Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on Monday, 16 January 2012 at 7.30 p.m. in the Peek Hall, Rousdon.

Present: Martin Platts, Mary Jones, Roy Jones, Allister Kemp, Cllr Ian Thomas, Cllr Jim Knight, three members of the public

Broadband – the clerk had been contacted by a representative of Twoway – satellite company back by Devon and Somerset Councils to give a presentation about solutions to rural broadband situation, but this had been cancelled for the time being.

1. District Councillor’s Report - an update on the Broadband situation – Cllr Thomas and representatives of Trinity Broadband had attended a meeting in November in Dunkeswell. Devon & Somerset County Councils were to use their £550,000 grant from DEFRA to support free installation of satellite broadband for up to 1,000 customers in conjunction with Tooway (similar to Skye system). While the installation would be free, actually running the system could prove quite expensive, depending on individual tariffs, most of which were generally available on Tooway’s website, without seemingly any real advantage to the County scheme. There also seemed to be some question over the actual amount of the subsidy and there was no real conclusion to the situation – Cllr Knight would check the DCC position on this.

Open Forum – Graham Jones spoke about giving up as editor of the Parish Magazine after many years – a new editor would be needed urgently – the magazine in its present format breaks even and is delivered (quarterly) to every occupied property in the parish. It provides information about village life and organisations and diary dates and is generally appreciated.

2. County Councillor’s Report – Highways, etc. – will report state of A3052 road in the centre after Dower House breaking away. The new Grit bins were on order. He provided a summary of Highways Winter Service to Jan 2012 (on file).

3. Apologies were received from Michael Stride, Judith Ellard, and Kevin Salter.

4. Minutes of the last meeting (21 Nov 2011) were signed as a correct record by chairman

5. Matters Arising – Snow Warden position – Colin Boyd was to deputise in Jim Bolton’s absence this month – he would however, have to be trained in order for the Council to be able to order salt allocation. Highways would contact him and they also needed a Snow Plan, which the clerk was sending to them.

6. Planning:

Discussed at a meeting on 12 December 2011 –

11/2683/FUL – Charton Farm – Revisions to previously approved agricultural workers dwelling including extension, render finish, solar pv panels and construction of shed – there were no objections to this, but it was suggested an agricultural tie be applied to the extension

11/2674/CAC – Groundsman's Stores, Rousdon, Estate -Demolition of existing buildings

The Parish Council had no objections to this application, providing no protected wildlife species are disturbed.

11/2668/FUL – Groundsman's Stores, Rousdon, Estate - Demolition of existing buildings and construction of a building for B8 (Storage or Distribution) and/or B1 (Business) use, including associated external areas.

The Parish Council rejected this application for the following reasons:

It is understood that the B8 Certificate of lawfulness was granted on basis of development and maintenance of the Estate itself. Although changes in the “Use continued use as a Builder's Yard. This continued use was in order to service the Classes Order” permits restricted B1 use, the Parish Council strongly objects to any commercial activity taking place on the Estate which does not relate directly to the Estate. In addition whilst restricted B1 use may be permitted upon the application site by virtue of the Use Classes Order it should not in the opinion of the Parish Council follow that further development by the erection of modern industrial buildings out of keeping with the traditional and historic nature of the estate should be permitted.

The above will create security issues for residents on the estate.

Access to the Estate is totally unsuitable for business use – narrow estate entrance gates and narrow driveway.

The Estate is a designated Conservation Area and part of the AONB and Coastal Preservation area – allowing business use here could set a precedent for other applications.

The proposed development would be within a 100 yards of a grade II listed building.

The proposed development would be contrary to The Rousdon Estate Planning and Design Brief.

1.3 ‘.....a need to guide change to......enhance the appearance of the whole estate by the removal of modern buildings and the reinstatement of original landscape features’

4.8 ‘sheds and other paraphernalia will need to be carefully designed and screened to harmonise with the existing landscape.......(otherwise).......this will seriously detract from the appearance and setting’

7.2 ‘A particularly interesting theme is the careful manipulation of space to create the impression of a landscape that is much greater in extent than it is, for example the dog leg in the main drive’ (The Parish Council would argue that inserting a roadway and entrance to a business estate, no matter how small, at the junction of this very dog-leg will destroy the very effect which EDDC wanted to retain).

8.9 ‘Any new development should be directly related to the existing buildings in such a way as not to detract from them’

There is no provision for any commercial use on the Estate, which is purely a private and residential development and has been carefully regulated to remain within the Design Brief.

Even limited development will make car use and servicing much more intense. Reference is made to this in paragraph 8.6 of the Design Brief.

Discussed at this meeting:

Application no 12/0030/FUL – The Forge, Rousdon, Lyme Regis, DT7 3XT

Underground oil tank and external flue

The Parish Council had been informed that there had been an underground rainwater reservoir on this property at one time, possibly in the vicinity of the planned underground oil tank. There was no information as to whether this was still there – it is possible it may have been filled in and checking up on this was advised.

Otherwise, the Parish Council had no objections to this application.

Trees – copy of letter from Planning Department re trees at 25 Old Home Farm – notification of exempt works

Consent had been granted for the following:

11/2486/FUL – Higher Manor Farm, Combpyne – Construction of Covered yard

11/23262/FUL and 11/2558/LBC – 6 The Gardens, Rousdon – Alterations to roof

The planning application for the Hall Porch extension was still under discussion with EDDC – the deadline for application for the discretionary grant for this was 20 Jan – an approximate figure could be entered on the application and amended later if necessary – the clerk would chase this up with the Hall secretary.

Queries were raised about the following:

The Bungalow, Rousdon Estate – there appeared to be work going on here, clearing trees, etc.

1 Peeks Mead – an extension had been built here, said to be replacing a former shed/bunker

– the clerk would check with the enforcement officer as to whether planning regulations had been breached in either case.

7. Precept – it was agreed to precept for £2,900. This would include a £500 contribution to Village Hall windows as previously decided (27 May 2010).

Proposed by A Kemp, seconded by M Jones– it was decided not to increase Peek Hall grant.

8. Next meeting - 19 March 2012 – Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30 p.m., followed by the ordinary Parish Council Meeting.

The next DALC meeting would be in Kilmington on Monday, 30 Jan - clerk would circulate details.

The meeting finished at 9.05 p.m.

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