STORRINGTON & SULLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Planning and Development Committee held in The Skylight Room, The Sullington Parish Hall, Thakeham Road, Storrington, on Thursday, 7th February, 2008, commencing at 7.00 p.m.

Present:  Mrs. A. Worthington-Leese in the Chair, Mr. J. Macey, Mr. A. Mullard, Mr. D. Roper and Mrs. L. Wheatley.

In Attendance:   Mr. A. Aldridge
    2 Members of the Public.

107.    Apologies for Absence were received from Mr. R. Dawe (holiday).  The reason for absence was duly ACCEPTED.

108.    To Receive Declarations of Interest from Members.  Mrs. Worthington-Leese declared a personal interest in agenda item 13 (a) DC/06/2614 and Mr. Aldridge declared a personal interest in DC/07/2909.

109.    To Approve and Sign the Minutes of the Last Meeting held on the 13th December, 2007.  These Minutes were duly APPROVED as being a correct record of the proceedings thereat and were signed by the Chairman.

    Matters Arising :-

110.    Minute No. 93: Oak End.  Nothing further had been received from H.D.C.  This would be chased.

111.    Minute No. 92:  Southern Water update.  A meeting with Southern Water had been organized for the 13th March, 2008.

    A letter regarding the Council’s Environmental Information Regulations 2004 request had been received today from a Solicitor of Southern Water.  They explained that they had been in correspondence with a number of customers for some time and correspondence may have been exchanged with different departments.  The County Sewerage Engineer had some current correspondence, but some could be on Customer Services, Operational, Network Development and Modelling and Contract Management files.  It was likely the older of these would have been archived.  Correspondence, with the exception of complaints, was not indexed or catalogued; hence they did not know how many letters or internal communications may have been exchanged.  Gathering this information would necessitate a detailed search.  They requested the Council be more specific about the nature of the correspondence or information required and the time period required, i.e., narrow the request.  They would not be able to disclose any personal data.  It was suggested that the forthcoming meeting could be an opportunity to review the information the Council needed.

    The Council were trying to establish how many properties were affected by the problem and whether, from the time first reported, anything had been done.  Members would submit their ideas to the Clerk in order to compile a list of items in readiness for the meeting. 

112.    Minute No. 100: DC/07/2707 – Land North of Sullington Old Rectory, Sullington Lane.  Mr. M. Stephen, husband of Ms. Ferguson (the applicant), prior to the meeting, had requested  permission to speak with  the  Committee  about  their  application  as  he  did  not consider the Council had considered these fairly and  he  asked  for  equitable  treatment.  He
considered the Council’s comments gave a detrimental impression of the application.  Mr. Stephen advised that the application was for a stand alone block of three stables and there was no link with other parties.  He wanted the Council to amend the comments submitted to H.D.C., as he felt they had included unreasonable assumptions.  The meeting did not agree as it was considered that the application had been looked at fairly bearing in mind the delicate location of the site in an A.O.N.B.  The Officers at H.D.C., had advised that their recommendation with regard to this application was that it should be refused.   Mr. Stephen thanked the meeting for their time and left the meeting.

113.    Application for Provisional Statement – Eclipse Sports Ltd., 5, Old Mill Square, Storrington.  H.D.C., had sent a copy of the Notice of Grant of an Application for a Provisional Statement in accordance with regulations made under section 164(2) of the Gambling Act 2005 in relation to Betting (Other).

114.    To Consider Quotation for Tree Root Removal at Storrington Pond.  This tree had recently fallen in the pond and the majority of it had been removed.  However, the root was partly pulled out of the ground and a section of wall to the pond had been knocked down.  It would not be possible to repair the wall until the tree root was removed.  Andrew Gale Tree Surgery Ltd., had quoted in the sum of £975.00 plus V.A.T., to do this work.  The cost was high due to the limited access to the site for machines.  Following discussion it was UNANIMOUSLY AGREED :-

    To recommend to Full Council that the quotation from Andrew Gale Tree Surgery Ltd., in the sum of £975.00 plus V.A.T., should be accepted.

115.    Horsham District Council’s New Corporate Plan, 2008 – 2011.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    A definitive statement should be included to ensure that suitable infrastructure was in place prior to development.

116.    English Courtyard Planning Application – Sheltered Housing Scheme.  The Parish Council had raised concerns with English Courtyard with regard to the glasshouses and they went away and looked at these with a view to, if possible, keeping them.  Unfortunately the woodwork was too far gone to restore, but they proposed to salvage the ironwork and to re-erect them in the private part of the site.  Some Members thought that these glasshouses were Listed.  Browns Lane was a private road and some thought that was owned by the Convent.  Attempts should be made to find out who owns this road.  Should it be owned by English Courtyard it could be suggested that there be a S.106 agreement to bring this up to an adoptable standard.

    Planning Applications Awaiting Comment – Appendix I.

117.    DC/08/0227 – Angells Sandpit.  It was pointed out that the proposed woodland due West and South-west of the conservatory of Chestnut Cottage, on rising ground, would be planted just 6m away from this local ancient historic building and once the trees matured it was felt that to crowd it in would be to the detriment of this Listed Building.  It  was  considered  that the plans were incorrectly marked up in this respect.   There  was  no  objection  in  principle,
subject to moving of the woodland.  It would be necessary to create a new temporary access to a part of the restoration area from Water Lane and this would have to be done to local authority specification.

118.    DC/07/2909 – Pulborough Rugby Club.  Mr. Aldridge declared a personal interest in this item.  There was no objection to this, but it was felt that there should be stringent conditions controlling the noise and if any breaches of that which should lead to a series of complaints, then the licence should be revoked.

119.    DC/08/0029 – 7, Pulborough Road.  This application was for an additional 4-bed dwelling at the front of the site.  Discussion took place with regard to highway access.  The description of DC/07/1725 needed amending.  It was not felt that any objection would be upheld.

120.    DC/08/0152 – Sandown, Amberley Road.  For this development they were proposing to connect to the main sewer.  It was AGREED :-

    To object on the grounds of the hazardous access not being sufficient for the housing proposed and traffic conditions at this location.  Should this application be granted there should be a condition attached to ensure that they install mitigating measures in relation to sewerage and waste water.

121.    DC/08/0125 – Land Rear of 3 – 7 Church Street.  There would be no vehicular access to this site.  The site is considered too small for 3 dwellings and would be severely overlooked.  Therefore it was AGREED :-

    To object to this application.

122.    DC/08/0096 – Chilmark, 37, School Hill.  This was a retrospective application for the underground garage, which was already in situ.  This applicant wanted to put fencing on top of the underground garage.  Therefore it was AGREED :-

        To object to this application.

123.    Planning Application Decisions – Appendix II.  These were duly NOTED.  It was reported that DC/07/2389 – 4, Byre Cottage had been refused by H.D.C.

124.    Planning Applications, Comment Summary – since the meeting on the 13th December, 2007.   These were duly NOTED.

125.    Letters of Explanation from H.D.C.  There were no letters of explanation.

126.    Appeals :-
(a)    Decisions – DC/06/2614 – Hoy, Fryern Road, Storrington – Erection of 1 x chalet style bungalow.  Appeal DISMISSED.

    (b)    Lodged – DC/07/2224 – Land to rear of 17, Pulborough Road.

127.    Chairman’s Announcements :-

(a)    H.D.C., Planning News Update 2008.  This was duly NOTED.
(b)    H.D.C., Licensing Act 2003 – Licensing Policy.  This was duly NOTED.

128.    Documents for Councillors to Read :-

(a)    H.D.C. General Development Control Policies (2007).  Available in the Parish Office.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.40.m.