Minutes of the Stanbridge Parish Council Meeting held at Stanbridge and Tilsworth Hall on Tuesday 12th September 2017 Present: Chairman E Sutton, Parish Councillors P Lidford, R Deville, M Walker, M Waters & G Chamberlain, Clerk M Whiting, Ward Cllr Versallion, 0 members of public 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received and accepted from Parish Councillor M Throsby. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declaration of interests. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Extra Ordinary meeting held on 8th August 2017 were a correct record and signed by the Chairman 4. PROGRESS UPDATE FROM LAST MEETING Items to be discussed on agenda. 5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION No members of public present. 6. POLICE Clerk circulated Police crime data spreadsheets link to Councillors. 2 offences reported in July & 6 offences in August. Community Hall are finding small gas canisters in the car park which aren’t illegal, therefore nothing the Police can do. Operation Sentinel is operating in the area 2 days a month and regular speed checks are being carried out. Police are also trying to get a Shop Watch scheme up and running in Leighton Buzzard. 7. CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL Ward Cllr Versallion confirmed his ‘Help & Advice Surgeries’ are drop in and no appointment is necessary, however would appreciate contact prior to the surgery with questions so he can prepare and find information beforehand. CBC are proposing to compulsory purchase the unauthorised site in Billington and relocate nearby to provide a site that will be owned and managed by CBC. The target for this is 2021. Councillors raised concerns about displacement and where will those that don’t wish to move go? Draft Local Plan has not taken into account displacement numbers. Ward Cllr Versallion advised that CBC had recently lost the Mile Tree Road in Heath and Reach G&T Planning Appeal case due to lack of G&T sites provided by CBC and agreed until a local plan is adopted, will keep losing appeals. 8. PLANNING CB/17/02729/VOC Motorcycle Track south of, Stanbridge Road, Great Billington Variation of Condition Granted by CBC DMC on 16th August. CB/15/01784/MW Motorcycle track south of Stanbridge Road, Great Billington, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9JH Raising of existing bunding to motorcycle track to a minimum of 2.0m above the highest part of the existing track level as required by condition 7 of planning permission reference CB/14/03678/VOC. OBJECT on grounds that acoustic fencing will not be suitable to negate the noise as adequately as bunding and therefore will not comply with the decibel level for operating in winter months, making the site not appropriate. Require an independent noise monitoring report and recommendations. 9. CBC DRAFT LOCAL PLAN As agreed at the 8th August meeting, Chairman Sutton circulated a draft response to all Councillors by email and submitted final below comments on CBC website under representation 3084 on behalf of the parish council. It was AGREED for future consultations there would be more in depth discussions between all Councillors and a local planning consultant employed. Stanbridge Parish Council have read and considered the Draft Local Plan, which is extensive so we have focused on key areas which we feel are most relevant to our local residents. We can fully appreciate the time and resources which have gone into developing the plan, however overall, we feel disappointed at the lack of detail in the plan at this stage, especially as this is the third time the Local Plan has been submitted for consultation, as we understand it. We would question if this should not be acknowledged in some way, as 1 Signed by Presiding Chairman -------------------------------------- 10th October 2017 Minutes of the Stanbridge Parish Council Meeting held at Stanbridge and Tilsworth Hall on Tuesday 12th September 2017 previous consultations have been undertaken and scarce Council funding spent obtaining and collating information. We would seek assurance that this has not been wasted and that the information can be incorporated into the next draft? All the blank pages contained within the draft make this an extremely lengthy and tiresome document to page through, which would have been helpful to be removed at this stage, especially for the on-line copy. Can they please be removed for the next consultation? This also makes it expensive or timely to print off for those that didn’t have a pc and needed a hard copy. We would summarise or keys issues as: Vision & Objectives Local Character SO4 Create high quality neighbourhoods that have regard for local character and use sustainability principles which are sensitive and responsive to the significance of the local environment, are distinctive, safe, functional and accessible and which reinforce the identity of the area's townscapes, landscape and public places. Response – Accepted that this is the aspiration, however currently this is not always the case when large G&T