The Chairman will provide information about:
a. Drainage
b. Oxford St Repossession
c. Scaffolding in Malmesbury
d. JSA Event
e. Network Rail Bridge Closures
Minutes:
The Chairman and the Area Board made the following announcements:
1) Flooding and Drainage Bye Laws
Toby discussed the recent flooding and stated that it is considered to be a serious issue in Wiltshire. Toby said that the Council had responded to a number of significant flooding events which had affected communities across the region in recent years. Toby went on to discuss the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and section 66 of the Land Drainage Act 1991 which allows local authorities to make land drainage byelaws. Byelaws can be used to create criminal offences which can be prosecuted in the Magistrate’s Courts. Toby stated that Wiltshire Council was in the process of using its powers to make byelaws, to help it carry out its duties effectively and in doing so assist with reducing flood risk for local communities.
2) Nos. 3,6,12 and 13 Oxford Street, Malmesbury.
Toby discussed the repossession of numbers 3,6,12 and 13 Oxford Street, Malmesbury and the actions the Council had taken with the aforementioned listed buildings, lying in the heart of Malmesbury and within the Malmesbury Conservation Area. The dilapidation of these buildings was said to have been a cause for concern for several years. Toby stated that after being purchased in the 1990s the owner allowed the property to fall into a state of disrepair with several examples of unauthorised and unacceptable works having been undertaken by the then owner. Despite the service of listed building enforcement notices, urgent repair notices and a successful prosecution at Swindon Crown Court, where the a substantial fine was imposed and costs awarded to Wiltshire Council, the owner had continued to allow the buildings to fall into a state of disrepair.
Earlier this year the finance companies, with the assistance of Wiltshire Council’s Planning Enforcement Team, took the case to the High Court and after frustratingly lengthy proceedings, the buildings were ordered to be passed to the ownership and possession of The First County Trust Limited.
Unfortunately the physical repossession was thwarted on more than one occasion however The First County Trust limited now have full possession and, together with Wiltshire Council, have agreed to start planning in early January 2014, to ensure that the buildings are restored to an acceptable standard.
Toby stated that the adjacent graveyard would also be opened as soon as possible.
Residents with any questions are encouraged to contact: Allan Brown. Planning Enforcement at Wiltshire Council (allan.brown@wiltshire.gov.uk) at any time (tel. 01249706646) if further information is required.
3) Scaffolding in Malmesbury
Simon stated that the scaffolding that had been erected in the town centre that had been causing significant difficulty for local people has now been removed. John went on to thank all those involved with resolving this issue.
4) JSA Event
John said that the Joint Strategic Assessment (JSA) for Malmesbury and the surrounding villages would be published during the spring of 2014. John reminded the meeting that the JSA would provide Wiltshire Council with local data about the area we live in and would play a key role in ensuring the Council is in a position to make informed decisions about the future of the local community. John stated that this year’s JSA would include new chapters on culture and leisure, thus giving Wiltshire Council and the local community, a broader picture of the wider community.
John stated the importance of the community coming together to examine this data, and to agree local priorities and projects for the area board, our partners and the community to address. John urged enthusiasts from across the community area to join the JSA event for the Malmesbury community on Wednesday evening, 2 April 2014 which will be held in Malmesbury School
As an invitation only event, communities were reminded that those who would like to receive an invitation, should please contact Miranda Gilmour, Malmesbury Community Area Manager, by email: miranda.gilmour@wiltshire.gov.uk or telephone 01672 515742 as soon as possible.
5) Network Rail Bridge Closures
Network Rail had originally planned to provide an update to the meeting, but this had not been forthcoming. Instead, Toby discussed the planned bridge closures around the region and stated that Network Rail had agreed to attend a Dauntsey Parish Council meeting in future to discuss the local closures. Toby said that communications between all contractors had been limited and therefore a coordinated approach had not been managed. John Matthews and Martin Rea from Sherston Parish Council stated that they felt Sherston and Luckington Parishes had at times, been entirely overlooked by Network Rail.
6) Community Infrastructure Levy
Toby discussed how Wiltshire Council is in the process of preparing a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule. CIL is a charge that local authorities can place on new development to help fund infrastructure needed to support growth.
A Consultation is being undertaken on a Draft Charging Schedule that sets out the proposed rates of CIL to be charged on new developments for different types of land use. The consultation starts on 13th January 2014 and ends at 5pm on 24 February 2014. Further documentation has been published here on the Council’ website.
An appendix containing more information on CIL and the consultation including how to comment and the next steps would be made available on the blogsite.
Representations can be made online, by email or by post to the following addresses:
- Consultation portal: http://consult.wiltshire.gov.uk/portal
- Email: CIL@wiltshire.gov.uk
- Post: Spatial Planning, Economic Development and Planning, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN.
7) Extra Care Scheme
John was delighted to say that Wiltshire Council have now made significant progress on the development of an extra care scheme.
This was said to be great news for Malmesbury and would not only see some much needed, new older people’s housing in the town, but will also see the development of the former Burnham House Care Home site.
The scheme will see, subject to planning approval and consultation, the development of a 53 unit extra care scheme on the site, of which 35 units will be for affordable rent. The rest will be for open market sale. The scheme will also include extensive communal facilities that will benefit the wider community across Malmesbury.
The Developer is currently in the process of finalising the scheme layouts and external designs and we will share those with the Working Group before a planning application is submitted next month. We will also share these with the Area Board members and hold a public consultation event for residents of Malmesbury to view and comment on the plans.
John confirmed that the Developer is working towards a start on site by the summer of 2014 with the scheme completed by the end of summer 2015.
8) Malmesbury Neighbourhood Plan
Simon confirmed that Malmesbury Town Council have had discussions regarding the Malmesbury Neighbourhood Plan, and along with the two neighbouring parishes of St Paul Without and Brokenborough, had prepared a draft neighbourhood plan, entitled the Malmesbury Neighbourhood Plan. Simon confirmed that the plan sets out a vision for the future of the area and planning policies which will be used to determine planning applications locally.
The Plan had been submitted to Wiltshire Council to carry out the formal consultation stage leading to an independent examination of the Plan. The consultation begins on 20th January and closes on 5th March. Representations can be made in writing or preferably online through Wiltshire Council’s consultation portal. All the representations received during this period will be considered by an independent examiner who will prepare a report on the Plan. Subject to the Inspector’s findings the Plan will then proceed to a referendum of the local community expected to be held by autumn this year. The Malmesbury Neighbourhood Plan is the first Wiltshire neighbourhood plan to reach this advanced stage.
Further information is available from: