MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP’S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 17th JULY 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, W. J. Morris, Dr. G.N.St.J. Penney, K.E.C. Pinches M. Stanley and
R.D. Wright.
In attendance: Mrs. J. Ince
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: none
2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest:
Cllr. Pinches declared a personal interest in item 6a as the applicant is a tenant.
Cllr. Stanley declared a personal interest in item 10 as the applicant is a personal friend.
Cllr. Hird declared a personal interest in item 13 as he is a volunteer with the Wasteless Society.
Cllr. Gaffney declared a personal interest in item 13 as he is a Director of the Wasteless Society.
Cllr. Furber declared a prejudicial interest in item 6a as his property is adjacent to the proposed site.
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Item 11 should include “Seconded by Cllr. Carroll and approved.”
The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.
Item 4 - Letters from Cllr. Malcolm Pate, Leader of the County Council, Mike Morris, Assistant Director (Strategy and business support) and Cllr. Peter Phillips regarding the future of Stone House Hospital saying no decision has yet been reached.
Item 13 - Cllr. Gaffney reported that he has spoken to John Jones, Minsterley Motors, who has said the buses will continue to run as long as the buses are not held up. Cllr. Gaffney has also spoken to the Police who are reluctant to get involved with parking issues because they believe yellow lines should be installed with Park Right to enforce them. They have agreed to help with any obstructions.
From previous meetings:
(i) Youth Card - Letter from Cllr. Phillips saying that the District Councils Youth Card Travel working Group has decided not to take this initiative further at present.
(ii) Bollards in Church Street - Letter from Senior Traffic Engineer, Shropshire County Council agreeing to two bollards outside Harry Tuffins.
5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK: none
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed item 10 be brought forward to before item 6. Seconded by
Cllr. Wright and approved.
10. DESIGN STATEMENT FOR BISHOP’S CASTLE.
Jonathan Grieg explained that he had offered to write a design statement for Bishop’s Castle but on further investigation and advice he believes that an Article 4 Direction would be more appropriate and take less time and be less expensive. Residents in the conservation area would have to apply for planning permission for permitted development. This would be free of charge.
The instigation of an Article 4 Direction would involve mapping the Conservation Area and marking all the listed buildings. A letter would have to be sent to all residents. This would then have to be put before Council for approval. An application would then have to be made to the Secretary of State.
Mr Grieg gave the Clerk documents explaining an Article 4 Direction. These will be circulated to all Councillors to be discussed at the next meeting.
6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
a) 1/07/19692/F Planning permission (full) Erection of 3 no affordable dwellings and 3 no open-market dwellings: construction of estate roads and formation of vehicular and pedestrian access. (delegated matter).
Station Street Garage, Bishop’s Castle, SY9 5AQ. G & R Price
A letter was read from Mr & Mrs Furber
Cllr. Stanley proposed no objection if the following conditions are agreed.
(i) The retaining boundary wall with 74 Church Street be built 1.8m above the ground level of 74 Church Street.
(ii) The fact that the site is extremely close to the auction yard will not jeopardise the future of the auction yard.
Seconded by Cllr. Carroll and approved.
b) 1/07/19720/F Planning Permission (full). Erection of extension to dwelling (delegated matter)
Cross Keys Cottage, Castle Street. SY9 5BY M. Ellison.
Cllr. Morris proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Pinches and approved.
c) 1/07/19735/F Planning Permission (full) Erection of replacement roof to residential and retail building (delegated matter)
Flat 63 Church Street, Bishop’s Castle. The Co-operative Group
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Stanley and approved.
e) Reports of Planning Applications
(i) 1/07/19479/F Formation of estate roads and alterations to existing vehicular access (revised scheme)(committee matter)
The Wintles, Bishop’s Castle. Living Villages.
Planning permission granted.
(ii) 1/07/19474/F Erection of extension to dwelling (delegated matter)
Garden House, Union Street, Bishop’s Castle. Mr & Mrs Hendley
Planning permission granted.
