MINUTES OF THE WRAXALL & FAILAND PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT WRAXALL SCHOOL 7.30PM 11 MARCH 2008.

PRESENT – Cllrs. Ambrose (Chairman), King (Vice Chairman), Mrs Shaw, Sheppard, Law, Thompson, Sage, Smith, Mrs Moon, Pitt.

IN ATTENDANCE – D/Cllr. Howard Roberts, Liaison Officer Sally Varley & Clerk.

APOLOGIES – Cllr. Delmas, D/Cllr. Cook, Ruth Gofton (National Trust) & PC Adam Clarke.

PUBLIC – Louise Davidson (Affordable Housing), CSO Charlotte Thompson & Mrs Davis (10 Sixty Acres Close, Failand re. 28j).

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – Cllr. King 26 (Owns one of the possible sites)

Cllr. Smith 28b, Mrs Shaw 28e & f, lives close to site of e and is friend of Mrs Jones re. f.

Cllr. Pitt 28f, Works from Manor Farm where the applicant lives.

Cllr. Sage 33a Son has put in a tender.

23 MINUTES – The Minutes of the meeting held 12 February were agreed and signed.

24 CRIME FIGURES – CSO Charlotte Thompson gave the figures for Feb 2008.

Theft from Motor Vehicles 3

Burglaries 3 in Elms

Damage to Motor Vehicle 1

Total 7

Cllr. King said that during March a cycle had been stolen in Failand and presented for sale to the Cycle Shop in Bedminster from whence it came! It has been returned to the owner and the police are to give him advice regarding security for the bicycle.

25 TYNTESFIELD

Apologies had been received from Ruth Gofton who was in Wisconsin to give a talk on Tyntesfield.

She had sent a report – Opened for weekends 1-2 and 8-9 March, opening fully Sat-Wed 15 March. They have been declared inalienable i.e. they are now covered by an Act of Parliament which gives full protection and means they can’t be sold in the future

26 AFFORDABLE HOUSING

MEETING CLOSED 7.45PM

LOUISE DAVIDSON of ERHA addressed the meeting.

Louise is now working for ERHA after 17 years with NSC, She looked at 4 possible sites before Christmas with Cllrs. Ambrose, King & the Clerk.

When looking at sites, affordability, support by Landowner, NSC Planning & PC had to be taken into account. There is a Government subsidy.

Of the 4 possible sites they are concentrating on one in Wraxall. The survey which was conducted last year showed that of the 19 families who would like affordable housing and are eligible – some are still living with parents, others are renting in the villages, others have family connections. The PC had previously decided that they only wanted the houses to be rented but there are 7 of the 19 earning too much to fall into the ‘rent’ category. There will have to be balance/juggling ‘shared ownership’ relating to salary. Such houses will be in the low Council Tax Bands.

We are just doing the Parish Plan and this could work in with Aff. Housing.

Winscombe have been working PP & AH jointly.

The favourite plot is at the bottom of The Grove – they also considered the Community Room plot but that would be too small unless linked with the field. NSC are to take ERHA’s recommendation and that of PC & commit to take forward.

Publicity could ask for other landowners who may come forward with some other sites.

‘Tenants’ will have to be working and earning over £15,000

Louise Davidson will attend the PC again after public consultation.

Shared ownership means no more than 80% held by the ‘tenant’ with the remainder held by ERHA. If the ‘tenant’ wishes to leave they will only get the % of the sale price in respect of the % they ‘own’. The houses will not be sold outright. They will always remain as Affordable Housing with the restrictions that carries.

Voting to accept a mix of ‘rented’ & ‘shared ownership’ 7 for, 2 against, 1 abstention.

MEETING OPENED 8.32PM

28 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT

j) APPLICATION 08/P/0444/F – Proposed erection of side and rear extensions.

Alterations to roof to include raising the roof height and dormers to front and rear

elevations to create first floor level accommodation (amended application following

approval 07/P/0398/F) for Mr O Parker 8, Sixty Acres Close, Failand.

Cllr. King explained that this was the fourth application on this site - 1997 was

resubmitted in 2003, 2007 was approved but has not yet been completed. The

difference between 2007 & this P/A is dormer windows.

MEETING CLOSED 8.38 – MRS SUE DAVIS, 10, Sixty Acres Close addressed the Cllrs.

MEETING OPENED 8.55PM

Having listened to Mrs Davis and Cllr. King’s report voting was 6 against. 2 in

favour with 2 abstentions.

RECOMMENDATION – REFUSE

27 ISSUES

a) BOUNDARY CHANGES – Meeting of D/Cllrs. Cook & Roberts with Dr. Liam Fox MP.

D/Cllr. Roberts gave a brief report of the meeting with Dr Fox.

NTC had again included Boundary Changes on their agenda. The minute of that item states ‘Resolved to ask the Planning Working Party to consider the detailed reasons why the Council should propose boundary changes’

b) PARISH PLAN UPDATE - Final meeting, before Questionnaire is distributed, is on 13.3.08

c) BOROUGH STATUS – The letter from NSC, Philip Day, Principal Democratic Services Officer for Solicitor to the Council was read to the Cllrs. After consideration the Voting was unanimously AGAINST the proposal.

28 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT

a) APPLICATION 08/P/0201/F – Erection of a garage with an office above for Mr C Lopresti at The White House, Whitehouse Lane, Wraxall.

RECOMMENDATION – Approve.

b) APPLICATION 08/P/0203/F – Erection of a single storey side extension to west elevation, single storey extension to east elevation with raised decking area, erection of a retaining wall to south with detached store, workshop and carports following demolition of existing extensions for Mr J Smith at Rose Cottage, Bristol Road, Wraxall.

RECOMMENDATION – Cllrs recommend supporting the application once the increase in area is determined.

c) APPLICATION 08/P/0218/F – Erection of a two storey side and single storey rear extension following demolition of garage for Mr & Mrs Parsons, Oakenholt, 8 Tower House Lane, Wraxall.

RECOMMENDATION – Approve.

d) APPLICATION 08/P/0239/F & 08/P/0241/LB – Change of use from staff accommodation to holiday units, oil tank, boiler and flue, hardstanding for car parking, rebuild chimneys, windows, rooflight, roof covering (part), rear paving and internal works including a replacement fireplace, kitchens and bathrooms for The National Trust, Chaplain’s House and Lodge, Tyntesfield

RECOMMENDATION – Approve subject to considerations as advised.

e) APPLICATION 08/P/0294/F – Erection of 2 no .dwellings after demolition of existing dwelling for Mr P Jones at 45 Clevedon Road, Failand.

RECOMMENDATION – REJECT – Properties too close to each other and to 43 & 47 resulting in reduced amenity.

f) APPLICATION 08/P/0342/F – Erection of a bungalow with integral garage and B1 home/office unit and access from Belmont Drive for Mr D Jones on land to the rear of 19 Weston Road, Failand.

RECOMMENDATION - REFUSE.

We have received complaints from neighbours that they will be overlooked and the proposed egress will interfere with the egress of existing houses in Belmont Drive. The proposed dwelling has also been moved nearer to No 22 Belmont Drive and the residents there have sent us a copy of the 'objection' letter which they have sent to you. It would seem that the roof height of the proposed dwelling will be 4 metres higher than the Belmont Drive bungalows and therefore be overbearing and out of character with Belmont Drive.

APPLICATION 08/P/0186/T2 – 5 DAY NOTICE – Oak x 1 – Remove one fractured bough to nearest fork, remove one hanger approx. 12’ in length, remove dead branch overhanging woodland, remove hangers (debris from adjacent trees) by J Brown for Mr A Chapman, 25 Clevedon Road, Failand.

g) APPLICATION 08/P/0374/F – Erection of two storey front, side and rear extensions and erection of first floor accommodation to include raising the roof and 1 front and 2 rear dormers for Mr A Chapman, 25 Clevedon Road, Failand.

We deal with these together because one has a bearing on the other. With regard to the TPO (08/P/0186/T2) we understand that the Oak has been dealt with as a 5 day notice. It is questionable if the Oak is in fact on Mr Chapman's land.

This brings us to the planning application, which is not a true picture of his property holding. You will see on the TPO it is considerably less than on the planning. Mr Farrell of Manor Way owns the rear of 25 & 27 Clevedon Road and, although the TPO implies that there is an access to the south or rear, in fact there is not. Mr Farrell was consulting with his solicitor and we have not yet heard the outcome.

Taking all these things into consideration we recommend REFUSAL until we have a correct application and the boundary line is established. We did however feel that the overall plan for the house was over 100% increase and, as such, is over development in the Green Belt. Also the front extension comes very close to the tree which is the subject of TPO 928. It is basically turning a modest bungalow into a very substantial house.

