ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Planning Meeting

Thursday 4th November 2010 at 7.15 pm in the Red House

 

Minutes of the Albrighton Parish Council planning meeting held on Thursday 4th November at 7.15 pm in the Red House.

 

PRESENT: Cllrs. D Beechey (Chair), M Pate (Vice Chair), G Beechey, R Blincoe, S Brown,

M Holden, D Johnson, P Lusk, J MacLachlan, J Nelson, S Pate, S Pledger.

 

PUBLIC SESSION:

 

No members of the public were in attendance. Cllr. D Beechey took the opportunity to raise the issue of the Council Christmas dinner and a number of possible venues were discussed. It was agreed that Cllr. D Beechey would make further investigations with regard to a dinner on 13/14th January 2011.

 

1.      APOLOGIES:

 

Cllrs. N Hester, P Illes, D Murray.

 

Each apology was accepted by the council.

 

2.      WELCOME TO THE NEW CO-OPTED COUNCILLOR MRS SABRINA BROWN AND CONDUCT THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF OFFICE:

 

The Chairman welcomed Mrs Sabrina Brown to the meeting and wished her every success in her new role. Cllr. Brown signed the Declaration of Office which was witnessed by the clerk.

 

3.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

 

Personal

 

             Cllr. D Beechey declared a personal interest in agenda item 15, 10/04693/TPO

             Cllr. J MacLachlan declared a personal interest in agenda item 15, 10/04693/TPO

             Cllr. J Nelson declared a personal interest in agenda item 15, 10/04375/FUL

 

             Prejudicial

 

             None

 

 

 

 

4.      LDF IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND LOCAL INVESTMENT PLAN “ALBRIGHTON PLACE PLAN”:

 

The Chairman reported that plan had been produced after consideration of the responses made to the earlier draft. All of the responses from the Parish Council had been included in the new report although aspects of the plan had now become out of date, particularly the section dealing with DCAE Cosford. However, Cllr. D Beechey felt that the plan was a useful document which members would no doubt wish to return to and it was helpful to those members involved with the production of a new village appraisal.

 

5.      LAND AT CLOCKMILLS, ALBRIGHTON – DETAILS OF A NEW DRAFT LEASE FOR THE CLOCKMILLS FOOTBALL PITCH FROM SEVERN TRENT WATER:

 

Cllr. Lusk reported that the lease was essentially the same as previous versions except that there was now a liability on the Parish Council for legal and surveying costs. The lease could still be cancelled via a break clause with a year’s notice and Cllr. Lusk reminded members that the cost of the 2010/11 lease had already been paid by the council. Cllr. Nelson said that the suggested legal costs were very high and Severn Trent Water seemed to be treating the new lease as a business tenancy and putting the whole matter on a new, more commercial, basis. The Parish Council could still not make any investment on to the site with a twelve month break clause and the lease offered very little security. The clerk reported that ALS had agreed to provide an estimate for upgrading the football pitch to senior football standard and a representative was due to inspect the facility on 8th November. Members agreed that the best way forward was to wait for the quotation from ALS and then press Severn Trent Water for a better arrangement.

 

6.      MARKET TOWNS REVITALISATION PROGRAMME:

 

Cllr. M Pate reported that Shropshire Council wanted to revitalise the market towns to offer good services, more jobs, improved transport and to protect the cultural heritage and the environment and were offering grants to facilitate agreed changes. The larger market towns of Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Shrewsbury had already been considered and the focus was now moving towards the smaller market towns including Albrighton. Bids could be made for a sum up to £50,000 and two bids could secure grants up to £75,000. Shropshire members were responsible for putting forward proposals for their area and submissions had to be received by March 2011 in time for the allocations in April 2011. Cllr. M Pate thought that phase 2 of the Red House redevelopment was an obvious proposal from Albrighton. Cllr. Pledger asked about funding to help bolster school sports but this was not appropriate as revenue costs could not financed from this scheme. Proposals from Donington would be addressed to Cllr. West representing the Shifnal area. Cllr. M Pate said that visits will take place in December/January and a wide number of organisations will be invited to identify priorities.

 

 

 

 

7.      TIMING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON 18TH NOVEMBER TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE ALBRIGHTON TRADERS CHRISTMAS EVENING OPENING:

 

The chairman informed members that the Albrighton Traders were trying a limited pilot of evening openings in the east of the village on 18th November. In order to show support of this initiative Councillors agreed to delay the start of their meeting until 7.30 pm for the public session with the formal agenda starting at 7.45 pm.

 

 

 

8.      CONSIDERATION OF THE WINTER SERVICE REVIEW BY SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL:

 

The extra resourcing, including more salt, made for the winter months by Shropshire Council was noted.

 

9.      CONSIDERATION OF HONORARY TITLE AND OFFICES OF DIGNITY AND THEIR POSSIBLE APPLICATION TO LOCAL RESIDENTS:

 

Members noted that there had been recent changes to the legislation on honorary titles which could now be awarded by all councils. Cllr. Holden thought that the suggestion From Mr Peter Leigh for the award of titles to one or two local people was a kind thought but there were so many people who could be described as deserving that awarding an honour to a few was fraught with difficulty and could cause considerable problems for the council. Members agreed and the clerk was asked to write to Mr. Peter Leigh informing him that the council did not intend to follow up his proposal.

