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Index
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Council Minutes
EVERTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Council held in the
Village Hall on Monday 5th December, 2005
Present:- Councillor J. Dunn, Chairman. Councillors Bacon, Bardsley, de Bel, Jefferies, Maclagan, Marsh, Martin and Woods, together with District Councillor Martin
05/06/212 PRELIMINARY REMARKS
The Chairman welcomed Councillor Krystyna Martin to her first meeting of the Council.
He also said he was pleased to see Councillor Woods looking so fit and well following his recent operation.
05/06/213 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Jefferies declared a personal interest at agenda item 12 (Northern Area Committee Reports), being a member of the Northern Area Committee.
Councillors Bardsley, de Bel and Jefferies each declared a personal interest at agenda item 13 (North East Bassetlaw Forum Reports), being members of the North East Bassetlaw Forum.
Councillor Martin declared a prejudicial interest at agenda item 26 (Planning Applications – 19/05/36 Erect detached dwelling and associated garage on land to the rear of The Manor House, Nutcroft Way, Harwell), being a close friend of a director of the firm of architects acting for the applicant. She left the meeting during consideration of that item.
05/06/214 MINUTES OF THE LAST ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
The Minutes of the last ordinary meeting of the Council, held on 7th November, 2005, were approved as a correct record, subject to a clerical amendment at Minute No. 05/06/193 (Quality Councils).
05/06/215 MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising.
05/06/216 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
No members of the public were present.
05/06/217 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
The Clerk reported that the Bassetlaw Planning Department could not give the planned presentation owing to a combination of staff sickness and transport problems. In the circumstances, the Clerk, who had already heard the presentation in his capacity of Clerk to Gringley on the Hill and Misterton Parish Councils, gave a brief overview.
The new Local Development Framework (LDF) would comprise a group of separate but interrelated planning documents, listed below. It would contain policies and proposals that would guide development within Bassetlaw. The Core Strategy would be in operation for planning development purposes from May, 2006, although (as observed by District Councillor Martin) the LDF would not be complete for several years.
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1 Core Strategy
§ Primary Development Control Policies
§ Proposals Section
§ Proposals Map
§ Local Development Scheme
§ Statement of Community Involvement
§ Sustainability Appraisal
§ Annual Monitoring Report
The preferred option for spatial strategy in Bassetlaw was to concentrate development (all kinds) in major development centres of Worksop and Retford, with a secondary centre of Harworth/Bircotes. Smaller amounts of development would take place in the local development centres of Carlton-in-Lindrick (Firbeck Colliery site only) Misterton and Tuxford.
Because of a lack of brownfield sites in Misterton, development there would be limited, but some development was important in order to protect and enhance existing services and amenities.
After the Clerk’s overview, Councillor Bardsley made the point that consultation on the Bassetlaw Plan had closed while the East Midlands Regional Plan was still out to consultation. It seemed to him that the Bassetlaw Plan should sit within the wider structure of the Regional Plan, and that the process did not allow this.
The role of the Regional Plan was stated to be to provide a long term
development strategy for the East Midlands over a 10 to 15 year period, including:
(a) the scale and distribution of new housing,
(b) priorities for the environment such as countryside and biodiversity protection, and
(c) transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals extraction and waste treatment and disposal
There was a proposal in the Regional Plan to move North East Bassetlaw from the Eastern sub area to the Northern sub area, meaning that Everton would share the policies for this area, which to Councillor Bardsley seemed sensible, since the Eastern sub area ran from the Trent to the North Sea. The question which needed to be put to Bassetlaw was how their plan took account of the over arching regional plan.
05/06/218 ACCOUNTS
Resolved: That the December Accounts be approved for payment.
05/06/219 BANK RECONCILIATION
Members received the bank reconciliation statement to 31st October, 2005.
05/06/220 BUDGET MONITORING
The Clerk submitted the December budget monitoring statement, which showed an estimated year-end balance of £5,262.
05/06/221 RISK REVIEW AND ASSET INSPECTION
There were no matters to report.
05/06/222 MEMBERS’ SURGERIES
Councillors de Bel and Marsh held a surgery on 19th November, 2005. No members of the public attended.
05/06/223 PARISH PLAN
There were no developments to report.
05/06/224 NALC NORTHERN AREA COMMITTEE
Councillor Jefferies submitted a brief report on the meeting of the Northern Area Committee held on 21st November, 2005. The main business of the meeting was a presentation by Mrs. Lynda Ogilvie, County Secretary of NALC, on ‘Quality’ councils
A letter was submitted from District Councillor Hugh Burton (to all Bassetlaw parish councils), enquiring which of them intended to pursue ‘Quality’ accreditation. The Clerk had replied.
