BROAD TOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 9th November at 6.30pm Online via zoom Present: Councillor J E Jordan - Chairman Councillor M A Holland Councillor B Joyce Councillor R Pearce Councillor C J Rendell Officers: Mrs E Diamant – Parish Clerk PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 6 members of the public were present. Two residents reported that HGV’s continue to go in and out of the Appleford site which they believe to be in breach of the planning enforcement notice. There are currently two business trucks, two trailers and a horse vehicle at the site; the hard standing has not been removed as per the enforcement notice. Residents expressed their considerable frustration with planning enforcement; they believe that the clear instructions of the enforcement notice have not been followed up with no justification provided by planning enforcement on their current position that the notice has been complied with. Concerns and complaints have been raised by residents regarding the considerable funds that Wiltshire Council has spent on this case with no effective follow up of the enforcement notice. 80/20 APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Councillor Hartley. 81/20 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor Holland declared an interest in agenda items 4.3, 9.4 and 9.5. He remained in the meeting but did not participate in the discussion. Councillor Joyce and declared an interest in agenda item 9.1. He remained in the meeting but did not participate in the discussion. 82/20 MINUTES The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 12th October 2020, having been previously circulated were agreed as a correct record. The Clerk will arrange a time with the Chairman for these to be signed. 83/20 PLANNING 83/20.1 PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED Application Applicant Location of Description of Number Development Development 20/08815/FUL Mr G Bovingdon Lay Marsh Farm Erect rural workers Cotmarsh Lane dwelling. Broad Town Swindon Wiltshire Comments invited until: th SN4 7RA 19 November 2020 Application 20/08815/FUL was discussed. The Parish Council noted an objection to this application for a permanent dwelling. The application is based on the need for agricultural worker accommodation; clear evidence of the sustainability of the farm should be in place prior to an application for a permanent dwelling. It was noted that other agricultural dwellings approved locally have been for temporary dwellings until the long term need for permanent accommodation has been demonstrated. 83/20.2 PLANNING APPLICATIONS DETERMINED Application Location of Description of Decision Number development development 20/04483/FUL Springfield Villa Demolition of existing Approve with Broadtown Hill garage and store and conditions. Broad Town rebuild new unit to be The conditions were Swindon Wiltshire ancillary residential noted including those for SN4 7RU accommodation/holiday occupancy limitation. let. Change of use of land to residential. An ongoing resident complaint to the ombudsman regarding the evidence used to assess this application was noted. 20/07623/FUL Church Construction of granny Approve with Farmhouse Broad annexe within existing conditions. Town Swindon outbuilding. SN4 7RE The decision was noted. The absence of documentation available on the planning portal was noted. To follow up with planning as it is reported that works have already commenced at the site. 20/05772/FUL Lower Ham Farm New Indoor Arena for Approve with Thornhill Royal Equestrian Use conditions. Wootton Bassett Swindon Wiltshire The decision was noted. SN4 7RZ 83/20.3 PLANNING APPEALS Application Location of Description of Appeal Lodged Number development development 20/02410/OUT Land to the rear of Erection of a 8th October 2020 Marlborough detached self-build House Broad Town dwelling and Additional comments until: Swindon SN4 7RG associated 11th November 2020 infrastructure with some matters The appeal was noted. reserved All planning documents and decisions can be viewed at: https://planning.wiltshire.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Home.aspx 84/20 APPLEFORD ENFORCEMENT The Parish Council wrote to Wiltshire Council Planning Enforcement to invite them to attend the Parish Council meeting to respond to ongoing resident concerns and explain the current enforcement position. A reply was received from Sean Williams, Head of Planning Enforcement, declining to attend and advising that enforcement have not received any evidence that the site is in breach of the planning notice. The correspondence from Sean Williams also states that in accordance with the enforcement notice vehicles for domestic (but not business) purposes are permitted to be stationed at the site. Further correspondence from Planning Enforcement advising residents to contact Wiltshire Police regarding breaches of COVID lockdown conditions was also noted. It was noted that a stage two complaint by a resident regarding Planning Enforcement at Appleford is currently in process. Councillor Sue Hughes (Royal Wootton Bassett) was in attendance at the meeting and agreed to obtain more information on the stage two complaint processes and clarify whether the Head of Planning Enforcement has the power to amend the enforcement notice. The Parish council will contact planning enforcement to confirm whether a visit has been made to the site to inspect the unauthorised hard standing and assess whether it has been excavated, levelled and re-sown in accordance with conditions (d) and (e) of the planning enforcement notice. The enforcement position at Appleford will be reviewed at the next Parish Council meeting. 