Cleeve Prior Community Web Site-Parish Council News

Parish Council News

The Council meets every second Wednesday of the month except for August in the Memorial Hall.

Members of the Parish Council: David Mortimer (Chairman), John Badger, Mike Heelis, Christine Beech, Sheila Jeffries and Mary Sylvester.

All Councillors can be contacted via the Clerk:
Sean Arble 01789 490 501 sean.arble@gmail.com

Included on this page are the following documents:

For information on Perkins Educational Foundation 2010-11 Grants see williamperkinscharity.org

1. September Agenda
2. July Minutes
3. Peter Luff Letter
4. 2010/11 Council Budget
5. Bidford Fire Station Letter

To Members of the Cleeve Prior Parish Council

You are duly summoned to attend the Meeting of Cleeve Prior Parish Council to be held at 8:00pm on the 8thof September 2010 at the Memorial Hall, Cleeve Prior

BY ORDER OF THE CLERK

AGENDA

1. APOLOGIES and reasons for absence: Cllr Sylvester has a previous engagement

2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

A. Register of interest: Councillors are reminded of the need to update their register of interests

B. To declare any Personal Interests in items on the agenda and their nature

C. To declare any Prejudicial Interests in items on the agenda and their nature. Councillors with prejudicial interests must leave the room for relevant items.

3. MINUTES: To consider the approval of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 July 2010.

4. COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT:

5. DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORT:

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OPEN FORUM

The Parish Council meeting will be adjourned for up to 15 minutes. Residents are invited to give their views and question the Parish Council or raise issues for future consideration at the discretion of the Chairman. Members of the public may not take part in the Parish Council meeting.

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6. PROGRESS REPORTS

A. Footpaths Work:

B. Lengthsman: The culvert under the bridge on Quarry Lane cannot be cleared as is. The bridge needs to be lifted.

C. Parish Website: Cllr Heelis

D. Pond at Back of Churchyard:

E. Parish Wharf: Chair Mortimer

F. Flood Prevention:

G. Red Phone Kiosk:

H. Access to Footpath (CP550) off Evesham Road: Cllr Heelis/Co Cllr Bean

I. VAS/Speeding: The proposed VAS sites for Cleeve Prior and S Littleton were submitted on 27 July. WCC will request each site is risk assessed a soon as possible.

J. CPO Land Park: Project Cancelled. Matter resolved.

K. Loan Application: The loan of £16,000 was received minus administration fees of £25. Matter resolved.

L. Annual Return: The external auditors have given an unqualified audit opinion. The Clerk posted the Notice of Closure of Audit on 23 August.

M. Winter Services Letter: The Clerk emailed the response letter on 24 July. Matter resolved.

N. Playbuilder Grant Letter: Letter withdrawing the application for the grant was posted 24 July. Matter resolved.

O. Planning Advice: Quotes requested from Mr Stammers and Stoneleigh Planning. Stoneleigh Planning have quoted £120 per hour plus mileage and minor disbursements. May want to discuss and set ceiling for fees.

P. Planning Enforcement: Letters to WDC requesting caravan site licensing info, planning application info and a letter to J Hegarty requesting assessments of the relevant factors of each case in which expediency was deemed appropriate.

7. CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS

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A. TO CONSIDER TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR PLANNING ADVICE & A FEE BUDGET

B. TO CONSIDER APPROVING INVOICE IN THE AMOUNT OF £516.51 FROM BELLINGER DESIGN FOR LANDSCAPE CONSULTANCY SERVICES

8. CLERK’S UPDATE

Schedule of Correspondence Not Yet Replied To

Schedule of Correspondence Received

Worc Rural Outreach project Update

No Need for Nuclear newsletter

WDC – W Gairns: Response to 14 July email to S Gunnell requesting info on caravan site licensing

Anonymous: Letter concerning plan app W/10/01097/OU – C Dyson Froglands Farm

WDC Plan Services: 26 July letter requesting Buckthorn Farm development be investigated

WDC – J Mytton: 5 August request for £16,000 outstanding for CPO Land purchase

WDC: Further info required concerning WDC grant

Santander: change banks?

Stoneleigh Planning: Response to 24 July letter requesting planning advice quotes

WDC: Allotments Scrutiny Team meetings

WCC: Copy letter sent to P Luff

Glasden brochure

WCC: Parish Conference 7 September County Hall

Newsline: Summer 2010

SVM Clube: cc letter to J Marshall

Community First invite to AGM

Clerks & Councils Direct Sept

Schedule of Correspondence Sent

Mr Stammers: 24 July quotation request for planning advice

Stoneleigh Planning: 24 July quotation request for planning advice

WDC J Mytton: 9 August email replying to 5 Aug request for £16,000

WDC – J Hegarty: 15 July response to 13 July letter @ Traveller Site Matters

WDC – J Philips: 9 Aug response to 26 July letter; matter investigated and owner will submit for non material amendment

WDC – S Gunnell/W Gairns: 15 July email responding to 14 July letter. Currently gathering requested info

D Manning: 23 July letter requesting application for Playbuilder grant be withdrawn

WCC: 24 July Winter Services Letter

Clement Keys: Notice of Conclusion of Audit

The Clerk reminds Cllrs to please bring all correspondence to Meetings.

