Minutes April 2006
Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 24th April 2006 after the Annual Parish Meeting in Birdham Village Hall
Present: Cllr Drew; Cllr Meynell; Cllr Mrs Rees; Cllr Mrs Baillieu; Cllr Mrs Parks; Cllr Tilbury; Cllr Churchill
In attendance: The Clerk; County Cllr Daws-Chew; District Cllr Davies; 4 members of the public.
1-06cl. Apologies Cllr Ms Huskisson; Cllr Kyte
2-06cl. Declaration of Interests None was declared.
3-06cl. Approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20th March 2006. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Rees and seconded by Cllr Churchill RESOLVED that the minutes be approved and signed by the Chairman.
4-06cl. Matters arising from the Minutes dated 20th March 2006
i) Min 125-05cl - Village Pond sign - the Clerk reported that she was still awaiting the arrangements to be made to put the pond sign in its correct place. It was decided that Cllr Ms Huskisson would deal with this matter.
ii) Min 125-05cl - bus to Bishop Luffa - Cllr Mrs Baillieu reported that the whole idea has fizzled out as all bar one child now get lifts. Cllr Daws-Chew was asked to try again on this.
iii) Min 125-05cl - trees along the Canal - Cllr Ms Huskisson had reported that she would draft the letter for the Clerk to send.
iv) Min 125-05cl - the Clerk reported that as she had still not heard from Earnley Parish Council she had written to Southern Electricity to say that Birdham were no longer responsible for the electricity used by this light and had copied the letter to Earnley's Clerk.
v) Min 126-05cl - Harbour Conservancy Management Plan - Cllr Meynell had not seen this, and Cllr Ms Huskisson was not present.
5-06cl. Clerk's Report including:
a) WSCC Reports, highways matters and correspondence The Chairman reported that he had not attended the meeting of the County Committee South as it did not deal in any way with the Manhood Peninsula.
b) CDC Reports including correspondence:
i) CDC wishes to know the numbers who will be attending the Annual Meeting with the Parishes on 16th May. The meeting confirmed it would be Cllr Tilbury and Cllr Mrs Rees.
ii) CDC is also reminding people of the Sussex Police Authority's Public Meeting at 7pm on 3rd May at the Assembly Rooms. Anyone may attend. This was noted.
iii) Austin Wade has written about restricted staircasing on shared ownership properties. It appears to mean that residents of any shared ownership properties will only be able to increase their share to 80%, not 100% which would have meant the property being lost from the affordable housing in an area. This was noted.
c) Other related matters:
i) The Ship Canal Trust is looking for nominations for trustees of the Trust. This was noted.
ii) CPRE Sussex will be holding a seminar on Update on the New Planning System on Wednesday 13th September 2006 at Wisborough Green. The cost is £25 for one delegate, £50 each for any further delegates. It was decided not to send anyone.
iii) Defra has written about the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. Parish Councils will be able to issue fixed penalty fines, but to do this they will have to employ appropriate staff and the staff must be trained. Alternatively a group of parishes could employ a PCSO to do this. If any council wishes to know more there is a guide available. It was decided to raise this at the Peninsula Community Forum.
iv) The Clerk has obtained an up-to-date catalogue from Harry Stebbing giving the latest prices for notice boards. She suggests a double-doored wall-mounted one for the outside of the village hall, at a cost of £700, plus the lettering on the top to say Birdham Parish Council. After discussion it was agreed to order one of these.
v) A resident of West Wittering has enquired whether he could plant a tree on the Westlands Estate in memory of his daughter who died in March. His daughter took short walks at Westlands in her last year. The Chairman has put the resident concerned and the Chair of the Westlands Association in direct touch with each other.
vi) The Clerk has written a report of the training she undertook the weekend before Easter, which has been circulated to all councillors. vii) SEERA - a Clear Vision for the South East - the South East Plan. Cllr Tilbury has read the Executive Summary. Cllr Mrs Rees, Cllr Churchill and Cllr Meynell would all like to see it after he has finished withy it.
6-06cl. Planning Matters including CDC decisions
A paper detailing planning matters had been circulated to all councillors. Plans to be considered at the meeting: BI/06/01321/FUL - E Allman and Co Ltd., Main Road, Birdham - Conversion of existing rear industrial building to form six light industrial units (Bl) and alterations to south east elevations. It was proposed by Cllr Meynell and seconded by Cllr Churchill RESOLVED OBJECT on the grounds that more information is needed to make a decision, particularly regarding the failure to provide a view of the South East elevation. They Council has in any case concerns about car parking and additional traffic.
BI/06/01407/PLD - Mr and Mrs 5 Crossley, Birdham Fruit Farm, Martins Lane, Birdham P020 7AU - Use of existing access from lock Lane for plant machinery etc temporary use for 28 days under the general permitted development order relating to granted permission
BI/04/00049/FUL and BI/05/04879/FUL. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Rees and seconded by Cllr Drew RESOLVED to OBJECT because it is unnecessary to provide another entrance to the site. For the purpose of access the existing drive is sufficient, and the existing drive was known at the time of the purchase of the property.
Plans considered since the last meeting to be ratified:
BI/06/01027/DOM - Mr and Mrs Winterbottom, Fir Trees, Shipton Green Lane, Itchenor - Variation of condition to allow domestic garage with habitable accommodation Having made a site visit for this application the Council notes that the main house is a listed building but the garage/sail loft which is the subject of the application is of more recent construction (?1990). It may be included in the listing because of its proximity to the main house. The Council raises NO OBJECTION to the variation of the condition to allow a domestic garage with habitable accommodation provided that there is also a condition that the adapted accommodation shall form part of the whole site and shall not be disposed of separately from the main house.
