Parish
Council meeting
September 4, 2006
Belmont Community Centre
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BELMONT
RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
Parish
Council meeting |
Sep06 |
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Present: Mr. D. Cooke (in the Chair) In attendance: Mrs. E. Kelso (Clerk) Apologies: Mrs. J. Clare
There were no declarations of interest.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 24th July had been previously circulated. It was agreed that the Chairman be authorised to sign the Minutes as a true record of proceedings at that meeting.
(a) Vehicles parking on grass verge Again no improvement noted. Herefordshire Council has been advised. (b) Shrub Planting between Northolme Road and A465 Councillor Ian Robinson reported that he has been in correspondence with the Highways Agency regarding the planting of shrubs on this land and was awaiting Highways Agency investigations into ownership of the land. He has asked which shrubs they would prefer but has not yet received a reply. Councillor Phil Edwards noted that the land might be a possible site for a litter bin. (c) Sydwall Road Litter Bin Clerk reported that she was still awaiting collection of the litter bin by Herefordshire Housing contractors, who had missed several agreed collection dates/times. (d) Shrubs – Stanbrook Road Councillor Edwards reported that he has given photographs of the overgrown shrubs to Herefordshire Council officers to follow up. (e) Consultation by Herefordshire Housing regarding Argyll Rise proposals As requested a letter has been sent to Herefordshire Housing enquiring when BRPC, as a neighbouring authority, is to be consulted with regard to the proposals to build on land in Argyll Rise. No reply received to date. (f) Northolme Community Centre – Progress Report Members noted the latest progress report from the Northolme Community Centre Association. (g) Kerb Weedspray Despite assurances from Jarvis that the spray would take place in early August, it has still not be done. The Clerk has attempted to get a definite date when the work will be done from Jarvis but has been unable to do so because the officer concerned at Jarvis has been on annual leave. Members agreed that a kerb weedspray should be an annual event. The Clerk was instructed to identify alternative contractor(s) and seek guidance from HALC. (h) Noticeboard repair Repair still awaited but should be completed shortly. (i) Heartstart Course It was agreed that as nobody has signed up for this course, due on Saturday 23rd September, that this event be cancelled. (j) Tesco The Clerk read an e-mail from Herefordshire Council Development Control regarding the outstanding landscaping matters at Tesco and Councillor Hubbard reported that he has spoken to the new manager at Tesco. It was also noted that Tesco have also contravened planning regulations with unapproved advertising flags around the site. When an approach was made by Herefordshire Council, these were removed.
PC Paul Greenwood reported that a new CSO, Jason Merrick, would be working within the area shortly. He also hoped to be able to provide further information about PACT meetings soon. In recent weeks there have been eight reported incidents of criminal activity, including: · A taxi broken into in Stanbrook Road Councillor Edwards added some items from Neighbourhood Watch: · A sewer cover dislodged by Northolme Road, leaving
a hole some four metres deep Finally, Councillor Robinson noted that there have been requests for Halloween notices this year. PC Greenwood said he would find out if they were to be available again this year.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting for a brief period of public participation which was in addition to a period of public participation during agenda item 8(b), use of Abbey View Park. Roderick Robinson requested that details of regular events within the Parish be passed to him for inclusion in a regular events section of the community website.
Other than routine items of correspondence circulated to members since the last meeting, or addressed elsewhere in the agenda, the only other item was an invitation to attend last Saturday’s Big Event on the George V playing fields. As a result of the rather short notice, lack of suitable display material and lack of volunteers to attend on the day, the invitation was not taken up.
(a) Payments Authority is requested to make the following payments: Swintex Limited UHY Hacker Young MA Edwards South Wye Community Association South Wye Community Association Mrs. E. Kelso Inland Revenue (b) Receipts None since the last meeting
Current account: £48.39 (d) Other Financial Matters · As noted above, auditors UHY Hacker Young have returned the Annual Return submitted for correction as calculation of balance carried forward is £1.00 less than their calculation. They have also asked for clarification of increase in the balance on assets, which was as a result of the purchase of the notice board in Abbotsmead Road. · The Royal Bank of Scotland has requested that those Parish Councillors who have not provided proof of identity under the new mandate do so as soon as possible as they will not accept the new mandate until this evidence has been provided. They did, however, agree to honour cheques drawn at the last meeting signed by one new Parish Councillor who had provided evidence! The Clerk has reminded those individuals concerned. 90/06 Planning Matters (a) Applications received since the last meeting The following applications have been received since the last meeting: Ref: DCCW2006/2548/F
Ref: DCCW2006/2743/F
Ref: DCCW2006-2802/F
Ref: DCCW2006/2827/F (b) Observations passed to Herefordshire Council since last meeting Other than as noted above, the following observations have been passed to Herefordshire Council since the last meeting:
Ref: DCCW2006/2250/F Ref: DCCW2005/1602/F
Ref: DCCW2006/1815/F
Ref: DCCW2006/2168/F (d) Other planning matters · Notification has been received from Herefordshire Council that planning application reference DCCW2006/1299/F, a two storey front extension at 6 Belvoir Court that was refused by Herefordshire Council, is to be considered on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate. It was confirmed that as Members had no objections to this application, no further comments were required. · Members were reminded that the planning approval for a waste treatment plant at Madley had recently been quashed by the High Court with the result that the application now reverts to its former status as an application which is before Herefordshire Council for determination. Members originally objected to the application on the grounds of increased traffic flow through the parish and those objections would be included in the current determination. Members agreed that no further comments would be required.
(a)
Coppin Rise
Councillor Phil Edwards reported that one resident had commented that
the play area was noticeably quiet (i.e. not being used by any children)
in recent weeks. The Chairman welcomed Mr. Graham Dunhill, Director of Environment for Herefordshire Council, to the meeting for this item. The Clerk read a letter from Councillor Clare regarding her view that adoption of the former landfill site for use as public open space should be a priority and in her view has taken far too long to achieve. Mr. Graham Dunhill then explained the processes involved in acquiring land and how Herefordshire Council needed to ensure that levels of risk (financial as well as safety) were reduced to an acceptable level before acquisition to avoid undue expense to council tax payers. For example, one of the gas monitoring points was known to be emitting gas above what is considered an acceptable level. Mr. Dunhill then explained some of the particular difficulties with the former landfill site and problems encountered in dealing with the very many landowners of that site, who are failing to comply with the terms of the original agreement covering the land. Although the agreement provides for adjudication in the event of a dispute, appointing an independent adjudicator could prove a costly exercise for council tax payers. An alternative to adoption of the land might be to first compulsory purchase the adjacent former pond site to the rear of Dorchester Way but this can be a particularly slow and expensive process as a public enquiry might be necessary. Some members commented that lack of maintenance of the former landfill, and in particular failure to mow the grass, was of concern. There have been at least two fires on the site this year one of which spread quickly as the long grass was very dry and householders living close the site have expressed safety concerns. Questions were then invited from Parish Councillors and members of the public. Issues raised included: · If gas emissions are higher than acceptable, what are the readings and what is considered acceptable? Mr. Dunhill replied that the borehole immediately adjacent to the edge of the former pond site to the rear of Dorchester Way was currently emitting gas at 6% whereas below 1% was the target. It might be possible to adopt the land at 6% but legal protections would need to be in place first. · As developer contractors have mowed the landfill before, why could this not be done now? Mr. Dunhill explained that current legal advice is that if Herefordshire Council maintains the land, it could be deemed to be assuming the legal risks associated with the land. · If/when the land becomes available for public use, can it be engineered for active games, i.e. could formal sports pitches be installed? Mr. Dunhill stated that he felt the costs of providing formal sports pitches, goal posts etc. would be extremely high as a result of the engineering works required on the former landfill. There was, however, no reason why the land cannot be used for passive recreational use. · How many individuals/organisations are involved with the land? Mr. Dunhill advised that there are currently two main parties – Wilson Bowden (representing several landowners/developers) and Mr. Lewis, who originally held interests in all the land. On the positive side, Wilson Bowden have recently been encouraged to meet with Herefordshire Council to discuss grass mowing and appear to be more willing to listen regarding outstanding issues. It was hoped that by next spring, there would at least be an agreement by interested parties to work together. · If the former pond area to the rear of Dorchester Way is subject to a CPO (compulsory purchase order) how long would be process take? Mr. Dunhill explained that this could take up to two years if there is an objection to the CPO and a public enquiry is required. · Referring to the land behind Dorchester Way, one resident stated that he had purchased his home because there is an area of open land behind the house. He believed that there were plans to build a youth club on the site and he would not want this. Mr. Dunhill explained that the planning application in connection with the land behind Dorchester Way was to provide evidence of need for the CPO. There had never been any intention to erect any buildings on that land but to provide recreational opportunities for families. · It was noted that in wet weather the former landfill site becomes very wet. Councillor Edwards explained that the gas retaining membrane would prevent water draining down, hence the waterlogged site following heavy rain. · Can the land be built on? Mr. Dunhill explained that the landfill areas are shown as public open space in the Unitary Development Plan. No buildings can be erected on former landfills. · Concern was expressed regarding the safety of the boundary to a strip of land which is currently maintained by the council to the north of the former landfill, adjacent to the children’s play area. Beyond a barbed wire fence on the boundary of land owned by Barwood House is a very steep slope and children have been accessing the riverbank via this slope. Mr. Dunhill said he would investigate. · Finally, residents asked what could be done to support adoption of the former landfill site. Mr. Dunhill advised that keeping the pressure on the landfill owners was clearly useful. There being no further questions, the Chairman thanked Mr. Dunhill for attending the meeting. (c) Other play areas Members
considered an overview of other play areas/sites with a view to establishing
a policy regarding what could or could not take place on those sites.
