MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 15TH AUGUST 2007 AT 8 PM IN THE W I ROOM, BALCOMBE VICTORY HALL.
Present: Messrs. Robin Williamson, Robin Lindsay-Stewart, Neville Ashcroft, Rodney Saunders, Simon Greenwood & Mrs Alison Stevenson,
In attendance: Richard Greig – Clerk to the Council
2063. Public
Participation
No members of the public were present.
2064. Declaration of
personal or prejudicial interest
Mr Lindsay-Stewart expressed a prejudicial interest in respect of
planning application BA/07/02004/FUL -
Lodgelands, Crawley Lane Mr Greenwood declared a prejudicial interest in
respect of planning application BA/07/01511/FUL
– Holts Cottages,
2065. Apologies for
absence
Received from Messrs. Gary Marsh, Richard Turner, Mesdames Susan Barker Danby, Sarah Moore-Williams & Carol Jarvest
2066. To approve
Minutes of Regular meeting held on 25th July
Agreed that 2048, line 10, should now read “…received by WSCC for addition of bridleway from….” After amendment the minutes, having been circulated, were approved as a correct record & signed by the Chairman.
2067. Matters arising
2048 - WSCC addition of bridleway. The Balcombe Footpaths Assn. will not be in a position to let us have their submission until September.
2061 Other 11 - tenant details, as prescribed. Mr Greenwood is still willing to offer help & advise the relevant Work Group.
2053 e). To finalise arrangements for updated
valuation of the Council’s structural assets (pavilion + 3 bus shelters). Mr Lindsay-Stewart has the
matter in hand &, with the assistance of Graeme Telford (currently on
leave) will report his findings, hopefully in time for the October
meeting.
2068. Financial
a). Cash Book Receipts & Payments for July 2007 – noted as presented
b). Bank Reconciliation
Statements as at 31st July 2007 for both accounts – noted as
presented
c). Receipts &
Payments by Budget Heading 4 months to 31st July 2007 – noted as
presented
d). Update on arrangements
for updated valuation of the Council’s structural assets. Refer 2067 (2053 e) above
2069. Report from
Traffic Group
Mr Saunders had been referred, by Peter Bradley, WSCC Traffic Engineering Group Manager, to Neil Smith, Local Highway Manager, Mid Sussex. A meeting had taken place & Neil had agreed to attend a Question & Answer session with the Parish Council, on a date to be pre-determined. Speed Indicating Devices (SID’s) might be possible within a scheme, but there were three main hurdles that need clarification – what will be allowed? , what does the village want?, & how do we fund the resultant scheme?. Mrs Saunders will be given background information by the Clerk on the terms of the £9k allocation of funds per MSDC for traffic calming (November 2006) & will ascertain, on enquiry, whether there is a cut-off date by which this money must be used & after which it will cease to be available to us.
Members had a long discussion about parking. The Newlands situation was agreed to be a particular problem & with this in mind Mr Ashcroft kindly agreed to assist in obtaining comments from some of the residents to enable further debate about a possible solution.
Community Speed Watch. Mr Iain Brown would be requested for an update report for our September meeting. Also to ensure that regular reports appear in the Parish Magazine.
2070. Report from Local
Societies Group
Nothing to report in the absence of Mrs Barker-Danby.
2071. Report from
Facilities & Amenities Group
Mrs Moore-Williams had circulated a report detailing action points for various Officers. These would be actioned, as appropriate.
2072. Reports from
other Groups (where applicable)
No reports received.
2073. Report of meeting
held by
There had been confusion as to the type of meeting that had been planned by the PCT. This was due to the poor advertising of the event. Under the circumstances the Balcombe turn out (approx. 55) & the questions raised had been successful, but it was felt that a session on repeat lines would have little effect on the outcome to the three proposals for which consultation is taking place.
Councillors all agreed that Balcombe should, providing we could obtain services of an experienced Health Economist, Speaker, able to skilfully analyse the shortfalls of the consultation paper proposals, request a follow up public debate with the PCT, if necessary in conjunction with other adjoining parishes.
The Clerk would approach the PRH Campaign organisers for advice & report back. Also it was considered essential for presence at such an event by representative/s from the Balcombe Surgery.
2075. Planning. – to consider the following applications.
a). For representation by 24th August 2007
BA/07/02004/FUL – Lodgelands,
BA/07/02125/FUL – 15 Foxwells. An Edwardian style conservatory on to the rear elevation. No objection.
BA/07/02140/FUL – The Coach House,
b). To consider any Planning Applications received by the date of the meeting
b). For
representation by 7th September 2007
BA/07/01511/FUL –
Holts Cottages,
BA/07/02115/FUL – The
Olives,
c). Update from Balcombe Footpaths Association concerning application received from WSCC for the addition to the definitive Map & Statement for Cuckfield Rural of a bridleway from bridleway 79W in Turners Hill to the High Street in Balcombe, the B2110
d). Report from Mr Marsh concerning application BA/07/01648/COU –
Land adjacent
Mr Marsh was absent, due to illness. In his absence Mrs Stevenson proffered detailed advice on the background to the three applications & commented on other matters raised in MSDC’s circulated paper recommending approval at the planning meeting to be held on 16th August.
Accordingly the following statement was approved for presentation, on behalf of the Council, by the Clerk at the MSDC planning meeting, confirming BPC’s continuing opposition to the conversion of thee garage:
“Application to alter an
existing, but recently built, single garage into a separate/detached
residential unit.
“BPC is not in favour of
the application. In planning terms our
objection lies in three main points:
·
Would the application for a residential unit on this site have been
accepted if no building existed?
·
What would be the result in terms of precedence if this garage were
altered to residential?
·
Is the unit suitable for habitation?
If this was a “from
scratch” application for a residential unit on this site then it would almost
certainly have been turned down on grounds of size, precedent, amenity,
conservation area & street scene.
If the unit is allowed then
it will be extremely difficult to turn down any further applications for
similar development. The planning
authority would have difficulty in restricting new small units springing up all
over the village. Garages are subject to
more lax development controls & effectively a loophole in the planning
process would be set.
The unit is extremely
small, so much that its occupation is deemed unsuitable for the over 60’s. The plot is very small & the newly
proposed amenity area is such that it will hardly house a table & is
immediately adjacent to the pavement. We
do lose a garage & therefore parking associated with Elm Cottage.
The applicant has made much
of the poor advice he was given by MSDC but this must not be allowed to be used
as a justification for the development. No application was made prior to the start of
conversion & therefore no decision was ever made.
BPC urges that the
application be turned down. There has
been an abuse of process”.
2076. Correspondence
Other 2 - T J Botting re Victory Hall electrical work. Members were unanimous in requesting background information from the VHMC (Victory Hall Management Committee) on the other quotes received for the rewiring project to ensure that we were conforming to a “best value” policy. Matter to be considered at the September meeting as an agenda item.
W4 - Consultation Gypsy & Traveller Sites. A member requested additional background if possible.
M2 Rural Issues Workshop 6th September. It was commented that the contents of a similar workshop had not been quite as indicated in the advised agenda.
2077. Exchange of
Information
Mr Lindsay-Stewart – Balcombe Post Office.
Mr Saunders – Closure of
Kings X Thames Link station w e f 8th December. Alternative
The Chairman – problems with rubbish collection from the Alberts, Sherlocks, High Street, for some 8 weeks. Now resolved, but Clerk should write to MSDC putting the case in writing & obtain details of a SERCO point of contact for future reference.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.40 hours (9.40 p m).
Signed…………………………………………..
RG/HS
THE NEXT REGULAR
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER.