Minutes - 16th January 2024
MINUTES OF MEETING OF GRITTLETON PARISH COUNCIL
TUESDAY 16th JANUARY2024 – GRITTLETON VILLAGE HALL
Present: Cllr J Brunt, Cllr A Day, Cllr B McCarron, Cllr J Grandison, Cllr L Palmer, Cllr S Parker, Cllr J Walker (Chair), Cllr B West, Wiltshire Unitary Cllr N Botterill and Clerk.
Public Gallery - 4
1. PUBLIC GALLERY
Two residents from School Lane attended to discuss Broadband upgrade options. U Cllr N Botterill is obtaining information from the Wiltshire Broadband Officer.
Two residents from Littleton Drew attended re planning (applicants PL/2023/07285).
2. REGISTER OF INTERESTS
Cllr J Brunt – PL/2023/11102
3. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr T Attiwell
4. MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 21st NOVEMBER 2023
Minutes of the meeting of 21st November 2023 were approved and signed by the Chair, Cllr J Walker.
5. PLANNING
Applications considered prior to the meeting to be minuted only:
PL/2023/10242 - Elm cottage 12 Alderton Road - No Objection - Subject to external finishes being suitable for a conservation area & match adjoining buildings as well as the proposed solar panels being acceptable.
PL/2023/10067 – West Dunley Farm – Objection – Details attached Appendix 1
Applications considered:
PL 2023/11137 – School Lane Grittleton – Cllr L Palmer presented the details and will complete consulting with neighbours, before making a recommendation to Councillors, if required a site visit will be requested. Deadline for submission 4th February 2024.
PL/2023/ 11102 – Manor Farm variation of conditions, noted this application was to regularise a technical breech of a 21/01331/VAR, applicant has discussed with Highways. Councillors agreed - No Comment.
PL/2023/07285 – Southview Barn Littleton Drew – resubmission, as application was received on the day of the meeting, Cllr J Grandison will circulate details to residents. Noted that the revision addresses the concerns raised by Highways. Cllr J Grandison will make a recommendation to Councillors. Deadline for submission 6th February 2024.
Planning Appeals & Updates:
Woodlands Grittleton, Councillors noted that the Planning Inspectorate had allowed the appeal and granted planning permission. Enforcement have confirmed that no further action will be taken regarding other alleged breaches of planning.
Combe Barn Foscote – Enforcement continue to monitor the site and negotiate with owners.
Land North of M4 Littleton Drew (PL/2023/00249), appeal lodged by the applicant with the Planning Inspectorate, response to the appeal documents will be lodged. Deadline 23rd January 2024.
Leigh Delamere Solar Farm (PL/2023/06100) letter sent 6th December 2023, response outstanding.
Chair of Strategic Planning Committee confirmed that he is awaiting a response from the Planning Officer.
Training for Councillors regarding planning, agreed to look at options for training, U Cllr N Botterill to investigate options for a training session for Parish Councillors within his division run by a planning officer. Clerk will also discuss options with WALC for a joint course.
6. CLERK & FINANCE
Cotswold National Landscape - Election of Area Representative Area 5, Councillors agreed to support the application of David Wright.
Volunteer Labour – Chairman has received enquiry from local military unit, Clerk to forward details to Cllrs Day & Palmer and invite the unit to take part in village tidy (see below)
Grants Policy – Cllr Parker drafted a policy which will be reviewed by Cllr McCarron & Clerk prior to circulating to Councillors. Discuss March Meeting.
AGM Date & Speaker – Councillors agreed to reschedule the AGM to 28th May 2024 and invite James Gray MP to speak on his work in the Antarctic, subject to this not being in an Election Period. Communication to residents to be agreed at the March meeting.
Following payments was approved:
I J Plowman – £410.05 Chq No: 000517 – December & January salary plus expenses.
HMRC - £15.80 Chq No. 000518 – Payroll deductions Qtr 3 2023-24
Grittleton Village Hall Committee - £131.50 Chq no. 000519 – Hall hire 2023
7. BUDGET & PRECEPT 2024/25
Clerk presented the budget, Councillors agreed to increase the Band D charge by 5% (£0.69) from £13.85 to £14.54 per annum, which will provide a precept of £4,401.69 (Tax Base 302.73 equivalent Band D properties). Noting that the precept had been unchanged for six years, increase required as the Parish Council has increased operating costs, increased training needs following legislative changes and increased level of contributions to highways projects,
8. WEBSITE
No update
9. HIGHWAYS, PAVEMENTS & RIGHTS OF WAY
Planters – following receipt of licensing requirements from Wiltshire Council, as the proposed locations (Village signs) are in areas of national speed limit (60 mph) the stringent Health & Safety requirements would be difficult to meet it was agreed to not to support this project.
Village tidy, agreed to organise a village tidy on 16th March, military to be invited to take part.
Clerk to report blocked gulley on The Gibb road.
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
No issues raised.
Meeting Closed 21:30
Dates of Next Meetings: Tuesday 19th March 2024 19:30 – Grittleton Village Hall
Appendix 1
PL/2023/10067 – Proposed Agricultural Workers Dwelling – West Dunley Farm
Grittleton Parish Council has read and noted the numerous objections (28 as of 3rd January) of their Parishioners in and around Littleton Drew to this application.
The right of access to this proposed new residential dwelling via Bridleway GRIT 7 is seen as a key issue by many of the objectors, however the Parish Council acknowledge that this is not a planning issue. The Officers Report on PL/2022/06124 & the Countryside Access Officers response to this application both refer to this matter. The rights of access via GRIT 7 must therefore be determined via legal channels.
As we have previously set out, we continue to support agricultural diversification. The demand for TB isolation units in England is very high as confirmed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and this highly regulated unit needs dedicated on-site supervision which is the purpose of the new build house. However, our original objection response to application PL/2022/06123 remains while we still seek assurances on the following issues:
· Proposed Use of the Residential Property, the Design & Access Statement Para 14 is unclear whether the property is for the use of an agricultural worker or the applicant.
· Design, the Parish Council acknowledges that the applicant has reduced the size of the residential dwelling, however, the application lacks details on the materials and finishes proposed, other than a generic statement stating stone walls & clay tiles (Design & Access Statement Para 20). Greater details on sizes and types of windows and specific finishes should be provided so that these can be conditioned should permission be granted, given the sensitive nature of the site within the AONB.
· Access from the site to GRIT 7 (as noted by Highways) and from GRIT 7 onto the Highway network which Highways have not commented on.
· The application lacks details regarding Ecology, noting that the report submitted was last updated in March 2023, The Parish Council awaits the response from the Wiltshire Council Ecologist.
· Landscaping, including bunding, tree & hedge planting, there is a lack of detail, The Parish Council would like to see detailed landscaping, planting plans & schedules, so that these can be conditioned should permission be granted.
· External Lighting - no details have been provided on external lighting and light pollution (a point also picked up by the Cotswold National Landscape Planning Officer in his holding objection). Any scheme must be approved by the relevant officer and conditioned should permission be granted.
· Archaeology, the Parish Council note the Archaeologist’s comments and request that this is a pre-commencement condition should permission be granted.
· The application lacks a Construction Management Plan, which if permission is granted should be conditioned.
Should Officers be mindful to approve the application the Parish Council would also require the
following further planning conditions imposed:
· No materials, goods, plant, machinery, equipment, finished or unfinished products/parts of any description, skips, crates, containers, waste or any other item whatsoever shall be placed, stacked, deposited or stored outside any building on the site.
· The occupation of the dwelling shall be limited to a person solely working in the agricultural unit attached to the dwelling as approved in application PL/2022/06124.
· Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted
Development) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting or amending this Orders with or without modification), no development within Part 1, Classes A-H shall take place on the dwelling house hereby permitted or within their curtilage.