Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall on Monday 21 January 2008

 

 

 

    PRESENT:

 

Councillor Edward Neish (Chairman)                                 Members of Village Hall Committee:

Councillor Ian Gibson                                                                       Peter Cox

Councillor Anne Burridge                                                                 Eric Siggs

Councillor Norman Miles       

Councillor David Woodroofe                                             

Councillor Gill Young

District Councillor Patrick Burridge

Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council

 

During Public Question Time, members of the Village Hall Committee presented its plans for the re-development of the village hall to Councillors.

 

07.69   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Gill Young (away on business)

 

07.70   CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of Council Meeting held on 15 October 2007, copies of which had previously been circulated, were confirmed.  Chairman Edward Neish signed them as a true record.

 

07.71   DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

           Cllr Ian Gibson declared a Prejudicial Interest in planning application 21720/002/FUL, 36 Wellhouse Road, his

           interest being that the applicants are clients of his employer.  Cllr Gibson left the room during the Public

           Participation session, when representation was being made, and again during the item’s discussion and decision

           by Council.

 

07.72   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

           Mr Eric Siggs addressed the Council regarding planning application for 36 Wellhouse Road.  He was concerned

           about the potential loss of trees, particularly the oaks and red cedars.

 

07.73   REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I)       Development & Planning Advisory Panel

                     a) One application had been considered: Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED: That Council’s  

                        comments be confirmed, as follows:

                        i)   26870/011/FUL   Beech Copse, 20 Wellhouse Road    Agricultural Barn    OBJECT for the following

                             reasons:

                       1.  There is conflicting information on land boundaries and the location and condition of the existing

                           vegetation.   The site survey is dated, does not provide current site levels, and the proposed floor

                           level for the building is not stated relative to the survey.  This does not allow a sufficiently

                           informed decision as to the visual implication of the proposed building.

                       2.  The application appears to rely on third party landscaping for screening purposes which they can

                           not rely upon

                       3.  The building as proposed will harm the intrinsic local character and landscape.  As such it does not

                           comply with policy GS3.

                       4.  The agricultural need for a building of this size relative to this site is not clear.  We suggest that an

                           independent professional opinion is obtained in this respect.

                       5.  The client has advised that Complex Agricultural Waste Exemptions 19A and 12 have been

                            registered.  The applicant has not demonstrated how they can comply with the associated

                           conditions. (See notes below)

 

 

                                                                                                             Minutes January 2008 continued…2 of 4

 

                             If the Planning Authority is minded to approve the application we request that the following

                             conditions are considered:

                       1.  The building is set with a floor level at or preferably below the original natural ground levels.  This

                           will assist in screening the building from distant views from the south and will place the eaves

                           level close to existing ground levels to the north side.

                       2.  The building should be set back as far north as possible on the site. (Note that our previous

                           comment stated east which was a typographical error)

                       3.  As a minimum requirement the applicant shall provide and maintain, for so long as the building

                           remains on site, an agreed scheme of landscape planting within the site boundaries to permanently

                           screen the building from the neighboring residential properties and from distant views.

                       4.  The building shall only be used for the purposes for which it has been applied.  If these activities

                           cease, the building and its associated hard standing shall be removed from site and the site returned

                           to its original condition prior to the recent deposition of Chalk fill.

                       5.  The applicant shall provide an approved scheme to dispose of all surface water runoff within the

                           site.  (Note that Beech, Wellhouse Road in particular, already suffers from uncontrolled runoff

                           from both agricultural and residential development sites.)

                       6.  There shall be no residential use of the buildings on the site.

 

                             In view of the conflicting information on boundaries, levels, and existing planting we recommend that

                             the committee undertakes a site visit to appreciate the implications of this application and our

                             comments.

                             Notes:

                             Agricultural Waste Exemptions are referred to in the application.

                             “Paragraph 19A allows waste to be used for construction purposes and is typically used by farmers

                             for laying tracks or by construction companies installing vehicle parking areas.   It allows these

                             wastes to be used for the purposes described in 19A (4) if they are suitable for the intended use and if

                             the work has planning consent where it is required. The final depths of waste must not exceed those

                             specified in the cross sectional plan which is submitted as part of the registration requirements where

                             more than 2,500 cubic metres of waste is to be used.” 

 

                             We assume that this exception was required for the work already completed.  A Planning application

                             was not made for the work and the current Planning Application does not include the Crossection plan

                             which must have been submitted as part of this registration with the EA.  This information has a

                             bearing on this Application and should be provided.

 

                             Para 12 (1) states” Composting biodegradable waste at the place where the waste is produced or

                             where the compost is to be used, or at any other place occupied by the person producing the waste or

                             using the compost, if the total quantity of waste being composted at that place at any time does not

                             exceed-(a) in the case of waste composted or to be composted for the purposes of cultivating

                             mushrooms, 10,000 cubic metres; and (b) in any other case, 1,000 cubic metres.” 

                             The guidance notes state that this activity shall not take place within 250m of residential properties

                             unless a risk assessment has been submitted and approved.  

 

                             The site is clearly within the 250m zone of residential properties.  The approved risk assessment

                             should be provided by the Applicant.

 

                    b) Two new applications were considered.  Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED: That Council’s

                             comments be forwarded to EHDC, as follows:-

                             i)   50769/FUL   96 Wellhouse Road   Part single storey/part first floor extension to rear

                                                                                                                                               NO OBJECTION

                             ii)  21720/002/FUL  Beechwood, 36 Wellhouse Road  Five dwellings and garaging following

                                                              demolition of existing dwelling.            OBJECT  for the following reasons:-

                                  Provisions under H10 of District Local Plan have not been met as follows:

                                  b.  Insufficient argument for the amount of trees/foliage to be removed and concurred by EHDC’s                                     arboriculturalist’s report.

