Milverton Parish Council 11th July

Here are some brief notes about tonights meeting.


Planning
Planning applications were passed at The Old Dairy Ford Bridge and Bickely Farm.
A sub Committee was set up to look at the Core Strategy and advise on the consultation response.
The Chairman will speak at the TDBC Planning Committee meeting that discusses the Runnington Proposal.

Roads
Following Somerset County Council's offer of Small Transport  Scheme funding the Parish Council put forward a proposal to improve England's Corner. This is being regarded as the 3rd priority by SCC.
Following representations from a Preston Bowyer resident about speeding the Parish Council will request that the Milverton Traffic Action Group has a look at the situation.
Councillors expressed satisfaction with the resurfacing of Parsonage Lane.

Councillors expressed support for the proposed Car Share scheme.

Tree Warden
A renewed request will be placed in the Parish Magazine.

Kingsmead School Volunteers
Councillors were delighted with the efforts of the Kingsmead volunteers in clearing the Millennium Benches and the roundabout verges. The project was so successful that there are hopes that it will become an annual event.

Finance 
Thanks were offered to  Councillor Jenkins for setting up the PAYE system. In order to carry this work forward a Human Resources sub-committee was established.

Agenda July 11th

AGENDA

Questions from the Public

1. Apologies
2. Minutes
3. Declarations of Interest and Matters Arising from minutes
4. Planning

a) Applications for Parish Council Decision (See Below)

b) Applications for Parish Council Comment (See Below)

c) Other Planning Matters

5. Victoria Rooms Grant Request
6. Crime
7. Roads

a) Monthly Report

b) Preston Bowyer Speeding

8. Footpaths
9. New Play Area
10. Proposed Car Share Scheme
11. Tree Warden
12. Milverton School Governance
13. Civil Contingencies Emergency Planning
14. Allotments
15. Correspondence

a) For Information

b) For action/Resolution

16. Finance

a) Monthly report for June

b) Resolution for New Signatories for Bank of Ireland

c) Insurance 2011/12

17. Affordable Housing (Confidential Item)
18. Matters to Report

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT

PLANNING APPLICATIONSPLANNING APPLICATIONS

TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990

For Decision By The Parish Council

1. 23/11/0018 ERECTION OF SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION AT THE OLD DAIRY, FORD BRIDGE, MILVERTON

2. 23/11/0014 CHANGE OF USE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO DOMESTIC CURTILAGE, ERECTRION OF DOMESTIC STORE AND OFFICE AND CHANGE OF USE OF AGRICULTURAL BUILDING TO DOMESTIC STORE AND WORKSHOP AT BICKLEY FARM, MILVERTON

For Comment By the Parish Council

3. 23/11/0020T NOTIFICATION TO FELL ONE BIRCH TREE WITHIN THE MILVERTON CONSERVATION AREA AT FORT COTTAGE, ST MICHAELS HILL, MILVERTON

Brief Report of June Meeting

 

Madam Chairman reported that she and the Vice Chairman had recently attended a Chairmanship course organised by SALC and she thought it an opportune moment to refresh the protocols surrounding Parish Council meetings.

The meeting is for Councillors and apart from the (unminuted) public question at the start only they should speak.

Questions or statements from the public should only be taken in the the meeting starts if there is a specific point upon which a member of the public has specialist knowledge.

 

Planning

A planning site visit took place on 9^th June which was attended by Madam Chairman, Mrs Burton, Mrs McHardy, Mr Phelps, Mr Gauntlett, Mr Ainsworth-Smith and the Clerk. 

For Decision By The Parish Council

23/11/0011 ERECTION OF TWO WOODEN GATES AT SNUG VIEW, SILVER STREET, MILVERTON

Councillors approved the application subject to the conditions set out in the Planning Officer Report.

23/11/0007 ERECTION OF FRONT GATES AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND PAVING OF DRIVEWAY AT PEEL HOUSE, SILVER STREET, MILVERTON

Councillors approved the application subject to the conditions set out in the Planning Officer Report.

23/22/0012 ERECTION OF A TWO STOREY EXTENSION AND CONSTRUCTION OF DORMER WINDOW AT DAVY'S CLOSE, BUTTS WAY, MILVERTON

Councillors approved the application subject to the conditions set out in the Planning Officer Report. 

