These minutes are in draft and subject to consideration at the meeting of the Parish Council on 11 May 2015. After 25 May, they may be regarded as approved if no amendments have been indicated. ------

OLD MILVERTON AND BLACKDOWN JOINT PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, 23RD. MARCH 2015 AT OLD MILVERTON VILLAGE HALL

PRESENT: Councillors J.M.Lander (in the Chair), J.Emmerson, and Mrs.A.Kelsey; and District Councillors J.Hammon and N.Pratt.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors C.Davies and Mrs. L.Keeling.

1610. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the meeting held on 26th. January 2015 were approved, and were signed by the Chairman.

1611. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES(a). The continuing interest of the Parish Council in the formation of a footpath on Bericote Road between the roundabout and the entrance to Old Leamingtonians' Rugby Football Club had been registered with County Council, and some advice had been given on making application under the Landfill Tax in case it is needed in the future.

(b). The fallen Stoneleigh Road street signs near the roundabout had been referred to Warwickshire County Council Contract Services for remedial action.

1612. NEW PARISH NOTICE BOARDS The Notice Boards Group had considered the quotations for notice boards received from Greenbarnes, Signs and Ogilvies, and recommended that Ogalvies were the most economical and, thanks to being able to interview their local representative, were able to be satisfied that this would represent good value for money in the sum of £2,890.00 excluding VAT, but including delivery and installation.

It was, therefore, agreed that this recommendation be accepted for the provision of two 3-bay notice boards of galvanised steel in dark brown to simulate wood, each bay to be able to hold six A4 sheets - two across and 3 down, the doors of each to be lockable and the windows to be of toughened glass, the notices to be fixable using magnets; each board to be headed “Old Milverton and Blackdown Joint Parish Council” in Times Roman type in white on a plain edged head board; the boards to be professionally fixed in the ground, the bottoms of the panels being some 31” from ground level.

The boards would be sited (a) on the verge of Old Milverton Village Green to the left of the post box and (b) at the junction of Stoneleigh Road and Sandy Lane, Blackdown, where the existing board is sited. It was accepted that there may be a small cost in removing the existing Blackdown notice board but that the existing Old Milverton notice board be left in situ pending a decision on its future after the new boards have been installed.

The boards were within the limits prescribed without having to obtain Advertisement Consent, and the Highways Authority had indicated that the proposed sites of the boards were acceptable.

It was agreed that the Clerk place an order with Ogilvies for the two boards, based on the details given.

1613. SPEEDGUN TEAM The Speedgun Team would comprise 3 Parish Councillors, 3 Parish Residents and 3 Councillors from Leek Wootton. Each had completed Security Vetting Forms which would now be submitted to the local Police for consideration, following which it was anticipated that mutually convenient dates and time for training would be arranged. Expenditure on visibility jackets was anticipated.

1614. WARWICK DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN Planning Inspector Mr. Kevin Ward had been appointed to carry out the inquiry into the draft Local Plan and an initial hearing would be held between 6th. and 12 May 2015 at which preliminary issues

1 of 3 These minutes are in draft and subject to consideration at the meeting of the Parish Council on 11 May 2015. After 25 May, they may be regarded as approved if no amendments have been indicated. ------including the overall housing need would be considered, and, providing these issuers are found to be acceptable, the main part of the inquiry, including Green Belt considerations, would follow. Meanwhile, the issue of Gipsy Sites remained outstanding. The District Council had not indicated any further conclusions regarding the possibility of park and ride facilities on the A452 road from . It was agreed that Cllr. Lander consult Hunter-Page on the best course on which the Parish Council should proceed based on facts known to date.

1615. OLD MILVERTON AND BLACKDOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN The formal decision had been reached to transfer from Old Milverton to Royal the areas at Guy's Cliffe Road and North Leamington School with effect from 1 st. April 2015, but that the collection of the Parish Precept would apply to the old boundaries for the 2015-16 financial year. Once some further additions were available from Hunter Page Planning Ltd, the latest draft Neighbourhood Plan would be re-submitted to Warwick District Council, to initiate the next stage of the process, bearing in mid that the outcome of a review of the Green Belt was awaited.

1616. BROADBAND CONSULTATION Various news bulletins had been issued by CSW Broadband, but it was agreed that a meeting be sought with one of its representatives to clarify the current position locally, when applications to specific areas could be discussed.

1617. PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE The Parish Website had been activated and attempts were being made to publicise the position. Various gaps remained to be filled, and it was accepted that completion would take some time, but meanwhile the position was clearly indicated on the Site.

