Denton Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting Held on Tuesday 14th July 2009
at 8pm at Denton Village Hall
Present: Liz Cargill (Chairman), Terry Hanner (Vice Chairman), Roger Gibson, Peter Hill, Adrian Hipwell, Eddie Winter, Annie Whiteman, Pauline Sandell (Clerk).
Also Present: Mr. Peter Ramsdale (Saffron Housing Trust), Dr. Murray Gray (District Councillor), 6 members of the public.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Declaration of Interest None
3. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes were agreed and signed.
The Chairman suggested that item 6 (affordable housing) be brought forward before matters arising, this was agreed.
6. Affordable Housing
Liz and Terry attended the Design Review Panel but had little chance to air their views properly. For the public's benefit, Peter Ramsdale summarised the situation so far and explained about the Design Review Panel. The Chairman said that the Councillors and the public were very unhappy about the lay out and the design of the proposed affordable houses and she asked Peter if alternative proposals could be put forward. PR said that he had come with a blank piece of paper and would be more than happy to hear, and to pass on to the architect, any suggestions made.
It was made clear to PR that the Parish Council, the prospective buyers of Thanksgiving Cottage, the local residents and the landowner all prefer a linear lay out and a sample sketch was circulated showing such a design. PR took a copy of this away with him. It was noted that the land owner will only go ahead with the sale if everyone is happy with the layout and the design. PR said that the architect was concerned about the tree, but that he would look at it on his way out.
DPC said that they were not happy with the wood cladding. It was felt that it did not reflect the Denton architecture and if the houses are to look smart in twenty years time it was best not to have wood cladding.
DPC said that they would like to see chimney features and porches. PR informed the meeting that the design of the roof has been altered to a more traditional design and solar panels will no longer be needed because the houses will have a high level of insulation. The sustainability rating has been increased from code level 3 to level 4. This level could be achieved by a higher degree of technology, but it is more cost effective and simpler to achieve the level by increasing the amount of insulation. DPC said that the houses look quite boring and dormer windows would make the houses look more cottagey.
DPC said that it was important to get away from the ping-pong affect and to be able to see drafts of the revised drawings before they are finished and to discuss the drafts with the architect. This would save time and money.
The prospective purchasers of Thanksgiving Cottage were concerned that although the landowner was going to sell them a piece of land between the cottage and the affordable housing site, (40 metres had been suggested) as a buffer zone to increase their privacy, he had now been advised to wait before he goes ahead with this as it may jeopardize the affordable housing scheme. The purchasers were not happy to commit themselves to the purchase if a buffer zone could not be guaranteed. The seller of Thanksgiving Cottage is also vulnerable as her health is so bad she cannot live in the cottage at the moment and without the sale she cannot buy a bungalow in the village. Members of the public said that the value of her house would decrease drastically if a buffer zone was not provided. PR said that 40 metres would almost definitely be out of the question, but he would need to find out if there is a compromise. DPC thought that 5 metres would be more reasonable and more achievable. If the linear outline was accepted then the distance from building to building would amount to 20 metres. Murray said that having a 'landscaping' scheme of 5-10 metres wide could be acceptable. PR will find out whether purchasing a 5 metre piece land from the landowner will jeopardize the scheme.
PR was asked if Saffron had a set of designs that DPC could look at to enable them to give the architect some idea of what they were looking for. PR said that Saffron did not have anything like that.
Time scale; the next Design Review Panel meeting is sometime in August. Then there will be a public consultation and then if everyone is happy a planning application will be submitted. The planning application can take from 4-8 weeks.
Once again the DPC emphasized the importance of liaising with the architect and Saffron once a draft of the design is ready, before the final design is finished, to discuss the progress.
6. Questions from the Public
Mr. Charnick was concerned that DPC had decided not to ask Highways to put up deer signs along the road. He said that 4 monkjac deer had been hit just recently. DPC said that they were hoping for a speed limit and this would stop people speeding along the road. Mr. Charnick said that people take no notice of speed limits, but would slow down when they see deer warning signs. He suggested that these signs be placed at the junction of Danacre Road and Low Road, Trunch House, by the Church and by the triangle near Beck Cottage.
Proposal: Ask Highways to erect deer signs. Proposed by Adrian Hipwell, seconded by Eddie Winter, unanimously agreed.
5. District and County Council Matters
Murray said that SNC plan to erect the Gypsy and Traveller side at the Old Harleston Road site next to Tubes Scaffolding. Murray was not convinced that this was the best site to choose. He had no news on the 5 Acre site.
SNC are cutting their budget and trying to save £2million from next year's budget which is about 10% of the Council�s expenditure. They will be cutting back on non-essentials, such as not checking on planting schemes on planning applications and will rely on parish councils and local residents to check to see if planting schemes are carried out.
Murray has suggested that SNC write to parish councils to ask them to do this.
4. Matters Arising:
a) Playing Field; June report completed by Eddie Winter. Litter bin full but he will see it is emptied this week. Problem with the dog bins as people are using it to clean up dog faeces from their gardens (next months agenda). Annie Whiteman to do July report and Adrian Hipwell to do the August report. Adrian asked if cricket nets could be bought and installed on the playing field. The cost would be just under £400. It was agreed that the donation from Mr. Frost's funeral collection should be used to cover most of the cost of the nets.
Proposal: DPC will pay a maximum of £400 for the cricket nets. Proposed by Roger Gibson, seconded by Annie Whiteman, unanimously agreed.
b. Play Area Project; Annie reported that they had had another successful meeting with a good turn out. They looked at priorities and how the project should be moved forward. Peter had worked out costs of individual items. Stage 1; fencing, to make the play area secure. Stage 2; re-landscape the mound, soften the height, take out the pipe, and looking at building a fort, in stages, on top of the mound. The fencing will be balustrade and it was suggested using chain link along the road. However, the Councillors thought chain link would not be a good idea. Funding will be sought through the Neighbourhood Fund.
Proposal: Go ahead with the fencing and the Parish Council will fund it up to £2000, apply to the Neighbourhood Fund for funding the landscaping to the mound and building the fort. Proposed by Adrian Hipwell, seconded by Liz Cargill, unanimously agreed.
c. Highways, speed limit; the Clerk reported that Highways has recommended that Denton has a speed limit investigation in the 2010/2011 traffic management programme. The Clerk was asked to mention this in the Parish Magazine.
d. Calor Competition; Peter Hill said that everything was in place for the judging on the next day.
e. Post Office Repair to Telephone Line; Peter Hill said that he had only just received the letter from the post office.
f. Any Other Matters;
The Clerk reported back that the next training sessions run by NALC will be held on 14th and 21st September. Annie said that she would like to attend.
The path at Pool Meadow has been cut.
8. Donations
The Clerk had received a letter from Alburgh with Denton School asking for a donation for the purchase of bibles for those pupils leaving the school this year. This request was passed on to the Rogerson Trust. It was agreed not to give donations to charities. The donation to the Church to help with the upkeep of the graveyard was discussed.
Proposal: Donate £150 to St.Mary's Church. Adrian Hipwell proposed, Annie Whiteman seconded, unanimously agreed.
9. Parish Magazine
To be put on the next agenda.
10. New Planning Applications
None.
11. Correspondence
Correspondence summaries had been circulated.
NALC – Local Government Review. The Clerk advised the Councillors that they could submit representations to the Secretary of State between 15th July and 18th September. Peter Hill thought that this date had been put back again. The Clerk will circulate the information and this item will be put on September's agenda.
12. Finance
a. Financial Monthly Summary: A summary was not submitted this month as all the books were with the auditor.
b. Pay the Clerk £88.31 for July and August
c. Pay Rosemary Gibson £8.33 for calor competition expenses
Proposal: Pay b and c Proposed by Eddie Winter, seconded by Terry Hanner, unanimously agreed.
13. Any Other Business
Terry asked the Clerk to mention to Highways that part of Danacre Road, near Denton Lodge, is sinking and cracking.
The meeting closed at 10.10pm.