June 12 - Extra Ordinary Parish Council Meeting
Minutes of an Extra Ordinary Carlby Parish Council (CPC) Meeting held on 12 June 2024 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall
Present: Cllrs. John Bavister (Chair), Steve Markham (Vice Chair), Lesley Sweeting, Chris Barnes and Kim Neal.
In Attendance: 3 Members of the public, District Councillors Penny Robins and Sarah Gresty-Parish Clerk.
Public Forum:
a) The applicant of S24/0754 wanted to make 2 points:
1. That CPC are not opposed fundamentally to the building in question being converted to a dwelling place.
2. That CPC have insisted that the building retains it current charm and agricultural look and feel
Both points have been taken on board by us in the new application so am looking forward to support having worked on several applications for this derelict building. Highways may have issues regarding access, it meets all the Class Q criteria so am looking for a positive outcome.
b) A Non-Resident of the public wanted to support this application.
Agenda
24/25-25 Apologies: none received.
24/25-26 Disclosable Pecuniary Interests: None received.
24/25-27 Co option
Proposal: To accept Karina Neal as a member of the Parish Council. Proposed Cllr. Markham, Seconded Cllr. Barnes and unanimous in favour-RESOLVED. Karin signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and was welcomed to the Parish Council.
24/25-28 Planning Issues:
S24/0754 Conversion of existing former agricultural barn to a dwelling, Barn to rear of Chestnuts Barn, 62 High Street.
Proposal: Response : ‘Neutral’ Carlby Parish Council are not in opposition to the fact that the applicant has made substantial changes to the original application in order to meet the requirements of the Q status, but we still have concerns regarding:
• the lack of parking and turning space as vehicles have to ingress and egress in forward gear for the entrance to the property.
• A 4-bed conversion of the barn, the Neighbourhood plan states 3 car parking spaces. Policy D.3.7
• The small amenity area surrounding the proposed dwelling
• We would like to see measures to protect of the existing mature trees near the building if any additional foundations have to be added (root protection)
• A narrow and disruptive access to both adjacent properties habitable rooms (bedrooms) of noise, fumes and light pollution to their amenity.
• And lastly the narrow entrance for emergency vehicles
Proposed Cllr. Markham, Seconded Cllr. K Neal and unanimous in favour-RESOLVED. Action: Clerk to write up the notes for final circulation before submission.
S24/0864 – It was noted that SKDC Planning Officer had already decided on this application prior to the advertised submission date. Action: Cllr. Robins would look into why this decision was made early.
Code of Conduct towards Councillors when determining planning applications. All Councillors or Residents should be able to object to a planning application without feeling threatened or intimidated and without fear of retaliation from anyone.
If an applicant makes an approach displaying inappropriate behaviour that one feels is threatening, you should either:
Ask them to put it in writing or ;
If it is a face to face/telephone contact, you may inform the person concerned that you wish to record the conversation. The person is then aware that you are doing this for evidence purposes.
Councillors themselves have agreed to the SKDC Code of Conduct by becoming a councillor. It is only fair that they are not exposed to verbal abuse.
District Councillor Robins agreed with this and suggested that Councillor should feel able not to engage with aggressive behaviour. Planning can be an emotional process, sometimes when planning is refused applicants take it personally and can get angry, but there is no need to take decisions out on elected Councillors. Sometimes these issues are very difficult.
24/25-29 Mowing of Parish Council grass in POS (public open space) in consideration of the requirement of the Playing fields cutting requirement underfunded by the Parish Council.
Cllr. Bavister & Markham had been working on grass cutting costs for areas in the village, (4 persimmon areas and the playing fields). Either to regularly hire a mower (£110 per day), to engage another contractor or to purchase a mower to be used in house.
Issues discussed:
cost of mower & its storage and ongoing maintenance (service and blade £300-400 every 2-3 years), ongoing fuel cost.
Volunteers for driving mower would be required, at present there are 4 residences with driver training available.
Insurance cover – Clerk to investigate a combined insurance for CPC and the Playing Fields.
Funding: £8.5k to be received from Persimmon for the land transfer which is for the upkeep of the grass and this money could be used partly for the purchase of a mower.
Consideration was made to all the points above and it was decided that the benefits of purchasing a mower outweighed the other 2 options.
3 Quotes were presented following extensive research and visiting various dealers, and a live trial of a suitable machine with final consideration of the machine quoted:
1.Countrywide Grass Machinery, Stanley Common, Ilkeston Derbyshire DE7 6NZ,
Hustler Raptor XD, Kawasaki FR691 23hp / 48" Rear Discharge £6,525 + Vat.
2.Baggleys Machinery, Watton Road, Barford, Norwich NR9 4AR
Hustler Raptor XD Kawasaki FR691 23hp / 48" Rear Discharge £6525 + Vat.
3.Fenton’s of Bourne, Kates Bridge, Thurlby, Bourne, Lincolnshire. PE10 0EN
Hustler Raptor XD Kawasaki FR691 23hp / 48" Rear Discharge £6050 + Vat
Proposal: To proceed with the purchase of a mower from Fenton’s of Bourne at a cost of £6050 + VAT after detailed investigation into parish finances. Proposed Cllr. Kim Neal, Seconded Cllr. Barnes and unanimous in favour-RESOLVED Action: A meeting with CPC and the Playing Fields to be arranged.
Additional Discussion
Knee high Ascot rail fencing of the footpath between Stoney Glen and Templeman Drive. Prices had been obtained and the type of fencing were shown to the meeting. Clearance of this area has been going ahead, with a huge thanks to Mr Argent and Mr Jagger. Mr Jagger has also contributed to the cost of one of the skips. Action: c/f for resolution at a future meeting.
Date of future meetings: 2024: 17 Jul, 18 Sept, 19 Nov
Meeting closed at 20:37