held on Monday April 2nd 2007
Present; Stuart Campbell, Chairman Mary Stanhope, Hugh Delap, Pam Cobb, Rowena Wood, Richard Blamey, Betty Harris, Gitte Dawson, District Councillor and Stephanie Jenkins, Clerk.1 Apologies for absence ; Ray Benfield.
2 Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting of March 5th were agreed to be an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.
3 Planning Matters
Village Pump Area; ongoing. RW agreed to make a brief report on progress to date for inclusion with the Minutes.Rectory Orchard/ replacement garage/ window and construction of pergola (07/00285/FUL0; following a site visit by a Planning Sub-Committee, this application was supported by the Parish Council.
Alterations to Applications; GD had approached the Planning Department and had been assured that no substantial change in a scheme would be allowed as a “minor amendment”. She also reiterated the fact that Ludek Majer was fully aware of the Parish Council’s concerns about any applications for amendments to the Freshford Mill permission. The Chairman stated that a watching brief would be necessary; it was not clear what would constitute a substantial change of plan and past precedents made this an area for concern.Hayes Cottage (adjacent ) (07/00230/FUL; change of use of derelict farm buildings and new vehicular access; this application has been refused.Conservation Area Appraisal Document; The Chairman reported that this is awaiting final approval from within B&NES and will then be available.Hayes Kop, Midford Lane/ Conservatory (07/00152/FUL); having made a site visit with the existing plans, the Chairman reported back to Councillors and the application was supported by the Parish Council.Barker Review of land use planning/ letter to MP in response; Councillors agreed that the Clerk, together with SC and HD should write to Don Foster, supporting the CPRE’s opposition to elements of the report. Ongoing.Tennis Court, Abbey Lane/ floodlighting; as the site is technically in Hinton Charterhouse, the Parish Council had received no notice/documentation on this application despite a request from the Clerk. Councillors had to work from the A4 documents available from the internet. Neighbouring residents had made their concerns known to the Chairman, particularly as the fir trees, which would screen some of the light from the site, will probably be felled in the near future. Councillors agreed to wait for the large-scale plans to arrive, make a site visit and then respond with reservations about the type and angle of the lights.Ranikhet Farm/ Conservation Pond; whilst, in principle, Councillors had no objection to this, the point was made that a hillside pond on limestone is an alien concept. There was a request for B&NES’ Ecological group to be consulted.The Inn/ enlargement of the car park. A retrospective application; the initial view was that, although permission should have been sought before the work was undertaken, any scheme which took cars off the road was to be welcomed. The Chairman was asked to check whether the Miss Vaizeys had been consulted and if they had any concerns about the work done. HD raised the issue of aesthetics; had the work been done to the standard appropriate to the curtilege of a listed building? Were there likely to be additional intrusive lights? Had the current application been referred to the listed buildings Team?4 Freshford Mill
Councillors had been supplied, in advance, with Minutes of the meeting held with Ypres Rose Development on March 28th and these were reviewed, discussed and some minor amendments made. The Minutes were then approved by the full Parish Council. The Clerk was instructed to send a printed copy to Phil Desmond of YRD and to publish the minutes on the Village Website. It was also agreed that concerns about the interpretation of some of the 32 conditions imposed on the development could be best dealt with by an informal meeting between the Parish Council and the Planning Department. RW offered to contact Ludek Maier (B&NES Planning) to set up a meeting in May, once the newly constituted Parish Council was in place. SC is to contact Linda Tucker of Natural England to ask what the position will be if the bats fail to move into the specially constructed bat house. He will also contact the Environment Agency about the perceived lack of flood compensation plans. The Clerk was asked to obtain a complete set of plans for the development “as approved by the B Committee” from the Planning Department. These will probably incur a charge, but Councillors wished to be sure that they were working from plans which showed exactly what had been approved. One of the strongest concerns which emerged from the meeting with YRD was the choice of cedar weatherboarding as a finish for large areas of the residential units. This is not a local vernacular building material, but Phil Desmond claimed that use of stone would be prohibitively expensive. SC pointed out that it would be possible to use render with perhaps just corner stones in ashlar. It was agreed that this point should be brought to the attention of the heritage section of the Planning Department. Weatherboarding had been approved and so YRD would be within their rights to insist on this.
5 Parish Plan
HD reported that steady progress continues. He and Paddy Fitzgerald had attended a meeting organised by B&NES for those involved with Parish Plans in the area and had been heartened to see that Freshford was on the right tracks.
6 Village ShopHD reported that the Freshford Shop Project had made an offer to buy the shop building, based on the business case and their understanding of its value. This had been turned down by the agent and Peter and Kate Davies have made clear their intention to close the shop and the Post Office in three month’s time, at the end of June. A meeting for the FSP, scheduled for April 3rd, will review all options for keeping a PO and shop within the village. RJB felt strongly that the Parish Council should take a more prominent role in the matter, but SC stated that the FSP had worked extremely hard at exploring all the different avenues and that the Parish Council would be unable to achieve any more. He offered to write to the Post Office, asking them to consider how best to continue to provide a service within the village. He would also write to the Planning Department to establish their policy with regard to the possible change of use for this last village shop.The Chairman formally recorded thanks to the Freshford Shop Project committee for all their hard work.
