Minutes April 2004

Minutes of the Meeting held on 19th April 2004 at 7pm in Birdham Village Hall

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

In attendance: County Cllr Martin Daws-Chew; District Cllr Peter Jones; District Cllr Taff Davies; the Clerk; one member of the press and 4 members of the public.

1-04cl. Apologies There were none.

2-04cl. Approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 15th March 2004 It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Parks and seconded by Cllr Mrs Rees RESOLVED that they be approved and signed by the Chairman.

3-04cl. Matters arising from the Minutes dated 15th March 2004

117-03cl Fire Service – the Chairman reported that he had received a reply from Mr Burrell about the times to Birdham from the various Fire Stations around the area, and the Chairman reported he had measured the distances as 3.6 miles from E Wittering and around 6 miles from each of the others.
119-03cl (iii) Flood Survey – has been sent off.

4-04cl. Clerk’s Report including:

a) WSCC Reports, highways matters and correspondence

i) The Council has received a copy of the Statement and map deposited under Section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended by Schedule 6 of paragraph 3 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) in respect of land at East Wittering and Birdham. This relates to Footpaths 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 44 and 3696. It appears that only no 44 is in Birdham. This was noted.

ii) A copy of the reply to Lt. Col. Pemberton’s letter to David Jamieson MP has been received and is in the correspondence file.

iii) The Council has received a letter about the Public Rights of Way – Disability Discrimination Act (including Parish Council Initiative Scheme). WSCC is now looking at stiles which are no longer needed to keep animals within fields to see whether, in cooperation with landowners, they can be replaced by gates to improve disabled access. If Councillors know of any such stiles, could they let the Clerk know so she can pass the information on.

b) CDC Reports and correspondence

i) The Council has been asked to complete a survey about Land Drainage. Cllr Mrs Rees agreed to complete it for the Council.

ii) The precept will be sent this year on 15th April and 16th September, which is about a week earlier than last year.

iii) Supplementary Planning Guidance: The Provision of Service Infrastructure Related to New Development – Part 2 has been updated and the Clerk has obtained a Replacement copy for reference from CDC.

iv) The Annual Meeting with the Parishes will take place on 21st April at East Pallant House. Cllr Tilbury and Cllr Mrs Baillieu will attend for the Parish.

v) A Notice of Intention for grant of an occasional Public Entertainment Licence has been received with regard to Pump Bottom Farm. The Council decided to note this.

vi) Information and Consultation between Parish Councils and CDC. The Community Initiatives Manager has been made aware that there is concern about how often parishes are asked for responses, information etc, and has asked for a questionnaire to be completed. The Clerk has completed this in conjunction with the Chairman.

c) Other related matters:

i) CPRE have sent notes of the meeting on Safer, Quieter Rural Roads, which have been placed in the correspondence file.

ii) Chichester Ship Canal Trust will be holding their AGM on Thursday 22nd April at Osbourne’s Training Centre at 7.30 pm, and the Council can also vote for up to seven directors/trustees. It was agreed to vote for three known to members of the Council.

iii) The DTI and Defra have sent information about Broadband in Rural Communities – this will be placed in the Correspondence file.

iv) Action in Rural Sussex has sent information about Village Hall workshops and workshops on other subjects, as well as a Sussex Villages of the Year entry form. It was decided to note these.

v) CPRE Sussex will be holding an informal meeting in Birdham Village Hall on Tuesday 15th June at 7 pm to discuss the new Local Development Framework with a view to possibly reviving the former South Chichester District Group of the CPRE. The meeting will be free of charge and it is not necessary to be a member of the CPRE. It was decided to send the Chairman or a substitute if he is unable to attend.

vi) Bob Norris will be walking the Solent Way in Hampshire to raise money for the Riber Nursery School in Chennai, Madras, and councillors were asked to sponsor him.

vii) A letter has been received from The Samaritans thanking the Council for their donation.

5-04cl. Planning Matters including CDC decisions

A paper detailing planning matters had been circulated to all Councillors.
Broomers Farm – Enforcement Department about to have new member of staff to catch up on work. Work at Broomer Farm one of their priorities, and being pursued.
Wophams Lane Nursery – large amount of glasshouse have been erected at the nursery and will be pursued by Cllr Tilbury.

Plans to be considered:
BI/04/01195/DOM – Counterpoint properties Ltd re Cambria, Westlands Lane, Birdham PO20 7HH – Erection of new double garage. It was proposed by Cllr Meynell and seconded by Cllr Mrs Rees RESOLVED - NO OBJECTION.

