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BRADFORD ON TONE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 20 JULY 2011
PRESENT
Mr K Mear (Chairman), Mrs J Cape, Mr C Dinsdale OBE, Mr C Ellis, Mr P Haines, Mr D Venn Mr D Greig (Parish Liaison Officer, Taunton Deane Borough Council) One member of the public
1. APOLOGIES
Mr T McMahon (County Councillor), Mr C Bishop (District Councillor)
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mr Venn declared a personal interest in minute 5.1.
3. CRIME UPDATE
No police officer was available and no report had been forwarded. Mr Dinsdale said there had been three recent thefts in Langford Budville. Each one took place in the early morning and included the theft of frozen food. [Subsequently an email was received from PCSO Louise Fyne, giving information on crime statistics. This was emailed to Councillors.]
4. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 18 MAY 2011
The draft minutes, having been circulated, were taken as read and signed as correct. The proposer was Mr Dinsdale, seconded by Mrs Cape.
5. UPDATE ON ITEMS IN MINUTES
5.1 Public Footpaths WG 14/1 and WG 3/7
Further to previous minutes the County Council’s Rights of Way warden had had no success in communicating with the landowner over whose land the bridge was situated on. The warden would set out the options available in writing to the landowner, giving them a deadline. Once that deadline had passed it was likely a meeting would be set up with the Parish Councils involved.
On WG 3/7 the area beneath the seat and surrounding had been sprayed with weed killer. There was nothing further to report on the condition of this footpath.
5.2 Parish Plan
The Clerk confirmed there would be a presentation on Parish Plans by Keeley Rudd from the Community Council for Somerset at the 21 September 2011 meeting.
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6. NEWLY CREATED ACCESSES IN BACK LANE, BRADFORD ON TONE
During June the first of two new vehicular accesses was opened up between Willowbank and Centuries (The Bungalow) in Back Lane. It was assumed that Back Lane was a classified unnumbered highway where planning permission would be required for a new access. It was thought the hedge that had been ripped out was within the conservation area of Bradford on Tone. It was carried out between April and 1 August when hedgerows were protected for the bird breeding season.
The response from Taunton Deane Borough Council was that Back Lane was not a classified highway and therefore planning permission was not needed to form an access onto domestic curtilage. The conservation area did not play a part in the forming of the access or the removal of the hedge. The removal of the hedgerow was exempt from the hedgerow legislation as it was within the domestic curtilage.
What had particularly concerned villagers and the Parish Council was the way in which Back Lane was downgraded, meaning planning permission was certainly not needed for the first new access (nearest the church). Having made enquiries of the local authorities, the history was that in 2010 it was noticed that the County Council’s road records showed two main roads running through the village. The matter was referred to the Area Highways Inspector, who, from a highway point of view, considered Back Lane should be reclassified. As Back Lane was not considered to be the main thoroughfare a proposal was made to the Department for Transport for it to be declassified to unclassified public highway. The Department of Transport agreed to the proposal and on 16 August 2010 issued a Declaration Certificate in which Back Lane ceased to be a classified unnumbered highway.
The Parish Council were not a statutory consultee on reclassification matters and would not have been advised when the reclassification was implemented.
Subsequently at the end of June a second access was created on the other side of The Bungalow. According to Taunton Deane Borough Council this could not be considered to be permitted development as it could not be considered ancillary to the domestic dwelling. The Borough Council would contact the owner of the land requesting an application for this new access.
After further discussion and comments from a member of the public, it was agreed the Clerk would pursue the following matter with local authorities.
(a) The second access (furthest away from the church)
Did works already carried out come under the definition of ‘engineering operations’ as defined in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Section 3361. This included the formation or laying out the means of access to the public highway. This would be a form of development which normally required planning permission.
(b) The first access (apparently this is permitted development and the one nearest to the church) has brick built pillars at the end of the retaining walls which appear to have encroached onto the public highway.
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7. SMALL TRANSPORT SCHEMES
County Councillor Tony McMahon had indicated there was a grant available for small transport schemes up to £50,000 for road safety enhancements. The Parish Council had one scheme ready for implementation, namely a footway along the frontage of Stoneycroft, Bradford on Tone. A submission form had been forwarded to Mr McMahon.
8. EMERGENCY PLANNING – EMERGENCY REST CENTRES
Information received on the above matter had been passed to the Village Hall Management Committee.
9. SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL – TAUNTON DEANE STRIMMER
This project would allow trained volunteers to cut vegetation on public rights of way as often as necessary, as well as keeping stiles, signs and gates clear of vegetation. Councillors felt that currently, with the help of a grant from Taunton Deane Borough Council, the important sections of public footpaths were cut by a local person. It was agreed to respond to SCC saying the Parish Council would review the situation next July.
10. PLANNING
10.1 Minutes of the meetings held on 17 May and 28 June 2011
The minutes, having been circulated, were taken as read and signed as correct. The proposer was Mr Mear, seconded by Mr Ellis.
10.2 Applications
10.2.1 Fell one ash tree, one lime and one sycamore within Bradford on Tone Conservation Area at Bradford Court. Parish Council met 17 May (inquorate) – no objection.
10.2.2 Erection of dwelling and garage with formation of vehicular access within the curtilage at Medway, Regents Street, Bradford on Tone – no objection.
10.2.3 Erection of dwelling at land adjacent to Bradford Court, Bradford on Tone. Parish Council met 28 June 2011 – the application was supported by a majority. Mr Venn objected. Councillors asked that four comments be made to Taunton Deane Borough Council.
1. The proposed garage of the house is outside the settlement limit.
2. Concerns that the Leylandii hedge fronting the village road may be removed, which would expose the new house. If the hedge were to be removed it should be replaced.
3. This is the only house that West of England Developers propose building. Councillors state there should be no further development within the blue boundary line on the application plan.
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4. Access to the proposed property from the Taunton end is a blind corner.
10.3 Decisions
10.3.1 As above in 10.2.1 – approved 25 May 2011.
10.3.2 Change of use of building from agricultural to B1 use. Alterations to site to include reduction of height of western roof, introduction of roller-shutter door to eastern unit and enlargement of yard for access and turning area at Gardeners Hall Farm, Bradford on Tone (amended scheme to application 07/06/0003) as amended by agent’s email dated 12 May 2011.
13.3.3 Erection of two 4/5 bedroomed dwellings in the garden to the rear of Gardeners Hall, Back Lane, Bradford on Tone (amended scheme 07/10/0016) – permission granted 27 May 2011.
10.3.4 As above in 10.2.2 – permission granted 10 June 2011.
10.3.5 Extension at Oakfield, Heatherton Park Road, Bradford on Tone. Amendments to windows as per application 07/10/0010 – permission granted 8.7.11
10.4 Other Planning Matters
10.4.1 Conversion of buildings to single storey dwelling at The Courtyard, Heatherton Park, Bradford on Tone. Appeal against decision by TDBC to refuse granting planning permission – appeal dismissed 2 June 2011.
10.4.3 Development to widen existing pedestrian access to form vehicular access at Three Chimneys (formerly known as Langs Farm Bungalow). Appeal against TDBC to refuse granting planning permission – appeal dismissed 10 June 2011.
11. FINANCE
11.1 To agree accounts for payment £
11.1.1 Clerk’s salary June/July 441.92 11.1.2 Clerk’s expenses 18.85 11.1.3 Clerk’s working from home allowance 200.00 11.1.4 Churchyard maintenance 2010 (including Taunton Deane grant of £450) 465.30 (inc VAT 69.30) 11.1.5 Hire of Chant Room for 18 May 2011 meeting 6.00 11.1.6 Mr R Stanworth – strimming public footpaths June 2010 – June 2011-07-05 150.00 11.1.7 Viking Direct – stationery 49.28 (inc VAT 8.21) 11.1.8 Mr J Matthews – updating website Jan – July 2011 30.00 11.1.9 Moore Stephens – external annual audit of accounts To 31 March 2011 144.00 (inc VAT 24.00) 11.1.10 Somerset Playing Fields Associations – annual Membership 1 June 2011 10.00
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11.1.11 LCR publication magazine – annual subscription for 2011/2012 15.50
On the proposal of Mr Dinsdale, seconded by Mr Haines, it was unanimously agreed to approve these accounts for payment.
11.2 Income £
11.2.1 VAT repayment 2010/2011 309.25
11.3 Bank balance and reconciliation statement
After the above transactions had been taken into account the Parish Council’s bank balances totalled £6232.85.
11.4 Results of external audit of Parish Council’s accounts for 2010/2011
The Clerk reported a satisfactory audit of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011. An appropriate notice had been placed on the noticeboards.
11.5 Change of authorised cheque signatories
Following the May elections it was necessary to revise the signatories. All Councillors agreed they should be able to sign cheques along with the Clerk. The necessary paperwork would be circulated for completion by Councillors.
12. CORRESPONDENCE
12.1 Library opening hours and availability of mobile libraries
The Parish Council had been notified on changes to library opening hours and also to changes to the routes and stopping places of mobile libraries.
12.2 Taunton Deane – return of election expenses
Noted.
12.3 Somerset County Council – Government funding for Broadband Project
Somerset County Council had secured over £30 million of Government funding. The Council’s joint bid with Devon, North Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay was just one of three successful bids from across the country and from a total allocation of £50 million.
12.4 Parish Online Mapping
This was a unique web-based mapping tool which provided parishes with access to mapping and tools to share information with colleagues. The Clerk said that one of his other Parish Councils had accepted a free 30 day trial. Bradford on Tone Parish
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Council would evaluate the results of that trial at their September meeting before making any decisions.
12.5 Hire charges for Village Hall
The Village Hall Management Committee had reluctantly increased the hire charges as from 1 September. The new special rates for Parish Council use would see the Chant Room hire rate increase from £6 to £8 and the Main Hall from £12 to £16 per meeting (eg 6 pm to 10 pm).
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Wednesday 21 September 2011 at 7.30 pm.
Items for the agenda should be with the Clerk at least 14 days before the meeting.
The meeting closed at 9.05 pm.
B311m
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