(iii) 1/07/19469/F Errection of 2 x affordable dwellings; formation of vehicular and pedestrian access (delegated matter)
South Shropshire Housing Association.
Planning permission granted.
(iv) 1/07/19411/LB Erection of a balcony in place of conservatory (to be demolished) (delegated matter)
Black Lion House, 1 Welsh Street, Bishop’s Castle. Mr & Mrs Pratt.
Listed building consent granted.
(v) 1/07/19514/TC Felling of 2 x trees (delegated matter)
8-10 Church Street, Bishop’s Castle. Mrs M Gaspar.
Consent granted.
7. REPORT BY COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
Neither District Councillors attended the meeting.
8. RESTORATION OF CHURCH BELLS
The Bell Ringers of the Parish Church are applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant to cover the cost of the restoration of the church bells. Cllr. Wright proposed a letter of support and a donation of £50. Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved.
9. SUMMER PLAY SCHEME
Cllr Pinches proposed free use of the Playing Fields and a donation of £25 for a summer play scheme being run by Revd. Mike Plunkett. Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved.
11. KINGS HEAD, CHURCH STREET
Council are concerned about the poor appearance of the Kings Head in the conservation area. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that a letter be sent to Colin Richards, Conservation Officer, South Shropshire District Council, asking if they have any powers to improve the situation or know of any rules we can make reference to.
If Mr Richards cannot help a strong letter should be sent to Punch Taverns, the owners of the Kings Head complaining about its poor appearance.
Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
12. FOOTPATH IN MONTGOMERY ROAD
Some time ago the County Council were asked to put a footpath in Montgomery Road. To date there has been no action. After much discussion Cllr. Magill proposed the following action:
(i) A letter to be sent to the County Council asking them to clear the verges on the west side from Castle Green to level with the 30mph.
(ii) A strong letter to be sent to the Paul Watson, Shropshire County Council asking for action on the proposed footpaths on the A488 between the Bishop’s Castle entrances, the footpath on the A488 Colebatch to the Pines and the Montgomery Road footpath.
(iii) To reopen issues with Shropshire County Council on the potential footpath on the east side of the Montgomery Road from Castle Green to Lydham Manor.
(iv) To make enquiries into the cost of cutting back the over growth on the west side of Montgomery Road.
Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved.
13. CARDBOARD RECYCLING CENTRE AT CROWGATE.
Cllr. Hird proposed a letter be sent to South Shropshire District Council requesting new gates at the cardboard enclosure at the recycling centre.
Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.
14. COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
Cllr. Gaffney gave an update on the work of the Community Land Trust. Their launch was reasonably well attended and they are now renting an office at Enterprise House for one day a week.
15. VILLAGE SPEED LIMITS
Shropshire County Council feed back on draft Village Speed Limit Policy. Request for two or three Councillors to represent our Council at initial meetings between officers, County Councillors and Parish Councillors. Cllrs. Carroll, Magill, Pinches and Stanley agreed to attend if they are available at the time of the meeting.
16. ACCOUNTS –
Copies of the income and expenditure summary to 30/6/07 were distributed to Councillors.
The Clerk reported that the external audit has been completed and approved.
17. REPORT OF RECENT MEETINGS ATTENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
Cllr. Magill reported back from PCCG’s meeting. The crime rate in the area is down.
Cllrs Stanley and Carroll reported back from the Lifeline Board meeting. The Lifeline Company is in a difficult financial situation. The Mayor is to ask for a copy of the Bishop’s Castle Regeneration report.
18a) CORRESPONDANCE.
(i) Letter from HM Revenue and Customs explaining situation with VAT
(ii) Letter from Public Hall Committee asking for a letter of support for their grant application for improvements to the toilets.
b) Circulation
(i) SPARSE - Sustaining Rural Communities consultation paper may 2007.
(ii) SAPTC agenda and minutes.
(iii) LCR
(iv) Clerks and Council Direct
The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 9.35 p.m.