Minutes December 2008

Minutes of the Meeting held on 15th December 2008 at 7pm in Birdham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Tilbury; Cllr Ms Leach; Cllr Mrs Cobbold; Cllr Howat; Cllr Churchill; Cllr Ms Huskisson

In attendance: The Clerk; County Cllr Daws-Chew; District Cllr Jonesw; PCSO Ann Bromley; 1 member of the public

84-08cl. Apologies: were received from Cllr Mrs Parks and Cllr Meynell.

85-08cl. Declarations of Interest: none was made.

86-08cl. Minutes of the Meeting held on 17th November 2008 It was proposed by Cllr Ms Leach and seconded by Cllr Tilbury RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17thy November 2008 be agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

87-08cl. Matters arising from the Minutes dated 17th November 2008P:
i) Min 76-08cl ii) Risk Assessment – No councillor having raised any objection to the risk assessment it was proposed by Cllr Tilbury and seconded by Cllr Mrs Cobbold RESOLVED to adopt the risk assessment proposed by the Clerk.
ii) Min 77-08cl a) ii) Street lighting contract – the Clerk reported that she had written to Mr Bird to inform him of the Council’s wish to take part in the PFI contract.
iii) Min 77-08cl c) v) Model Publication Scheme – the Clerk reported that she had completed a scheme for the Council to adopt. Permission to approve this was delegated to the chairman.
iv) Min 79-08cl GP dispensaries – the Chairman had written to the website which asked for replies and copied it to Andrew Tyrie, and both have replied.
v) Min 76-08cl v) Sam Irving – Date in week beginning 5th January when he will bring Peter Filtness down to see the sites – will meet with chairman.

88-08cl. Clerk’s Report including:
a) WSCC reports, highways matters and correspondence
i) The Council has received some leaflets offering advice on unclaimed benefits. The Clerk will put these on the notice boards when she is next putting up notices. This was noted.
b) CDC reports including correspondence
i) The council has been informed that there will be a meeting of the Standards Committee on 16th December at 10 am at the Boys High School. This was noted.
ii) The Clerk had sent a letter to Mark Jennings asking for the maps which the Council require and is waiting for them to be ready.
c) other related matters
i) West Sussex NHS Primary Care Trust has sent a copy of their 2009-2014 Strategic Commissioning Plan. Any comments are required by 9th January. Cllr Tilbury agreed to look at this for the Council.

89-08cl. Planning matters including CDC decisions
A paper detailing planning matters had been distributed to all councillors.

i) Plans considered since the last meeting to be ratified:

BI/08/04597/FUL – Land to the rear of Sarnia, Main Road, Birdham – The Council raises NO OBJECTION to this application.

BI/08/04567/FUL – Birdham Fruit Farm, Martins Lane, Birdham
The Council notes that this is the twenty-first6 application on this site in the last five years. The applicant’s agent describes the previous planning history as “complex”, we would simply say protracted. The agent also claims that this planning permission will superseded (sic) previous permissions; this is only acceptable insofar that it amends details of those permissions.
The first part of the application refers to the major development: the replacement dwelling. We agree that these changes are minor. The increase in the size of the balcony will have the effect of increasing the footprint of the house and we warned that we would be likely to oppose and such move in our response to application BI/05/04879/FUL. However, the extent of the change is not significant and we would not wish to oppose this. The insertion of the window to the utility room is similarly, in our view, not significant.
We have concerns about the re-use of the original dwelling. We did not oppose application BI/06/01973/FUL as we felt that it made sense to reuse the original dwelling rather than build a new building as a “boat store/stable/multipurpose store/agricultural preparation area/workshop/store and wc”. To these have now been added a sauna, a gymnasium, a changing and shower area and a plant room. We are concerned that the previous application remains pending because a legal agreement has not been finalised. The repositioning of the doors is not a concern. We are prepared to accept that the proposed new facilities could be seen as ancillary to the main development of the replacement dwelling, despite being under the same roof as the agricultural preparation area, workshop etc, but would stress even more strongly than we did in 2006 that a condition (apparently acceptable to the applicant) to prohibit habitable accommodation be imposed and also a condition which would preclude this building being sold separately from the replacement dwelling so that there is no potential for it to revert to a residence.
The three-bay garage seems to us acceptable. We had concerns in 2006 about the materials to be used in the construction of the garage as it lies close to the boundary of the property. We assume this will be a matter to be considered by the planning authority and the Fire and Rescue Service.
The swimming pool and hot tub are acceptable.
The Council raises NO OBJECTION to this application on the assumption that the detailed concerns expressed in this response will be fully considered as part of any permission.

