Bishop's Castle Town Council Meeting 08/01/2008
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP’S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 8TH JANUARY 2008 AT 8.OO PM.
PRESENT Councillor J. E. Gaffney, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: J. M. Carroll, S.A. Farr, M. Furber, J.E. Gaffney, N. Hird, M. E. Holton,
J.A. Magill, Dr. G.N.St.J. Penney, and M. Stanley.
In attendance: Mrs. J. Ince
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Resolved The following apologies were accepted: Cllr. Pinches and Cllr. Wright. Proposed by Cllr. Furber, seconded by Cllr. Holton.
2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest:
Cllrs Gaffney, Stanley, Magill and Carroll all declared personal interests in item 6a as they are a friend and neighbour of the applicant.
Cllr. Dr. Penney declared a prejudicial interest in item 6a as he is a personal friend of the applicant and an objector to the application.
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Item 19, line 4 delete “not”.
Cllr. Carroll.
The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.
a) Meeting of 4th December 2007
Item 8 - Letter of congratulations on Quality Status from Paul Collins.
Item 10 - Reply from Kate Adams, SSDC regarding street cleansing. If Councillors or residents see litter problems they should report them to the District Council.
Item 13 - Letters from Shropshire Waste Partnership and Veolia Shropshire Ltd regarding Crowgate Recycling Centre. Cllr. Hird reqested that a Council representative meets with Mark Hunter when he visits the recycling centre.
b) Meeting of 18th December 2007
The Mayor, Cllr. Gaffney explained that David Bone has now written saying he will not be taking up the post of Town Clerk. After consultation with all members of the interviewing panel the Clerk has approached Madeleine Denton and offered her the position, subject to ratification at the next Council meeting. She has gladly accepted. It was agreed by a show of hands that this is acceptable to Councillors. Councillors were also in agreement that Mrs Denton shadow the Clerk in January.
5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK:
Heather Willis item 6a - Castle Street section. Mrs Willis explained that she is in favour of affordable housing. She has no objection to the three houses on Castle Street as they are an extension of the houses already on the street. She objects to the other three houses as they will be visible from a distance. She went on to explain that Bishop’s Castle is unique in its position as it sits in a dip and cannot be seen from a distance. The position of these three houses would change that.
Mr Townshend - item 6a - Mr Townshend explained that he is a newcomer to Town and surprised by this development. His objections were that the houses were too tall, the junction of the access road with station Street would be very dangerous and that there is only one car space per house. Also the design of the houses is not very attractive. He went on to say he felt the Town needed affordable houses.
6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
To consider response to:-
a) 1/07/20188/F Planning permission(Full) Erection of 12 x dwellings (including 6 x affordable dwellings); formation of vehicular and pedestrian access and alterations to existing vehicular access.
Land to the rear of 34-36 High Street and Sumach, Station Street and land at Castle green, Bishop’s Castle. Mr R Davies and Mrs J Davies.
Letters of objection were read from Judith Hollier and John Townshend, Margot Daniels on behalf of the Civic Society, Mr & Mrs Cooke, Matthew Evans and Mrs Green.
The Mayor, Cllr. Gaffney explained that he has spoken to Alan Davies at the Planning Policy Unit, South Shropshire District Council. Mr Davies has said that having the two sites on one application was a way of getting the 50% for affordable housing. The South Shropshire Housing Association will own the affordable houses when built. Cllr. Gaffney said he has also spoken to Stuart Taylor, our Planning Officer at South Shropshire District Council. Mr Taylor said there will be a drainage plan to address the concerns of |Mrs Green and a cross section showing issues of height of the ground, addressing concerns about retaining walls etc. Planners have asked for landscaping for the Castle Green site.
Cllr. Stanley said it was a difficult moral dilemma. We need to see more affordable housing but she feels this is an over development of the Station Street site. She feels 4 x 2 bed houses with the use of the existing road would be better. She does not like the division of affordable and open market housing. Cllr. Carroll said she welcomes the affordable housing on Castle Street. It is a small site on exception land but wonders why this particular piece of the applicants land was chosen as access onto Montgomery Road is not good. She said she is opposed to the access road onto Station Street as there will be poor visibility. Use of the existing lane would be preferable. Cllr. Magill said she is opposed to the Castle Green site as the access onto Montgomery Road is very dangerous. There is a need for affordable housing but the Station Street site is over developed. The three bed houses have very small gardens. Cllr. Holton feels the access to Station Street will be very dangerous.
Resolved (unanimous) An objection on the following grounds:-.
a) Division of application across two sites.
b) Station Street is an over development.
c) Station Street access is dangerous.
d) The development will be an intrusion on neighbours.
e) Very little garden space.
f) Concerns regarding the retaining wall adjacent to Prospect House.
g) Concern over storm drainage from site.
h) Only one parking space per property.
h) Castle Green site - safety issues regarding access,
i) Elevated position of Castle Green site.
Proposed by the Mayor, Cllr. Gaffney, seconded by Cllr. Magill.
b) 1/07/20173/LB Listed Building Consent. (Delegated matter) Removal of bay window and insertion of entrance door and steps; replace window.
26A High Street, Bishop’s Castle. Mr I A Frost.
A letter was read from Mrs Daniel on behalf of the Civic Society.
Resolved An objection on the grounds that this application does not comply with the original planning application and continues to be unsafe. Proposed by Cllr. Carroll, seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney.
c) 1/07/20230/TC Tree works (conservation area) Felling of a leylandi.
Castle Cottage, 1 Castle Street, Bishop’s Castle. G Hamer.
Resolved No objection. Proposed by Cllr. Carroll, seconded by Cllr. Farr.
d) Application by the County Council seeking planning permission.
