STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS PARISH ASSEMBLY
Minutes of the Meeting of the Staffordshire Moorlands Parish Assembly held in the Council Chamber, Moorlands House, Stockwell Street, Leek on Thursday, 26th June 2014 at 7.30 p.m.
PRESENT Councillor Colin Pearce Chair of the Staffordshire Moorlands Parish Assembly
Councillors and Parish Representatives as recorded in the Attendance List at Annex A
Councillor David Shaw Vice Chair of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Ruth Reeves Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Gavin Clarke Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
David Davies Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Jim Taaffe Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
John Walton Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors and Parish Representatives: S Richards (Ipstones), K Flunders (Checkley), K Harper (Biddulph), K Dunn (Longnor), D McGrath (Brown Edge), R Steele (Rushton), A Shufflebotham (Consall), F Meadows (Oakamoor), M Belfied (Tittesworth), E Durose (Caverswall), J McNicol (Werrington), S Farr (Forsbrook), C Meyrick (Cheddleton).
Officers: Mark Trillo (Staffordshire Moorlands District Council), Gail Edwards (Staffordshire County Council), Naomi Chesters (Staffordshire County Council), Adele Metcalfe (Peak District National Park Authority)
2. CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
The Chair welcomed representatives and speakers, in particular new Parish representatives.
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Staffordshire Moorlands Parish Assembly – 26th June 2014
The Chair thanked the previous Chair, Cllr Davies, for the time and effort he has invested in the Assembly over the last twelve months.
The Chair promoted the new Parish Assembly Newsletter that is to be distributed monthly via email.
The Chair reminded Parish Representatives to ask their Clerks to return the Parish Assembly Representative Update Form if they have not already done so.
The Chair reported that if Parish Representatives experience problems with the SMDC Planning Website they should be reported to Michelle Farraday (Web Editor) and Robert Weaver (Head of Regulatory Services): [email protected] [email protected] It was noted that Mike Green (Planning Applications Manager) has left SMDC.
The Chair promoted the Chairman’s Charity ‘Leek Gardening Enterprise for Young People with Learning Disabilities’. The new enterprise seeks to develop work experience and employment opportunities for young people with learning disabilities to progress into after leaving school. A variety of fundraising events are planned: Sponsored Walk, Choral Event, Cllr Shaw’s Flight.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Parish Assembly held on 20 th March 2014 were approved as a correct account of the meeting.
4. MATTERS ARISING
Ruth had invited Adele Metcalfe from Peak District National Park Authority to attend to give an update on Neighbourhood Planning as requested at the last meeting. Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances this needs to be rescheduled.
The Monthly Newsletter has been actioned.
A list of Key Contact Details is in progress.
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5. ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS
The following annual appointments were agreed:
Vice Chair – Cllr Paul Roberts
Moorlands Partnership Board – Cllrs Henry Jebb, Anthony Mould, Keith Harrison
Licensing Sub Committee – Cllr Robert Barker
Standards/Audit and Accounts Committee – Cllrs David Fowler, Chris Meyrick, Neil Plant
6. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK UPDATE
Gavin Clarke provided the following update:
Core Strategy
• The Council adopted the Core Strategy on 26 th March 2014. It is now part of the Development Plan, it gives weight to the policies, and sets the framework for site allocations.
• The Core Strategy is available on SMDC’s website and copies will be sent to Parish Councils.
Supplementary Planning Documents - Churnet Valley Masterplan, Leek and Cheadle Town Centre Masterplans
• The Council adopted the Churnet Valley Masterplan and the Leek and Cheadle Town Centre Masterplans on the 26 th March 2014.
• The Masterplans are not Development Plan Documents, and don’t carry the same statutory weight as the Core Strategy. However, as Supplementary Planning Documents, the Masterplans can be used as a material consideration in determining planning applications and to inform site allocations.
Site Allocations Development Plan Document
• The purpose of the document is to: o Allocate sites for various uses including housing, employment and retail o Review the boundaries currently identified in the adopted Local Plan such as town / village development boundaries and green belt boundaries, and in some cases identify new settlement
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boundaries.
• The Site Allocations will be incorporated with a review of the Core Strategy into a single Local Plan to cover the plan period up to 2031.
• A special Site Allocations Parish Assembly was held on 8th May 2014 to: o set out the process of identifying sites o discuss development options for particular settlements o consider Parish Council comments prior to public consultation
• Subsequently further information packs have been distributed to Parish Councils.
• Any comments on Site Allocations from Parish Councils should be returned to the Local Plan Team before the end of July 2014.
• It now looks as though the Site Allocations options will go to Full Council in September and, if agreed, a six week public consultation will be held in October/November.
Statement of Community Involvement
This document was updated earlier in the year, copies were sent to Parish Councils in March 2014. Only 15 responses were received. The document is to be finalised and will probably be adopted in September 2014.
Questions and Comments
Cllr Jebb noted that the District has been vulnerable to developers gaining permissions because the District does not have a five year supply of land. – The District has a 3.2 year supply of land. This will only increase as a result of more planning permissions being granted or the site allocations being more advanced.
Cllr Fowler asked how the review of the Core strategy in 2016 will affect the site allocations: - The housing requirement within the Core Strategy will be reviewed in 2016, this will feed down into Site Allocations.
