held on Monday October 1st 2007
Present; Stuart Campbell, Chairman Mary Stanhope, Hugh Delap, Rowena Wood, Ann Ross, Mandy Knowles and Stephanie Jenkins, Clerk. Neil Butters, District Councillor, kindly attended the latter part of the meeting after a hectic schedule of other meetings.Also present, as Chairman of the Freshford Shop Project, was Gitte Dawson.1 Apologies for absence ; Richard Blamey, Betty Harris and Ray Benfield.
2.Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting of September 3rd were agreed to be an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.
3.Planning Matters
Decisions;Cornerstone, Freshford Lane/erection of a single-storey extension, detached garage, replacement of existing garage doors with glazed door and construction of stone garden wall; REFUSED; “the proposal by reason of its size and location within the Bristol/Bath Green Belt and AONB represents a disproportionate extension to the dwelling, without the benefit of very special circumstances to justify the proposal”.
On-going Items
Woodwyck Hall Pond; RW had received a reply from John Dando, B&NES Planning Enforcement Officer, confirming that, as with a swimming pool, the pond would not require planning permission. The Clerk had explained the reasons behind the Parish Council’s approach to a concerned neighbour.
Tennis Club Lighting; RW reported that she was awaiting a response from the planning officer to her request for information on planting proposals.
PC Responses since September meeting.
Laughing Snakes, Midford Lane/ new summerhouse, replacing old, but on different site; RW reported that, after some discussion with neighbours, the summerhouse has been re-sited to the satisfaction of both parties and screening/planting agreed on. The Planning Sub-committee were agreed and the Planning Officer has been informed that the Parish Council fully support this application.
2 High Street- 07/02740; single-storey extension; after consultation with the Planning Sub-committee, the Parish Council’s response had raised no objections, providing materials used would be reclaimed ashlar stone and second-hand, double-roman clay tiles to match the existing (as stated in the application) and the windows painted/ wooden. However, the Parish Council would be guided by the views of officers from the Built Heritage team as the building lies within the Conservation Area of the village.
General Items
Park Corner Pump Area; Councillors discussed the possibility of preventing parking by the pump, but it was felt that a parked car often had the effect of slowing passing traffic and also that the area had so few parking spaces that removing one would be impractical.
Parking at The Inn and internal alterations; RW reported that John Trenoweth, from Listed Building Enforcement, is to investigate.
Planning Training Meeting; this will take place on October 23rd, 6-9pm, in the Memorial Hall. RW and MK will attend. The Clerk will check whether RB and RJB are free, before informing the organisers of Freshford’s attendance.Sharpstone House/ garden area and shed; MS reported comments and questions about the work being done in the lower field area. She stated that Paul Cobham had indicated that the trench and track were for drainage purposes. SC to contact Paul Cobham to ask about progress and also the planning officer’s response to the proposed garden shed. SC also to obtain a Land registry map for reference purposes.4.Freshford Mill
Variation of Conditions; RW stated that Tim Guymer was still working on his report.
New Planning Application; a new application (07/02687/FUL) had appeared on the B&NES Website, “an amendment to the approved scheme to include alterations to part of an existing structure to provide multi-species bat accommodation.” No details appeared and no information had been sent to the Clerk. RW following up with Tim Guymer.Meeting; RW reported that Tim Guymer had agreed to meet members of the Parish Council (RW, SC, HD and the Clerk) at 2.15pm on October 10th so that he can be given the Parish Council view of the work at the Mill. It was agreed to raise the matter of access to the site plans at this meeting.Demolition Access; following complaints from Christine Swift that demolition vehicles were using the route through the village, YRD confirmed that they would remind Weaver Demolition to access the site via Westwood.
5. Parish Plan
HD reported that the meeting at which the working groups can present their findings and recommendations to the public will take place in the Memorial Hall on Wednesday November 21st. This will be well-publicised and constructive criticism will be encouraged.
6. Village Shop and developments re Post Office ClosureTemporary Post Office ;HD reported that business had been brisk during the first few weeks of the operation, despite considerable problems with the electronic equipment.
Site for New Post Office and Shop; Gitte Dawson spoke to the meeting about the proposed plans for a new Shop and Post Office, to be sited on a strip of Galleries field alongside the Memorial Hall. Councillors had been sent plans and drawings to study in advance. Following extensive consultation, the Shop Project Committee had decided to begin the process by applying for Outline Planning permission to establish the principle of establishing a shop on a new site, meaning that any design changes could be incorporated at a later date. No move would be made until the Memorial Hall Committee had met on October 15th and discussed the matter. GD stated that the application would need strong public support and that it would be important to emphasise that this was a special situation and that no precedent would be set for any further development. She asked for the Parish Council’s support.
Councillors discussed the matter.
