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MINUTES
Minutes
of the Planning & Environment Committee meeting held at the Trowell
Parish Hall on Tuesday 1st July 2008, at approximately 8pm.
Present: Cllrs. Mrs.
M. Birkitt - Chair, G. Lockwood, W. J. Bryant, Mrs. J. E. Bryant,
R. McGann, Mrs. C. McGann, Mrs. L. Harley, Mrs. P. Cardwell, K. E.
Rigby & K. Birkitt.
Clerk: Mrs. A. K. Mitchell.
18/08. To receive apologies for absence.
Cllr. Mrs. Bryant moved acceptance of apologies from Cllr. Hallam
(holidays). Seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Cardwell. All in favour.
19/08. Declaration of
Members' interests.
None.
20/08. To approve minutes
of the previous meeting.
Cllr. Lockwood moved acceptance of the minutes of the previous meeting
held on 3rd June 2008, with one amendment as a true record. Seconded
by Cllr. Bryant. All in favour.
21/08. Matters arising
from the minutes.
None.
22/08. Financial position to date.
Cllr. Mrs. Harley moved acceptance of the statement. Seconded by Cllr.
Lockwood. All in favour.
23/08. Annual Footpath
Walking & Parish Paths Partnership Scheme.
The Clerk advised that she has spoken to NCC on this matter recently.
24/08. Pit Lane Football
Pitch & Portacabin Update.
The Clerk advised that she has placed an order for the repair of the
post & rail fencing. It was noted that the Clerk has reported
damage to trees along Pit Lane to BBC. An email including photographs
has been sent to BBC regarding clearance of land at the allotment
end of the pitch to aid ball retrieval.
Members were asked to
note the response from BBC concerning the chain link fencing. She
then asked Members for their thoughts on how they now wish to proceed.
Cllr. Bryant suggested
that the Council ask BBC to fund the repair to the fencing & supply
them with a drawing to move the gate. Cllr. Rigby agreed regarding
the request for repair but added that BBC may request a contribution
towards any alterations. It was agreed that BBC should be asked to
see if they will move the gate. Cllr. McGann suggested that a site
visit should suffice to agree where the gate needs moving to.
Cllr. Mrs. Harley proposed
that BBC be approached in respect of the repairs needed to the chain
link fencing & the suggested movement of the gate to behind the
centre of the goal. Seconded by Cllr. Lockwood. All in favour.
25/08. 2008 Planting
Scheme.
It was noted that the boundary planters have now been installed.
Cllr. Rigby commented
that the Parish Council has stuck with this company for many years
& have experienced problems every year. He feels that the Council
should debate this issue at the right time & see if another supplier
can be secured. The Company compensated the Council last year but
the plants have again arrived late & so he feels the contract
should be put out to tender.
Cllr. Lockwood advised
that he hates to say I told you so but he advised that he did argue
against Plantscape at the time as he felt it was time for a change.
The new supplier may have been better or worse but Plantscape have
failed again.
The Clerk pointed out
that the Council did go out for quotations for this year's contract.
Cllr. Rigby noted this
& added that perhaps sometimes you only get what you pay for.
Cllr. Mrs. Cardwell
asked Cllr. Rigby who BBC use & see if they would like to tender.
The Clerk advised that this was done this year & the company concerned
were invited to tender accordingly.
The Clerk reported on
progress with the hanging basket audit & advised that there is
currently a sticking point on this issue with BBC.
26/08. Grounds Maintenance
Contract.
It was noted that no quotations have been received to date.
27/08 Flooding Issues.
Cllr. Rigby reported that engineering works will be carried out on
Stapleford Road during November, December & January. It was noted
that additional work has been carried out at he back of the two bungalows
with were flooded last year.
Information has been
received concerning additional water containment from the extra 2
lanes of the M1. These holding ponds will contain up to 16hours of
continual rain.
Cllr. Rigby also advised
that there may be a surface water issue also involved in the Ilkeston
Road problems. He also reported that he has brought the issue of new
flood containment products to the attention of the NCC Flood Select
Committee & requested that they look at these alternatives to
the aqua bag that was originally been considered.
Cllr. Mrs. Birkitt advised
that BBC is writing to certain residents on 3 roads on the Trowell
Park development asking them if they would like some of the bags that
are available. Leaflets explaining how the bags are used are also
being distributed too. The take up of this offer is down to the individuals
involved.
Cllr. Rigby pointed
out that there is no statutory requirement for any authority to provide
sandbags so he is pleased that BBC is being so pro-active.