05/06/225 NORTH EAST BASSETLAW FORUM
Councillor Bardsley reported that an item would be included on the agenda for the January meeting of the Forum on the issues recently raised regarding the Right to Speak Policy at Bassetlaw Planning Committee.
Councillor Bardsley also requested a progress report regarding the discussion at the October meeting (Minute No. 05/06/161), when the Clerk was asked to make an enquiry to the Forum secretariat about the possibility of funding being provided for a housing needs survey in Everton. The Clerk agreed to report back on the matter.
05/06/226 QUALITY COUNCILS
The Clerk reported that he would begin preparation of the winter newsletter shortly.
05/06/227 PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP
(a) Councillor Dunn submitted a report on the Rights of Way Conference held at Boughton Pumping Station on 25th November, 2005. His report covered the following:
2 Staffing and funding shortages in the County Council Rights of Way Section
3 An update on access in the local area
4 Discovering Lost Ways Programme
5 Rights of Way Improvement Plan
(b) The Clerk reported that he was still experiencing difficulty in getting a new waymarker erected on Path 1 at Croft Farm, Tethering Lane. He would continue to work on the matter.
05/06/228 CPRE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION 2006
The Clerk reported that he was still awaiting receipt of the judges’ notes in respect of the 2005 competition. He would, nevertheless, write an article for January Heds Together regarding the 2006 competition.
05/06/229 TUNNELTECH NORTH
Councillor Marsh complained of three weeks of intolerable stenches emanating from Tunneltech, including one continuous period of 12 days. She expressed the opinion that, irrespective of Government guidance, the stench amounted to a statutory nuisance. She asked that District Councillor Martin take action forthwith, as control of such nuisance was a matter for the District Council
District Councillor Martin said that he had noted what was said and would take action accordingly. He would also discuss the matter at the meeting of Misson Parish Council later in the week.
The Clerk also agreed to discuss the matter with Misson Parish Council.
05/06/230 THE EMERGENCY SERVICES
Councillor Marsh drew attention to a recent incident when a fire engine had difficulty in finding the way to Harwell Woods.
The Clerk was asked to contact the Fire and Rescue Service, to enquire as to whether the Parish Council's local knowledge could be of help in accessing rural locations.
05/06/231 LOW FLYING OVER EVERTON
Councillor Marsh complained of regular low flying over Everton, including one three-hour period when flights were passing overhead every seven minutes. She also said that night flying was a problem, causing sleep disturbance. Other Members commented on patterns of flight over Everton since the opening of Robin Hood Airport.
The Clerk agreed to make contact with the Airport Consultation Committee with a view to establishing what the position was.
05/06/232 PARISH COUNCILS LIASION GROUP MEETING
Letter was submitted from Bassetlaw District Council, enclosing a copy of a presentation paper by the Head of Financial Services to the meeting of the Parish Council Liaison Group Meeting held on 23rd November, 2005. The letter also sought to consult parish councils on certain matters relating to funding and service delivery.
During the ensuing discussion, District Councillor Martin confirmed that Bassetlaw District Council had agreed to make no further reductions in concurrent grant beyond the 2005/06 reduction.
Resolved: That the letter be discussed at the January meeting.
05/06/233 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE STRATEGY FOR EXTENDING SERVICES IN AND AROUND SCHOOLS
Letter was submitted from Nottinghamshire County Council, consulting the Parish Council on the above. A response was required by 23rd December, 2005.
In view of the tight deadline, Councillor Woods kindly offered to discuss the matter with the Headteacher at Everton Primary School, and submit a response on behalf of the Parish Council if considered appropriate.
05/06/234 THE FUTURE OF HEALTH SERVICES IN BASSETLAW
Councillor Jefferies referred to proposals regarding mergers of primary care trusts, and reported that there was a possibility of a merger between Bassetlaw and Doncaster Primary Care Trusts, which would be preferable to a new Trust covering the whole of Nottinghamshire.
05/06/235 DRAKEHOLES – PROPOSED 30MPH SPEED LIMITS
Letter was submitted from Nottinghamshire County Council, giving details of proposed 30 mph speed limits on the B6045 Eel Pool Road, the old Gainsborough Road and Wiseton Road. Observations were requested by 23rd December, 2005.
Resolved: That Nottinghamshire County Council be informed that the Parish Council supported the proposals.
05/06/236 POLICE BULLETIN – IMMOBILISATION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
Councillor Maclagan referred to a bulletin issued by the Police that day, relating to immobilisation of personal property. He asked that the matter be included on the agenda for the January meeting, as the assistance of parish councils was sought in publicising the availability of property registration.
05/06/237 CRIME STATISTICS
The crime statistics for November were noted.
05/06/238 THE BASSETLAW PLANNING PROCESS
District Councillor Martin left the meeting at this point and did not return.
Pursuant to Minute No. 05/06/208 of November, 2005, the Clerk reported that, although he had received a letter from the Chief Executive of Bassetlaw District Council, stating that the Parish Council would have a reply by 2nd December, 2005, he had since been informed that there would be a further delay as the Head of Planning Services had not responded to requests for information. A reply was now promised by 16th December, 2005.
05/06/239 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
19/05/19 Amended Application
Mrs. Jackie Evans
Erect two buildings for proposed kennels/cattery at Woodland View, Bawtry Road, Everton
Resolved: That no adverse comment be made.
19/05/36
Mr. & Mrs. R. Metcalfe
Erect detached dwelling and associated garage on land to the rear of The Manor House, Nutcroft Way, Harwell
Resolved: That a strong objection be lodged on the following grounds, and that matters relating to the decision-making machinery and the plan submitted be addressed as mentioned below:
i. The Bassetlaw Local Plan contained policy 5/4A, which permitted residential development outside settlement envelopes only in exceptional circumstances, other than small-scale infill or rounding off, and where it would not erode or conflict with the character or appearance of the area.
It was submitted that this development was intensive infill, especially when taken together with the four houses currently being built alongside (19/04/29), which were already beginning to dominate the area by reason of their height and mass.
ii. The Parish Council was of the opinion that the decision to approve 19/04/29 was made in breach of Policy 5/4A, insofar as it was impossible to categorise four very large, two-storey houses as small-scale infill or rounding off. They had increased the housing stock in Harwell by 12.5%. To further develop what was effectively the same site would compound the problem.
iii. The development would run counter to policy objectives endorsed by government guidance in PPG3 and Regional Spatial Strategy 8, that sought to influence the location of new housing and limit housing numbers in unsustainable locations. This was a greenfield site in an unsustainable location.
iv. As greenfield land, the site failed to attract the priority that should be given to the development of previously developed sites given in PPG3 at paragraph 32. In the light of this, there was a need for particularly cogent reasons to justify the development of this site – reasons which did not exist.
v. The need for a sequential approach to the development of sites, that gave priority to previously developed land, was appropriate in this case. There was no evidence to suggest that this approach would fail to satisfy housing targets in Bassetlaw where there was already overprovision of housing.
vi. It was submitted that allowing development on greenfield sites in rural unsustainable locations would cumulatively undermine the aims of current policies to direct development to more sustainable locations. It was a fact that the new LDF pointed development away from places such as Harwell.
vii. The development did not accord with current planning guidance and policy statements, including Policy 5/4A (above) and 5/7 of the Bassetlaw Local Plan. The proposal would erode the rural character of Harwell. Harwell - Hereuelle in the Domesday survey of 1086 - was an ancient 9th century Danish settlement, which had largely withstood the intrusion of excessive modernisation for almost a thousand years. It stood today as an example of careful and reasonable farmhouse/domestic progress, although was currently being damaged by the development at 19/04/29 which could not possibly comply with Policy 5/4A.
viii. Further vehicular traffic and a new access on to Harwell Sluice Lane would exacerbate the road safety problem along Harwell Sluice Lane and Harwell Road and at the junction with the A631. The junction with the A631 was already a difficult and dangerous turn on to what was one of the worst roads in the UK for accidents; speed cameras had recently had to be installed. Visitor parking on Harwell Sluice Lane could also be a problem. Harwell Road was sub-standard, and was breaking at the edges. Two cars could not pass without running on to the grassed verges. The road through Harwell was heavily used by large farm vehicles, especially at harvest time.
ix. There was a problem with services, especially insofar as the water supply was concerned, where sometimes, in hot weather, there was no supply at all. There was also a sewerage problem, with blockages occurring. Any development which exacerbated the situation was simply not acceptable. The Parish Council submitted that Bassetlaw District Council should give serious consideration to infrastructure implications such as these when making a determination.
The Parish Council understood that Bassetlaw District Council would be receiving letters of objection from Harwell residents. In the circumstances it was requested that this application be not determined by the Planning Consultation Group, but by the full Planning Committee. It was also requested that a site visit took place before the Planning Committee met. This would avoid the possibility of objectors exercising their right to speak to a possibly differently constituted Committee to the one that actually made the decision, as was the case when consideration of an application was deferred for a site visit only after objectors (and supporters) had spoken, thus losing their chance to speak again.
The location plan was very old, and did not show most of the longstanding development that had taken place in the area. The validity of such an old plan was queried.
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