Sheriffhales Parish Council Including the communities of Sheriffhales, , Burlington, Heath Hill, Weston Heath, Redhill and Chadwell Minutes of a the Parish Council Meeting held in the Sheriffhales Village Hall on the 11 September 2014 at 7.00pm.

Present: Cllrs Peter Bonsall (Chairman); John Horne; Mrs Anne Jackson; Mrs Janet Jones; Richard Maddocks; Neil Pulker; Gordon Tonkinson and Peter Young.

In attendance: Anne Chalkley – Clerk. Council Cllr Kevin Turley. Public 16

84/14 CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting.

85/14 GARDEN COMPETITION AWARDS – Cllr Mrs Jones presented the certificates to the resident’s who had won the Garden Competition.

86/14 APOLOGIES – Cllr Webb (holiday).

87/14 DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS – There were no pecuniary interests.

88/14 DISPENSATION – There were no dispensations.

89/14 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION – An opportunity for the public to speak to the Council on matters that concern the Parish.

A resident wanted to know why he did not know about the Solar Farm until he found out from another resident. The Chair reported that there was a meeting arranged by Lightsource for all residents to attend back in July. The Council had informed residents via their website, Parish Magazine in August and on the agenda for this meeting that was displayed on the notice board and website.

Joshua Mellor from Lightsource introduced himself to the meeting and he explained the Planning Development for the Solar Farm. The floor was then open to questions from the Council and the residents. There were lots of questions from members of the council and the residents that Joshua Mellor answered. The Council were disappointed that the Community Benefit letter was not available until the day before the meeting as it would have been of benefit to all concerned if it had been available to sent out with the agenda.

Lawrence Gardner supported the planning application for the Solar Farm and said that the land was not suitable for growing purposes due to heavy clay soil and flooding. Another Farmer agreed with Mr Gardner.

Hugh Jackson spoke about a planning application that was overturned by Shropshire Council when the Parish Council had approved it. The Chair explained that the Parish Council is only consultees and Shropshire Council Planning Department make the final decision.

Hugh Jackson also asked about CS4 and CS5. The Chair explained that it went out to consultation with the community survey and asked Mr Jackson to speak to Shropshire Councillor, Kevin Turley who should be able to help him.

90/14 MINUTES – It was RESOLVED to approve and the Chair to sign the minutes dated the 14 August 2014 as a true record.

91/14 MATTERS ARISING - There were no matters arising from these minutes.

92/14 PRINCESS ROYAL HOSPITAL AND OTHER LOCAL MEDICAL MATERS – The Chair welcomed and introduced Michael Inns, GP Partner, Stirchley Medical Practice and Clinical Chair, NHS and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group. Mr Inns then explained the copy of the

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presentation, ‘Future Fit Shaping healthcare together’, he gave to each member of the Council.

After the presentation the Chair thanked Mr Inns and he left the meeting.

93/14 PLANNING APPLICATIONS – The Council to consider the following planning applications:

Reference: 14/03444/FUL Development: Installation and operation of a solar farm and associated infrastructure Location: Proposed Solar Farm To The West Of Sheriffhales, Shropshire Applicant: Lightsource SPV 39 Limited

Cllr Tonkinson reported and proposed the following objections to this planning application:

1) Totally inappropriate development in open countryside. 2) Inappropriate use of good agricultural land bringing industrialisation use into farm lane. 3) The size of the site - 110 acres, is massively out of scale and character to anything in the very rural Parish of Sheriffhales. 4) Such development should be on roofs of industrial/factory sites. 5) No power produced is for use by the two farms involved in the application and is there for a purely operation taking land away from the production of food. 6) The site can be seen from fourteen sites in and near the Parish: Hilton Bank, The Centre of Sheriffhales Village, Pinfold, The Evergreens, Church Lane, Dukes Drive (Crackley Bank to Lillyhursh Road, A5, Crackley Bank, Sandy Lane, Redhill, Houghton Hill, Decker Hill and from near to the Crematorium.

The Chair read out the e-mail from Joshua Mellor Lightsource indicating the community benefits if the application is success to be paid either quarterly or yearly directly to the Parish Council for them to decide how best to spend it, approximately £600,000 over 25 years.

Cllr Maddocks support the application.

Cllr Young was undecided either way in the community benefit.

Cllr Tonkinson said that we should have had the letter regarding the community benefits 6 weeks ago. He asked the council to refuse the application and let the Shropshire Council Planning make the final decision.

Cllr Mrs Jones seconded Cllr Tonkinson as she was against the application.

Cllr Horne asked the Clerk if we should count the letter into the application. The Clerk reported that the Council should consider everything put forward.

The Chair called for a vote of hands. Cllrs Maddocks and Horne for the application. Cllrs Tonkinson, Mrs Jones, Mrs Jackson, Young and Pulker against the application. The vote was carried to object to the planning application on the grounds reported by Cllr Tonkinson.

Cllr Tonkinson left the meeting.

The Chair introduced representatives from Base Architects who presented to the Council a pre- application to construct a pair of contemporary houses behind Village Farm. One of the questions put to Base Architects was the application outside the development boundary? This was to be looked into.

94/14 PLANNING APPLICATIONS – There were no planning applications received after the agenda was sent out and the meeting.

