|
BARKHAM PARISH
COUNCIL |
|
Planning
Committee
|
|
|
|
Page
07/540 |
|
|
|
Minutes
of meeting of the Barkham Parish Council Planning Committee held on 8th
May 2007 in Barkham Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. |
|
|
|
Present:
Mr. R. Newman (in the Chair), Mr. F.A. Scott, Mr. F. Postlethwaite and the
Clerk. |
|
|
|
Apologies: |
|
|
|
07/950 Minutes
of meeting held on 24th April 2007 were approved and signed as
a true record. |
|
|
|
07/951 Planning
|
|
|
|
F/2007/0891
Limwood, 333a
Barkham Road
Proposed |
|
Proposed raising of roof and conversion of roof space to |
|
habitable accommodation with front and rear dormers plus |
|
erection of a single storey side extension to dwelling. |
|
Clerk to write to WBC raising
concern over the height of the dwelling, if it will be the same as the
neighbouring properties, then this is acceptable, but if it will be taller
than the neighbouring properties BPC would be opposed to the plans . |
|
|
|
F/2006/7665
51
Sandy
Lane
Notice Of Informal Hearing |
|
Proposed erection of a single storey wooden detached |
|
annexe to dwelling. |
|
Mr Postlethwaite and Mrs Stubbs
will attend the Informal Hearing on behalf of BPC |
|
|
|
F/2007/0576
32
Langley
Common Road
Approved |
|
Proposed erection of side extension to existing garage |
|
to form double garage with pitched roof and storage in |
|
roof space. |
|
|
|
F/2006/9218
Land Rear of
143 – 153 Barkham Road
Approved |
|
Proposed erection of 6 detached dwellings with garages |
|
with vehicular access and landscaping. |
|
The original plans showed a
narrowing of the
Barkham Road
at the junction of the proposed new access road to improve the site lines,
Clerk to check with WBC if this is still the intention. |
|
|
|
F/2007/0905
2 Langley Pond Farm, School Road
Proposed |
|
Proposed upgrade of existing footpath to vehicular track. No
Comment |
|
Retrospective. |
|
|
|
F/2007/0893
14 Cherry Tree Grove
Proposed |
|
Proposed first floor side extension above garage and
No Comment |
|
single storey rear extension to dwelling. |
|
|
|
F/2007/0759
20 Limmer Close
Proposed |
|
Proposed single storey rear extension to dwelling to form No
Comment |
|
conservatory. Demolition
of existing conservatory. |
|
Adjoining Parish Consultation. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meeting closed at 8.00 p.m. |
|
|
|
BARKHAM PARISH
COUNCIL |
|
Page 07/541 |
|
|
|
Minutes of meeting of
the Barkham Parish Council held on 8th May 2007 |
|
in
Barkham Village Hall at 8.00 p.m. |
|
|
|
Present:
Mrs P. Stubbs (in the Chair), Mr F. A. Scott, Mr.J.Shepherd, Mr. P. King,
Mr. R. Newman, |
|
Mr. F. Postlethwaite, one member
of the public and the Clerk. |
|
|
|
Apologies:
Dr. R. Loader (unwell) |
|
|
|
Declarations
of Interests
|
|
None |
|
|
|
07/952 Minutes
of meeting held on 10th April 2007 were approved and signed as
a true record. |
|
|
|
07/953
Election Of Chairman
|
|
Proposed:
Mr Newman |
|
Seconded:
Mr Scott |
|
Mrs
Stubbs was duly elected as Chairman. Unanimously.
|
|
|
|
07/954
Election Of Vice-Chairman
|
|
Proposed:
Mr Postlethwaite |
|
Seconded:
Mrs Stubbs |
|
Mr.