Cllr. Mrs. Birkitt advised
that BBAC has concentrated on the Trowell Park area because they knew
that Cllr. Rigby was concentrating on Nottingham Road. Cllr. Mrs.
Harley added that it should also be noted that Stapleford Road &
Nottingham Road's problems have already been addressed via engineering
solutions. It was also pointed out that the waste from the tree felling
on the M1 is filling up the drains & BBC are investigating this
issue.
28/08. Bulb Planting.
Cllr. Mrs. Harley proposed that the Parish Council does not undertake
any bulb planting itself this year but if it is approached on this
subject by Church groups, then any request for assistance should be
looked upon favorably. Seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Bryant. All in favour.
29/08. Stanton Bonna
Planning Application.
Members were asked to note an email from a parishioner & also
the letter from EBC.
Cllr. Lockwood commented
that sadly the application had been lost on the night.
Cllr. Lockwood proposed
that the Parish Council should take every means necessary to castigate
EBC for the lack of information provided to the Parish Council as
part of the consultation process. Seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Bryant. All
in favour.
Cllr. Lockwood added
that he could however understand Stanton Bonna's approach to the application.
It was agreed that the
Clerk should write to EBC asking them why they didn't sent the information
to the Parish Council as a matter of course.
Cllr. Rigby advised
that those who spoke against the application on the night spoke very
well & were organized very well, speaking about different issues
to avoid repetition. However, sadly, EBC took no notice of the complaints
raised. The 70 jobs being created were their main priority.
Cllr. Rigby agreed that
the Parish Council has a right to complain about protocol not being
followed. He added that he has a history of dealing with the EBC Environment
Department & these dealings have been difficult to say the least.
Cllr. Bryant added that
at a later date the Council should contact the EA to ensure that they
are fulfilling their statutory obligations at the site.
Cllr. Lockwood commented
that Cllr. Rigby was quite right, EBC just saw the jobs & he feels
that sometimes the Council is living in the 19th century. He added
that they should be looking at jobs for the future not the manual
jobs of the past. He feels that they were incredibly shortsighted
& there is of course no guarantee that the jobs will go to Erewash
residents any way. He feels that there decision showed a lack of vision.
Cllr. Lockwood went
on to say that no man & no Council is an island & so they
need to consider its neighbours.
30/08. Stanton Regeneration
Project.
The Clerk highlighted the points for discussion.
Cllr. Lockwood reported
that there were not many people at the proposed joint action group
meeting but that it was a very interesting meeting. The group came
up with a terms of reference which need to be agreed if the group
are to go forward at all. It is the road structure not the development
that the group is opposed to & the Council could get involved
to a greater or lesser degree dependent on the route that is chosen.
Cllr. Lockwood would recommend that the Council gets involved to get
the inside line on what the group is doing. He added that it was very
interesting to hear the other Councils opinions on various matters
regarding the regeneration & also to be told what they are doing
about the issues involved. He went onto say that inside the group
the Council has a chance of influencing actions in the interest of
Trowell. He therefore feels it is in this Council's best interest
to join the group particularly as there had initially been some opposition
from other Councils to admitting Trowell to the group. The Council
can always resign from the group later if it feels it is necessary.
Cllr. Lockwood therefore
proposed that the Council join the proposed Stanton Regeneration Joint
Action Group. Seconded by Cllr. Rigby. All in favour.
Cllr. Rigby agrees that the Council needs to be part of this group,
if only as an observer, particularly as one of the three suggested
routes comes right through Trowell & Cossall.
Cllr. Bryant advised
that he has watched the UTube video & it is nicely done but he
is concerned about EBC. Cllr. Bryant has emailed those involved &
put the case for Trowell. Over 4,000 houses are proposed as part of
the Stanton Regeneration & the video comes over as opposing the
development itself as well as the road.
Cllr. Mrs. Harley however
pointed out that a significant number of people are opposed to the
Stanton Regeneration development as a whole.
Standing Orders were
suspended for 5 minutes to allow members to attend to a disturbance
outside the building.
It was noted that some of the opposition is generated from the fact
that the proposals take in parts of the green belt here & there
in addition to the main brownfield site.
Cllr. Rigby observed
that objectors are onto a loser as it is a brownfield site which had
factories on it at one stage. He added that Trowell is in a far worse
position as the designated site in this parish is entirely greenbelt.
Cllr. Lockwood advised
that he is unable to attend the next meeting of the group & would
rather not volunteer due to other commitments & the Committee
need to ask the Clerk if she is willing to attend or not. Cllr. Rigby
advised that he has to debar himself as he is Chair to the housing
advisory group so he shouldn't be involved at this level.
