Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 22nd April 2014

Birdham Parish Council

Minutes of the

Meeting of the Parish Council

held on Tuesday 22^nd April 2014

at 7pm in Birdham Village Hall

Present: Cllr Finch (Chairman), Cllr Cobbold (Vice Chairman), Cllr Barker, Cllr Hamilton and

Cllr Ayton, from item 127-13 Cllr Pocock and Cllr Harker

Apologies:

In attendance: The Clerk, Cllr Montyn (WSCC & CDC), Cllr Marshall (CDC) and 14 members of the public.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Clerk read out a letter from Cllr Grafham tendering his resignation due to work commitments and family life. The Chairman, the Clerk and the Council expressed disappointment with Cllr Grafhams decision but understood the reasons for it. He was thanked for his contribution to the life and work of the Council who also wished him well.

123-13 Public Question time in accordance with Standing Orders 1d -1l:

A resident asked if it was possible for some of the monies available from the NH Bonus could be used to enhance the conference facilities at the Village Hall which would also include a Wi-Fi system.

The Clerk said if this was a project supported by the community in Birdham then it may well stand a chance.

A resident asked if the Council would also make comments concerning the A286 when responding to planning applications. The Chairman said this was already being carried out where appropriate.

124-13 Declaration of Interests:

There were none.

125-13 Approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on the 17^th March 2014:

It was resolved to adopt and sign the minutes of the 17^th March 2014 as a true and accurate record.

126-13 Co-option of new Councillors:

Cllr Barker introduced this item saying for some considerable time the Council had been operating with a reduced number of Councillors. She went on to say the Council had recently received two applications to be co-opted and after a very brief interview she was pleased to propose that Mr J Harker and Mr L Pocock be co-opted onto Birdham Parish Council.

It was resolved that Mr Harker and Mr Pocock be co-opted onto Birdham Parish Council as Councillors.

Cllrs Harker and Pocock having been asked to come to the table both signed their Declarations of Office as Co-opted Councillors and were welcomed by the Chairman.

127-13 Matters arising from the minutes of the 19^th November 2012:

Minute 89-12 - Land Bequest.The Clerk said there appeared to be some movement on the transfer insomuch as the AS1 document was found to be inaccurate and was now going back to the Executors for amendment.

128-13 Clerks’ Report:

i) WSCC – The Clerk said that he nothing to report at this time

ii) CDC – The Clerk said that he had nothing to report at this time.

iii) Reports from Members of WSCC/CDC – Cllr Marshall (CDC) said that the Local Plan was due to come forward to the next meeting of Council however the Government had increased the housing numbers which may impact on the draft plan.

Cllr Montyn (WSCC) said the planning application for the transit site for Gypsies and Travellers would be taken at the next planning meeting and was likely to be adopted.

He went on to say the Highway Department were not happy with the Clappers Lane application and was likely to oppose it.

A further £1m had been allocated to the Op Watershed fund and talks would be underway soon to resolve the Walwyn Close/Church Lane flooding.

Cllr Ayton asked what was to happen to the spoil resulting from the hole to measure the water table. Cllr Montyn said that he presumed that this would be dealt with once a decision had been made on the upcoming talks.

Cllr Cobbold said that she was not happy with the way that housing numbers could change after the completion of the Public Consultation had taken place.

iv) Other related matters – The CIL draft policy was again debated and generally accepted with the exception of the paragraph dealing with land allocation rather than financial payment. The Clerk was asked to bring this matter to the attention of the CDC.

129-13 Finance and Corporate:

i) To receive and approve the financial report.

The Clerk presented the financial reports for the months of April (shown at annex a). The current balances for April are;

Balances held at Bank	£41711.92
Designated Funds	£29654.17
Available Funds	£12057.75

Creditors	£ 845.46

The Clerk offered to answer any questions that Councillors may have.

It was resolved to adopt the Financial Report.

ii) The Clerk again referred to the New Homes Bonus value of £13056.00 and the benefits that could be obtained for the community should a project supported by the community come forward. He urged all to give it some serious thought rather than lose the opportunity and of course the funding.

130-13 To receive an update on the Neighbourhood Plan –

The Chairman said that very little had changed since the last meeting but that Cllr Ayton would be giving a more detailed update at the Annual Meeting of the Parish.

