N.B. These minutes remain draft only until formally approved and signed 1602
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES of the PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE held on Thursday 21st MARCH 2013 in the Council Chamber at 7.15pm.
PRESENT at the Meeting were:
Councillor Vic Fox (Chairman)
Councillor Andrew Donaldson (Vice-Chairman)
Councillor Pauline Batstone
Councillor Nicholas Cowell
Councillor Charles Fraser
Councillor Claire Feltham
Councillor Helen Reed
Councillor Joe Rose
Apologies were received from:
Councillor Helen Lacey
Councillor Neil Watson
In attendance were:
Alan Harrison – Co-opted Rights of Way Officer
Christopher Wilkins – Town Clerk
3 members of the public
12/403 DEMOCRATIC TIME – QUESTIONS & COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
A Church Street resident reported that he has been engaged in discussions about changes to the street-lighting in the Market Cross/Church Street vicinity for a considerable time and made the following points:
· He wishes to thank Councillor Fox and the Trees Group for their support in recent discussions with SSE and DCC;
· It has been explained to him by representatives of SSE that the area is designated “Town Centre” and their company is therefore contractually obliged to install the new lighting proposed;
· He and many of his neighbours consider that the area is predominantly residential rather than town centre in the normal sense of that phrase and the proposed lighting is therefore unsuitable and inappropriate;
· Specifically, the new columns are unnecessarily tall and the additional column completely unnecessary and particularly badly placed in relation to an existing tree
· They hope that the Town Council can assist in securing a change to the area designation or otherwise forestall at least the installation of the additional column.
12/404 MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS
None
[The meeting was interrupted at this point to facilitate an Extraordinary Town Council Meeting – See Minute page 1603]
Minutes of the Planning & Environment Committee of 21.03.2013
N.B. These minutes remain draft only until formally approved and signed 1602
12/406 SIGNING OF THE APPROVED MINUTES OF LAST COMMITTEE MEETING
The Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 14th FEBRUARY 2013 (pages 1580 – 1583) were signed by the Chairman.
12/407 PLANNING APPLICATION OBSERVATIONS
1 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2013/02/03 2/2013/0145/PLNG
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Barclays Bank plc Market Place
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT101BW 21/03/13
Erect 2 No. Non-illuminated fascia signs and 1 No. Non-illuminated hanging sign
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL – No objections
2 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2013/03/03 2/2013/0219
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Dorset County Council S N High School Bath Road
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT101DT 07/03/13
Re-location of modular classroom within site
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL – No objections
12/408 NOTIFICATION OF DECISIONS OF NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
1 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2012/02/01 2/2012/1539/PLNG
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Mr R Williams & Ms M Joyce Lambsview Glue Hill
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT102DJ 07/01/13
Erect garage
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL
No objection
NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Granted subject to standard conditions
2 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2012/02/12 2/2012/1482/PLNG
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Mr & Mrs Jeans 3 Jubilee Court Stourcastle
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT101FP 03/12/12
Erect rear conservatory
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL
No Objection
NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Granted subject to conditions
3 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2013/01/02 2/2013/0044/PLNG
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Mr Trowbridge Honeysuckle Cottage Rolls Mill
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT102HD 23/01/13
Erect detached single-storey triple-bay garage and form parking and turning area
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL
No objection but propose condition requiring turning area to be kept permanently so vehicles can always enter and leave in forward gear.
NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Granted subject to conditions
4 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2013/03/02 2/2013/079/PLNG
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Mr William Custard 68 North Fields
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT101FD 29/01/13
Erect two-storey side extension
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL
No objection provided NDDC Tree Officer agrees with arboricultural consultant’s conclusion.
NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Granted subject to conditions
5 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2013/04/01 2/2012/1597/PLNG
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Mr Michael Read 31 Manston Road
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT101AF 11/01/13
Install solar panelled roof between house and garage (retrospective)
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL
No objection
NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Granted subject to standard conditions
6 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2013/05/01 2.2012/1534/PLNG
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Mr Paul Skivington Hillcrest Bath Road
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT101DY 14/01/13
Demolish existing garage and shed and erect new double garage
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL
No objection
NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Granted subject to conditions
7 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2013/07/01 2/2012/1300/PLNG
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Mr Jonathan Hendry Sturminster House Bath Road
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT101AS 17/01/13
Remove and replace sign (retrospective regularisation)
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL
No objection
NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Granted
8 Plan Number District Reference Site Reference Other Reference
2013/08/01 2/2013/0007/PLNG
Applicant House Name Road Locality
Mr R Comins The Quarterjack Bridge Street
Town County Post Code Application date
Sturminster Newton Dorset DT101BZ 21/01/13
Erect 1 no. Non-illuminated fascia sign and 1 no. Non-illuminated projecting sign
STURMINSTER NEWTON TOWN COUNCIL
No objection
NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Granted
12/409 APPEALS
No notifications received.
