Parish Magazine Report from March 2012

The Parish Council met on Thursday 15th March at 19.30 hours in Tanworth Village Hall. Eight members of the public were present, together with District Councillor Atkinson and County Council Perry. District Councillor Oakley arrived later because he had been at another meeting. Caroline Cotterill stated that the notice board at Forshaw Heath requires some attention. It is shabby and the perspex needs cleaning. Mrs Cotterill also reported that the meeting dates on the website are for 2011 and require updating. Angus Heindrich reported that the villagers had recently held a meeting about putting on an event for the Queens Diamond Jubilee. A committee has been formed and the intention is to put on a celebration on Monday 4th June from midday until the evening. A picnic on The Green is planned, there will be a flower display in the church and childrens entertainers will be present. The committee are approaching community based groups for funding but asked for financial assistance from the parish council to make the occasion a memorable one. Ray Greening said that the gypsy site in Poolhead Lane was granted a temporary permission for 2 years in January 2010 which had now expired and he wanted to know what the procedure is now for following this up? Mr Greening also reported that lorries are taking a wrong turn for the motorway and turning in Poolhead Lane and Forshaw Heath Lane and causing a problem. Mr Greening also enquired about a recent article in a Residents Association newsletter which mentioned a possible Park and Ride at Wood End Station. Jenny Buckley from Earlswood and Forshaw Heath Residents Association asked if money were to be donated towards the Olympic Torch celebration should it go through the Residents bank account or Parish Council. Councillor Willmott said that he was happy for it to go through Parish Council accounts although the Clerk said that it can take up to a month to get cheques signed which may prove a problem. It was agreed that the Earlswood and Forshaw Heath Residents Association would handle the finances for the Olympic Torch.

Report from County Councillor Perry: 1. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue have been awarded 1.8m to improve the control room and facilitate services. 2. The County Council is offering school support packs for the Diamond Jubilee. The County Forester is available to offer advice on planting trees to commemorate the Jubilee. Beacons need to be registered by 4th June. Street parties are being encouraged by the County Council. 3. Bridleway SD268 has been investigated and is going to be tidied up.

4. With reference to the mention of the possible Park and Ride at Wood End. Councillor Perry confirmed that there has been no notification of any form at Warwickshire County Council about this. 5. The 15,000 worth of extra signage at Forshaw Heath Road should be installed by April and will hopefully make a difference.

Report from District Councillor Atkinson: 1. Councillor Atkinson said that he will deal with the issue of the gipsy site which was raised by Mr Greening as a matter of priority. 2. As the Draft Core Strategy is quite difficult to understand and it is important that residents respond, Councillor Atkinson is asking for a couple of weeks grace. Councillor Atkinson said that he has liaised with both Residents Associations over the Draft Core Strategy. 3. At a recent planning meeting, Poplars Farm was given permission to change the use of units 3 & 4 from agricultural use to Classes B1 and B8. There was no issue of Greenbelt restraints as the structures are already in place. There were no Highways issues and no residents issues. Ullenhall Cottage was not granted permission for a 2 storey extension. 4. Councillor OBrien asked for Councillor Atkinsons comments regarding the fact that in the Housing Provision Options Study by G L Hearne it was identified that 74% of employment opportunities would be in urban areas so would it not be logical that new housing should be alongside proposed employment opportunities. Councillor OBrien questioned where the dispersal option in the Draft Core Strategy had come from. Councillor Atkinson responded that Stratford District has a number of housing demands and the dispersal policy recognises that Stratford town has had a blitz of new housing developments. Councillor OBrien felt that if there were job opportunities in urban areas why should new housing be passed to rural areas, he also pointed out there were no more new houses in Stratford town in percentage terms. Councillor OBrien also questioned who makes up the Development Working Group that makes these recommendations. Councillor Atkinson said that it is made up of cross party members who come up with the recommendations and these then go to consultation and are checked by a Government Inspector when complete. Councillor OBrien felt that our end of the County is not represented and it was his understanding that the Development Working Group had 3 representatives on it from Stratford Town which could be considered top heavy. Councillor Atkinson was asked to find out who makes up the Working Group and let the Parish Council know. Councillor Ross then showed an official document handed out at the Draft Core Strategy Workshop which missed our parish off the map altogether. Councillor Ross asked District Councillor Atkinson about the 30% maximum threshold and whose decision it was to try and do away with it i.e. had it come from Planning Officers or Councillors? Councillor Atkinson responded that using the 30% guideline for

planning applications was not introduced until 2006. Some councils use 30%, some use 40% and some use none. Councillor Atkinson felt that one should look rationally at each case. There is no case law to determine what materially larger means. Councillor Atkinson was asked by Councillor Ross if he was in favour of the removal of the 30% policy. Councillor Atkinson confirmed that he was in favour of scrapping the 30% policy. He said that he must support his residents and if an application over 30% was justifiable with no adverse impact then he will support it. Councillor Atkinson added that he feels that the 30% policy is contradictory and irrational and when questioned if he thought that its abolition would create an open minefield Councillor Atkinson did not feel that this would be the case as it hadnt been a problem before its introduction in 2006. Councillor Stanton said the authorities must have a mixture of housing and if the smaller houses are allowed to get bigger and bigger then no one will be able to afford to live in the area. Jenny Buckley said that with the 30% policy it gives us something to work on otherwise whats appropriate or inappropriate is just someones opinion. Councillor Atkinson said that if the 30% was a guideline and not policy it would be more workable.

