Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of the 23rd November 2009
Birdham Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 23rd November 2009 at 7pm in Birdham Village Hall
Present: Cllr Tilbury; Cllr Mrs Parks; Cllr Mrs Cobbold; Cllr Meynell; Cllr Ms Huskisson; Cllr Churchill; Cllr Howat; Cllr Mrs Leach
In attendance: County and District Councillor Montyn, and 3 members of the public.
73-09cl. Apologies and Chairman’s remarks
The Chairman apologised for any inconvenience caused to Councillors and members of the public by the postponement by a week of this Council meeting.
The Chairman said that he had now received, as far as he could tell, all the Council documents from the Saskia and Chris Heasman’s house. Matters concerning diversion of mail and the Council telephone and email arrangements remained to be resolved.
74-09cl.Declarations of interest
There was none.
75-09cl.Minutes of the Meetings held on 20th July 2009 and19th October 2009
The Chairman had now discovered the finished Minutes of the July meeting among Saskia Heasman’s papers and circulated them to members. He proposed to substitute them for his draft Minutes presented to the September meeting of the Council but not signed.
Resolved: That the Minutes of the 20th July 2009 be signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr Meynell, seconded by Cllr Mrs Parks
Resolved: That the Minutes of the 19th October 2009 be signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr Churchill, seconded by Cllr Mrs Cobbold
76-09cl.Matters arising from the Minutes
i) 48-09cl Appointment of Clerk
The Chairman, Cllr Mrs Cobbold and Cllr Meynell had interviewed two candidates for the post and proposed to the Council that Mr David Siggs be appointed Clerk to the Council, subject to contract, and assume his duties as soon as possible.
Resolved: that Mr David Siggs be appointed. Proposed by Cllr Howatt, seconded by Cllr Ms Leach
The Chairman welcomed Mr Siggs.
ii) Appointments to the Council
The Chairman proposed that these should be held over until the new Clerk was in office.
iii) 40-09cl Activities for Young People
A paper had been received from Duncan Thrussell, Neighbourhood Youth Worker, outlining the work they had done during the last three months. After discussion it was decided to research designs for a youth shelter or similar structure, to seek the experience of other Councils, to investigate access for young people to the Village Hall, to find out what the Church’s Youth Officer was doing and to find out which age group could most benefit from action by the Council.
iv) 40-09cl Seat at Bus Shelter
Papers connected with the seat at the bus shelter had now been found. It seemed likely that planning permission would be needed, a £10m Public Liability required, an indemnity for the County Council and a twenty-eight day consultation period. Cllr Montyn said he would speak to the WSCC official involved. Further progress would be reported at the next meeting.
v) 44-09cl Dredging the Pond
A quotation for dredging the village pond had been received but, as the site was a protected one for voles and a water course, permission to undertake the work might be necessary from Natural England and the Environment Agency. Cllr Mrs Huskisson said that Natural England should be given an outline of the work to be done and why. As far as is known no voles have been seen at the site for the last two years. If Natural England require a survey Cllr Huskisson knew of people who were qualified to do it but she herself would obviously have to declare an interest.
vi) 51-09cl Affordable Housing
Sam Irving (CDC) had reported that negotiations on the Crooked Lane site were still underway. The Chairman said that he had received a letter from a local property developer who wished to provide “affordable” housing. Since the technical description of affordable housing included that it was provided by the local Registered Social Landlord he had sent a copy to Sam Irving. In the light of Mr Hope’s intervention at the last meeting he had also drawn the attention of Steve Carvell (CDC Director of Environment) to the misuse of the word. He had replied that it was probably a good reminder for people to be aware not to rely simply on headlines or developers’ descriptions of development but to dig into the detail of the proposal.
77-09cl.Clerk’s Report including:
a) WSCC Reports, highways matters and correspondence
None
b) CDC reports including correspondence
Copies of a report on the District Council’s cost savings were distributed. A consultation on the draft Statement of Principles under the Gaming Act 2005 had been received. The Council noted the Statement and did not wish to comment.
c) Other related matters
None
78-09cl.Planning matters including CDC decisions
A planning paper had been circulated to Councillors.
