Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Royal Wootton Bassett & Cricklade Area Board and to the Bushton & Clyffe Pypard Village Hall.

The Chairman introduced the councillors and officers present.

RWBC Grants Newsletter

To consider a report from the Community Engagement Manager,

including applications from:

·         Cricklade Leisure Centre (C&DCA) requesting £999 for Soft Play and bounce equipment

To note the allocation of following funds, under authority delegated to the Community Engagement Manager

Request: Contribution from the Health and Wellbeing fund towards positive activities to mark World Mental Health Day for an amount not to exceed £50

Project:Tea and Talk coffee morning at RWB library

Request: Contribution from the Positive Youth Activities fund to contribute towards engaging young people in activities raising awareness of environmental issues for an amount not to exceed £100

Project:Royal Wootton Bassett Environmental Group - environmental art/photography competition/exhibition

Grant Funding Applications

Decision

C&DCA awarded £999 for Soft Play and Bounce Equipment

Decision – (agreement of CEM delegated funding)

Contribution from the Health and Wellbeing fund towards positive activities to mark World Mental Health Day for £50 for Tea and Talk coffee morning at RWB library.

Decision– (agreement of CEM delegated funding)

Contribution from the Positive Youth Activities fund for £100to contribute towards engaging young people in activities raising awareness of environmental issues - Royal Wootton Bassett Environmental Group -   environmental art/photography competition/exhibition.

To discuss the planning process and how Parish Councils can feel more engaged and listened to with Sally Canter from Wiltshire Council Planning.

Parish Councils are invited to send questions in advance prior to the meeting, so that Planning Officers can ensure they have the correct information available on the night.

(Please send questions to jane.vaughan@wiltshire.gov.uk and entitle your email Disc 25 Sept.)

The Town & Parish Council were given the opportunity prior to the meeting to submit questions.

From Broad Town Parish Council (via Parish Clerk Mrs E Diamant)

·         If imposing pre-conditions can the Planning Department ask to be notified when the build is starting so that they can check the pre-build conditions have been met, and there should be more stringent penalties if these have not been met. There are many instances where pre-build conditions have been applied but have not been submitted and approved prior to development starting, and WCC only follow this up if an enquiry is raised by the public.

·         To help fulfil the need for transparency can all documentation relating to the application be posted on the website and if they have different numbers then have links between the two. Especially refers to post-approval documentation such as any pre-build condition submissions and approvals.

·         The consultation dates for planning applications are getting shorter (often less than one month).  This means that there is not enough time to present the information to the Parish Council prior to the PC meetings.  Planning are not generally keen to extend the consultation date for this process to occur.  Can planning comment on why the dates are getting shorter and suggest a resolution to this.

From Clyffe Pypard Parish Council (via Parish Clerk - Rosemary Greenway and Cllr Peter Gantlett)

·         Why do you encourage the supply of new holiday homes in rural situations which may support the local economy through the summer and make decisions against permanent small houses for young people, with local connections, which would support their own community all year round. 

In South Wales and other coastal villages holiday homes have caused a collapse of their economy.’

·         Should people be allowed to extend their homes Adlib - especially in rural villages causing dwindling numbers of small houses suitable for young people I.e. first-time family homes. I am told that this has been restricted in Stroud.

·         Change of use for public houses ; The context is the Trotting Horse in Bushton /Clyffe Pypard that was given change of use on the basis it was marketed at a commercial value; The question relates to what constitutes a commercial value ; Several of the planning committee , including Toby Sturgess ( who used to be a valuer ) cast doubts on the value put on the Trotting Horse; I have no wish to rerun the arguments over that planning application , however some clarification would be welcome as we currently have  a second pub closed in our parish and do not want to see that go the same way.

·         Is there evidence of when Neighbourhood Plans have influenced planning decisions ; A lot of time has gone into producing these plans , including in CP where we are still working on ours, it would be interesting to know when any of them have been used.

Cricklade Town Council (via Duncan May):

·         Are there any training sessions arranged on planning issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

Councillor Bob Jones will lead a discussion about issues with a view to potentially inviting officers to attend a future meeting to provide further information.

(Please send questions to jane.vaughan@wiltshire.gov.uk and entitle your email Disc 25 Sept.)

Cllr Allison Bucknell will lead a discussion about any support that Parish Councils would welcome from Wiltshire Council going forwards to help us jointly improve our local communities.

Parish Councils are invited to send questions in advance prior to the meeting, so that Officers can ensure they have the correct information available on the night.

(Please send questions to jane.vaughan@wiltshire.gov.uk and entitle your email Disc 25 Sept.)

Community Area Transport Group

·         The notes of the meeting held on Wednesday 11 September 2019 were agreed by the Area Board members.

Mary Champion reported that that the former Health and Wellbeing Champion for Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade (Ellen Blacker) was to be awarded an award from Community First at their AGM on 9^th October 2019 in the category – ‘Most innovative community run project or service’. Mary also acknowledged her gratitude to Stevie Palmer for the outstanding voluntary work she undertakes in the Community Area. Mary was also nominated for a Community First award, but was ‘pipped to the post’ on this occasion.

The Area Board and all attendees applauded Stevie’s contribution to the community.