Rodington Parish Council Council Meeting Minutes of Rodington Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 4 January 2011 at Longdon upon Tern Village Hall. Present: Councillors B Ashton, M Crump, J French, C Johnson, D Johnson, T Osborne and J Perkin. Clerk: Alison Hinks. 2435/00 Chairman s Welcome and Announcements The Chairman welcomed Councillors to the meeting. 2436/00 Public Session and Matters of Concern Jaswant Sidhu Senior Rights of Way Officer, T&W Council Environmental Services, attended the meeting to discuss the green lane in Somerwood and confirmed that this route is not an adopted or public right on way on the definitive map. Currently, there is no evidence that anyone owns this lane. It can be proved that the route is used by the public so there is legislation available to protect the route. J Sidhu said that this lane can not be obstructed or closed by adjacent land owners. Also they can not stop anyone using the lane. Mr Manley has submitted an application showing that the lane has been used by walkers, horses, cyclists, private cars by the adjacent land owners for 20 years. There is no evidence for vehicle use so can not become a public right of way, but based on the evidence submitted by Mr Manley is could be adopted as a by-way open to all traffic. This can be a long process with the local authority assessing the forms received. If the adjacent land owner objects then the application will go to public enquiry which will be assessed by an external planning officer. J Sidhu said that there is good evidence for a bridle way, as the lane is currently used as a footpath, cyclists, horse riders and vehicle access for private use. Adjacent land owners could not object to this. Ian Ross, T&W Council Senior Solicitor and Lisa Roberts, Admin Assistant would be tasks to move this forward. J French reported that the footpath from Somerwood Stud Farm to Roden is blocked. J French said that the information board in Longdon upon Tern is damaged and the map needs updated. J French asked for paper copies of agenda and papers to be available at the meeting for use by Councillor. J Perkin reported that there was a lot of dog foul on Rodington Playing Field. J Perkin said that it had come to his attention that touring caravans and tents were to start to use land near Villa Farm, Rodington. 2437/00 Apologies Apologies were accepted from Borough Councillors T Kiernan and J Seymour (prior engagements). 1
2438/00 Declaration of Interest J Perkin declared a prejudicial interest under item 2436/00 of the agenda regarding Silverdale Farm. J Perkin did not leave the meeting when this item was discussed and took no part or made any contribution to the resulting discussion. 2439/00 Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7 December 2011 The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7 December 2011 were proposed as a true record by J French and seconded by D Johnson. The proposals were unanimously approved and the minutes accordingly signed by the Chairman. 2440/00 Clerk s Report Affordable Housing in Rodington Highways The Clerk has reported to T&W Highways Department that the old road markings on the Longdon upon Tern bridge were still visible and confusing motorists. Despite this work being on the list that went to the T&W Council Contractor in November 2011, they were unable to complete all of the jobs in the time they had available. This has now rolled forward and will be carried out next time the lining team are in the Rodington area. T&W Council anticipate that this will be in January 2012, but as lining is weather-dependent we cannot give a precise date. The Clerk has invited a representative from T&W Planning Department to attend a future RPC meeting to discuss building and development in rural areas. The Clerk is still waiting for confirmation on the date and time. Rodington Cemetery The Clerk has visited the cemetery this month as a new memorial in the garden of rest has been installed. The Clerk has notified Mr Roberts that the Parish Council formally approved his quote for the 2012/13 maintenance of Rodington Cemetery. for Projects Following discussions at the last meeting, the Clerk wrote to Cllr Seymour to express concerns that the money allocated to Rodington Parish Council was given to other parish councils within the ward. Play Equipment at Rodington Playing Field Planning Issues Application No. Type Date TWC/2011/0849 Description Location Planning Officer Construction of a ménage Silverdale Farm, Somerwood from Boundary, Rodington, Telford, Shropshire, SY4 4RF RPC Response No objections to this planning application but would like to highlight that if lights were to be erected at a later date it cause difficulties to traffic as the 2 T&W Response Approved
TWC/2011/0892 TWC/2011/0919 TWC/2011/0959 TWC/2011/0975 TWC/2011/0976 TWC/2011/0977 Siting of 10no. residential mobile homes, improvements to existing access parking and landscaping Land at, Long Lane, Telford, Shropshire Removal of condition 5 on Planning Permission W2003/1149 to remove the personal permission Meadow Field Stables, Marsh Green, Telford, Shropshire, TF6 6NE Conversion of 2no. redundant agricultural buildings to a combined live/work unit Isombridge Farm, Isombridge Erection of extensions and dormer window to create ancillary accommodation, internal and external works associated with refurbishment of house, replacement three bay garage and retrospective application for the temporary siting of 2no. caravans (Full Planning Application) Villa Farm, Grove Lane, Rodington Erection of extensions and dormer window to create ancillary accommodation, internal and external works associated with refurbishment of house, replacement three bay garage and retrospective application for the temporary siting of 2no. caravans (Listed Building Application) Villa Farm, Grove Lane, Rodington Change of use of an agricultural building to servicing, repair and storage of motor vehicles and the installation of mezzanine floor (Retrospective) 10 Rushmoor