Minutes Town Council Planning Committee - Monday 28th November 2011
Minutes Town Council Planning Committee - Monday 28th November 2011
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Wednesday, 11 January 2012 12:34
Planning Committee Minutes
Minutes of Okehampton Town Council Planning Committee Meeting held on Monday 28 November 2011 in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Fore Street, Okehampton at 7.00 pm
Committee Members Present: Councillor P Vachon (Chair)
Councillor Mrs K Bickley (Vice Chair)
Councillor Dr M Ireland
Councillor J Stockwell
Councillor Mrs M McDonald (Town Mayor)
Councillor M Davies (Chair, P & R)
Councillor A Leech (Chair, Property)
Other Members Present: Councillor K Ball
Councillor T Cummings
Councillor Mrs J Goffey
Councillor Mrs C Marsh
In Attendance: D Bent (Town Clerk)
plus 5 members of Okehampton Rugby Club
331. Apologies for Absence - Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of Councillors D Weekes and Mrs C Marsh (late).
332. Deferment of Business - (for comment by the public) - J Shield, representing Okehampton Rugby Club, explained the club had submitted a planning application for training facilities on land near Brightley, which application had been refused and the club was searching for alternative land and sought the Council’s support. He explained it was a retrospective application, had involved submitting reports, including ecological, and the club was desperate to find accommodation. Members acknowledged efforts made by the club in pursuing this playing field plus efforts by other organisations, including OCRA, to identify sports facilities across the town and suggested the club discuss these problems with the Borough Planning Officer. The Borough Members accepted this was an enforcement issue but not a priority, an appeal could be lodged which would delay enforcement to allow the parties to identify a way forward. R Owen, as landowner, explained this was agricultural land and was used as a temporary measure whilst other lands were researched and the application was turned down on ecology grounds relating to bats. It was agreed this item be submitted to the next meeting of the Planning Committee.
333. Members’ Questions - There were no questions from Members regarding the workings of the Committee.
334. Minutes - The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 7 November 2011 were approved and signed by the Chair on the proposition of Councillor A Leech, seconded by Councillor Dr M Ireland.
335. Matters Arising -
335.1 Integrated Traffic Management Plan - Councillor Mrs Bickley requested a meeting with colleagues to identify information required from the County relating to this plan; she referenced displaced parking in Station Road and the option for a quick win through a scheme. Councillor Bickley commented on the value of group discussion, evidence collected and wished to continue this engagement, but to include other road users including motorcyclists and cyclists. It was concluded interested parties be identified and invited to a meeting of the working party to progress this plan.
335.2 Core Strategy - The Clerk referred to the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November and confirmed his action through meeting Borough Council Officers to progress a town plan feeding to the Master Plan and Core Strategy for the town. He explained J Perry, Planning Officer, would attend a planning meeting to discuss the National Planning Policy Framework with Members; noted and developments were awaited.
335.3 Community Design Workshop - Councillor Vachon referred to a workshop promoted by the Borough Council and hosted by LDA Consultants in an exercise to produce an acceptable and suitable design aspect for phase 2 developments of Okehampton. He explained it was a very useful exercise with a cross section of Councillors and public in attendance.
335.4 Jobcentre Plus Funding - A letter from Devon County Council explained that an offer of £9,950 to take forward the Okehampton Works programme had been received; the works to include a resource hub supporting local community-based groups in connection with employment and skill support, capacity building with evidence collating data and soft information. Members sought an explanation over capacity building and evidence collating and how that might affect unemployed people with the request this work address the needs of actual unemployed. The Clerk reported he, with the Chair, would meet Janet Sinclair from Jobcentre Plus to discuss these topics and report to a subsequent meeting.
The Chairman reported on his meeting with Mel Stride MP relating to travel expenses to Exeter for unemployed and also the health and safety risk assessments referred to; he explained a response was awaited.