12/410 RIGHTS OF WAY MATTERS
a. FP 36 & FP37 behind former Bridge Chapel – Alan Harrison reported that the DCC Rights of Way officer has taken photographs of the footpath sections recently ploughed. Further steps are awaited.
b. FP4 at Filbridge Rise – Alan Harrison reported concerns that a boundary fence is being pushed over and now partially obstructs passage along the path. Again the matter has been reported to the DCC Rights of Way Officer. The matter will be discussed more fully at the next Town Council meeting.
c. FP17 at Fiddleford Mill – Alan Harrison reported that this has now re-opened.
d. Unclassified County Road at Hole House Cottage - Alan Harrison has reported the serious flood damage to Dorset Highways whose response is awaited
e. Footpath over weir at Sturminster Mill – The Clerk reported that continuing deterioration of the underlying bank may lead DCC to close the path soon. An email from the site-owner’s agent explaining his client’s position was read to the meeting.
12/411 REPORTS ON TREE MATTERS
a. Tree Works at Lindens – An email from NDDC reporting agreement not to proceed with the felling of the beech for the time being was read to the meeting
b. Trees Group – Notes of meeting on 6th March received
12/412 NORTH DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS
None
12/413 HIGHWAYS MATTERS
a. Honeymead Lane Residents’ Petition – The Clerk read the petition to the meeting, read an email from DCC explaining why parking restrictions are not considered appropriate a letter from DCC regarding Traffic Regulation Orders and reported conversations with the Police from which it appears that they have found no evidence of heightened road safety risk at the site.
The Committee RECOMMENDED that copies of the petition be posted to DCC, Dorset Police and Yewstock School, SUGGESTED that the Clerk send copies of the email and letter from DCC to a representative of the petitioners and REQUESTED the Clerk to check and report on the current status of the proposed parking restrictions at the turning head of Brinsley Close.
b. Highways Vegetation Management Programme 2013/14 - Details received from DCC Highways.
c. 2013/14 Dorset Highways Provisional Capital Programme – Details received from Dorset Highways
d. Manston Road Pavement Completion – DCC has now confirmed that the works are scheduled to start in the week commencing 15 April 2013 and expected to take two weeks to complete.
e. Adoption of Old Market Hill, Drovers and The Gavel. – The developer has confirmed that it has placed an order for the remedial groundworks and is awaiting quotations for the streetlighting remedial works to Old Market Hill, upon completion of which this road will be adopted. The developer has further confirmed its intention to negotiate the adoption of Drovers and The Gavel once Old Market Hill has been adopted.
12/414 CORRESPONDENCE
a. Improve Your Speed Reading – Invitation received for morning or afternoon sessions on 4th April at Nordon – Cost £20 per place.
b. Joint Asset Management Board Annual Meeting Chairman agreed to attend.
12/415 INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS
Councillor Donaldson has attended meetings of the governors of William Barnes Primary Schools and reported concerns that it is now very close to full capacity, that one local resident had been observed exercising a dog in the school grounds and about the state of road signage close to the school. He also reported that the defective street-lamp in the market Place has been fixed.
Councillor Rose reported that the High School has experienced a fall in numbers.
Councillor Feltham reported further damage to the grass verge at the entrance to Green Close
Councillor Cowell suggested that the possibility of the Council providing funding for a Speed Indicator Device be reconsidered and reported that the notorious pot-hole in Bath Road was re-patched again this week very promptly in response to reports.
Councillor Batstone reported that following their attendance at the recent Travel Study Day she and Councillor Reed are organising a meeting on 9th April at 7.15 pm in the Council Chamber to discuss the issues raised with representative of this Town Council and the nearby Parish Councils.
Councillor Fraser reported that the town sign on the approach from Blandford remains in a poor state and that the ornamental town sign also requires attention.
There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.45 pm.
Signed …………………………………………………………….. Dated ………………………………………………..
Chairman of the Planning & Environment Committee
Minutes of the Planning & Environment Committee of 21.03.2013