LINTON PARISH COUNCIL

Bromsash Gorsley and Linton

Minutes Of The Meeting Held On March 14^th 2005

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

Present:

Cllr Jean Foley, Chairman

Cllr Richard Smith, Vice Chairman

Cllr Ken Downham

Cllr John Foley

Cllr Keith Summers

Cllr John Wheble

Brian Atherton (Clerk)

5 Parishioners attended.

Minute Item			Action
1		Apologies
	1.1	Cllrs Margaret Pearce, Audrey Duke and Rob Crawford.

2		Declarations of Interest
	2.1	None.

3		Minutes of the Meeting Held on 14^th February 2005
	3.1	These were approved and duly signed with the following amendments: Item 12.2.2: Delete “Council Objects” from the start of the last sentence. Item 12.2.3: Insert “As dealt with at December meeting” immediately after P138 in the second sentence.

4		Matters Arising Not Covered in the Agenda
	4.1	Cothers Farm: Cllr Jean Foley reported that a planning contravention notice has been sent to Mr Maguire who has 21 days to respond.

5		Parish Plan – Final Approval of Plan and Publication Costs
	5.1	Various proposed changes have been assessed by Cllr Richard Smith and suggestions as to their adoption circulated. Cllr Jean Foley did not agree that one proposed change relating to the history of the Steelworks had not been included but proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr John Wheble and approved by 5 votes to 1, IT WAS AGREED that printing and publication should proceed with no further changes; Cllr Jean Foley voting against.
	5.2	Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr John Wheble and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED that the Clerk will arrange printing of 75 copies of the plan plus 450 summary leaflets at a cost not exceeding £990.	The Clerk
	5.3	Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Jean Foley and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED that the draft summary leaflet be adopted, subject to the inclusion of a contact phone number and email for the Clerk and the addition of the website address. At Parishioner Gwynne Rowley’s suggestion, Council agreed that those who have comment upon or objection to the Plan should be encouraged to attend Council meetings.
	5.4	Council approved the Clerk’s draft of the Grant Application final Claim with the proviso that the costs of printing the 12 draft copies of the Plan and the cost of the licence fee allowing inclusion of a Parish Map be added to the allocation of printing costs.
	5.5	Council warm-heartedly thanked Cllr Richard Smith for all of his efforts in bringing the Plan to publication.

6		Traffic Speeds and Management Within the Parish
	6.1	Nothing to report.

7		Housing Needs Survey
	7.1	The Parish Plan includes a clear demand for affordable housing but there is no call for Housing Association properties. The demand is for small properties for existing residents and those who would like to return to the Parish.
	7.2	Neither the upcoming Unitary Development Plan nor the existing South Herefordshire Development Plan includes space for new development other than “infill” and so there is no opportunity, under CHDC’s new rules for affordable housing, to secure affordable housing as part of a larger development,.
	7.3	To make land available outside of the Village Envelope, a “Need” has to be established by means of a CHDC “Needs Survey”. However, Needs Surveys are usually only conducted in response to a request from a Housing Association.
	7.4	Nevertheless, the Clerk will approach CHDC, citing the Parish Plan’s mandate and requesting a Needs Survey on that basis.	The Clerk

8		Lengthsman Project
	8.1	Proposed by Cllr Jean Foley, seconded by Cllr Richard Smith and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to re-appoint the Lengthsman for 2005/6 on the same terms and conditions as 2004/5.	The Clerk
	8.2	As Fly Tipping has not been cleared by CHD within three days, the Lengthsman has arranged a tour of the parish for CHDC’s Fly Tipping Officer John Dowson, to highlight the frequent fly tipping spots.

9		Allotments Gate and Water Supply
	9.1	Neither the duplicate keys nor the final invoice have been received. The Clerk will chase again. Cllr Richard Smith pointed out that some surplus items remain to be cleared.	The Clerk
	9.2	A letter from Parishioner Bernard Aubrey about the proposed keeping of chickens by an allotment holder and the placing of a notice restricting the parking area to allotment holders only was read out.
	9.3	The Clerk has written to the allotment holder about the chickens and is waiting for a reply.	The Clerk
	8.4	The Clerk will arrange for a suitable parking restriction notice to be erected. He will ask Parishioner Andy Clarke of Laurel Cottage, Darnell’s Lane if he will make the notice.	The Clerk.

10		Linton Quarry
	10.1	Nothing to report.

11		Emergency Plan
	11.1	Various local volunteers have been approached. The Clerk will now deposit the Plan and issue a copy to each Councillor.	The Clerk

12		Accounts, Treasurer’s Report and Authorisation of Payment of Accounts
	12.1	The Clark asked Councillors to suggest names for the internal auditor, to take over from April 1^st.	All Councillors
	12.2	Accounts were tabled. Parishioner Richard Delahay asked whether the unspent projections would actually be spent and the Clerk agreed it likely that most would not.
	12.3	The Clerk will chase up the Wayleave Grant and check whether the footpaths grant has to be spent before March 31^st 2005.	The Clerk
	12.4	Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Keith Summers and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to pay the following invoices and the cheques were duly signed.

AP260	Lengthsman for January	284.00
AP261	Lengthsman for February	284.00
AP262	Lengthsman for Quarry Lane Hedge Cutting	100.00
AP263	Clerk's Salary for February 2005	217.35
AP264	Clerk's Expenses for February 2005	21.26
AP265	Lengthsman Administrator's Fee for February 2005	28.40
AP266	Web Master's Time in December 2004, Jan & Feb 2005	26.70

13		Working Party Reports
	13.1	Planning
	13.1.1	P136. DCSE2004/3950/O. Site for two storey, four bedroom house with detached single garage, parking and driveway. Land adjacent to Brokendean, Gorsley, HR9 7SW. Permission refused on 03/02/05.
	13.1.2	P137. DCSE2004/3958/F. Construction of 44 holiday apartments. Application withdrawn on 14/02/05.
	13.1.3	P140. DCSE2004/4169/F. Proposed two storey extension and conservatory. Hallbank, Linton, HR9 7RR. Permission refused on 31/01/05.
	13.1.4	P141. DCSE2004/4301/F. Two storey extensions, alterations and two dormer windows. Chapel Mill Cottage, Bromsash, HR9 7PL. Permission refused on 10/02/05.
	13.1.5	P142. DCSE2004/4384/O. Site for erection of one dwelling. Rose Cottage, Ivy House Lane, Gorsley, HR9 7SL. Permission refused on 03/02/05. A letter from Mr M A Yeates was read out.
	13.1.6	P145. DCSE2005/0220/F. Reverse handing of last house on scheme already approved. Plot 4, Burrups Lane, Gorsley. Permission granted on 22/03/05.
	13.1.7	P147. DCSE2005/0588/F. Two storey extension. The Villa, Linton, HR9 7RS. This extension appears to double the size of this cottage so that the original building is no longer dominant. As this is an area of great landscape value, care should be taken to assess the impact of any building on the landscape. Council does not support.
	13.1.8	P148, DCSE2005/0731/F. Single storey rear extension. Fourways, Quarry Lane, Gorsley. Council supports.
	13.1.9	P149. DCSE2005/0763/O. Site for erection of one dwelling. Rose Cottage, Ivy House Lane, Gorsley, HR9 7SL. Council notes that this application would be contrary to policies GD1 & SH8 of the SHDP. If it can be established that the proposal is for affordable housing for a local person Council would support it. In the absence of such a statement, and without detailed drawings, the Council can not support this application.
	13.2	Footpaths: Nothing to report.

14		Economic Strategy for Comment
	14.1	No comment. The Clerk said that, on behalf of Lea PC he had enquired of CHDC as to the cost of preparing the document and been given a figure of £67,000.

15		Chairman’s Announcements
	15.1	The Tsunami appeal by Parishioners Sally and Nigel Vandyke, specifically for a replacement school, raised £1,300.
	15.2	From a conversation with the local heritage initiative re the Parish Pound it seems that the refurbishment may be eligible for a 100% grant. Application forms will be filled in by Cllr John Foley. Cllr Ken Downham is obtaining quotes for the work. He will be seeing the Lengthsman tomorrow re the trees and hopes to see soon Mr Rowley Floyd re the stonework.

16		Correspondence
	16.1	The following papers were tabled and Councillors asked to see: Richard Smith: D1532, 1533 and 1540. Jean Foley: D1540.

D1526	Parishioner Letter re Chickens and the New Allotment Gates	Bernard Aubrey
D1527	Agenda for South Herefordshire Rural Transport Group	HVA
D1528	Draft Crime Disorder and Drugs Reduction Strategy 2005 - 2008	HCSDP
D1529	Funding Directory	Herefordshire Partnership
D1530	Schedule of Meetings	CHDC
D1531	Standards Committee Annual Report	CHDC
D1532	Herefordshire Partnership Newsletter	CHDC
D1533	Culture Guidelines for Parish Councils	CHDC
D1534	Forward Plan 01/03/05 to 30/06/05	CHDC
D1535	State of Herefordshire Report - available at www.herefordshirepartnership.com	CHDC
D1536	RAG Minutes	RAG
D1537	Letter re DCSE2004/4384/O	M A Yeates
D1538	Quarterly Economic Report	Herefordshire Partnership
D1539	Lea PC Minutes for 02/03/05	Lea PC
D1540	Clerks & Councils Direct
D1541	Minutes of the Rural Transport Forum	SHRTF
D1542	CD Rom of the Benefits of Broadband	DEFRA

17		Councillors’ Submissions, including Village Events
	17.1	Cllr Richard Smith drew attention to the upcoming Borderlines film festival.

18		Public Submissions
	18.1	Parishioner Phil Page said that the two pedestrian only gates on the allotment are deteriorating. It was decided to make this an agenda item for the next meeting.	The Clerk
	18.2	Parishioner Gwynne Rowley strongly supported planning application P149 (see 13.1.9 above) on the grounds that it was for “affordable housing” in the village.

19		Items for Consideration at the Next Meeting
	19.1	As per 18.1 above. Parish Plan Implementation and Progress Reports

20			Date of the Next Meeting
	20.1		The Annual Parish Meeting will be on Monday April 25^th at 7:30 pm in Gorsley Village Hall. The next Parish Council meeting will be on Monday April 11^th at 7:30 pm in Gorsley Village Hall.
		The Meeting Finished At 10:12 p.m.