SC thanked Stephen and Gitte Dawson for their extremely generous intention to donate the land and Councillors agreed. He stated that the central issue would be to establish change of use for the land. Fine points of design could follow later. The village had lost so much of its commercial-usage footage that creating a new shop could be argued to be replacing what has gone. He would strongly support the scheme.
AR approved the idea and the design, but felt that the proposed siting would be too close to the road and would block a very special view. She asked if the building could be shifted back on the site. GD stated that the shop’s visibility from the road would affect its viability. Councillors agreed that it should be possible to find a compromise over the exact site and that good signage at the roadside would help.
RW asked what would happen to the property should the shop fail at a later date. GD stated that the Project Committee’s intention was that it would be put to some form of community use, perhaps a replacement surgery or a children’s nursery. Planning Conditions would most likely insist on this.
Councillors agreed to support the application strongly and SC stated that he would circulate the arguments to Councillors once he had had an opportunity to study all the relevant Planning rules and Guidelines. The key to success would be balancing up the various weightings.
7. Affordable Housing
HD reported that Gary Ward (B&NES) was on sick leave. John Mutter (Western Challenge Housing Association) was about to make a final effort to obtain a response from the owners of Sites 1 and 3. A negative response would mean that the options so far ruled out by the Planners would be investigated. The matter of the fifteen garages behind the Glebe owned and rented out by Somer Community Housing Trust was again discussed and Councillors expressed concern that a number of the garages were let to non-residents. With parking being such a contentious issue within all areas of the village, it was agreed that RW should approach Somer Housing to ask about the terms of the lease and to request that, should any vacancies occur, the garages should be offered to village residents.8. Footpaths, Walls and Trees
Overgrown hedges; MS reported that residents on Freshford Lane had cut back hedges. She is to pursue the clear pavement width issue with Stuart Ballard (B&NES Footpaths) as guidance on this would make it easier to approach owners of overgrown hedges.
Street Sweeper; MK had circulated a detailed statement of responsibility, which Ian Croker will, eventually, be asked to sign. Discussing this comprehensive document, Councillors felt that it would be useful to have some input from B&NES now that the scheme had been running for some time. The arrangements for collecting the waste cleared and bagged up by Ian seem to be rather vague. Safety training, emphasised so strongly at the scheme’s inception, has never been implemented and Councillors wondered whether B&NES had a “model” contract that Parishes could adopt. The Clerk was asked to contact B&NES Waste Management and obtain answers to these questions. She was also asked to contact other Parishes using the scheme to discover how they dealt with these issues.Cemetery Inspection; the Clerk reported that, according to B&NES Cemeteries Department, Masons setting up new headstones work to a Code of Practice (2002) set up by the National Association of Monumental Masons. She has written to the relatives regarding the two new headstones that were found to be unstable, suggesting that they take the matter up with the masons. She is to meet with Alan Duck to look at the older, unsafe headstones identified recently.
War Memorial; ongoing, RJB investigating grant possibilities.Pipehouse Footpath; MK to inspect before instructing Ian Croker to cut back. 9. Highways and RailwaysPark Corner Pump Area; RJB reported the results of a meeting with RW and RB to consider improvements to the road and verges. The following actions were suggested· to fix a sign on the wall showing the existence of Park Corner as a street name.· To dispose of the unsightly “No Through Road” sign at the end of Pipehouse Lane and incorporate this information into a new Pipehouse Lane street sign, similar to the Park Corner sign.· To remove all bollards from the area.· To extend kerbstones around the whole corner, using pennants.· To restore the finger post.· To make a new wooden grit box.Councillors were in agreement with these suggestions and RJB had reported that Highways had no immediate objections to them. He was awaiting a formal response from them.Flooding/ ongoing from September Meeting; with recent heavy rains two properties experienced serious flooding problems, largely as a result of blocked drains/culverts. The problem has been exacerbated by the fact that both B&NES and West Wilts are involved. SC is to approach both Councils (copying correspondence to Neil Butters).Fingerpost Cleaning and Renovation; RJB’s report stated that he had asked Highways to renovate all the fingerposts in the village. There was some concern expressed about the standard to which this might be done.Rosemary Lane; SC stated that he will shortly be meeting with Highways over the matter of the drainage of water from the spring, previously discussed. Councillors agreed that, should a surface drainage channel be created, this could be kept clear by Ian Croker. SC also stated that, at the forthcoming meeting with Tim Guymer to discuss the development of the Mill site, he would be pressing for the option of angling the new exit from the site to be adopted. This would ensure that traffic would not increase on Rosemary Lane and would mean that the residents’ call for the road to be closed to through-traffic down by the bridge would be unnecessary.Doctor’s