85/20 STANDING ORDERS – VIRTUAL MEETINGS AMENDMENT It was proposed by Councillor Joyce, seconded by Councillor Pearce and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the amendment to the standing orders for virtual meetings, point 3.x. 86/20 BANK BALANCES AND BANK RECONCILIATION at 31.10.20 Balances: Treasurers Account £8288.98 Capital Projects Account £3248.59 Community Fund £ 8404.51 Bank reconciliation: Treasurers Account £8288.98 Less unpresented cheques £Nil Cashbook Balance £8288.98 The bank balances were noted. 87/20 BUDGET AND EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2020/21 The monitoring document and the projected end of year balance of £5233.97 were noted. Councillor Joyce summarised that the expected expenditure for 2020/21 is in accordance with the approved budget and that the end of year balance includes the recommended reserve of 50% of the Parish Council operating costs. 88/20 PAYMENTS FOR APPROVAL 88/20.1 REIMBURSEMENT TO CLLR JOYCE – ZOOM SUBSCRIPTION NOVEMBER 2020 It was proposed by Councillor Jordan, seconded by Councillor Holland and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the reimbursement payment of £14.39 (Inc. VAT) to Councillor Joyce for the November Zoom subscription. 88/20.2 OUTDOOR PLAY SOUTH WEST LTD – REPLACEMENT ACTIVITY BOARD It was proposed by Councillor Pearce, seconded by Councillor Rendell and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the payment of £450 (Inc. VAT) to Outdoor Play South West for the replacement activity board at Redhills. 88/20.3 SUPREME CONTRACT SERVICES GROUNDS MAINTENANCE JUN-OCT 2020 It was proposed by Councillor Joyce, seconded by Councillor Jordan and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the payment of £1486.20 (Inc. VAT) for grounds maintenance services. 88/20.4 REIMBURSEMENT TO CLLR HOLLAND - FOOTPATH POST COSTS It was proposed by Councillor Jordan, seconded by Councillor Joyce and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the payment of £72.00 (Inc. VAT) for the purchase of fence posts for the footpaths group. 88/20.5 COMMUNITY FUND PAYMENT TO MR P GANTLET – BERKESWELL GATE It was proposed by Councillor Joyce, seconded by Councillor Pearce and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the community fund payment of £227.00 for the purchase of a Berkeswell kissing gate, following the Good Energy community fund grant allocated to the footpaths group in March 2020. 89/20 APPLICATIONS TO THE GOOD ENERGY COMMUNITY FUND - BROAD TOWN COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS – CORONAVIRUS COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS The Community Fund Advisory Group recommended that the above grant is awarded by the Parish Council. It was proposed by Councillor Pearce, seconded by Councillor Joyce and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve a grant of £240.00 to the Broad Town Community Volunteers. Thanks were given to Broad Town Community Volunteers for all their work on the community Christmas event. 90/20 REDHILLS FENCING QUOTES Councillor Joyce met with Kudos and Equinox fencing in October to obtain quotes for the fencing replacement works and contacted three other contractors who declined to quote. Kudos quoted £10,618.00 (inc. VAT) to replace the fencing including the pedestrian gate. The Parish Council would need to hire a skip for removal of the old fencing. Equinox quoted £11371.20 (inc. VAT), this includes the pedestrian gate and removal of the old fencing. Both contractors would require a deposit in order to commence work and advised that they would be able to start works in March/April 2021. Funding options for the project were discussed. The capital projects account balance towards the cost is £3248.59, consisting of funds raised through the precept and budgeting from 2018-2021. The Area Board has advised that grant funding is available for applications in November and January. The Clerk will contact the Area Board regarding an application for the remainder of the fencing costs in time for the January grant applications. The Parish Council will also approach the Community Energy Fund Advisory Group regarding a potential application for part of the costs. Councillor Joyce will liaise with the contractors regarding the position of the Parish Council. 91/20 PARISH STEWARD/REPORTING LOCAL AND HIGHWAYS ISSUES. The delays in the parish steward completing requested tasks were noted. The Clerk has been in contact with the parish steward scheme and is awaiting a response. The Clerk will note the current issues with the scheme to the Area Board at the next update. It was noted that some of the signage and pot hole repair tasks have now been completed. Members and residents can also report highways and other street scene issues via the newly relaunched My Wiltshire app.