Minutes Feb 2004

Minutes of the Meeting held on 9th February 2004 at 7pm in Birdham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Tilbury; Cllr Mrs Rees; Cllr Mrs Baillieu; Cllr Kyte; Cllr Meynell; Cllr Drew; Cllr Churchill; Cllr Ms Huskisson.

In attendance: The Clerk; one member of the press; County Cllr Martin Daws-Chew, District Cllr Peter Jones and two members of the public.

104-03cl. Apologies were received from Cllr Mr Parks (on holiday)

105-03cl. Approve and sign Minutes of the Meeting held on 19th January 2004 It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Rees and seconded by Cllr Mrs Baillieu RESOLVED that the minutes be approved and signed by the Chairman.

106-03cl. Matters arising from the Minutes dated 19th January 2004
i) 95-03cl I) Trees overhanging footpath 37 – The Clerk has been informed that work will be done on the trees in early February – last weekend they had started the work.
ii) 96-03cl a iii) West Sussex Structure Plan 2001-2006 – the Chairman reported that he has spoken to several chairmen in the Manhood and County and District councillors. He proposes to support the County’s stand in general terms. Upgrading of Wophams Lane in relation to the Canal restoration work, may mean the road through Donnington could be closed. Birdham wishes to be fully consulted.
iii) 96-03cl a iv) West Sussex Transport Plan – discussion – the Chairman summarised the questions and agreed the responses with the Councillors.
iv) 96-03cl b v) Role of the Parish Council in the Planning Process. The Clerk reported that she had contacted Cllr Meynell and Cllr Kyte after the last meeting and Cllr Meynell had asked to attend the event on Thursday 25th March. She also said that she will be attending on 11th February using one of West Itchenor’s places.
v) 102-03cl viii) Youth matters – the Chairman has written to Lucy Knappett who has been away, she had hoped to attend today but is unable to do so, and now hopes to attend the next meeting.
vi) 102-03cl x) Canal matters and fire brigade response times – Cllr Ms Huskisson reported that there had been a houseboat fire on the Canal which was completely destroyed. There was concern that there was a 20 minute wait for a fire engine, which seemed a long time at 10.30 at night. Cllr Daws-Chew said he would find out about the response times if the Chairman wrote to him. The boats are very vulnerable so if the fire service does not get there quickly, it could be very dangerous. At least they are not double-banked, but if they had been, could have been much worse.

107-03cl. Clerk’s Report including:
a) WSCC Reports, highway matters and correspondence
i) The Council has received a copy of a letter from Tex Pemberton, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Transport asking for more flexibility as to where speed cameras may be deployed, fines to be used for road safety activity and the hope that the maximum fine for speeding be raised to more than the current £60. The letter will be placed in the correspondence file.
ii) The Council has received a copy of Bridging the Divide about the strategy to improve social inclusion. No comments are asked for, so it has been placed in the correspondence.
iii) The Council has received the Highways Works programme 2004/05 and forward programme. Birdham Straight carriageway resurfacing is in for 2004 and drainage works near to Crouchers Barn for 2005. Any comment on this must be received by 25th February at County Hall.
iv) The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Environment has written to inform the Council about the new contractor who will be taking over the Recycling and Waste Handling Contract from April 2004. The Civic Amenity Sites will then be known as Household Waste Recycling Sites. The new contractors will be increasing recycling by improving the quality and range of facilities and improving and providing new recycling sites. There are to be two stakeholder briefing events on Monday 23rd February, from 6-8.30 pm at The Hawth Theatre, Crawley, and on Tuesday 24th February 6-8.30 at Chichester Medical Education Centre, St Richard’s Hospital. Cllr Huskisson agreed to attend for the Council.
v) West Sussex County Council wishes to know whether we would wish to receive the Forward Plan of Key Decisions in e-mail rather than paper format. The Clerk would prefer to continue with the existing system. It was agreed to continue to have it in paper form. Clerk to ask for information on Scrutiny Committees also to ask CDC for same.
vi) Unnumbered path and Footpath 56 – the definitive map and Modification Order has now been confirmed without modification, and the details will be placed on the notice boards from 12th February to 25th March.
b) CDC Reports including correspondence

