LINTON PARISH COUNCIL

Bromsash Gorsley and Linton

Minutes Of The Meeting Held On February 14th 2005

In Gorsley Village Hall At 7:30 p.m.

Present:

Cllr Jean Foley, Chairman

Cllr Ken Downham

Cllr Margaret Pearce

Cllr John Foley

Brian Atherton (Clerk)

3 Parishioners attended.

Minute Item			Action
1		Apologies
	1.1	Cllrs Richard Smith, Rob Crawford, Audrey Duke, Keith Summers, John Wheble and Gary Woodman.

2		Declarations of Interest
	2.1	None.

3		Minutes of the Meeting Held on 10^th January 2005
	3.1	These were duly signed with one amendment: Item 18.1 third line. Insert after the word “delivering”, “neighbourhood watch material on behalf of Gorsley Neighbourhood Watch”.

4		Matters arising therefrom not covered in the Agenda
	4.1	Salt Bin at Bromsash Crossroads. The Clerk reported that CHDC’s Jim Smith has agreed to place a bin provided that there is a suitable location.

5		Traffic Speeds and Management within the Parish
	5.1	Nothing to report.

6		Housing Needs Survey
	6.1	Responses to the Parish Plan questionnaire included a significant demand for affordable housing, principally as affordable small properties for purchase. There was little support for a Housing Association development.
	6.2	The UDP allocates only in-fill land for new development which is unlikely to furnish a private development large enough to invoke CHDC’s rules for the inclusion of affordable development.
	6.3	The Clerk has, therefore, asked CHDC the question of how can the Parish Plan responses be satisfied and will a Housing Needs Survey be appropriate. A reply is awaited.	The Clerk

7		Lengthsman Project
	7.1	At the last meeting, a parishioner had suggested that the Lengthsman had behaved improperly over some tree felling on the Linton/Gorsley road.
	7.2	The Chairman clarified the actual position. A tree had fallen, partially blocking the road. The Alma Inn telephoned the Clerk who was in Birmingham at the time. The Clerk arranged for the Lengthsman to clear the blockage and within a short time that was done.
	7.3	Subsequently that day, the Lengthsman reported to the Clerk that a second tree was exposed by the fall of the first, in danger of also falling and bringing down the phone line. However, the second tree was on private land and the owner not contactable. The Clerk instructed the Lengthsman to call the police. This was done and the police informed CHDC but no action was taken. The tree then fell and somebody, unknown to the Clerk or the Lengthsman, cleared that.
	7.4	The Lengthsman, acting on the Clerk’s instruction, had taken away most of the wood from the first tree. Subsequently the Clerk had learned that in such a case, there is a right to clear the blockage but ownership of the wood remains with the landowner of the tree. In future, therefore, he will ensure that in such cases, the cleared timber is returned to the landowner. In this case there has not been any complaint from the landowner.

8		Allotments Gate and Water Supply
	8.1	The gates have been fitted satisfactorily albeit with a gap that will still allow animals to pass underneath. Parishioner Phil Page said that he will deal with that and he reported that the water supply is also complete and a padlock has been fitted as required. However, there is no key. The Clerk will ensure that a key is made available to allotment holders.	The Clerk
	8.2	The water usage and its cost will be monitored and kept under review.	The Clerk

9		Linton Quarry
	9.1	Cllr John Foley will convene the working party shortly.	Cllr John Foley

10		Emergency Plan
	10.1	Nothing to report. The Clerk still has to check the continuing availability of earlier volunteers.	The Clerk

11		Accounts, Treasurer’s Report and Authorisation of Payment of Accounts
	11.1	The internal auditor’s report for the period October to December 2004 was tabled.
	11.2	Accounts to date were tabled.
	11.3	Proposed by Cllr Margaret Pearce, seconded by Cllr John Foley and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to pay the following invoices and the cheques were duly signed.

AP253	Hire of Linton Village Hall	30.00
AP254	Allotments Water Bill	10.81
AP255	Allotments Gate	528.75
AP256	Lengthsman for December	284.00
AP257	Clerk's Salary for January 2005	217.35
AP258	Clerk's Expenses for January 2005	21.26
AP259	Lengthsman Administrator's Fee for January 2005	28.40

12		Working Party Reports
	12.1	Footpaths
	12.1.1	Cllr John Foley is compiling a recommendation of how best to spend the grant.
	12.1.2	D1525 from CHDC is a request for Parish Council cooperation in surveying Damson Hedges. The Clerk has asked CHDC whether there is any funding for this work. Cllr John Foley will draft a response to D1525.	Cllr John Foley
	12.2	Planning
	12.2.1	CHDC have responded to Council’s request for dimensioned drawings as follows: Mr. Atherton, I am responding to your request for drawings to be dimensioned. Unfortunately what a local planning authority can ask for by way of information is heavily prescribed. The notes for guidance supplied to applicants call for drawings to be at particular scales and therefore dimensions can be taken off with a scale rule. In my view this authority could not ask applicants to dimension every drawing and certainly could not reject receipt of an application on that basis. I do not know of any authority that does. I hope this note is helpful. Alan Poole Development Control Manager Herefordshire Council
	12.2.2	P138. DCSE2004/4117/F. Proposed change of use of first floor games and entertainment room to residential unit. The Grange, Aston Crews, Ross, HR9 7LW. Council objects. CHDC’s Planning Sub-Committee meets on 16/02/05.
	12.2.3	P144. DCSE2005/0133/L. Proposed change of use of first floor games and entertainment room to residential unit. The Grange, Aston Crews, Ross, HR9 7LW. Council does not support as per P138 above and the Clerk will enquire as to why Listed consent is being sought some time after the original full application.	The Clerk
	12.2.4	P143. DCSE2005/0249/F. Reinstate original vehicular access to Fairfields and close off existing access. Fairfields, Bromsash, HR9 7PJ. Council agreed that: When the previous owner of Fairfields was given planning permission to build ‘Almscliffe’ and ‘Rosegarth’ it was a serious departure from planning policy. A combined entrance/exit for all three houses was imposed in an effort to mitigate the extra traffic hazards, which would result from the new development. Since then although a 30mph speed limit has been introduced on part of this narrow lane, it is neither adhered to nor enforced, and the volume of traffic using this lane has steadily increased. Also, since this combined entrance was made, the frequency of use by passing heavy goods vehicles and farm machinery has accelerated, as has the size of all these vehicles. Therefore the traffic hazards would considerably increase if the original entrance were re-opened. It should be noted that the existing access could not be closed because it serves both ‘Rosegarth’ and ‘Almscliffe’. For the above reasons the Parish Council does not support this application.
	12.2.5	P145. DCSE2005/0220/F. Reverse handing of last house on scheme already approved. Plot 4, Burrups Lane, Gorsley. The Parish Council believe that to change the position of the last house to be built on this site is unnecessary, it would serve only to widen the access to land at the rear of the new property. As planning permission for a further dwelling on this land has recently been refused it is unclear for what purpose this latest application is made. As stated before by this Parish Council development on this site was a departure from accepted planning policy, acceptable only in the particular circumstances of this case. Therefore the final dwelling on this site should be built, in the position, and in accordance with, the permission already granted. For the above reasons the Parish Council does not support this application.
	12.2.6	P146. DCSE2005/0343/F. Single storey extension. The Larches, Gorsley, HR9 7SL. Council supports.
	12.2.7	P128. DCSE2004/3314/F. Amended proposal to modify western section of dwelling, providing entrance way and garage/store with living accommodation over. Great Woodend Barns, Great Woodend Farm, Linton, HR9 7SR. Permission granted on 16/12/04.
	12.2.8	P135. DCSE2004/3779/F. Garden shed with lean-to greenhouse. Frogs Leap, The Fordings, Linton, HR9 7SB. Permission granted on 05/02/05.