Installation of 10-bay demountable building to provide “early years” childcare and “childrens’s centre” facilities, with parking area, play areas and security fencing at Bishop’s Castle Primary School, Oak Meadow, Bishop’s Castle.
Resolved No objection. Proposed by Cllr. Carroll, seconded by Cllr. Stanley. Concerns were expressed on the limited size of the building for the Crowgate nursery compared with the large parking area.
e) Any other plans - none
f) Reports of Planning Applications.
(i) 1/07/19924/F Planning permission (full) Erection of a conservatory,
The Grange, Kerry Lane, Bishop’s Castle. Mr Tilling.
Planning permission refused.
(ii) 1/07/20146/F Planning permission (Full) (Delegated matter) Erection of an extension and alterations to dwelling and errection of a domestic garage.
Brooklyn House, Woodbatch Lane, Bishop’s Castle. Mr R. A. Kimber.
Planning permission granted.
(iii) 1/07/20114/F Planning permission (full) Erection of an extension to dwelling.
14 Corporation Street, Bishop’s Castle. Mrs D Collins.
Planning permission granted.
(iv) 1/07/20069/F Planning permission (full) Erection of a log store with roof top seating area. (delegated matter)
10 Welsh Street, Bishop’s Castle. Lynn Townsend.
Planning permission granted.
(v) 1/07/20112/TC Tree works (conservation area) (Delegated matter) Felling of an acacia, a western hemlock, a silver birch and two pine trees, loping a maple.
The Middle Bailey, Bull Lane, Bishop’s castle. Mrs G Roberts.
Consent granted.
12. AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY
Paul Sutton, Managing Director, South Shropshire Housing Association spoke to Council about the Affordable Housing Policy. He explained that although the successful applicants for Drews Leasow are subject to local criteria the three Housing Association properties that subsequently fell vacant on oak Meadow are not subject to this criteria. The Housing Association has a statutory obligation to hold a waiting list and allocate property on a Choice based lettings scheme. He then went on to explain the letting procedure for Drews Leasow. He explained that of those properties allocated by the Housing Association 76% of the applicants travelled less than 10 miles to their new home and 39% less than one mile. Several questions were asked about individual lettings in the Town which Mr Sutton could not answer because of Data Protection but said if queries were sent to him he would make enquires. He went on to explain that two of the at cost equity mortgage properties were still unsold because of mortgage difficulties. Only Nationwide is willing to lend and they don’t want to be only lender. If these cannot be sold they will be converted into rented properties. This has serious financial implications for the Housing Association. The properties for rent were over subscribed.
7. REPORT BY COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
Cllr. Georgie Ellis reported on the following:-
Crowgate recycling centre. She has spoken to Bill Jones, South Shropshire District Council about the Town Council running the recycling centre. He was not very keen but Cllr. Ellis is trying to convince him that Bishop’s Castle gets things done. She asked if a programme could be drawn up as to how it would be achieved.
Crowgate Nursery - Cllr. Ellis explained £350,000 of Government money is available for nursery provision. If it is not spent by June it will be taken back.
Primary school reorganisation - Cllr. Ellis suggested that any lobbying should be to Jim Knight, Schools Minister, especially on the unfair funding for Shropshire.
Abattoir - A feasibility study has been commissioned as to how easy it will be to get it up and running. There are local people with money available to do it.
Cllr. Ellis then congratulated the Mayor on the work he has done for the setting up of the Community Land Trust.
Cllr. Ellis has been selected as a member of the Joint Implementation Board for Unitary. She is to work on the Local Framework Development Plan.
8. CLERKS CONTRACT
Resolved Approval of the revised contract for the Clerk recommended by NALC. (see attached) Proposed by Cllr. Magill, seconded by Cllr. Furber.
9. SLOW SIGNS
Resolved To ask the County Council for “slow” signs along the A488 between the far entrance to the Community College and the far side of the kennels junction.
Proposed by Cllr. Carroll, seconded by Cllr. Magill.
Cllr. Magill asked that the request for lights on the junctions of the A488 be followed up. Cllr. Dr. Penney asked the Clerk to contact Ian Rutherford, Shropshire County Council to request the removal of the signs for the Pines Trust.
10.YOUTH COUNCIL
Resolved This Council moves towards setting up a Youth Council. Cllr. Carroll to investigate with the help of Irene Stelfox, Youth leader. Proposed by Cllr. Carroll, seconded by Cllr. Magill.
11. ACCOUNTS –
It was proposed by Cllr. Dr. Penney that the following accounts are all accepted. Seconded by Cllr. Farr and approved.
13. REPORT OF RECENT MEETINGS ATTENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
Cllr. Stanley reported on a meeting of Enterprise South West Shropshire - It is restructuring the Board. The main board will have 32 directors and meet three times a year. It will represent the arts, sport, education, six formers at the College, Land Trust etc. It will represent all the interests of Bishops Castle. There will be an Executive Committee with six members. They will be the “doers”. It will consist of Cllr. Carroll, Cllr. Peter Phillips,
Rev. Paul Collins, Grant Perry, Ray Pahl and one other. The Town Council has not been invited to supply a representative on the Executive Committee. The full Board will come up with a strategy which will address the regeneration role.
14a) CORRESPONDENCE.
(i) West Mercia Police Authority - re meetings on policing policy 2008.
(ii) SALC Courses for Councillors.
(iii) Letter from Cllr Peter Phillips re gritting at Bankshead.
b) Circulation
(i) Agenda and minutes of Shropshire Association of Parish and Town Councils.
(ii) LCR
(iii) West Mercia Police Authority - Your Views Count.
(iv) The Town hall, Bishop’s Castle by Patricia Theobald
The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 10.00 p.m.