Goodworth Clatford Parish Council Council Meeting Minutes 3 rd March 2015 PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE DRAFT MINUTES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE & AMENDMENT AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THEM BEING SIGNED AS A CORRECT RECORD AT THE NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON 12 th MAY 2015 Date of Meeting: Tuesday 3 rd March 2015 Location: Village Club, Goodworth Clatford Present: Councillors Bob Houghton (Chairman) David Benwell Liza Butterworth Paul Doran Katie Crabb Angela Houghton Peter Kiddle Geoff Scard Alan Willens Clerk Bob Wheadon TVBC + County Councillors Cllr Mrs Flood Cllr Gibson Others 7 members of the public 1. Apologies for Absence The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked for any apologies. Apologies had been received from Cllr Lloyd Davies and Cllr Stallard. 2. Public Participation The Chairman invited any public participation. There were none. The Chairman then read out a message from Mr Upton, who was not able to be present at the meeting. The first comment referred to drainage of water in that it was not allowable to drain water onto another neighbours land. The second comment Mr Upton made was that a balancing pond in his water meadow would be more than adequate to deal with both the surface and ground water flooding and finally that he had e-mailed a HCC Highways representative to discuss the possibility of providing open ditches and swales for drainage. 3. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest. 4. Chairman s Remarks The Chairman reported that the Planning Committee meeting held on the 22 nd January 2015 was very well attended. Some 120 residents of the village came to make their objections to the Scott proposals for development in Barrow Hill known. The Parish Council have returned an objection to the this proposal for residential development (Class C3) of up to 25 dwellings, erection of 148sqm office building (Use Class B1A), associated open space, landscaping, car parking, vehicular and pedestrian access to Barrow Hill. The Chairman also reported that elections for Parish Councils would be held on 7 th May 2015 and encouraged any member of the village to put up for election to the Council.. 5. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 6 th January 2015 had been circulated to all members prior to the meeting. The Chairman asked if all members were in agreement with the minutes and all agreed. That the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 6 th January 2015 be confirmed and signed as a true record of the meeting.
6. County Councillor s Report Cllr Gibson reported that the budget for 2015/16 had been approved and that this would result in cuts over the next two years. Cllr Gibson stated that he would be going on to Broughton where the Parish Council would be debating a controversial application for a large solar farm. He would be informing the members of this Council as to the results of this meeting. Cllr Gibson also anticipated attending when members met with the HCC Highways engineers on Tuesday 10 th March 2015 at 2pm. Cllr Gibson suggested sending a list to the engineers of any items that need to be discussed. The Chairman thanked Cllr Gibson for this report. 7. Matters Arising 1. St Peter s Close Bus Stop Seat: Cllr Scard reported that the Managers had conducted a survey of St Peter s Close residents, which resulted in 11 replies in support of a seat. Cllr Scard reported that there was still some doubt as to who actually owned the land occupied by the bus stop. The Chairman questioned, whether with reducing bus services, a seat would be used. Cllr Scard suggested that he provide the Clerk with a sketch site plan showing where a bench would be placed and also the design of a simple wooden bench. These can also be sent to HCC Highways, the site Managers and to the bus company. Cllr Scard will also provide an estimate of the cost of the bench if the Council agree. Members agreed. That Cllr Scard will provide the Clerk with a sketch site plan showing where a bench would be placed and also the design and estimate of costs of a simple wooden bench at the St Peter s Close bus stop. The Chairman thanked Cllr Scard for his report. 2. Affordable Housing Progress Report by Cllr Scard: Cllr Scard reported that there had been no further meetings and none were likely until the Scott s application had been resolved. 3. SpeedWatch: Cllr Mrs Crabb reported that a meeting of volunteers would take place on Friday 13 th March 2015. The Clerk reported that the Clever SID Sign had been received and payment made to the suppliers. The equipment was now covered by the Council s insurers. 4. Traffic Calming Report by Cllr Doran: Cllr Doran stated that it was not intended to take any further action until the results were known of the SpeedWatch activity. 