95/14 PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECISIONS – The Council ask why this planning application was taking so long for a decision:

a) Reference: 13/02476/FUL - Laburnum Farm, 68 Heath Hill, Sheriffhales - Erection of an affordable dwelling and detached garage – Pending Decision

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Clerk to ask why it is still pending.

b) Reference: 14/03137/OUT - Outline application for 4 no. Dwellings to include means of access - Land to West of B4379, Sheriffhales – Application withdrawn

c) Reference: 14/03090/FUL -Erection of a two-bedroom dwelling house and integral garage with ancillary development including a new access onto Damson Lane and a package treatment plant – Pending consideration.

96/14 FINANCE – a) It was Proposed by Cllr Horne and Seconded by Cllr Pulker to approve and sign the cheque payments. All Agreed.

Cheque No Payment to Description Net VAT Gross 995 Alan Harding Grass cut 4,18 July 1,15,29 Aug 240.00 48.00 288.00 996 Personal Computer Clinic Laptop for Clerk 333.33 66.67 400.00 997 Mr Brian Brown Award for services rendered 25.00 0.00 25.00 998 Mr Gordon Malt Judge of Garden Competition 25.00 0.00 25.00 999 Clerk Salary Aug-Sept 514.66 0.00 514.66 1000 Clerk Expenses 39.48 0.00 39.48 1001 Mazars Annual Return fee 100.00 20.00 120.00 1002 ICO Data Protectin fee 35.00 0.00 35.00 1003 Newport Engravers Engraving of shields etc 62.00 0.00 62.00

It was RESOLVED to approve and sign the following:

b) Reconciliation for the month of July c) Bank Statement July d) Receipts and Payments e) Annual Return for the financial Year ended 31 March 2014 – to be displayed on the notice board.

97/14 SHERIFFHALES PLAYING FIELD – The Chair reported that Shropshire Council Legal Team had agreed to act on the Parish Council’s behalf in purchasing the playing field from the Trustees. A small area of ground to house 46a was in the playing field boundary and as the Parish Council was aware of this issue to accept this and take the purchase with it. The Legal Team to be informed of this and be included in the purchase. After discussion it was AGREED to proceed.

The Clerk to send details of Shropshire Council Legal Team to Peter Udale who is representing the Trustees.

98/14 GARDEN COMPETITION 2015 – Cllr Mrs Jones reported that the response to the Garden Competition was very poor. After discussion it was AGREED not to have the Garden Competition for a couple of years. A vote of thanks goes to Cllr Mrs Jones for all her hard work.

99/14 SCARECROW COMPETITION 2014 – After discussion it was AGREED the Chair speak to Mr Mark Smith to see if he would organise the Scarecrow Competition for Mid September 2015.

100/14 V FESTIVAL 2014 UPDATE – The Clerk reported that she had e-mailed the V Festival again, but had received no response. The Council had received a letter from Peter Ward asking if the V Festival money could be given to the Church. Cllr Horne reported that the Church notice board needed replacing. Cllr Pulker explained that the Parish Council should be mindful where the money goes. Cllr Maddocks reported that the V Festival did not affect the village this year and the Chair said he believed it was poorly attended.

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101/14 POST OFFICE/SHOP PROVISION FOR SHERIFFHALES – No further developments.

102/14 REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF SPEED AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT CONCERNS RAISED – Members to raise any speed and safety concerns to be logged with the Speed and Safety Management Team at Shropshire Council.

a) Tractors speeding through the village – This has been reported to our Local Police Officer for action. This matter has now been sorted.

103/14 REPORT FROM MOST RECENT SCHOOL GOVERNORS MEETING – There were no report as Cllr Tonkinson had to leave the meeting early.

104/14 DELEGATES REPORTS – There were no delegate’s reports.

105/14 CORRESPONDENCE – e-mailed to Councillors since last meeting a) Alerts b) SALC – Community Health News – August 2014 c) Rural Network Services – RSN – Spotlight on Older People d) Shropshire Council Newsroom: Street light conversion programme moves to south-east Shropshire e) Shropshire Council Newsroom: Funding available to support the development of resilient communities in Shropshire f) Shropshire Council Newsroom: £20,000 is available for community projects in the and areas – and you can have your say on how it’s spent g) Shropshire Council Newsroom: Could you recycle one more thing? h) Shropshire Council Newsroom: Community Speed Watch launched across West Mercia following successful pilot scheme i) Shropshire Council Newsroom: Workshops to help businesses make the most of online opportunities j) Shropshire Council Newsroom: Decisions made by South planning committee on 19 August 2014 k) Shropshire Council Newsroom: An exciting Bridgnorth History Week coming up on 22-27 September 2014

106/14 CORRESPONDANCE RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING – a) Peter Ward (ex Church Council) asking that we give the V monies to the Church. b) Letter from Brian Walters – Public Transport in the Parish (write and thank him)

107/14 URGENT ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA – An opportunity for members to bring urgent items to the meeting that are not on the agenda.

The bench at Evergreens to be put on the next agenda.

108/14 Next Meeting: 13 November 2014 at 7.30pm in Sheriffhales Village Hall

Meeting closed 9.40pm

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