MARKET BOSWORTH PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes of the Market Bosworth Parish Council Meeting held on 3 February 2009 at 7.00 p.m. at The Parish Hall, Park Street, Market Bosworth.
PRESENT
Cllr H Whitehead (Chairman); Cllrs D Symonds, G Betts, P Winchester, K Coleman, S Ward, J Wiffill and K Hughes; County Councillor I Ould; Borough Councillor M Aldridge; Parish Clerk C Monkman.
5 members of the public.
1 APOLOGIES
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 7.00 p.m. No apologies.
2 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6 JANUARY 2009
Cllr G Betts pointed out that item 11, relating to the Parish Plan, should be amended to show that (i) H&BBC will pay for ‘black and white printing’, not ‘compilation’ and (ii) £500 was required to meet ‘colour printing costs and compilation’ not ‘printing costs’. The Minutes were then approved and signed by the Chairman.
3 SITUATION REPORT FROM THE CLERK
a Mrs K Notman, Highways Department, had acknowledged the Clerk’s letter regarding road signage on Rectory Lane and speeding traffic on Station Road, saying that ‘we aim to respond within 28 days but some enquiries may be more complex and may take slightly longer’.
b An email had been sent to the Highways Dept requesting that action be taken to: replace the bollard outside the Post Office; repair/replace the railings outside the PO and the Red Lion; replace the knocked-over road sign on Station Road pointing to the Station Road Industrial Estate; remove an old ‘no parking’ sign which, when it had been replaced on the Wellsborough Road, had been left lying in the ditch; provide grit boxes for Pipistrelle Drive, Back Lane and York Close; move a weight restriction sign on Station Road to the correct side of the golf course entrance; clean the drain at the entrance to the golf course.
c An update on site investigations for the pilot footpath to Carlton had been requested from Mrs K Notman, and concern had been expressed that nothing at all had been heard relating to progress with this. It had been pointed out that it is a matter of urgency if the £1,000 grant money available to the Parish Council is to be used productively and not returned unspent.
d The Borough Council and Highways Dept had confirmed that the Borough Council is no longer responsible for enforcing waiting restrictions. Under new legislation introduced in March 2008 the County Council is now responsible for enforcing parking restrictions and for administering payments and appeals through 50 Civil Enforcement Officers.
e Protecting trees at Sedgemere and in spinneys - Mr N Cox, H&BBC Development Services Technician, had advised that, although the Local Development process can seek to protect woodland, this doesn’t translate to individual trees and woodlands on private estates. The only way to protect trees at Sedgemere would be to go through the TPO system and for this the Parish Council would need to arrange a site meeting with the owner and the Local Authorities Tree consultant, via the H&BBC planning department.
f C Peat, Carlton Parish Clerk, had reported a broken telegraph pole opposite Friezeland Cottages to BT for attention.
g Correspondence:
Letter from Mr R Wood, Headteacher of St Peter’s Primary School, thanking the Parish Council for supporting the Primary School on site security matters. It is expected that building works will commence in October 2009.
Letter from the Highways Dept to confirm that the 50/50 bus shelter partnership scheme will run in 2010/11.
Letter from the Tribunals Service agreeing to the Parish Council’s application for the Car Park VAT appeal to be stood over pending the outcome of the Isle of Wight’s High Court case.
Invitation to take a table for 10 at the Mayor’s St George’s Day Charity Ball. Declined.
h Meetings: (i) 7 Feb, 10.00 a.m., The Red Lion, Bosworth in Bloom – Cllr G Betts to attend if available (ii) 10 March, 11.00 a.m., meeting with the Rector and the DCC re St Peter’s Churchyard (iii) 12 March, 6.00 p.m., RCC Rural Action Seminar, County Hall (iv) 19 March 6.00 – 8.00 p.m., Presentation and Workshop on LDF Site Allocations, Dixie Grammar School – the Clerk had requested 6 places (v) 26 March 4.45 – 6.45 p.m. Question & Answer drop in session on LDF Site Allocations, Market Bosworth Library (vi) 26 March 7.00 – 9.00 p.m., Bosworth Community Forum, venue to be decided.
i Courses: 28 February, Practitioners’ Conference, Stoke-on-Trent – the Clerk to attend.