 

10.  REQUEST FOR THE PARISH COUNCIL TO CONDUCT A PARKING SURVEY BY THE ALBRIGHTON AND DISTRICT CIVIC SOCIETY:

 

Cllr. M Pate said that some people felt that there was inadequate parking in the village while others felt that there was no problem. He felt that some difficulties existed at the parade of shops in the east of the village but hard evidence was needed in order to assess the scale of the problem. Cllr. Pledger felt that parking regulations needed to be rigidly enforced and Cllr. Nelson said that any survey would need to be done by an independent and expert organisation. Cllr. M Pate agreed to contact the Highways Department of Shropshire Council and enquire whether they would be able to conduct some kind of survey on behalf of the Parish Council.

 

11.  PROPOSALS FOR THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCES IN SHROPSHIRE:

 

The letter from Shropshire Council was considered by members and the clerk explained how the conveniences in the central parking area were managed. It was agreed that the clerk should write to Mr Steve Brown asking what resources might be devolved to the Parish Council and how that would work with a system managed by an outside contractor.

 

 

 

12.  ENVIRONMENTAL MAINTENANCE DEEP CLEANING INITIATIVE:

 

Mr Peter Leigh had made a list of street scene improvements that he felt were needed which had been distributed to the Parish Council and Shropshire Council. This included painting lamp posts, improvements to bus shelters and street signs. The letter from Shropshire Council asking for suggestions for a deep cleaning initiative in the village on 24th November was considered and Councillors were clear that the overall priority was to spray weeds and grass in the centre of the village and adjoining alleyways that was growing between paving slabs and block paving. The clerk was asked to write to Shropshire Council asking that this work be undertaken on 24th November.

 

13.  CONSIDERATION OF A QUOTATION FOR FOOTWAY RESURFACING AT MILLERS GREEN, ALBRIGHTON SUBMITTED BY MR GRAHAM DOWNES ON BEHALF OF SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL:

 

The quotation for the repair of the footpath leading to Millers Green from Mr Graham Downes was considered. Council accepted the cost of £2,280.69 for the removal of tree roots and the reinstatement of the footpath and members asked that it should be done at the same time as the work at the top of Wolverley Court. The clerk was asked to contact Mr Downes and ask for this work to be completed at the earliest opportunity.

 

14.  TO ARRANGE SUITABLE DATES FOR THE INITIAL MEETINGS OF NEW WORKING PARTIES AND AGREE A BRIEF FOR THOSE INVOLVED:

 

Working party on the establishment of extra allotments (Cllrs. D Beechey, D Johnson,

D Murray, J Nelson, Mr. John Foster).

 

Wednesday 1st December at 7.00 pm at the Parish Office.

 

Working party on the encouragement of tourism in the area (Cllrs. S Brown, N Hester,

J MacLachlan, J Nelson, M Pate plus representatives from the Albrighton Traders Association.

 

Wednesday 1st December at 8.00 pm in the Parish Office.

 

15.  PLANNING:

 

Planning applications:

 

10/04375/FUL Erection of a domestic garage 2 Whiston Close, Albrighton.

 

No objections.

 

10/04548/COU Change of use from A1 (retail) to A3 (cafe) 11 Station Road, Albrighton.

 

Members voiced concerns about parking, drinking on the pavement, the long opening hours and the music licence associated with this application. After discussion Cllr. M Pate proposed that the council should support this application while registering concerns about drinking on the pavements, the music licence and the opening hours. Cllr. Nelson seconded the proposal which was unanimously agreed.

 

10/04580/FUL Erection of a two storey side extension and monopitch roof over existing single storey rear extension Briary Croft, Cross Road, Albrighton.

 

No objections.

 

10/04693/TPO Removal of 1 x lower branch & light reshape on west side of 1 x Yew Tree protected by The Bridgnorth District Council (Station Road, Albrighton No 2) Tree Preservation Order 1981 54 Station Road, Albrighton.

 

No objections.

 

Cllr. D Beechey went on to inform members of the opening of a tattoo parlour in the High Street, Albrighton which would need planning permission for change of use.

 

Cllr. M Pate raised concerns over the entrance/exit to a circus tent on the A41 which was at a dangerous point on the highway and could lead to an accident. It was agreed that the matter would be raised with Mr Brian Bennett of Shropshire Council on 5th November and the Chairman would talk to the police.

 

16.  CORRESPONDENCE:

 

Members were informed that there would be a service on 11th November and 14th November at the war memorial.

 

An email on sustainable communities was noted and members agreed to refer a project on National Tree Planting to the Civic Society. It was agreed that representatives from “Say Yes” would make a presentation to the council at the planning meeting on 2nd December.

 

17.  TIMES AND DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS:

 

·        Remembrance Sunday 14th November 2010 at 10.15 pm at the Red House.

·        Parish Council meeting Thursday 18th November 2010 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.

·        Parish Council planning meeting Thursday 2nd December 2010 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.

 

There being no more business the meeting closed at 8.50 pm.

 

 

 

 

Signed............................................................................Date................................................

Chairman