9. PLANNING

For Parish Council Consideration

WDC Approvals

W/10/01181/PP & 01182/LB: Mr Taylor – The Manor Mews; single storey rear erection to provide sunroom COMMENTS BELOW

The Council notes the proposal is within the conservation area on a listed building and trust that the District Heritage officer will ensure the proposals are sympathetic to their surroundings.

W/10/01509/PP: R St Ledger-Hall – Lynwood, Bidford Road; Extension to garage NO COMMENT

WDC Refusals

WDC Pending

W/10/00096/AB: Mr Goldbourne – Upper Hoden Farm; agricultural building NO OBJECTIONS - WDC requires a planning application

W/10/00280/PP: Mr Buxton – The Upper House Nightingale Lane; Erection of a log cabin to provide changing rooms and storage and boundary fence COMMENTS BELOW

It would appear that the construction of the log-cabin may be on the location of an “important boundary feature” as identified in the Cleeve Prior Conservation Area Appraisal. Cleeve Prior Parish Council would like an assurance that the District Council Conservation Officer is happy with the proposal and that the cabin has been located sympathetically.

W/10/00896/PP: Mrs Coldicott – 23 New St Childswickham, Broadway; Demolish existing utility & WC and construct new extension at rear to provide garden room/utility & WC CPPC believes this app was received in error; no comment made – matter resolved

W/10/01233/PP & 01234/LB: Mrs Harris – White Chapel Farm Broadway; Construction of garage and internal alterations to existing building CPPC believes the app was received in error; no comment made – matter resolved

Appeals

W/10/01097/OU: C Dyson – Froglands Farm; Replacement of mobile home with permanent dwelling COMMENTS BELOW

Cleeve Prior Parish Council would like to draw the Planning Officer's attention to a previous application on this site; in particular the “Certificate of lawfulness - stationing of a mobile home for residential purposes for more than 10 years.” 09/00224. It would appear the current application relates to the same mobile home on the same site and should be treated as an application for a new permanent dwelling on an agricultural plot. If approved, CPPC would like to suggest that the dwelling an agricultural tie is applied.

10. FINANCIAL MATTERS

Schedule of Invoices

A Farnsworth July & Aug Lengthsman £268.50 PHA ’36 259/260

S Arble July & Aug stipend & expenses £513.53 LGA’72, 101,11,12

HMRC Clerk July & Aug tax £112.74 LGA’72, 101,11,12

Clement Keys £334.88 A&A R 2003, 06

WDC CPO Purchase £16,000.00 LGA ’72 a125

PD Long repair str light on Evesham Rd by traveller site £72.86 PCA 1957 s3

Limebridge Grass cut Aug x2 £376.00 OSA 1906 9&10

Bellinger Design landscape consultancy £516.51 LGA ’72 Sch 14 par 27

Schedule of Receipts

WDC April Lengths £132.88

Public Works Loan £15,975.00

WCC Grass Grant £203.00

WDC May Lengths £132.83

WDC June Lengths £135.71

Please Income & Expense Report emailed 30 August.

11. COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS and Future Agenda Items

A. Alternate website host

B. 20 MPH Zone near school

12. DATE & VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

8:00pm on 13 October 2010 at the Memorial Village Hall.

Agenda prepared by Sean Arble, Clerk to the Council, 3 September 2010.

CLEEVE PRIOR PARISH COUNCIL

Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday

14 July 2010 at 8:00pm

Present Councillors: Mortimer (Chairman)

M Heelis

J Badger

M Sylvester

S Jeffries

In Attendance M Mather

Apologies Cllr Beech for family reasons

07/10/01 Declarations of Interest:

07/10/02 Minutes of Previous Meeting

The Council resolved to approve the Minutes of the Meeting held 12 May 2010 as an accurate record of events.

07/10/03 County Councillor Report: Co Cllr Bean offered his apologies.

07/10/04 District Councillor Report: Dist Cllr Anderson reported the following:

- The public meeting of the Exec Board revealed no indication of likely cuts. More details of cuts will be known after the Comp Spending Revue in late November. WDC will continue with 2010/11 budget. The development of the 2011/12 and % Year Money Plan will likely include 0 pay award, no filling of staff vacancies, 1.75% inflation on contracts, efficiency gains and no additional posts.

Standing Orders suspended to hold Open Forum for 15 Minutes.

PROGRESS REPORTS

07/10/05 Footpaths: No update.

07/10/06 Lengthsman: No update.

07/10/07 Flood Prevention: Update from R Grundy

Just writing to give you an update on Hoden Lane. Following your email I carried out a site visit to check on the newly installed culvert. I have to say that it appears deeper than is actually necessary but that said is a huge improvement on the old and should ensure that water is carried away effectively.

