CHACOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday, 2nd February 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
Present: Cllrs. Harper, Woolley, Wyatt, Jenkins, Jones, White, Reid, Kennedy and Clerk.
Apologies: Cllr. Coates
Public Time. Mrs Daphne Evans attended and advised the Council that she was ready to hand over the petition. She had collected the signatures in support of securing traffic calming in Thorpe Road. The Parish Council suggested that she hand it over to Susan Mills, NCC Area Highways Manager at the meeting planned for 19th February.
Mrs Evans also reported several pot-holes, but these had already been identified on Cllr. Harper’s survey of roads and footpaths.
Mrs Evans was also concerned about the inadequate protection provided by the bus shelters. The Parish Council had initially rejected the proposal to install the shelters on the grounds that they were not appropriate at the original locations because of their proximity to residential properties and neither would they offer much protection in adverse weather conditions. Highways then suggested alternative sites, one of which was used mainly as a getting off point so there seemed little need for any shelter at that location in Thorpe Road. A more enclosed shelter could have become a suitable gathering place, which, in turn, could have resulted in it becoming a nuisance to local residents; therefore the existing design was the preferred option.
Minutes of previous meeting on 5th January: adopted and signed.
Matters arising
1.1 Playing Field Fence Doug Grace, Property Services Manager at SNC had delegated to Duncan Wigley who had in turn passed it back to Tom Livingstone. District Councillor Mary-Anne Sergison-Brooke had also telephoned to say that she would contact Doug Grace on behalf of the Parish Council.
1.2 Street Light Survey The Clerk will meet with Tree Tops.com on 15th February to obtain a quote for cutting back the over-hanging trees at the entrance to the Village Hall and in Beanfurlong at the junction with Thorpe Road. The Clerk will also speak to the owner of the tree in Silver St
1.3 Planning Applications.
S/2003/1597/P Bay window at front and conservatory at rear at 48 Thornhill has been granted
S/2003/1464/P 40 bed hotel attached to Clubhouse and additional car-parking will be considered by the Planning & Development Committee on 5th February. SNC is recommending refusal.
S/2003/1577/P Additional details on new access and the ROW to remain in its present position at Chacombe Hill House
1.4 Parking in Thorpe Road and Poplars Road at the end of the school day Cllr. Harper raised the issue at the recent Governor’s Meeting.
Finance
Internal control to be completed as of the end of January.
Expenditure Income
101092 BT £54.63 HM Customs & Excise VAT reclaimed £454.07
101093 ABB £117.49 Village Hall – phone £112.26
101094 Powergen £115.90
101095 Jeffs Coaches (Dec) £80
101096 Clerk’s expenses £73.69
101097 Chairman’s expenses £36.31
Authorise: Signs & Designs (NHW) £44.06, Playground Management £78.14 and Jeffs Coaches (Jan) £80.00.
Clerks & Councils Direct
Suppliers Guide and Year book
NALC Northamptonshire County Training Partnership. Launch of AQA Certificate on 4th February ‘04
CCLA Investment Management Ltd Statement of dividends re: John Walker Charity
National Playing Fields Recreational Land Protection Archive, the Design and maintenance of outdoor sports facilities and Performance Quality Assessments
Cllr Jones: e-mail of transcript of letter re: Government Planning Bill
SLCC Local Council Risk System software
Compliance with the Freedom of Information Act – use of website - The Local Channel?
Membership application form
ODPM Sustainable Communities: An Urban Development Corporation for West Northamptonshire. Consultation until 12th March
CPRE Planning Update and TCG News
Mrs Fyfe letter for Chairman re planning application on land adjacent to 18 Thorpe Road
ii) Highways. Reply to letter re: Bus Shelters and extra bus stop and copy of minutes from meeting at Brackley Town Hall on 27th February 2002.
iii) Community Scrutiny Committee Minutes from 8th January and agenda for 5th February
NCC/Atkins Parking Balance and Control – consultation.
SNC i) Parish Remuneration Panel – Allowance payments to members of Town & Parish Councils
ii) Planning applications week ending: 7/01/04 and 14/01/04, e-mailed 21/01/04 and 28/01/04
Brochures: SMP Playgrounds, Winslow Resource Material, Glasdon, Wybone, Running Imp and SEPCO – solar powered bus infrastructure
Agenda
3.1 Fine Lady on a White Horse Appeal
Banbury Town Council had invited the Council to attend a Coffee Morning on16th January at
Banbury Cricket Club organised to re- launch the appeal. Many of the historical buildings had already disappeared in Banbury and it was thought that the cost of the statue would not necessarily enhance its reputation. Cllr. Kennedy proposed that the Council did not make a donation and this was seconded by Cllr. Reid.