It was proposed by Cllr Churchill and seconded by Cllr Ms Leach RESOLVED to ratify the decisions taken since the last meeting.
Plans to be considered:

BI/08/04727/DOM – 16, Walwyn Close, Birdham PO20 7SR – Remove existing lean to conservatory and replace with single storey conservatory to rear of property. It was proposed by Cllr Ms Huskisson and seconded by Cllr Mrs Cobbold RESOLVED NO OBJECTION

BI/08/04861/DOM – Locks End House, Lock Lane, Birdham – Alternative proposal to approved application BI/08/02108/DOM for garage and garden store with studio above – it was agreed to make a site visit before making a decision on this application.

Planning Appeal:

BI/08/03706/DOM – Oakdene, Sidlesham Lane, Birdham – Erection of detached garage – the appeal to be conducted by exchange of statements and a site visit by the inspector. As the Council had not objected to this application it was agreed not to make any further comment.

ii) Developers can name new sites, and propose such names to the PC. If the PC has a choice it can be preferred to any other.

90-08cl. Correspondence

Emails received and forwarded since the last meeting:
19/11 Greening Campaign; 19/11 The Local Column; 20/11 Lock up your boats!; 25/11 Goosewatch; 25/11 Forthcoming changes to the registration process; 2/12 Chichester Harbour Events December; 4/12 Core Strategy DPD; 4/12 Neighbourhood teams; 5/12 Local Notice to Mariners no.18; 11/12 Queen’s Harbour Master – Navigation Warning

91-08cl. Reports:
i) Playing field and Play Area – Cllr Tilbury reported that he has walked round the area and noted the work which has not been done. Arbortech has been asked to finish the work they started. The play area work has been done.
ii) Village green and pond – Clerk to ask Adrian Dover to clear the edges and the ditch by the pond.
iii) Neighbourhood Watch – Wendy Pitty has reported that a garden ornament was taken during the day from a property in Crooked Lane. There was one attempted and one successful break in at a nursery on Birdham Road and Christmas lights and decorations were taken. There was a break in at Bracklesham during the day when the owner was working at the rear of the property and a laptop was stolen. Access was through an open garage door – the police are reminding everyone to secure their property at all times. There was a break in to a garage on a building site in West Wittering, and power tools were taken. There has generally been an increase in opportunist thieving since the economic downturn.
PCSO Ann Bromley reported that the new Neighbourhood Watch reports go to all the coordinators. Birdham Stores were broken into over the weekend and alcohol was stolen. CCTV showed some of the offenders and it should lead to arrests.
iv) Tree Wardens – the Chairman had been in touch with Henry Whitby about the trees along Lock Lane, and he will now be looking at listing them.
v) other – The Chairman reported that he had written to Birdham Primary School to congratulate them on their achievements this year and wish them well for 2009. This was noted.

92-08cl. Finance, to include the setting of the precept for 2009-10
A financial situation report had been circulated to all councillors.
Payments made since the last meeting to be ratified:

Clerk’s salary 543.24
Playsafe Playgrounds (repair play area, includes 147.88 VAT) 992.88

Receipts, current account VAT refund 373.80
Playing field rental 150.00
Receipts, Village Hall account – nil
Receipts, deposit account, interest 96.60

Payments to be considered:

Birdham Village Hall – hall rental 143.26
St James Church – upkeep of churchyard 300.00
Clerk’s expenses (includes 5.96 VAT) 52.07
Mrs Geary – litter December 65.00
XT and AT Computers Ltd (repair Clerk’s computer, inc. 7.80 VAT) 59.80

Notes: Before paying the Playsafe invoice the Clerk transferred £2000 from the deposit account to the current account to ensure sufficient funds for that account and the next few weeks.

It was proposed by Cllr Tilbury and seconded by Cllr Mrs Cobbold RESOLVED to approve the financial report. It was further proposed by Cllr Churchill and seconded by Cllr Mrs Cobbold RESOLVED to set the precept for 2009-10 at £33976.00

93-08cl. Reports of meetings attended by councillors
Peninsula Forum held earlier this month – CDC budget – only 53% of budget comes from central government and the rest from Council Tax. Lloyd Harris gave a report on his areas of work including fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles etc. Coastal Defence – final strategy to be available in 2009. New Project Officer for Manhood Peninsula Partnership is Julie Whitley and she was introduced to the meeting. Changes to section 106.

94-08cl. Public session
Cllr Daws-Chew was concerned about the sewage works at Apuldram being unable to cope when there is heavy rain.
The top of Church Lane needs the verges re-instated. The house owners should arrange this with the contractors.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.17pm