Minutes May 2020

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2020/09

Minutes from a meeting of Cropthorne Parish Council held on Monday 2nd March 2020 in the Village Hall at 7pm Conducted via Zoom

  1. PRESENT:

Chairman B Annis Vice Chairman S Smythe Cllr M Rowell Cllr J King

District Cllr T Rowley Clerk L Yapp Mr C Hall – observer as candidate for Co-Option

  1. APOLOGIES – Cllr W Clive

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN – Cllr Annis was happy to continue as Chairman, proposed Cllr Segar, seconded Cllr Rowell

ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN – Cllr Smythe was happy to continue as Vice Chairman, proposed Cllr Segar, seconded Cllr Rowell

  1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
  • Cllr King – Village Hall
  • Cllr Rowell – Chairman of Sheppy Corner Residents Association
  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Minutes from previous meeting were approved and signed – proposed Cllr Rowell, seconded Cllr King – all in favour
  2. PARISHIONERS QUESTION TIME – No one in attendance
  3. PLANNING/ENFORCEMENTS:
  • Field Barn Lane Caravan Park (19/00991), erection of dwelling – Appeal dismissed
  • 19/02710 – Kimberleys Field – Change of use to mixed use for storage and maintenance of fairground equipment and stalls and the stationing of caravans for residential purposes – approved by WDC

Cllr Annis raised concerns regarding the approval of this application including the fact that it was passed as a site for traveling showmen. No evidence of this is visible, only the siting of caravans. County Cllr Rowley advised that he had queried the siting of portaloos and was advised that from a health and safety perspective, toilet facilities were essential, and he had been assured it was fairground and showman’s travelling site and winter quarters for storage. Cllr Rowley advised that he would take this up again with the planning department. Cllrs were in full support of this being investigated further and a full inspection of the site to carried out.

Further concerns were also raised regarding the accesses to the traveller sites onto the B4084. Cllr Rowley had asked for Enforcements to carry out reports on the number of pitches at all sites. He advised that Enforcements are on the case but due to the current situation, site visits are not permitted. Cllr Rowley advised that this would also need intervention from the County Council with regard the access onto the highway.

  1. VILLAGE HALL – Cllr Kings advised that there was little to report as the hall is completely closed. They had applied for the Small Business Grant and awaiting to hear back. RoSPA have been out to carry out their inspection. Considerable amount of work is needed on the butterfly seats. Some works have been done on them but they are starting to rot and there will come a time when they will need replacing. S106 monies for the new pathway and car park matting has been received and work will commence as soon as restrictions permit
  2. HIGHWAY MATTERS :
  • Neigh Lane – road closure in Neigh Lane is scheduled for Severn Trent Works
  • Blacksmiths Lane was scheduled for drainage works and had not yet been carried out – the clerk had since the meeting spoken to Cllr Eyre to look into this

2020/10

  1. COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT – Cllr Eyre had sent a report advising:
    • Hard standing near Smokey Lane Bus Stop – in hand after restrictions are lifted
    • Neigh Lane – road closure scheduled for Severn Trent works. Footway request being investigated.
    • Passing bays Field Barn Lane – to be investigated
    • Main Street, ‘Dragons Teeth Traffic Calming’ – being investigated
  2. DISTRICT COUNCILLOR – Cllr Rowley reported:
  • Council workers are working from home with senior management team are rotating going into the office
  • Refuse collections have been continuing, now expanding with bulky waste collections to be re-introduced. Concerns had been raised regarding fly tipping with the tips being closed, but this doesn’t seem to have been an issue. Tips are due to be re-opened soon.
  • Bonfires have been more problematic with some getting out of control, but also the issue for those with respiratory problems
  • Virtual committee meetings are being held
  1. MATTERS ARISING:
  2. Lengthsman – Following a previous decision to suspend lengthsman activities, this has now been lifted and he is able to start work again, albeit with a reduced list of duties he is able to carry out.

Cllr Segar reported on an overgrown footpath running from Brook Lane to Clives of Cropthorne. The clerk advised that this would need to be reported via the WCC hub. The clerk also advised that she was in regular contact with the Footpath Warden.

  1. New Home Bonus – The clerk reported that a complaint and appeal had been submitted to the Localism committee responsible for turning down the application for the church toilets / servery, with a view to taking further to the Ombudsman. Support for this action was being sought from the parish council. The council felt that enough time had already been spent on this application with regard meetings, consultation, the application and follow up supporting the appeal, and a proposal was made that whilst the parish council had supported the project until this stage now was the time to move on, rather than risk losing the NHB funds available specifically for Cropthorne – proposed Cllr Rowell, seconded Cllr Segar, all in favour. The clerk would advise the Church Warden of the decision made. It was suggested that funds could be used to support the Village Hall, Holland House and Corran Dean (since the meeting it has been agreed that the village hall had benefitted considerably from funding in the past and that we should approach both Holland House and Corran Dean)
  2. s106 – Funds have now been received and works will commence as soon as restrictions permit
  3. Community Infrastructure Levy Fund – The clerk advised that a further CIL payment had been received of £6,546, making a total of £8,223. It was suggested that we could use this fund for traffic calming measures. The clerk to chase the County Councillor
  4. Speeding :
  • Speed Data – the clerk would access up to date data from the VAS sings
  • Community Speed Watch – there was little interest in pursuing this further
  1. Bollards Lower Croft – Scheduled for 20th March
  2. War Memorial – Nothing further to report
  3. Minerals Consultation – Cllr Rowley reported that the Examination in Public had been cancelled because of the Covid 19 situation – no further date has yet been given. Cllr Rowley expressed concern that the delay may push Tarmac into submitting an application sooner than anticipated. The two main issues are the Minerals Local Plan and the Tarmac application.
  4. Passing Bay, Orchard Row – the clerk is awaiting a reply from Citizen Housing regarding this.

2020/11

  1. FINANCE
  2. Payments made since the last meeting/for authorisation

Current account balance:

(incl. unpresented cheques) £42,381.62 (Incl. s106 Monies)

Deposit account: £5,020.61

Full accounts had been circulated to all Cllrs

(b) Approval of Year End Accounts – these had been submitted to Cllrs for consideration. Proposal

Acceptance of the accounts was made by Cllr Segar, seconded Cllr Rowell – all in favour

(c) Scheme of Delegation – a scheme of delegation was proposed to enable urgent decision making to be

made outside of meetings. Proposed Cllr Rowell, seconded Cllr King – all in favour

  1. CORONAVIRUS UPDATE – the clerk reported that she had a list of volunteers, approx. 10, who had offered

Their help and support to any parishioners who required assistance with shopping, prescriptions etc. There had not been any uptake and it is assumed that it is being covered by neighbours. Cllr Rowley advised that the biggest problem had been with regard prescriptions. Foodbank is working well. Cllr Rowley further advised that if there were any areas that required assistance from County or District level to let him know. A reminder was made by Cllr Rowley with regard the Small Business Grant available for small businesses.

  1. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS / FUTURE DISCUSSION:
  • Cllr Annis had met with the landowner on the corner of Smokey Lane with regard the possibility of bus stop hard standing. The landowner had no problem and Cllr Annis had subsequently met with WCC who had no issues.
  • Cllr Annis welcomed Chris Hall, candidate for co-option. This would be formally agreed at a later meeting
  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Monday June 1st at 7pm