Minutes 21st October 2014

MINUTES OF ELTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE HIGHGATE HALL

ON TUESDAY 21^ST OCTOBER 2014 AT 7.30 P.M.

 

Present:              Cllrs J Burgess, R Donoyou, M Holman, I Kirk, M Porter, R Rankmore, R Smith and S Strowbridge

 

In Attendance: Mrs W Gray (Parish Clerk), Cllr M McGuire, Mrs L Jepson

 

1. Apologies for Absence: Cllrs Cummins and Mathews

 

1. Declaration of Interest: Written interest – Cllr Cummins (11 Middle Street)

 

Matters Arising:

 

1. Minutes of 16^th September 2014:

Cllr Donoyou proposed minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record, seconded Cllr Holman, all in agreement.

 

Cllr M McGuire – reported on Stocks Green and took questions from Councillors:

Stocks Green – Cllr McGuire reported enforcement should have taken place after 20^th September – CCC received letter from solicitor acting for Elton Estates, indicating EE would seek an injunction if CCC removed posts etc.  Cllr McGuire had a long telephone conversation with principle lawyer – following his earlier telephone conversation believe next action steps – CCC position remains the same – bollards have been erected on highways land and therefore CCC remain committed to enforcement to remove and recover costs from EE.  SWP had requested meeting with CCC but this was declined in view of impending enforcement + EE solicitor involvement.  Parish Councillors thanked CCC.  Two emails received from residents giving continued support to Parish Council and CCC.  Cllr Burgess asked if the Parish Council would be notified, if there is a CCC issue of costs.

 

Traffic calming improvements on Overend – resident reported to Parish Councillor that sign showing travelling over 30mph has not worked for a few months – Parish Councillor enquired if needed replacing could we have one like one in Wansford – Cllr McGuire replied that if wish to replace the Parish would have to pay.  Parish Clerk to contact Les Middleton CCC in first instance to advise sign is not working.

 

Stocks Green – the District Council have confirmed in writing that the car parking spaces require planning consent but have delayed enforcement pending CCC’s ownership confirmation.  The parish council were of the view that commencement of enforcement under the Planning Acts would be timely given the ownership issues raised by EE’s lawyers.  THE PC RESOLVED TO CONTACT THE DISTRICT COUNCILLOR TO DISCUSS THE EFFICACY OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT ACTION UNDER THE PLANNING LEGISLATION.  (Proposed Cllr Donoyou, seconded Cllr Holman).

 

Cllr Donoyou requested that we contact Open Spaces to advice on Stocks Green.  Parish Clerk to contact.

 

A605 – Overgrown tree branches cannot see turning – Les Middleton to be advised.

 

Chapel Lane – large turf lorries travelling up and down and clearly the cause of surface deterioration.  Les Middleton CCC to be advised.

 

1. Matters arising from the above minutes:

Cllr Rankmore raised question re wording on resolution on item 11 (Cllr Rankmore PROPOSED, Cllr Cummins SECONDED that CLLRS DONOYOU, RANKMORE & CUMMINS  REVIEW THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND RENEGOTIATE CONTRACTURAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THE POSSIBLE LIABILITIES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL ARE MINIMISED),  Cllr Donoyou had drawn up a draft contract.  Cllr Donoyou proposed RESOLUTION seconded Cllr Holman all in agreement that all councillors read and comment by 7^th November to respond with a view to getting draft contract in place for our November meeting on 18^th November.

 

Copies of notes of meeting with Elton Estates on 21st August – no notes have yet been received.

 

1. YTD/monthly accounts v budget:

Cllr Rankmore reported that running costs need to be kept tightly under control.  For the next meeting need to know what we are going to spend next year i.e. running costs and what we want to do over and above the running costs.  Cllr Donoyou PROPOSED, Cllr Rankmore SECONDED ALL COMMITMENTS ARE SENT TO THE CLERK WITHIN A FORTNIGHT IE BY 10^TH NOVEMBER 2014.  A budget forecast on running costs and capital costs for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 can then be discussed at next PC meeting when we can agree what we are going to or not going to put in.

 

1. Authorisation of Payments:

K & M Lighting Services – Maint October 2014	£61.15
Wendy Gray – Salary October 2014	£240.00
Wendy Gray – Tax October 2014	£60.00
HDC – Election Costs	£135.00
Highgate Hall – Hire of Annexe -20th May/3rd June/16th Sept/23rd Sept/15th July	£85.00
Open Spaces – Renewal	£45.00
I Kirk – Petrol Mower	£8.10

 

Cllrs Donoyou, Porter and Strowbridge signed off authorisation for above payments to be made, all in agreement. 

 

1. Street Lighting:

Parish Clerk will produce an article for the village magazine re the difference between street lights in the village and who to contact with outages.  Cllr Kirk reported street light out at junction of Back Lane/Wansford Road, Parish Clerk will report.

 

1. A605 Junction:

Meeting arranged for Monday 27^th October for Parish Councillors, Cllr McGuire and Emma Murden from Highways.  The aim of the meeting would be to allow Highways to assess and offer a view into the feasibility of what is being proposed and to get some feel for the likely capital cost.  That would be a necessary pre-cursor to Highways pursuing a bid for the cost and arguing the merits of the proposals.