Report from District Councillor Oakley: Councillor Oakley said that he had just come from a very interesting presentation given by a poacher turned gamekeeper concerning agricultural buildings. He reported that he could think of two planning applications where we could have had good planning reasons to object if we had had a better understanding of policies concerning agricultural buildings. Possible changes affecting the rules of agricultural buildings could have a dramatic effect in this area. It was agreed to discuss this in more detail at a future meeting.
The Chairman, Councillor Willmott then opened the meeting and received apologies from Councillor Jones, Councillor Waters and Councillor Instone. The minutes from February were confirmed as a true and accurate record and the chairman signed them. The matters raised in the public forum were addressed. It was agreed that the parish council would appoint a contractor to scrub the notice boards and Perspex and clean them up. The clerk explained that the meeting dates cant be updated in the office, Councillor Bettam has been asked to update the meeting dates on the website. We are currently in the process of changing the website. The Jubilee Committee grant application to be discussed later on in the meeting. Councillor Willmott asked The Clerk to follow up the gypsy site with SDC It was agreed to wait until the new signage was in place at Forshaw Heath Road to see if this improved matters.

 Park and Ride - the parish council will make representation in our response to the Draft Core Strategy. Correspondence received in the office was then noted. The following were highlighted by the Clerk. Contact details of Coventry Ramblers who are carrying out maintenance to our footpaths. The Clerk was asked to write a letter and thank them for their efforts. Details of a course on April 21st at Leek Wootton for Parish Councillors. Councillor Jones had previously expressed an interest in attending and the course fee of 45 is detailed on payments list. Members were asked to approve this expenditure. All in favour. Copy of letter from a Tanworth resident to Johnsons Coaches regarding the size and speed of the school-run coach. Minutes of the Finance and Planning Committee meetings from February 2nd were adopted. Decision notices received were: 11/02132/FUL Ullenhall Cottage Refusal; 0/01642/FUL Oldberrow Stud Permission with conditions; 11/02604/FUL - Wayside Refusal; 10/02537/FUL - Units 3 & 4 Poplars Farm change of use Permission with conditions; 12/00143/FUL - Oakhurst Refusal The following planning applications was considered: 12/00072/EXT St Merryn, Broad Lane No Representation Councillor Ross reported that he has spoken to the County Forester who has offered help in sourcing a tree for the village green, advice on when to plant, what soil to use, etc. The County Forester advises that excavation of more than 1m should not be necessary. The well is not by the tree so wont cause a problem. To be discussed at next committee meeting. The Parish Council granted permission for a wooden cross to be placed on The Green over the Easter period. Details of the proposed memorial bench which is to be placed in Malthouse Leisure Park were circulated. Councillor OBrien to ask the suppliers of the bench, Earlswood Nurseries, if they are prepared to provide a concrete base for the bench. It is proposed to site the bench further along from the other bench by the play area. The street lighting maintenance contract was approved for the next financial year. It was proposed that the recommendation of the Finance and General Purposes Committee is accepted and Access Diggers are appointed to put in a disabled ramp to allow access to the war memorial. All in favour (Cllr Ross did not vote as he was not present at this time). Following the representation made in the public forum, members considered the grant application for 500 to go towards the celebrations for the diamond jubilee. It was questioned by one councillor if it was appropriate to give money again when money had

been given to the fete last year. It was agreed by 5 votes to 1 with 1 abstention that the 500 is given as a donation. Following the recommendation of the Finance and General Purpose Committee, it was proposed by Councillor Ross and seconded by Councillor Keogh that the resolution passed in October 2011 was rescinded under Standing Order 36. This was carried with 5 votes for and 2 abstentions. Councillor Ross then proposed the following resolution: The Parish Council recognises that the decision to re-open the lay-by on the A435 was taken by Worcestershire County Council and as such was outside its control or influence. This Council remains committed to supporting local residents in their search for a permanent solution to the long standing problems at the site. This was carried with 5 votes for and 2 abstentions. The Draft Core Strategy was then discussed at great length. It was agreed that a combined collective foreword should be submitted on behalf of the Parish Council with the support of both Residents Associations and District Councillor Oakley. Both Residents Associations will submit separate submissions, also encouraging individual residents to put in responses. The Clerk will be responsible for collating the information and submitting our response to Stratford District Council by March 31st. It was confirmed that night fishing at Earlswood Lakes has been submitted as a topic at the Community Forum. Councillor OBrien confirmed that Valley Road has been swept and asked the Clerk to thank Highways. Our annual Parish Assembly will be held at Tanworth Village Hall on Wednesday 9th May at 7.30pm. The full minutes are available on our website www.tanworth-pc.org.uk or from the Parish Office in Earlswood Craft Centre, Wood Lane. The next meeting will be at Tanworth Village Hall on May 17th and then at Earlswood Village Hall on June 21st. Anyone is welcome to come and listen or if you have an issue that you would like to raise, there is a Public Forum at 7.30pm. If you would like us to start e-mailing a Parish Newsletter, please just e-mail the parish office at office@tanworth-pc.org.uk and we will add you to our circulation list. If anyone has a matter which they would like us to pass on to PCSO Dave Martin, please give us the details and we will pass them on. If it is of a confidential nature, then you are welcome to leave a sealed envelope in the parish office addressed to PCSO Dave Martin and we will hand it over unopened. Dont forget that PCSO Martin will be giving crime prevention advice or addressing local concerns at his mobile police surgeries which are on the first Friday of each month. You can contact PCSO Martin on 07923 288641. Julie White - Parish Clerk