Cllr. Mrs. Harley &
Cllr. Mrs. Birkitt both expressed an interest in attending the group.
The Clerk advised that
she would rather not attend all the meetings due to her existing workload
but would attend if the meeting was at Trowell & clerking facilities
were required.
Cllr. Lockwood proposed
that Cllr. Mrs. Birkitt & Cllr. Mrs. Harley be appointed to the
Stanton Regeneration Joint Action Group on behalf of Trowell Parish
Council. Seconded by Cllr. Rigby. All in favour.
Cllr. Bryant will be
attending the public meeting next week.
Cllr. Mrs. McGann is
getting a copy of the presentation on disc. Cllr. Mrs. Harley assumes
that she & Cllr. Mrs. Birkitt will report to full Council regarding
the action group meetings. This was confirmed as correct.
Cllr. McGann commented
that concerns raised at the Monday meeting were not answered at the
Friday meeting as promised. For instance they were asked on Monday
if any green belt land was to be bought or properties were to be compulsory
purchased & people were told - No. Then on Friday they completely
contradicted themselves regarding the purchase of some pockets of
green belt land.
31/08.To learn of planning
applications.
Appendix 1 refers.
32/08. Clerk's Report.
Cllr. Mrs. McGann raised the issue of planning concerns regarding
the Betta Fences site on Stapleford Road. She would like to know if
they have planning permission for the shed, A boards & wrought
iron work etc. The Clerk advised that she has not seen an application
in this regard but is unsure as to whether or not planning permission
would be required for these particular items. Cllr. Rigby advised
that he will investigate this issue further with the BBC Planning
Department. It was noted that Betta Fences have now also moved onto
the other side of the Trowell Industries site.
Cllr. Mrs. McGann advised
that the hedge near the pedestrian crossing on Stapleford Road has
been cut back but that the footway at this site has yet to be reclaimed.
Cllr. Rigby reported that BBC is currently overwhelmed with work but
the footway reclamation works will be carried out as soon as possible,
probably in September.
Cllr. Rigby then reported
to the meeting regarding the Nottinghamshire Housing Development plans.
Cllr. Rigby had attended
a 2 hour meeting with Tribal Consultants.
He advised that the
decision to not allow anybody to get at the consultants has proved
to be the right one. This has been highlighted by what information
has been circulated by on prospective parliamentary candidate.
The issues affecting
Trowell last time were the 500 homes proposed by Westerman's on Fields
Farm & the enclave off the island at Bilborough College.
The areas being considered
now stretch fro Fields Farm in a banana shape across Trowell Moor,
across the A609 & ceases at the Strelley crossroads, a total of
469 acres.
The plans are for in
the region of 4750 homes, green spaces & parks etc.
The good news is that
the area has been identified on purely technical terms & the city
has not yet been looked at. Two thirds of the development could be
limited to the urban conurbation but this still leaves a deficit of
20,000 homes.
Cllr. Rigby would reassure
people that there will be lots of consultation & lots of public
debate. He added that it is not good news that the sites have been
identified but at least the sites are there to be negotiated over
but it could have been worse.
Cllr Bryant advised
that he has spoken to Dr. Nick Palmer MP & he couldn't quite work
out where all these places are. Cllr. Bryant added that a number of
these sites are on the PDS & the government have expressed their
support of Parish Design Statements. He also feels that the prospective
parliamentary candidate in question needs putting on the spot too.
Cllr. Lockwood thanked
Cllr. Bryant for sending the website link but when he read the statement
that the "A609 is not heavily congested" he didn't believe
a word of the rest of the document.
Cllr. Mrs. Bryant asked
Cllr. Rigby if the Trowell side of Fields Farm is affected. Cllr.
Rigby confirmed that it is but now it is not just Fields Farm that
is involved. It was noted that Pit Lane cannot be considered but the
area identified is now considerably bigger as it also takes in a large
swathe of Trowell Moor.
Cllr. Bryant commented
that he has heard all about the suggestions regarding tram link extensions
which involve trying to gain the environmental argument through that
development. It was noted that the report says they are keen to avoid
coalescence. Cllr. Bryant also pointed out that it is not possible
to open a railway station on Trowell Moor because the braking &
acceleration distances are not feasible.
33/08. Date of next meeting.
Tuesday 2nd December 2008 - Budget.
The Clerk requested that any budget suggestions be submitted to her
in advance if possible.
The meeting closed
at approximately 8.09pm.
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