BI/04/01107/DOM – The Curtis Price-Willson Trust re Petricola, Westlands Lane, Birdham PO20 7HH – Single storey extension and internal alterations. It was proposed by cllr Meynell and seconded by Cllr Drew RESOLVED – NO OBJECTION

BI/04/01233/DOM – Mrs A Farmer, 4, Bell Lane, Birdham PO20 7HX – Single storey front extension. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Baillieu and seconded by Cllr Mrs Parks RESOLVED – NO OBJECTION.

Plans considered since the last meeting to be ratified:

BI/04/00758/OUT – Mrs S Vernon, Magherymore, Church Lane, Birdham PO20 7HO – Demolition of original garage/workshops and proposed two detached bungalows with 3 no. garages and access. OBJECT – plans do not conform with site plan and Land Registry plan. This plan does not meet objections to overdevelopment of the site. Houses would be too close together and mass of the buildings would destroy the rural view from Church Lane as they would sit higher than the road.

BI/04/00766/FUL – N Tamplin, c/o Nash and Partners re Birdham Works Unit, Birdham Road, Chichester – Construction of new gate and access way to adjoining field – OBJECT – gateway has nothing to do with industrial unit but intended as means of access when unit is sold off. Would breach an existing hedgeline, involve culverting the ditch important fro drainage in this area and encourage slow-moving traffic on road where there is a history of traffic accidents. Case needs to be made for need for this gateway.

BI/04/00781/DOM – Dr and Mrs A Murphy, Fieldings, 2 St James Close, Birdham PO20 7HE – Single Storey side extension – NO OBJECTION

BI/04/00822/DOM – Mr C Lane, re Summerhouse, Westlands, Birdham – New bay window to dining room – NO OBJECTION

BI/04/00861/LBC – Mr and Mrs G Tiffin – The Red House, Lock Lane, Birdham PO20 7BB – proposed enlargement and replacement of first floor window and removal of ground floor patio door and replacement with wood French doors. Revised design to French doors to dining room all the above on the south elevation. This is a revision consent ref: BI/03/03116/LBC- NO OBJECTION

BI/04/00864/DOM – Mr N Froy – Coppice Farm, Church Lane, Birdham – Proposed single storey extension to side of existing property – Concerns about this, site very restricted and next to very dangerous piece of road. Care during building work will be needed and may need to be subject to restrictions as to parking of vehicles. Would recommend that the roof windows be of conservation standard and in line with the roof.

BI/04/00965/DOM – Mr and Mrs Hemingway, Home, Shipton Green, Itchenor, PO20 7BZ – Garden fence made from new telegraph poles – NO OBJECTION

WI/BI/04/00623/FUL – Chichester Harbour Conservancy, re cycle and disabled access path – NO OBJECTION

BI/04/01035/TPA – Clive Barrington, 35, Walwyn Close, Birdham PO20 7SR – Crown reduce by 25% 1 no. poplar (T18) and height reduction on 3 no. poplar trees (T19-21) all four trees are subject to TPO/27/BI – NO OBJECTION

BI/04/01068/LBC – The Studio, Coppice Farm, Church Lane – NO OBJECTION

It was proposed by Cllr Churchill and seconded by Cllr Kyte RESOLVED to ratify the above decisions.
CDC Decisions

BI/04/00169/DOM – Mr and Mrs S Nunns re North Cottage, Sidlesham Lane, Birdham PO20 7QL – Amendment to previously approved plan for replacement garage to show garage converted and internal alterations only – PERMIT

BI/04/00322/DOM – Mr and Mrs Alexander, Mariners, Court Barn Lane, Birdham PO20 7BH – Ground floor conservatory, garden store and minor extension to existing garage to convert to habitable room – PERMIT

BI/04/00284/FUL – Birdham Pool Ltd, Birdham PO20 7BQ – Demolish existing hut and construct new hut – PERMIT

BI/03/02965/PLD – Koolbergen and Ramsey Ltd – Bell Lane, Birdham PO20 7HY – Agricultural bungalow certificate of lawful use – REFUSE

BI/03/02306/DOM – Mr and Mrs G Lawson re Harbour Meadow, Court Barn Lane, Birdham PO20 7BQ – Replacement of existing derelict summerhouse. Re-instate original curved roof screen - PERMIT