6. Flooding Report by Cllr Willens on public meeting with agencies on 3 rd February 2015 and progress on Emergency Resilience Plan: Cllr Willens reported that the open meeting on 3 rd February was well attended and that the residents were able to render a thorough grilling. Cllr Willens stated that there had already been some considerable remedial work carried out by Southern Water over the past months. Investigations were underway regarding the adequacy of the monitoring and control equipment. Highway drainage was a major factor in overcoming surface water flooding. Southern water relied upon monitoring at Clanville Gate but Cllr Willens suggested that there should be local monitoring in the village. Cllr Willens requested agreement of the Council to pursue this objective and members were in agreement. That Cllr Willens pursue the possibility of providing local ground water level monitors in the village. Cllr Willens reported that he had circulated members with proposals for an Emergency Resilience Plan together with a guide produced by Oxfordshire County Council on how to produce a plan. The objectives are to support the emergency services and not to replace them. It is also important not to over complicate matters but to keep them as simple as possible. Cllr Kiddle had produced a draft proposal for a form to identify skills and assets in the community and Cllr Willens had produced a draft proposal of what to do in an emergency. These documents could form the starting point. Cllr Willens stated that this should not be a Parish Council plan but one encompassing the whole village. The next step was to identify a group within the village, possibly in cooperation with Neighbourhood Watch, 2
who can carry this forward. Cllr Willens suggested that it might make a suitable subject for the Annual Parish Assembly in May. The Chairman thanked Cllr Willens for his report 7. Borough Councillor s Report Cllr Mrs Flood stated that she had two items to report. 1. On the 20 February the Borough Council approved a balanced budget with no increase to Council tax and fees held for another year. 2. The Inspector s Hearings that took place as part of the Council's Revised Local Plan Examination process closed on Wednesday, 21 January 2015. The provisional dates for main modifications to be formally considered are, by the Cabinet on 8 April 2015 and then by Full Council on 15 April 2015. Subject to outcome of the Full Council meeting, any main modifications approved would then be subject to a six weeks public consultation (provisionally 24 April 5 June 2015), after which the Council will report back to the Inspector. All those who made representations at the Regulation 19 Pre-Submission consultation stage of the Revised Local Plan will be notified of the start of the main modification consultation. If all goes to plan the revised Local Plan could be adopted by the autumn. The Chairman thanked Cllr Mrs Flood for her report. 8. Planning Applications 1. Barrow Hill Barns: Cllr Scard reported a pending application for Barrow Hill Barns. The application is to determine whether prior approval is required for the change of use of Barrow Hill Barns from offices to housing units. This application seeks to establish whether the Barrow Hill Barns proposals meet the conditions of Class J of the 2013 Town and Country Planning Act which introduced a new class of permitted development allowing conversion of offices to residential and would therefore not require permission for change of use. 2. Lorien: Cllr Scard reported that following the recent application to waive 2 conditions of the planning permission, concern had been expressed about the time that the site is likely to remain undeveloped. The TVBC conservation officer had commented that the current appearance of the site was detrimental to the conservation area. Cllr Scard suggested, notwithstanding the outcome of the planning application, that the Parish Council write to the Developer requesting that the development be completed as early as possible to improve the visual amenity of the area and provide the planned housing. 3. Revised Local Plan: Following the Inspector s hearings, TVBC have placed all the additional written inputs on the web and invited comments from those who provided responses to the draft local plan last year. The main inputs that affect this village are those submitted on behalf of Philip Scott who has the application pending for 25 houses at Barrow Hill. His planning consultants are recommending that Goodworth Clatford be placed in a new category of settlement - Rural Service Centre - and that the field, recently offered as a strategic housing site, be included in the new Local Plan as a development area. Cllr Scard read a letter he proposed should be sent to TVBC Head of Planning supporting the Planning Officer s response, countering the recommendations, and marking the Parish Council s own rejection of the ideas. Members agreed. That a letter be sent immediately to Head of Planning at Test Valley Borough Council supporting the Planning Officer s response, and marking the Parish Council s own rejection of the ideas, countering the recommendations that Goodworth Clatford be placed in a new category of settlement - Rural Service Centre - and that the field, recently offered as a strategic housing site, be included in the new Local Plan as a development area. 4. Neighbourhood Plan: Cllr Scard stated that the village should be encouraged to develop a Neighbourhood Plan. Once the Local Plan had been adopted Goodworth Clatford would be in a good position to develop their own plan, which would then sit alongside the Local Plan and the Village Design Statement. Cllr Mrs Flood stated that there was already plenty of help from local focus groups and TVBC and that she would make some further enquiries and report back.. The Chairman suggested that it could also help in nominating items of community value as defined by 3
