No 5 of 2005/2006

 

 

Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of Debenham Parish Council held 7.30pm on Friday 12th August 2005 at Dove Cottage.

 

Present:

Councillors Mrs H Huish (in the chair), Mr M Morley, Mr P Lorenzo, Mr A Moreton, Mr R Walters, Mrs F Winrow-Giffin, Mrs C Hellier, Mrs G Day-Hydes, Mrs L Skelton , Mrs I Day, Nikki Rush (Clerk) and eighteen members of the public.

 

 

Cllr Huish (Chair) explained that there were two agenda items to enable members of the public to speak for ten minutes as per standing orders. Due to the number of members of the public present and to two topical agenda items Cllr Huish requested that those wishing to speak with regard to the Debenham Leisure Centre Football Application did so under agenda Item 4. Those wishing to speak regarding the Henry Street Affordable housing application could do so under agenda Item 9. This was agreed by all to be brought forward so that Council could hear the parishioner’s views before a decision made.

 

1.

Apologies for absence

 

Cllr S Deamer and Cllr C Grover, both on granted extended leave. Cllr E Alcock from whom a letter of resignation in order to concentrate on his duties in respect of Debenham Leisure Centre and as a district and county councillor had been received which was read to the meeting by the Chair. Council publicly noted its regret at Cllr Alcock’s decision, how it will greatly miss his valued input and recognises the contribution he has made to the community through his work on council over many years.

 

 

2.

To receive declarations of interest

 

Cllr L Skelton declared a personal interest in agenda item 8, Henry Street Affordable Housing. No other declarations of interest received.

 

 

3.

Minutes of meeting held on July 21st 2005. Cllr Morley proposed, seconded by Cllr Moreton, all in favour that the minutes for the 21st July should wait until the September meeting for approval.

 

Time: 7.50pm
 
4.

Standing orders suspended – Meeting open to allow members of the public to speak for 10 minutes. Cllr Morley proposed all in favour that standing orders be suspended to allow members of the public to speak. As there were no comments at this time regarding the Debenham Leisure Football Application Cllr Huish explained the process to date. During the Planning Meeting on the 13th June the plans for this application were presented to Council. This was the first time that Council had been made aware of any proposed development as Cllr Huish had not been receiving minutes of the DLC meetings, for which apologies had been received and back copies sent. In addition, the Planning Application had been sent to the previous Clerk further delaying delivery. After lengthy discussion Council recommended refusal of the application on the grounds of loss of amenity and loss of use for other sports. These objections were considered priority to the secondary concerns of Floodlighting, Car Parking and Traffic management. At this juncture the Council sent a letter to the Chairman of DLC requesting confirmation that the use of the land for the whole community for events such as fetes, bonfire nights, etc would still continue. Unfortunately the decision to oppose the application had to be taken without the benefit of full information due to deadlines set by MSDC. A second, amended application was only brought to Council’s attention two hours before the Planning meeting on 18th July when it was delivered by a MSDC employee to Cllr Huish’s house. At the July planning meeting the Council reaffirmed its original decision to oppose the application giving its secondary concerns as reasons against. The primary grounds were not deemed to be material planning matters by MSDC although, advice received by council at the time and subsequently re-confirmed, indicated that they were. The Parish Council wrote to the DLC offering to assist in a Public Consultation where the success of the football team could be celebrated and the community could be made aware of the details of the application. This offer was rejected by the DLC on the grounds that it was seen as interference in its management of the centre by the Council and that it serves thirty communities and not just Debenham.

Cllr Huish then went on to explain that Mr Mel Aldis, DLC Manager had been invited to attend in order to give further information and answer questions.  Council could then reaffirm its original decision or reverse it if desired by resolution, providing that five members of council were prepared to sign. The decision made would then be transmitted to MSDC at the meeting on the 17th August 05. David Hughes, DLC Chairman spoke regarding the events to date. Mr Hughes stated that he was in fact on holiday when the letter regarding the Public Consultation had been received and that the Vice Chairman Mr Alcock had replied in his absence. Mr Hughes expressed concern over the points of objection on the initial application being different to the points of objection on the amended application. Cllr Morley reconfirmed that the reasons for objection given on the initial application were the primary objections with Floodlighting, Car parking and traffic management being secondary. However it had transpired that the primary objections were not in fact considered material planning objections by Mid Suffolk District Council and could not be accepted. Therefore the Council used its secondary objections on the amended application. Cllr Huish stated that despite the Parish Councils views the DLC application was still listed at MSDC and recommended for approval by the planning officer to the committee meeting on the 17th August. Mr Hughes then went on to say that he would hope that for any future projects the DLC and Parish Council would communicate more efficiently. Other members of the public spoke in support of the application. As many submissions were similar Cllr Huish asked if they would now leave matters in the hands of Mel Aldis who would be addressing Council’s concerns later.