encampments have happened, which are not fully controlled through the planning policy system. They are also not evenly or fairly distributed throughout the County, with a disproportionate increase in the south of the County. We are also concerned about the lack of necessary enforcement to ensure an equitable planning system for all residents is managed and maintained, and there is not planning rule for the many, and different for a few. How will you stop this in the future? The need for G&T housing is apparent but should not be at the expense of impacting on existing settled communities and ensuring a fair system for all. We would ask for a definition of what the Council mean by ‘high quality neighbourhoods’ as in order to reduce ongoing and raising tensions we would like to see that G&T settlements are considered under the same aspirational ‘high quality’ standards in design, layout, density and enforcement, to ensure equality in the planning system. Environment . The special character of the area’s natural assets have been protected and enhanced, fewer wildlife habitats are at risk, and new higher standards of development, integrating renewable or low energy technology are being delivered. Response – This is not happening where G&T sites are currently. They are becoming a blot on the landscape and changing the nature of the villages where they are placed, which again we would expect the Local Plan to clearly address for the future. SO13 Support the necessary changes to adapt to climate change by minimising emissions of carbon and local air quality pollutants, protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Improving and protecting air and water quality, reducing flood risk and adverse impacts from noise including the safeguarding of quiet areas and reducing the impacts of contaminated land Response: In Stanbridge we are currently having to endure Motor cross noise pollution plus G&T contamination of water and light pollution from strong lighting they use and raw sewerage, known to be expelled into local water course systems due to lack of formal sanitation. We would be delighted if the above was true or could be obtained in the future, again we would like to seek assurance that this will apply to existing and future G&T sites through necessary planning law and enforcement. 7.6 The Proposed Growth Locations Area A – South 7.6. 7.6.2 As the Luton HMA is largely comprised of Green Belt land, this will mean some release of land within the Green Belt where ‘exceptional circumstances’ can be demonstrated. Objection- Expansion in our Green belt but not Luton’s – why? There is a wider concern about the loss of Green Belt, and we would request a clear definition of what is meant and understood by ‘exceptional circumstances’. Should the Local Plan still not focus on the intensification of Luton and brown field sites, rather than the easier option of Green Belt development? Is this clearly explained in the plan? Section 8 Implementation North of Luton Statement- community centres with a mixture of retail uses including A1 (shops), A3 (café/ restaurants) and A4 (drinking establishments) whilst ensuring the viability of Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis Town Centres are not undermined; Response: Dunstable’s growth around the theatre resulted in many of the units closed and not filled for years. How will you stop this happening again – its perceived as a waste of money. Town centre killed off by retail parks outside of town and poor parking and traffic issues are only now being addressed. 2 Signed by Presiding Chairman -------------------------------------- 10th October 2017 Minutes of the Stanbridge Parish Council Meeting held at Stanbridge and Tilsworth Hall on Tuesday 12th September 2017 Section 8 implementation. Statement - Integrated community hub with a “Health and Social Care Hub”, to serve both the development and the catchment area; preschool/ nursery/ early years facilities; enlargements to existing schools and the provision of new schools/ educational facilities as required to support the identified need of future residents including any existing unmet need, including a new secondary school. Response : essential this in place as early as possible so as to make living and working here successful and workable. All too often we are seeing key infrastructure not being provided by major developers early enough resulting in added pressure on existing infrastructure and facilities. Necessary S106 commitments should be strongly enforced and committed to in the planning of any new developments. GREEN BELT 9.2.4 Statement - Evidence produced in support of this Plan demonstrates that locating all growth beyond the Green Belt would have serious consequences for the sustainability of settlements both within and outside the Green Belt. For example, over development in the north of Central Bedfordshire threatens the character and identity of existing communities, and risks putting excessive pressure on existing services and facilities, and harming habitats and landscape which surround them.