BI/04/00861/LBC – Mr and Mrs G Tiffin, The Red House, Lock Lane, Birdham PO20 7BB – Alterations to south elevation involving proposed enlargement and replacement of first floor window and removal of ground floor patio door and replacement with wood French doors (revised design to French doors to dining room previous application BI/03/03116/LBC). – GRANT CONSENT

BI/04/00822/DOM – Mr C Lane re Summerhouse, Westlands Estate, Birdham PO20 7HJ – New bay window to dining room – PERMIT

BI/04/00596/DOM – C Laridge, 3 Springfield Close, Birdham PO20 7AS – Rear extensions to a chalet bungalow - PERMIT

6-04cl. Correspondence

Correspondence to be circulated includes:

· Dti – Rural Broadband – Help bring broadband to your community
· WSCC – reply to letter from Tex Pemberton by David Jamieson MP
· West Sussex Public Partnership Forum – Partnership News
· Serpa Newsletter Spring 2004
· WSCC Forward Plan of Key Decisions April – July 2004 and May-August 2004

7-04cl. Reports:
i) Village Hall – The Chairman reported that there have been a number of meetings with the architect. They have met with the nursery group who have drawn up a plan of their own, but it would not work. A tabled plan from the architect was put forward.
The Clerk reported that she believes the amount of money in the Village Hall account which is owned by the Village Hall charity is £4045.74.

ii) Play Area Report and Playing Field – roundabout needs attention – need to cover the nuts and bolts on the bridge.

iii) Village Green and Pond – there has been a problem over the title number of the land on which the pond is situated, so there is a delay in registering it.

iv) Footpaths and Bridleways – road repairs to the Driveway to Chichester Marina have been completed. The walkway is on the opposite side from Canal, Footpath 37 runs along the canal side, the Chairman will look into this.

v) Neighbourhood Watch – Cmdr Clarke reported that there had been no incidents since the last meeting, but that the co-ordinators had held a meeting, at which the Chairman had been present. The police are reluctant to take any interest in thefts from garages these days.

8. Finance A Financial Situation Report has been circulated to all Councillors.

Payments made since the last meeting to be ratified:

Standing order to Saskia Heasman (March Salary) 377.30
CDC (grass cutting, includes £26.25 VAT) 176.25
CDC (bin emptying, includes £46.32 VAT) 311.00
SRCC membership (Standing Order) 20.00
GE Capital Equipment (photocopier, includes £13.93 VAT) 93.52

Receipts, current account (salary overpayment and photocopies) 16.79

Receipts Village Hall account (interest) 16.60

Receipts BRA (interest) 15.51

Payments to be considered

Mrs Geary (litter, April) 65.00
Adrian Dover (grass, March) 63.00
Southern Electric (electricity for street lights, includes 4.60 VAT) 96.64
Clerk’s Expenses (see separate sheet, includes £9.17 VAT) 89.31
SALC (subscription, includes £39.10 VAT) 287.55

Notes: Clerks’ Salary moves up by one increment on April 1st – see separate sheet for details. The precept has arrived, so the Clerk will shortly be transferring £4352 to the Village Hall account and £7,250 to the BRA account leaving only sufficient to pay the outstanding accounts until next month. Councillors may notice that the phone bill has increased this month. It is the Clerk’s intention to bill both Apuldram and West Itchenor for proportions of this based on a per capita basis which will appear in the next month’s accounts. Also, the increase in the use of e-mail increases the phone bill, but, over time will decrease the costs of postage, paper etc.

It was proposed by Cllr Tilbury and seconded by Cllr Churchill RESOLVED to ratify the Financial Report.

9. Reports of meetings attended by Councillors
Planning training – was attended by most of the Councillors, felt it was interesting but not very helpful. Would have liked more on the theory of planning issues. Clerk to write to Mr Carvell to ask for more information on the theory and more to do with planning policy.
CDALC- attended by the Chairman, nothing of note to report.

10. To consider any urgent matters which the Chairman may wish to lay before the Council
The Chairman reported that the next Peninsula Community Forum would be held in Birdham on 2nd June 2004 and he will be doing a presentation fly-posting.
Council sued! The question over the ownership of the verges and ditches on Alandale Road, so has to be a law suit, but it will enable the Lansleys to register the ditch in their name.

11. Public Session Two members of the public wished the Council to appoint one or several tree wardens who might have the time to do the work. It was agreed that they speak to Cllr Ms Huskisson who has information on these matters.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.57pm