i) The Council has received a letter about the Parking Strategy for Chichester District. A Rural Parking Forum has been set up to formulate a parking strategy for the whole Chichester District. Parishes, even those which do not have CDC car parks, are being asked whether there are any off or on-street parking issues which need to be addressed. Also any comments about CDC parking facilities which members use elsewhere in the District. Comments must be in by 20th February. It was decided to remind them of the issues in Farne Lane.

c) Other related matters

i) Birdham Village Hall Committee has asked for the following dates for Car Boot sales: April 24th; May 22nd; June 26th; July 31st; August 28th and September 11th reserve date if any dates rained off. It was proposed by Cllr Kyte and seconded by Cllr Baillieu RESOLVED to accept these dates at the usual fee of £25 per time.
ii) SALC has asked if anyone wishes to attend a training session for Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and future Chairmen at Dunford House on Friday 20th February. This was noted.
iii) The Society of Local Council Clerks has sent information about a Regional One Day Conference on Quality Councils to be held on Friday 5th March at the Ramada Plaza Gatwick Hotel, Three Bridges, Crawley, from 10 am to 3.15 pm, at a price of £25 for the first and £20 for any subsequent delegate. It was decided that no councillor would be able to attend. The chairman said that he will not be able to attend the next Peninsula Community Forum and will prepare a brief for those who do.
iv) The Clerk reported that she has recently been appointed as Clerk to Apuldram Parish Meeting,

108-03cl. Planning Matters including CDC Decisions
A paper detailing planning matters had been circulated to all councillors.
Application at Birdham Fruit Farm – Council was divided and the matter was passed to three councillors to look at it. As they were divided, the Chairman decided to put in an objection (see in Planning below for details). He has consulted the planning officer for the Harbour Conservancy who are not objecting and the Planning Officer for CDC, who is minded to approve it. It was proposed by Cllr Tilbury and seconded by Cllr Meynell RESOLVED to withdraw the objection.

Plans to be considered:

BI/04/00199/TPA – Mr R Gammie, Beechway, Martins Lane, Birdham PO20 7AU – Crown raise up to 5.2 m over road (including removal of 1 no damaged branch) and crown reduce 1 no. hornbeam (T1) subject to TPO/30/BI. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Rees and seconded by Cllr Ms Huskisson RESOLVED NO OBJECTION

BI/04/00284/FUL – Birdham Pool Ltd – demolish existing Lock-keeper’s hut and construct new hut – it was proposed by Cllr Meynell and seconded by Cllr Mrs Rees RESOLVED NO OBJECTION
BI/04/00322/DOM – Mr and Mrs Alexander re Blackwood, 2 oak Meadow, Birdham PO20 7BH – Ground floor conservatory, garden store and minor extension to existing garage to convert to habitable room. It was proposed by Cllr Churchill and seconded by Cllr Kyte RESOLVED NO OBJECTION.

Plans considered by the council since the last meeting to be ratified:

BI/04/00034/FUL – CEA Settlement Trust, Birdham Road, Chichester PO20 7BT – unit at Elmstead – change of use to offices – amendment to approved scheme. – OBJECT on grounds that lies in AONB, doubles ground area and height of building. Combined with Martins Barn will form one large mass intruding into landscape. No compelling circumstances for development of this site.

BI/04/00049/FUL – Birdham Fruit Farm – Demolition of existing dwelling and outbuildings, replacement dwelling, garaging, boatstore and stable – OBJECT as Council divided on this. Development lies outside the SPA but will make impact into AONB. Concerned about creeping development into former agricultural land, mass of buildings, Ask that particular note be taken of the views of the Harbour Conservancy.