3.2 SNC Planning Applications
S/2003/1731/P Two storey extension and Sun Room at Thornhill House. The existing extension is not attractive and it is hoped that the proposed extension would be more in keeping with the stonework of the original part of the house.
S/2004/0055/P Land adj. to 18 Thorpe Road. Further to the Council’s response to the original application S/2003/1114/P, the occupiers of 16 Thornhill are even more concerned about the proposed maisonettes being moved further back on the site and ask, that if permission is granted, it is only on condition that a retaining wall, to prevent subsidence, is built to the rear and the side of the proposed development.
As the land was originally granted outline for a single dwelling, which would obviously reduce the problem of providing adequate off street parking, why is SNC now considering this application for two dwellings?
While Highways may consider the parking provision adequate, the PC still has reservations that there is only parking for three vehicles, unless the turning space is also designated as parking. The original outline permission stated that adequate off street parking should be provided to cater for residents and visitors.
Accurate measurements are not included on the plans and again the occupiers of the above property seek assurance that the minimum distance between their elevated property and the proposed development is 22 metres, as their kitchen and dining room windows will face directly onto the kitchen and bedroom windows of the first floor flat. Also, the lack of accurate measurements does not show the full impact the development will have on the adjoining property, 18 Thorpe Road. This needs to be addressed.
The fencing to the front and the side of the property will reduce visibility at the entrance/exit of the property. This needs to be considered in the light of the use of the alley way by pedestrians and, in particular, children on their way to and from school. Update: SNC is now recommending approval
S/2004/0069/P Conversion of redundant barn to dwelling – Tinker’s Barn, Thorpe Road
Why was a non-residential use of this building considered to have less impact upon the area (S/2001/0657/P) when one of the disadvantages would have been an inevitable increase in traffic movements along this narrow, single track road?
This latest application for a single dwelling, having shown that a non-residential use would not be viable, is on the original footprint and retains the essential character and appearance of the existing building. Although the first application did attempt to change the appearance of the building it now appears that the intention is to try to retain as much of the original building as is possible.
This application does not seek to extend or alter the building so as to significantly change its setting in the landscape, which is only briefly visible when travelling westward along the B4525.
The building is already an isolated feature in the countryside and this application means it will be retained as such, perhaps, without the threat that it could become yet another commercial development on the edge of the parish.
3.3 Sheep Field – straying animals
Church goers were concerned about animals straying into the churchyard. The Clerk advised the Council that Mr Chris White had already taken steps to make the fencing stock proof. The Clerk was asked to write to the church warden suggesting that the problem had been resolved.
3.4 Village grass-cutting
David Cochrane had forwarded a quote for £144.55p per cut. The Council agreed to accept this tender and he would be asked to carry out the first cut.
3.5 Chacombe School Building Appeal
Cllr. Harper, as representative of the Parish Council on the Board of Governors, reported that building of the new classroom connected to the existing building would start in April at a cost of approximately £168,000. A security fence will also have to be provided to the north and east of the school site. The school has to provide 10% of the proposed cost and applications had already been made to Banbury Charities, the School Trust and local businesses. Until the current situation with regard to the funding pledges made to the Village Hall was known, it was agreed that no contribution would be made at this time.
Cllr. Kennedy would ask the Village Hall Management Committee to give an update.
3.6 Lion’s Head Spring
The Chairman had received a letter from Mr Hatherell after their meeting on 18th January 2004 informing the Parish Council that he wished for the feature to remain in its present state.
3.7 Traffic – calming in Chacombe
Cllr. Jenkins has arranged a site meeting with Susan Mills, Area Highways Manager, PC Martin Sargeant and Cllr. Harper for 19th February. The intention is to identify areas of concern and to consider what measures would be appropriate to reduce the speed of vehicles travelling through the village.
AOB
1. Cllr. Harper had completed his annual survey of roads and footpaths and this would be reported to Highways via Clarence Line.
2. Cllr. Woolley asked for the Parish Council to consider the possibility of providing some funding towards the running of the village Football and the Cricket Clubs. This would be an agenda item at the next meeting.
3. Cllr. Wyatt advised that the he and other residents had salted Poplars Road and Thorpe Road during the recent snowy spell and that the bins had been refilled the next day.
4. Cllr. Kennedy advised that the alley way between Thornhill and Thorpe Road was impassable during the same period. Is there a need for a salt bin at this location?
Meeting closed at 9.15 pm.
The next meeting will be held on 1st March 2004 at 7.15pm.
pcmn078/ss 22/02/04