Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 20th January 2014
Birdham Parish Council
Minutes of the
Meeting of the Parish Council
held on Monday 20th January 2014
at 7pm in Birdham Village Hall
Present: Cllr Finch (Chairman), Cllr Grafham, Cllr Hamilton, Cllr Ayton, Cllr Churchill
Apologies: Cllr Cobbold (Vice Chairman) and Cllr Barker
Absent:
In attendance: The Clerk, Cllr Montyn (WSCC & CDC), Cllr Marshall (CDC) and 17 members of the public.
94-13 Public Question time in accordance with Standing Orders 1d -1l:
There were none.
95-13 Declaration of Interests:
There were none.
96-13 Approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on the 16th December 2013:
It was resolved to adopt the minutes of the 16th December 2013 as a true and accurate record.
97-13 Matters arising from the minutes of the 19th November 2012:
Minute 89-12 - Land Bequest.The Clerk said that he had nothing to report.
98-13 Clerks’ Report:
i) WSCC – There was nothing to report
ii) CDC – The Clerk reported that he had received notification from CDC that the previously permitted development rights that had existed within the Somerley Conservation area are now no longer permitted with effect from the 22nd January 2014 and are now subject to planning law found under Part lll of the Town and Country planning Act 1990 (as amended).
iii)Other related matters – There were none.
iv) Reports from Members of WSCC/CDC – Cllr Montyn (WSCC) said that he was extremely concerned about the cumulative impact of development on the Manhood and in particular the impact on roads. He considered that more needed to be done on the traffic modelling by WSCC and particular he felt that greater use of Para 32 of the NPPF should be used when deciding planning applications. He was encouraging Parish Councils to write to the WSCC highways and CDC objecting to the 200 home development at Bracklesham citing Para 32 of the NPPF as one of the reasons for objection.
Cllr Montyn went on to say the residents may have seen reports of £32m to be spent on unclassified roads throughout the County. The roads are those not controlled by the Highways Agency ie non trunk roads. It has been decided that the money is to be spent on repairing the roads properly rather than just filling pot holes and carrying out patch repairs. The money will come from the reserves and will be an investment for the future.
He then said on the subject of flooding that he was trying very hard to get a meeting with Southern Water to determine what the current situation is regarding flooding in and on the Manhood and would feed back any information that he can get.
A Resident asked that if the pump at Court Barn Lane failed for whatever reason and untreated sewage gets into the Pool and Harbour are Southern Water duty bound to report it?
Cllr Montyn said that the answer was no, they only have to report on the plants at Apuldram and the Witterings.
There were no further questions for Cllr Montyn who apologised and left to attend another meeting.
Cllr Marshall (CDC) said that he did not have a great deal to say other than everything seemed to be ok as far as the budget was concerned, and that it would be going before Council shortly.
99-13 Finance and Corporate:
i) To receive and approve the financial report.
The Clerk presented the financial report for the month (shown at annex a) which showed the following balances;
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Balances held at Bank |
£35611.66 |
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Designated Funds |
£27148.23 |
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Available Funds |
£ 8463.43 |
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Creditors |
£ 2587.72 |
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The Clerk offered to answer any questions that Councillors may have.
It was resolved to adopt the Financial Report.
100-13 To receive an update on the Neighbourhood Plan – Vin Brooks – Vice Chair of the NP Steering Group to report.
Her report can be found at annex b to these minutes.
101-13Planning matters including applications and CDC delegated decisions:
i) Planning Applications to be Decided
BI/13/03954/ADV Longmeadow Main Road Birdham
Erection of 5no fascia signs and 4no flag poles.
It is now extremely inappropriate to continue to refer to the site as Longmeadow when the site is listed as Old Common Close and has been Old Common Close for some considerable time. In addition the advertising for more land on the sales hoardings is most inappropriate!
Equally, as was pointed out in our objection comments to the original application, 12/03383/ADV, the signs and flags are in contravention of the Town & Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 and as amended 2012. Under Class 7 (Flag Advertisements) it states at 7B (1) that “No advertisement is permitted within an AONB”. Even if they were permitted, 7B(2)(a) states that only two flags should be allowed for 10-100 houses and 7B(3) states the flag staffs should be no more than 4.6m tall – whereas the present ones are 6m.
Furthermore, under Class 3, it would also appear that the two large signs in particular do not meet the requirements under Conditions 3A and 3C. They exceed the permitted size, are within 10m of the highway and there should only be one board. In addition, illumination is not permitted.