Recommendations to be ratified by the Council
BI/09/04336/DOM
3 St James Close, Birdham
This is an application to build an annexe to the present house, incorporating a garage and living space above and a conservatory. It lies within the AONB.
The Council has two concerns. Firstly that this annexe will be in fact a self-contained structure with its own facilities. We would ask that a condition be placed upon it so that it cannot be sold separately from the main house. It would also be possible to rent out this annexe on a permanent or occasional basis. This would be contrary to the general ambience of this close.
Secondly we are concerned about the possible loss of amenity to the neighbours to the north. The west elevation will have some impact but we note that the considerable glazing at first floor level is unlikely to constitute more than the general level of overlooking to the neighbours’ garden that is normal from adjacent houses. We are more concerned about the window to the bedroom above the garage doors in the east elevation which is an opening casement and could therefore involve loss of privacy in the rooms of the house to the north. We would recommend that this opening casement be replaced by a fixed casement with a fanlight and that an additional opening casement be provided on the south elevation to the west of the stairwell in order to provide the proper ratio of opening windows to floor area.
The Council raises NO OBJECTION to the general principle of this application.
BI/09/03465/PLD
Wophams Lane Nursery, Wophams Lane, Birham
This is an application to extend an existing earth bunded reservoir and to dump the spoil on another part of the site.
The Council would be concerned at any interference with surface water drainage via adjoining streams and ditches which might be occasioned by the new construction.
We also note with approval the undertaking of the 19th October 2209 that the spoil will be spread evenly across the area marked on the map and covered with top-soil prior to re-instatement. We would be concerned about loss of amenity to the neighbours to the west (St Aubins) if this were not so.
With these points in mind the Council raises NO OBJECTION to this application.
Resolved: That the recommendations be approved by the Council. Proposed by Cllr Ms Huskisson, seconded by Cllr Cobbold.
Decisions by Chichester District Council
BI/09/03403/DOM
Mr And Mrs King
Tyme Wells Westlands Estate Birdham Chichester West Sussex PO20 7HJ
Construction of detached single garage and log store.
PERMIT
BI/09/04012/DOM
Mr John Slatter
Tides Reach 30 Greenacres Birdham Chichester West Sussex PO20 7HL
Retention of raised garden decking.
PERMIT BI/09/03422/DOM
Mr Richard And Mrs Gillie Farquhar Thomson
Martins Cottage Martins Lane Birdham Chichester West Sussex PO20 7AU
Garden room extension. Existing pitched roof raised and extended over garden room to accommodate
two ensuite bedrooms
PERMIT
BI/09/03562/FUL
CEA Settlement Trust
Old Apple Store, Rear Of Elmstead Birdham Road Birdham Chichester West Sussex PO20 7BX
Use of former apple store for Business purposes (Use Class B1) and associated works.
PERMIT
BI/09/03535/DOM
Mr And Mrs Salt
Salterns Lock Lane Birdham Chichester West Sussex PO20 7BB
Double detached car port.
PERMIT
BI/09/03338/FUL
Premium Motor Homes Limited
Premier Motor Homes Unit 1 Premier Business Park Birdham Road Appledram Chichester
West Sussex, PO20 7BU
Variation of condition 9 on permission BI/03/02203/FUL to allow 10 no. car parking spaces to be used as
additional display areas for motor homes and boats (5 no. spaces each).
REFUSE
79-09cl.Correspondence
Received: the Autumn 2009 edition of Countryside Voice from the CPRE, Chichester Ship Canal News
November 2009), the Annual Report of the Sussex County Playing Fields Association, and Sussex
Review (CPRE autumn 2009) for circulation.