131-13Planning matters including applications and CDC delegated decisions:

i) Planning Applications to be Decided

BI/14/00598/FUL Premier Marinas Former Chandlery Building Chichester Marina

Change of use of ground floor from retail (Use Class A1) and restaurant (Use Class A3) to create five self-contained two-bedroom residential units (Use Class C3). Replacement of existing flat roof with pitched roof including dormer windows to create upper levels to the existing flats. Withdrawn

BI/14/00632/DOM Mr and Mrs Lawrence Pirie the Old Bird and Ham Main Road Birdham

Proposed replacement garden room, new tiled roof to store/utility. Refurbishment works to existing single storey tile roofs and 2 no. replacement windows to south-east elevation.

No Objection but would request a condition is raised to protect the architectural elements such as the hitching rings and sash windows are retained.

BI/14/00633/LBC Mr and Mrs Lawrence Pirie the Old Bird and Ham Main Road Birdham

Proposed replacement garden room, new tiled roof to store/utility, refurbishment works to existing single storey tile roofs and 2 no. replacement windows to south-east elevation.

No Objection but would request a condition is raised to protect the architectural elements such as the hitching rings and sash windows are retained.

BI/14/00959/DOM Broomers Barn, Lock Lane, Birdham,

Relocation of rear garden gate and boat parking. No Objection.

BI/14/01062/LBC Well House, Lock Lane, Birdham

Re-build unstable chimney 'like for like'. No Objection.

It was resolved to authorise the Clerk to notify CDC of the Councils decisions.

ii) Delegated Decisions to be noted.

BI/14/00123/DOM Mr Lee Stephenson Glen Iris Bell Lane Birdham

New side dormer to roof. PERMIT

BI/14/00036/DOM Mr and Mrs R Phillips Hundred Steddles House Hundredsteddle Lane Birdham

Demolition of existing garden store/garage and erection of new garden store/garage. PERMIT

The delegated decisions were noted.

132-13 Correspondence – Not previously circulated: Nil

133-13 Reports:

i) Play Area and Playing Field. – The Clerk gave an update on the situation with the car park extension and the height restriction barriers.

ii) Village Green and Pond – The Clerk said that he was waiting for a report that was to be published shorty by the Wetlands Officer, Tony Burnand.

Mr Barrington said that a meeting was to be held on the 30^th April at which it was hoped the report mention by the Clerk would be available. He went on to suggest that an idea was being put forward that the pond should be extended to create both a destination for residents and also to act as an additional reservoir to hold flood waters. Considerable work had yet to be done including authority from the owners of the adjacent field.

iii) Condition of Village Ditch/Drain Network. – Mr Barrington said the ditches in Walwyn Close had now been cleared but the ditches from Walwyn Close to the bus stop were in need of work. Under the auspices of the Birdham and Earnley Flood Prevention Group he was preparing to contact the riparian owners to get work done prior to the onset of winter.

iv) Police and Neighbourhood Watch – There was nothing to report.

v) Communication Working Groups – The Chairman said the newsletter was in the process of being delivered but she did need more people to help with the delivery. Any volunteers would be much appreciated.

vi) Other - Nil

134-13 Reports of meetings attended by Councillors;

Cllr Churchill said he had attended a meeting of the Village Hall Trustees where the main slant of the discussion was how to increase the use of the hall and by doing so its revenue income. At the AGM the accounts had been presented and appeared to be very healthy.

135-13 Items for inclusion on the next agenda: Nil

136-13 Date of Next Meeting:

19^th May 2014 (Annual Meeting of the Council) at 7pm in Birdham Village Hall

There being no further business to discuss the meeting was declared closed at 8.22pm

Signed ___________________________ Dated ____________________

Chairman

Annex a

Birdham Parish Council

Financial Statement as at 21st April 2014

Bank Accounts as at 31st March 2014

21689.56

Receipts to date

21063.13

Expenditure to date

1040.77

Balance

41711.92

Represented by;

Current Account (Barclays Community A/c)

24247.49

Deposit Account (Barclays Premium Business A/c)

10704.32

National Savings

6760.11

Total

41711.92

Less

Reserve @ 50% of Precept

21063.13

Loan Reserve for half year

8591.04

Outstanding Cheque/s -

Total

29654.17

Available Funds

12057.75

Signed

Clerk to the Council

21st April 2014

Payments to be considered

B Geary (Litter Picking)

70.00

Clerks Expenses (Telephone etc.)

148.27

WSALC Ltd (SALC & NALC Subscription)

416.07

Southern Electric (Village Lighting)

211.12

Total

845.46