After my visit I re-issued my original action to Helen Stock to clear the ditches on her land. I spoke to her yesterday, 19 May, about the works and she informed me that they are ready to go but that there are double hedges in some of the places that will require grubbing up to get access to the ditch. Unfortunately, removing a hedgerow between 1st March and 31st July is prohibited due to the likelihood of destroying birds' nests. I have, therefore, asked her to hold up the works until the start of August.

07/10/08 Parish Website: No update from Cllr Heelis.

07/10/09 Pond at Back of Churchyard: No update.

07/10/10 Parish Wharf: No update from Chair Mortimer.

07/10/11 Red Phone Kiosk: No update.

07/10/12 Access to Footpath (CP550) off Evesham Road/Rubbish Pile: No update from Cllr Heelis. Co Cllr Bean to investigate.

07/10/13 VAS/Speeding: Cllr Heelis & Mr Curry met R Fullee on 20 May to discuss speeding in

the village. The following outcomes were agreed:

1. WCC would like to wait to perform and major change until after the review of the B4085 set for September.

2. The extent of the 30mph zone is seen as an issue and changing it will likely form part of the September review.

3. There may be minor changes such as signs on the approach to school and road markings which WCC will consider before the review.

4. Mr Fullee is to look into the possibility of WCC providing flashing school signs and if the school can provide some of the funding if indeed funding is an issue.

07/10/14 CPO Land Park: Cllr Sylvester attended the training session concerning the WDC Grant. The Grant form was completed and forwarded to WDC.

07/10/15 Loan Application: A £20,000 loan was approved for the purchase of the CPO Land. The Clerk completed the loan application for £16,000 to Public Works Land Board and posted it 1 July. The loan was approved and ordered on 8 July. The terms are as follows:

£16,000 over 10 years fixed at 2.36% with two payments a year; 30 April and 31 October. First payment of £913.90 is due 31 October and the second payment of £979.36 is due on 30 April 2011. The payments drop by £9.44 every six months. It is possible to pay off the loan early, but it may incur a premium penalty or reduction depending on the interest rates at the time. Matter resolved.

07/10/16 Annual Return: The external auditor has received the Return.

07/10/17 Plan App W/10/00658: Letter of objection to the application was emailed 14 May. Dist Cllr Anderson was requested to “call in” the application in a 14 May email. He declined to do so on the grounds that there are no sound planning grounds for the refusal of the application. Matter resolved.

CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS

07/10/18 TO CONSIDER RAISING THE CLLR MILEAGE ALLOWANCE TP £0.522 PER MILE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE INDEPENDENT RENUMERATION PANEL FOR WDC

The Council resolved not to accept the recommendation on the grounds that local government should be spending less money.

07/10/19 TO CONSIDER AUTHORIZING TWO CLLRS TO INVESTIGATE PERCEIVED FAILURES OF PLANNING ENFORCEMENT BT WDC AND TO REQUEST CLARIFICATION FROM WDC

The Council resolved to form a Working Party consisting of Chair Mortimer and one other cllr to carry out the investigation. Chair Mortimer will keep the Council informed.

07/10/20 TO CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM PLANNNG CONSULTANTS WITH REGARD TO PLANNING MATTERS NOT TO EXCEED A COST OF £1000 WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL

The Council Budget contains a provision of £1500 for the purpose of challenging planning applications. The Council resolved to allow the appointed Working Party (see Minute 07/10/19) to seek advice from planning consultants at a cost not exceed £1000 without prior approval of the Council.

07/10/21 TO CONSIDER RESPONSE TO WCC WINTER SERVICES LETTER

ACTION: Cllr Heelis to draft a response.

07/10/22 TO CONSIDER FUTURE COURSE OF ACTION IN THE LIGHT OF ADVICE ON SAFETY ISSUES FROM PLAYGROUND INSPECTOR REGARDING THE CPO SITE

The inspector’s report was circulated prior the meeting. Mr R Wheway believed the site was too far from the main village for parents to be happy sending their children there to play. The Council stated that in this time of austerity it may not be wise to spend Council or other public money on a non-essential project such as this and that there are long term management issues which could be problematic. Consequently, the Council resolved to halt development of the CPO site until such time when a suitable alternative idea is formulated.

ACTION: Chair Mortimer to inform Playbuilder of the Council decision.

07/10/23 TO CONSIDER APPROVING PAYMENT OF FEE TO PLAYGROUND INSPECTOR FOR ADVICE ON SAFETY ISSUES (£260 plus VAT)

The Council resolved to the pay invoice when it is received.

CLERK’S UPDATE

07/10/24 The Clerk will be on holiday 27 July through 8 August.

