BARHAM PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD TUESDAY 04 September2014
Present:
Parish Councillors David Wood, David Tamsitt,Val Steer, Andy McElroy, Liz Minter and Ernie Mullett. City Cllr Mike Sole, Simon Cavalier, Chairman village hall committee, Matthew Archer, Treasurer village hall committee, and 2 x residents, andClerk to the Council, Amanda Sparkes
1. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.Apologies for absence werereceived and accepted from Parish Cllr Phil Housden (work commitment) and Parish Cllr Caroline Ridgway (maternity leave). No apologies had been received from Parish Cllr Murray Simpson.
2. Declarations of interest – Cllr Wood and Cllr Mullett have previously declared interests as they are trustees of the village hall, and Cllr Wood and Cllr McElroy are shareholders of the NCS.
3. Minutes of the last meeting held 03 July2014- These were approved and accepted as a true record of the meeting, and the Chairman duly signed them.
4. Address by resident re speeding traffic at Breach
A resident had asked to talk of their concerns about speeding traffic at Breach, and thanked the council for adding the item to the Agenda so quickly. Residents at Breach are concerned about the hectic junction with the entrance to the vineyards – which has a lot of activity, students and lots of traffic, plus the businesses at the business park, and the livery stables further on. There are about 15-20 residences, but several cyclists too. The road happens to widen as vehicles leave Breach, and a lot of drivers take this as an opportunity to overtake, which puts residents trying to exit their drives in danger.
The resident explained that the late city councillor Bill Oakey had met with Paul Carter, the Leader of KCC, and following that, about a year ago, gates with a slow legend had been provided. These had an impact on the road immediately, for the short term, and now don’t appear to be working.
Residents would like a reduction in the national speed limit here to 40mph. Cllr Sole commented that he had spent some time observing there and saw two very near misses. There have been lots of accidents already. Cllr Sole suggested residents get a petition together – this is being arranged, and business owners are very supportive too.
Cllr Sole explained that as this is a county matter, he has contacted KCC Cllr Michael Northey. The petition will be sent to him.
Ideally a traffic regulation order to reduce the speed limit would be welcomed, or possibly no overtaking lines, although there is a bus stop, or perhaps an island provided at the widest point to prevent overtaking. The Clerk commented that there is Department for Transport Guidance for setting speed limits, and Cllr Wood commented that there is a minimum lebgth for speed limit changes.
All Councillors were supportive that the something should be done. Cllr Minter commented that Etchinghill slow signs are very effective, as are some at Saltwood, near Hythe. Cllr Sole agreed to contact KCC Cllr Northey.
5. Adjournment for parishioners’ questions and comments.
A resident asked that the grit on the road highways enquiry, which is still outstanding be chased again. The Clerk agreed to do this. Cllr Mullet commented that highways had rung him three times about it promising it was in hand, but has not been actioned.
The meeting continued.
6. City Councillor report
City Councillor Mike Sole read his report to the meeting: “I was delighted, that the Boundary Commission wholeheartedly backed my proposals, rejecting the draft plans for a large two member ward for the south rural area and instead agreeing to two single member wards.
At the elections next May, Barham will fall in the new Nailbourne Ward which comprises, Womenswold, Barham, Kingston, Bishopsbourne and Bridge.
At the end of the school term, at the request of a local resident, I spent time watching cars parking around the school in the morning. There was much parking on double yellow lines, and inconsiderate parking. I think that there is a case for extending the double yellow lines at the bottom of The Street. Any such application will be considered in January. I have also requested that parking enforcement officers visit the area at the start and end of the school day and I have been assured that this will be happening. I have also been on to KCC about large muddy puddles at the bottom of Green Hills that make it difficult for parent and children walking to school.
At the last full council meeting of the city council I was delighted to have my motion passed calling for the council to give support to Pilgrims Hospice so that beds and respite care remain in the city.
I also put a motion to the council to reject fracking in the Canterbury District. This has been referred to the planning committee meeting that takes place this month.
I know that residents are concerned about what flood prevention measures are planned, and with a lot of local knowledge I feel that it is important that residents are consulted and their views taken into account before any plans are finalised.
With that in mind I have arranged a meeting, in the Kingston Barn at 7:30 on Wednesday 24th September with those responsible for drawing up our local flood prevention plans. I hope you are able to attend so that we can all find out more about what has been going on in recent weeks, share experiences and local knowledge and find out what plans are being considered for Barham and Kingston.
I continue to chase up planning enforcement matters. I think that the delays in action being taken reflect very badly on the City Council. I am assured that matters are progressing, albeit slowly. It may be possible to arrange for a council officer to come to a parish council meeting, or alternatively meet with the chairman and clerk to update you on what is going on.”
Cllr Wood commented that there has previously been police enforcement around the school on a couple of occasions, but uniforms meant that drivers parked considerately.
A walking bus would be a good idea. Cllr Minter agreed to speak to Jackie Connelly on the Board of Governors to see if one could be set up. A resident advised that the Head Teacher does send out a letter to all parents twice a year trying to encourage people to park in the village hall car park and walk from there to the school. If the walking bus went from the hall and parent driving could ‘drop and go’ this may work well.
7. Finance – The cheques totalling£1,877.88were noted and authorised for payment.
Annual insurance renewal – The annual renewal had been received from the council’s current supplier, and the Clerk had sourced a second quote which was a lot cheaper. The premium for one year was £868 or a three-year tie-in was offered at £796. All Cllrs were in favour of a 3-year tie-in and a cheque was written at the meeting for the 1 October renewal date. The Chairman thanked the Clerk for achieving the saving.
RECEIVED the Minutes of the F&GP subcommittee meeting held on 18 August 2014. Cllr Minter queried why the Chairman had asked her to pursue the possibility of a lease of land at Greenbanks if he felt the allotments should be placed on council owned land only. The Chairman explained all options are still open, and no decision has or was made at the meeting, but there is a lot of legislation around removal and moving of allotments once provided, and the council would have greater control on their own land. Cllr Minter’s report follows under the allotments heading later in these Minutes.
RATIFIED the Concurrent Function Grant application to CCC for 2015-2016 totalling £11,873, a reduction on last year’s application of £13,776, largely explained by the inclusion of £2000 for a fencing repair last year
RESOLVED the finance subcommittee’s recommendations that applications to the city council’s capital grant scheme for 2015-2016 be made for:
i) The continued upgrade programme for street lighting columns – to apply for four columns with 51% match funding, and
ii) Two new seats to replace the picnic benches at Brickfield Road recreation ground that have been recently vandalised, with 51% match funding. Cllr Mullett advised that he is getting the hedge dropped in height here to try and reduce the risk of vandalism.
The village hall and the Big Lottery grant
Prior to the meeting, Simon Cavalier, as Chairman of the hall committee had written formally to ask the Barham Parish Council agree in principle support to cover the village hall funding shortfall of £125k, for the hall rebuild and refurbishment project. He explained that he had now received a further two quotes, both higher than the preferred cost option. Building industry costs have risen and the specification detail has increased costs to meet necessary regulations.
Cllr Wood had prepared a briefing paper that had been circulated to all councillors prior to the meeting. The first question asked if, at this new level, whether the parish council was still supportive to cover the shortfall. Cllr Minter commented that Simon and his team have worked so hard, for such a long time, for free, and this is a single once only opportunity. For the lifespan of the hall and for future generations it should be supported. Cllr Mullett was concerned that the loan will put a debt on to future parish councillors, but he also remained supportive of the project. All Cllrs were in agreement to still support the project which then led to a discussion on determining how.
Option 1 – for the parish council is raise the full £125k in a way to be determined. This would cost in the region of £6k per year, equivalent to around £12 per year per band D property.
Option 2 – for the parish council to fund, say, £75k and the hall to fund £50k by a loan from the Charity Bank (whose minimum loan is £50k) – on the basis that the parish council make the loan repayments for both elements for the first five years as the hall would not be in a position to meet their repayments until their income has increased. The Charity bank offers a loan over a maximum term of 15 years and at a higher interest rate than a Public Works Loan that is open to the parish council, plus their interest rate is not guaranteed to be fixed for the term of the loan.
Cllr Minter commented that five years is not a long time in business terms, and there is no guarantee that the hall income will have raised enough for them to take over repayments equivalent to a £50k loan. Cllr Mullet commented that five years is two parish councils away with the election years. Cllr Wood commented that historically no parish council has abandoned a village hall, so it would be sensible to review the situation of the two parties at that time. In five years the split of £75k/£50k could be revisited and changed.
Cllr Wood explained the Clerk is researching whether VAT could be reclaimable if the parish council follow certain procurement procedures of materials and donate these to the hall committee. This could mean a significant saving and a lower loan requirement. Cllr Tamsitt however cautioned that if the parish council reclaims the VAT then at no time in the future during the term of the loan can the hall committee give any financial contribution towards the loan repayments. It would need proper consideration to reduce the tax burden on residents if the hall committee has the ability to pay towards the repayments. Simon Cavalier commented that he felt confident that the hall committee could, although this was dependent on the success of the shop and increased shop rent. Cllr Minter said that within the village there are concerns around the new structure for the shop, and there are risks.
Cllr Tamsitt commented that over the past few months there had been no residents that have told the parish council that they are against the parish council supporting the shortfall, or taking out a loan.
All Cllrs were in agreement that the parish council should commit to fully fund the £125k and all agreed that a Public Works Loan was the best way, especially as it offers a longer term and better interest rate. This commitment would be conditional on the Big Lottery’s final decision to give the required grant at their meeting on 17 September 2014.
The shortfall of £125k will be met through a mix of unrestricted reserves and a Public Works Loan, final figures, term and split to be resolved at the 2 October parish council meeting. The Clerk will bring different options and terms to that meeting.
The Clerk was asked to do a letter to the hall committee, confirming the parish council’s commitment that conditional to the outcome of the Big Lottery application, that £125k would be passed over to the hall committee to progress the project.
Cllr Minter, Tamsitt and Mullett felt that if the precept has to rise dramatically then the parish council should hold a public open meeting to explain the decision and the reasons.
8. Planning
Little Breach Farm had an application for the replacement of a barn/outbuilding with a garage refused by Canterbury City Council. The parish council had objected to it too, thinking that the scale would be too large, but following a site visit by Cllr Tamsitt and Cllr Mullet had changed their opinion. The outbuilding is derelict and unsafe. Canterbury City Council had refused the application and the applicants appealed. The Clerk has send revised comments to the Inspector, now in support of the application following the site visit.
Cllr Tamsitt ran through the following new planning applications: The parish council has no comments to register on any of them.
CA//14/01540/FUL - Primrose Cottage, Gravel Castle RoadErection of single-storey extension to side of dwelling
CA//14/01561/DEM - Finch Cottage, Railway Hill
Application for prior notification for demolition of redundant outbuilding And
CA//14/01562/LUP – Finch Cottage, Railway Hill
Certficate of lawfulness for proposed use of the land for stationing of a mobile home (granny annexe) incidental to the main dwelling
The following applications have been determined by Canterbury City Council
CA//14/01223/FC - South Barham Farm, South Barham Hill, Barham, CT4 6LJ Prior notification ofthe erection of a steel framed agricultural building for use as a grain store.FARMING – APPROVAL OF
CA/14/01133/FUL – Murren, Rectory Lane – Rear dining room extension, loft conversion, drive
with replacement garage and combined greenhouse/shed – GRANTED BY CCC
CA/14/01215/FUL – Hunters Moon, South Barham Road
Demolition of two-storey flat roofed extension and garage. Erection of two-storey pitched roof extension to rear and new double garage with bedroom and en-suite over. Replacement of existing
Windows – GRANTED BY CCC
Tree works
Elderberry Cottage, The Street, Barham– remove Beech tree
4 Derringstone Street - Pollard a Sycamore. located in the garden
CA//14/01407/TPO – land adjacent to 17-22 The Grove – Felling of trees - GRANTED
Enforcement Case: Timber structure - Courtlands Farm ENF/13/00108
The city council’s enforcement department have advised that the Owner of the land continues to maintain that the intended use is as a workshop related to the agricultural use of the Land and he has now obtained the advice and assistance of a planning agent. The enforcement officer is in correspondence with the agent regarding the submission of an application to regularize the structure.The structure has domestic style windows and has all the appearance of a dwelling, although it is not fitted internally for habitable use. The reason given for the windows is to provide plenty of light for the weaving activity that is expected to be carried out inside the structure. The officer will advise the Clerk when an application has been received.
Canterbury District Local Plan – Publication Draft 2014
Barham Parish Council complained to the city council in August 2013 that Barham had been wrongly classified as a ‘local centre’ based on a rural hierarchy study, and is not in the same category as the others such as Sturry and Hersden, in the parish council’s opinion, and the late city councillor Cllr Bill Oakey had supported this amendment. However the submission draft still has Barham included as a local service centre. The Clerk drafted and sent a response to again complain about this. The Chairman advised he has asked for an interview with the Inspector in due course.
The Clerk explained that Herne and Broomfield parish council have employed a planning consultant to look at the soundness of the Draft Local Plan. They have invited select parish councils to join a meeting on 9 September 2014. The Clerk has agreed to go and report back.