ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Planning Meeting

Thursday 6th October 2011 at 7.15pm in the Red House

 

Minutes of the Albrighton Parish Council planning meeting held on 6th October 2011 at

7.15 pm in the Red House.

 

PRESENT: Cllrs D Beechey (Chairman), M Pate (Vice Chair), N Hester, M Holden, D Johnson,
P Lusk, J MacLachlan, D Murray, J Nelson, S Pledger.

 

PUBLIC SESSION – PRESENTATION BY MR J BERRIMAN, SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL:

 

After being welcomed to the meeting by the Chairman Mr Berriman started by telling members that the Government had indicated there was money available for Neighbourhood Plans and Shropshire’s five schemes had each been awarded £20,000 in order to develop their proposals. The Government had worked with Front Runner authorities to take an experimental approach and no predetermined end had been formulated. Ministers felt that the current planning arrangements held back growth and development and were a bar to progress. The Localism Bill should become law by April but the associated regulations were not yet available. Under the legislation communities would be able to initiate developments and Neighbourhood Plans would be formal planning documents and have equal status to current plans. A Neighbourhood Plan had to have regard to EU legislation and local strategic plans and they had the potential to cause controversy between those people who wished to protect the status quo and those who wished to press for development. There could be considerable costs associated with the development of such plans and Mr Berriman stated that Shropshire Council envisaged a continuum between local parish plans and statutory Neighbourhood Plans. The county would not develop plans for parishes but was ready to offer advice and guidance and it would bid on behalf of a project and pass the money on to those organisations involved in the development of the plan. Any new bid would need to have distinguishing features and a parish could work with a registered company or other organisations which could be of interest to the county.

 

Cllr. Pate registered some concern over the status of the green belt in this new climate and Cllr. Murray stated that the white land at the eastern end of the village could be used as part of a plan to ensure that community priorities were established. Mr Berriman said that more consultation was due to take place in January 2012 so discussions were already in progress. Neighbourhood Plans could build on these discussions and the council would need to establish development priorities for the community. He stated that section 106 money has now been spent in the county and the Government is discontinuing this procedure and encouraging the use of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in the future. This would comprise a levy on every residential building to be spent in the local community on projects agreed by the local council with 90% of the levy charged being returned to source. There was also be an existing levy for affordable housing. Cllr Lusk asked for clarification on some issues associated with the levy and outlined the problems for development in the area. He argued that there was a strong case for a Neighbourhood Plan given the uncertainty over the future of Cosford and he wondered whether the MOD might become involved at some point in the future. In response to questions from the floor Mr Berriman stated that the green belt was still in place and the ratio of affordable housing in future developments was being discussed in December. He said that a company in Shropshire had already expressed interest in becoming involved in Neighbourhood Planning and it might be possible to develop a project with the Parish Council and make a submission in time for the deadline in November.

 

Councillor Beechey stated that this was a positive development and he thanked Mr Berriman for his presentation which had proved most helpful.

 

1.      APOLOGIES:

 

Cllrs. G Beechey (on holiday), Blincoe (business appointment), Brown (family reasons), Illes (on holiday), S Pate (social appointment).

 

Each apology was accepted by the Council.

 

2.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

 

Personal:

 

Cllr. Pate declared a personal interest in agenda item 6.

 

Prejudicial:

 

Cllr. Hester declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 3, planning application 11/03904/FUL.

 

3.      PLANNING:

 

Planning applications:

 

11/04017/FUL Application under section 73a of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the erection of boundary fencing (retrospective), 19 Bushfield Road, Albrighton.

 

The Council objected to this application on the grounds that the fence was too high adjacent to the pavement. Members felt that a site visit was necessary and the application should be considered by the planning committee.

 

It was agreed that an article on planning regulations would be put into the Parish Magazine as soon as possible.

 

11/03904/FUL Alterations to existing vehicular access (on to High House Lane) to include erection of 2m gates/piers and 1m high boundary wall, Field House, Beamish Lane, Albrighton.

 

Cllr Hester left the meeting for this item.

 

The Council objected to this application on the grounds that proposed development did not fit into a rural setting and was designed for a more urban location.

 

11/03868/FUL Erection of a single storey extension to rear elevation and roof alterations to existing extension, 1 Lyncroft, Albrighton.

 

Cllr. Hester returned for this item and the rest of the meeting.

 

No objection.

 

11/04197/FUL Relocation of shop front entrance and formation of access ramp, 83A High Street, Albrighton.

 

The Council objected to this application on the grounds that the proposed ramp to the new entrance was a danger to motorised scooter users and extended too close to the road.

 

Grant permission:

 

11/01346/FUL Erection of two storey extension to side elevation and detached garage, 10 Meeson Close, Albrighton.

 

Received and noted.

 

11/01571/LBC Works to facilitate installation of a DDA Compliant Customer Information System incorporating CIS displays and PA speakers, Station Building, Station Road, Albrighton.

 

Received and noted.

 

11/01578/LBC works to facilitate replacement Help Points to platform 1 and 2, Station, Station Road, Albrighton.

 

Received and noted.

 

11/01578/VAR Variation of condition no 2 attached to planning permission BR09/0002 to allow for variation of house type, 18 Cross Road, Albrighton.

 

Received and noted.

 

 

11/02663/FUL Erection of a tractor storage building, land to the rear of 33 High Street, Albrighton.

 

Received and noted.

 

Members discussed the implications of the decision to no longer send paper plans to the Council and the possible use of a projector to show plans downloaded from the website.

 

4.      CONSIDERATION OF THE CONTENTS OF THE PRESENTATION BY Mr JAKE BERRIMAN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING BY ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL:

 

Councillors were unanimous that the possibility of working with an outside body should be investigated and Cllr. Nelson was adamant that the status quo was not a valid  proposition and members needed to work to support local businesses. Cllr. Lusk agreed to contact Mr Berriman to investigate further the possibility of working with a registered company and report back to the Council at the earliest opportunity.

