Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Minutes of Parish Council 7th May 2009



ORLINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held in the Village Hall on
Thursday 7th May 2009
34.Apologies: Were received and accepted from Cllrs Norton, and Waller.
35. Public Question Time
A question was asked regarding the proposed planning application that had been dealt with at a meeting held the previous evening: “If it is approved can 25% of development costs be claimed as Section 106 monies?” The Clerk was aware of a threshold before Section 106 can be claimed, and has confirmed that this is 10 properties. There was discussion that if the density of housing on the site increased the issue would be revisited. The conclusions reached at the previous meeting were outlined i.e. Safety concerns, infrastructure concerns and the development being outside the village envelope. It was also noted that a site visit had been requested.

Concerns were raised regarding the vandalising of residents’ lawns, with graffiti. It was agreed to monitor the situation, and noted that the Police and Neighbourhood Watch were both aware of the situation. Councillor Miles advised the meeting that there should be a Police attendance to the meeting (PCSO 7119 Lynette Amey- Head, arrived 15 minutes later).

36. Minutes of meetings 5th March 2009
These were approved as a true and correct record

37. Matters arising

37.1 Grit bins – Councillor Timms was approached regarding the money he has available as a grant, and he agreed to look into the matter.
37.2 Helen Howard from the County Council is coming on 14th May at 9.30 to review what has not yet been done, Councillors Allen and Rowlatt will accompany her but any other available Councillors can also attend.
37.3 Smart Water – it was agreed to make flyers to deliver to the village to make them aware of the fact there is still some available. Councillor Allen will make the flyers and Councillor Rowlatt will deliver them. Councillors Rootham and Allen will be putting up the signs next week.

37.4 Website – no progress as yet, Councillor Allen to ask if we can have access to the site to populate it, Councillor Rootham will help if this is possible.
37.5 Section 106 Money – Clerk to write to Joe Hubbard, Councillor Timms will speak to him, as he appears confident about the situation, but nothing is apparently happening.
38. Police Matters
38.1 PCSO Amey- Heard has contacted PC 384 McQuade, who would like to attend a meeting to discuss speed cameras and other speed issues. Councillor Allen and PSCO Amey-Heard will liaise on this and then produce a flyer, incorporating the Smart Water information and PSCO Amey-Heard will help distribute them.
38.2 Crime Statistics, 1 Criminal Damage, 1 Criminal Damage to a vehicle and vandalism to grass.
38.3 It was asked who put up the Speed Check area Notices as they have been sited in the wrong place, PCSO Amey-Heard was not aware of them, but would enquire and find out if they can be resited.

38.4 Quad Bikes are a problem that the Police are aware of, and they will seize all bikes that are being used illegally, Quad Bikes are not allowed on the public highway unless they have an MOT, are insured and taxed, nor are they allowed on Bridle Ways.



39. Correspondence
39.1 NCC – Amenity Weight Restrictions (7.5t) – Countywide Awareness Campaign. Clerk to respond that we would like to be considered for this scheme.
39.2 Wellingborough Partnership – Annual Conference 8th June 2009, no one available to attend.
39.3 MGWSP – request for contact details of local farmers to help in adverse weather conditions, this will be discussed later under the emergency plan.
39.4 Reopening of the Orlingbury Outreach Service Post Office commencing 6th April.
39.5 Planning Aid – Section 106 training event. It was felt we are too far down the line with our Section 106 development for this to be useful.
39.6 The rest of the correspondence was circulated amongst the Councillors.
40.Financial Matters
40.1 The Annual Report has been received and a meeting needs to be held before 30th June to approve the accounts and sign the Annual Report. It was agreed to hold this on 3rd June 2009.
40.2 The following accounts were approved for payment.
605 E-on – electricity supply £421.52
606 Orlingbury Village Hall £ 35.10
607 E-on – elec maintenance £ 116.59
608 Allianz – Insurance £521.72
609 NCALC – subs £120.52
610 Clerk salary £248.40
611 smartwater signs £ 48.00
612 Pages – mower maint £390.17
24 Reports from external meetings attended
24.1 Councillor Allen had attended a highways meeting, this explained about a new computerised, communication system, which prioritises concerns. . There will now be 4 officers each representing an area. Helen Howard is our representative, and she appears to be very keen and has agreed to walk the village with councillors again.

For the NCC Highways department, work with Orlingbury have slipped hugely. The Highways group appears to be in crisis following of unusually bad weather in January.
25.Planning
25.1 April Decision – WP/2009/0038/F – 11 The Leys, single storey extensions and alterations – granted.
25.2 Re. the village boundary/envelope; Councillor Timms confirmed that the structure plan is being looked at, and being renamed, there will be a review of village envelopes but this will not be published until all villages have been reviewed.

26.Spending Empowerment Grant
This is underway, a discussion followed; a final report will be made at the next meeting.
27.Emergency Planning
27.1 The plan was read by all councillors in attendance. It was agreed the members of the Parish Council Emergency Group PCEG, would be Councillors Miles, and Rootham and Gillian Walton if she was prepared to accept a lead role.

27.2 The Road Responsibilities to be confirmed.

27.3 It was agreed to keep the contact Doctors to either practising or recently retired.

27.4 Nurses and first aiders to be asked if they are prepared to be on the list

27.5 With regard to farmers/builders willing to help. MGWSP to be asked for clarification, what equipment needed, whether insurance required and ask if payment/expenses will be paid. Also if there is a 24/7 contact number.
27.6 Emergency group training agreed to encourage the community to work as a team and a role for a co-ordinator to help the elderly.

27.7 An audit for water pumps/generations/emergency survival packs/ water/blankets and storage and accommodation. It was noted that there are no toilet facilities in the church. Clerk to check what is needed.
27.8 A small planning group to set up a volunteer meeting on 18th June 2009
31.Village Hall
31.1 It was noted that comments had been made at the Annual Parish Meeting regarding the steps. There was discussion on health and safety and public liability, the need for independent inspections etc.

31.2 The Parish Council can nominate someone to be on the committee.

32 Any other business
32.2 The Clerk is still working on the Freedom of Information model and will have to meet with Councillor Allen to finalise matters.
32.3 The Clerk to contact highways about pavements and weeds on pavements on the Pytchley Road and outside Orlingbury Hall.
32.4 The lamp over the 30mph is still out. Clerk to report again.
32.5 Communications – Councillor Rootham was concerned about the lack of communication between the Borough, the County and ourselves, especially in light of a traffic survey the County have carried, with out informing us. It was noted that the Clerk had not brought the letters written to the meeting as previously agreed, but that this would now happen.
32.6 There was concern that due to the amount of work needed to be done by the council and the number of items on the agenda that it would be better to have monthly meetings, but they must aim to finish at 9pm and 9.30pm would be the latest time to end.
33 Dates of the next meetings.
3rd June 2009, 2nd July 2009, 13th August 2009, 3rd September 2009, 15th October 2009, 12th November 2009, 7th January 2010, 4th February 2010, 4th March 2010,
Annual Parish Meeting, 1st April 2010, 22nd April 2010, Annual General Meeting, 6th May 2009.

The emergency plan PCEG meeting would take place on the 18th June.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 10.00 pm, with thanks from the Chair to those attending.



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Chairman Date






MInutes of planning meeting May 6th 2009


ORLINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held in the Village Hall on
Tuesday 6th May 09 to address to building planning applications
1.Present: Council: Cllrs Miles (Chairman), Rootham (Deputy), Allen, White, Rowlatt.
Public: Mr Lewis, Mr Simson ,Mr Smith, Mrs Smith, Mrs Widdup, Mr Derry, Dr Staff, Mrs Staff.

2. Apologies: Were received and accepted from P.C. Clerk Mrs Alison Mc Claven,, Cllrs Waller and Norton.
3.Planning 3.1
Application No: WP/2009/0116/F – Re-roofing of existing garage (flat to pitched).
Location: little Barn 2b Harrowden Road Orlingbury
Applicant: Mr Alan West
3.1.1
Outcome:
After studying the re-roofing plan for the Little Barn 2b Harrowden Road Orlingbury, the Parish Clerk was requested to write to the development control officer requesting that construction traffic entering and leaving the site would ensure that there is no hazard to road users and pedestrians during building alterations.

3.2
Application No: WP/2009/0024/F- Construction of five new dwellings and a new access road to land off Isham Road Orlingbury.

Location: Stables and land adjacent 24 Isham Road, Orlingbury ,Wellingborough.