R. Newman was duly elected as Vice-Chairman. Unanimously. |
|
|
|
07/955
To Discuss the General Co Option of
Prospective Councillors
|
|
It
was agreed that if vacancies occur on the Council one month should be
given to allow anyone interested to apply before being co-opted on to the
Council. Clerk to request that
the article in the Wokingham Times is repeated advertising for 2
councillors.
|
|
|
|
07/956
Co – Option of Councillors
|
|
Mr Oxbrough failed to submit his papers
for the recent election and wished to be co-opted back on to the Council |
|
Proposed:
Mr Newman |
|
Seconded
Mr King |
|
Mr Oxbrough was duly co-opted on to
Barkham Parish Council. |
|
|
|
All councillors duly completed the
Declaration of Office.
|
|
|
|
07/957
Appointment Of Representatives |
|
All
appointments by unanimous vote |
|
Barkham
Village Hall Management Committee -
Mr. Oxbrough |
|
District
Parish Liaison Conference – Dr. Loader and Mrs Stubbs |
|
BALC
– Dr. Loader and Mrs Stubbs |
|
WDALC
– Dr. Loader and Mrs Stubbs |
|
Parish
Planning Control - Mr. F.
Postlethwaite, Mr. F.A. Scott and Mr. R. Newman |
|
Finance
Committee – Mr King, Mr. R. Newman, Mrs. P. Stubbs, Mr. J. Shepherd |
|
Parish
Footpaths - Mr. J. Shepherd and Mr. D. Oxbrough |
|
Trustees
for Barkham Charity Trust -
Mr. Clark, Mrs Stubbs. Dr. Firth, Rev
Bickersteth and Mr. C. Barrows. |
|
Neighbourhood
Action Group – Mr. Newman and Mr King |
|
Area
Youth Committee – Mr. Newman and Mr King |
|
Veteran
Tree Project – Mrs J. Firth, Dr Loader, Mr J. Shepherd |
|
|
|
Meeting adjourned in order that
any members of the public can address the Council on any matters or
concerns relating to Barkham |
|
|
|
|
|
07/958 Report
from the Villages Youth Project Worker – Louise Morris on Barkham Youth
Clubs.
|
|
|
|
Youth
Club
|
| The
Young people have received their laptops and the youth workers are working
with the young people about the issues of internet safety.
|
|
|
| With
the nice weather and light evenings approaching the young people have been
helping to design the summer activities, with lots of focus on outdoor
sporting games
|
|
|
| The
youth workers are also working with the young people to promote their own
personal safety and their positive relationships with each other.
|
|
|
|
Mobile
Provision
|
| The
Provision is still visiting areas of Barkham, particularly
Elizabeth
ark. With lighter evenings
approaching we are now starting to meet more young people as the weeks go
by.
|
|
|
| The
staff have been visiting the local bus stops to again promote the mobile
provision within the Barkham area.
|
|
|
| We are
still changing the times that the mobile provision visit
Elizabeth
park to ensure that we come into contact with young people to promote the
youth provision and the activities that we have.
|
|
|
|
Current
Projects
|
| Barkham
Youth Club is also pleased to have a senior youth club member helping out
at the youth club, the senior member is engaging with the young people and
carrying out activities.
|
| The
young people are looking to organise a summer BBQ with the help and
supervision of the staff. |
|
|
|
It
was felt that the senior youth club is still very poorly attended,
councillors to visit the Club to ascertain the position, and to keep the
club running until September and then reassess the situation. |
|
|
|
|
|
07/959 Planning
|
|
The Planning committee reported
that the only planning application of importance was:- |
|
|
|
VAR/2007/0641
Ellis Hill Farm,
Sindlesham Road
, Arborfield
Proposed |
|
Proposed relaxation of condition 5 of consent 36971 for
Opposed |
|
the removal of an agricultural occupancy on dwelling house. |
|
Adjoining Parish Consultation |
|
Clerk to write to WBC opposing
this application, on the grounds that circumstances have not changed and
therefore there is no need for the condition to be removed.
The accommodation should remain tied to the land.
