Wickwar Parish Council
Meeting of the Parish Council – Minutes
A meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday 13th January 2021, via ZOOM, commencing at 7.00pm.
Attended:
Councillor S Isaac
Councillor A Carroll
Councillor C Maidment
Councillor G Fielding
Councillor A Pennington
Ward Councillor and Councillor P Trull
Ward Councillor A Rush
Apologies:
None
Clerk:
Mrs R Davis
Public time (60 minutes)
A member of the Wickwar Youth Centre committee attended the meeting to speak about the activities it had carried out during the first and second lockdowns to support its members, and to present a request for funding in the next financial year.
Approximately 25 members of the public attended the meeting to ask questions and listen to the discussion about the proposed Crest Nicholson development of 150 houses on land east of Inglestone Road. The Chairman read out a statement setting out the Parish Council’s proposed position, which was discussed and agreed later on the agenda.
Chairman’s statement – The Parish Council would like to hear people’s views and questions about the proposed Crest Nicholson development of 150 houses. This will help to shape the Parish Council’s response to the public consultation and the questions that it will submit before the public meeting due to take place on 20th January. The Parish Council encourages all residents to respond to the consultation themselves and to attend the public meeting if they can.
The Parish Council’s starting point is that the proposed development of 150 new houses is speculative and conflicts with the objectives and policies of South Gloucestershire Council’s adopted Core Strategy and Policies, Sites and Places plan. The proposed development falls outside of the defined settlement boundary for Wickwar, and is therefore premature because a review of the boundary has yet to take place as part of the consultation process for the new Local Plan. The detailed response to the consultation will be considered later on this agenda.
Finally, the Parish Council is a statutory consultee in the planning process and the decision about any planning application that is submitted for the site rests solely with the planning authority – South Gloucestershire Council. All members of the public are consultees in the planning process and that is why the Parish Council urges anyone with a view on this proposal to respond to the public consultation and to submit their own comments when the planning application is made. The planning authority must take all consultee responses into account.
A representative of the Wickwar Residents Action Group attended and explained the group’s main objections to the development. She confirmed that the WRAG Facebook group has 226 members. She had recently conducted a poll on the community Facebook page to ask who had received a flyer from Crest Nicholson about the public consultation. Of the respondents 152 had not received anything, 10 had received neighbour letters and 46 had received a flyer.
Other members of the public raised various concerns in relation to the proposed development including the impact of the development on the landscape character and views to the Cotswold ridgeway, and the various impacts of increased traffic.
A member of the public requested that posts made on behalf of the Parish Council on social media are specifically identified as such.
A member of the public asked what progress had been made with traffic calming measures planned for the Sodbury Road. Ward Councillor Trull confirmed that work to install speed tables on the section of the Sodbury Road adjacent to the Tyndale Reach estate (Bellway) should begin in March 2021. The Chairman confirmed that there had been no update yet from South Gloucestershire Council on progress with plans for separate traffic calming measures on the High Street, but the Parish Council was pressing for an update.
1.01.21 To RECEIVE apologies for absence.
No apologies were received.
2.01.21 To NOTE and RECORD Declarations of Interests relevant to this meeting.
None.
3.01.21 To AGREE whether the minutes of the last meeting should be signed as an accurate record of the meeting.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to accept the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 2nd December 2020. They were duly signed onscreen (to be signed in hard copy after the meeting).
4.01.21 To determine which items, if any, of the Agenda should be taken with the public excluded.
No items required the public to be excluded.
5.01.21 Planning – For the Council to NOTE the following planning decisions:
5.1.01.21 P20/18145/F 48 Inglestone Road Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NH: Erection of a single storey rear extension to form additional living accommodation. Approve with Conditions.
5.2.01.21 P20/19799/PDR 50 Inglestone Road Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NH: Erection of single storey rear extension to form additional living accommodation. Approve with Conditions.
5.3.01.21 P20/12402/F Land Off Frith Lane Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8PB: Extension to existing garage and caravan store. Approve with Conditions.
5.4.01.21 P20/11380/LB & P20/11379/F Post Office 72 High Street Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NP: Installation of photovoltaic solar panels to southern roof elevation. Approve with Conditions.
5.5.01.21 P20/18062/CLE Land And Buildings At Shortwood Farm Wickwar Road Yate South Gloucestershire BS37 6PA: Continued use of land and buildings for equestrian purposes (Sui generis) and retention of outdoor riding area. Approve with Conditions.
5.6.01.21 P20/19204/F 62 High Street Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NP: Creation of vehicular access and installation of driveway to form 3 no. parking spaces in rear garden and 1.8m gates. Refusal.
5.7.01.21 P20/22215/CLP Ladyswood Mapleridge Lane Yate South Gloucestershire BS37 6PW DESCRIPTION: Erection of outbuilding for storage. Refuse Certificate of Lawfulness.
5.8.01.21 P20/22324/TCA The Coach House Back Lane Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NN: Works to crown reduce 1no Eucalyptus (T1) to leave a finished height of 15m and a radial spread of 10m. Situated in the Wickwar Conservation Area. No objection.