RECOMMENDATION - UNANIMOUSLY - REFUSAL.

h) APPLICATION 08/P/0441/F – Installation of an emergency generator for use when mains supply fails. Construction of wall around generator, steps up to new wall opening. Installation of 3 no. new condensers together with surrounding Armco barrier. Variation of Condition 7 of planning permission 06/P/0616/F to remove one parking space at rear of property (Retrospective)

RECOMMENDATION - We would like NSC to conduct a noise and actual time
survey.

As close residents have voiced their concerns, although the proposal is at
the back of the Service Station, can't be seen, is a little below ground level,
insulated against noise and not used since opening, we would like the survey
to be undertaken, particularly during the night when noise carries further.
We would like the results of this survey before we make our recommendation.

i) APPLICATION 08/P/0443/F – Excavation of land, creation of driveway and erection of a detached garage with nanny/guest accommodation over for Mr R Lewis, Laundry Cottage, Belmont Estate, Wraxall.

RECOMMENDATION - Approve ON CONDITION that it should not be extended in the future and not developed into a separate residential unit.

Clerk reported on decisions made by NSC on Planning Applications previously considered by this Council.

29 HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Diversion of First Bus services, which normally go through Tickenham Village, whilst highway resurfacing takes place. Timetable available.

30 PROW

a) NOAH’S ARK ZOO FARM

Cllr. Sheppard brought a letter to the PC for approval, prior to it being sent to David Turner at NSC, regarding the moving of PROW’s and stiles at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm. Approval given for the letter to be sent.

One of the stiles on a PROW on Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm land is broken. Clerk to report to PROW section.

31 CORRESPONDENCE

a) Request for financial assistance for Weston & North Somerset DIAL (Disability Information & Advice Line)

Declined as not in our Area.

Failand Post Office is to remain open following the latest round of closures.

BIAA Walkway P/Application – letter from PCAA.

Letter to be forwarded to Cllrs.

32 MEETINGS

a) REPORT ON PRESENTATION RE. BATTLE AXES

A short report was given on the meeting of Junada and residents of The Grove & surrounding area. Public were hostile at first but by the close most agreed that something must be done to improve the property.

b) CLARIFICATION OF “REPRESENTATION OF PARISH COUNCILLORS AT MEETINGS”.

Cllr. Sage stated that Cllrs. must be aware that they can not use their title of Cllr. at meeting which are not called by the Parish Council.

Cllrs. must not put themselves in a position where their honesty & integrity is in question.

The Code of Conduct only applies when they are acting in an official capacity.

c) REPORT ON “THE TRANSITION TOWN’S WORKSHOP”.

Cllr. Ambrose gave a short report on the meeting. He did state that there were only two meals ‘in the pipeline’ for emergency situations.

PCAA MEETING – Felton Village Hall 7.30pm 18 March 2008.

TARMAC/DURNFORD 2pm Wednesday 2 April 2008

33 FINANCE

a) GRASS CUTTING TENDERS

Three tenders received. Lowest priced one accepted. Voting 6 for.

b) STREET FURNITURE TENDERS

Only one tender received after advertising on Notice Boards and in the newspaper. As the tender was in line with that for previous years it was accepted. Voting Unanimous.

c) ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

Chq. No. Payee Details

1684	Wards	Cast Alloy Plaque for Cross Tree Site	470.00
1685	Daniel Evans Stone4carving	Stone Plaque for Cross Tree	1190.00
1686	J W Frappell	Fix Alloy Plaque re. Cross Tree Site	120.00
1687	A J Tavener re. WVA	Several Items he paid - Cross Tree Site	212.00
1688	Failand Village Hall	Hire 5 x Committee Room, 1 x Main Hall Less refund re. Parish Plan meeting	115.00
1689	Community Action	Subscription	20.00
S/O	Mrs F Shattock	Salary February 2008	1069.77
1690	ERC Cobb	Safety Reports – Millennium Green	40.00
1691	Woodland Trust	Subscription	72.00
1692	Mrs F Shattock	Reimburse	35.74
1693	Connaught Environmental Ltd	Empty Dog Bins – January 2008	18.80
1694	Office Shop	2 x Box Files & 3 x Pens	11.79

NHMF Lottery Fund cheque received in respect of the Cross Tree Site. £830.00

Zurich Insurance will be £342.83 for the coming year. Last year (including the contents of The Community Room) was £376.

34 CHAIRMAN’S URGENT BUSINESS – Nil.