BI/04/00169/DOM – Mr and Mrs S Nunns re North Cottage, Sidlesham Lane, Birdham – Amendment to previously approved plan for replacement garage to show garage converted and internal alterations – the effect of the amendment is to remove the garage and re-instate the boundary hedge in its original position.Some attention has been given to the drainage problems – NO OBJECTION

BI/04/00133/DOM – Mr and Mrs A Newton, Cedars, Church Lane Birdham PO20 7AT – Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of new conservatory – NO OBJECTION

BI/04/00126/DOM – John Slatter – re Shearwater, 30 Greenacres, Birdham PO20 7HL – addition of side entrance porch, open front and back, with refuse bin and garden store cupboards – some inconsistencies between site plan and elevations provided, but NO OBJECTION

BI/03/03116/LBC and BI/03/03115/DOM – The Red House, Lock Lane, Birdham PO20 7BB – amending letter – this meets the Council’s doubts about the dormer window and so NO OBJECTION

It was proposed by Cllr Meynell and seconded by Cllr Kyte RESOLVED to ratify the above decisions.

CDC Decisions:

BI/03/03355/DOM – Mr L Williams, Seagulls, Cherry lane, Birdham PO20 7AR – Bay window – PERMIT

BI/03/03271/DOM – Towerhill Trading re Bungalow, Ling Cottage, Martins Lane, Birdham PO20 7AU – Demolition of existing car port and erection of new double garage- PERMIT

BI/03/03476/DOM – Mr and Mrs K Weston, Ashbrook, Burlow Close, Birdham PO20 7ES – single storey pitched roof extension - PERMIT

109-03cl. Correspondence
Correspondence to be circulated includes:
Letter from Tex Pemberton re speed limit enforcement
WSCC Bridging the Divide – Strategy to improve Social Inclusion in West Sussex
Children Now, 3 editions

110-03cl. Reports:

i) Village Hall – the Chairman reported that he has had a conversation with Graham Perkins who will be meeting Cllr Mrs Rees, Cllr Meynell and himself next week. The Social Club is a non-profit-making organisation, and they give all profits to the Village Hall Committee, which may help when it comes to obtaining grants. Structural engineers will be consulted and may be engaged as part of the design team eventually. Fete – PTA will be meeting on Wednesday, if three parties involved, could still be on. Any councillors who would be interested in helping to contact Cllr Mrs Rees and she will see if it can be done.
ii) Play Area Report and Playing Field – Nothing to report.
iii) Village Green and Pond – the Clerk reported that she has heard from David Fanchi that they are now ready to go ahead with the gift of land to the Parish Council. She has asked the Chairman to confirm that the land on the plan is the correct piece and we will then await news of the transfer being completed. It was suggested we contact the Ecology people at WSCC, or Chairman and Cllr Meynell will measure the pond themselves.
iv) Footpaths and bridleways – Footpath 37, at the request of a wheelchair using parishioner, the Council could look to see if we could level part of the path to make it more wheelchair accessible.
v) Neighbourhood Watch – Cmdr Clarke has informed the Clerk that no crime has been reported this month.

111-03cl. Finance
A Financial Situation Report had been circulated to all councillors

Payments made since the last meeting to be ratified:

Standing Order to Saskia Heasman (January salary) 377.30
Receipts, current account (photocopies, West Itchenor) 3.48
Receipts, Village hall account – none
Receipts, BRA – none
Receipts, National Savings account (interest) 131.22

Payments to be considered:
Mrs Geary, litter, February 65.00
Principal (Copy charges, includes 7.88 VAT) 52.88
Clerk’s expenses, (see separate sheet, includes 2.89 VAT) 29.75
Mrs Geary has signed her new contract and is on board for next year.

It was proposed by Cllr Drew and seconded by Cllr Meynell RESOLVED to approve the financial report.

112-03cl. Reports of meetings attended by councillors Cllr Ms Huskisson has attended a further meeting of the Canal Trust Management Committee.

113-03cl. To consider any urgent matters which the Chairman may wish to lay before the Council There were none.

114-03. Public Session No public were present by this stage of the meeting.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.55pm