MINUTES OF KINGTON LANGLEY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL ON

MONDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2007

 

PRESENT:  Cllr. Peter Hart (Chairman), Cllr. Mrs. Lynn Atwell, Cllr. Mrs. Betty Bird, Cllr. John Foster, Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles, Cllr. Dennis Gill, Cllr. Rev. John Schofield, Cllr. D Styles, District Cllr. Ms. Sherry Meadows (part) Mrs. Sue Hart (Clerk) plus 8 members of the public.

 

APOLOGIES for absence were received by Cllr. G Trickey (abroad on business) and County Councillor Mrs. Jane Scott.

 

 

127.07

                   

 

RESIDENTS FORUM

 

Mrs. B Davies spoke about her 3 applications for developments at Bowldown Farm. The poly-tunnel, intended for tomato growing, would be the same size as the existing one and not visible from the road. The agricultural building replaces the dilapidated one and also has the potential for being used to bring birds indoors should there be any problems with bird ‘flu. The dwelling conforms to planners’ preference for a house rather than a bungalow and of a size determined by NWDC. It is within sight and sound of vulnerable livestock and conforms to the requirement for a permanent dwelling to be built after 3 years of profitable business.

 

Mrs. Celia Trickey asked how many responses had been received from the village survey on Commons Erosion. There had been 97 responses. The subject was to be discussed later in the meeting.

 

ACTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

128.07

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

None.

 

 

 

 

 

129.07

 

MINUTES

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2007 were circulated to all Councillors.

 

Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles said that the wording in Minute 118.07 was confusing as it implied that parishioners were planting village bulbs in their own gardens. It was agreed that this should be changed from “…planted them in their own grounds” to “planting them in front of their own property”.

 

The Clerk asked for a change to Minute 121.07 (b) - 07/02193/FUL Lipgate Cottage, Days Lane - Erection of granny annexe. This should read “Withdrawn” rather than “Consent Granted”.

 

Cllr. Mrs. Val Giles also asked for a correction to Minute 124.07 (a). Cllr. Don “Giles” should read Cllr. Don “Styles”.

 

On a proposal from Cllr. Dennis Gill, seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Lynn Atwell, IT WAS RESOLVED that the Chairman, Cllr. Peter Hart, sign the Minutes and amendments as a correct record.

 

 

 

130.07

 

 

 

 

MATTERS ARISING

 

Minute 114.07 – The Chairman has now written a letter to the Chairman of the Kington Langley Decorative and Fine Arts Society about members’ parking arrangements and has also discussed it with the Beat Officer.

 

Minute 126.07 (b) - Footpath issue in Wayside Close. The area referred to is the pavement between Wayside Close and Doveys Terrace. This has been reported as CLARENCE Incident # 274177. The path has now been cleared.

 

 

 

 

 

131.07

 

 

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

 

Cllr. Peter Hart said that he had represented the Parish Council and laid a wreath at the Village Remembrance Sunday Service at St. Peter’s Church.

 

The Commons Erosion Project had generated a lot of general comment and correspondence and Cllr. Hart asked the Clerk to put a file together for circulation to Councillors containing all the relevant papers.

 

Cllr. Hart also said that in accordance with his statement at the Annual Parish Meeting last March he still intended to stand down as Chairman within the next 2 months. He asked Councillors to consider who wished to replace him and if there was anything they wanted to clarify about the role he would be pleased to discuss it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

All Councillors

 

132.07

 

 

CLERK’S REPORT

 

The Clerk said that in view of the fact that both the Lower Common wall issue and the Barncroft horsebox issues remained unresolved, she had sent follow-up letters to the relevant authorities.

 

She had also written to Wiltshire County Council following residents’ requests to downgrade Byway 34 to establish how this could be carried out.

 

The removal of two large trees and the creation of a new road access at 16 Doveys Terrace was investigated as planning applications had not been received. However, the property is not in a conservation area so the trees are not protected. Wiltshire County Council Highways Department appear unconcerned that the access affects a road junction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

133.07

 

 

 

PROPOSED FLOWER BED BY PLOUGH HILL VILLAGE SIGN

 

Resident Mr. Andy Allum has approached the Parish Council asking if he could create a small flower bed around the Village Sign at Plough Hill. Mr. Allum said that he would just make a bed the same width as the sign and plant flowers / small shrubs. Two councillors believed the village should be consulted first, however, seven councillors thought Mr. Allum should go ahead.

 

Following a proposal by Cllr. Mrs. Lynn Atwell, seconded by Cllr. Rev. John Schofield, IT WAS RESOLVED that Mr. Allum could proceed.

 

 

 

134.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLANNING

 

(a)   Planning Issues:  None.

 

(b)   Planning Applications decided by North Wiltshire District Council:

 

07/02189/S73A – Southsea Cottage, Days Lane: Detached Home office / Storage Building (Retrospective).

 

Consent Granted –

3 Oct 07

07/02322/FUL – Holly House, Ashes Lane – Conservatory.

 

Consent Granted – 26 Oct 07

07/02332/FUL – Haywoods Lodge, Kington St. Michael Road – Proposed Extensions and Alternations.

Consent Granted –

22 Oct 07

07/02361/S73A – Christian Place, Malmesbury Road – Siting of Amenity Unit.

