MINUTES OF COMPTON MARTIN PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 26 APRIL 2017 AT 6.30 P.M.

IN COMPTON MARTIN VILLAGE HALL

Present

Councillor R Chapman (RCh)

Councillor C Craig (CC) (Vice Chairman)

Councillor J Halling-Brown (JHB)

Councillor A Jurkiw (AJ) (Vice Chairman)

Councillor K Moore (KM)

Councillor Dr AA Palmer (AAP) (Chairman)

Councillor E Taylor (ET)

1.         To receive and accept apologies for absence

·         All councillors present

2.         Receive comments from the public

·         None Comments received

3.         Receive declarations of interest in the agenda

·         Declarations of interest were received from CC, RCh, ET relating to Agenda Item 8.1.a)

4.         To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meetings

·         It was proposed and seconded that the minutes of the 10 April 2017 be approved and signed.

5.         Finance

1.1       It was proposed and seconded that the following payments be made:

6.         Compton Martin Village Pump

·         To consider the Report covering the additional invoice received and agree payment.

The additional invoice was discussed and it was proposed and seconded that a payment of £225.00 plus VAT be paid to Green and Carter Limited for the reinstatement of the Village Pump.  A letter to be sent to Green and Carter enclosing the cheque.  All in favour.  Letter attached to these minutes.

7.         Refurbishment of the Village Fingerpost Sign on The Wrangle

·         To reconfirm and agree costs relating to the refurbishment of The Fingerpost Sign

It was proposed and seconded that the costs relating to the Fingerpost Sign are confirmed in order for KM to proceed with the arrangements of the refurbishment of the Village Fingerpost sign.  All in favour.

8.         Planning Applications

1.   To receive a report from the Planning Working Party and consider their recommendations regarding the following Planning Applications

a)      17/01382/TCA – Feltham Lodge, The Coombe, Compton Martin

Beech (T1-T2) Crown reduce by approx. 25% 4m in height and 3m laterally.  Crown thin by 15% mainly be removing crossing branches.  Crown lift to 4m, Silver Birch (T3-T6) Remove Ivy to ground level, Apple (T8) Fell, Norway Spruce (T10) Fell, Buddleia (A1) Fell.  PLEASE NOTE NOW REVISED TO ONLY INCLUDE THE FELLING OF ONE APPLE TREE.

It was proposed and seconded that the Parish Council objects in principle to this planning application.  All in favour.  Letter to the Planning Authority attached to these minutes.

9.         The Footpath Walk Report

It was proposed and seconded that the Footpath Walk Report be adopted and copies to be available to parishioners at the Annual Parish Meeting.  The Clerk to also send a copy of the Report to the B&NES Rights of Way Officer.  Further recommendations to be made regarding the setting up of a Compton Martin Footpath/Maintenance Person. 

COMPTON MARTIN PARISH COUNCIL

26^th April 2017

Mr Charles Doble

Green and Carter Limited

Vulcan Works

Ashbrittle

Near Wellington

Somerset TA21 0LQ

Dear Mr Doble,

I refer to your letter dated 23 April 2017.  Compton Martin Parish Council has now had an opportunity to consider your demand for payment.  Having examined the previous correspondence, it would appear that the reinstatement of the pump would incur a charge of £450 + VAT.  It is also clear from the papers the Parish Council has examined that you offered to reduce the cost of the initial visit, the reduction offered being 50% of the cost of the initial visit, in the event the Parish Council went ahead with the work recommended by your Company after it had inspected the Pump.  Looking at the invoices the Parish Council has received from your Company and paid, it is clear that no such reduction has been applied, despite it having been offered.  Consequently, the Parish Council has applied the offered 50% discount to your Company's latest demand for payment, and encloses a cheque in the sum of £225 + VAT in full settlement.

Yours sincerelylerk to Compton Martin Parish Council

COMPTON MARTIN PARISH COUNCIL

26^th April 2017

Planning Services

Lewis House

Manvers Street

Bath BA1 1JG

Dear Sirs,

17/01382/TCA – Feltham Lodge, The Coombe, Compton Martin

Beech (T1-T2) Crown reduce by approx. 25% 4m in height and 3m laterally.  Crown thin by 15% mainly be removing crossing branches.  Crown lift to 4m, Silver Birch (T3-T6) Remove Ivy to ground level, Apple (T8) Fell, Norway Spruce (T10) Fell, Buddleia (A1) Fell.  PLEASE NOTE NOW REVISED TO ONLY INCLUDE THE FELLING OF ONE APPLE TREE.

Compton Martin Parish Council considered the above planning application at their parish council meeting on Wednesday 26 April 2017.  I have been instructed to write to you to confirm their wish to OBJECT IN PRINCIPLE to this planning application.

NOTE: The Parish of Compton Martin is one of seven parishes forming the Chew Valley Neighbourhood Plan. This Plan has been approved in a Referendum in February 2017 and now has legal status as part of the Statutory Development Plan against which planning applications are determined and to which full weight must be given.

 The Parish Council can see no reason for the felling of this Apple Tree and no reason has been given by the applicant for felling this Apple Tree. 

The Parish Council notes that the Tree Works Schedule from the Report from Advanced Arboriculture commissioned by the applicant states that:

“T7, T8, T9 – Apple    No works required at the present time”.

 The Parish Council however disagrees with the comments made in the Report from Advanced Arboriculture commissioned by the applicant when it states that:

 “The lower end of the garden has three Apples, all of which are growing relatively close to the garden boundary.  These are reasonable though not outstanding specimens and offer very limited visual amenity value from outside of the property curtilage.”

 Feltham Lodge is in a Conservation Area and in the Mendip Hills AONB.  The Apple Tree in question can be seen by surrounding properties in the Coombe, from Coombe View on the main A368 road, the well-used footpath which crosses the field towards Rectory Lane.

 For the avoidance of doubt, Compton Martin Parish Council Objects in principle to this Planning Application, particularly when considering the activity which is currently taking place on this site. 

Yours faithfully,