Birdham Parish Council objected to the original application for signs on this development as excessive and obtrusive. This application is no better and merely perpetuates an unsightly and unacceptable level of advertisement in this area of special advertising control over an unreasonably extended period of time. The appearance of this site is not improved by this inappropriate signage. The developers may find they have more success in selling the properties if they remove the signs and allow the charming, rural nature of this location to reassert itself.
Birdham Parish Council therefore STRONGLY OBJECTS to this application for the reasons and observations stated.
BI/13/04015/DOM Mr & Mrs Hendy 12 Walwyn Close Birdham
PVCu Orangery/Conservatory to rear and side of property. The Parish Council raised No Objection to this application.
BI/13/04180/TPA - Case Officer: Henry Whitby - Mr Claughton 26 Walwyn Close Birdham
Reduce eastern sector by 2.5m, remove 1 no. limb at 5m on south-west sector (diameter of 20cm) and deadwood on 1 no. Oak tree (T6) subject to BI/97/00037/TPO.
The Parish Council are content to abide by the decision of the CDC Case Officer.
BI/13/04080/DOM - Houseboat Living The Dream, Chichester Marina, Birdham
Extension to houseboat consisting of additional floor for the purpose of garden and gallery/studio.
(The drawings submitted for this application are named as Houseboat Tranquillity, as such we have assumed that a change of name/occupier has occurred.) The Parish Council considered that the application would have a considerable visual impact on its neighbours both on the Canal and to the landward side of the Canal and therefore wished TO OBJECT to this application.
BI/13/04165/DOM - Hundredsteddle Hundredsteddle Lane Birdham Chichester PO20 7BL
Demolish existing garage/workshop, construct car port, and kitchen extension. Minor internal alterations and some replacement windows. The Parish Council raised NO OBJECTION to this application.
BI/13/04164/LBC- Hundredsteddle Hundredsteddle Lane Birdham Chichester PO20 7BL
Demolish existing garage/workshop, construct car port, and kitchen extension. Minor internal alterations and some replacement windows. The Parish Council raised NO OBJECTION to this application.
It was resolved to authorise the Clerk to forward the decisions of the Parish Council to DC Planning
ii) Delegated Decisions to be noted
BI/13/03393/DOM Mr Henry Slack & Miss Pippa Nixon Hundredsteddle Hundredsteddle Lane
Demolish existing garage/workshop, construct double garage, kitchen and dining area, internal alterations and new windows. REFUSE
BI/13/03394/LBC Mr Henry Slack & Miss Pippa Nixon Hundredsteddle Hundredsteddle Lane
Demolish existing garage/workshop, construct double garage, kitchen and dining area, internal alterations and new windows. REFUSE
BI/13/03742/DOM Mr M Holmes Belland House Main Road Birdham
Two storey side and rear extensions and rear sun room. PERMIT
The delegated decisions were noted.
iii) Community Right to Buy Scheme.
The Clerk briefly outlined the scheme and what was required and requested that residents offer up suggestions to him that may well be candidates that should be considered. It was suggested at the meeting that the Cricket Ground might fall into that category.
102-13 Correspondence – Not previously circulated:
The Clerk reported that he had received an email from Mr James Fraser stating that he was the agent for the Birdham Pool Marina. Since the last application they have submitted a complete set of revised information. As a result they wished to make a presentation to Council. It was suggested that they may wish to make their presentation at the next meeting of the Council or hold an open day.
The Clerk was authorized to make contact with Mr Fraser and see what could be arranged. (Post meeting note – arranged for the meeting of the 17th February)
103-13 Reports:
i) Play Area and Playing Field. – The Clerk reported that he had had a meeting with a company to determine the possibility and cost of draining the playing field. At the time of reporting he had not received any information or costings. The Clerk went on to say that the extension to the car park was taking much longer to complete than he had envisaged, he had chased it and was told that because of current problems elsewhere resources had been stretched to the limit.
ii) Village Green and Pond – The Clerk had had a site meeting with a contractor to determine what could be done with the pond and was now awaiting a formal proposal. In the meantime Cllr Cobbold had received some information from the MWHG who had said that they had received some funding and they wished to do some work on the pond. Full information has not yet been received.
iii) Condition of Village Ditch/Drain Network. – Mr Barrington reported that 3 walks of the village ditch and drain network had now been completed. The current weather situation had given the opportunity to see that not a lot of flooding had taken place. A small ditch culvert had been cleared a water was now flowing through it. A meeting had been held with local farmers of the land by Court Barn Lane who were being very helpful.
