Brompton
on Swale Parish Council
|
Clerk: Margaret Lowery, 32 Honey Pot Road,
Brompton on Swale, Richmond, DL10 7HT: Tel: 07591 602260 email:
bosparishclerk@fsmail.net: web site: www.brompton-on-swale.org.uk |
Present: Cllrs A Guest, Chairman B Woodley
F Broughton L Rowe
S Neasham P Wild
D Dempsey K Bryan
(see note below)
The Clerk
Cllrs C Les
M
Heseltine
1. Apologies
for absence: Cllr J Fryer
PC Sellars
PCSO Ann
Barrington
2. Presentation by Peter Featherstone
of RDC Planning Department Mr Featherstone started by
saying that he was not going to give any formal presentation but to say a few
words about each of the topics listed on the agenda and to take any questions
arising from that. He started with
E-consultation and the Planning Portal and wished to reassure the Members that
RDC were mindful that receiving all planning applications via e-mail was not a
viable option for the majority at the present time and the pace of change
should be led by the consultees rather than RDC itself. However, all planning applications are now
placed on the internet and can be accessed via the Planning Portal (www.planningportal.gov.uk) but for
the foreseeable future RDC will continue to send all applications out by
post. All applications are also
accessible via RDCs web site.
The Local Development Framework is the equivalent to the previous Local Plan. Mr Featherstone thanked Members for their comments on the consultation and the LDF has been modified to take these on board. The Core Strategy and LDF will go on deposit for further comment around the end of October and there will then be decision made by the Inspector to decide if these documents are fit for purpose.
The Validation Requirements for submitting planning applications are now in their final form and again Mr Featherstone thanked Members for their comments. The finalised version is very similar to the draft one and it is hoped that by setting down in detail the kind of information that is required with a planning application that this will improve the quality of the applications being received. Parish Councils will be asked for some feedback in due course on whether they think the new requirements are helping.
Mr Featherstone then moved on to the last and in his opinion the most important topic, ie making effective responses to planning applications. He assured Members that no comments are ignored but comments do come from a very wide range of consultees with differing opinions. It is important for Parish Councils to have a reasonable working knowledge of the two documents that guide the Local Planning Dept in their decisions the new Yorkshire & Humber Spatial Plan and the older Local Plan that will be replaced eventually by the Local Development Framework. All applications are judged against the policies set out in these documents and are usually granted if they accord and refused if contrary. Mr Featherstone stressed that the Local Planning Department work hard to deliver the right kind of developments for local communities.
Mr Featherstone then took some questions from Members:
Cllr Wild asked about micro-generation, eg installation of windmills, solar panels etc and how RDC will be dealing with applications of this kind. Mr Featherstone replied that there are new regulations coming in shortly concerning this kind of application but currently RDC are being as open-minded as possible about applications that embrace using renewable energy and have in fact granted permission for several in the District already.
Cllr Rowe asked which of the two documents mentioned previously takes precedence if there is a conflict. Mr Featherstone said that the later document takes precedence but in reality there should not be a conflict between the two Plans.
Cllr Rowe also asked about micro-generation and listed buildings and the potential conflict this could impose on a planning application. Mr Featherstone responded that this is always going to be a difficult balance as listed buildings are a finite resource and when an application is received it has to be judged bearing in mind the character of the listed building. It is often possible to look at other ways of introducing renewable energy, eg to site a windmill in the garden of the property.
Cllr Broughton asked about the Validation Requirements and how these are being used by RDC. Mr Featherstone replied that these requirements are more than guidance and if the application is not up to scratch it can and will be sent back to the applicant. Members welcomed this as they have in the past received and commented on some very poor quality applications.
The Chairman thanked Mr Featherstone for his attendance and presentation, which was very useful and helpful to Members.
3. Co-option of new
Parish Councillor
At the April meeting following Members agreement to the co-option of Cllr Dempsey, the Chairman had approached another resident with a view to her being co-opted so as to bring the Parish Council up to full membership of eight. Kathy Bryan had been invited to come along to this evenings meeting so Members could take a decision on whether to co-opt her with immediate effect. This was agreed and Cllr Bryan was invited to join the rest of the Councillors for the rest of the meeting.