the Localism Act. This item could also be included in the Annual Parish Assembly. Cllr Scard stated that it would not be an easy task but that he was prepared to investigate the matter further if members agreed. All members agreed. That Cllr Scard investigate what would be required to set up a Neighbourhood Plan Committee. 5. Results of Previous Applications: The Clerk reported that there had been five results since the last meeting of the Planning Committee. Application No: 14/02826/CLPN Site: Holly House, Church Lane Decision: Certificate Issued Application No: 14/02832/TPON Site: St Peters Church, Church Lane Decision: Consent Application No: 14/02959/VARN Site: Plot 2 Hithercroft, Village Street Decision: Permission Application No: 15/00078/FULLN Site: St Peters Church, Church Lane Decision: Permission Application No: 14/00240/TREEN Site: Flint House, Village Street Decision: No objection 9. Risk Assessment The Clerk reported that he had received risk assessment reports for the Allotments, Recreation Ground Play Area and the Sheepwash. The Clerk reported that the SpeedWatch activity will require a separate risk assessment for insurance purposes. 10. Finance 1. Approval of Financial Statements to 31 st January 2015: The Clerk had circulated a Financial Statements pack to all members prior to the meeting. There were no comments and the financial statements were accepted. That the Financial Statements to 31 st January 2015 be approved and signed by the Chairman 2. Cheques for Approval: The following accounts were presented for approval: - HINWA 60.00 Stay safe Booklets Southern Electric 22.42 Recreation Ground Bob Wheadon 515.24 Clerk s Fee (January 2015) CA Traffic Ltd 2,534.40 Clever SID Speed Sign HAGS SMP Ltd 15.00 Glass for Telescope Graeme Lark Tree Services 50.00 Tree Work at Sheepwash Bob Wheadon 434.83 Clerk s Fee (February 2015) Total Expenses 3,631.89 That the accounts presented be approved for payment. Bank Accounts at 28 th February 2015 HSBC 5,533.81 NatWest 63.03 4
3. Report from Finance Group: Cllr Benwell reported that there had been a slight improvements with investments over the past few weeks. However the 50,000.00 invested with the Skipton Building Society had had the interest rate reduced from 1.5% to 1.0%. The Group would be looking to see if any opportunities are available to find once again a higher rate. Cllr Benwell reminded members that British Solar, who are developing the Dipden Bottom Solar Farm, had offered the Council 65,000.00 for general funding and 10,000.00 for speed signs. The Council should establish whether this is still available. Cllr Mrs Crabb asked if the Fullerton Solar Farm application was from the same developer. The Clerk reported not. Cllr Benwell stated that the Longbarrow Hill Solar Farm developers had made an offer of funds in 2013 and this should also be investigated further. Cllr Benwell then reported on the meeting with the Clatfords Shop Association members. The message from the shop was that turnover was slightly down but expenditure slightly up. The effect of the Post Office would not be fully known for some months but at present is being subsidised by some 200 to 400. Cllr Benwell asked if members were prepared to support the shop on this basis. There were a number of concerns stated by members and as a result it was agreed to hold matters over until the new Parish Council met in May following the elections. That the Clerk be instructed to write to the Chairman of the Clatfords Shop Association stating that the Parish Council would hold over its financial support until the next meeting of the Council in May 2015. The Chairman thanked Cllr Benwell for his report. 11. Environment 1. Allotments: Cllr Scard reported that Mr Collins had cut all the remaining hedges in the allotments and conservation field. Cllr Scard had also met Mr Vincent the owner of the adjacent field (old pig farm) to discuss cutting back the hedge on his side. Cllr Scard also reported that he had cleared brambles and blackthorn from around the trees in the conservation field. Members of the Council will be invited to visit the conservation field in the summer to discuss possible future uses for this field. The Chairman thanked Cllr Scard for his report. 2. Highways and Footpaths: The Clerk reported that a meeting had been arranged with HCC Highway engineers to discuss highway matters in the village on Tuesday 10 th March 2015. 3. Recreation Ground: Cllr Doran reported that there were now a number of volunteers on the inspection rota. An annual maintenance inspection would be required on the Zip Wire to prevent an occurrence of the failure last year The Chairman thanked Cllr Doran for his reports. 4. Sheepwash: Cllr Benwell reported that there were no major problems at present but the revetting would need to be renovated during the year. The overhanging branch had been removed. The Chairman thanked Cllr Benwell for his report. 5. Riverside Walk Report from Environment Group on progress with felling trees: Cllr Mrs Houghton read a letter of appreciation from the Primary School who had taken a party of children to visit the Riverside Walk. The Clerk reported that the four poplars were due to be felled during the week of the 9 th March 2015. 12. Communications Cllr Kiddle stated that he had nothing to report. 13. Correspondence The Clerk reported that there was no correspondence 14. Date of Next Meeting The next full meetings of the Parish Council will be on 12 th May 2015 for both the AGM and the newly elected Parish Council. 5
There being no further business, the Chairman, as this was their last meeting of the present Council, thanked members for their attendance and for their support during the past four years and closed the meeting at 21.00hrs. 6