1618. PLANNING APPLICATIONS The following planning applications, previously circulated, were noted:

W14/1703 Rocklands, Stoneleigh Road, Blackdown Garage conversion and erection of single storey side extension GRANTED. [Since this was only an announcement with no discussion, Cllr. Emmerson was not asked to absent himself for this item].

W15/0102 The Mulberry House, Stoneleigh Road, Blackdown Erection of two-storey extension to front and side (re-submission of W14/0796 and 1162) OBSERVATIONS: No objection.

W15/0160 Quarry Park Disc Golf, Old Milverton Lane, Old Milverton Erection of single storey clubhouse and demolition of existing buildings. OBSERVATIONS: No significant difference could be found between this and application W14/1700, to which objection had been made, and, therefore, the same concerns were reiterated (a). The entrance to the grounds is at a somewhat dangerous stretch of Old Milverton Lane and traffic figures would increase if a more sophisticated clubhouse were to be developed. It was understood from local residents that there had been several "near misses"as vehicles leave. In the event of the development's being allowed, the number of users at one time should be restricted, and certainly a Highways Authority report should be sought in view of the 50 mph speed limit at this point. (b). A clubhouse might be needed for team games, but since players of disc golf could usually be expected to attend in small groups or even singly, it is not a game where visiting teams need facilities and entertaining. If this approach were to be developed the whole ethos of the site would be changed from what it is presently. (c). The proposed clubhouse would be too large in comparison with the site available for the game. The applicant indicates that the footprint of the new building would be about the same as the existing, but this appears to include a portable toilet and a container, and Planners' advice was needed as to whether, if this is so, the comparison is permissible. (d). The introduction of a sales shop is unacceptable on these premises, which are within the Green Belt. (e). A toilet and hand washing facilities are acceptable, but other facilities are not. There is genuine concern about the treatment of discharge from the toilet and kitchen areas, since, unless it is attached to main drainage, pollution could reach the river, even by accident. This applies to other fairly- recently neighbouring facilities, too, and the prospect of so many discharges poses a real threat to the water quality of the River Avon near this point. (f). The development of another "flagship sporting facility" in this area should be avoided.

An element of the application which the Parish Council approved was the replacement of the miscellaneous range

2 of 3 These minutes are in draft and subject to consideration at the meeting of the Parish Council on 11 May 2015. After 25 May, they may be regarded as approved if no amendments have been indicated. ------of buildings and installations with a building of a "tidier" appearance, but for the reasons given it was unable to approve the general proposals.

W15/0232 21 Hopton Crofts, Old Milverton Erection of first floor side extensions. OBSERVATIONS: No objection. Notes that the extension will be in keeping with surrounding houses. The property looks close to its neighbour, so a check is requested that the extension will not cut out light and feeling of space.

W12/1143 Land near Airport (Coventry and Warwickshire Gateway proposal) Comprehensive redevelopment REJECTED by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

1619. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. (a). A letter was received from Old Milverton Parish Rooms Management Committee requesting financial assistance following expenditure of £4,830.00 on exterior works including the installation of access for disabled people. After a discussion, it was agreed to arrange a meeting with representative(s) of the Village Hall with a view to appreciating more fully the financial demands on the Committee and to identifying any other available grant sources, since the finances of the Parish Council had been built up to fund any necessary future resistance to the erosion of the Green Belt and to excessive development in its area.

(b). A letter was received from the Local Government Boundary Commission for listing the final recommendations of the new electoral arrangements for Warwickshire County Council. It appeared that Old Milverton and Blackdown would come into the Cubbington and Leek Wootton Division.

1620. ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2015 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Arrangements were approved for the Annual Parish Meeting on Monday, 7th. April 2015. Notices were approved for distribution; a presentation would be given on processing local plans for emergencies; and Mrs. N. Wall had kindly agreed to organise refreshments.

1621. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS

Accounts were approved for payment as follows: (a). G.E.Cooper: £400.00 - Staff salary for January – March 2015 (b). HMRC: £100.00 - Income Tax on Clerk's salary Jan. – March 2015 (c). J.Goode: £10.00 - Clerk's payroll services for Jan. – March 2015 (d). G.E.Cooper: £123.01 - Clerk's expenses for Jan. – March 2015 (e). Mrs. Sandra Robinson: £43.33 - Parish Website expenses for 5.1.15-8.3.15

1622. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING (a). It was agreed to seek assurance from the Highways Authority that the parapet of Chesford Bridge, recently damaged in a vehicle accident, would be repaired to a proper standard, since it was a listed structure.

(b) It was agreed that the Highways Authority be asked to level out the grass verges in Old Milverton and to correctly contour the channels running into the ditches.

1623. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None, other than that with Mr. Robin Swinbourne in respect of item 1619(a) above.

CHAIRMAN

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