Consent Granted –

26 Oct 07

07/02402/FUL – Sunnyleaze, Church Road – Conservatory.

 

Consent Granted – 24 Oct 07

 

Planning Application Recommendations decided under powers delegated to the Parish Clerk:  

 

07/02442/TCA – Langley Byre, Parkers Lane: Fell one birch tree.

 

Supported

07/02674/TCA – Gate Farmhouse: Crown reduction of walnut tree.

Supported

 

(c)   Planning Applications for consideration:

 

Reissued Planning Applications:  None.

 

New Applications:

 

07/02658/FUL – Bowldown Farm, Days Lane: Erection of Polytunnel

 

Supported (unanimous)

07/02659/FUL – Bowldown Farm, Days Lane: Erection of General Purpose Agricultural Building

 

Supported (unanimous)

07/02685/FUL – Bowldown Farm, Days Lane: Erection of Permanent Agricultural Workers Dwelling to replace Temporary Agricultural Workers Dwelling

 

Supported (unanimous)

07/02382/FUL Milk Marketing Board House, Kington St. Michael Road – Erection of Detached Garage with Living Accommodation over for dependant person (Amended Plans)

 

Supported (unanimous)

07/02902/FUL Allington Distribution Site, Malmesbury Road – Extension of existing water distribution site, construct new reservoir and associated infrastructure

Supported (unanimous)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

Clerk

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

135.07

 

COMMONS EROSION PROJECT

 

Promises are now up to £5,350 out of the £6,000 (89% of target). Two additional villagers have said they will make Promises once a decision has been made on whether to use stones or alternatives.

 

Survey results were distributed to councillors along with transcripts of villagers’ comments. There were 97 respondents. 41 wanted no stones. 29 favoured natural timber bollards, 19 favoured keeping the existing road-side markers, 12 favoured an earth bank or bund, 9 favoured planting trees / shrubs, 7 favoured 12 large stones, 6 favoured larger numbers of small stones, 2 favoured a ditch and 2 favoured a hedge.

 

Following discussion on the results, including reading an e-mail from Cllr. Graham Trickey, who was unable to attend the meeting, councillors agreed that kerbing would be installed. Following a proposal by Cllr. Peter Hart, seconded by Cllr. John Foster, IT WAS RESOLVED that natural timber bollards should be installed and no large stones.

 

Cllr. Peter Hart suggested that how many timber bollards should be erected and where they should be sited should be an agenda item at the next Parish Council meeting.

 

Cllr. Don Styles thanked the Clerk for the work she had done on consolidating all the results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

136.07

 

VILLAGE POND UPDATE

 

Cllr. Mrs. Lynn Atwell informed the Parish Council that her investigations with nature specialists had revealed that the village pond contained large amounts of Crassula helmsii, an invasive pondweed also known as Australian Swamp Stonecrop, which required very stringent measures to eradicate. This also meant that mechanised equipment cannot be used to renovate the pond as it only makes it worse.

 

Cllr. Atwell was investigating whether it would be possible to get a grant to help treat it. The plant has no dormant period therefore work should start on this as soon as possible. She would also put an article in the Village Magazine asking villagers not to take it away as this would only spread the problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr. Mrs. Lynn Atwell

 

137.07

 

 

SUGGESTED DATES FOR 2008 PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS

 

Dates were circulated to councillors in advance of the meeting to enable them to check their diaries in advance of the meeting. Cllr. Graham Trickey has problems with four dates due to his absence out of the country on business however it was decided to keep the dates as consistent as possible. The following dates were agreed:

 

Parish Council Meetings in Village Hall Committee Room (Start 7:45 pm):

Monday 14 January 2008

Monday 11 February 2008

Monday 10 March 2008

Monday 14 April 2008

 

 

Tuesday 6 May 2008 (Parish Council Annual Meeting)

Monday 9 June 2008

Monday 14 July 2008

Monday 11 August 2008

Monday 1 September 2008

Monday 13 October 2008

Monday 10 November 2008

Monday 8 December 2008

 

The Clerk was asked to confirm these dates with the Village Hall Booking Clerk.

 

Annual Parish Meeting (Start 8:00 pm):

Tuesday 25 March 2008

 

Councillors unanimously agreed that the Annual Parish Meeting should again be held at the Union Chapel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

138.07

 

FINANCE

 

(a)   Cheques issued and transfers made since 8 October 2007 meeting:

 

26 Oct 07

Helping Hands Donation

1003

£120.00

26 Oct 07

St. Peter’s Church Donation

1004

£100.00

2 Nov07

Earl Haig Poppy Fund

1005

£30.00

12 Nov 07

Clerk Salary - October

1006

£333.37

12 Nov 07

Val Giles (Commons Bulbs)

1007

£94.98

12 Nov 07

PFA (Storm Damage Insurance Claim Payment)

1008

£503.62

 

Total:

 

£1,181.97

  

Payments Received:

 

1 Oct 07

Energis

Wayleave

£11.36

7 Nov 07

Allianz Cornhill

Payment for PFA Storm Damage Claim

£410.00

 

Transfers Made: None.

 

Direct Debits Paid: None.