HIGHCLERE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a meeting held at Highclere Village Hall on Tuesday 11 June 2002

 

Present

Councillor J Pearson Chairman

Councillor Mrs Amanda Hosie

Councillor T Farmer

Councillor R East

Councillor R Somerset

Councillor Don Langan

Councillor Robert Drew

 

Apology for absence

Councillor Mrs Melanie Davies

Borough Councillor Tim Jardine

 

66/02 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD 14 MAY 2002

The minutes of the meeting having been circulated were taken as read, agreed by all, and signed by the Chairman

 

67/02 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ABOVE MINUTES

·          The agenda has been provided for the Joint Parishes meeting on Tuesday 18 June at Ashford Hill.  Councillors Pearson, East and Mrs Amanda Hosie will attend.

·          The Queens Golden Jubilee celebrations the previous weekend were a great success. The lottery money enabled the events to be staged. The money set aside by the Parish Council was spent on commemorative mugs sufficient for one per household and given to a representative from each household who attended the Picnic in the Park.  Each of the performers, and parishioners not able to attend the picnic through disability or illness also received a mug.  Those mugs not claimed were offered for sale.  It was agreed that money collected through the sale of the mugs should be credited to the Parish Council's Account. 

 

68/02 CORRESPONDENCE

The following correspondence has been received and relevant information copied to Councillors:

  1. HAPTC Mail 53-02 re South Downs National Park proposals
  2. HAPTC Mail 57-02 re Wheelclamping
  3. HAPTC Mail 58-02 Guidance note on double taxation
  4. HAPTC Mail 59-02 re promoting race equality. 

Councillors acknowledged the general duty placed upon the Council by the Race Relations (amendment) Act 2000.  

The Chairman proposed a resolution that:

"The Council will have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and promote racial equality between people of different racial groups"

This was unanimously approved, and the proposal therefore resolved.

  1. Hampshire County Youth Band request for grant

Councillors agreed that the Council would pay for the hire of the hall to enable a fund raising concert from which our Parishioners would also benefit.                                                                                                                              

  1.  Notice of Zurich Insurance Health and Safety Seminar and detail of Local Council Advisory Service
  2. BDBC Design Awards 2002
  3. BDBC Mayor's invite for Chairman to attend Civic Sunday service 9 June
  4. Samaritans invitation to AGM and social evening 19 June
  5. BDBC review of Litter grants.  Councillors agreed that there was a need for another litter warden for Penwood.  The Chairman will contact Mr Bob Brooks to discuss this.
  6. DTLR consultation paper on determination of misconduct allegations

Councillor Tom Farmer agreed to consider this and prepare a response by 1 July

  1. Letter from Newtown Parish Council complaining about stiles at Cherry Tree Farm, which comes within the Parish of Highclere.  The Clerk was asked to write to the landowner.

 

69/02 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The following planning applications were considered:

·          BDB53170 33 Penwood Heights, Felling of 2 Oaks and reduction of 2 Oaks

Objection.  However the applicant has since agreed to a reduction only to which the Council has no objection.

·          BDB53041 Fordfields, Deadmore Bottom, Garage with room in roof

       Objection Unless the conditions applied to consent for BDB 49586 are applied here also.

·          BDB53301 The Croft, Pantings Lane, Extension, dormer windows, and garage/store

       Objection Unless the following amendments/conditions are met:

       The height of the garage is reduced (to that of the conservatory).

       The garage shall not be used for accommodation.

       The neighbours do not object to the windows on the North elevation, which will overlook their adjacent property.

·                                BDB53308 Windyridge, Hollington Lane, Extension, conservatory, and garage

Objection The Council felt that the comments made on the earlier applications BDB52721 and BDB52091 still applied

·          BDB53251/2 Sevenstones Farm, Penwood, Listed building consent, garage, workshop, store and annexe accommodation

Objection unless the following conditions are applied:

There shall be a legally enforceable agreement that this building shall not be converted to residential use, nor sold independently from the main house.  All materials shall match the existing to be complimentary to the main house.

·          BDB 53336 Wayland, Tubbs Lane, Remove existing bungalow and erect terrace of three two-storey houses.

Objection on the following grounds:

This is over development contrary to Policy H7, which requires development to be of scale and character appropriate to the area.   The adjacent bungalow is 5.5 Metres high and the cottage is 6.6 Metres high.  This is a very narrow lane and on the opposite side of the road The Laurels is 6.8 Metres and Beach Tree Cottage is 6,3 Metres high.  The new house being built on land adjoining Beech Tree Cottage is 7.3Metres High

Contrary to policy LD1, this proposed development would not maintain or enhance the quality of the environment at this location.  At 9.0 metres high it will dwarf other properties and be detrimental to the area, whereas the existing bungalow has no adverse impact on the area, to the benefit of the visual amenity and character of environment.