07/10/25 Schedule of Correspondence Not Yet Replied To

WCC: Winter Service Request due 30 July

07/10/26 Schedule of Correspondence Received

Dist Cllr Anderson 28 May email: Will not call in plan app W/10/00658/CU

WDC: Rural Play Initiative Grants 2010

WDC: Receipt of £10,000 – would like a time scale for the outstanding £16,000

R Grundy: Flood Update

G Rainer: Letter of resignation effective 19 May

Perkins Ed Foundation: 2011/11 Notice of Awards – posted on notice board

Worcestershire Warden Newsletter

WCC: Lengthsman invoicing

WDC: Notification of Cllr Vacancy – posted on notice board

WDC: Stands Comm. 9 June

NEWSLINE

Dura-Sport: Brochure

WDC: Council can co-opt a new member to replace G Rainer

SWJCS: Abolishment of Regional Spatial Strategy

Wickstead Playscapes: brochure

WDC: Stands Comm Annual Report

PWLB: Receipt of application

Children’s Trust Newsletter

R Wheway: CPO Land Safety Report

PWLB: Confirmation of loan

G Collin: 13 July email replying to CPPC. Request forwarded to G Duerden/will check for cost of copies

07/10/27 Schedule of Correspondence Sent

A Anderson: Request to call in plan app W/10/00658/CU

WDC: Letter of objection to plan app W/10/00658/CU

WDC: Notification of cllr resignation

WDC – J Hegarty: Traveller Site Matters letter

PLWB: Loan Application

Clement Keys: Annual Return

G Collin: 13 July email requesting copies of planning permission

J Hagerty: 13 July email discussing WDC shortcomings on Traveler Site

S Gunnell: 14 July email requesting caravan licensing

PLANNING MATTERS

07/10/28 For Parish Council Consideration

07/10/29 WDC Approvals

W/10/00731/PP: Mrs J Sullivan – Mulberry House Main St; Erection of garage COMMENTS BELOW

It would appear that the area concerned is described as an “Enhancement opportunity” area as identified in the Cleeve Prior Conservation Area Appraisal. Cleeve Prior Parish Council would like an assurance that the District Council Conservation Officer is happy with the proposal and that the proposed construction materials are appropriate for the location.

W/10/00658/CU: Mr Stevens Maple Leaf Park. Evesham Road; Application to vary condition no. 2 of planning ref. W/90/0872 to permit an additional 3 caravans for residential use. LETTER OF OBJECTION

With reference to the revised planning application submitted by Mr. Stevens for an additional three caravans, the Council wishes to make the following objections:

The Council would like Planning Officers to consider the provisions of Circular 01/2006 with regard to the cumulative impact of the application. Several paragraphs in Circular 01/2006 refer to the balance of the gypsy community to the settled community, in particular paragraph 54 which states, inter alia, that sites should respect the scale of, and not dominate the nearest settled community. The subject application, if approved will exacerbate the current dominance of the gypsy community. The District Council has historically ignored the issue of dominance. Despite several requests the District Council has not provided the Parish Council with details of the total number of pitches, caravans, touring caravans and residents on the Traveller Site. The Parish Council believes the sites at Cleeve Prior demonstrably dominate the hamlet on Evesham Road (12 houses and 12 families) and therefore any application to increase the scale of the sites should be refused.

In support of this view we cite the following authorities:

Absolute size:

“We have always advised local authorities that there should be a maximum of 15 families on a caravan site – it is much better for everybody concerned.”

Hughie Smith, President, The Gypsy Council (Romani Kris)

“Most of the witnesses to this enquiry argued that smaller Gypsy and Traveller sites integrate better with the local settled community, and are easier to manage. In the Committees view permanent sites should have no more than 18 pitches.”

House of Commons Select Committee Report

“We therefore recommend that all sites should be small and not disproportionate to the size of the community in which they are placed”.

Thirteenth report from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions.

Furthermore, as quoted in a report in 2004 by Quality Fieldwork and Research, the Travellers expressed concern over a further expansion in the number of pitches permitted on the site. Only 8% of the Travelling community favoured additional caravans on the sites.

Judged against all accepted criteria, taken in their entirety, the Traveller sites at Cleeve Prior are too large. Moreover, many families on the site have young children, and possibly ageing relatives elsewhere, who may want to obtain residency on the Cleeve Prior sites, as is the case with Mr. Stevens. If this application were to be approved it would create a precedent for many more similar applications. If existing pitches are allowed to increase in density, with three or more people residing in each caravan or mobile home, the settlement could soon exceed the settled population.

Government Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1), paragraph 19, recommends that planning decisions should be based on the potential impacts of development proposals, positive as well as negative, on the environment (whether direct, indirect, cumulative, long-term or short- term) and recognition of the limits of the environment to accept further development without irreversible damage. Submissions to the Committee from local residents, the Parish Council, the Cleeve Prior Residents Association and Cleeve Prior Heritage Trust have made clear the long-term cumulative effects of expanding the Gypsy site. Please review the recent planning applications regarding the site as a whole including W/07/01992/CU and W/09/02507.

Policy PPS1 further states in paragraph 36 that a key objective of planning policy should ensure that developments “create safe and accessible environments where crime and disorder or fear of crime does not undermine quality of life or community cohesion. Following recent PACT meetings The West Mercia Police have currently targeted anti-social behaviour issues as a priority in Cleeve Prior.

With regard to the details of this particular application, it requests a change of Condition 2 from Planning Application W/90/0872. The Parish Council does not believe there is sufficient information in the application to indicate whether the plans in W/90/0872 were actually started within 5 years of the Approval as per Condition 1 of the original planning application. The Applicant/District Council has not provided the information regarding the approval and implementation of the Landscape Scheme Condition 06 and 07 in particular with regard to the approval of the 6”6 walls, the repair of which are part of the current proposal. Condition 03 indicates that no caravans shall be sited or parked, nor any structure erected within 50 meters of the western boundary of the public highway. It would appear that the current proposal has a utility block and two caravans within this zone.

Additionally, the applicant has not demonstrated a housing need. The Stevens family clearly has a residence elsewhere other than in Cleeve Prior, presumably Wisbech the address given in the planning application. Mr. Stevens admits that he has not lived on the Cleeve Prior site for more than two years; therefore we question the need for additional caravans. The application appears to be based on a financial requirement as the extra caravans are required for development of the site to be “cost-effective”. The applicant asserts that the caravans will be occupied by extended family members with large families. Clearly, a very significant increase in population is proposed, presumably including a significant number of children. This threatens the balance of the traveling community with the settled community, raising the issue of dominance that should be avoided under planning policy Circular 01/2006.

The Parish Council believes the issues outlined above should be brought to the attention of the members of the planning committee. Consequently, the Council will request District Councillor Alan Anderson “call in” the application for consideration by the full planning committee of the District Council.

07/10/30 WDC Refusals

W/10/01097/OU: C Dyson – Froglands Farm; Replacement of mobile home with permanent dwelling COMMENTS BELOW

07/10/31 WDC Pending

W/10/00096/AB: Mr Goldbourne – Upper Hoden Farm; agricultural building NO OBJECTIONS - WDC requires a planning application

W/10/00280/PP: Mr Buxton – The Upper House Nightingale Lane; Erection of a log cabin to provide changing rooms and storage and boundary fence COMMENTS BELOW

NO COMMENT TO SECOND APPLICATION

W/10/00896/PP: Mrs Coldicott – 23 New St Childswickham, Broadway; Demolish existing utility & WC and construct new extension at rear to provide garden room/utility & WC NO COMMENT

W/10/01233/PP & 01234/LB: Mrs Harris – White Chapel Farm Broadway; Construction of garage and internal alterations to existing building NO COMMENT

W/10/01181/PP: Mr Taylor – The Manor Mews; single storey rear erection to provide sunroom COMMENTS BELOW

The Council notes the proposal is within the conservation area on a listed building and trust that the District Heritage officer will ensure the proposals are sympathetic to their surroundings.

W/10/01509/PP: R St Ledger-Hall – Lynwood, Bidford Road; Extension to garage NO COMMENT

FINANCIAL MATTERS

07/10/32 Schedule of Invoices

A Farnsworth June Lengthsman £129.25 PHA ’36 259/260

S Arble June stipend & expenses £247.05 LGA’72, 101,11,12

HMRC Clerk tax £56.37 LGA’72, 101,11,12

Limebridge 2 cuts June £376.00 OSA 1906 9&10

St Andrew’s Church donation to repair wall £750.00 LGA ’72 139

The invoices below were paid on 9 June under the guidelines of the updated Financial

Regulations.

Clerk May stipend & expenses £240.50 LGA’72, 101,11,12

HMR&C £56.37 LGA ’72 101, 11, 12

Rural Rate Relief Kings Arms £203.40 LGA ’72 s 137

Limebridge May cut £188.00 OSA ’06 9.10

*A Farnsworth May Lengthsman £126.50 PHA ’36 259/260

*Paid on 26 June using the Clerk’s Delegated Scheme for Emergency Decision Making

07/10/33 Schedule of Receipts

June Interest £5.34

COUNCILLOR REPORTS & Future Agenda Items

07/10/34 A. 20 mph zone near school

B. Alternate website host

Date and Venue of Next Scheduled Meeting

07/10/35 Memorial Village Hall, Cleeve Prior on Wednesday 8 September 2010.

The Meeting closed at 9:40pm

Signed ……………………………….. Date ……………………….

NOTES OF OPEN FORUM

07/10/36 M Mather: Dissatisfied with result of recent Police meetings. Litttle progress five months after multi-agency meeting in March. Motor bikes still race around fields. Parishioners feel exposed and vulnerable.

07/10/37 D Mortimer: Inspector S Kent meeting

1. Police in difficulty with enforcement issues

2. Would like tidy, well run and site and believe it would eliminate much anti-social behaviour

3. S Kent want authorities to enforce planning conditions because it would help police cope with criminal behaviour

4. CPPC members shouldn’t attend meetings because not bound by Data Protections legislation/would also be a negative effect as other agencies may be guarded

Council has requested planning approvals and licensing on Traveler site.

Written to J Hagerty to request copies of “careful considerations!

07/10/38 A Anderson: Commends the Council for their efforts. Reported that there is a 20 July Planning Enforcement Team scrutiny. He would like comments from Council by Sunday.

Minutes prepared by Sean Arble, Clerk to the Council, 20 July 2010.

CLEEVE PRIOR PARISH COUNCIL

Clerk: Mr Sean Arble, 36, The Close, Cleeve Prior, Evesham WR11 8LF

Tel: 01789-490501

E-Mail: sean.arble@gmail.com

Mr. Peter Luff, MP. August 4, 2010

House of Commons,

London SW1A 0AA

Dear Mr Luff,

Gypsy/Traveller Policy

I am writing to seek your assistance in lobbying the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Secretary of State and relevant ministers, for changes to planning regulations and policy relating to gypsy and traveler communities.

You will be aware that for many years, the settled community of Cleeve Prior has suffered a great deal of disruption and harassment from the largest development of private and public gypsy sites in Worcestershire. For many years planning policy has encouraged gypsies and travelers to buy land and establish their own sites. Although a number of guidance papers exist relative to the design of gypsy sites and in relation to planning issues and the relationship of such sites to the settled community, the local planning authority seems to pay little attention to such guidance when awarding planning permission for private sites. Also, although planning permissions are subject to various planning conditions, there is no effective monitoring of compliance therewith and no enforcement. You will get a flavor of the difficulty Cleeve Prior Parish Council is experiencing in seeking to encourage Wychavon District Council to enforce planning conditions from the attached copies of correspondence.

In addition, the planning process in Wychavon heavily favors applications for private gypsy sites. I attach the information related to the latest planning application W/10/00658. You will see that the planning officers have gone out their way to find arguments in favour of the application. The submission from the applicant does not conform to Government Guidance or licensing requirements. Finally, Wychavon have asserted that there is a demonstrated need for additional Gypsy pitches in Wychavon, yet in the same document admit that there is no formal definition of a gypsy pitch. (we are not aware of any independent, creditable proof of such need apart from the assertions of interested parties that such need exists, which has been accepted at face value by various authorities, for example, the West Midlands Spatial Strategy study). The end result, as we have learned to our cost in Cleeve Prior, is that when a Planning Authority decides it is not “expedient” to enforce planning conditions, private gypsy sites become public eyesores with no control over density, provision of services, (access roads and utilities and refuse collection) and no regard to fire safety.

The situation in Cleeve Prior has deteriorated dramatically in recent years since the arrival of a particular extended family group. Many of the law-abiding long-term residents of the private and public sites have been forced to move away due to harassment, leaving a number of private sites abandoned and subsequently vandalised. The settled community is regularly terrorized by gypsy children riding quad bikes and motor-bikes on private land, across private gardens and on the public road. Many of these children are supposed to be subject to home tuition, but enquiries with local education authority personnel indicates that there is no check on whether home tuition actually takes place and certainly no action is taken to ensure that those children that should be in school are in fact attending school.

The Parish Council has learnt that there has been a series of multi-agency meetings between the District, Police, Education, and County over the past six months, but there has been no firm action on the ground. It appears that each department will avoid taking action if possible or seek to lay responsibility elsewhere. This impression has been passed on second hand, (and may be incorrect) as the community has been effectively barred from these meetings on the grounds that some information discussed may be personal and members of the community are not subject to the provisions of the Data Protection legislation .

It is clear to all the settled community that the policy of “expediency” from Wychavon District Council and other agencies has resulted in no control over the development of sites with a consequent deleterious impact on both the settled community and the traveling community who find themselves with inadequate and dangerous provision of services and living in unsatisfactory circumstances and surroundings. (I assume that you will have heard about the problem of the water supply to the public site and the illegal tapping into the supply leading to a bill for £23,000 payable by WCC).

The issue of the enforcement of planning conditions on gypsy sites needs to be addressed. To members of the settled community, the logic behind allowing the creation of private sites appears faulty and inequitable. The effect of race relations and human rights legislation has been to skew the rights of the traveler community to their benefit and to the detriment of the settled community. It would appear that the cultural changes that have taken place in society in the last twenty to thirty years has substantially eroded the nomadic lifestyle of the traveling community. Today’s traveler site residents are no more nomadic than residents of the settled community who also own a caravan that they use for vacations two or three times a year. Several of the residents of the Cleeve Prior site carry on businesses from the site and some work fifty-two weeks of the year in the local community. They do not leave the site for any extended period of time.

Equally, the belief that travelers wish to live in caravans is a myth – they wish to live in homes that are every bit the same as houses in the settled community, the only difference being that policy has allowed a home formed from two prefabricated halves to be classed as a “caravan” because it is capable of being moved from one site to another. The fact of the matter is that these “mobile” homes are connected to sewerage systems, water supply and other fixed services. Allowing these homes to be classed as caravans has facilitated the creation of mini-villages of homes without the benefit of appropriate layout, landscaping, access for emergency vehicle and rubbish collection. These settlements are a disgrace to the planning authority that allows them to be created and must be less than ideal for those condemned to live in them. It must be said that, from the perspective of the settled community, the desire to live in such conditions appears to be under-pinned by a desire to obscure from public view the criminal activities of the residents.