A letter had also been received from a firm of grounds maintenance contractors in Dorking asking for
Details of our present contract under the Freedom of Information Act. The Chairman had checked with
SALC and we must give the details and reply by the 2nd December.
80-09cl.Reports:
i) Play area and playing field
Cllr Churchill reported that the Council’s hut had been badly damaged in the recent storms. After discussion it was decided to look into the Council’s insurance but that the best course was probably to remove the hut and not replace it until a need was demonstrated.
The Chairman said he had written to Iain Grant about clearing the ditches along the main road and Farne Lane but had not yet received a reply. The hedge adjacent to Longmeadow Gardens needed to be cut. It was decided to ask the contractors who cut the field to see to this and the hedge on Crooked Lane adjacent to the playground.
Resolved: To have the above work done. Proposed by Cllr Huskisson, seconded by Cllr Meynell.
The Chairman also reported that he had been in contact with the Solicitor handling the affairs of the late Mr Tony Adams over the piece of land left to the Council. Mr Worsley had replied that he would shortly be lodging at the Land Registry what he hoped would be the final documents required by the Registry to enable the title to the land owned by the late Tony Adams to be registered. He would contact us once the title had been registered, regarding the transfer of ownership of the piece of land to the Parish Council. He asked the Council to let him know how the Parish Council will hold the land? Will the title be held in the name of the Parish Council, or in the name of a Trustee on behalf of the Council? He will in any event contact us when the title to the land has been registered. The Council decided to take advice on the question of how the land will be held.
ii) Village Green and Pond
This had been referred to above.
iii) Neighbourhood Watch
iv) The Police Community Support Officers had reported a number of attempts to cheat people out of money by bogus phone calls and asked residents to be on their guard in the run up to Christmas. The Chairman suggested that this might be an item for a Christmas Newsletter to residents which would also announce the appointment of the new Clerk and his contact details. Tree Wardens
Since we no longer have any active tree wardens it was suggested that this too might be an item for the Newsletter.
v) other
Drainage Survey The Chairman reported that the maps and guidance had arrived from Gavin Holder (CDC Drainage Engineer) and had been distributed to those who had volunteered. He would now be writing to local farmers to seek their co-operation.
9. Finance
A financial paper had been prepared and was circulated to Councillors. This showed:
Balances held at Bank: £53,136.49
Designated Funds: £25,579.04
Creditors: £1305.33
Resolved: To accept the financial report. Proposed by Cllr Meynell, seconded by Cllr Churchill.
The Chairman said that the first part of the Budget for next year would normally be discussed at this
Meeting but he would take the whole budget in December .
10. Reports of meetings attended by Councillors
i) Peninsula Forum
As the Chairman had chaired the most recent meeting of the Forum, held in Birdham on the 7th September, where concern had been expressed about the long delays in doing anything about the A27, he would ask Keith Morgan (CDC Co-ordinator of the Forum) about responses to the letter he had sent to the County Council, the Highways Agency and the Department for Transport, as reported in the Chichester Observer of the 19th November. Mr Morgan is at present on leave.
ii) County Local Committee for Chichester South
The Chairman had attended a meeting of local Council Chairman to discuss the working of the Committee and possible improvements. It was one of a number of meeting across the County and a report would be produced early next year. Those present at Chichester had been particularly critical of the Highways Department and problems in identifying and contacting the relevant officer directly.
iii) County and District Councillor Montyn said that he would bring the Highways Department score sheet for Traffic Regulation Orders to the next meeting. He also reported that the revised Local Development Framework is progressing to the point of an options document but has not reached the point of designating sites. It was unlikely that Birdham would be much affected by development but there could be proposals for Selsey and East Wittering. Cllr Mrs Cobbold commented that those would affect Birdham as far as traffic was concerned. Cllr Montyn said that the present paper would go out for consultation from the 1st December to the end of January.
iv) Cllr Mrs Cobbold drew the attention of the Council to the new website of the Manhood Peninsula Partnership which would be available from the 1st December.
11. Public session
No points were raised by members of the public.