Parking Space; this has still not been resolved and parking in the area is still causing problems. Councillors wondered whether there had been any progress with the suggestion that the school car park might be used out of hours. RJB to respond.He stated in his report that, to improve safety at the crossroads, he had asked Highways to re-site the Give Way sign and the school to cut back the hedge. It was noted that unsafe parking outside schools in the Bath area had recently been followed up by visits from the police. RB to be asked to investigate whether the Community Police might be prepared to undertake this in Freshford.Pipehouse Junction; AR reported another potentially serious accident at the junction of the A36, when a car waiting to cross a line of traffic was shunted from behind. She stated that the road was wide enough at this point to accommodate a turning lane. RJB to be asked to take the matter up with Highways.Lorries on Church Lane; MS reported a number of lorries causing problems by getting stuck on the lower stretches of Church Hill. Councillors agreed that the current signage on the corner of the High Street could be partly responsible and it was suggested that a site meeting between Highways and concerned householders would be useful. RJB to be asked to take the matter up with Highways.Station Matters; RW reported that Melanie Everard is working on the replanting at the station and will invoice First Group direct. No further contributions to the cost of the poster had been received. RW to follow up with The Inn and Homewood Park.Once amendments have been made to the map, a second poster will be placed at the station. Gitte Dawson had requested a copy for the new Post Office. RW to ask Phil Affleck to provide a smaller version on plain paper. 10. Shared SpaceMeeting and relevant publicity; whilst the presentation to the village has been fixed for Friday November 9th the pre-meeting between the Parish Council, Highways and Hamilton Baillie has yet to be arranged. RJB dealing with this. Publicity material will be needed shortly and, in RJB’s absence the Clerk and the Chairman were asked to begin drafting a flier and a shorter poster advertising the meeting to ensure good attendance.
- Parish Magazine; copy needed by October 11t.h Clerk to pass to Sue King for inclusion.
- General Parish Mailout; to be distributed around October 19th. Clerk to arrange photocopying and distribution.
- School /PTA letter. It was suggested that the flier might be circulated through the PTA as the issues involved were of considerable importance to both school and parents. RJB to provide a copy of the finalised flier and liase with school.
- Village Website; Clerk to post the flier, once contents finalised by RJB.
- Large Boards (Candy Harrison); one by the surgery and one at the High Street corner by the beginning of November. RJB to approach Candy.
- Noticeboards; A4 posters to be placed on all Parish Council boards, the station, the surgery, the school, the pub and telegraph poles at strategic sites within the village by the end of October.
Highway Strategies; NB reported that he had approached David Trigwell (Assistant Director of Planning and Transport Development at B&NES) and established that he and Matthew Smith (Head of Leisure and Amenity Services) are responsible for “shared space” strategies. David Trigwell would be willing to meet with Councillors to discuss and explain the guidelines that the Highways Department work to.
11. Correspondence
Clerks and Councils Direct, Magazine
First Great Western, Magazine
NALC, Annual Report and Accounts
Bath CPRE Newsletter
ALCA, Newsletter, Minutes and Annual Report
B&NES Planning Services, notification of the adoption of the Local Plan
Action for Pensioners, Newsletter.
B&NES Planning Services, notice of Adoption of Local Plan.
Cotswold Conservation Board, notice of appointment of replacement Parish Members.
B&NES Planning Services, Core Strategy Launch details.
B&NES Poster advertising Community Safety Event.
Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Letter from Olivia Pinkney.
DEFRA, booklet on Ways to Tackle Climate Change.
BRSLI, notice of meeting, Growth in B&NES over next 20 years.
12. Finance
Payments needing to be made in OCTOBER
Shop Project, £732
Audit Fee, £158.62 (inc VAT)
Open Spaces Society, Annual membership, £30
Ian Croker, Street Cleaning, £196.68.
Clerk’s half-year expenses, £82.63
Southern Electric, supply July-September, £264.01.
SEC, Routine Maintenance, £181.35
SEC, Non-routine maintenance, £28.62
Income
B&NES; Street Cleaning, £282.71
B&NES; half annual precept, £5617.50
Robert Spencer, purchase of cemetery plot, £130
Contribution towards costs of setting up the temporary Post Office
Expenses involved
Planning Application, £275
Building Control payment (inc VAT), £118
Electrical work, £339
Street Lighting, Projected Costs
Lamp and bracket to replace light number 24 by The Old Chapel, Pipehouse, would cost in the region of £650.
Photocells (for part-night burn) could be supplied and fitted for £41.43 (plus VAT) each. Councillors discussed fitting these to a number of lamps currently on an “all-night burn” regime. It was agreed that this would be the best option both from an economical and a “green” standpoint. Residents feeling a real need for security lighting right through the night could fund this for themselves.
Audit Approval
Mazars have approved the Parish Council accounts for 2006-07. The Clerk had advertised this fact on the board as required.
Parish Plan Steering Committee
The Parish Council had been advised of the receipt of a grant from Quartet of £1290. The Committee’s balance at 11/09/07 was £2062.94
Bank Reconciliation; Councillors had sight of the figures to the end of June, signed by Peter Davies, the internal auditor.