7 Affordable Housing
HD reported on a site visit, held to familiarise the new Planning Link Officer, Tim Guymer, with the sites within the village. Councillors Campbell, Wood and Delap attended. Tim Guymer’s views echoed those of his planning colleagues, leaving very little hope or choice. HD felt that the Councillors should press vigorously for approval in principle of the specific Park Corner sites. They should keep in contact with Limpley Stoke PC so far as the possibility of the Wiltshire site on Church Lane is concerned. They should also consider asking for a meeting with the senior officers of the housing and planning departments to urge an understanding of the specific need for affordable housing and how it can be met in the face of all the difficulties that have arisen. GD stated that she was shocked by the Planners’ negativity over the matter. She was asked to approach senior planners on the subject.8 Footpaths, Walls and Trees
Tree Works; MS reported that proposed work to trees in the conservation area (Farthings Cottage; Fairlawn; Roselawn and Friars Gate) had been approved by the Arboricultural officer.
9 Highways and RailwaysPotholes; most of the potholes reported to Highways by the Clerk had been dealt with. However those at the bottom of Rosemary Lane were still in need of attention.Traffic Appraisal Project; RJB stated that the report had just been received from Hamilton-Baillie. Councillors agreed that this should not be released to the general public, even the Parish Plan committee, until they themselves had had time to read and comment on it. RJB is to obtain extra copies to facilitate this.Drain Outside The Old Parsonage; RJB to investigate the possibility of persuading Highways to fit a more suitable grille over the drain.Park Corner Signage; RJB reported that Highways had agreed to source a supplier for a sign for Park Corner and also one for Pipehouse Lane which would incorporate a “no through road” sign. It would then be possible to get rid of the present large unsightly sign. RJB was asked to let Tony White know of this progress.
Doctors’ Parking Bay; the Clerk reported that Highways had asked for the Parish Council’s view about relocating this back on Brewery Lane now that the housing development was complete. She was instructed to ask Highways to consult with the directly interested parties before making their professional decision.Station Planting Scheme; RW reported that work was underway. Shrub planting was nearly complete and Melanie Everard was waiting for the promised sleepers to be delivered, after which the herbaceous planting could go ahead. Residents were to be encouraged to pot up surplus plants for use in the scheme.
Station Lighting; RW reported that she had still had no response to her request for the timing to be altered. She would continue to press the matter with Pete Jobson, Station Manager.
Noticeboard; RW reported that Phil Affleck had apologised for the lack of progress with this. He hopes to have the poster ready by the beginning of May.
Parking at the Station; RW was asked to make a formal request to First group for the provision of more parking, but it was considered unlikely that this would be met. First Group have stated that they do not have the resources to police the use of the existing spaces, often taken by fishermen rather than rail passengers. RW to ask them to install a notice warning fishermen that the parking was strictly for rail passengers.10 Correspondence
Wilts County Council; notice of Waste development Framework/ Consultation of Future Documents.
Gloucestershire Housing Association; Flyers/Posters for Homebuy Initiative.
Action for Pensioners; Bright Spark Newsletter.
CPRE; Fieldwork Magazine
Wilts County Council; new bus timetables.
B&NES’ Environmental Services; details of new Bank Holiday refuse collections.
Audit Commission; notice of appointment of Mazars as auditors for Freshford Parish council 2007.
CPRE; details of the Calor Gas Village of the Year competition.
Cotswold Conservation Board; Cotswold Lion newsletter.
Western Power Distribution (formerly SWEB) a very fancy booklet Quality of Supply Report 2006.
B&NES’ Emergency Management Unit; request for amendments to the Community Emergency Guidance document of 2005.
11 Finance
Payments needing to be made in APRIL
Ian Croker. Street Cleaning , £195.99
Wessex Water; Cemetery Supply; £102 (£89)
SEC; installation of new lights and supply/fitment of photocells, £269.44+ VAT
Ray Benfield, materials for repair of handrail; £7.19
B&NES Revenues & Benefits; Cemetery Rate, £59.60 (£52.35)
Melanie Everard Designs; Work on Station Landscaping; £90 + £1114.06
ALCA; Annual Membership ; £104.16 (£107.68)
Community Action; Annual Membership; £20 (£20)
SEC Non-Routine Maintenance; £51.94
S. Electric; Supply Jan-March, £278.15
Payments needing retrospective approval
Stephanie Jenkins, Clerk’s half-year expenses, £94.87
SEC; Routine Maintenance, Jan-March, £176.06
MLD Printers; Bulletin, £78
Income
Friends of Freshford; Contribution to Station Planting; £1500
B&NES, Street Cleaning Funding, £272.2
Cemetery Fees; £45
Annual Insurance Premium;Not due until June 1st but Allianz Cornhill quote £479.71 (£476.80)
Street Lighting; A request from a resident for an additional light to be sited beside the footpath running below the Glebe backgardens and across the cemetery. This path is used by children attending clubs at the Hall.
Street Cleaning; the Clerk reported that the hourly rate of payment had been increased by 3.86%