                                  e.  Individual plot sizes of more than 0.2 hectares have not been met by this application.

                                                                                                             Minutes January 2008 continued….page 3 of 4

 

                                  Further comments:

                                  Any development of the site should be conditional on:-

                                  1.  Any trees removed should be replaced and sympathetically sited to provide additional

                                      screening.

                                  2.  Resolving issues relating to highways, such as narrowness of Wellhouse Road and roadside

                                      parking (not adequately addressed in this application)

                                  3.  In conjunction with concerns raised in 2 above, recommend restriction in size on construction

                                      Traffic.

                                  Council were pleased to note that issues relating to the disposal of surface water on site (which

                                  would be exacerbated with proposed removal of trees) to ensure run-off does not reach the

                                  highway, have been addressed.

                        c)  Previous Applications - EHDC Decisions were NOTED:

                             i)   32221/015/FUL   Lansdales, 108 Medstead Road    

                                                Double garage with store over                                                  PERMITTED

                             ii)  29860/007/FUL   45 Medstead Road  

                                                Retention of improvements to driveway                                      PERMITTED

                             iii) 28390/006FUL    Land adjacent Oakleigh, 116 Medstead Road       

                                                One dwelling with associated parking & access                          PERMITTED

                             iv) 26870/011/FUL   Beech Copse, 20 Wellhouse Road    Agricultural Barn    REFUSED

                             v)  37851/010/FUL     Donkey Well, Beech Barns, 61 Wellhouse Road

                                                Detached dwelling with associated access & parking                 PERMITTED

 

            II)    Finance & General Purposes Panel

                    Next meeting arranged for Monday, 28 January 2008 at 7.30 pm.   

           III)   Highways and Footpaths Advisory Panel:

                    a) Ian Gibson reported on meeting held on 14 January 2008 including:

                        i)   Gullies on A339 still blocked with gravel.  Council concerned that flooding could lead to accidents.                            Clerk to request Hampshire Highways to clean gullies and to formally respond to Council’s

                             road conditions report provided at the end of summer 2007.

                        ii)  Correspondence regarding the heavy cutting of A339 verge had been discussed.  Clerk to request

                             HCC/EHDC to leave some growth for ecological reasons.

                    b) HCC Countryside Access Plan for the Hampshire Downs Area – draft for public consultation – referred

                        to panel.  Response required by 29 February 2008.

                    c) Report on speed meter demonstration at Longparish on Friday, 11 January – for discussion at F&GP.

                    Next meeting arranged for 12 May 2008.               

IV)   Community and Environment Advisory Panel:

        a) Cemetery – Following the meeting at the Abbey, Proposed Norman Miles, Seconded David Woodroofe

            and RESOLVED: That Anne Burridge writes to Abbot Giles on behalf of the Council to ascertain the

            Abbey’s on-going interest in selling land to the Council for use as a cemetery.

        b) Community Involvement – for discussion at F&GP.

        Next meeting arranged for 12 May 2008.

                       

07.74   HAMPSHIRE ACTION TEAM

           Clerk to complete Communications Questionnaire.

           

07.75   TRAINING

           There were no Councillors available to attend the Hampshire ALC workshops/seminars on 7 February, 18

           February and 19 June 20008.

 

07.76   FINANCE

           a)      Summary Receipts & Payments for 3rd quarter ended 31 December 2007 was circulated and NOTED.

                 Councillor David Woodroofe signed bank statements to confirm balances correctly reported.

          

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                             Minutes January 2008 continued…4 of 4

 

 

           b)   Payments authorised:   

                  Proposed Ian Gibson and Seconded by Anne Burridge RESOLVED:                                            

                  i)      Mrs S Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary and Allowance (Dec 2007)                                          £372.22

                  ii)    HCC – Pension Payments (employer’s & employee’s contribution for Dec 2007)               £91.55

                 iii)    Audit Commission – external audit for 06/07 accounts                                                     £158.63

                 iv)   Beech Village Hall – hall hire April 07 – March 08 inclusive                                            £137.70

                 v)    SLCC – annual membership                                                                                            £91.00

                 vi)   Mrs S Gillard: Clerk’s Net Salary, Allowance and Administration Expenses (Jan 2008)     £428.55

                 vii)   HCC – Pension Payments (employer’s & employee’s contribution for Jan 2008)                £91.55

                                                                                                                                                                                

07.77   HAMPSHIRE ALC REPRESENTATIVES

           Norman Miles and Gill Young had attended the District Association meeting held on 5 December 2007.

           Colin Taylor, Chief Engineer for Hampshire, had addressed the meeting.  Subjects covered included speed

           meters and the new highways’ maintenance contract to be awarded for the next 7 years.

 

07.78   CORRESPONDENCE

           The following items were formally received:-

                   Hampshire ALC – New Members’ Area on website

                   HCC – School Places Plan 2007

                   EHDC – Guide to Environmental Services

                   Local Council Review – January 2008

                   HCC – Improving the HWRC service for householders in Hampshire

                   Community Action Hampshire – Annual Review 06-07

                   HCC – Annual Parish Transport Representatives’ Meeting 2007

                   HATS Information Bulletin No. 2

 

07.78   DATE OF NEXT MEETING

  Confirmed that the next meeting of the Council would be held in the Village Hall on Monday, 25 February 2008

  at 7.30pm preceded by Parishioners’ Question Time at 7.15 pm. 

 

CLOSURE OF MEETING  

Chairman thanked all present for their attendance and closed the meeting at 9.03 pm.

                       

 

 

 

 

signed: ...........................................................

                                                                                                              Chairman Beech Parish Council

     date: 25 February 2008