If the condition were to be lifted this would mean that the house
could be sold separately to the land in the future which would leave the
land with no accommodation. This
would then mean that in the future planning would be requested for a
further dwelling which would not be acceptable. |
|
|
|
FIELD
Farm
|
|
Miss Bird and Miss Flannery
attended the Parish Council meeting and gave a short presentation on their
plans for setting up a Care Farm for disabled adults with learning
disabilities to educate them in the care and handling of animals and they
would then put what they had learnt into practise.
Miss Bird currently works with adults with learning disabilities in
Wokingham and feels that with the recent changes by WBC to change the
eligibility criteria for adult social services offered there is a great
need for alternative day care services.
The proposed site for the project is the area of land next to the
village hall. This land would
be leased from the farmer to Miss Bird.
They would like to build a small classroom/breakroom and have a
stable block and are keen to build a structure that would in keeping with
the surrounding area, this would be tucked away as to not impact on the
surroundings, the majority of the site will remain as grass land to keep
animals and run the project itself, employing a small staff to run the
project. The plan is to offer
places to between 15 – 20 service users daily.
Concern was expressed about the access to the field which would be
from
Barkham Street
, BPC would not like to see the hedge removed to improve the visibility
and Miss Bird was in agreement. Also
concern about the viability of the project was raised.
At this early stage of the proposed scheme ideas are very much in
the air and the two ladies will need to liaise with WBC Planning Dept and
submit formal plans before any further action can be taken. |
|
07/960 Highways
|
|
Reply received from WBC regarding
the issues raised with the Barkham highways:- |
| The two priority sign lights at Barkham
bridge were repaired on 3rd April and lighting scouts inspected
the area the following week and confirmed that there were no faults found. |
| The Highways Inspector is aware of the
problems with The Woodlands /
Sandy Lane
/ The Junipers, as fast as they repair an area the next bit seems to
crumble. The area is continued
to be monitored and repairs undertaken as necessary. |
| The grass area at the junction of
Sandy Lane
and
Barkham Road
which was covered in wood shavings from the fallen tree has now been
repaired. |
| The sunken ruts along the
Bearwood Road
have been marked up by the Highway Inspector for repairs, this work has
now been completed. |
|
|
|
There is a hole in the pavement
along
School Road
, beside the bench, this hole has been left by a contractor, Clerk to
report to WBC. |
|
The electricity sub station in The
Lilacs is currently being upgraded to serve part of Elizabeth Park, this
sub station has been powered up, but is not secure as the fence has not
been replaced and is highly dangerous. Clerk to report this to Southern
Electric. |
|
Mrs Stubbs reported that she had
attended the Public Inquiry for Woodlands Reclamation Ltd. regarding the
proposed use of 10 vehicles from an operating centre at Woodlands Farm,
Wood Lane
. The status of
Wood Lane
has been redefined as a byway by WBC.
A further report has been requested and the Inquiry has been
postponed until the Autumn, until such time only one lorry can be kept on
the site overnight and Mr Cook is forbidden to work from this location
until the Inquiry has been resolved.
|
|
|
|
07/961 To
Discuss the Royal
Berkshire
Fire Authority’s Five Year Risk Management Plan – Mr King.
|
|
Mr King having done a considerable
amount of research revealed that Barkham and the surrounding Parishes do
not currently have 24 hour cover from Wokingham for a 10 min response
to 999 call-out. He
distributed a document “The RBFRS Five Year IRMP 2007/08 – 2011-12”
where it states that there is a need to improve the crewing of the
Wokingham fire engine. The
long term aim is to provide a fire engine at Wokingham that is crewed 24
hours a day. Should this be
achieved 13,800 people in Wokingham who do not currently receive a planned
emergency response within 10 minutes will do so.