4 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr P Winchester declared an interest in respect of Item 7c, Planning Matters, New Plans, 09/00028/FUL Erection of 6 No Two bed apartments, Pipistrelle Drive.
5 REPORTS
a County Councillor: Gypsy/Traveller Sites: Cllr I Ould confirmed he had found out on 15 January 2009 that the public document for site allocations now included a recommendation for 60 dwellings and 5/6 gypsy/traveller pitches on Station Road. On 16 January he had compiled a letter to be distributed to Market Bosworth residents – he had distributed 320 letters. Cllr I Ould confirmed that the response had been phenomenal, and he was sure that this had resulted in the recommendation being withdrawn before the full Council meeting on 20 January. However, the response had also revealed people’s lack of awareness. Cllr I Ould had asked Mr R Palmer if the proposal might be resurrected. Mr R Palmer had been unable to give any reassurance on the matter, stating that allocation of housing and gypsy/traveller pitches will be decided after the final round of consultation. Cllr I Ould had enquired whether there might be compulsory purchase of sites but had been advised that there are no agreements in place at present to cover this eventuality. Cllr I Ould confirmed that the Planning Inspector will have the right to see all the proposals that have been submitted and at that point the Inspector may insist on pitches in Market Bosworth, even if H&BBC do not include them in their own final recommendations. Cllr I Ould had found it difficult to accept that the document had been put in to the public domain without political approval. Cllr I Ould was of the opinion that the idea of putting traveller pitches next to owner occupied properties is a non-starter, with no logic or reason; he stressed that the travellers would also be averse to the idea. Cllr I Ould confirmed that the Traveller site at Cadeby had never been allocated as a permanent site in perpetuity and that the site should revert to agricultural use. The Marina: Cllr I Ould advised that the Highways Dept had recommended that none of the boats be residential. The proposal includes car parking spaces, a bus turning circle and a footpath to the Water Park to cost £40,000. Schools: Over 200 schools had been closed in Leicestershire today, 3 February, because of snow/ice. Highways: Cllr I Ould had informed the Highways Dept that since operations had relocated to Croft the Bosworth Area misses out and many ‘smaller’ issues go overlooked. Cllr I Ould had been advised by Mrs K Notman that the positioning of BT fibre-optics may scupper plans for a footway between Market Bosworth and Carlton: he had stressed to Mrs K Notman that the £1,000 grant must be spent urgently and if problems are anticipated this adds greater urgency.
b Borough Councillor: Cllr M Aldridge enquired if the Parish Council had received notification of the ‘drop in’ and ‘question and answer’ sessions relating to the site allocations. The Clerk confirmed an email notification had been received. Cllr M Aldridge confirmed (i) that the gypsy/traveller pitches are not included in the Market Bosworth site allocation proposals at present, but could be re-allocated (ii) that one pitch at Cadeby is included in the site allocation proposals. Cllr M Aldridge advised that siting dwellings and pitches together is following guidelines from central government; it is not the Borough Council’s choice. Cllr M Aldridge was adamant that gypsies and travellers cannot practically fit 5 caravans on a pitch; normally it is 2 caravans and 2 vehicles per pitch, vehicles normally being 4x4s or ‘lorries’. Cllr I Ould disagreed with this, stating that everything in his complaint letter, including the fact that each pitch can hold up to 5 caravans, had been correct. Cllr H Whitehead asked how the ‘drop in’ and ‘question and answer’ sessions would be advertised. Cllr M Aldridge advised that there will be notices in the newspapers and that leaflets will be sent to residents. Cllr S Ward and one member of the public had received a leaflet, but no-one else present had. It was agreed that the Clerk should chase H&BBC for leaflets for everyone in Market Bosworth. Cllr P Winchester stated that whilst he accepts the point that planning derives from central government, he is aware of a ‘fear’ in the Borough that central government policy on site allocations is neither sensible nor realistic. Cllr P Winchester enquired if H&BBC had fed that message back and, if so, how forcefully had this been done. Cllr M Aldridge advised that H&BBC had complained and that Mr R Palmer, Strategy and Regeneration Manager, will answer more fully at the next Parish Council meeting. Cllr P Winchester asked if the views of the Borough Council had been expressed from the very outset of the Core Strategy and LDF consultation process, or whether they had only recently started to voice concern. Cllr R Symonds pointed out that a resolution had been passed at the H&BBC Council meeting on 20 January to write to central government to express reservations relating to gypsy/traveller site allocations. Cllr J Wiffill asked if one 2 hour ‘question and answer’ session at Market Bosworth Library was really enough to provide all the information residents would be seeking: Cllr M Aldridge agreed that one 2 hour session was insufficient. Cllr H Whitehead expressed concern that the ultimate decision lies with a civil servant Planning Inspector and not an elected representative.
