Northwood Parish Council

Posted by NPC Admin on 8 May 2014, 9:11 pm

NORTHWOOD PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Northwood Parish Council, held in Northwood Primary School, Wyatts Lane, Northwood, Isle of Wight on Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Present: Councillors Chris Riddet (Vice Chairman), Paul Fuller, David Jaggar, John Nicholson and John Ward

also In attendance:
Barbara Herbert (Clerk and RFO)
PCSO Steve Anker

There were six members of the public in attendance

235/13-14 To receive and approve any apologies for absence
Apologies had been received from Cllrs Pullen and Smith

236/13-14 Members’ interests
There had been no written requests received for Dispensation on items forming the agenda.
Cllr Nicholson declared a personal interest in Minute 241/13-14 as he was a member of the IW Council’s Planning Committee

237/13-14 To receive a report by the Local Safety Neighbourhood Officer, plus an opportunity to discuss local policing priorities
PCSO Steve Anker presented the report of the Local Safety Neighbourhood (LSN) team on matters arising since the last meeting. Although there was very little to report, particular mention was made that the crime figures covering the period up to 31 March 2014 had fallen by five to 69 reported crimes, when compared with the total for the previous year. The crimes related to various types, not just one or two specific types of crimes.
The Speed.Watch planned for earlier in the day had been cancelled due to the foggy weather. Another event would be organised in due course

238/13-14 To welcome Mr Malcolm Smith, of Island Roads to discuss any highway issues within the parish
The clerk advised that unfortunately Mr Smith would not be attending the day’s meeting. In order to meet the needs of all Town and Parish Councils in a timely fashion, Island Roads had arranged for an Asset Management workshop on 27 March, to replace the meetings that Mr Smith had been due to attend. However, the email advising of this had been circulated after the clerk had started her annual leave, with the Workshop taking place on the day of her return. This had made it impossible for any information on this to be disseminated in time. Councillors expressed their annoyance at the lack of notice. The original plan had been widely publicised in the Northwood News and Village Talk so that members of the public could attend in order to raise their questions or any concerns they might have had with regard to the Highways PFI project. Cllr Riddet apologised to those members of the public present, inviting them to email the clerk with any queries and she would pass them onto Island Roads to seek their response.
Councillors also suggested that Mr Smith should be requested to attend a future meeting, so that discussion could take place on any highway issues within the parish, as had been originally planned.

Cllr Fuller entered the meeting room during the following item of business

239/13-14 To confirm and authorise the Vice Chairman to sign the Minutes of the previous meetings of the Parish Council held on 4 March 2014

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meetings held on 4 March 2014 be confirmed and the Vice Chairman authorised to sign them on behalf of the Parish Council.

240/13-14 To receive any matters arising on the Minutes, not requiring a resolution
Minute 224/13-14 Proposed Consultation Protocol – Cllr Jaggar advised that a revised Protocol was included on the agenda of the Executive, scheduled for 8 April. Some of the suggestions made at the last meeting of the Parish Council had been taken on board, while it appeared further wording had been deleted. Cllr Jaggar would liaise with the IW Council, copying in Cllrs Fuller and Ward to any email correspondence.

241/13-14 Town and Country Planning
Cllr Fuller declared a personal interest in Minute 241/13-14 as he was a member of the IW Council’s Planning Committee

The Vice Chairman, on behalf of the Parish Council congratulated Cllr Fuller on his appointment as the Chairman of the IW Council’s Planning Committee. Cllr Fuller responded accordingly

Cllr Fuller and Nicholson having both declared personal interests in the following item on the agenda, left the meeting room prior to any discussion or decision thereon

a. To consider the following application received and make comments in accordance with the guidance for material planning considerations listed at
http://www.iwight.com/council/departments/planning/appsdip/MakingCommentsInfo.aspx
i. TCP/ 31788 43 Venner Avenue, Northwood – Demolition of porch and hall; single storey side extension to provide for a porch, kitchen and dining room

RESOLVED :

THAT Northwood Parish Council raised a number of objections to the application TCP/31788 at 43 Venner Avenue, Northwood these being –
• the proposed development was not sympathetic to the style of the existing properties
• the detrimental effect on No 41 Venner Avenue, resulting in a serious loss of privacy to the front bedroom, due to the proposed line of the extension being constructed in advance of the existing building frontage
• the proposal removes the ability of No 41 Venner Avenue to gain access to the rear of their property by the side pathway, for the purposes of entering their rear garden and continuing storage of their waste bin and other refuse
• the proposal appears to be planned to be built over a shared drainage
• Highway concerns during the proposed build as the premises had no access from the main road and was situated on a blind bend, that had poor visibility and was marked with double yellow lines.

ii. TCP/5381/G 28 Oxford Street, Northwood – demolition of garage and conservatory; proposed two storey side extension and single storey rear extension and alterations – revised scheme

RESOLVED :

THAT Northwood Parish Council raises no material planning objections in respect of the application TCP/ 5381/G at 28 Oxford Street, Northwood

Cllrs Nicholson and Fuller re-entered the meeting room

b. The following decisions taken by the Local Planning Authority since the last meeting of the Parish Council were duly noted:
i. P/00019/14 33 Pallance Road, Northwood – Conditional Planning Permission for proposed alterations and single storey extension on rear elevation to form living/dining area

ii. P/00020/14 135 Pallance Road, Northwood – Conditional Planning Permission for demolition of single storey rear extension; Proposed two storey extensions on side and rear elevations to provide for additional living accommodation

c. The appeal submitted to the Secretary of State with regard to the decision taken on application P/01500/13 –for a proposed bungalow, parking and turning area on land rear of 34 Wyatts Lane, Northwood, was duly noted