During 2005/06 Wokingham’s fire appliance was not available 70%
of the time. It was also
revealed that residents within WBC pay more than residents in
Reading
for the fire service. Mr King
is to produce a document for Mrs Stubbs to present to WBC. |
|
|
|
07/962 Finance
|
|
Barkham Village Hall – rent
January – April
70
£84.00 |
|
Allianz Cornhill Insurance – to
cover new bus shelter in
Biggs Lane
71
£62.04 |
|
WBC – 1 skip and 1 refuse lorry
for April
72
£285.41 (£242.90 exc VAT) |
|
Neat Ideas – 3 ink cartridges
73
£50.72 (£43.17 exc VAT) |
|
|
|
Standing Order for Clerk’s
salary for May
£501.43 |
|
Standing Order to Royal Bor.
Windsor – Pension Fund for Clerk
£102.64 |
|
for month of May (Employee &
employer contribution) |
|
|
|
Copies of the accounts for the
year ended 31.3.07 have been circulated to all councillors, two copies of
the accounts have been signed by the Chairman and the Clerk as the
Responsible Financial Officer. |
|
|
|
The Clerk reported that Mr.
Harland the Internal Auditor had audited the accounts and everything was
in order. His only comment was about risk assessment.
The Clerk noted that the Council needed to minute formally the
discussion regarding risk assessments that had taken place earlier in the
year, when the insurance renewal was being considered.
The Council’s annual return included that the Council had
considered its risk assessment policies and processes, and further
guidance on the ways which risks were identified and then managed was
provided in the Practitioners’ Guide to the new audit process.
It was acknowledged that the Council’s annual budget was small
and that the Council did not have any public facilities.
Most of its expenditure was on administration and enabling grants
to community organisations, and income other that precept, interest and
the VAT refund was minimal. Overall
risk levels were considered low. |
|
The Practitioners’ Guide
indicated three areas for managing risks: |
|
|
|
1.
Using
Insurance – the Council was required to
have the mandatory insurance cover for public, employer and similar
liabilities, and the other principal risk to be covered was property
damage to street furniture and office equipment.
Insurance had therefore been effected for these areas.
Fidelity insurance was considered not to be necessary as cash
handling was minimal and procedures for approving expenditure and signing
cheques were considered strong. |
|
2.
Working
with third parties – this was not
appropriate for the Council. |
|
3.
Self-management
of risks – the Council considered the
internal controls in place, notably the approval of all payments by the
Council; the accounting systems maintained by the Clerk; the budgetary
review process; and the annual review by internal audit.
The Council considered that existing controls and procedures were
appropriate for the annual expenditure levels. |
|
Risk management arrangements were
therefore considered appropriate. |
|
|
|
To date 819 books have been sold,
an income of £4294.24, thus leaving 181 unsold, and the Council is now in
credit to the amount of £328.57. |
|
|
|
07/963
Borough Councillor's Report
|
|
Mrs Stubbs reported that she was
delighted to be re elected as Borough Councillor. |
|
|
|
07/964 Correspondence
|
| Town & Parish News – no one felt
particularly impressed with this new Newspaper.
Dr Loader to bring this up at the next BALC meeting. |
|
|
| Distribution |
|
WBC Staff Bulletin Issue 8. |
|
Volunteer Speed Matching |
|
WBC Planning Applications Input
& Decisions Issued for the period 26.3.07 – 6.4.07. |
|
Notes of Campaign Against Waste
Meeting held on 26.3.07. |
|
WBC Agenda for Meeting of the
Personnel Board 26.4.07. |
|
WBC Agenda for Meeting of the
Planning Committee 25.4.07. |
|
WBC Planning Applications Input
& Decisions Issued for the period 9.4.07 – 13.4.07. |
|
Volunteer Centre Spring News. |
|
WBC Planning Applications Input
& Decisions Issued for the period 16.4.07 – 20.4.07. |
|
The
Berkshire
Echo Issue 39. |
|
WBC Environment Email Bulletin May
2007. |
|
WBC Staff Bulletin Issue 9.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meeting closed at
10.14 p.m. . |
|
|
|
Next meeting of full Council will
be held on 12th June 2007 at 8 p.m. |
|
Next meeting of Planning Committee
will be held on 22nd May 2007 at 7.30 p.m. |