6.01.21 Planning – For the Council to REVIEW and COMMENT on planning applications received before the meeting.
6.1.01.21 P20/24140/F 32 Inglestone Road Wickwar South Gloucestershire GL12 8NH: Erection of two storey side extension to form additional living accommodation.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to submit a neutral response.
7.01.21 Items for CONSIDERATION and DECISION
7.1.01.21 To CONSIDER and APPROVE the Council’s response to the public consultation on the proposed development of 150 houses on land east of Inglestone Road Wickwar (Crest Nicholson). Deadline 22nd January 2021.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to submit the draft response presented at the meeting with the addition of the following points:
(i) the negative impact that the development will have on the landscape character of the area and views to the Cotswold ridgeway as described in South Gloucestershire Council’s landscape character assessment of the area;
(ii) the potential impact of the development on the traffic flow and available capacity of the Downs Road/ Sodbury Road junction (traffic analyses predict capacity will be at 95% once the Bellway Homes development is complete);
(iii) loss of local employment with the closure of Wickwar Brewery.
The approved consultation response with the additional points included is attached at Appendix 1.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVE to bring forward item 17 (To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on a grant application from Wickwar Youth Centre – £3000) so that the representative attending could listen to the discussion. See minute 17.01.21.
7.2.01.21 To APPROVE the purchase of Charles Arnold Baker 12th edition – £119
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to purchase Charles Arnold Baker 12th edition at a cost of £119.
7.3.01.21 To APPROVE the localism contract with South Gloucestershire Council for 2021/22.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the localism contract with South Gloucestershire Council for 2021/22. The Clerk signed the contract on behalf of the Council.
7.4.01.21 To CONSIDER and APPROVE the proposed complaints procedure for complaints against Wickwar Parish Council.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the complaints procedure for complaints against Wickwar Parish Council.
7.5.01.21 To REVIEW the Data and Access Profile for Wickwar Wickwar_DAP_2020.pdf (southglos.gov.uk) (Local Plan Phase 1 Consultation) and AGREE any amendments required (deadline 1st March 2021).
No amendments were suggested.
7.6.01.21 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on how the Council response to the South Gloucestershire Local Plan Phase 1 Issues and Approaches Consultation Consultation Homepage – South Gloucestershire Local Plan 2020 – South Gloucestershire Online Consultations (southglos.gov.uk) should be formulated.
The consultation documents will be recirculated to Councillors and formal feedback will be invited at the next Council meeting, to inform a response on behalf of the Council.
7.7.01.21 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on whether to extend the deadline for expressions of interest for Wickwar Parish Council Community Infrastructure Levy grants to community organisations in light of the national lockdown (original deadline 25th January 2021).
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to extend the deadline for expressions of interest for Wickwar Parish Council Community Infrastructure Levy grants to 25th June 2021. Forms already returned will be considered in line with the original timetable.
7.8.01.21 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on a proposal to donate one or two surplus benches, purchased using CIL money, to the Wickwar Village Hall Committee for use in the Village Hall car park.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to donate one surplus bench to the Wickwar Village Hall Committee for use in the Village Hall car park, dependent on the outcome of its grant application to a different funding body.
7.9.01.21 To APPROVE a review of the governance arrangements for the King George V Playing Field with respect to the Council’s role as sole trustee of the charity, to be carried out by the Clerk.
The Clerk will make enquiries with the Charity Commission in the first instance and report back to the Council.
7.10.01.21 To CONSIDER whether to amend the Wickwar to Chipping Sodbury Cycling/Walking/Horse path route Highways Investigation Scheme Request Form.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to amend the request form to a cycling route only due to the narrower width required by regulations.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to defer items 8 – 16 to the next meeting.
17.01.21 To CONSIDER and take a DECISION on a grant application from Wickwar Youth Centre – £3000.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to award a grant of £3000 to Wickwar Youth Centre for the financial year 2021/22.
18.01.21 To NOTE the monthly bank reconciliation for November and December 2020. Chairman to sign as a true record.
Noted and signed onscreen by the Chairman.
19.01.21 To APPROVE accounts for payment and NOTE additional payments made in line with Financial Regulations. (These are listed in the attached payment schedule).
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the accounts for payment.
20.01.21 To NOTE the budget monitoring report to 31st December 2020, prepared by the Clerk. Chairman to sign as a true record.
Noted and signed onscreen by the Chairman.
21.01.21 To CONSIDER and APPROVE the proposed budget for Wickwar Parish Council for the financial year 2021/22.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve a budget of £54,855 for Wickwar Parish Council for the financial year 2021/22.
22.01.21 To CONSIDER and APPROVE the proposed precept demand for Wickwar Parish Council for the financial year 2021/22.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the precept demand of £49,187 for Wickwar Parish Council for the financial year 2021/22
The Clerk signed the s141 notification.
The meeting was closed at 9.32pm.