THE LEIGH PARISH COUNCIL
: leighpc@hotmail.co.uk : theleighpc.org.uk
MINUTES OF THE ADDITIONAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11th September 2024 AT 7.30PM AT THE LEIGH PARISH CHURCH
Present: Cllr. J. Arkell (Chair), Cllr A. Bowness, Cllr. L. Glazebrook and Cllr K. Morton.
Attendance: K. Tilling (Parish Clerk), Tim Gwilliam GRCC and 6 members of the public.
1. Apologies:
Apologies were received from Cllr Theyer and County Cllr P. Mclain.
2. Declarations of interest:
Pursuant to the adoption by the Parish Council on 25th July 2023 of Leigh Parish Council’s revised Code of Conduct, effective from 25th July 2023 and set out in the minutes of 25th July 2023, Parish Councillors are invited to declare any interest they may have in the business set out on the agenda to which the approved Code applies. The following declarations were made Cllr Morton declared an interest in the planning application 24/00545/FUL and 24/00613/FUL. Councillor Morton was granted dispensations to remain in the room when the respective applications were discussed. Both dispensations have been granted for a twelve-month period and will be made available if either of these applications comes back before a future Parish Council meeting.
3. Minutes to be approved (deferred from last meeting)
Deferred to the next meeting
4. Tim Gwilliam, Rural Housing Enabler from GRCC.
Tim Gwilliam, Rural Housing Enabler from GRCC attended the meeting and spoke about the importance of having an up-to-date Housing Needs Survey for the Parish. Mr Gwilliam explained that he is employed through DEFRA at the GRCC. His role is to look at Parishes that either have never conducted a survey or the one they have is out of date and this part of his role is supported by TBC.
The last survey was undertaken by Martin Hutchins also from GRCC in 2016. The results from that survey showed that
“10 households completed Part C; Housing Needs of the survey questionnaire self-identified themselves in need or more suitable housing in the Leigh. 6 of the 10 respondents needing to move home is regarded as having financial means to afford suitable housing in the private sector in Leigh. Account is taken of a household’s net monthly income, maximum monthly rent of mortgage afforded, and deposit afforded. There are 4 households in need of affordable housing. Of the 4 households in need of affordable housing, 2 respondents indicated a need to move within 2 years and 2 respondents indicated a need to move between 2-5 years. None of the 4 respondents in need of affordable housing indicated they were on the Borough Council housing register (Homeseeker Plus). …. 3 households indicated a need to set up an independent home. I household indicated a need to move to cheaper accommodation. The 3 households in need of rented accommodation – a couple seeking house/sheltered accommodation, 1 single person aged 25 years, 1 couple aged 26 and 20. 1 household (couple) might be able to afford intermediate housing i.e., Shared ownership.”
Planning permission has been granted for two housing estates at Coombe Hill providing a combination of 125 new dwellings, of these, 31 are social rented and 17 shared ownerships. Both social rented and shared ownership have a good housing mix ranging from 1 bed maisonettes/Apartments, 2-3-4 bed houses, a bungalow, and a 5 bed house.
The parish only required the possibility of 4 houses, the Parish considers it is now over catered for. It was also noted that the Parish were not aware that any of the new inhabitants were originally from the parish as identified in the 2016 Housing Needs Survey. Mr Gwilliam was at pains to explain that the Parish survey was out of date and that it was important that Parishes took back control of building control within the parish. Affordable housing providers are not interested in schemes if less than 15 affordable houses. He suggested that evidence that a need is not required would be beneficial and also explained the benefits of a rural exception site. He also circulated an example copy of a past housing survey. Surveys are sent to all the houses in the Parish and there is usually a 25% return. From the responses, a housing need report is produced. The current parish NDP suggested a 5% growth, but this has been met twice over. Affordable Housing is split into several categories. 1. Where people purchase a percentage of a house. Also known as shared ownership, first homes. 2. People socially rent a new house, the rent being 80% of the market renting. Many thought this was still too high for some wishing to rent a property. 3. Also rented, but people pay 50% of market value, likened to a Council house equivalent.
There was much debate about a survey, looking at the pros and cons. Clearly the results from the last one made little difference to the house building at Coombe Hill. Mr Gwilliam explained that the Parish Council do not have to agree to taking part in a survey. He explained that at some point one would be done anyway either via TBC or possibly a private developer speculating on a future build. If a survey is done now, then it will be shared with the Parish Council and TBC. Some parishioners were not happy that the results would be shared. There was a feeling of entrapment. Parish Council felt that more time was needed to consider the proposal of a survey.
5. To discuss planning applications and consider responses for the following:
Tewkesbury Borough council has been the subject of a cyber incident. They discovered the incident on Wednesday, 4 September and they shut all their systems down as a precaution. This included their telephone and IT systems. It is now a week on and access to information on the website is extremely limited and it was impossible to look up drawings and documents to enable an open discussion on the applications listed below. It is known that all Committee meetings for September have been cancelled and it is hoped that they will return in October. However, all planning applications have been frozen for the time being. Comments can still be made but these must be made via letter form only. Decision dates and information associated with existing applications and new ones wishing to apply will be dealt with once a safe system of operation has been reintroduced. Therefore, comments on the three applications tonight is very limited. The Parish Council will wait for the system to become operational once more.
24/00613/FUL: Part parcel 1180, The Leigh, Gloucester. Full planning permission for the erection of two detached dwellings, including associated landscaping, access and parking. This is a new application that seeks to build two houses in the first instance along the straight bit of road just off Church Lane, adjacent to The Elms. Parish Council suggested looking at the principle of having the houses in the proposed location including the creation of a new access, drainage for the site, sustainable transport and how it compares to other applications sites, past and current. An extension to the planning consultation is required as no documents are currently available for parishioners to view. It was sad to see that good agricultural land is proposed for development. Highways will need to consider the lack of lighting and no safe footpaths. Drainage and flooding – a constant headache for the existing parishioners as planning agents do not seem to understand that there are no public sewers within the whole Parish. This is confirmed in the Leigh NDP statement. Recent comments relating to Brawn Farm have highlighted the poor quality of information being put forward by planning agents. There is a large ditch at the front of this land and there must be a priority in protecting this main drainage system especially as it collects much of the winter water. Access itself is off a single-track lane with no passing places, made all the more difficult when flooding closes Blacksmith Lane and most of the villagers have to drive out this way.
24/00545/FUL: Brawn Farm, The Leigh, Gloucester. Full planning permission for three detached dwellings (with plot 1 being a self-build dwelling), including access, parking and landscaping following demolition of existing detached dwelling and ancillary barns and sheds. Update following new documents on the planning portal. There is a new document relating to a drainage strategy but as the portal is inaccessible, it cannot be checked for accuracy or commented on.
24/00388/APP: Land at Church Lane, The Leigh. This application was first discussed at a Parish Council meeting on 12th June 2024. A few issues were raised at that meeting including drainage and allotment access. Details about the drainage are now showing on the portal but continue to cause concern for existing parishioners.
6. Update on Highways Issues
The Parish Council are considering a parish wide ditch and drainage survey. This information would greatly help when considering perspective house building.
7. To consider and approve any new CIL spending
The car parking outside the church has been done and marking of bays are still to be completed. It was suggested that a luminesce strip is needed on the wooden pole as someone is likely to hit it despite it being close to the edge. Two of the bus shelters need to be moved on at Coombe Hill. Check with Highways if permission is needed and also whether planning is required. Dog bins will be on Highways land and again just need their permission. The Swift boxes just need putting up on the houses down the Wharf. Broadband for the Church was discussed at the last Parish Council meeting, Lauren Woods was going to find out if there is any financial help available.
8. Any other business.
None.
Meeting closed 22.00