUL Land parcel north of London Road Objection 476 09/01340/FUL Crown of Crucis No objection 479 09/01579/FUL Nurse’s Cottage No objection
A discussion followed regarding ACP 476 and the proposed landscaping to the car park at the Crown of Crucis and it was agreed there was no objection.
6.4 Tree works
The Parish Council were surprised that a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) had been issued on three trees in the car park of the Crown of Crucis and it was suggested that the Crown of Crucis’s planning application had prompted the TPO.
6.5 Park Close
Appeal application APP/F1610/C/2086278 was allowed. Costs application in relation to Appeal APP/F1610/C/08/2086278 was refused.
Councillor Vessey advised that there had not been a breach of planning policy, he explained that the appeal was allowed because CDC were unable to prove that the site fell into either Class B1 (office/light industrial) or B8 (warehousing) and therefore there had not been a change of use to either Class B1 or B8. Councillor Vessey also noted two points of interest that had arisen from the Appeal Application. Firstly, that a planning application could only be refused if precise and specific reasons were given by CDC and secondly, that an enforcement notice could not be issued without CDC first advising how the applicant should go about obtaining planning permission.
6.6 Cripps proposals
The Chairman confirmed that he had written to Mr Mike Napper, at the Planning Department, CDC, seeking confirmation that Mr Napper had received the Chairman’s letter dated 26th May 2009 about the attitudes in the village to the Cripps proposals.
A further letter dated 27th August 2009, addressed to Mr Napper, from the Trustees of the Cripps Site proposal was discussed. The Chairman felt that the implication in the letter, that the Parish Council had refused to discuss the site development proposal with the Trustees, was untrue. The Trustees had been notified in writing in 2000 that the Parish Council were unable to comment on pre-planning applications. A discussion followed regarding whether or not the Parish Council should respond to the letter. It was agreed that the Chairman and Councillor Vessey would draft a letter asking the Trustees to withdraw this statement and circulate to the other Councillors before sending.
It was then discussed how the Parish Council should respond if the matter was referred to the Planning Committee (see item 5). It was agreed that a final decision would have to be made once details of the meeting were made public. The Clerk was asked to email Mr Napper to confirm, if the matter was referred to the Planning Committee, when the meeting would be held, would the planning applications be dealt as a whole or separately and what format the meeting would take in terms of speakers. The Chairman advised that until these details were know they were unable to publicise the meeting in The Ampney Times. He suggested that everyone should give some thought to what might be said at the Planning Committee meeting if the Parish Council decided to attend.
7. Financial matters
7.1 Current financial position
Resolution 46/09 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the financial statements prepared by the Responsible Financial Officer should be adopted by the Council as an accurate reflection of the Council’s financial position on 27 August 2009
Resolution 47/09 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £350.00 be transferred from the treasurers account to the imprest account.
7.2 Agreement of payments
Cottage Garden Services and Moore Stephens: £353.97
Resolution 48/09 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the above amounts, totalling £353.97, be paid.
7.3 Change contact and correspondence address on Barclays Instant Access Saver Account to J E Webster.
Resolution 49/09 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the correspondence contact and address for Barclays Instant Access Saver Account be changed from Mrs Helen Tonks to Mrs Jayne Webster.
7.4 Annual Return for the year ended 31 March, 2009
It was reported that the Annual Return for the year ended 31March 2009 had been returned by Moore Stephens and no issues had been raised. The Clerk had displayed a notice, plus the Statement of Accounts and the Auditor’s Certificate on the village notice boards advertising the Closure of the Audit.
8 Burial ground matters
8.1 Reservations in the Burial Ground
Councillor Skinner had converted the new burial certificate to a Word document and changed the font and it was agreed that this should be issued with burial plot reservations.
8.2 Increases in Burial Charges
Councillor Vessey reported that he had made enquiries into the definitions of exclusive and non-exclusive right of burial. An exclusive right of burial means that the person reserving the plot actually owns the plot and therefore other authorities appear to charge a lot more for this type of reservation (some in the region of £800). It was agreed that a non-exclusive right of burial, where the person reserving the plot did not own the plot, was not appropriate and should not be included in the Table of Fees and Conditions. It was agreed that the Clerk and Councillor Vessey would re-write the Table of Fees and Conditions.
8.3 Burial Ground Maintenance
Councillors Lewis and Gaden had decided that it was not necessary to ask Cottage Garden Services to carry out the work. They propose to organise a group of volunteers on a Saturday in October or November (date to be confirmed). Councillor Lewis agreed to advertise the event in The Ampney Times.
8.4 Headstone Request for Reserved Plot
It was reported that Mrs Maura Hodgon asked whether she would be allowed to erect a double headstone on her husband’s ashes plot and also on her reserved plot. There had been a discussion, via email, but finally she decided to have a stone flower holder for her husband. It was agreed to not to discuss the matter further.
The Clerk provided details regarding the current available grave spaces. Of the released grave spaces 39 are reserved, 24 are available and 4 grave spaces are available for ashes. Two of these ashes spaces have 6 plots available, one has 5 plots available and the fourth has one available plot. The Clerk agreed to provide figures regarding unreleased grave spaces.
9 Village Update
9.1 Village Hall
Councillor Gaden advised that the village hall wished to purchase new chairs using a grant, but this was conditional upon the Parish Council making a contribution. The Parish Council agreed in principle but would make a final decision once more details were known regarding the precise contribution required.
9.2 Playground
Councillor Skinner reported that the inspection had been completed and no issues arose.
9.3 Ampney Times
Nothing to report.
10 Correspondence received
10.1 CDC: Gambling Act
Clerk posted on village notice boards.
10.2 DEFRA: Biodiversity Duty email
Councillor Skinner advised that he had looked into this matter six months ago and did not feel that anything the Parish Council suggested would be acted upon.
10.3 Wiltshire County Council: South Wiltshire Core Strategy Submission Document
It was agreed that this would not have any impact on Ampney Crucis.
10.4 Fosseway Housing: see item 3.3
10.5 GCC: Temporary Traffic Order 517 email A417 London Road
The impending road works were noted and the Chairman agreed to put an item in The Ampney Times.
11 Matters outstanding
· Dislodged kerbstones on A417 London Road – The Clerk had reported the incident to Mr Paul Swift at Highways, GCC, who organised for their removal. · Councillor Vessey reported that the sign (Restricted By-Way) had come loose on the track next to the village notice board. The Clerk agreed to contact GCC. · It was reported that a number of thefts had taken place in the village over the last couple of weeks. It was agreed to keep an eye on the situation. It was also noted that several cars parked in The Pleydells were not taxed. Councillor Vessey agreed to contact the PCSO. · Email from Digital Uk – Councillor Skinner agreed to write a leaflet, explaining the digital switchover in March 2010, which could be distributed to the ‘Over 60s’ club. The Clerk agreed to reply to Digital Uk.
12 Date, time and place of next meeting.
Monday 9 November 2009, 7.15pm in the Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 9.15pm
|
BD
AL
BD DV
JW
JW DV
AL GG
JW
BD
JW
DV
FS JW
ALL
|