Standing Orders resumed 8.05pm.         

 

 

Time: 8.05pm
 
5.

Planning applications, permissions and refusals received.

 

5.1

1526/05 Barn South of Old Hall Farm barn, Debenham. Conversion of Redundant farm building. The Council had received letter from the owner of the private water supply objecting to the proposal to connect the new property to his water supply. The land marked on the plan for the proposed development encompassed land belonging to the correspondent.  It was also requested that the equipment for the electrical supply feeding the new development should not be near, cross or sited on land belonging to the correspondent. The council studied the plans and considered the proposal to be a good use of a redundant building but could not comment on the legal issues relating to the correspondent’s objections. It was therefore proposed by Cllr Morley, Seconded by Cllr Walters, agreed by all that approval be recommended subject to a resolution of the objections raised

 

 

5.2

1471/05 Debenham High School. Installation of 300mm transmission dish. Following examination of the application Cllr Lorenzo proposed, seconded Cllr Walters all agreed that approval for this application is recommended.

 

 

5.3

1197/05 33 Gracechurch Street. Demolition of Garden Room and Erection of single storey extension. LBC and Planning permission granted. Noted by Council

 

 

5.4

1090/05 Grange Farm, Stowmarket Road, Debenham. To repair and glaze softwood mullioned windows and place exterior wood slates on pin hinged frame LBC Granted Noted by Council

 

 

5.5

1348/05 17 Chancery Lane, Debenham. Remove one Eucalyptus. Permission Granted Noted by Council

 

 

5.6

1159/05 Dairy Cottage, Aspall Road, Debenham. Replace three single glazed softwood windows in extension with hardwood single glazed windows with extra horizontal glazing bar. LBC Granted. Noted by Council

                                          

5.7

1039/05 28 Raewald Way, Debenham. Erection of Conservatory at rear. Planning Permission Granted Noted by Council

 

 

5.8

1124/05 Barn at Gull Farm, Aspall Road, Debenham.Alterations to approved design to incorporate changes to utility / kitchen area and the main entrance to the barn. LBC Granted Noted by Council

 

 

5.9

1196/05 33 Gracechurch Street, Debenham. Erection of single storey extension. Planning Permission Granted Noted by Council

 

 

5.10

1206/05 Greenkeepers Cottage, Gt Back Lane, Debenham. Removal of condition 9 from previous granted permission 0986/00 (No development shall take place within the site until the applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted by the applicant and approved by the planning authority). Planning Permission Granted. Noted by Council

 

 

5.11

LBC1273/05 40 High Street, Debenham. Erect brick built boiler house at rear. Application Withdrawn Noted by Council

                                                                                      

Time: 8.30pm
 

Time: 8.20pm
 
6.

Response to Debenham Leisure Centre correspondence in respect of football stadium planning application. Cllr Morley briefly explained the contents of the three letters of correspondence between the DLC and the Parish Council. The first letter from Mr D Hughes, Chairman of DLC stating that the use of the field would still be available for events such as bonfire night, annual fete, Country and Western weekends etc, the second letter from the Parish Council offering assistance with a Public Consultation meeting and the third letter a response from the DLC rejecting the offer. Cllr Morley had drafted a letter in response and read it out at the meeting for Councils approval. Paragraphs were read out individually and Council asked for comments, for which there were none for the whole letter. Cllr Huish thanked Cllr Morley for all his hard work in writing letters and handling discussions in Cllr Huish’s absence. Proposed by Cllr Morley, seconded by Cllr Lorenzo, all agreed that the letter be sent to the DLC, addressed to the Chairman.

 

7.