Proposed: Cllr Guest Seconded: Cllr Woodley
4. Open
Forum
4.1 A resident requested that the Parish
Council ask Highways to consider introducing an assisted crossing for the
school children crossing from Brompton Court over Station Road to Brompton
Park, at the point close to the speed hump.
The volume of traffic passing down this road is ever increasing and it
can take up to 20 minutes to cross safely.
Cllr Les noted this request and said he would give it his backing as it
addresses 2 different issues; encouraging walking to school and the speeding
problem along this road. It was agreed
that the Clerk would write to Highways about this matter with a copy to Cllr
Les. Action Clerk
5. Minutes
of the Annual Parish Meeting
The minutes of this meeting
held on 12 May 2008 were approved.
Proposed: Cllr Dempsey Seconded: Cllr Neasham
6. Minutes of the Annual General
Meeting
The minutes of this meeting held on
12 May 2008 were approved.
Proposed: Cllr Woodley Seconded: Cllr Wild
7. Matters arising from the Annual
Parish and Annual General Meeting
5 Footpath and dog fouling issues raised at the
Annual Parish Meeting RDC are planning
to introduce a single Dog Control Order with an appendix listing all land from
which dogs are prohibited.
Contravention of this would incur a fixed penalty of £75. It is unclear at present if the sports field
could be included as the Order is only intended to apply to enclosed open
spaces, eg play parks. There will be
consultation coming on this matter. The
fouling along the old railway track is not something that RDC can do anything
about nor can any more dog waste bins be installed as the emptying of these
bins is still under negotiation.
Highways have agreed to do some repairs to the
footpath from Curteis Drive as far as the entrance to the field and also to
carry out some repairs to the footpath across Catterick Bridge.
Highways are going to install some bollards at the
northern side of Bridge Road beside the speed hump to stop vehicles using the
verge.
Highways confirmed that the grass verge alongside the
stretch of footpath from Parkgate Lane only gets cut twice in any one season as
it is considered outside of the village proper.
Highways reported that they would remind their
contractors to clear up properly after cutting the grass verges in the village.
The 40 mph sign on Gatherley Road will be repaired.
The
Traffic lights at Scorton Crossroads this issue is still ongoing and
continues to cause problems. The Clerk
had raised the matter with Highways again and the response received implied
that when the traffic lights were installed no right hand filter was considered
because of the low volume of traffic turning right into Station Road. This is clearly not the case any longer and
it was reported that further investigations appear to be going on at the
crossroads by Highways and Members hoped that eventually it would be become
apparent what was necessary.
The Clerk spoke to Peter Penny re the stone steps from
the field onto the track at the bottom of Grange Road and it was agreed he
would assess the situation to see what could be done here.
The Clerk had raised the footpath going from the end
of Curteis Drive across the field to the riverbank with Mr Penny who had said
that this was not in fact a public right of way but that he would speak to the
land owner. Cllr Broughton had checked
this against the definitive footpath map and this is incorrect so the Clerk was
asked to clarify this matter. Action
Clerk
7.4 of minutes of Annual General Meeting noise from
methane driven electricity generator at tip site the Clerk had written to Yorwaste as requested and
received a reply saying that Yorwaste had not received any complaints or
comments from local residents about this matter. However, a noise level survey has been carried out including an
assessment during the night and the noise levels are below the Environment
Agency minimum standards. Yorwaste have
asked their service provider to see if there is anything further that can be
done and will report back to the Parish Council in due course.
7.5 of minutes of Annual General Meeting second
paragraph the Clerk has asked NYCC
about the frequency and timing of the grass cutting on the sports field. The reply received stated that the field is
usually cut on Thursday or Friday of each week during the cricket season and
then reduces to fortnightly until growth slows in the autumn.
9.1 of minutes of Annual General Meeting
discharge consent at Brompton Lakes The Environment Agency have
confirmed there will be no increase in the amount of surface water run off
entering the river and due to the outfall of the lakes being controlled there
will be no increase in flood risk due to the development taking place.
8. Reports
8.1 NYCC: Cllr Les reported on the outcome of the meeting
arranged between Parish Councils and NYCC re the No 34 service bus. It is apparent from the monitoring exercise
that few people use this service north of Scorton so there is not a strong case
to retain the service to Darlington.
However, it is well used around the local villages. Cllr Les confirmed that the subsidy would
continue until a solution is reached which may well be demand responsive and
could be a car or minibus rather than a full size bus for part of the
route. Large buses would probably be
used at peak times. Cllr Hesletine
agreed that the meeting had been constructive and useful and added that it is
important to market the service better and given the rising cost of fuel the
bus might become a more popular form of transport in the future.
Cllr Les raised the matter
of the closure of the telephone boxes that is on the agenda at 9.4. BT has not consulted with NYCC only the
District Councils but NYCC fully support the District Councils in their
representations.
Cllr Les reiterated that he would
support the approach to Highways re an assisted school crossing on Station
Road.
Cllr Rowe asked Cllr Les what was
happening with the mobile speed signs that were to be introduced to assist with
speeding problems in villages. Cllr Les
reported that these are now in fact in place but there had been a health and safety
problem to overcome which was the cause of the delay. Skeeby had been the first village to have the use of the new
mobile signs.
Cllr Woodley asked whether Cllr Les
knew if Augustus Gardens had been officially adopted and he said he would
check. If it has then Cllr Woodley
would like to press for a speed hump to be installed at the entrance to the
football field to slow traffic.
Cllr Neasham asked about signage for
the Community Sports Hall along Bridge Road this is poor and the Village
Society would like to have bigger signs erected if at all possible. This would be a matter for RDC not NYCC and
may need planning permission. Currently the sign pointing towards the Community
Centre on Bridge Road opposite Honey Pot Road is very askew so the Clerk will
request Highways to sort this out. Action Clerk
The last item Cllr Les wanted to
mention was the forthcoming 2 Days of Action by Local Authority workers on
Wednesday and Thursday 16 and 17 July.
The union was taking a hard line on this occasion and there were no
occupations that were exempt from striking.
Cllr Les hoped the disruption to services would not be too great.
8.2 RDC Cllr Heseltine reported that the new political structures that came into effect in May should improve efficiency but it needs goodwill to make things work.
He also mentioned the recent changes in refuse collection days and said that as far as he was aware no issues had been raised in Brompton on Swale.
Cllr Heseltine hoped that the Parish Council had been asked to nominate individuals or groups for the Community Awards that were growing in both their popularity and importance. The Clerk confirmed that the Parish had been consulted and responded.
Cllr Rowe stated that in fact several residents in the village had been having problems with the revised dates for collection and the fact that now that plastic bottles are being collected the green box provided is no longer large enough. Cllr Heseltine suggested that it is best for individuals to contact RDC with their particular problem to work out a suitable solution.
At this point there was an electricity failure and as it was too dark to continue the meeting it was agreed to reconvene on Monday 21 July at 7pm to conclude the business.
Present on 21 July 2008: Cllrs A Guest (Chairman); B Woodley; F Broughton; L Rowe
Apologies for absence: Cllrs D Dempsey; S Neasham; P Wild; K Bryan
9 Current
Issues
9.1
Iron Bridge Project
update
Cllr Broughton reported that he had had a successful
day recently with the Royal Dragoon Guards when the southern approaches to the
bridge had been cleared of scrub. Cllr
Broughton suggested sending a letter of thanks to the Colonel of the Regiment
and Members agreed with this. Cllr
Broughton to supply contact details to the Clerk who will send the letter on
behalf of the Parish Council. Action
Cllr Broughton/Clerk
A problem has arisen with obtaining a work party from
the Royal Engineers to erect the box bridge as the Garrison Commander does not
think they will want to become involved in this particular project and Cllr
Broughton has been casting around for alternatives. He has spoken to YDMT about a grant from the Aggregates Levy Fund
towards the cost of installation by a commercial company and this is a
possibility. Cllr Broughton is also
having a meeting with Colin Grant, Richmond Town Manager, who has some contacts
with a company in Harrogate who do this kind of work and he has also asked the
bridge manufacturers to update their original quote from 2005 for manufacture
but to include erection of the bridge also.
Colin
Grant and Sustrans are pursuing off-road routes in the area and are making
reasonable progress. They are talking
to local landowners and other interested parties.
Cllr Broughton suggested asking Melva Steckles to
write to someone very senior in the Army to make an approach on our behalf to
the Royal Engineers to carry out the erection of the bridge. The next Steering Group meeting is due on 30
July. Action Cllr Broughton
The Chairman thanked Cllr Broughton for all his hard
work on this project.