 

1. Planning:

1401572PACOU – Prior notification of change of use agricultural building to a dwelling at Bonsers Lodge, Elton Hall Estate, Elton

– this is development in the open countryside with little or no justification on agricultural or related grounds.
– the proposed conversion is contrived and will result in an awkward form of development in an open and rural location.
– the applicant has at least 10 vacant dwellings within the locality, some of which are listed buildings within the village envelope and others vacant cottages and lodges within the Elton Estate landholding relatively.  As a priority, the PC are of the view that existing historic cottages should be restored and brought into beneficial use before any consent is given to create new dwellings, especially contrived conversions in remote locations such as this proposal.
– the application site is accessed only by a long and tortuous drive and is far from local amenities.  It thus will be totally dependent on car transport for all service and local facility needs.  The proposal thus does
not fulfil basic requirements for sustainable development.

– The point of access at the A605 junction creates a potential hazard.

The Parish Council RESOLVED THAT THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE REFUSED.

 

1400604FUL – Single storey extension to the South West of property at 11 Middle Street, Elton PE8 6RA – amendment to application description and amended plans received – NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE SUBJECT TO THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BELOW. The extension replaces an existing conservatory but the plans submitted convey a minimum of detail.  The following should be clarified, either before consent is granted (should the district council be minded to grant consent) or achieved by planning/listed building consent condition.

• The proposed roof light to the bathroom cannot be satisfactorily achieved in terms of construction – thatch and roof lights are not a good combination.  It may be better to introduce a small square window on the west gable…or mechanically light and vent.
• We assume the thatch will be longstraw – it is not specified.
• It should be confirmed that the extension will not require any adaptation / loss of the existing 18^thc roof structure to the main building…the extension roof can and should be standalone.
• We note that GF and 1^stF windows to the sw elevation are to be blocked.  This should be achieved by slightly recessing the new stone work…not removing stone from the opening edges to “tooth in” new masonry.
• There are minimal details of the parapets and kneelers, window heads and cills and indeed windows themselves. We assume the windows are wood and will be white painted (not stained).

1408237COND | Condition information for 1400488FUL – C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 | Land At Beulah House Back Lane Elton

The parish council expect its recommendation on conditions and particularly roofing materials (i.e.  Bradstone collyweston slate), to be taken into account in the resolution of planning conditions to this application in the centre of the village conservation area.

1. Trees/Verges:

Tree at bottom of Middle Street (near Pembroke Cottage) branches are falling off – Cllr Donoyou will have a look at.

Apple tree growing in front of Pembroke Cottage, branches growing between telephone lines – Cllr Donoyou will have a look at.

HDC have asked for orders for free trees under planting scheme – Cllr Donoyou to contact.

Tree(s) have been chopped down in front of property on Highgate Green – debris has been left at front of property.  Cllr Strowbridge will have a word with resident.

 

1. Correspondence

Report from PCSO which had been circulated to all.

 

1. Reports from Councillors:

Cllr Kirk – request for Parish Council to contribute towards getting names of the War Dead on the War Memorial re done as unreadable.  Cllr Holman will have a word with requester but estimates need to be obtained in the first instance.  It was also suggested requester contacts John Lucas who are local masons.

 

Cllr Smith – feedback on refusal of Black Horse Car Park extension – do we need to guestion i.e. more vehicles on footpath.  Cllr Donoyou will check website  – done 26 October 2014 when no decision was yet made.

 

Cllr Smith – the Vicar for this parish has resigned as of Sunday 19^th October, believe he wants to pursue other things.

 

Cllr Porter – Red Bridge (Mr Bail), East Northants – it appears several boats moored up, as a result of the site being developed as hired long term moorings + additional caravans, sheds and other structures. Concern expressed re sanitation, safety on the river bank has been cut off by floodwater on at least 3 occasions in the last 5 years. The Parish Council have not seen any planning consent which it is thought would be necessary.  Parish Clerk to contact East Northants.

 

Cllr Rankmore – received two complaints about parking in Middle Street – residents in Rectory Farm Mews having problems exiting and entering during school drop off and pick up – as well as parent’s vehicles, a school bus now pulls up outside bottom of School Lane.  Parish Clerk to write to Chairman of School Governors (Mr T Hitch) and Head Teacher at the school with our concerns.  Cllr Burgess suggested that when Little Lane Spinney is cleared could this not be used for parking – it was agreed that this would be a dangerous solution.

 

Cllr Donoyou – Planning and Planning Agreements – attended a meeting at Pathfinder House, lots of material supplied – Cllr Donoyou will report further at next meeting once has an understanding of all the material supplied.

 

Cllr Burgess – Footpath from Elton Mill to Warmington – has been asked by Northampton CC of his knowledge of the path etc and its usage and to make a statement.  Advised this is going to tribunal and the Parish Council will be notified of due date.  Cllr Porter reported that he and Lynda (his wife) had also been asked to provide statements.

 

1. Date of Next Meeting:

Tuesday 18^th November 2014 commencing at 7.30 p.m.

 

Meeting closed at 9.45 p.m.

 

 

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