(County Cllr I Ould and Borough Cllr M Aldridge then left the meeting).
c Crime and Safety Forum: No report.
6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr R Drakeley, a resident of Pipistrelle Drive, introduced himself. He had submitted letters to the Parish Council and Borough Council relating to site allocations in terms of gypsy/traveller sites and had attended the Council meeting on 20 January. He had become aware of the concerns expressed by Groby residents and of their concerted efforts to prevent allocation of land to the gypsies/travellers within Groby. He had learnt that it had been proposed to locate the pitches at Groby on Parish Council land, but that the Parish Council would not permit this if it was contrary to the wishes of the residents, which meant there was a greater likelihood that Market Bosworth could be reallocated pitches. He stated that he feared complacency in Market Bosworth could result in gypsy/traveller pitches on Station Road and he offered help to the Parish Council to engage residents. Cllr G Betts stated that he does not believe residents will be complacent and that everyone will respond. It was felt that residents would be opposed to the allocation of land on Station Road for gypsy/traveller pitches, but that residents need to be kept informed and advised on how best to respond to the consultation document being issued on 9 February. Mr R Drakeley advised that the only way he finds out about events in Market Bosworth is through the Graphic. The Clerk and Cllr R Symonds advised him that Aspect is also a source of local information. Cllr H Whitehead was of the opinion that once the site allocation document is released for consultation there would be potential for committees and sub-committees to be formed to address all the issues relating to Market Bosworth in a coherent and legal manner.
7 PLANNING MATTERS
a Plans approved: None.
b Plans declined: None.
c New Plans
08/01171/FUL Extension and Alterations to Dwelling, 15 Heath Road. No objections.
08/01129/FUL Extension and Alterations to Dwelling, 6 Springfield Avenue. No objections.
09/00028/FUL Erection of 6 No Two Bed Apartments, Pipistrelle Drive.
This proposal was objected to. The majority were in agreement that the proposal represented overdevelopment of the site and that 4 apartments would be preferable to 6. The majority agreed that (i) provision of 11 parking spaces for 6 flats is insufficient (ii) the proposed development would exacerbate existing parking problems – already there is inadequate parking space for residents, business owners and customers alike, a problem made worse by the fact that dog walkers etc park on the estate to walk along the canal (iii) close proximity to the roundabout would result in access problems, congestion and blocking of the road. Cllr G Betts was of the opinion that industrial units would be preferable to dwellings, as originally proposed when the development was first approved and in line with the Borough Council’s Core Strategy aim to provide employment for the residents of Market Bosworth. It was pointed out that several units remain empty and that allocation of the plot to dwellings instead of employment might reduce the number of dwellings required elsewhere in the town. Cllr G Betts stated that if the plot is used for dwellings, clarity on Section 106 monies should be sought. It was agreed to suspend submitting comments until Cllr G Betts had examined the original proposals.
09/00014/FUL Proposed Covered Play Area, St Peter’s Church of England Primary School.
It was agreed that the shelter is not obtrusive but that a request should be submitted for the plan to be held over until the parking problem is solved.
09/00029/FUL Conversion of Barns in to 2 dwellings, Common Farm, Barton Road.