Sidlesham Lane had yet to be mapped. The group were now looking for contractors to obtain costings etc.
iv) Police and Neighbourhood Watch – There was nothing to report.
v) Communication Working Groups – The Chairman said she expected the next newsletter to be available from the beginning of March.
vi) Other -
104-13 To receive a report from Cllr Ayton on speeding in and around the Village (Deferred from the 18th November meeting)
Deferred for further information from PCSO Bainbridge
105-13 Reports of meetings attended by Councillors;
Cllr Ayton said that he and a number of residents had met with the Chairman of the Marina who did recognise that Birdham was a village. Stages 1 of the works are already in progress, stage 2 will see the landscaping work commence followed by the remaining stages over a longer period. The Chairman had spoken to the yacht club about the resurfacing of the road leading to the club.
A resident asked if they were putting houseboats in the Marina.
Cllr Ayton said that there are vacant berths and could be a possibility in the future.
106-13 Items for inclusion on the next agenda:
107-13 Date of Next Meeting:
17th February 2014 at 7pm in Birdham Village Hall
There being no further business to discuss the meeting was declared closed at 8.05pm
Signed ___________________________ Dated ____________________
Chairman
Annex a
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Birdham Parish Council |
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Financial Statement as at 20th January 2014 |
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£ |
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Bank Accounts as at 31st March 2013 |
21611.00 |
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Receipts to date |
59553.47 |
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Expenditure to date |
45552.81 |
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Balance |
35611.66 |
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Represented by; |
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Current Account (Barclays Community A/c) |
14736.05 |
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Deposit Account (Barclays Premium Business A/c) |
14201.73 |
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National Savings |
6673.88 |
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Total |
35611.66 |
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Less |
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Reserve @ 50% of Precept |
18463.20 |
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Loan Reserve for half year |
8591.04 |
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Outstanding Cheque/s - |
102143 |
93.99 |
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Total |
27148.23 |
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Available Funds |
8463.43 |
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Signed |
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Clerk to the Council |
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20th January 2014 |
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Payments to be considered |
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B Geary (Litter Picking) |
70.00 |
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Clerks Expenses (Telephone) |
23.83 |
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Birdham Village Hall Trust (Meeting Rooms for NP) |
194.65 |
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A Dover (Village Green/Bus Stops) |
50.00 |
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Access by design (Hosting and Media Link) |
204.00 |
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Expenses Cllr Barker (Tree Planting) |
25.75 |
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Southern Electric (Village Lighting) |
206.89 |
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AiRS (Neighbourhood Plan Final Payment) |
1812.60 |
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Total |
2587.72 |
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Annex B
NPUpdatetoPC20thJanuary2014
DespitetheinterruptionsofChristmas&NewYear,agreatdealofprogresshasbeenmadewiththeNP.
Allthefocusgroupshavebeenworkinghardontheir individualpolicies.Thesepoliciesarenowstarting totakeshape.OncethesepolicieshavebeenratifiedbytheSteeringGrouptheywillbeshowntoour NeighbourhoodPlanningconsultantstomakesuretheyaresolidpoliciesintermsofplanning rulesand regulations.
Another on-goingtaskfortheteamistosourceallthesupportingevidencedocumentsfor allaspectsof theNP.Thisisanessentialbuttime-'consumingaspectwhichisrequiredto ensure the final plan is robustenoughtowithstandanychallengeduringaplanningprocess.
Clive'sinputintotheteamhasbeenimmense.Hehasputpressureontheteamand motivatedusallto thesupplyhim withtheinformationtoincorporateintothe draftNPdocument.
OverthelastmonthClivehaswrittenagreatdealofthebackgroundtext.Hehasinsertedthedraft visionandobjectivestogether withsomeofthedraftpolicies.Therest of thepolicieswill beincludedin thedocument whentheyareapproved.WearehavingournextSGmeetingon5Februaryatwhichwe hopetohavethefirstcomplete draft availablefortheSGtoreview.Thenextstageforuswillbetoshow thedraftplanto our twoplanningconsultantsfor comment.
Itisstillverymuchworkinprogressbutwearemakinggoodheadway.Iwouldliketothankeveryone for their continuedinput in thisproject.