Lane, Bratton, Telford ménage is so close to the road. Strongly object to this planning application based on the unsustainability of the site as the land is water logged. The applicant claims that the housing is affordable but this is not the same as the social housing planning in Rodington. There is no proven need for the additional housing as the site currently has empty properties and pitches. Cllr Kiernan to green card this planning application. No objections to this planning application RPC supports this application; this is how redundant farm buildings in the countryside should be used. application application application but recommend the application is reviewed in 2 years to make sure that the business is not adversely affecting neighbours John Ward It is with great sadness that the Clerk has to report that John Ward, formerly the principal training officer for the County Association passed away suddenly at his home just before Christmas. John has been a great help and a constant support and the Clerk will miss his expertise immensely. Parish Clerks Meeting Phil Griffiths, Democratic Services Manager, T&W Council, has been in touch regarding the Parish Clerks Meetings. There has not been a Parish Clerks meetings since April of this year. During this time T&W Council has not received any requests to convene a meeting or any business for discussion. A significant amount of business is now dealt with at the Parishes Forum. Issues/problems can now be reported directly by Parish Clerks and this arrangement seems to be working effectively. On this basis T&W Council do not propose to convene any further Parish Clerks meetings. 3
Richard Partington, T&W Council T&W Council Personnel Board has confirmed that they will be recommending to Full Council that Richard Partington should be appointed to the post of Managing Director. This recommendation will be considered at full council on 19 January 2012 and until then Richard will be Managing Director designate. 2441/00 Financial Statements Bank Reconciliation and Spreadsheet The Clerk went through the bank reconciliation from 1 December until 29 December 2011 showing a calculated balance of 15,244.43. A copy of the bank statement is available to Councillors. The Clerk went through the RPC Income and Expenditure spreadsheet for the months of December 2011 showing: total income of 0.92 from the bank interest charges. total expenditure of 242.98 outlined below. Accounts for Payment Listed below is the list of payments and transfers for December 2011, which unanimously approved and authorised by J French and T Osborne: Authorised Bank Transfer from BMM Account to Community Account Date Drawn From Bank Reference Amount 04.01.12 BMM IBP 500.00 Total 500.00 Authorised Internet Bank Transfers from Community Account Date Payee Bank Reference Amount 04.01.12 Alison Hinks IBP 171.03 04.01.12 Post Office Ltd IBP 42.60 04.01.12 Alison Hinks IBP 29.35 Total 242.98 The accounts were proposed as an accurate record by J Perkin, seconded by J French, unanimously agreed by the Council and approved and signed by the J French and T Osborne. 2012/13 Precept The Precept 2012/12 paperwork was duly signed by J French, D Johnson and T Osborne. Resolved: The Clerk to forward the completed Precept 2012/13 paperwork to T&W Council by 31 January 2012. 2442/00 All Planning Matters 2443/00 Silverdale Farm J French went through the response received from David Jones, T&W Planning Enforcement Office, who confirmed that the permitted development rights are split into two parts, Class A is for development on units of 5 hectares or more and Class B for development on units less 4
than 5 hectares. This development falls under Class A as the unit is 5.14 hectares. The buildings are treated separately although in any event the two buildings together at Silverdale Farm still do not exceed 465 square meters. The use of the buildings is the key as they must be used for agricultural purposes and on the application form the applicant stated that the development is necessary for the storage of agricultural implements and hay. As you quite rightly state I am unable to take any action at present as there is not currently a breach of planning control as the building is not in use. J French said that planning enforcement are unable to take any action at present as there is not currently a breach of planning control as the building is not in use. J French suggested that an article is put in the newsletter regarding the use of agricultural buildings and land. D Johnson asked if the measurements quoted by the local authority are correct. Resolved: The Clerk to request a copy of the original documentation/determination and a copy of the original plans for the barns. J French asked what proof is required by the Enforcement Officer to show that the barn is not being used for agricultural purposes. Resolved: The Clerk to contact the Enforcement Officer regarding proof of misuse. 2444/00 Longdon upon Tern Bridge M Crump reported that the bollards on the bridge have still not been fixed and the road sign is no longer on show. She also reported a recent accident that happened over the Christmas period. Resolved: The clerk to keep a log on all incidents that take place on the bridge. The Clerk to also report to T&W Council the recent accident and the problem drives have the visibility on the bridge. The Clerk to invite Rod Reynolds, Shropshire Road Partnership to a future meeting to update the Parish Council on the speeding surveys in Longdon upon Tern. 2445/00 Reports on Meetings Attended by Members and Ward Councillors T Osborne reported that he would be attending the Parish Forum. 2446/00 Correspondence All correspondence received during November 2011 to be circulated amongst Councillors and returned to the next meeting. 2447/00 Date of Next Meeting The next meeting to take place on Wednesday 1 February 2012 at 7.30 pm at Rodington Village Hall. The business of the meeting was concluded and the meeting closed at 8.50 pm. Signed:... Chairman Date: 5