 

5.      CONSIDERATION OF THE ABSENCE OF A FIRE BREAK BETWEENTHE NEW FAST FOOD OUTLET IN THE OLD ALBRIGHTON LIBRARY AND THE FLAT ABOVE AND POSSIBLE REPRESENTATIONS TO BUILDING CONTROL:

 

The Chairman said that he had contacted building control over this issue but they had not been concerned about the matter. Cllr. Nelson said that these breaches in building control had been noted some time ago and nothing had been done. Cllr. Pate proposed that the Council should write to the fire authority and copy the letter to building control. The proposal was seconded and agreed by Council.

 

Action: the Clerk to write to the fire authority and copy as directed.

 

6.      DISCUSSION OF PHASE 3 PLANS FOR THE RED HOUSE MADE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION FROM 1ST OCTOBER 2011 FOR TWO WEEKS.

 

Cllr. Lusk asked whether the plans precluded the movement of the Parish Office into the Red House as the kitchen was still in place and there was no possibility of an open plan office. Cllr. Holden felt that the plans were a considerable improvement making the building lighter and much suitable for events like weddings. The frontage was much improved. Cllr. Nelson was concerned that the main entrance was not the focal point of the building and that the bar counter to the main room was too small, making the foyer the primary licensed area. Cllr. Pledger felt that with improved signing the main entrance would be sufficiently visible and she suggested a meeting between the Red House Management Committee and the Parish Council to discuss the details. Cllr. Murray asked whether there would be a screen in the function room and Cllr. Hester said that the Council needed to decide whether the Parish Office should move into the Red House before any meeting took place.

 

Action: the next agenda should contain an item on the future location of the Parish Office.

 

 

 

 

7.      AGREEMENT ON THE DATE FOR THE EXTRA PARISH COUNCIL MEETING IN NOVEMBER TO CONSIDER GRANTS, SECTION 137, DRAFT BUDGET AND THE PRECEPT FOR 2012/13

 

Members agreed to move the main Council meeting in November from the 17th to the 24th in order to avoid a clash with the Traders’ Christmas Extravaganza. It was agreed that the extra meeting to discuss financial issues would on 10th November.

 

8.      UPKEEP OF THE BRIDLE PATH BEHIND THE HARP PUBLIC HOUSE:

 

Cllr. Holden passed round photographs of the bridle path showing how overgrown the path had become. It was no longer possible to ride a horse down the path and the gates could not be opened on horseback. The path needed clearing of undergrowth and overhanging branches. Because the responsibility for the maintenance of the bridle path belonged to Shropshire Council members agreed that they should be contacted and instructed to clear it.

 

Action: the Clerk to write to the Highways Department of Shropshire Council pointing out the problems with the bridle path and seek urgent action on clearing the path of undergrowth and overhanging branches.

 

9.      DRAFT FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT PUBLICATION SCHEME FOR ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL FOR AMENDMENT AND RATIFICATION:

 

A draft Freedom of Information Act Publication Scheme had been previously circulated to all members that complied with the requirements of the 2009 legislation. Councillors accepted the scheme without amendment and ratified its contents. Cllr. Pate stated that he would ensure that the scheme was placed on the Council website.

 

10.  PROPOSALSFROM HYDRO-LOGIC FOR EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS FOR FLOODING IN ALBRIGHTON AND DONINGTON. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION BY MR R KIDSON.

 

Mr Kidson explained how the system was meant to work and provide early warning of possible flooding in the area of the brook behind the Bushfields estate. Members agreed that they had no power to fund such a system but a letter of support should be written to the Shropshire Council Flood Team.

 

Action: the Clerk to write to the Shropshire Council Flood Team recommending the system for installation in the brook in Albrighton.

 

11.  CORRESPONDENCE:

 

For Information:

 

·         Boundary Commission – 2013 Review of Parliamentary constituencies in England.

 

To be placed on the next agenda for further discussion.

 

·         Mrs Andrea Tyreman – car parking on the village green.

 

The Clerk to write to Mrs Tyerman following the recent police intervention.

 

·         CPRE Bridgnorth district – notice of AGM.

 

Received and noted.

 

·         Shropshire Council – garages at Ashgrove.

 

Received and noted.

 

·         Shifnal Town Council – invitation to Mayor’s Charity Ball, 12th November 2011.

 

Received and noted.

 

·         Anglican Church in Southern Africa – appeal for funding for children in Cape Town, South Africa.

 

Received and noted.

 

·         NALC – legal briefing on Data Protection and the future of standards of conduct for members of local authorities.

 

Received and noted.

 

·         ALC – training opportunities, Fundamentals of Chairmanship Skills, Power of Well Being, Fundamentals for Councillors.

 

Cllr. Pledger to attend the course on Fundamentals for Councillors.

 

For action:

 

·         Albrighton Traders’ Association – request for printing and promotional costs for the Christmas Extravaganza.

 

Members agreed to fund the Traders’ costs of £699.28.

 

·         St. Cuthbert’s Church Centre – proposed play and picnic area.

 

Councillors agreed that this was a matter for Donington with Boscobel Parish Council.

 

·         Shropshire Council – supply and install photovoltaic systems.

 

No action to be taken regarding this matter.

 

12.  TIMES AND DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS:

 

·         Parish Council planning meeting 3rd November 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.

·         Parish Council meeting 10th November 2011 to discuss financial matters 7.15 pm in the Red House.

·         Christmas Extravaganza 17th November 2011 6.30 – 9.00 pm in the High Street.

·         Parish Council meeting 24th November 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Chairman