Parish Council Minutes

At 6.00 pm

At Warmington School

Mr D Rowell (Chairman) 
Mr A Hinton
Mrs M Hodges 
Mr P Banbridge
Mr M Dixon 
Mr R Enfield
Mr D Short 
Mr V Cooper

16 Parishioners were in attendance together with Mr P Hope MP, Mrs G Smith and

Mr C Ray ENC, Mrs P Padley Northamptonshire County Councillor, Mr D Edsall

CPRE and Mr W Du Croz VDS Chair.

3. APOLOGIES Apologies were received and accepted from Mr Bosworth, Mr G Wise ENC, Ms S Bowdler ACRE and Mr C Wade RFT.

4. OPENING COMMENTS – Mr D Rowell, Chairman, Parish Council. Mr Rowell stated that the meeting had been called in an attempt to eradicate problems that have been occurring when the Parish Council forward their comments on planning applications to the District Council. One recent failure highlighted the problems and caused concern over the usefulness of the Village Design Statement. This has in turn resulted in low morale within the group. Mr Rowell commented that the Parish Council ask for conditions to be attached to planning applications and are pleased when these are noticed. However, even at this stage changes can be introduced without the knowledge of the Parish Council. He invited ENC to explain how the system works in an attempt to achieve better working relationships.

5. THE VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT – Mr W Du Croz, Chairman VDS Group. Mr Du Croz pointed out that the views he was expressing were his own but felt that equally they were held by many people in the village. He began on a negative note commenting on number of applications with which there have been problems in the past. Mr Du Croz felt that the Parish Council have always tried to put forward constructive comments regarding planning applications in the hope that these will be taken on board. This perception of how the system works, however, has not always been the case. Planning in the past has been both good and bad. Mr Du Croz recognises that the Planning Authority in the past may not always have been able to influence design, but equally were efforts made. There is a lack of confidence in the planning system. A similar meeting with similar concerns was held 7 years ago but very little has changed.

6. THE VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT AND ENC – Geraldine Smith & Colin Ray, East Northamptonshire Council. Mrs Smith stated that she has only been in post since February and that she is currently reviewing the planning process. She is not familiar with past decisions and would like to leave these in the past and start with a positive approach. Mrs Smith commented that the planning department have to work within time constraints and have to consult within a specified period. A lot of applications are now dealt with by a Planning Committee rather than by officers. Regarding planning conditions, comments are taken on board where appropriate and there has to be good reason for them not to be. Mr Rowell highlighted the problem at Chapel Street/ Orchard Close where a decision was taken in January to cut the hedge, but the first the Parish Council knew about it was in March when work was taking place. Mrs Smith commented that if it is a minor amendment officers will deal with it and it will not go back to the planning committee. Mr Cooper asked why amendments are necessary so soon after the permission had actually been granted. Mrs Smith pointed out that there are many reasons for amendments as planning is a reactive service. Mr Dixon commented that ENC seem to have very little power. He cited as an example the three-storey house on Chapel Street which in terms of design is out of character with Warmington. Mrs Smith outlined various tools that do give ENC power – a conservation area is a strong tool as it gives grounds for refusal, the local plan and listed buildings are other useful tools. Thus ENC have more powers than in the past. Mrs Smith has a design qualification and will be looking into this area in particular.

Mrs Padley asked what power the VDS would have if adopted as SPG. Mr Ray commented that ENC are working closely with the VDS group to ensure that the document is capable of being adopted as SPG.

Mr Hope commented that he has received correspondence regarding previous problems and rather than purely drawing a line under these lessons can be learnt from them. Communication is obviously very important. Where amendments are proposed a different process seems to be adopted. The problem lies in who decides what is a minor amendment and what is a major amendment. Mr Hope suggested that the Parish Council may benefit from being proactive rather than reactive. He suggested that lobbying the planning committee as elected representatives may be beneficial. Mr Hope pointed out that funds are available from the government for VDSs.

a) Mr Hodges asked if the previous views of the Parish Council are taken into consideration when dealing with an amendment. Mrs Smith commented that minor amendments are dealt with by letter, anything more requires a further application and the consultation period will start again. Mrs Smith will go through the planning process with her staff and a copy of the procedure will be sent to the Parish Council.

b) Mr Du Croz asked about the status of the VDS in relation to the local plan. Mr Ray pointed out that the local plan has statutory status and as such would take precedence.

c) Mrs Smith pointed out that some minor details do not need planning permission and as such ENC would have no power over these.

d) Mr Davey considered the question of amendments to be the flaw in the system. He pointed out that what is minor to one may be major to another. He feels that amendments should be notified to all with a right to object. Mrs Smith reiterated her offer to let the Parish Council have a copy of planning procedure.

e) Mr Edsall congratulated the group on their work on the VDS. He pointed out that one problem is the high turnover of good quality planning staff. A further problem in the future may be the Green Paper on Planning which only sets down very general principles. Both of these problems add importance to the VDS. Mr Edsall offered the VDS group the assistance of CPRE in their work.

f) Mrs Padley also expressed her concerns with the Planning Green Paper. She asked how often site visits are made. Mrs Smith stated that a site visit is made on all applications.

g) Mr Hope agreed that shortage of planning staff is a problem and he is to raise this issue with the relevant bodies. He suggested that ENC may run a VDS workshop to encourage others to draw up such a document. Mr Hope pointed out that the Green Paper on Planning is a consultation document and that all responses to it would be very welcome.

h) Mr Du Croz felt that it should be recommended to the Countryside Agency that their document dealing with VDSs be updated as it was last issued in 1995.

The meeting closed at 7pm.