BI/06/01038/DOM - Mr and Mrs D Finnamore, Broomer Farm, Lock Lane, Birdham - Two storey residential extension The Council notes that the plans submitted are the same as those submitted in March 2004 as BI/04/00735/LBC. At that time the Council objected to the plans because of the substantial addition and alteration to a listed building. In July 2005 listed status was removed from the property and in those circumstances the Council raises NO OBJECTION to this application.
BI/06/01086/DOM - Mr J Hamilton, 100 Crooked Lane Birdham - two storey rear extension The Council wishes to OBJECT to this application as we are concerned about the loss of amenity to the next door property. The extension will constitute a considerable mass projecting beyond the building line to the south of the adjoining property and by our calculation there will be a loss of the right to light, particularly from the first floor window there. The extension would appear to us not to give a sixty degree angle of view from the window and would leave the window in shade for most of the day.
BI/06/01125/DOM - Mr and Mrs J Goodwin, Fosgrove, 1 Burlow Close Birdham - Demolition of existing garage, utility and ensuite erection of 1.5 storey side extension and loft conversion The Council has NO OBJECTION to this application. We note the change to a one and a half storey ridge height but the adjoining properties are of similar height. We are concerned that the Planning Officer should look again at the window at the top of the proposed West Elevation as this might constitute an invasion on the privacy of the garden of the adjoining house which is at right angles to it. This is the third application on this property and the Council may not be minded to allow further massing on this site. It was proposed by Cllr Churchill and seconded by Cllr Mrs Baillieu RESOLVED to ratify the decisions made since the last meeting.
CDC Decisions BI/06/00566/DOM - 1 Chaffer Lane, Birdham P020 7EZ - single storey rear/side extension and alterations to landing window - PERMIT
BI/06/00445/ADV - Premier Marinas Ltd, Chichester Marina, Birdham P020 7EJ - 5 no. non-illuminated poster signs - REFUSE
BI/06/00871/FUL - Mr and Mrs 5 Crossley, Birdham Fruit Farm, Martins Lane, Birdham P020 7AU Amendments to approved plans/application BI/04/00049/FUL and BI/05/04879/FUL - re-use of existing building to provide multipurpose store and separate two-bay garage and installation of solar panels to west elevation of approved dwelling - REFUSE
BI/06/00673/FUL - Mr Fanshawe, Martins Five, Martins Lane, Birdham - 2 bedroomed oak framed holiday home on footprint of a derelict building - PERMIT
It was proposed by Cllr Churchill and seconded by Cllr Mrs Baillieu RESOLVED to ratify the decisions made since the last meeting. The chairman has written to Steve Carvell at CDC about Premier Business Park .
7-06cl. Correspondence Correspondence to be circulated includes:
WSCC - Forward Plan of Key Decisions May-August 2006
WSCC Connections April 2006
Chichester Canal News Spring 2006
Partnership News April 2006 Postwatch - Pillartalk Magazine and Postwatch update DVD CPRE - email re protecting greenfield land NPFA - AGM notice Local Works - Spring 2006 newsletter and information
LDF Update 4 Emails from Chichester Harbour Conservancy; Manhood Cycle Network; Sussex Police; Wittering Business Partnership.
8-06cl. Reports:
i) Village Hall - the Chairman reported that there is a trustees meeting of the VH Trust tomorrow evening. In 1993 the PC sold a plot of land to the Village Hall for £1. The location of it is at the side of the Sandle Room, extending out 15 feet. The land is owned by the then village hall chairman and secretary. One of these is now deceased. The secretary of the Village Hall Trust is looking into how to sort this out.
ii) Play Area and Playing Field - Cllr Churchill reported there have been a few things needing doing. The bearings on the swings need greasing, and the chains need several links taking out of them. Clerk to ask Foster Playscapes to do these jobs. Ask CDC to cut the grass before the weekend.
iii) Village Green and Pond - nothing to report.
iv) Footpaths and Bridleways - May 28th Salterns Way will be an official opening.
v) Neighbourhood Watch - a report had been given at the Annual Parish Meeting. The Chairman has written to Ian Smith about problems with young people. Mr Smith has now moved on and has been replaced by Pam Bushby.
vi) Other - there have been problems with people speeding by the Bell Lane roundabout on the road to Shipton Green. This could be dangerous when youngsters are riding horses. The people concerned were advised to report the matter to the police.
9-06cl. Finance A financial situation report had been circulated to all councillors Payments made since the last meeting to be ratified:
Clerk's salary (March) 485.37
MH Pearson (pond sign) 86.00
Grant Associates (surveying services, includes 96.25 VAT) 646.25
SALC (subscription, includes 41.89 VAT) 309.25
Southern Electric (streetlight electricity includes 6.17 VAT) 129.62
SRCC (subscription) 20.00
Receipts, current account - precept 18,377.00
Receipts, deposit account - interest 98.27
Receipts, Village Hall account 219.00
Payments to be considered:
Mrs Geary, litter April 65.00
Clerk's expenses (see separate sheet, includes 13.43 VAT) 139.27
Sussex Associations of Local Councils (Clerk's training, share with West Itchenor, Includes 7.00 VAT) 47.00
Allianz Cornhill Insurance PLC (insurance for the Council) 1617.28
Notes: The precept has been paid into the account, so the Clerk will leave sufficient in the account for current and expected bills and transfer the interest for the next payment of the PWLB loan interest into the Village Hall account, and the rest into the deposit account. There have been problems with the deposit account, as a result of which its number has been changed, but this should make no difference in the long run.
It was proposed by Cllr Tilbury and seconded by Cllr Meynell RESOLVED to approve the financial report.
10-06cl. Reports of meetings attended by Councillors
MMVS AGM - Cllr Mrs Rees reported that she had attended the meeting and she has written a report to go into the correspondence.
11-06cl. Public Session
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.58pm