For Comment By The Parish Council

 23/11/0016T NOTIFICATION TO RAISE THE CANOPY OF A COPPER BEECH TREE WITHIN THE MILVERTON CONSERVATION AREA AT FORT COTTAGE, ST MICHAELS HILL, MILVERTON

Councillors had no objection to the proposal but asked that the work be carried out in the autumn.

26.2.2 23/11/0001 APPROVAL OF RESERVED MATTERS FOR THE ERECTION OF DWELLING TO SUPPORT PHEASANT REARING ENTERPRISE AT THE OLD QUARRY, FORD BRIDGE, MILVERTON (AS PER APPLICATION 23/07/0045)

Councillors had no objection to the proposal.

 

Somerset Strategic Housing Land Assessment

Madam Chairman and Cllr Wren then lead a discussion on the

• The Current Local Plan
• The Emerging Core Strategy
• Strategic Housing Assessment and its implications
• A Neighbourhood Plan for Milverton

The current Local Plan is still relevant but gradually policies are being phased out. The latest version of the Emerging Core Strategy sets out which ones are still current, which are obsolete and which are superseded.

The Emerging Core Strategy was being considered by TDBC on 15^th June with a view to it being sent for a final public consultation in July and August. Subject to minor amendments the final version would be considered by a Government Inspector at and Examination in Public in the spring. It would be up to the Inspector to call for evidence.

The Strategic Housing Assessment sets out 2 areas in the village that could be used for residential development from the mid 2020s; they are the Creedwell site (15 units) and land between the Wiveliscombe Road and High Street (30 units). The Assessment is intended to give TDBC an idea of potentially development land beyond the life of the Core Strategy. However, the existence of these recommendations has caused considerable concern to neighbouring residents.

In the context Cllr Wren recommended that the Parish refresh its Parish Plan and adding sections with a view to developing it into a Neighbourhood Plan in due course when the Localism Bill was passed. However, he warned that it would need a good number of volunteers to help push it forward.

Madam Chairman summed up the discussion saying that the village needed a 'neighbourhood plan' to go forward with so as to be able to take advantage (or be ready for) any detailed proposals that arose out of the Core Strategy. If the Parish's submission was good enough then representatives

might be called to give evidence to the inspector.

It was agreed that the Parish Council would lead a process to refresh the Parish Plan. Cllr Wren agreed to set out some headings to allow work to start. Councillors Jenkins, Cottrell, Hannaford and Hendy all offered to assist.

Crime

The Clerk read PC Jo Jeffreys report for Milverton and North Deane Beat

19/5 Malicious communications offence in Milverton

31/5 Criminal Damage to a fence in Bagborough

One neighbour dispute, informally resolved.

 

Roads

The Clerk read a letter from Mr Coombes of Wood Street which he had sent to the Highways Department suggesting improvements to speed limits on Wood Street and the Wiveliscombe Road.

The Clerk reported a 5 day road closure between Raleghs Cross and Elworthy from 20^th June.

Cllr McMahon reported that SCC Highways had a small pot of money for minor highway improvements (eg signage, parking improvements, one way systems etc.)and invited the Parish Council to send him proposals before 27^th June.

Various suggestions were aired and it was agreed that they would be forwarded to him by the deadline.

 

Footpaths

Monthly Report

As time was pressing Mrs Lumby deferred her monthly report and indicted that there were no pressing issues apart from the Creedwell footpath that was becoming choked with nettles.

Allocation of Footpaths

Mrs Lumby is seeking volunteers to manage individual footpaths. Volunteers need to be registered with SCC. She acknowledged that they may need to be categorised according to how much they were prepared to do for example those who just inspect and those who would be prepared to undertake repairs and maintenance.

She reported that SCC had offered to donate a strimmer to allow parishes to carry out their own clearance. Training and PPE would be provided. Mrs Lumby would advertise this opportunity in the Parish magazine.

She also reported that there would be a meeting on 15^th to discuss the best way to use the Kingsmead volunteers.

Millennium Benches

Mrs Lumby said that she hoped that the Kingsmead students would be prepared to help clear the benches and if all went well this could possible become an annual task.