9.2
Cemetery
maintenance; update on railings project; cemetery management course
Maintenance
The Chairman and one or two other Members had been approached by residents
who were unhappy with the general condition of the cemetery, in particular the
paths are very weedy and the grass around the walls has not been trimmed
recently. It is unclear whose
responsibility it is for trimming the grass along the walls and around the
memorial garden. The Clerk agreed to
approach RDC to clarify this and to arrange for the work to be carried out
either by RDC or by Daniel James. Cllr
Broughton offered to strim the edges of the paths and also to apply weed killer
to them. Action Cllr
Broughton/Clerk
Railings project The majority of the work
is now complete apart from some of the small decorative parts of the railings
and the contractor had told the Clerk these should be ready for installation by
the end of July. Members were very
pleased with the work that had been done so far. Once the work is complete the Clerk will arrange for RDC to
inspect the work so that the grant can be claimed. It was also suggested that it would be a good idea to have the
railings painted once all the work is done.
The Clerk had received an offer to do this work for a price of £350 which
includes all the materials needed.
Members agreed that this should go ahead as soon as possible after work
is finished. Action Clerk
Proposed: Cllr Broughton Seconded: Cllr Woodley
Cemetery Management Course This course was advertised in the recent edition of
The Clerk and looked to be a very useful day.
Both the Clerk and Cllr Woodley would like to attend and Members agreed
to this. Action Clerk
Proposed: Cllr
Broughton Seconded: Cllr
Rowe
9.3
Riverside:
Cllr
Broughton gave an update on his recent work along the riverside. He sprayed for Japanese knotweed in early
July and will do so again in September.
Due to the weather and the very vigorous growth, Cllr Broughton thought
he would have to strim the riverside area one extra time this year. He requested permission to purchase some
wood stain to treat both the seats on the riverside and the notice boards. The strimmer will need to be serviced. Members agreed to this expenditure. Action
Cllr Broughton
Cllr
Broughton and The Chairman visited Mr Every and Mr Simpson of St Pauls Drive
to discuss the matter that had been raised about the trees on the area of the
Common causing shading in their back gardens (Min 7.4 14/4/08). The trees in question were not the ones that
Cllr Broughton had originally thought they were and in fact are some relatively
young ash trees along the line of the fence that marks the boundary of the
Common. Cllr Broughton felt that these
trees would benefit from coppicing as they are straggly, which will solve the
problems for the residents. Cllr
Broughton will obtain some quotes for the work. Action Cllr Broughton
Cllr Rowe mentioned the tree that has blown over
recently at the rear of his property.
Cllr Broughton knew about it and agreed that he would get the
contractors to have a look at it at the same time as quoting for the coppicing
work. It may be possible to leave the
tree where it is or it may need to be cut up into smaller segments.
9.4
Removal of telephone
box from outside the Crown:
Following
on from the consultation by RDC about the removal of this box and the one from
Gatherley Road, Members wanted the Clerk to pursue listing of the red box
adjacent to The Crown Public House with English Heritage but had no strong
feelings about the one in Gatherley Road.
The previous Clerk had made an application for listing of the red box
but this appears to have been lost so the Clerk had reapplied and received
acknowledgement of the application from English Heritage. The box is in a poor state of repair and
also the bushes around it are very overgrown.
It was agreed that the Clerk would try to get the bushes cut back but
the repairs would have to wait until English Heritage give a decision on the
listing. If the box is listed then it
remains the property of BT who has responsibility for its upkeep along with the
apparatus inside the box.
Action
Clerk
9.5
Brompton on Swale
Primary School Project possible sponsorship:
The project has now received planning permission but
without the floodlighting. The
Headmaster had written back to the Clerk in response to the letter sent
following the meeting in May concerning the lack of consultation with the
schools neighbours and the general opposition to the floodlighting. The project will be completed over the
summer holidays and there is to be a grand opening ceremony on 26 September to
which the Parish Council is invited.
Members discussed the idea of sponsoring a particular element of the
project and decided to offer £250 towards tree planting. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to
the Headmaster with this offer, also offering assistance with the purchase of
trees if necessary using the contacts from the Plant-a-tree scheme in the
cemetery. It is hoped that one or two
members will be able to attend but the Chairman requested the Clerk to offer
his personal apologies to the Headmaster as he will be away on holiday at that
time
9.6 Assisted
crossing for school children on Station Road- this item was raised under
the Open Forum session earlier and a course of action agreed upon.
