Rural Parish Council

Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 3 October 2017, in the Roden Suite, Edinburgh House, Wem starting at 7pm

Formal Meeting Present: Councillors: Jon Murgatroyd (Chair), Peter Broomhall, Geoff Glover, Peter Slack, Len Staines, Stella Whyte, Ruth Williams and Tim Wilton-Morgan Clerk: Carole Warner Members of the Public: None

147/17 Public Participation Period: None

148/17 Apologies for absence: Cllrs Fiona Ford, Peter Marsh and Liz Vernon (accepted) Councillors: Pauline Dee and Chris Mellings

149/17 Minutes The minutes of the Meeting held on 5 September 2017 were approved and signed.

150/17 Disclosable Pecuniary Interests: a. Members were reminded that they are required to leave the room during the discussion and voting on matters in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest, whether or not the interest is entered in the register of members’ interests maintained by the Monitoring Officer. Cllr Peter Broomhall advised he would be leaving the meeting for Agenda items 5b I and ii (Planning) due to the perception of bias and pre-determination. b. To consider any requests for Dispensation None c. Members were reminded that they are required to declare any acceptance of gifts and hospitality.

150/17 Planning a. Decisions Received - noted i. 17/02768/FUL Land at Soulton Hall, Soulton Road, Soulton, Wem, SY4 5RS Proposed construction of a grass covered for the placement of cremation urns Decision: Grant Permission ii. 17/03653/ADV The Laurels, Rye Bank, Wem, SY4 5QX Erect and display 1 x 1500mm width x 1000mm sign Decision: Grant Permission iii. 17/02628/FUL The Primitive Chapel, Pool Head, Wem, SY4 5UH Application under Section 73a of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the installation of replacement windows Decision: Refuse iv. 17/03845/FUL No 1 The Barns, Lowe Hall Farm, The Lowe, Wem, SY4 5UE Erection of detached greenhouse and detached shed (modification to previously Clerk: Carole Warner, Orchard Cottage, Rowe Lane, Welshampton, Ellesmere, SY12 0QB Tel. 01948 710672 email: clerk @wemrural-pc.gov.uk www.wemrural-pc.gov.uk approved 16/02319/FUL) Decision: Grant Permission v. 17/03514/FUL Proposed Dwelling South Of 24, Barkers Green, Wem Erection of detached bungalow Decision: Refuse b. Applications Received Cllr Broomhall left the meeting i. 17/04159/FUL Creamore House Farm , Whitchurch Road, Wem, SY4 5RN Erection of an agricultural building for the housing of livestock It was resolved to support the application. ii. 17/04160/FUL Creamore House Farm , Whitchurch Road, Wem, SY4 5RN Erection of silage clamp for agricultural fodder It was resolved to support the application. Cllr Broomhall re-joined the meeting iii. 17/04218/FUL Hayes Barn, Coton, Whitchurch, SY13 3LU Conversion and extension to outbuilding to form self-contained ancillary accommodation to existing dwelling It was resolved to support the application iv. 17/04365/FUL Proposed Conversion Of Storage Building, Foxholes, Wem Conversion of agricultural outbuilding to form one dwelling to include creation of driveway; installation of bio-disk treatment plant It was resolved to support the application subject to Highways approval.

151/17 Parish Clerk’s Report: a. Wem Town Mayor Civic Service Sunday 22 October at 3.30pm Cllr Slack agreed to represent the Council b. Training General discussion took place on arranging training specifically for the Council’s needs. The Clerk would liaise with a known trainer.

152/17 Financial Matters: a. Balances for Information Noted. b. Outstanding accounts The following accounts was approved: C Warner 767.77 SALC 65.00 c. Budget 2018/19 The Clerk requested Councillors to consider projects which would benefit the community. d. Newtown Park All Weather Sports Pitch The Clerk advised NCRA was progressing the project. They anticipated an application would be submitted under the Community-Led Housing Scheme for £15,000. e. Community Grants It was agreed to publicise the grants scheme in the next edition of the Rural Review.

153/17 Parish Council’s Action Plan a. Update - Broadband The Chair advised Chris Taylor from Connecting Shropshire would be attending the November meeting.

154/17 Parish Council Planning Policy

Minutes 3 October 2017 2 of 4 The Clerk advised she had met Paul Sutton of Connexus Housing. It was agreed that once Shropshire Council had published the Preferred Options consultation as part of the Local Plan Review, the Parish Council’s own Policy review could be progressed.

155/17 Policy and Procedure Review a. Health & Safety Policy b. Equal Opportunities Policy c. Dignity at Work Policy d. Staff Performance Management Policy and Procedure e. Grievance Procedure f. Disciplinary Procedure It was resolved to adopt all the policies and procedures with a 3 year review period.

156/17 Councillor Reports: a. Parish Councillors Cllr Glover reported on the Planning Training he had attended. b. Shropshire Councillors: Cllr Mellings had submitted a written report.

157/17 Parish Matters a. Wem Industrial Estate It was agreed to refer this to the Wem Economic Forum as a possible project. b. Wem Economic Forum It was agreed the Forum needed a new focus with projects it could deliver. It was agreed to offer £1,000 to support projects and the Clerk to assist with administration. New Terms of Reference would be required. c. Community Transport Operators It was noted that the Department of Transport were to consider changes to permits. It was agreed to seek further information.

158/17 Highways a. Traffic issues at Horton and Barkers Green It was noted that the works at Horton had been completed and that a response from Shropshire Council regarding Barkers Green had been received. b. Gas Mains Replacement Aston Street, Wem The Clerk confirmed she had written to residents along Soulton Road and Aston regarding the closure at the Level Crossing. It was noted the works were on schedule. c. Resident’s letter re Road, Wem It was resolved to raise the stretch of road from the roundabout to the end of the 30mph section with Shropshire Council and Safer Roads Partnership as community concerns. The Police would be requested to carry out enforcement and to assess whether the site was suitable for Community Speed Watch.

159/17 Consultations a. Shropshire Council Parking Strategy (deadline 17 October) It was resolved not support the proposed changes as they were considered not to be conducive with the economic growth of local economies. In particular, Wem should be in Band 7 of the charging bands. The 15 minutes free ‘pop and shop’ should continue and parking charges in small market towns should only apply until 6pm. This was to help the evening economy of fast food shops and restaurants.

Minutes 3 October 2017 3 of 4 b. Dept. for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: A new broadband Universal Service Obligation: consultation on design It was considered every occupied property should receive broadband under a universal service obligation and companies should strive to provide a service of 100mb. An agreed minimum level of download/upload speed should be maintained as new technologies providing broadband are developed.

160/17 Date of future meeting and to consider agenda items: 7 November 2017.

The Chair, Cllr Murgatroyd, declared the meeting closed at 8.10pm

Signed………………………………………………….. Date……………………………

Minutes 3 October 2017 4 of 4