|
Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Tuesday 29th June 2004
PRESENT: Chairman - Town Mayor – Cllr L Ford Members - Cllrs Mrs M M Cox, Mrs S A Mounce, A Barnes, J A Bell, R D Bradford MBE, A Eastwood OBE, E J Davies, A Eastman, K Lane, P Sturges, Dr P Tamplin, P Waters, T Williams and 3 Parishioners
1. WHISH
Mrs Whittaker gave a presentation on the work of the Westward Ho! Information Shop in support of an application for grant aid which was to follow later.
2. Working Together Project
Tracey Faulkner, the Project Co-ordinator for the newly established Working Together project, advised Members of the aims and objectives of this initiative. The most deprived wards in North Devon and Torridge are to be assisted and included are Westward Ho! and Appledore East.
3. Minutes
The minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Town Council held on 25th May 2004 were approved and signed.
(Vote: Unanimous)
4. Minutes
The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 25th May 2004 were approved and signed.
(Vote: Unanimous)
5. Matters arising
(a) Min 2(a) – Sewerage at Westward Ho!
The Town Clerk reported that he now had a copy of the discharge consent for the Westward Ho! outfalls. It was RESOLVED to send a copy to Cllr Bell who would further investigate the matter.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Min 8(d) – Rubbish alongside Blackies plantation
As no action had been taken to remove the offending trailers, rubbish etc, it was RESOLVED to write again in strong language to the County Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(c) Min 11 – Bideford Water Festival
Cllr Davies reported that the Swimming Club and Grenville College will be putting in a team.
6. Town Clerk’s Report
(a) Monthly Financial Report – The Town Clerk presented the monthly financial report that included payments for this month and it was RESOLVED to accept.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Appledore War Memorial – The Town Clerk reported that the joints between the granite setts around the Memorial require attention. It was either a case of re-grouting or to carry out routine weed killing. It was RESOLVED to obtain prices for doing both.
(Vote: Unanimous)
Cllr Bradford MBE advised that he would have liked to have seen the horse trough cleaned at the same time as the Northam War Memorial and it was RESOLVED to obtain prices for doing this.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(c) Travel Plan for Northam – The Town Clerk advised that he proposed that the Planning Meeting scheduled for 14th July be brought forward to 6.30 pm to enable a meeting with Devon County Council to take place at 7.30 pm to discuss the travel plan for Northam. It was RESOLVED to bring forward the time of the Planning Meeting and meet with the County Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
7. Notice of Motion from Cllr Waters - That Devon County Council be asked to provide appropriate signs commencing at the junction of Broad Lane with Churchill Way indicating the way to the Lifeboat Station. It was so RESOLVED.
(Vote: Unanimous)
8. Notice of Motion from Cllr Williams – That this Council seriously considers the possibility of developing a Parish Plan. The Council to consult first with the DAPC before making a final decision to proceed.
The Town Clerk advised that Parish Plans had now finished and the new concept was a Community Plan which was driven by the Community Council of Devon. Cllr Williams explained that what he was seeking to achieve was Town Council involvement in producing a Development Plan. Following a debate it was RESOLVED to form a Working Group to look into the possibility of doing this. The Group were to meet with the Town Clerk and Mr Andy Seaman from the District Council and report back to a future meeting. The following Members were nominated to serve on the Working Group: -
Cllrs Mrs Cox, Barnes, Bradford, Davies and Eastman.
(Vote: Unanimous)
9. Northam Burrows
(a) Over-grazing appraisal and unfavourable conditions
Members considered letters from DEFRA and English Nature and in response to questions from English Nature RESOLVED to answer them as follows: -
It is thought that cattle were grazing on the Burrows in the 1960’s but this was stopped due to TB regulations which did not allow the mixing of different animals. It is also thought that cows and calves were grazing on the Burrows after the Second World War and that milking cows were also there and that mobile milk parlours were brought in. There is no history of hay being taken.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Members items
Cllrs Mrs Mounce raised her concerns with regard to the issuing and inspection in respect of horse passports. The Town Clerk advised that it was not the responsibility of the Town Council and that he understood that DEFRA were to issue the passports and the District Council carry out inspections. However, it would be helpful if the appropriate section of the passport which describes and illustrates the horse was made available to the Town Council in order that identification was made easier for those animals on Northam Burrows.
It was RESOLVED to consider an amendment to the conditions for the allocation of grazing on Northam Burrows at the next meeting of the Council
(Vote: Unanimous)
10. Streetworks and related matters
Members’ items
(a) Cllr Waters reported that the path leading to Anchor Park from Scott Avenue was restricted due to an overhanging hedge. It was RESOLVED to advise the District Council and ask them to take the appropriate action.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Cllr Waters advised that the white lines in Churchfields car park, Appledore needed renewing and it was RESOLVED to ask the District Council to attend.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(c) Cllr Waters reported that the white lines at the Heywood Road junction were almost obliterated and require to be renewed. It was RESOLVED to write to Devon County Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
11. Taw/Torridge Estuary Forum – Progress
Cllr Waters reported on the progress with regard to the control of personal watercraft which comprise various types of craft including jet skis and Thundercats. Some progress has been made and North Devon District Council, Torridge District Council and the Countryside Service are working together with the idea of producing byelaws. Initially it is thought there would be a voluntary approach monitored by the use of voluntary wardens. At the present time the District Council cannot see an economic way of making a launching fee charge for Churchfields car park slipway. Following a debate which included the suggestion of a speed limit for powered craft it was RESOLVED to write to the District Council’s E & L Committee, the Taw/Torridge Estuary Forum and Mr Ben Totterdell of the Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service as follows:-
That an area of the estuary bounded by a line in the south running from the Patent Slip on the west bank to the Ministry of Defence jetty on the east bank and bounded in the north by a line running from the Gaiety Slipway on the west bank to the North Devon cricket field on the east side be subject to a 6 knot speed limit for powered craft. Also that Appledore Pool be out of bounds to powered craft one and a half hours either side of low water.