To agree the content of the Parish Council presentation to the Planning Committee at MSDC on the 16th August 05 in respect of Debenham Leisure Centre planning application. Cllr Morley invited Mel Aldis, DLC manager to answer objections raised. Mr Aldis stated that the application is for improvement to the football ground and not for the erection of a Stadium and that parishioners that he had spoken to in the village had been very positive and supportive of the application. Following extensive discussions with the Parish Council Mr Aldis understood the issues concerned. With regard to the traffic management issue Mr Aldis assured Council that there will only be approximately ten cars per match or one coach, there would not be as many vehicles that the Blood Donor sessions or Firework display attracts. Cllr Morley said that another Football Club which had recently been promoted to the Ridgeon League reported that they had to accommodate approximately thirty extra cars on match days. Mr Aldis explained that no two clubs are the same and reiterated that only ten extra cars were expected on match days. The DLC has an arrangement with the High School to use their car park for overspill, this arrangement is, as Mr Aldis informed, unlikely to be retracted as the DLC allows teachers to park in its car park. Cllr Walters raised the issue of the original plans having extra parking spaces, the DLC considered this unnecessary as the highest recorded number of supporters attending a match in 2004 was one hundred and twenty people. It is envisaged that with the use of the school car park and occasional parking on grass area’s belonging to the DLC, weather allowing, that the existing car park would be able to cope with the football supporter vehicles as well as other vehicles attending events at the DLC. Cllr Morley pointed out that the floodlighting would produce a wall of light which would be widely visible as the DLC is the highest point in the village, even though they would conform to current regulations and that this poses a concern. Mr Aldis assured Council that the lights would only be used for approximately ten match games per year and not for practice games where there are other lights which have been in place for fourteen years. The latest that the Floodlights would be on is 10.15pm for Cup Games otherwise it is envisaged that they will be turned off earlier. Cllr Morley reported that MSDC had sent letters out to surrounding dwellings most affected and had received no objections. He also repeated that the council has supported the DLC and the work it does for many years and will continue to do so. Given this latest information, Cllr Morley asked Council if it would like to change its original decision, members requested another inspection of the plans. Cllr Huish requested that consideration be given to the new information presented to Council: No high fencing, unless future requirement only barrier around the pitch; Flood lighting only to be used for match games and turned off at the earliest opportunity; Car Parking as discussed; Spectator Stand not a permanent structure, unless a future requirement;. Cllr Huish then invited Council to consider whether it would like to rescind its original decision. Proposed by Cllr Morley, Seconded by Cllr Huish agreed by all that in light of additional information received since the original objection was lodged the Council wishes to rescind and Recommend Approval for the application. Cllr Huish requested five members of Council to remain at the end of the meeting to sign the Resolution form prepared by the Clerk.            

 

Cllr Mrs Skelton left the meeting having declared a personal interest in item 8

 

As agreed at the onset of the meeting, agenda item 9 brought forward to allow council to consider parishioners views on Henry Street, Affordable housing application.

Time: 9.10pm

 
 
 


9.

Standing orders suspended: Meeting open to allow members of public the public to speak for 10 minutes

Proposed by Cllr Moreton, seconded by Cllr Lorenzo agreed by all that standing orders be suspended to allow members of the public to speak. A member of the Public, Mr C Davies a new resident of the village as of the 30th June was only informed of the Henry Street development on the 5th July. Mr Davies noted that the development began discretely and as more land was acquired the development grew with now eleven two storey dwellings are planned to be built. The area around the development site has only bungalows built on it. Mr Davies is not against the Affordable Housing development but requests that the type of dwelling is reconsidered and that only Bungalows are built. Another member of the public stated that when they wanted to build their house six years ago they were refused planning permission and had to build a bungalow. Council explained that building bungalows would reduce the number of families assisted by the Affordable Housing Scheme as only five or six buildings would be able to be erected instead of the proposed eleven houses. One member of the public raised the issue of preserving play areas, not building on them. Council explained that investigations had been done concluding that the land in question received very little use and due to the isolated nature of the ground was not considered a safe place for children to play. A second member of the public confirmed the lack of use identified in the investigation by stating that the land is rarely used, if children do play there it is for approximately 20minutes maximum resulting in the area being empty and unused for the majority of the day. Council confirmed that additional play areas in the immediate area are to be equipped in the near future. On the application it states that no trees are to be cut, but on the plans it denotes trees removed. The trees in question are in the private garden which has been made available, have no preservation order on them and therefore do not come under the Councils jurisdiction.

Due to time limitations Standing Orders resumed 9.20pm    

 

8

To agree the presentation to MSDC Planning committee on the 16th August in respect of Affordable Housing in Henry Street. Cllr Huish requested whether Council wanted to reconsider the original resolution. Cllr Morley stated that Affordable Housing is a national issue and has to be developed at lowest possible cost. A major cost in a house price is the cost of the land that the house is built on. The area of land in the envelope of Debenham earmarked for the proposed development belongs to MSDC and was going to be transferred over to the Parish Council therefore there is no cost implication. Out of the two areas considered, only the proposed site was identified as being suitable. Whilst Cllr Morley appreciated that some residents will be affected and were understandably angry, he stated that the development holds too much value for future generations not to continue. The funding for this project is to come from money left over from another scheme; if this funding opportunity were to be lost there would be no more funds for another five years or more.  

 

10.

Any other business – for information exchange only. Cllr Walters stated that he now had the approved agreement to allow the junior football team to practice on the Recreation Ground and that he would consult with the team manager Mr G French. Clerk to request extension on all planning applications until September.

 

11.

Date of next meeting Thursday 15th September 2005

 

 

 

Being there no further items to discuss the meeting closed at 9.36pm

 

 

 

 

Signed ………………………………………………………… Chairman

 

Date …………………………………..