This item was requested at the last meeting and the Clerk was instructed to research into the possibility of providing an all weather pitch adjacent to the Northolme Centre. The Clerk has obtained a number of brochures and established that: · a concrete
type surface is acceptable to most children as it would enable play when
the weather is wet as it doesn’t get muddy. It was agreed that this be considered further at the next meeting.
Members were reminded that over the last few years a children’s Christmas party has been organised by the South Wye Community Association Chairman, Beryl Brown, and supported by the Parish Council. As Mrs. Brown has now resigned as Chairman, it was not clear whether this popular Christmas event would continue. It was agreed that the Clerk write to SWCA to enquire whether the event is to be repeated this year and if not, that consideration be given by Parish Councillors to run the event ourselves.
Councillor Phil Edwards noted that he has found several litter bins becoming full well before they are due to be emptied and had provided a map and suggestions for seven additional litter bins, three of which he suggested should be of a larger type/design than the current 90 liter bins. One good example of 110 liter bins was the Topsy Jubilee Bin but Councillor Edwards had not gained individual costings for consideration. It was agreed that this be considered further at the next meeting and that in the meantime the Clerk obtain costings for the proposed additional litter bins. It was also agreed that Members visit the locations suggested for bins and monitor fill levels for those litter bins currently installed.
Following theinvitation to exhibit at the Big Event it was suggested that the Parish Council should be more proactive in publicising it’s activities and that a “house style” should be adopted, possibly to include a logo. Councillor Ian Robinson proposed that a logo competition be launched with a prize of £50 for the winning logo (the prize money to include purchase of the copyright in the design). This was agreed unanimously and it was further agreed that Roderick Robinson, as volunteer editor of the newsletter, be asked to join the judging panel. The competition is to be included in the next edition of the newsletter.
(a) Councillor Loft asked for a list of dates for forthcoming meetings. (b) Councillor Hubbard aid he was concerned at the shabbiness of the Parish and in particular the lamp posts along the trunk road. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Highways Agency to request that they be painted. (c) Councillor Hubbard noted that the trees on the main roundabout need thinning. Councillor Edwards requested that copies of any correspondence regarding the proposal to thin trees be copied to residents of Brook Farm Court that overlook that area. (d) Councillor Edwards provided an update of his activities as District Councillor, including: ·
Reporting a smashed sewer cover (e) Councillor Gummer reported that shrubs on the corner of Sydwall Road need cutting back as they overhang the pavement. (f) Councillor Gummer requested that the replacement litter bin for Sydwall road be installed quickly as litter is becoming a problem at that location. (g) Councillor Ian Robinson brought Members attention to a newspaper article on the implications of the Code of Conduct and Standards Board rulings. This will be circulated to members. 98/06 Date of next meeting The next meeting will be the finance meeting at which the level of precept for 2007/8 is to be considered. Members are requested to identify any proposals to the Clerk no later than 30th September. The next meeting will be held on 9th October 2006 at Belmont Community Centre, Eastholme Avenue, Belmont, commencing at 7.00pm.
During the final period of public participation District Councillor Glenda Powell reported that there have been reports from residents of Ann Carter Close, Hunderton of teenagers allegedly from Belmont entering properties and throwing stones.
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