The lesson to be learned from the Cleeve Prior experience is that, where given the option, the local planning authority will not exercise control over a traveler site, the lay-out of the site, the density of caravans, the provision of services and the activities that are permitted on those sites. Were such a policy to be introduced, it would lead to better living conditions for the travelers themselves, and better relationships with the settled community. It would also tend to reduce the scope for criminal activity which would be a great relief for the police force.

Cleeve Prior have realized that the density of settlement in the existing traveler site in the parish could be controlled simply by requiring that traveler planning applications be consistent with existing Government Guidance (“Designing Gypsy and Traveller Sites”, Good Practice Guide, Communities and Local Government, May 2008) and caravan site license conditions. In addition, a formal definition of a pitch would be required, which, for example, would indicate that each pitch is separately fenced and a requirement that all pitches should stipulate the approved number of parking spaces, caravans, and mobile homes for a specified number of occupants. A pre-requisite would be a suitably sized amenity building according to the above guidance. Such a policy would improve the living conditions and health of the occupants as well as limiting the density of occupation of such sites. Key to the effective management of such sites would be the effective monitoring and enforcement of planning conditions.

I will be grateful if you could pass these concerns to the attention of the Department for Communities and Local Government and advise us how we might influence policy in this regard. In addition, any assistance you could provide in getting further feedback and action from the Multi-Agency meetings would be appreciated

Yours sincerely

David Mortimer

Chairman, Cleeve Prior parish Council

Cc Mr Merlin Mather, Chairman, Cleeve Prior Residents Association



			ACTUAL		ACTUAL		BUDGET		FORCAST	ACTUAL		BUDGET		BUDGET		BUDGET
			2007/08		2008/09		2009/10		2009/10	2009/10		2010/11		2011/12		2012/13
							0.0%		0.0%	-100.0%		0.0%
PRECEPT			23,000		24,000		24,000		24,000			24,000		24,000		24,000
ALLOTMENT RENTS			42		51		55		55			60		60		60
VILLAGE CLEAN GRANT					500		0		0			0		0		0
GRASS CUTTING CONT			1,727		188		0		193			0		0		0
PARISH LENGTHSMAN			0		392		2000		1000			2200		2200		2200
INTEREST			540		463		500		11			15		0		0
LOAN			0		0		0		0			20000		0		0
TRANSFER FROM RESERVES			1,016		6,396		600		14,000			42,000		10,800		5900
TOTAL INCOME			26,325		31,990		27,155		39,259	0		88,275		37,060		32,160


STAFF COSTS	CLERKS STIPEND	3,053		3,220		3,600		3,473			3,650		3,850		4,050
	CLERKS EXPENSES	474		656		300		342			375		450		500
	PARISH LENGTHSMAN	0	3,527	356	4,232	1,900	5,800	950	4,765	0	2,100	6,125	2,100	6,400	2,100	6,650
SERVICES	STREET LIGHTING (Reserve)	366		537		700		350			700		800		900
	NPOWER	425		143		400		280			300		330		375
	GRASS CUTTING	1,974		1,857		2,500		2,300			2,500		2,750		3,100
	FOOTPATHS (Reserve)			469		0		819			0		0		0
	INSURANCE	624		652		700		700			770		850		900
	LOAN INT +CAP REPAYMNT	0		0		0		0			2,000		2,000		2,000
	BANK CHARGES	0		18		20		20			25		30		30
	PARISH WEB SITE	100	3,489	75	3,751	180	4,500	180	4,649	0	200	6,495	225	6,985	250	7,555
PROFESSIONAL FEES	AUDIT FEE	335		335		350		328			360		400		450
	INTERNAL AUDIT FEE	100		100		100		100			110		125		135
	LEGAL FEES - PLAN APP	1,016		0		2,000		1,500			1,500		1,500		1,500
	CPO PUR & DEV (Reserve)	0	1,451	5,947	6,382	0	2,450	20,000	21,928	0	40,000	41,970	5,000	7,025	0	2,085
MAINTENANCE	PLAYING FIELD	0		0		1,000		400			1,000		1,000		1,000
	CHURCH CLOCK	236		422		500		500			550		600		650
	GENERAL	0	236	545	967	600	2,100	334	1,234	0	600	2,150	700	2,300	750	2,400
TRAINING	CLERK	71		0		250		165			250		250		275
	COUNCILLORS	282	353	29	29	250	500	125	290	0	250	500	250	500	275	550
RENTS PAYABLE	ALLOTMENTS	50		75		50		50			60		60		65
	VILLAGE HALL	125		180		200		168			185		200		225
	POST OFFICE	120	295	150	405	0	250	0	218	0	0	245	0	260	0	290
MISCELLANEOUS	SUBSCRIPTIONS (CALC & CF)	352		242		250		250			275		300		325
	ELECTIONS	0		0		0		0			2,000		0		0
	VILL HALL SUPPORT (137)					1,500		1,500			1,500		1,500		1,500
	DONATIONS (137)	1,250		1,290		750		750			750		500		500
	COUNCILLORS EXPS	44		109		250		53			200		200		225
	RURAL RATE RELIEF (137)	240	1,886	250	1,891	250	3,000	250	2,803	0	275	5,000	300	2,800	350	2,900
TRANSFERS TO RESERVES
	CONTINGENCY	500		0		1,500		1,500			0		0		500
	INT RECEIVED ON RESERVES			463		500		11			0		0		0
	CLERK/RFO RESERVE					1,000		1,000			0		0		0
	STREET LIGHTS					1,000		1,000			0		1,000		900
	PARISH FOOTPATHS	0		0		0		0			0		0		0
	PARISH PLAN	0		0		0		0			500		1,000		500
	BY - ELECTION	1,200		0		1,000		1,000			0		0		500
	LOAN	0		0		0		0			20,000				0
	CPO PURCHASE & DEVELOP	9,355	11,055	5,947	6,410	10,000	15,000	10,000	14,511	0	14,000	34,500	9,000	11,000	11,000	13,400