335.5 Beacon Bus Service 118 - The Clerk reported the service 118 on Sunday 6 November did not run due to a breakdown and was a problem on the day with no change to the timetable.
336. Plans - Members received the following plans and commented as below.
02077/2011 259257,94326
Full
Revised scheme for rear 2-storey extension
2 Highland View, Okehampton EX20 1EN
Miss J Sutton Coulson
Members supported this application.
02112/2011 258623,95290
Full
Installation of 24 hour ATM cash machine
2 Market Street, Okehampton EX20 1NH
The Cooperative Bank
Members supported this application.
337. Glendale Road Traffic Problems - A letter from Mrs Brint of Upcott Valley expressed concerns over traffic using this road accessing the school. She asked Council to assist in a plea to the County for traffic calming or pedestrian crossing installation at this location. Members noted this affected 20 - 30 children and was a big ask, a lollipop lady would be too expensive, the installation of an additional pavement would help together with speed bumps, but any of this action required evidence. Councillor Marsh commented Devon County was undertaking research and would submit a report with recommendations in due course.
338. Emergency Planning - The Clerk reported he had completed the Okehampton Community Emergency Plan following input and advices from the working party meeting. He asked Members to endorse the document for circulation to identified parties; agreed accordingly. He further reported conversations with the County and Borough Councils’ Emergency Planning Officers who offered to talk to the Council to discuss the plan or any potential emergency including snow clearing. He concluded the County document, ‘Don’t be scared, be well prepared’ had been ordered and a quantity of 4,000 was en route for distribution to the town.
339. Snow Wardens - Following a meeting on 14 November, the Clerk reported he asked S Brockman (Devon County Highways) for clarification on that authority’s action in the event of a snow emergency. Regrettably, the explanation was not clear, questions on public liability responsibility unanswered and responsibilities of workload undefined. He referenced a conversation with the Council’s insurance underwriters (WPS), who posed several questions including identified role of pavement clearing, length of pavement involved, risk assessment, suitable training and this Council’s liability (whilst acknowledging the Council’s premiums did not included snow clearance as it was too risky). WPS commented Aviva was happy to provide employer liability cover for personal injury for Town Council staff and official, properly trained supervised volunteers, but were not keen to insure public liability for clearing pavements that were not the Town Council’s responsibility. The insurance company discouraged the Council from taking on extra responsibility and certainly not for any roads or public highways. Members were concerned over responsibility, public liability and action, acknowledged this topic was to be discussed at the liaison meeting on 5 December and concluded to invite C Hodgson to the Planning Committee to address these concerns.
340. Members’ Reports -
(i) Okehampton Regeneration meeting - Councillor Vachon reported the ongoing situation with Heartlands researching industry across the parishes without success. He explained the Destination Okehampton role had been presented to the Regeneration meeting with concern over duplication of work and concluded Destination Okehampton would take the lead on the regeneration of the town with Heartlands feeding in information affecting surrounding villages. It was suggested the neighbourhood document, Planet, be obtained to assist in this process with the Town Council involving the Hamlets over their plans.
(ii) Ockment Centre - Councillor Leech reported the Centre was pursuing funds from BIP with the offer of desk space in the town centre.
Children’s Centre - no report.
(iii) Senior Council - no report.
(iv) Dartmoor Railway Supporters’ Association - Councillor Ireland reported a successful train/birthday event on 26 November plus an excursion on 27 November. He questioned progress on delivery of railway services to Exeter following the visit of G Hanson. Councillor Marsh advised she would report when information was available.
(v) Destination Okehampton - Councillor Ball explained arising out of the first workshop the topics of infrastructure, leisure and tourism had been extracted for further discussion and expansion to produce evidence for the Council’s Town Plan. He explained a summary of discussion and key points included cycling, integrated transport system, railway, marketing, town manager and promotion of the town with an appetite to make Okehampton grow.
Meeting closed 8.35 pm.
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Councillor P Vachon
Chairman