Cllr Fowler raised concerns about the infrastructures ability to support the number of new houses and asked what the format of the consultation will be. - Parish Councils were sent Information Packs two weeks ago as part of an informal engagement with Parish Councils. Formal consultation (due in October/November 2014) will last six weeks and in the past different
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consultation events have been held at different locations across the District.
Cllr Sergeant asked how the initial housing numbers per settlement were calculated. - The numbers are indicative, based on requirements in the Core Strategy and deducting any planning permission that have been granted. The requirement was apportioned across the District by size of settlement and facilities available. The numbers are not targets, and are subject to review.
Cllr P Roberts expressed concern that many Parish Councils aren’t due to meet until the end of July and therefore may struggle to respond by the end of July. - The deadline has some flexibility, late responses can be considered.
Cllr L Roberts suggested that a Housing Needs Survey would provide more accurate detail regarding the housing requirement.
Cllr Ballard asked for assurance that comments will be taken into account. - The Council has included the current period of informal engagement with Parish Councils precisely because it wants to take Parish Council views into account. However, the Council has the very difficult job of balancing Parish Council and resident views with the requirement for growth in order to produce a Plan that can be adopted. It is, therefore, not always possible to act on the views received. However, all comments received through engagement and consultation are listened to very carefully by both officers and members.
7. WIND TURBINES UPDATE
David Davies presented an update on Wind Turbines (Appendix One) which included an overview of Policy SD2 (Renewables and Low Carbon Energy) adopted as part of the Core Strategy.
Questions and Comments
Cllr Ballard asked what the Council was doing to promote alternatives to wind turbines. - The Council can only deal with the planning applications that it receives; most are for wind turbines. The Council cannot dictate what applicants should apply for.
Cllr Unwin felt that the lack of a Wind Turbine Policy leaves the District vulnerable.
Cllr L Roberts made the following comments:
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• The application for AONB status would bring greater protection • Feed in tariffs may soon disappear, which will probably result in fewer new developments • The National Park produces literature on renewables for developers which can be shared with SMDC • The natural zone policy designation within the PPNPA and setting of the National Park affords some protection to the District • That the practical requirements upon turbine applicants under the new December 2013 pre-submission consultation regulations, are not clearly defined in those regulations. Nevertheless, PPNPA have/are adopting various ‘protocols’ which set out the scope of pre-submission consultation applicants are expected to undertake for turbines of various sizes.
Cllr Fowler felt it was imperative to have a coherent strategy in order to reduce the number of wind turbine applications that are won on appeal. - An Inspector would take Policy SD2 into account, alongside NPPF Policy; and would also assume an automatic ‘need’ for (renewable) energy when reaching a decision
Cllr Jebb stated that it was a myth that the District Council doesn’t have a Renewables Policy. SD2 is the District’s Renewables Policy.
8. STAFFORDSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
Jim Taaffe and John Walton gave a presentation about Staffordshire FARS’ Moorlands Engagement Plan (see Appendix Two).
Questions and Comments
Cllr Jebb offered the services of Leek Crime Prevention Panel to help with the distribution of leaflets.
9. OPEN FORUM
Cllr Fowler commented that only 14 parishes were present at the last meeting and that it was a shame there wasn’t better representation. The following suggestions were made to increase attendance figures: • Organising a social event/ making the meetings more social • More topical agenda items • Holding a Parishes Day (similar to the National Park’s)
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Ruth has invited colleagues from the NHS to the September meeting.
New suggestions:
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• Grants and funding opportunities for Parish Councils and community groups
11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 11 th September 2014
The meeting closed at 21:30
______Chair______Date
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ANNEX 'A'
STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS PARISH ASSEMBLY
MEETING OF 26 th June 2014
ATTENDANCE LIST
Councillor P Ballard Representative for Alton Councillor J Shufflebotham Representative for Brown Edge Councillor P Roberts Representative for Caverswall Councillor D Sargeant Representative for Cheadle Councillor N Plant Representative for Cheadle Councillor S Buckley Representative for Checkley Councillor K Flunder Representative for Checkley Councillor J Arnold Representative for Cheddleton Councillor J Prince Representative for Cotton Councillor J Dale Representative for Cotton Councillor P Clarke Representative for Draycott in the Moors Councillor J Meller Representative for Draycott in the Moors Councillor H Jebb Representative for Endon with Stanley Councillor V Harris Representative for Endon with Stanley Councillor A Mould Representative for Forsbrook Councillor G Burton Representative for Forsbrook Councillor P Harvey Representative for Heathylee Councillor C Bennett Representative for Heathylee Councillor A Trueman Represnetative for Heaton Councillor R Ball Representative for Horton Councillor H Beswick Representative for Horton Councillor D Fowler Representative for Kingsley Councillor K Unwin Representative for Kingsley Councillor K Harrison Representative for Leek Councillor L Roberts Representative for Leekfrith Councillor C Taylor Representative for Longsdon Councillor J Sargeant Representative for Longsdon Councillor S Jaggers Representative for Onecote Councillor R Barker Representative for Tittesworth Mr A Howard Representative for Tittesworth Councillor R Barker Representative for Tittesworth Councillor B Hughes Representative for Werrington Councillor J McNicol Representative for Werrington
20 Parishes were represented
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