VAT RECOVERED			-698		-624

TOTAL EXPENSES			21,594		23,443		33,600		50,398	0		96,985		37,270		35,830

BALANCE B/FWD			987		5,178		6,967		13,726	0		9,756		1,046		4,486
ADD TOTAL INCOME			25,785		31,990		27,155		39,259	0		88,275		37,060		32,160
LESS TOTAL EXPENDITURE			21,594		23,443		33,600		50,398	0		96,985		37,270		35,830
BALANCE C/FWD			5,178		13,726		522		2,587	0		1,046		836		816


BALANCE B/FWD			6,900		17,479		22,989		17,493			18,004		10,504		10,704
ADD TRANSFERS IN			11,055		6,410		15,000		14,511			34,500		11,000		13,400
ADD LOAN
ADD INTEREST RECEIVED			540									0		0		0
LESS TRANSFERS OUT			1,016		6,396		600		14,000			42,000		10800		0
BALANCE C/FWD			17,479		17,493		37,389		18,004	0		10,504		10,704		24,104


BROUGHT FORWARD	PARISH FOOTPATHS	1,268		819		0		0			0		0		0
	CLERK/RFO RESERVE	0		0		1,000		1,000			1,000		1,000		1,000
	PARISH PLAN	2,494		0		0		0			500		1,500		2,000
	STREET LIGHTS					1,000		1,000			1,000		200		200
	WORKING CAPITAL	3,678		7,782		4732		4,004			2,504		2,704		2,904
	CONTINGENCY	500		500		2000		2000			2,000		2,000		2,500
	BY-ELECTION	1,200		1,000		2000		2000			0		0		500
	CPO PURCHASE & DEVELOP	8,339	17,479	7,392	17,493	28,657	37,389	8,000	18,004	0	6,000	10504	6,000	10,704	15,000	24,104


TOTAL RESERVES			17,479		17,493		37,389		18,004	0		10,504		10,704		24,104


			ACTUAL		ACTUAL		BUDGET		FORCAST	ACTUAL		BUDGET		BUDGET		BUDGET
			2007/08		2008/09		2009/10		2009/10	2009/10		2010/11		2011/12		2012/13

CLEEVE PRIOR PARISH COUNCIL

Sean Arble – Clerk

01789 490 501 36 The Close

sean.arble@gmail.com Cleeve Prior

WORCS

WR11 8LF

2 December 2009

Mr Peter Luff MP

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

RE: Bidford on Avon Fire Station

Dear Mr Luff

Cleeve Prior Parish Council is very concerned over the proposed closure of the Bidford Fire Station because of the potential impact on the local fire and rescue services in southeast Worcestershire. Currently, cross county border sharing takes place where Bidford fire crews attend in Bickmarsh and Cleeve Prior. Pebworth Fire Station attends Quinton, and Long Marston. This arrangement would cease to exist if the Bidford Station were closed and the burden of attending the above mentioned villages would fall to Pebworth (volunteer) and Evesham stations.

Authorities of Warwickshire County Council claim this proposal is intended to increase efficiency. Surely, among many measurements of efficiency, the response time to call outs must be of the highest priority. It is difficult to see therefore, how the proposed arrangements can be described as improvements to “efficiency”. More to the point, it would appear that the proposed changes have more to do with reducing costs. If this is the case, all the cost reductions seem to be taking place at the operational level. An interesting question to ask, to which we have not yet received an answer is how many back –office and management positions are being eliminated. So far all we know is that jobs in fire stations are being eliminated. Thus far, there has been no evidence presented which relieves the fears of residents that response times will be adversely affected by this proposal. Many residents believe this proposal subordinates public safety to financial considerations.

It is the understanding of Council Members that Hereford & Worcester Fire Service Chief is to make a formal representation to Warwickshire County Council concerning the closure proposal. Cleeve Prior Parish Council urges you to lend your strongest support and to liaise with your colleague, Mr John Maples MP, on this matter.

Yours Sincerely,

Sean Arble

Clerk to the Council