3.2.1
The Chairman, Mr Steve Miles opened discussion by summarising the project and outlining concerns relating to
· a proposed access point at the centre of the existing dangerous bend
· potential overload of existing services e.g sewage which had caused problems in the past
· location on a dangerous bend in a road commonly used by horse riders and pedestrians
· a problem of speeding cars underlined in the traffic survey conducted by the PC
· existing problems of parking in and around the Leys where narrow and busy roads currently, caused problems
· the development would be beyond the village boundary and existing building lines

3.2.2
Discussion involving the public
Mr Smith and Mr Derry underlined the concerns of the chairman. And Mr Derry also referred to perceived inaccuracies in the development proposal which inferred that
· the “access point” at the centre of the property was an official entrance
· stone and brick finishing was a common feature in the centre of the village
· that the development would complete successive layers of building expansion

Mr Derry said that the recent traffic survey underscored the hazards of speeding traffic coming into the village which would be exacerbated by the creation of turning points on the bend to the approach to the village.

Mrs Widdup spoke of the existing dangers of speeding traffic which had resulted in many near accidents and would be worsened by a the creation of a driveway outside the village envelope.

Dr Staff said that a similar project had been rejected in 1972 and that the existing Borough Development Plan constrained the development of housing to within the envelope. The development was outside the village envelope and would create “open house” for further development creating a precedent for expansion beyond the point where our social cohesion as a village community could be sustained. He also spoke of the dangers of introducing vehicle access points on a hazardous bend.

He hoped that the Parish Council would take a view on the development and would urge the Borough Planning Controller to reject it.

Mrs Staff stated that apart from her personal concerns that new Building would overlook the five windows on their adjacent property, Plot 1 would increase the likelihood of a serious accident, “a fatality waiting to happen”. Visibility was now poor. It was debateable whether “improved visibility”, when added to greater traffic use would not simply compromise future ability to really, improve safety. The Paddock area was not as had been stated, a flat area. Further building would increase run-off and given changes in climate contribute to flooding at the access point between the new development and existing houses.


Mrs Smith, speaking on behalf of villagers from the Leys who could not attend, endorsed previous concerns but also gave several instances where the sewage and water drainage systems in the Leys area had failed indicating that the village infrastructure was too weak to sustain additional pressure. Councillor Rowlatt and Councillor Rootham agreed. Councillor Rootham outlined instances of failure and explaining the vulnerable structure of the existing systems.

Speaking on behalf of the project Mr Lewis explained its background pointing out that at the time of earlier consideration when a planning application for projected building had been rejected, the Borough Council had ruled that further infill would need to take place before development would be entertained. He explained that a survey conducted by him in 1972 had found villagers largely in favour of further expansion.
Mr Simson stated that villagers’ concerns in relation to services infrastructure would be taken on board.


Councillor Rootham stated that he had studied existing Borough Council policy which, notwithstanding the need for revision ,would obtain until future review had taken place.

3.2.3
Parish Council Discussion
The Chairman summed up referring to previous points, adding that affordable housing was a major component of the Norton Close development but that the need for affordable housing in the village should continue to inform any proposal.

3.2.2
Outcome:
After studying the development plans for the construction of five new dwellings and a new access road to land off Isham Road and listening to the concerns of the public raised at a meeting, the Parish Clerk was requested by the Parish Council to write to the Development Control Officer to raise the following issues with respect to the development:

1. The project would appear to breach rulings designed to ensure that future development does not extend beyond the agreed village boundary and thus compromise policy to restrict future expansion. The Parish Council registers concern that the development breaches policy and therefore, sets a precedent for future development on other sites.

2. The prospective developer expresses a view that the dangerous bend on the Isham Road would be improved by the proposed development. The Parish Council are concerned that increased traffic generated by additional housing using two additional entrances on the bend may lead to additional hazard and may compromise future moves to overcome this hazard altogether.


3. The existing infrastructure particularly, sewage and drainage arrangements are overstretched to the extent that existing properties experience frequent problems. The Parish Council are concerned that the development will compromise the existing facilities.


4. In view of the far reaching implications of this project and the complexities of issues raised, to request that a site visit take place.


There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.10 pm, with thanks from the Chair to those attending.



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Chairman Date