242/13-14 To note that the signed letter of resignation of Mr R Mew has been received

RESOLVED :

i. THAT the letter of resignation from Mr Mew be noted;

ii. THAT the suggested date of Tuesday, 29 April for applications for the vacant position of co-opted councillor be -approved

242/13-14 To consider further the provision of discretionary services in Northwood
The clerk advised that she had received an additional email from Lee Matthews, the Recreation and Public Spaces Manager apologising for the confusion surrounding the cost implications for maintaining the Venner Avenue play and park area. A further set of figures that included the quantity and frequency of maintenance had been now been provided. The charge totalled £1,070.47 per annum. A formal letter would be sent to the Parish Council confirming the costs and to explain the timetable of decisions required. It had been indicated that a decision might be required by the end of September.
Cllr Riddet mentioned that Cllr Smith had obtained quotations for the maintenance of the play area from Brighstone Landscaping and Andy Butler, a Sports Grounds Maintenance contractor. It was agreed for these to be passed to the clerk so that she could provide a full report for consideration at the next meeting.

243/13-14 To consider organising a “Big Tidy Up” event and to note the letter received from Derek Finch of the 1st Northwood Scout Group
Councillors welcomed the interest of the local scout section leaders in assisting with a ‘Big Tidy Up’ event and noted their offer to tidy up some of the local footpaths, which were becoming rather overgrown. However, as it was the statutory responsibility of the Local Authority to undertake this service Cllr Ward volunteered to seek official approval, in the first instance. Ms Jennine.Gardiner, the Rights of Way Assistant was suggested as the most appropriate point of contact.
Mention was also made that Mr David Newton, the Green Towns co-ordinator might be able to furnish the Parish Council with a supply of litter pickers and ‘hi vis’ jackets and gloves for the task.

RESOLVED :

THAT Cllr Ward to make contact with the various organisations, as discussed above, and report back to the next meeting so that arrangements could be confirmed for the planned ‘Big Tidy Up’ event

244/13-14 To comment on the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places

RESOLVED :

THAT no comment be made on the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places

245/13-14 To receive progress reports for information from Working Party leads
i. Traffic and Transport Issues Working Party
Cllr Riddet referred to the advert place in the County Press calling for interested volunteers to undergo training as a Community bus driver. A total of 32 replies had been received to date. An induction day would be held on 11 April, which Cllr Riddet would attend. The Service 32 was running well, with no problems to report. Approval would be sought for the route to be diverted to include a stop at the new Aldi stores, in Three Gates Road.
ii. Northwood in Bloom Working Party
No report had been submitted
iii. Parish Plan Working Party
Cllr Fuller advised that due to his increased commitments with the IW Council and with Gurnard Parish Council in their undertaking of a Neighbourhood Plan, he unfortunately would have to resign from the Working Party. It was agreed to postpone appointing a lead councillor until the May meeting.
iv. Emergency Plan Working Party
No report had been submitted

246/13-14 To receive the report for information of Cllr Nicholson, the IWC Ward Member for Cowes South and Northwood
Councillors were referred to the report, which had been circulated by email Particular mention was made of:
• The unexpected windfall of £100k, to be used for the benefit of the people in Cowes
• The cessation of nuisance parking around Place Side
• The full inquiry into the situation of people attending booked events at Medina Theatre being issued with parking tickets, due to the lack of provision of adequate parking facilities
• The newly formed licensees group, Fight 4 Wight Licensees
• Restructuring under the Police Motion
• A meeting organised for 22 April to explore and address mental state issues
• The high level, very successful cross party working

247/13-14 To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Island Waste Services Community Advisory Group meeting held on 20 March 2014
RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Island Waste Services Community Advisory Group meeting held on 20 March 2014, be noted

248/13-14 To receive the Minutes of the meeting of the IWALC Executive Committee held on 20 March

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the IWALC Executive Committee held on 20 March, be noted

249/13-14 Clerk’s Report
a. Finance
i. The interim budget statement to the end of March 2014 and the bank reconciliation with Statement No 68 were received and noted.

ii. To authorise payment of cheques

RESOLVED :

THAT the following cheques be approved for payment
000353, £33.75, Mrs B Herbert, Clerks Expenses
000354, £22.95, Chale Parish Council, Photocopying
000355, £30.00, Northwood House Charitable Trust Co Ltd, Annual Subscription
000356, £12.00, Clerk and Councils Direct, Annual Subscription

b. Administration
Consideration was given to the quotations for watering of tubs and planters during the 18 week summer period.

RESOLVED :

THAT it be approved to enter into a 2 year contract with Mr J Wadsworth, to water the tubs and planters twice per week, for an eighteen week period at a standing charge of £846.00 per year

250/13-14 Correspondence
Correspondence received was listed in the report circulated with the agenda and updated further at the meeting

251/13-14 Councillors’ reports
Cllr Fuller advised that a revised planning application for 90 dwellings on land to the side and rear of 47 – 11A Place Road and to the rear of The Heritage to Shephards Hay, Tuttons Hill and access off Place Road, Cowes was due to be re-advertised at the end of the week.
The clerk read an email from Cllr Smith advising of a scam call requesting a local resident to call a certain number where benefits could be obtained. Barclays had confirmed that this was a scam.

252/13-14 Future Agenda Items
The clerk advised that she had received details of a new sticker designed to combat the increasing problem of dog fouling on the streets and local play areas. She would include this on the agenda for consideration at the next meeting.

253/13-14 To undertake a brief review of the meeting
No comment was made

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE CHAIRMAN CLOSED THE MEETING AT 7.35.pm

Signed ……………………………………………. Dated ……………………………..