9.7 Parish
powers to support micro-generation Cllr Rowe felt that he would prefer to
hold this item over until the next meeting in September so that the matter
could be given full consideration by all Members. Cllr Woodley did mention that the Citizens Advice Bureau are
working with Southern Electric to set up energy advice centres to provide
advice on the whole range of energy issues.
The Richmond branch of CAB are hoping to be chosen as one of the centres
and there should be some news on this by mid-August.
10. Parish Finances
The
periodic accounts were approved and accepted by Members.
Proposed: Cllr Woodley Seconded: Cllr Broughton
The bus shelter cleaner had
contacted the Clerk with a suggestion on how to deal with the graffiti in the
bus shelter at the top of River Lane.
If the Parish Council will buy the paint the cleaner will bring the
paint with him on each visit and paint over the graffiti at no additional cost. Members felt this was a very good solution
to the problem. Action Clerk
11. Correspondence
11.1 Letter from CE Electric UK Building
links within our community Parish Council Liaison. The letter follows on from a similar one
received last year concerning the Priority Service Register for vulnerable
people in the community and what happens if there is a power cut. CE Electric will be consulting with a wide
range of customers and stakeholders in the near future, but this letter is
merely to ensure they have the right contact details for the Clerk, which they
have.
11.2 Letter from NYCC about a letter they
had received from a resident requesting a litter bin at the bus shelter on
Bridge Road, (presumably the one near Honey Pot Road as there is already
one near the Curteis Drive stop). Also
enclosed from NYCC a copy of the response received from RDC saying that no bins
are currently being installed however if the Parish Council supports this
request then to let RDC know and it will be placed on the waiting list. This course of action was agreed to by
Members. Action Clerk
11.3 Letter from RDC relating to Dog Warden
Services concerning stray dogs and Dog Control Orders (Dog Control
Orders were referred to earlier in the meeting under item 7 para 1.) RDC have assumed responsibility for
detaining stray dogs from the Police with effect from 1 July 2008. Dog Control Orders are something RDC are
considering and to that end asked for a survey to be completed and returned. The survey is to try to highlight areas that
could be included within the Order other than the enclosed play areas that RDC
already have responsibility for. The
areas in question must be open land that is enclosed and has no public rights
of way across them. Members asked the
Clerk to complete the survey form including the Community Sports Field and also
the football field in Augustus Gardens.
Action Clerk
11.4 Letter from RDC re Graffiti Removal
Kits RDC has purchased some kits for use by private householders to
remove graffiti. These are available at
no charge via the Community Office.
12. Planning
Applications
1/12/51R/FULL Full
planning permission for erection of new entrance porch, existing shelter
relocated and garden wall reconfigured, build up existing door opening with new
window, existing store to rear demolished and boundary wall rebuilt, erection
of new covered walkway at Tudor Lodge Hotel, Gatherley Road No objections.
13 Minor
Matters.
13.1 Cllr
Woodley reiterated his request to find out if Augustus Gardens has now been
adopted so that a road hump can be placed at the entrance to the football field
to slow the traffic entering and leaving.
13.2 Cllr Woodley requested that the Parish
Council consider buying a 5-a-side football net for use by the younger children
who currently play on the grassed area at the entrance to Augustus
Gardens. Cllr Dempsey who lives
opposite this area has agreed to be responsible for the net and wants to
encourage these children. The Chairman
thought that the Village Society might have a net in store that was bought a
while ago but has never been used as there is not sufficient room in the sports
hall. The Clerk was asked to pursue the
matter with the Village Society but if they had nothing available to get some
costs before the next meeting. Members
were supportive of this idea. Action Clerk
13.3 Cllr
Neasham had asked the Clerk to ensure the matter of the signage for the
Community Sports Hall was raised in her absence. The sign on Bridge Road will be reported to Highways for action
as agreed earlier in the meeting. The
suggestion of erecting signs at the entrance to the facility or on the side of
the building needs clarification and it would be helpful if the Village Society
could set down in writing exactly what it is they want to do as this may need
planning permission and the Parish Council will consider the matter. Action
Cllr Neasham
14. Confidential Item see separate
sheet.
15. Date of next meeting
Monday 8 September 2008
Signed:
Date: