MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF TALGARTH TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY,
14 JANUARY 2015, IN THE TOWN HALL, TALGARTH AT 7PM
PRESENT:– Cllr A Lord (Mayor) (In the Chair), Cllr J Wilding (Deputy Mayor), Cllr Z Argent, Cllr N K Bally, Cllr A Bufton, Cllr M Dodds, Cllr G Jones, Cllr J Lilly, Cllr R Reid, Cllr Pip Turner
APOLOGIES: Cllr J Hopkins, Cllr William Powell (Town & Powys County Councillor)
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs Josephine Rumsey, Town Clerk
Mr Havard Prosser, Resident – For Planning 14/11612/FUL & 14/11613/LBC
15/07 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – There were no declarations of interest.
15/08 MINUTES:
Minutes Meeting 10 December 2014 - Previously circulated to all Councillors, Cllr A Lord, Mayor, sought their adoption. Proposed by Cllr R Reid and seconded by Cllr Bufton, all in favour, that the minutes of 10 December 2014 be signed as a correct record.
Precept Minutes 7 January 2014 - Proposed by Cllr J Wilding and seconded by Cllr R Reid, all in favour, that the minutes of Precept meeting 7 January 2015 be signed as a correct record.
Agreed that Precept 2015/2016 be £40,250 and Precept Request form signed by Cllr A Lord, Mayor.
15/09 CORRESPONDENCE FOR ACTION RECEIVED SINCE 10 DEC MEETING
Draft National Transport Plan 2015 – Note below a link to the information needed in respect of the Welsh Government consultation on the Draft National Transport Plan 2015.
http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/transport/draft-national-transport-plan/?lang=en
Agreed Cllr A Lord, Mayor, read the document and make comments in relation to each of the questions listed on the response form by the end of February 2015 to Dr Del Morgan OVW.
Pension Auto Enrolment – Information received from PAVO. Noted UK employers will have to automatically enrol their staff into a workplace pension if they meet certain criteria. The following website gives more information on your duties as an employerwww.thepensionsregulator.gov.ukthe staging date to act on auto enrolment forTalgarth Town Council is 1/1/2017.
Proposed by Cllr M Dodds and seconded by Cllr J Wilding, all in favour, that Cllr Pip Turner acts as the Town Council’s Pension Manager when the Pension Scheme comes into effect in 2017.
Tabernacle, Talgarth – Information received from Kate Lewis re Fri 16 Jan event – ‘Creation’. She also wished to inform Town Councillors that the latest on the planning refusal, is that progress is being made and she will update us all next week.
Fire & Rescue Service - Request to attend Town Council meeting from Craig Flannery MCIPD, Powys Deputy County Commander South Powys - specifically to talk around the current situation in relation to Talgarth’s Fire Station. Agreed to invite Craig Flannery to our 4 Feb meeting at 7pm.
15/10 REVIEW OF TOWN CLERK AND CARETAKER SALARIES 2015-2016 –
Town Clerk – Noted Josephine Rumsey left the room for the discussion re Town Clerk’s Annual Review due on 1 Feb 2015. Proposed by Cllr A Bufton and seconded by Cllr Pip Turner, all in favour, that the Town Clerk’s salary be increased from SP25 £11.296 per hour to SP26 £11.922 per hour x Contract 16 hrs per week from 1 Feb 2015 in recognition of her satisfactory duties.
15/11 PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND PLANNING ISSUES –
For Ratification – dealt with before deadline of 2nd Jan 2015.
(a) Planning Application - 14/11547/FUL – “Proposed new double garage with integrated new utility room extension with 1st floor storage.” – Mount Pleasant, School Road, Talgarth – Town Council comments - Agreed that whilst the Town Council would in principal support an application of this nature it is felt that the plans as submitted cannot be supported for the following reasons.
1. There is an existing barn on the site that does not appear on any of the elevation plans and on other layout plans it is shown as three dashed lines. It is not clear from the application whether this is to be demolished or retained. It is marked as "existingbarn" on the proposed roof layout which would suggest that it is to be retained. It is currently in a poor state of repair.
2. The proposed garage extension goes right up to the boundary of the adjacent property with no provision of access for maintenance. Whilst currently we understand that the adjacent property is owned by a relative we feel that this should not be relied on and sufficient access should be allocated.
3. The property is in a conservation area and the Town Council feel that the proposedfinish of wood cladding is extensive in scale and not sympathetic to the surroundings. The finish should not only reflect the finish of the current residence but also the neighbouring properties in the area especially those facing the Church and its grounds.
4. It is felt that the overall design is not sympathetic to the surroundings and perhaps not enough attention has been applied to how the building will look when viewed from the Church and its graveyard.
BBNPA – REFUSAL OF PLANNING APPLICATION 14/11547/FUL - “Proposed new double garage with integrated new utility room extension with 1st floor storage.” – Mount Pleasant, School Road, Talgarth – Notification of Refusal received from BBNPA today.
(b) Planning Application 14/11433/FUL – Reconsultation due to Amendment – “Development of 18 dwellings and associated works” – Land at School Lane, Talgarth. – Town Council comments – Agreed to respond that the Town Council wishes to raise further concerns and objections to the following: Drainage and Sewage; Ecology Mammal Report; Floor Areas v DQR ; Site Map.
For discussion at 14th Jan meeting & comment -
(c) Planning Application – 14/11612/FUL & 14/11613/LBC – Conversion of Barn to holiday let and alterations to house including demolition of single storey extensions and building a new dining room extension (revised scheme)” – Pentwyn, Penbont Road, Talgarth – Havard Prosser, owner of the property attended the meeting and gave a brief outline, stating that the Planning Application follows on from the previous application that the Town Council supported in Summer 2014. He said that the main difference from the previous application is that the proposed extension to the cottage is a ridge roof room at the gable end of the existing structure. Mr Prosser circulated a file with photos and drawings of the existing buildings, the differences between the two applications and elevation drawings. Regarding the stone tiles, his proposal is that they use the roof tiles that he possesses for the lean-to part of the barn, There are insufficient tiles to roof the main barn. Supplying suitable tiles for the barn roof is not a trivial exercise because they cannot be supplied by just going to building supply companies. Typically, sources are either tiles from an old building being decommissioned, or opening up a quarry – these sources are only occasionally available. Given the high costs – about £300/M2, neither option can be started until there is certainty about getting planning permission. He stated that it is hoped that BBNPA approves the application subject to the condition that the BBNPA agrees the tiles to be used before building work on the barn commences. Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr Pip Turner and seconded by Cllr J Wilding, all in favour, to support the application but to see emphasis of two aspects of the development.
· It is understood that some of the stone roof tiles have been preserved and these should be restored to the building if at all possible. It is also understood that financial considerations together with materials availability may exclude the restoration of the whole roof but as much as feasible should be attempted.
· We would also request that the finish to the new extension be carefully considered. The use of brick reveals and stone quoins may help break up what could otherwise be, perhaps, an austere look if it is just plain cement render.
(d) Planning Application Planning Application Planning Application – 14/11556/OUT – “Demolition of existing dwelling and provision of replacement dwelling – Tyisha, Pengenffordd, Talgarth” – Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr G Jones and seconded by Cllr R Reid, all in favour, that the Town Council would wish for any permission, should it be granted, to stipulate that the property is for agricultural residence use only. Talgarth Town Council would then support this planning application.
(e) Planning Application Planning Application Planning Application – 14/11661/CON – “To allow a change to the plans – Allow a modification of the front elevation ground floor to avoid structural issues” – 2 & 3 Bell Street, Talgarth” - Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr J Lilly and seconded by Cllr G Jones, all in favour to support this Planning Application.
(f) Planning Application – 14/11699/LBC – “Existing masonary wall to riverside curtilage of the property to be raised approximately 0.94m in like style and materials” – Glannant, High Street, Talgarth - Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr Pip Turner and seconded by Cllr R Reid, all in favour to support this Planning Application.
(g) Planning Application 14/11700/LBC – “Existing masonary wall to riverside curtilage of the property to be raised approximately 0.44m in like style and materials. Existing steps to be extended to match new height” – 1 Bridge Cottage, High Street, Talgarth - Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr Pip Turner and seconded by Cllr R Reid, all in favour to support this Planning Application.
(h) Planning Application 14/11701/LBC – “A replacement door and frame to riverward frontage of Tower House” – Tower House, High Street, Talgarth. Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr Pip Turner and seconded by Cllr R Reid, all in favour to support this Planning Application.
(i) Planning Application 14/11734/FUL – “Retrospective single storey extension for kitchen & additional living accommodation plus erection of detached garage.” – 4 New Hospital Villas, Talgarth - Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr Z Argent and seconded by Cllr J Lilly, all in favour to support this retrospective Planning Application.
(j) Brecknock Wildlife Trust Re Planning Application for a micro-hydro scheme at BWT Pwll-y-Wrach nature reserve.(Letter on circulation) – Noted Cllr A Lord, Mayor had forwarded a response to Phil Sutton, Brecknock Wildlife Trust, suggesting a Public Meeting be held and awaiting a reponse. Concern was expressed by Cllr M Dodds and asked for confirmation of water extraction from Pwlchwrach and stone extraction from the quarry. Agreed to forward concerns to Phil Colins, owner of the old Mid Wales Hospital.
(k) BBNPA – Future Visit to Town Council by John Cook, Chief Executive/Chris Morgan, Head of Planning – Agreed to invite John Cook, Chief Executive and Chris Morgan, Head of Planning together with local BBNPA Members Alan Lovell, Chris Davies and Geraint Hopkins and County Councillors to a Special meeting of the Town Council towards the end of Feb.
(l) BBNPA LDP – Consultation on Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance Notes – 6 Nov – 8 Jan. Response sent by deadline, stating that Talgarth Town Council has reviewed all the documents listed below and has no comments to make apart from one paragraph , 4.1, in "Low Impact Tourism Accommodation Supplementary Planning Guidance"."4.1- As part of any submission the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority would expect to be submitted a reasonable level of detail in order to allow a comprehensive consideration of the application details. Applicants are encouraged to engage with the Authority through the paid pre-application service which is offered by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. This will enable an assessment of the likely acceptability of a proposed development and a detailed list of all necessary documents to be submitted with any future application."
Talgarth Town Council feels that this paragraph could imply to prospective developers that paying for pre-planning advice would be more likely to ensure that their application would be passed. It also implies that they will be party to a "detailed list " that they would not otherwise have. Whilst we realise that this is, in most likely hood, not the intention perhaps the paragraph could be better phrased.
We also asked, on a slightly different matter, if BBNPA could also confirm that the officer providing pre-application advice would not be one and the same as the case officer for the application.
(m) BBNPA - Local Development Plan (LDP) (Adopted December 2013) - Consultation on Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance Notes - consultation for a period of 8 weeks running from Wednesday 24th December 2014 until Thursday 19th February 2015. – Cllr A Lord, Mayor, suggested that Town Councllors view the BBNPA website as this is a start of the comments for the Hay Road development brief and he would draft a response for discussion at our 4 Feb meeting – this can be viewed at:-http://www.beacons-npa.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/Hay-Road-Development-Brief-Consultation-Draft.pdf
Discussion took place and suggestions below by Cllr A Lord, Mayor, for 4 Feb meeting - if any further comments by Town Councillors to forward to the Clerk prior to the meeting.
“Movement Access and Parking - Further traffic calming will need to be carried out on the A4078 between the Hay Road Junction and the junction between the A479, Bronllys road. Although this section of road is currently designated a 30 MPH zone it is a limit that is rarely observed. Dangerous overtaking manoeuvres have also been observed on this section of road in the Talgarth to Hay direction. Impatient drivers immediately attempt to overtake when still in the 30MPH limit but have passed the last centre refuge. This risks a head on collision with traffic turning left out of Hay road.
When the new school is built there will be a considerable number of children crossing this road daily. Talgarth Town council would like to suggest the creation of a new roundabout at the junction of Hay Road and the A4078. This would slow down the traffic approaching from Three Cocks direction and would stop dangerous overtaking on leaving Talgarth.
The junction of the A4078 and A479 would also benefit from a review and possibly the construction of a pedestriam refuge mid junction. We do realise however that this may need the cooperation of the Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency.”