Contrary to policy CD100 this development does not provide sufficient space on the plot in relation to the large mass of building.  The road inclines from the junction of Mount Road and is extremely narrow and without verges at this point.  There is insufficient parking space within the site and no possibility for parking on the road.

Contrary to policy CD104 this development does not respect the street pattern, plot size, layout, form and scale of the surrounding properties.

Precedence

The three cottages approved under BDB 47636 should not be used as precedent for the following reasons:

These are built on a corner plot, whereas this is a long narrow plot surrounded by a small bungalow and cottages, and in this location the impact of such a large mass would be to totally dominate and change the street scene.   The cottages ref BDB 47636 have not supplied much needed retirement accommodation in the village and it is worth noting that they are now providing two "second" homes and one home that is rented out.  There is a need for single storey accommodation for the elderly, for ease of external maintenance, and such bungalows in the village are in demand as they meet the needs of those whose circumstances have changed, such as those who wish to trade down in dwelling size.

Further Cause for objection

It is stated in the Housing mix policy  in communities of under 3000 "more weight will be given to site characteristics and local environmental considerations".  A single dwelling no taller than the average house in the village at 7.1metres is therefore more suitable in this location, although the Parish Council will seek to retain the existing two bedroom bungalow to provide the much needed housing mix. 

Public Participation Scheme

A member of this Council will address the meeting in the event of the application being reported to the Committee.

 

70/02 OTHER PLANNING MATTERS

The following planning approvals are notified:

BDB 50605 Cherry Tree Cottage, Andover Road Erection of a dwelling

BDB 52577 Westridge Star Lane Retrospective application for change of location for garage and kitchen door

BDB 52698 Little Flexford House Andover Road Erection of brick wall, gates and bollards

BDB 52750 Tadley Star lane Erection of single storey side extension and conversion of garage

BDB 52840 37 Penwood Heights Erection of a single storey rear extension

Revised Housing Mix Consultation

Councillors considered this document and welcomed the proposal to indicate the maximum floor area for smaller units.  They considered that there should also be a restriction on heights to prevent additional rooms being located in roofs.  The Clerk was asked to respond.

 

71/02 TO AGREE CHEQUE SIGNATORIES

It was agreed that the three Councillors who were already signatories should remain as signatories.  No others would be added and this situation would be monitored.

 

72/02 UPDATE ON RECYCLING BINS AT PENWOOD

A response has been received from BDBC suggesting action to be taken.  Councillors discussed the options but felt that they had no confidence in the proposals, which would not resolve the problems.  The clerk was asked to write and request a further meeting.

 

73/02 TO CONSIDER A PLANNING COMMITTEE

Councillor Don Langan proposed a resolution that:

A planning committee is set up as a sub committee to the main Council.  This will meet approximately two weeks after the Council meeting.  The Chairman of the Council would have the right to require any application to be considered within the full Council meeting, and any contentious planning application would be considered by the full Council.

This was seconded by Councillor Mrs Hosie and after much discussion approved by a majority vote.  The proposal was therefore resolved.  Councillors Pearson, Langan, Somerset , and Mrs Hosie agreed to be members of the planning committee.

 

74/02 TO RECEIVE A REPORT OF THE TRAFFIC CALMING REVIEW AND CONSIDER FURTHER MEASURES

This item was deferred until the next meeting due to lack of time

 

75/02 TO CONSIDER THE DATE OF THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING

The Chairman advised the meeting that he would not be able to attend the next l meeting on 9 July.  It was agreed unanimously to postpone the meeting by one day until 10 July.

 

76/02 COUNCILLORS QUESTIONS

·      Councillor Farmer asked if parishioners could be requested to trim overgrown hedges that were obscuring road sightlines.   The Clerk agreed to send out an Email to those persons for whom she has an address.  Specific problem areas were identified and the Clerk will write to homeowners on behalf of the Council

·      Councillor East asked if there had been any more information received from BDBC regarding the cleared land behind the Spar shop.  The Clerk has chased this and in a phone call was advised that the officer with whom the Council has been dealing has left the department.  Ian Harris has however advised that £10.2k is earmarked to place the electricity cables underground, fence the area, and make good the surface.  This needs approval first from Councillor John Shaw, the portfolio holder at BDBC.  The electricity board will then be consulted.  It is not realistic to expect the area to be seeded until the late Autumn.

·      The Chairman advised the meeting that he has been contacted by the Forestry warden regarding motorbikes in Great Penwood.  He has invited the Forestry Commission to place notices on the Parish notice boards for information regarding the culprits.

 

77/02 ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

The following accounts were approved for payment

In between meetings:  Photostatic 

At this meeting:  P. Clarke R Claridge,1st Woolton Hill Scout Group, PCC, S Roberts

Mr W Bendle,  Mr C Corrall, HAPTC, M Morrisen, Cornhil Insurance,  HPS

 

As there was no further business the meeting was adjourned.  The next Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 July in Highclere Village Hall Jubilee Room at 7.30 pm