13		Chairman’s Announcements
	13.1	The Parish map has been accepted by the Chairman of the Linton VH Committee who will organise its framing and mounting.
	13.2	Parishioners Nigel and Sally Vandyck are holding open house from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday February 19^th in aid of the Tsunami appeal.
	13.3	Householders may have received a letter from water boards on the subject of insurance. If so, they should study it carefully as it contains some disturbing caveats.

14		Correspondence
	14.1	The following correspondence was tabled and Cllr Jean Foley took D1497, 1509, 1518, 1519 1521, 1522 and 1523. Cllr John Foley took D1524.

D1495	Lea PC Minutes for 05/01/05	Lea PC
D1496	Buffet Lunch Consultation	Red Cross
D1497	Freedom of Information Act Definitions	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
D1498	Booking form for Clerk's and Chairmen's Informal Evening on 26/01/05.	HALC
D1499	Booking form for Finance & Community Action Course on 05/02/05	HALC
D1500	Booking form for Freedom of Information Act Training on 09/02/05	HALC
D1501	Booking form for Employment & Health&Safety Training on 21/02/05	HALC
D1502	Booking form for Roles & Responsibilities Training on 28/02/05	HALC
D1503	Booking form for Planning - How to be an effective Council training on 07/03/05	HALC
D1504	Booking form for Law and Procedures training on 19/03/05	HALC
D1505	Booking form for Devolvement of Power training on 21/03/05	HALC
D1506	Conversation Game to help develop views on affordable housing	HALC
D1507	Update of Roads Circular setting local speed limit consultation. Deadline 18/02/05.	HALC
D1508	ROSPA Leaflet re March County Inspection	HALC
D1509	Local Channel Leaflet	HALC
D1510	Southern Area Meeting Agenda for 24/01/05	HALC
D1511	Asian Disaster Update	HALC
D1512	Forward Plan	CHDC
D1513	Street Works Schedule	CHDC
D1514	Parish Plan Final Claim Form	Countryside Agency
D1515	Formal Notification of Precept	CHDC
D1516	UDP Meeting notification	CHDC
D1517	Sitelines	English Nature
D1518	Volunteer Driver Development Project
D1519	Newsline	community first
D1520	G&K PC Minutes	G&KPC
D1521	Thanks for completing the Rights of Way Questionnaires	CHDC
D1522	Why Neighbourhoods Matter and Vibrant Leadership - Discussion Documents	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
D1523	Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill Summary	DEFRA
D1524	Parish Paths Partnership Applications for 2005/6. Deadline 31/03/05.	CHDC
D1525	Damson Hedges Survey	CHDC

15		Councillor’s Submissions, including Village Events
	15.1	Cllr Ken Downham will obtain three quotes for tree clearance at the Linton Pound. Parishioner Gwynne Rowley said that more stone is disappearing so perhaps a neighbourhood watch sign could be erected. Cllr Ken Downham said that he will ask the Linton Neighbourhood Watch coordinator, Nigel Vandyck.	Cllr Ken Downham
	15.2	Cllr Margaret Pearce: The Ross Lifeboat Society is holding an event on March 4^th in Walford Village Hall and the Councillor will post a notice on the boards.
	15.3	Cllr John Foley: Commercial activity at Cothers Farm is continuing and causing a nuisance. The Chairman will take it up with CHDC’s Enforcement Officer. For the second time in three years, the Alma has won the Best Pub in Herefordshire award. There are to be 10 days of celebrations.	Cllr Jean Foley

16		Parish Plan
	16.1	The Clerk is finalising the grant application figures but final approval of the Plan is held over to the next meeting, in the absence of Cllrs Richard Smith and Rob Crawford.

17		Public Submissions
	17.1	Parishioner Phil Page thanked Council for the Gates and Water at the allotments and suggested that the "with water" benefit should be advertised on the web site.	The Clerk