Betley, Balterley & Wrinehill Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 December 2002
PRESENT Ken Eaton
Anne Mountford
John Price (Chair) Roland P Seymour
Jennifer J Walton
Ann Wynn-Jones
G Roger Gleave (Clerk)
Six members of the public
APOLOGIES Ian M Ashbolt
Steven K Ball
Rita Chisnall
Frank A Speed
BC David Becket
BC Gavin Webb
ABSENT Ronald C Howarth
215/02 The Council considered the following planning application.
02/01014/FUL: Conversion of garage to granny flat with alterations; Woodside Cottage, Main Road, Betley.
RESOLVED that the Council had no objections to this application but would wish that the proposed granny flat to be a part of Woodside Cottage and not be a separate entity.
216/02 The Council considered the following planning application.
02/01034/FUL: Garage; Tuebrook, Gorsty Hill, Balterley.
RESOLVED that the Council recommends acceptance of this application.
217/02 The Council received the results of the following planning applications.
a. 02/00309/FUL: Detached bungalow and garage; Land off The Butts, Betley.
APPROVED
(with 5 Schedule 2 condition to protect amenity, safeguard the highway and watercourses)
b. 02/00660/FUL: Conversion of barn to residential, external alterations and detached three-car garage; Ravens Court House, Ravenshall, Betley.
APPROVED
(with 3 Schedule 2 conditions to protect amenity)
c. 02/00827/FUL: First floor extension; Chapelside, Den Lane, Wrinehill,
REFUSED
(inappropriate to Green Belt and disproportionate addition)
d. 02/00840/FUL: Extensions and alterations; Five Acres, Bowsey Wood, Betley.
REFUSED
(inappropriate to Green Belt, disproportionate addition and not in keeping with design of original building)
218/02 RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting (copy in minute book) held on 25 November 2002 be approved with the deletion in minute196/02 of the words ‘as there was a view that the reduction in the number of dwellings and the revised access highway access arrangements addressed some of the earlier objections raised by this Council’.
219/02 RESOLVED that the following report/actions consequent upon a consideration of matters arising be approved.
a. 197/02 (d) BT Telephone Box The Chairman was looking into this matter with BT.
b. 199/02 (a) Den Lane and Bowhill Lane There was no information on this matter.
c. 199/02 (b) Sign for Balterley The Clerk had contacted Rod Goode and a sign could be erected on the A531. The Council preferred location was on the bend at the boundary between Doddespool Hall and Reg Jenks land. The Clerk said that he would inform Rod Goode of this.
d. 199/02 (c) Appointment of Internal Auditor Arrangements had been made with the Parish Clerk at Whitmore Council to act in this position and the Council’s Clerk would be the internal auditor at Whitmore
e. 199/02 (d) Village Plan Meeting This had been arranged for 29 January 2003.
f. 211/02 (e) Position of Bob Lindblom The Clerk explained that as Bob Lindblom had on his nomination form said he was qualified as being on the Register of Local Electors. As new register came into force on 1 December 2002 and he was not on it, he was no longer qualified to be member.
g. Response to a request for information on the approved use of Laudy Croft The Clerk gave John Seddon the Permission for Development dated 21 November 1996. There followed discussion with members of the public who were concerned about the development of a football pitch/sports facility at Laudy Croft. The following points were raised for the consideration of the Council.
i. The agreed usage was up to five days a week and some members of the public were under the impression that usage was restricted to one day a week at weekends. The increase seemed to them to be excessive and would create traffic hazards and noise pollution.
ii Members of the public asked whether or not the terms for Permission for Development had been breached in that:
Did development start with in the five years?
Had there been adequate consideration of the possibility of badger set(s) and if so, the avoidance of any disturbance?
Had a landscape scheme been provided to the Local Authority?
Had the protection of the hedgerows been taken into account?
Had the necessary consultations taken place with the Highways Authority over the movement of material and the increased use of Common Lane?
Had a parking area scheme been agreed with the Authority?
Had the Environmental Agency been consulted about any possible effects, especially on Betley Mere as a SSI?
Had the Council considered the increased safety hazards, especially for unsupervised children and the access to the stream, consequent upon the development?
RESOLVED that an extraordinary meeting of the Council be held to clarify matters concerning Laudy Croft
h. 212/02 (c) Alleged breach of planning regulations at Balterley Hall Ann Wynne Jones reported that she had attended a planning meeting in Newcastle where there was concern over this matter. A site meeting had been arranged for 4 January 2003 to examine the situation and it was hoped that Councillors would attend.
220/02 RESOLVED that the financial statement (copy in minute book) as at 6 December be received.
221/02 The Clerk reported that Steven Ball was to give him the name of a person who could undertake work under the Highways Maintenance Agreement. BC David Becket had informed that he hoped to get together all interested parties to improve highway maintenance.
222/02 RESOLVED that the payment of invoices (copy in minute book) be approved.
223/02 RESOLVED that the Council in light of the discussion reported under minute 219/02 (g) defers consideration of the agreement with the Football Club.
224/02 The Clerk reported that there had been two people who had shown some interest in managing the Council’s Website and the matter would be discussed at the next meeting.
225/02 The Clerk reported on behalf of the Chairman:
a) A draft was in preparation for a cluster of parishes to be involved in a Rural Transport Bid following the meeting on 13 December.
b) A letter had been received from Mrs Brassington asking the Council to consider the erection of a bus shelter either opposite the old Black Horse or in the Wilderness. It was agreed that his should be considered at a later meeting. Mrs Brassington had also asked about footpath and gutter clearing in Church Lane. Action on this had been discussed under an earlier item.
226/02 The Clerk reported:
a) Notification had been received that Mrs P Williams had applied to transfer
the licence of ‘The Swan’ to her name.
b) External Audit of the Account for the year ended 31 March 2002 had been
satisfactorily completed and notices would now be published. The only matter of comment was the appointment of an internal auditor that the Council had now done.
c) The Chairman and himself would respond if appropriate to a questionnaire from NAIACE.
227/02 RESOLVED that the correspondence under Item 11 be received and appropriate action taken.
a) Items 11 (a) i, ii & ii (b) & (e) were tabled and as appropriate placed in the Reading Room.
b) Agenda Item 11 (c) Village Retail Services Association Introduction of Pat Hudson field worker. Information to be passed to David Doel.
c) Agenda Item 11 (d) Staffordshire Ambulance Service An invitation to visit the Staffordshire Ambulance headquarters had been received and it was agreed that this should be considered in the New Year.
228/02 A potentially dangerous tree stump in Back Lane would be reported to Rod Goode.
Signed…………………………….
Date………………………………