MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 23rd MAY 2006 AT 8.OO PM.

PRESENT Councillor J.M. Carroll, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: M. Davidson - Stanley, R.A. Evans, S.A. Farr, J.E. Gaffney, J.A. Magill,
W. J. Morris, Dr. G.N.St.J. Penney and R.D. Wright.
In attendance: Mrs. J. Ince, Town Clerk.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from Cllr. Blundell), Cllr. Hird,
Cllr. Pinches

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest:
Cllr. Farr declared interests in items 6a and 6c as he is a Governor at the College.
Cllr. Morris declared an interest in item 6c as the applicant is a working associate.
Cllr. Gaffney declared a personal interest in item 9 as he is Chairman of the steering group of the Community Land Trust.

b) Declaration of prejudicial interest:
Cllr. Magill declared a prejudicial interest in item 6b as the applicant is her nephew.
Cllr. Dr. Penney declared a prejudicial interest in item 6d as he owns property in the vicinity.
Cllr. Carroll declared a prejudicial interest in item 11 as the person who raised the issue is a friend.
Cllr. Dr. Penney declared an interest in item 16 as he has a cheque to be approved.
Cllr. Carroll declared an interest in item 16 as she has a cheque to be approved.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
a) Minutes of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 25th April 2006, having been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr. Wright with the following corrections. Seconded by Cllr. Farr.
Item 9, line 5 should read Mrs Furber not Cllr. Furber.

b) Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on Tuesday 9th May 2006, having been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr. Dr. Penney with the following corrections. Seconded by Cllr. Magill.
Item 2 - insert "as a National Health hospital" after "Stone House hospital".
The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.

4. MATTERS ARISING
a) Item 4 - Lights in Welsh Street.- Mrs Roden 14 Welsh Street Gardens has sent a copy of a letter from Day's Solicitor to the Victoria Management Company Ltd. saying that Day's would erect one street light and the Shropshire County Council a second. Ian Rutherford, County Surveyor for the County Council has said he will pursue the matter.
Item 10 - Mr Rutherford has advised that a £30,000 project is due to start on 12th June to repair the sewers in Station St. It will tap into the main culvert in the Auction Yard and go up Station St as far as the hole. If there is enough money it may go up further. The marking for car parking will be completed as soon as the drainage work is completed. Cllr. Morris proposed that a space be left outside the chapel when marking out the parking spaces. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and agreed.

b) Cllr. Carroll thanked those Councillors that attended the Civic Sunday parade and she said she was pleased that so many members of the public were in the parade, especially young people.

5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK: none

6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
a) 1/06/18167/TC Tree works (conservation area) Lift lower crown and removal of branches of oak tree (delegated matter)
Bishop's Castle Community College. Mrs E. Williams
A letter was read from Mrs Daniels, Tree Warden.
Cllr. Gaffney proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

Cllr. Magill left the room.
b) 1/06/18143 Planning permission (full) Erection of an extension to dwelling.
1 Pound Close, Bishop's Castle. A. Evans.
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
Cllr. Magill returned.

c) 1/06/18184/F Planning permission (full) Formation of a football pitch with perimeter fencing and associated access gates and under-pitch drainage. (delegated matter).
Bishop's Castle Community College, Brampton Road, Bishop's Castle. Enterprise South West Shropshire.
A letter was read from Mrs Daniels, Civic Society
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed no objection provided a large splay is provided onto the A488. Seconded by Cllr. Morris and approved.

Cllr. Dr. Penney left the room
d) 1/06/18203/F Planning permission (full). Erection of 12 dwellings
(plots 14 - 17 and 20-27 inc) (revised designs) (committee matter)
The Wintles, Bishop's Castle, Living Villages (BC) Ltd.
A letter was read from Mrs Daniels, Civic Society
Cllr. Gaffney proposed no objections but a comment should be made about the continual unsatisfactory plans. (Plot 23 was mentioned but the Clerk has been advised by the Planning Office that there is no plot 23). Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
Cllr. Dr. Penney returned.

e) Reports of Planning Applications.
(i) 1/05/1195542 The Bakery, Bishop's Castle - Appeal Decision -
Planning permission granted.
(ii) 1/06/18001/F Formation of a balancing lake, The Wintle's, Bishop's Castle.
Planning permission granted.
(iii) 1/06/18073/LB Alterations to dwelling at 2 Welsh Street.
List Building consent granted.

7. CORE STRATEGY, ISSUES AND OPTIONS - COMPLETION OF QUESTIONNAIRE.
Councillors were requested to complete the questionnaire before the meeting.
The Council completed a joint questionnaire. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that the questionnaire be sent off with the yes box ticked for all the questions that received five or more votes. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved. .

8. OFF ROAD VEHICLES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
As part of the development of the Countryside Access Strategy the Shropshire County Council Countryside Access Manager is seeking views on the use of "Green lanes", even if there are not any in our parish.
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that a reply be sent saying that this Council does not wish to encourage the recreational use of Green Lanes by motorised vehicles. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.

9. COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
a) Request for Councillors to help with the distribution of the housing and business survey. (To go out with the newsletter at the beginning of June) Copies will be available at the meeting. Councillors were asked to contact Cllr. Gaffney if there is anything in the survey that they do not approve of by 30th May. Cllr. Magill proposed that Councillors agree to deliver the survey with the newsletters. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
b) Request for a donation of £50 for a prize to be given to a winner picked at random from the returned forms.
A letter of support from the Bishop of Hereford was read.
Cllr. Dr. Wright proposed that a donation of £50 be given as a prize to encourage the return of the forms. Seconded by Cllr. Farr and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK

10. BISHOP'S CASTLE DISTRICT CYCLING CLUB
Request for use of the playing fields on Thursday 22nd June between 7.00pm and 8.30pm.
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved.
ACTION TOWN CLERK

Cllr. Carroll left the room and Cllr. Gaffney took the Chair.
11. AFFORDABLE HOUSES AT BANKS HEAD
Bishop's Castle Town Council requested that Banks Head and Colebatch be put on the 'D' list for development. Banks Head has been omitted. Request for approval to write to South Shropshire District Council asking for it to be included. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed a letter be sent to the District Council. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK
Cllr. Carroll returned.

12. SEWERAGE IN CHUIRCH LANE
Continued problems of drainage in Church Lane have been reported. This has been a long standing problem which was discussed by Councillors. In periods of heavy rain the soak aways become saturated and sewerage overflows on to the lane. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed a letter be sent to the Environment Agency requesting an underground sewerage system for Church Lane. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.

13. ACRE OF LAND AT CROWGATE
Cllr. Carroll updated Council on the developments regarding the allotments. The Shropshire County Council has agreed to a twelve month break clause and a 7.5 year lease. Graham Biggs, Chief Executive, South Shropshire District Council is to arrange for the site to be pegged out and a lease drawn up. Cllr. Carroll outlined the main points on the lease.
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed the Mayor be given the authority to sign the lease when it is available. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
14. WINTLES DEVELOPMENT.
Concern that the workings at the Wintles are causing problems for neighbours.
eg. Unnecessarily noisy working. Noise at night. Residents of Welsh Street not allowed to park on gravel. There was some discussion amongst Councillors about relationships between the Wintles development and the rest of the Town. It was felt that the Town Council should take the responsibility to integrate with the Wintles development and that it would help the integration if the Wintles took down some of their signs. Cllr. Wright proposed a dialogue take place between the Residents Association / Management body and the Town Council. The way to do this to be discussed at the next meeting. Cllr. Davidson-Stanley offered to find out the details of the person to contact. Seconded by Cllr. Farr and approved.
NEXT AGENDA

15. CLOCK TOWER AND BELL
A letter was read from John Morgan saying the work has been completed on the clock but advising that the clock tower may not be structurally sound. We have been advised that a structural engineer should look at it. Cllr. Gaffney proposed that Colin Richards, Conservation Officer, South Shropshire District Council be approached and asked who would be the best person to contact to look at the structure. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.

16. ACCOUNTS
Internal Auditors report.
The Clerk explained that the accounts have passed the internal audit and read out five matters brought to the attention of the Council by the Auditor.

17. REPORT OF RECENT MEETINGS ATTENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
Cllr. Carroll reported on a visit to the Buttercross at Ludlow. The Buttercross has received a Project Planning Grant, Paul Russell, Clerk for Ludlow explained. The way forward for Bishop's Castle is to find out exactly what Wheatley Lines, the architects, did, also costings for things that are required, a complete structural survey and precise measurements of what is here at present. A meeting with Colin Richards, Conservation Officer, South Shropshire District Council should be called as soon as possible.

18.a) CORRESPONDANCE.
i) SCC - Local Transport Plan - final version available
ii) Letter from Thomasina Carlyle Palmer, 28 Brick Meadow regarding the gate and footpath to Bowling Green Close. The Clerk will chase the solicitors organising the moving of the footpath. Cllr. Carroll will arrange to have the metal kissing gate removed.
ACTION TOWN CLERK
iii) SCC - Consultation on draft supplementary guidance on managing waste in new development.
(iv) Lynne Farr, on behalf of the Friends of the Playing Fields suggesting the festivals group together to buy community port toilets for the playing fields. Cllr. Carroll proposed that the Friends are advised that the Town Council has no objections and think it is a good plan. And they should approach Dave Palliser to liase with the festivals. Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved.
(v) A letter was read from Mrs Jones, Bishop's Castle W.I. regarding the Stone House hospital.
(vi) A letter was read from Cllr. Peter Phillips regarding the Stone House hospital.

b) CIRCULATION
(i) Standards committee - Agenda 18th May and minutes 28th March.
(ii) West Mercia Police Authority - Police restructuring
(iii) Clerks and Council Direct
iv) Come and Play - South Shropshire Play.
(v) Shropshire County NHS Service Plan
(v) The Playing Field.

The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m.

[home page] [members]

[links]