That the lack of progress with regard to the powered water craft users organising themselves in a proper manner for the use of the Churchfields car park slipway is noted and considered regrettable. The Town Council wishes it to be known that they expect progress to be made in good time for next year.
(Vote: 13 For: 1 Against)
Cllr Bell left the meeting at this juncture.
12. Bridge Hall
Members considered a letter from the Bridge Trust concerning the future of the Bridge Hall in Northam. It was RESOLVED to write to the Bridge Trust asking if they have any intentions of donating the Hall to the people of Northam.
(Vote: Unanimous)
13. Northam Lions Football Club
Members considered a letter from Northam Lions Football Club who are seeking a grant towards the cost of providing a fence behind the goal at Burrough Farm. It was RESOLVED to write to the Club seeking details as to the cost of the fence, how much grant they are seeking and whether they need to obtain planning consent.
(Vote: Unanimous)
14. Copy of letter from Appledore School to Mr Mounce
It was RESOLVED to defer consideration of this matter to a future meeting, Cllr Eastman to supply further correspondence.
(Vote: Unanimous)
15. Planning Training at TDC
Cllr Mrs Cox reported that it had been a very useful training event and local Councils can feed back to the District Council the relevant issues felt at grass roots level. Material considerations can include light, a view, appearance, duplication, privacy, employment etc. It was RESOLVED to write a letter to Mr Seaman thanking him for arranging the training and to advise him that the Council continue to have concerns about the planning system, particularly with regard to enforcement when developers appear to do their own thing.
(Vote: Unanimous)
Cllrs Sturges and Williams left the meeting at this juncture.
16. Planning applications
0525/04 Proposed amended plan and description for the erection for 3 no 2-storey houses, now arranged in a staggered terrace. Former Seagate Hotel car park, Appledore – RESOLVED - Recommend Refusal – The Council believes that there are material considerations which will conclude that this application should be refused. The site, which is the only remaining open space in the heart of the village of Appledore, deserves better than being developed for housing (most probably second homes). The land is adjacent to an important commercial activity, i.e. the Seagate Hotel and it should be considered that any use of the site should complement this commercial use and hopefully add to the regeneration of Appledore. The site in its present state is ill used and neglected but a short-sighted decision to develop and dispose of by the District Council could well be classed as an act “decided in haste and repented at leisure”. The site could be thought of as a “village green”. With the ever-increasing popularity of the Appledore Arts Festival, and perhaps other associated events, the site could be extremely valuable in attracting visitors and commercial users to the village.
There is also some historic value and the development of houses would remove a view of the old part of the town from the Quay. Whilst the Conservation Officer has done his best to justify development there is no doubt that the design of these houses does not reflect any of the properties in this part of the conservation area where houses front directly onto the street. Whilst it is understood that permitted development rights are to be taken away there would be nothing to stop the new owners of these properties obtaining consent for vehicular access into the new gardens.
(Vote 8 For: 2 Against)
0755/04 Proposed change from 10 months holiday let to 12 months residential use. 57 Lenwood Country Club – RESOLVED – Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
1004/04 Proposed conservatory - 64 Hanson Park, Northam – RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
1028/04 Proposed construction of showroom and wc at first floor level. Quayside Cottage, 2 Quayside, Appledore – RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
1032/04 Proposed erection of a single storey dwelling and retention of Akarana as an annexe for occupation of family member. Akarana (Re-named Glen Cottage), Glengarth Close, Northam - RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
1069/04 Proposed erection of concrete block storage come utility room attached to rear of garage. Glenrose, Glen Gardens, Orchard Hill – RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
1072/04 Proposed Reserved Matters application for the construction of a house, garage and associated site works - Land adjoining Haworth House, Raleigh Hill – RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
113/04 Proposed erection of 3 flagpoles The Promenade, Westward Ho! – RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
1128/04 Proposed conversion of garage to 2 bedrooms. Milunny Bungalow, Kingsley Park – RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
1130/04 Proposed demolition of existing bungalow and garage, construction of 4 bedroomed bungalow with garage - South View Bungalow - RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
1162/04 Proposed replace existing pre-cast garage and garden shed with concrete blockwork garage/storage and utility. Build new concrete blockwork workshop/storage at end or rear garden - 36 Fairlea Crescent, Northam – RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
1191/04 Proposed Garage and utility extension - 15 Bay View Road – RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
Cllrs Sturges and Williams re-joined the meeting at this juncture.
17. Invitation from Mondeville
A letter from Mondeville inviting Members to the 30th Anniversary in September was considered and it was RESOLVED to ascertain the dates so that a decision could be made.
(Vote: Unanimous)
18. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Public Entertainment Licences
(a) Renewal of Licence – Northam Community Centre, [Main Hall and Meeting Room], Fore Street, Northam – RESOLVED – No objection.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Occasional Licence – Marquee at Porthill, Northam – RESOLVED – No objection.
(Vote: Unanimous)
19. Transfer of Justices’ Licences
Transfer of Licence – The Seagate Hotel, The Quay, Appledore – RESOLVED – No objection.
(Vote: Unanimous)
|